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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 26, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Pierse] Long; from Rhode Island, Mr. [David] Howell; from New Jersey, Mr. [Lambert] Cadwallader, and from North Carolina, Mr. [William] Cumming.
On motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [Jacob] Read,
Resolved, That when a motion is made to postpone a report, motion or proposition before the house, in order to take up another proposition, no amendment shall be made or received until the question is put and decided to postpone what was before the house.
The Order of the day being taken up to elect a commissioner to negotiate with the Western Indians, in the room of Mr. Lee, who is elected a commissioner of the board of treasury:
Ordered, That it be postponed till Monday next; and that, that day be assigned for the election of a fifth Commissioner for negotiating treaties with the Western Indians.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Charles] Pettit and Mr. [Rufus] King, to whom was referred a letter of the 13, from Thomas Paine,
Resolved, That the early, unsolicited and continued labours of Mr. Thomas Paine, in explaining and enforcing the principles of the late revolution, by ingenious and timely publications upon the nature of liberty and civil government, have been well received by the citizens of these states, and merit the approbation of Congress; and that in consideration
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of these services, and the benefits produced thereby, Mr. Paine is entitled to a liberal gratification from the United States.
[Motion by Mr. Charles Pinckney]
That the Secretary be directed to take all the one set of each public papers in the city of New York for the use of Congress.
Augt. 26, 1785: Referred to the Secretary of Congress to take Order.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Charles Pinckney is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 111. The order referring it to the Secretary is entered thereon by Charles Thomson. In Resolve Book No. 123, the entry by Benjamin Bankson reads:
"Motion For taking the several News-papers published in New York. An advertisement, for proposals from the Printers to publish a new Edition of the Journals in folio, Congress taking 1,000 Copies."
August 26th 1785: "Ordered That the same be referred to the Secretary of Congress to take order." Thomson has written after this: "On this the Secretary took order to publish for proposals, the proposals of the printers he laid before Congress, who referred them to a comee. and the comee. made report on which no decision is come to."
On this day also, according to indorsement, was read a letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, transmitting letters from John Adams, dated June 2d, 6th and 17th and also one from Adams' secretary William Stephens Smith, of June 20. Jay's letter is in No. 80, I, folio 349; Adams' are in No. 84, V, folios 469, 491, 499, 507.
August 26: The following committee was appointed: Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Samuel] Holten, Mr. [Abraham] Baldwin, Mr. [William] Cumming and Mr. [Melancton] Smith, on the motion of the Massachusetts delegates to equalize the expense of raising and keeping up a federal army. This was a renewal of the committee of August 8 on the same matter.
Also, the memorial of Dominique L'Eglise, praying payment of his certificate and dated August 26, was referred to the Board of Treasury to report, which it did October 24. The memorial is in No. 41, V, folio 424.
Also, the committee of August 8 on the memorial of James Willing was discharged and the matter referred to the Board of Treasury to report.
Also, Mr. John Houstoun was nominated by Mr. [Abraham] Baldwin for Minister to the United Netherlands. His name, at some unknown later date, was withdrawn.
Committee Book No. 190.]
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