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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, SEPTEMBER 30, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, as yesterday.
Congress resumed the consideration of the plan for regulating the receipt of taxes, and payment of the interest clue by the United States, and the following paragraph being under debate:
That they be respectively allowed [for all services and duties which are or may be annexed to their offices, by any acts or resolution of Congress, or direction of the board of treasury,] a sum not exceedingnor less thandollars per annum, exclusive of office-rent, stationary and other necessary Charges, and the wages of such clerks as may be previously authorised by the board of treasury, who shall judge of the services aforesaid.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, except the part in brackets, which is in the writing of John Kean, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folios 139 and 141. The amount at first was $2,000 and $1000, which was struck out for $1500 and $600.]
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A motion was made by Mr. [David] Jackson, seconded by Mr. [Charles] Pettit, that the first blank be filled with the words "two thousand."
And on the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Jackson,
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[Note 1: 1 This vote is also in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 146.]
So it passed in the negative.
A motion was made by Mr.[William] Grayson, seconded by Mr. [David] Jackson, that, that the blank be filled with the words "eighteen hundred", and on the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Charles] Pettit,
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[Note 1: 1 This vote is also in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 146.]
So the question was lost.
The report being amended, was agreed to as follows:
Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Commissioners of the continental loan Offices in the respective states, to receive and keep the moneys arising from continental taxes in the different states, and to pay the interest due from the United States, in the said states respectively. And that they hold all moneys collected within the several states, on Account of the requisitions of Congress, subject only to the orders of Congress, or of the board of treasury.
That they shall, agreeably to such mode as may be prescribed by the comptroller, make weekly returns to the board of treasury, of the money they may receive on account of the United States, and also of the certificates which may issue for the payment of the interest on the public debt, in pursuance of the acts of Congress.
That they form accurate estimates as often as called upon by the board of treasury, of the interest falling due monthly within their respective states, on loan office certificates, and other liquidated securities of the United States; and that they keep accurate and distinct registers of the principal sums due, as well on the liquidated as loan office debt.
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That in all their official transactions, they govern themselves by the acts and resolves of Congress, or the orders of the board of treasury, not repugnant thereto.
That they make no appropriation of moneys by them received on account of the United States, except for the purpose of the payment of interest, agreeably to the resolves of Congress, without the express order of the board of treasury, and that they submit to the comptroller, a state of their accounts quarterly for examination and allowance.
That the said Officers shall not directly or indirectly be concerned in trade; and that previously to entering on the duties of their office, they shall severally enter into bonds to the United States of America, with two or more sureties [the principals in a sum not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, nor less than ten thousand dollars, and one or more sureties in a like sum, as may, from time to time, be directed by the board of treasury, having regard to the magnitude of the trust reposed in the several offices].1 Further, they shall severally take and subscribe the oath of fidelity to the United States, and also an oath for the due execution of their offices respectively, certificates of which, together with their several bonds, shall be transmitted to the board of treasury, who shall cause the same to be recorded in the comptroller's office.
[Note 1: 1 The passage in brackets, in the writing of David Howell, and undated, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 143. There is a draft, also in Howell's writing on folio 148.]
That they shall henceforth be respectively allowed for all services and duties which are or may be annexed to their offices, by any acts or resolutions of Congress, or direction of the board of treasury, a sum not exceeding fifteen hundred, nor less than six hundred dollars per annum, exclusive of office-rent, stationary, and other necessary charges, and the wages of such clerks as may be previously authorised by the board of treasury, who shall judge of the services aforesaid.
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That in the payment of all moneys, they shall take printed duplicate receipts, agreeable to such form as shall be transmitted to them by the comptroller; one of which shall be forwarded to the board of treasury, with their accounts in support of the payments made by them respectively. That they shall also give duplicate receipts for all moneys received by them, in order that the several states may direct one of them to be forwarded to the board of treasury, who, upon the receipt thereof, shall credit the state for the amount specified therein, and charge the same to the officer receiving it.
That it be recommended to the legislatures of the respective states, to direct their treasurers to transmit to the board of treasury, a monthly abstract of all moneys paid on account of the several states to the commissioners of the continental loan offices, distinguishing the dates and amounts of the respective payments, and the sums paid in actual money, from those in interest certificates.
That all the acts and resolves of Congress respecting the duties of the commissioners of the loan Office in the respective states, made previously to this date, be, and they are hereby repealed and declared to be void from and after the first day of January next, excepting the requisition of the 27 and 28 of April, 1784, the ordinance of the 20th of May, and the requisition of the 27 September, 1785.
That all appointments of Commissioners of the continental loan Offices in future, shall be made by the United States in Congress assembled, any act or resolution to the contrary notwithstanding' provided that such commissioners as are now in office, where the number does not exceed one in each state, be, and hereby are continued in Office, subject to the acts and resolutions of Congress.
And that all such loan Officers previous to the first day of July next give bend their entering on their Duties as Receivers shall
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give bond to the commissioners of the Bd. of Treasury with sufficient sureties in the sumof Dollars for the faithful discharge of their Trusts respectively.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 123.]
That all appointments of commissioners of the continental Loan Offices except in the case of suspensions in future to be made shall be made by the U. S. in Congress assembled, any Act or Resolution to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided that such commissioners as are now in Office when the number does not exceed one in Each State, be and hereby are continued in Office until suspended by the B. of T. or removed by Congress subject to the Acts and Resolutions of Congress.
Resolved, That the Resolution of the 3d of Oct., 1776, so far as relates to the Responsibility of the States respectively for the faithful discharge of the Duty of the Commissioners of the C. L O. be Repealed and made void from and after the 1st. day of Jany. 1786.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 135. The indorsement dates it September, 1785.]
Resolved, That the resolution of the 3d day of October, 1776, so far as it relates to the responsibility of the states for the faithful discharge of the duty of the Commissioners of the continental loan office, be repealed and made void, from and after the first day of January, 1786.
In obedience to the order of the 6th, the Secretary at War transmitted to Congress, a return of military stores belonging to the United States, and the places of their deposit.3
[Note 3: 3 On this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, Thomas Hutchins and David Rittenhouse, John Ewing and--Moore were nominated by the States of Massachusetts and New York as Commissioners to run the boundary line between those two States.]
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