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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, AUGUST 15, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia; and from the state of Rhode Island, Mr. [David] Howell; from New Jersey, Mr. [Lambert] Cadwalader, and from Maryland, Mr. [William] Hindman.
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On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [John] Lawrance, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy and Mr. [William] Grayson, to whom was referred a memorial of Messrs. F. Lewis, J. Van Zandt and S. Tudor,
Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to the Board of treasury to report.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Lawrance, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 141. The Board of Treasury reported October 10, 1785.
On this day probably, although the indorsement states on the 14th, was read a letter of August 9 from A. Paton accepting appointment of surveyor. It is in No. 78, XVIII, folio 561.
Also, a letter of July 30 from William Tate, accepting appointment of surveyor, It is in No. 78, XXII, folio 305.
Also, was read a memorial from Azariah Horton, late Deputy Commissary General of Musters, dated August 2, praying for depreciation of his pay and the land bounty granted to soldiers. According to indorsement action was taken October 19. The memorial is in No. 41, IV, folio 293.]
Congress proceeded to the election of a surveyor for the State of New Hampshire, in the room of Mr. N. Adams, who has resigned, and, the ballots being taken, Mr. Ebenezer Sullivan was elected, having been previously nominated by the delegates for New Hampshire.
The Paymaster General to whom was referred the Petition of Pierre Regnier de Roussi, late a Lieutenant Colonel in the fourth and second New York Regiments, praying the depreciation on his pay, begs leave to report--
That it appears the Petitioner resigned his Commission on the 24th. Day of March, 1780. That by the Resolutions of Congress of the 10th. day of April, and of the 8th. of August, 1780, and of the 15th. of May, and of the 12th. of August, 1783, this allowance appears to be altogether restricted to the Officers in the Service on the 10th. day of April, 1780.
That Monsr. Regnier conceives himself entitled to claim his depreciation, peculiarly as he was a foreigner previous to the war; expecting that a distinction would be admitted between foreign and domestic Officers, which principle the Paymaster humbly conceives to be improper, and not justified by any usage or resolution of Congress.
He therefore submits the following Resolve, viz. "That Mr. Regnier having resigned his Commission prior to any promise of depreciation,
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cannot agreeably to the principles adopted by congress in such cases be entitled to this allowance."
Jno. Pierce.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 62, folio 67. According to indorsement it was read this day and passed February 3, 1786.]
N. York,
Augt. 10th. 85.
The Board of Treasury to whom the Memorial of George Fisher was referred, beg leave to Report
That however the Claim of the Memorialist, may entitle it to the Public Consideration, such is the present State of the Finances of the United States, that no immediate provision can be made for the Payment of Old Accounts.
That as the Balance due to the said George Fisher became due in the Month of August, 1777, and no Interest allowed on the same, at the time he received the Loan Office Certificates mentioned in his Memorial, the Board are of Opinion, That the said George Fisher is entitled to an allowance of Interest in common with other Creditors of the United States in similar Cases; They therefore submit to the Consideration of Congress the following Resolve
That the Comptroller of the Treasury be authorized and directed on the application of the said George Fisher to order a Register's Certificate to be Issued to him for the Interest which has accrued on the Principal Sum due him betwixt the 15th. August, 1777, and the Date of the Loan Office Certificates received by him; and that this Certificate be receivable in Taxes on the Continental Requisitions in like manner with other Certificates issued for the Payment of Interest.1
Board Of Treasury,
10th August, 1785.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, I, folio 461. The indorsement states that it was read on this day and Committee Book No. 191 states that it was transferred.]
The Secretary for Foreign Affairs having reported that in his opinion an answer of the following tenor should be written to his Catholick Majesty, and sent to the American Chargé des Affaires at his Court to be delivered, viz.
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Great and Well Beloved Friend,
With great satisfaction we received your Majesty's Letter of the 27th of September last, which was presented to us by Don Diego de Gardoqui, your Encargado de Negocios. We consider his arrival here in that character, as a proof of your Majesty's friendly disposition towards us; and we received him in a manner which was dictated by the same disposition in us towards your Majesty. Permit us to assure you, that we entertain the most sincere wishes for your Majesty's health and happiness, and that our best endeavours shall not be wanting to ensure and perpetuate to both Countries the blessings of Concord, mutual friendship and good neighborhood. We pray God, Great and well beloved friend, to preserve you in his holy keeping.
By us, the United States in Congress assembled, at
the city of New York, the 15th August, 1785.
Your Majesty's Good Friends.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, No. 5, by Benjamin Bankson and in Secret Journal No. 4. A copy is in Secret Journal No. 6, Vol. III.]
Ordered That said draught be referred to said Secretary to take order.2
[Note 2: 2 This order is entered by Bankson in Resolve Book No. 123, under date of August 15. The letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, forwarding this draft, was dated August 9 and read August 15. It is in No. 80, I, folio 333, and contains the suggestion "that in case an Answer [to His Catholic Majesty] should be thought proper that further Delay might diminish the Effect of it."]
Motion of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry: "That good carpets, mohogany arm chairs and tables be provided for the hall of Congress and that each table be daily supplied wth. good letter and other paper, pens, ink, penknives, sand wafers &c."3
[Note 3: 3 This motion was entered by Thomson in Committee Book No. 190 and is noted by him as referred to the Secretary of Congress to take order.
August 15: The following committees were appointed:
Of the Week: Mr. [David] Jackson, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [Melancton] Smith.
Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Charles] ]Pettit and Mr. [Rufus] King, on letter of August 13, 1785, from Thomas Paine, "desiring to make some communications to Congress or a comee. of Congress." A report was made August 22. Paine's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 55, folio 97.
Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr. [Charles] Pettit and Mr. [John] Kean, on letter of August 15 from the Secretary at War, enclosing a letter of July 16 from Colonel Harmar with Indian speeches. A report was made August 16. Knox's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, I, folio 75. Harmar's is on folio 71.
Committee Book No. 190.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 190, the letter from the Governor of Massachusetts to the State's delegates in Congress, dated August 8, on "the insolent conduct of Capn. Stanhope", was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who reported August 18. The Governor's letter is in No. 65, II, folio 281.
Also the memorial of Francis Lewis, Jacobus Van Zant and Samuel Tudor was referred to the Board of Treasury, which reported October 10. See ante, June 27.
Also the Secretary of Congress was directed to take order on supplying Doctor William Gordon with the Journals of Congress from the year 1780.]
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