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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 --FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present as before.1
[Note 1: 1 On this day, according to Thomson's note, consideration of his report on the letter of Arthur Lee, of December 29, was postponed by Congress. See ante, December 29.]
The committee [consisting of Mr. Rufus King, Mr. William Samuel Johnson and Mr. Nathan Danel to whom was referred the instruction of the commonwealth of Pensylvania to their Delegates in Congress, on the subject of Sic Keesar and other natives of India and China praying for a support while within the U. S. and a passage at the public Expence to China report--
That from the facts stated by the memoralists it would be inexpedient for Congress to comply with their request.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 325. According to indorsement it was read this day. See ante, December 28.
Also on this day according to Committee Book No. 190 and indorsement, was read a letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, of December 30, forwarding a letter from Don Diego de Gardoqui, of December 27, with a decree of the King of Spain ordaining what flags should be used by the Spanish navy and merchant vessels. It was referred to said Secretary to report and report was rendered January 6, 1786. Jay's letter is in No. 80, II, folio 101; Gardoqui's on folio 108 and the King's decree on 105.]
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Whereas doubts have arisen with some of the Commisr.s. appointed under the resolution of the 2Oth. of February, 1782, for the settlement of the accounts of States and Individuals within the same against the United States, whether the resolution of the 3d. of June, 1784, admitting circumstantial evidence in support of such claims, where no written vouchers are or can be produced should be confin'd to the Claims of Individuals only, or extend also to those of the States, which hath occasioned a delay in the settlement of the accounts of States thus circumstanced to their material injury; and whereas the principle upon which such mode of settlement is authorized with respect to the Claims of Individuals will admit of no discrimination, but must, in justice and good faith, apply equally to those of States; the more fully therefore to explain the objects of the said resolution, and to remedy the aforesd. inconvenience, it is hereby resolved,
That the Commissioners authorized to settle the Accounts of States and Individuals within the same against the United States be instructed, that in cases where no written vouchers are or can be produced and they shall receive satisfactory evidence that such vouchers have been destroyed or lost, or that from the circumstances of the case they have never been obtained, they shall receive such other evidence in support of said Claims of States as well as Individuals, as shall be satisfactory to them and the best that the circumstances of the case will admit. And in case the said Commissioners or any of them doubt the truth or justice of any Account presented to them for settlement, whether accompanied with written Vouchers or not, they shall examine him if an Individual, and if an Officer on the part of the State, the said Officer or such other persons as he shall think proper, at their discretion upon Oath as well respecting the circumstances of the Vouchers, as the justice and validity of the Claims respectively, provided that they shall allow no claim unless it shall be supported by satisfactory evidence.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of a clerk, is indorsed by Thomson: "Mr. Monroe's Motion Decr. 30, 1785, Order of the day for Monday 9 Jany., 1786." It is in No. 136, II, folio 210.]
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