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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, AUGUST 19, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia; and from the State of New Jersey, Mr. [Lambert] Cadwallader, and from North Carolina, Mr. [William] Cumming.
On Motion of Mr. [Rufus] King, seconded by Mr. [William] Cumming,
Ordered, That the board of treasury report an Ordinance fixing the Standard of weights and measures throughout the United States of America.
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On a report of the board of treasury, on a memorial of Hendrick Smock, and of Increase Carpenter,
Resolved, That in all cases where certificates of the United States payable to the bearer, have been lost, and no satisfactory evidence given of the same having been destroyed, it would be improper that any new certificates should issue to replace the same.
That Increase Carpenter produce to the loan Officer of the State where the said certificates issued, the fragments of the certificates by him preserved, being No. two thousand four hundred and twenty seven, one thousand dollars; No. three thousand six hundred and fifteen, two hundred dollars; and No. seven thousand five hundred and eighty seven, Four hundred dollars; and in case the loan officer shall be satisfied of the authenticity of the fragments to him produced, he is hereby authorised and directed, to issue new certificates of the same tenor and date as those destroyed.
[Motion on a letter of 27. April, 1785, from Secy for Foreign Affairs]
Resolved, That the Secretary for foreign Affairs be directed to employ some person to go to Genl. Washington for the purpose transcribing and bringing to Congress to collect from Genl. Washington a list of the Negroes carryed off from New York by the British Army, or others in violation of the late treaty of peace; to the end that our Minister at the Court of London may be furnished with a Copy of the said list as early as possible.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Samuel Hardy, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 107. The indorsement states that it was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to take order. It is also entered, with the order, in Resolve Book No. 123, p. 34.]
[Motion of Mr. Elbridge Gerry]
That after the 1st. Monday of Novr. next all Directions to Congress shall be addressed to their Excellencies the President and Members of the U. States in Congress assembled.
That each Member of Congress shall take Rank of every officer of the U. States.
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That it be recommended to the Legislatures of the Several States to make provision by Law, that their Members of Congress shall be inferior in Rank to none but the Governors respectively.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, folio 229. See committee appointment notes for this day, in the next footnote, and Pinckney's motion, following.]
[Motion of Mr. Charles Pinckney]
That the President of Congress shall in future while in the Chair be seated in his robes; and that the Secretary shall also while in the execution during the hours in which Congress shall sit, appear in his robes.
That in all cases the members of Congress shall have precedence of the officers, civil and military in the U. States and of all foreign ministers.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Charles Pinckney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, folio 233. See committee appointment notes for this day, below, and Gerry's motion, preceding.
August 19: The following committees were appointed: Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Charles] Pettit, Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [Jacob] Read and Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, on motion of Mr. Gerry "respecting title and rank of Members of Congress and Mr. [Charles] Pinckney's motion respecting robes." This committee was renewed September 6, 1786.
Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Wilcam Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [Zephaniah] Platt, on "Instructions to delegates of Massachusetts to obtain the Opinion of Congress on sundry parts of the definitive treaty of peace." The instructions, dated November 10, 1784, are, in attested copy form, in 65, II, folio 347, and relate to persons who left Massachusetts prior to Oct. 5, 1774, and to the meaning of bona fide debts.
Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney and Mr. [David] Howell, on "Mr. Pinckney's motion respect Count de Grasse." This committee was discharged August 30. See ante, January 24.
Committee of the Whole, on "Letter 24 December 1784 Gov. of Connecticut Meml. Inhabitants at Wyoming and proceedings of legislature relative to claims of Wyoming Settlers." Committee to meet September 15. See ante, January 13.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 190, the memorial of James Stewart was, this day, referred to the Secretary at War to report, which he did September 12.
Also the memorial of James Gilliland was referred to the Commissioner for settling Army Accounts, who reported August 22.
Also the petition of James Heard, praying a settlement of his accounts and reporting the loss of his papers, was referred to the Secretary at War. The petition, undated, is in No. 42, III, folio 469, and is indorsed by Thomson "Dec. 8. 1784."
Also the report on the claim of Francis Cazeau was referred to the Board of Treasury to report.
Committee Book No. 190.]
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