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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 --MONDAY, JULY 25, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia; and from the state of New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster; from Connecticut, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson; from New Jersey, Mr. [Lambert] Cadwallader; from Delaware, Mr. [John] Vining, and from North Carolina, Mr. [William] Cumming.
The delegates for Massachusetts, laid before Congress an Act passed by the legislature of that Commonwealth, on the 2d day of this present Month, entitled,
"An Act authorising and empowering the delegates representing this commonwealth in the United States in Congress assembled, to subscribe and ratify an alteration of part of the eighth Article of the Confederation and perpetual Union of the United States of America."2
[Note 2: 2 The act is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 74, folio 225.
On this day, according to indorsement, was read a letter of July 22 from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, transmitting an Ordinance of His Most Christian Majesty respecting commerce with the French West India islands, the 12th. Article of which "casts light on some parts of the Consular Convention." Jay's letter is in No. 80, I, folio 233; a printed copy of the Arręt of August 30 is on folio 237 and a translation on folio 249.]
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On a report from the board of treasury,
Board of Treasury,
July 22d. 1785.
Sir: We do ourselves the honor of laying before Congress a Letter received by the Board this day from the Treasurer of this State: The Act of the Legislature of New York directs the payment of the Quota of that State on the Requisition of the 27th. April, 1784, to be paid into the Treasury of the United States: how far the Resolution of Congress of the 15th. April last relative to the future Receipt of Continental Taxes can justify the State Treasurer in deviating from the line of Payment marked out by the Act of the State, it is not for us to determine.
We beg leave to represent to Congress, that as the Loan Officer of the State of New York resides at Albany, great impediments would arise in the Negotiation of the Specie Quota of the Taxes raised in this State on the general Requisitions, if a deviation should be made from the channel of Receipt pointed out by the Act of the State; Exclusive of this it appears to us an unnecessary Expence to pay any Commission on Monies received in the State, where Congress may happen to reside: because the Treasurer of such State can with facility pay in the Taxes to the Continental Treasury, and preserve all those Checks which are necessary on this Transfer. From these Considerations we beg leave to submit to Congress the following Resolve. vizt.
Resolved, That in any state, where the United States in Congress assembled may hold their sessions, the taxes collected in such State, in consequence of the general requisitions and not appropriated for the payment of Interest on the domestic debt, shall in the first instance be paid into the treasury of the United States; any thing in the Resolution of the 15 April last to the contrary notwithstanding.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, II, folio 33. According to the indorsement it was passed this day.]
Congress resumed the Consideration of the report of the Committee on the letter of 17 May, from the Secretary at War; and thereupon,
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Resolved, That the department of quarter master general, be considered as ceasing on the day of passing this resolution, and that the secretary at War, and all others concerned, govern themselves accordingly.1
[Note 1: 1 See ante, July 20.]
The Committee of the Week consisting of [Mr. Jacob Read, Mr. Lambert Cadwallader and Mr. William Cumming] to whom was referred, a Letter dated Litchfield July 13th. 1785 Signed Oliver Wolcott, making a resignation of his appointment as one of the Commissioners on the part of the United States for Negotiating Treaties with the Indian Nations in the Northern and Eastern department, beg leave to report and recommend that the United States in Congress assembled do accept the resignation of the Said Oliver Wolcott, and that the Secretary of Congress communicate to Mr. Wolcott the acceptance of his resignationand inform him that the United States Congress assembled entertain a high sense of the exertions and services of Mr. Wolcott in the execution of his duty as one of the Commissioners for Negotiating Treaties with the Indian Nations in the Northern and Eastern department.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 607. It is undated but was read this day. The indorsement states "To-morrow assigned." See post, July 26, 1785. Wolcott's letter is in No. 78, XXIV, folio 515.
On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a resolution of July 2 of the General Court of Massachusetts relative to the criminality of Samuel Stearns. It is in No. 74, folio 229.
Also a letter of July 21 from Isaac Sherman accepting the appointment of surveyor. It is in No. 78, XXI, folio 405.
July 25: The following committee was appointed: Of the Week: Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Lambert] Cadwallader and Mr. [William] Cumming.
Also, on this day, "The letters from Messrs. Adams, Franklin and Jefferson or any of them, excepting what relates to additional powers to be vested in Congress for regulating Commerce" was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report. Despatch Book No. 185 gives, page 132, the dates and brief summaries of the contents of these letters.]
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