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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, NOVEMBER 4, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, as before.
On the report of a committee, to whom was referred a letter of the 9 August last, from Messrs. Isaac Roosevelt, John Mercier and W. Malcolm, and also a letter of 2 August, from Walter Livingston, in behalf of himself and Associates, and Comfort Sands & Co.
Resolved, That the secretary of Congress be, and hereby is authorised, in conjunction with Walter Livingston and Comfort Sands, and their associates, to agree upon and appoint two disinterested referees to be added to those heretofore appointed, to decide certain controversies between the United States, and the said Walter Livingston and Comfort Sands, and their associates, who, or a majority of whom, shall be competent to report their opinion to Congress.3
[Note 3: 3 This resolve, which was offered as a motion, by Rufus King, is in No. 19, III, folio 609, in King's writing. In the motion the word opinion is in the plural.]
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The report of a committee consisting of Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [William] Hindman, to whom was referred a motion concerning certain powers and duties of the board of treasury, being called for and read;
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till
Monday next, and that the report be entered on the journal.
The report is as follows:
"That the board of treasury be and hereby are declared to be vested with full authority to superintend and examine the conduct of all officers employed in the department of the treasury and of the several commissioners appointed or that hereafter may be appointed for the settlement of the public accounts, as well those of the five great departments as those authorised to adjust the accounts between the United States and individual States. And in case any of the said Officers or commissioners shall unnecessarily absent themselves from their respective Offices, or shall engage in any business inconsistent with or that may hinder a constant discharge of the duties of their several appointments, it shall be the duty of the board of treasury to make immediate report thereof to Congress, that such measures may be adopted thereon as Justice and the public interest may require."
On a report of the board of treasury, to whom was referred a memorial of Robert Howe, late a major general in the service of the United States,
Resolved, That the commissioner of Army Accounts be directed to adjust the accounts of the late major general Howe, for depreciation of pay, agreeably to the Scale of depreciation, by which the State of Massachusetts, calculated the pay due to the troops of the said State, any thing in the resolve of the 12th April last, to the contrary not withstanding.1
[Note 1: 1 This report of the Board of Treasury, dated November 4, on the memorial of Major General Robert Howe, is signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, I, folio 609. The recommendation of the Board was adopted verbatim as the resolve above.]
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On motion of Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [James] McHenry,
Resolved, That the several matters now before Congress, be referred over and recommended to the United States in Congress assembled, to meet in this place on Monday next.
On motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell,
Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be given to his excellency Richard Henry Lee, for his able and faithful discharge of the duties of president, while acting in that important station.
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