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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 --WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
Mr. Ebenezer Sullivan having declined the Office of Surveyor for New Hampshire, pursuant to the Ordinance of the 20th of May last, Congress proceeded to the election of a Surveyor for the said state, and, the ballots being taken,
Mr. Edward Dowse was elected; having been previously nominated by the Delegates for that State.
A letter, of 1 from J. Rutledge, Esqr. was read, informing that he has received Notice of his having been unanimously elected a minister plenipotentiary to the United Netherlands; that he would, with great pleasure, accept the appointment if he could with any degree of convenience, but that having been for a long time wholly engaged in public business, his own affairs now require attention, and will
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not for some years admit of his going to reside in Europe; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Wednesday next be assigned for electing a minister plenipotentiary to the United Netherlands.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution and preamble were also entered by Benjamin Bankson in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, No. 5. Rutledge's letter is in No. 78, XIX, folio 501.]
On motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [Rufus] King,
Resolved, That the Secretary to the United States for the department of foreign affairs be, and he is hereby directed to report the draft of an act to be recommended to the legislatures of the respective states, for punishing the infractions of the laws of nations, and more especially for securing the privileges and immunities of public Ministers from foreign powers.2
[Note 2: 2 This resolution was also entered by Benjamin Bankson in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, No. 5. The motion, in the writing of Charles Pinckney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 109.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter from Lt. Col. Josiah Harmar, dated August 1, forwarding a return of troops at Fort Mcintosh. It was referred to the Secretary at War and is in No. 163, folio 480.
Also on this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, Rufus King was excused from acting on the committee of August 16 on the qualifications and credentials of the Rhode Island delegates and Charles Pettit appointed in his place.
Also, Mr. Ralph Izard was nominated by Mr. [Jacob] Read for Minister to the United Netherlands.]
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