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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 --TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1785.
Mr. [Stephen Mix] Mitchel, a delegate for Connecticut, attended.
Congress assembled: Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina; and from the state of Virginia, Mr. [James] Monroe, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
War Office, December 13th., 1783.
The Secretary of the United States for the department of war to whom was referred the petition of Roger Waupie, David Fowler, Elijah Wympoh and John Frecky a committee of Indians settling at Brotherton on the lands of the Oneidas, Reports--
That the Indians specified in the petition are the remnants of the partly civilized tribes from the east end of Long Island, Narraganset, and other places within the inhabited country.
That they removed to the frontiers previous to the late war, where the Oneida tribe alotted them lands for cultivation, and for the confirmation of which the emigrants have petitioned the legislature of the state of New York. It may be easily conceived that these indians are poor and have all the difficulties of new settlers to encounter, but it does not appear that they have any special claims for assistance on the United States.--
It may, however, be consistent with the general principles of policy necessary to be observed towards the indians, to comply so far with their petition as to make them a present of some books upon morality and religion--On this principle the following resolution is submitted to Congress:
Resolved, That the Secretary at war be authorized and directed to purchase a number of books on morality and religion not exceeding the sum of fifty dollars and present the same in the name of the United States in Congress assembled to the remnants of several tribes of indians settled at Brotherton on the lands of the Oneidas.--
H. Knox.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 151, folio 129. According to indorsement it was read this day.]
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War Office, December 9th, 1785.
The Secretary of the United States for the department of war to whom was referred a memorial of captain John Sullivan for pay and commutation, begs leave to report the following state of facts
That captain John Sullivan in common with other officers was furloughed for an indefinite period in consequence of the resolution of Congress of May 26th 1783:
That during the existence of the said furlough and previous to the general discharge of the Army he left the United States without special permission for that purpose:
On this statement arises the question which perhaps may be proper only for Congress to decide: Whether the so withdrawing himself from the United States the nature of the furlough being considered is to be deemed a relinquishment of the emoluments due to those officers who should serve to the end of the war?
All which is submitted to Congress.
H. Knox.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 38, folio 219. According to indorsement it was read this day.
December 27: The following committees were appointed: Mr. [William] Houstoun, Mr. [William] Grayson, Mr. [John] Kean, Mr. [Charles] Pettit and Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, "to prepare and report An Ordinance for regulating the Post Office." This was a renewal of the committee of March 14 and to this renewed committee was also referred a letter of the Secretary at War, dated December ]3, requesting establishment of a post to Vincennes. This committee was again renewed February 25, 1786. Knox's letter is in No. 78, XIII, folio 617.
Mr. [Pierse] Long, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [James] Monroe, on memorial of Thomas Hutchins in behalf of Benjamin Tupper, William W. Morris and others, surveyors in the Western Territory, praying reinbursement for necessary expenditures. A report was rendered September 14, 1786, and acted on September 25. The memorial, dated December 27, is in No. 41, IV, folio 301.
Mr. [Charles] Pettit, Mr. [John] Kean and Mr. [John Bubenheim] Bayard, on letter of November 29 from John Wingrove on promoting the commercial interests of the United States in the East Indies. A report was rendered January 31, 1786.
Also, a memorial of Peter Allaire, of New York, proposing to supply copper coins, was referred to the Board of Treasury to report. It is in No. 139, folio 487.
Committee Book No. 190.
Also, according to indorsement, was read a memorial of Henry Delay, John Holes, Cornelius Ludlow, Benjamin Stites and Henry Enochs, praying the grant of a tract of land in the Western Territory. It is in No. 41, II, folio 537.
Also a letter from John Hancock, accepting the office of President of Congress. It is in No. 58, folio 43.]
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