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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Pierse] Long, and from Connecticut, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson.
[Resolved,] That the expenditure for the support of the President's household under the resolution of the 21st November, 1781, including [the salary of] his private secretary [house rent, steward and servants wages and all other expenses whatsoever], shall not exceed the rate of Twelve thousand dollars [pr annum] yearly commencing on the first Monday in November.1
[Note 1: 1 Two drafts of this resolve, in the writing of John Kean, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, II, folios 119 and 121. The brackets show the verbal variations. The second draft (folio 121) is indorsed by Thomson: "Motion of Mr. Kean...Novr. 30, 1785 Referred to Mr. [John Cleves] Symmes, Mr. [John] Lawrance and Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson. The motion was made, apparently, on the letter from the Board of Treasury November 25, 1785, transmitting, by order of Congress, a report on the expenditures for the President's household. This letter and report are in No. 140, II, folios 111 and 115. See post, December 28.
On this day, as the indorsement indicates, was read a letter from Edward Fox, Commissioner of Hospital Accounts, relative to a letter from Dr. Jonathan Arnold. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 117.
Also, a petition from Robert Waupie and other Indians who had settled on the Oneida lands, which was referred to the Secretary at War to report. The indorsement states that he reported Dec. 27, 1785. The petition is in No. 56, folio 411.
Also, a letter of November 28 from John Fox. It is in No. 78, IX, folio 551.]
The Board of Treasury to whom was Referred the memorial of William Colbrath, Praying Compensation for a Quantity of Rum seized from himself and Partners at Fort Schuyler by an Officer in the service of the United States on the 5th Day of October, 1784, beg leave to Report--
That it appears from the Examination of the Reverend Mr Kirkland, who was present at Fort Schuyler at the time the Seizure above referred to was made, that it was done by the Officer referred to in said Memorial, in consequence of Orders received by him from the Commissioners appointed by Congress for managing the Treaty then holding with the Six Nations.--
That, previous to the said Seizure, an Advertisement was published by the said Commissioners stating the ill consequences which must
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ensue from the Sale of Spiritous Liquors to the Savages during the Treaty, and prohibiting the Vent on the pain of Seizure. That the said Advertisement further purported that at the close of the Treaty free liberty would be given to Trade with the Indians.--
That, notwithstanding this public Caution, Mr Kirkland states, that the business of the Treaty was retarded for some days, owing to the Indians obtaining Liquor. In consequence of which all Spiritous Liquors belonging to private Persons then on the Ground was Seized by order of the Commissioners, and deposited in a locked Public Store under proper Guards
That, at the close of the Treaty, he understood the Liquors in general had been returned to the Proprietors. That he was present in the Store of a Parmer of said Colbrath, when the Rum seized from that Company was deposited at the Door of the said store; and that he heard General Butler (one of the Commissioners for holding the Treaties) desire the said Partner to Receive the Rum
That, although Rum was taken from several other persons, he heard no Complaints of loss sustained thereby, except in the case of the Memorialist: and that he has understood that the Rum, for which payment is now Claimed, was during the last Winter in possession of a certain person of the name of Armstrong at Fort Schuyler, a Connection of the said Colbrath
That it appears from the information of the said Samuel Kirkland, that he had been frequently present at Indian Treaties held under the former Government; and that the Sale of Spirituous Liquors was constantly prohibited by Sir William Johnson, then Superintendant of Indian Affairs, during the time of the Treaty, under Penalty of Seizure.
The Board beg leave further to Report, That it appears from the examination of Arthur Lee Esqr., one of the late Commissioners of Indian Affairs, that process has been served against him in this City, at the suit of the Memorialist for the Recovery of Damages alledged to have been sustained in consequence of the Seizure aforesaid
From these Considerations the Board submit to the Judgement of Congress the following Resolve
That the Memorial of William Colbrath be dismissed
All which is humbly submitted.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, I, folio 147. The indorsement states that it was read this day.]
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Novr. 16th, 1785.
The Board of Treasury, to whom was Referred the Memorial of William Hoskins, an Assistant to the late Commissary General Trumbull, Setting forth that a proper Compensation had not been made to him for his services, on a settlement with the Commissioner who was specially appointed by Congress to Settle the Accounts of the late Commissary General Trumbull, and Praying that the said Settlement might de disannulled, and that the present Commissioner for Settling Accounts in the Commissary General's Department might he directed to Adjust the same, beg leave to Report--
That having referred the said Memorial to the consideration of the Commissioner for Settling the Accounts of the Commissary General's Department, the said Commissioner has Reported it as his Opinion, that no farther Allowance ought to be made to the said William Hoskins.
The Board therefore submit to the consideration of Congress the following Resolve:
That the Memorial of William Hoskins late an Assistant in the Commissary Generals Department, praying that the former Adjustment of his Account by the Commissioner duty Authorised for such purpose may be Revised, and that a farther compensation be made him, cannot be complied with1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, I, folio 601. According to the indorsement it was read this day and passed, February 1, 1786. The letter of the Commissioner for settling the accounts of the Commissary General's Department, dated May 14, 1785, is on folio 605,]
The Board of Treasury to whom was Referred on the 20th. September last the Memorial of Jonathan Trumbull Junr. praying that Congress would be pleased to order payment of some part of the balances due to him for his long and persevering services during the late War, beg leave to Report--
That your Memorialist amongst other certificates due to him for the services rendered by him to the United States is possest of a Certificate for 1,752 Dollars 53/90ths, Issued to him for his services as Special Commissioner in Settling the Accounts of the late Commissary General Trumbull--which appointment may be properly considered as an appendage of the Civil Establishment.
That the claim of Mr Trumbull for the attention of Congress to the prayer of the Memorial derives additional weight from the consideration,
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that he is one of those Officers who was attached to the person of the late Commander in Chief at the close of the War, with whose interests the United States in Congress have particularly charged themselves by their Act of the 23d. December 1784.
From this consideration the Board of Treasury submit to the consideration of Congress the following Resolve:
That the Comptroller cause the Certificate given to Mr. Jonathan Trumbull Commissioner for Settling the Accounts of the late Commissary General Trumbull amounting to 1,752 Dollars 53/90ths to be cancelled, and that the Board of Treasury take order for paying the same from the requisition of the year 1784.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, folio 455. According to the endorsement it was read this day and referred, July 22, 1788, to Mr. [Nathan] Dane, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Abraham] Clark. Their report was acted on July 28, 1788.]
Novr., 1785.
November 18th., 1785
The Board of Treasury to whom was referred, a motion of the Hon'ble Mr. Gerry of the 2d. November last, Beg leave to Report--
That a number of Loan Office Certificates issued from the Respective offices since the first of March, 1778, don't exceed when reduced by the scale, the sum of Twenty five Dollars in specie, and that a very great proportion of them, not more than Five Dollars.
That this multiplicity of Certificates of small value occasions great embarrassments and expense in the liquidation of interest due on such Certificates.
That it has been represented to this Board, that numbers of the Holders of the Certificates above described, are desirous to have the same cancelled, and the number reduced by consolidating several small Certificates into one of a greater amount. From these considerations, the Board submit to the Opinion of Congress the following Resolve:
That all Holders of Loan Office Certificates issued since the first of March, 1778, be authorised to present the same to the Loan office of the State in which such Certificates issued, in order that the specie value thereof may be liquidated; and that on the former Certificates being given up Specie Certificates of the same value shall be issued agreeably to such form and in such sums as the Board of Treasury may direct; provided that no Certificate issue for a less sum than One hundred Dollars, and that the Papers, Checks and Devices of the new
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Certificates, resemble as nearly as may be the old Certificates, which shall be transmitted as vouchers of Re-issue to the Comptrollers office.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, folio 89. According to the indorsement it was read this day and passed February 1, 1786. The vote is recorded by Thomson on the report.]
Office for Foreign Affairs, 28th. November, 1785
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs, to whom was referred his Letter of 24th. Inst. to his Excellency the President, with Mr. Temple's Commission, Reports--
That John Temple Esquire, has presented to the United States in Congress assembled, a Commission in due Form bearing Date the fifth Day of February last--from his britannic Majesty, constituting and appointing him the Consul General of his said Majesty in these States.
That there is as yet no commercial Treaty or Convention subsisting between his britannic Majesty and the United States, whereby either have a perfect right to establish Consuls in the Dominions of the other; but that amicable Negociations for that, and other reciprocal privileges, are now depending.
That altho' the Issue of those Negociations is as yet uncertain; it will nevertheless be proper for the United States on this, and every other Occasion, to observe as great a Degree of Liberality as may consist with a due Regard to their national Honor and welfare. Wherefore, in the Opinion of your Secretary, it should be
Resolved, That the said John Temple Esqr. be, and he hereby is, received and recognized as Consul General of his britannic Majesty throughout the United States; and that his Commission be registered in the Secretary's Office.
Resolved, That all the Privileges, Preeminences and Authority which the Laws of Nations and of the Land, give to a Consul General received by the United States from any Nation with whom they have no commercial Treaty or Convention, are due to the said John Temple, and shall be enjoyed by him.
Ordered, That certified Copies of the above Resolutions be transmitted to the Executives of the different States for their information.
All which is submitted to the Wisdom of Congress
John Jay.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 81, I, folio 499. According to indorsement it was read this day. See post, December 1 and December 2.]
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Office of Secretary of Congress,
Novr., 1785.
The Secretary of Congress begs leave to report, that in pursuance of the report of the Comee. on the subject of reprinting the Journals, which was referred to him to take Order he has caused "the most public notice to be given to the different printers in the several States, and requested them to send to his Office on or before the first Monday in this Month the terms on which they will engage to reprint the said Journals in folio and deliver one thousand copies thereof bound in boards. That in Consequence of this Notice he has received proposals from sundry printers. It now remains to decide which of those proposals shall be accepted, and to enter into stipulations for the performance of the work. For these purposes the Secretary of Congress submits,
That the proposals of the several printers with Agreed to. D[avid] R[amsay, Chairman]. the specimens be referred to a committee.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 180, Reports of the Secretary of Congress. The report was apparently submitted in November, after the 23d. According to the entry in Committee Book No. 190, the proposals of the printers were referred on December 28 to Mr [John Bubenheim] Bayard, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [Stephen Mix] Mitchell, who delivered a report January 30, 1786. See ante, June 21.
November 30: The following committee was appointed: Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [John] Lawrance, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [Pierse] Long, on the memorial of General John Sullivan for depreciation of pay. This was a renewal of the committee of April 4, 1785, and to it was referred the memorial of Colonel Moses Rawlings for commutation. A report was rendered on Rawlings June 22, 1786. A copy of Rawlings' petition by James McHenry, dated November 28, 1785, is in No. 41, VIII, folio 361.
Also a letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, dated November 26, was read, forwarding a letter from Captain Lewis Littlepage. The matter was referred back to said Secretary to report and the report was rendered December 27. Jay's letter is in No. 80, II, folio 69.
Also a memorial of Captain John Sullivan, praying for arrears of pay and commutation was this day referred to the Secretary at War to report. This report was read December 27; the memorial is in No. 38, folio 209.
Also a "petition of sundry Indians for assistance" was referred to the Secretary at War to report. See post, December 27.
Committee Book No. 190.
Also on this day was read a letter from the Board of Treasury announcing the arrival of the monument of Gen. Richard Montgomery. It is dated November 28 and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, II, folio 123.]
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