| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Pierse] Long, and from Connecticut, Mr. [David] Platt] Cook.
Congress resumed the consideration of a report from the Secretary for foreign affairs, respecting consuls:
["Motion respecting Consuls"]
Be it ordained
That the Ministers plenipoy. of the U. S. to any power be vested with the powers of Consuls general within their respective jurisdictions as ministers
That at the courts where no ministers reside the Chargé des affaires P. of the U. S. residing at sd. points be empowered to exercise the duties of Consul general
Page 846 | Page image
That Consuls shall reside at Bilboa, Cadiz, Malaga, Alicant, Barcelona, Teneriffe, Lisbon, Madeira, Amsterdam, P. London, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Copenhagen, Canton.
That no Consul general or Consul shall on any Referred to Secretary for report of Customs of Nations. pretence receive Salary, fees or perquisites of office. That no Consul general being Minister resident P. or Chargé des affaires shall be concerned in any trade or commerce whatever.
That the Consuls general be empowered to suspend any Consul within their jurisdiction for good reason and to appoint another person to fill his place and report the same to Congress who will ultimately judge of such suspension. And that they P. determine the boundaries of each consulate within their respective jurisdiction.
That the Minister or Chargé des affaires of the U. S. at the Court of Spain, exercise the powers of Consul general in the kingdom of Portugal also.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of John Kean, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 453. It is indorsed by Thomson: "Monday Oct. 24, 1785 determination of Question to agree to the whole of the paragraphs marked P postponed by State of Rhode island." Committee Book No. 190 notes under October 24: "the fees to be paid to Consuls &c and the customs of Nations in this respect" referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report, which he did October 31. See post, October 27.]
Ordered, That the Secretary for foreign affairs, report the fees to be paid to Consuls, their respective jurisdictions and duties.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Charles Pinckney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 455.]
That the following proposition being under debate, viz "that no consul genl or consul shall on any pretence receive salary fees or perquisites of Office
Ordered, That the sd. proposition be referred to the Secretary for foreign Affairs to report the customs of Nations in this respect.3
[Note 3: 3 The above, in the writing of Charles Thomson, was added to Pinckney's motion. See post, October 27.
Also on this day was read a letter of October 11 from Joseph Borden requesting to be continued in the office of Commissioner of the Loan Office for New Jersey. It is in No. 78, folio 497. The indorsement states: "March 7, 1786, Referred to the board of treasury to take order for having the accounts of Joseph Borden, esqr. late Comr. of Continental loan Office for N. Jersey, settled and for receiving from him the books checks and papers belonging to that Office."]
Page 847 | Page image
Office For Foreign Affairs,
20th. October, 1785.
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs to whom was referred his Letter of the 8th. Inst. to his Excellency the President enclosing one from the Consul of Sweden, Reports--
That in his Opinion Copies of the Consul's Letter should be sent to the different States, with a Resolution of the following Tenor.--
Whereas His Swedish Majesty hath been pleased to place the american Merchants, trading to the Ports of his Kingdom, exactly on the same Footing as swedish Merchants; so that american Ships and Merchandize which there arrive and are imported, are chargeable only with the same Duties and Imposts, as if they belonged to the Merchants of the Country. And whereas it is both proper and expedient, that such Marks of Liberality and Good Will towards the United States should meet with adequate Returns on their Part.
Therefore, Resolved, That it be and it is hereby recommended to the Legislatures of the United States, to provide by Laws, for that Purpose to be enacted, that the Ships and Merchants of Sweden trading here, be put exactly on the Same Footing with the Ships and Merchants of the United States, So long as the Ships and Merchants of the United States trading to Sweden, shall there continue on the same Footing with the Ships and Merchants of that Nation.
Your Secretary thinks it would also be proper to give a Copy of the aforegoing Resolution to the Swedish Consul, that by transmitting it to his Court, his Swedish Majesty may be induced to postpone making any Alterations in his commercial System respecting America, which it is probable he might otherwise be led to do, on finding that his Merchants did not enjoy reciprocal Priviledges in this Country.
All which is Submitted to the Wisdom of Congress.
John Jay.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 81, I, folio 469. According to indorsement it was read this day. Soderstrom's letter, which Jay enclosed, is dated September 27 and is on folio 477.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 190, a letter of October 24 from Commissioner of Army Accounts, John Pierce, regarding the settlement of affairs of his office, was read and referred to the Board of Treasury to report. A report was rendered October 31. Pierce's letter is in No. 62, folio 57.
Also "motion of Mr. Howell for importing copper" was referred to the Board of Treasury to report.]
Page 848 | Page image
Board Of Treasury,
Octr. 22nd., 1785.
The Board of Treasury to whom was referred the petition of Dominique L'Eglise beg leave to report.
That they find by a petition and conference with the petitioner that he has a certificate signed by the register of the Treasury for 1700 dollars, on which he has received no interest.
That the petitioner is willing to relinquish the principal upon the following conditions, Vizt.
"That an immediate payment be made of the interest which has already accrued, amounting to upwards of three hundred dollars," and,
That the interest amounting to one hundred and two dollars be paid annually during his life.
The Board are of opinion that as provision is made for the payment of interest on the domestic debt, to the 31st. Decr., 1784, an appropriation of money upon the conditions above proposed is inexpedient.
They are further of opinion that the petitioner's situation is preferable to that of many others (who have probably suffered much more), from the enjoyment of an annual pension of one hundred, & twenty dollars. The following Resolve is therefore humbly submitted.
Resolved, That Congress having by the requisition of the 27th. Septr last made a general provision for the payment of interest on the domestic debt the prayer of Dominique L'Eglise for a partial payment of interest cannot be complied with.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, folio 47. According to the indorsement it was read this day. Committee Book 191 states that both memorial and petition were filed. See ante, October 19.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |