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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 --THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, as yesterday.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report under debate yesterday, and which was amended to read as follows:
That Congress, in behalf of the United States, are ready to accept all the right, title, interest, jurisdiction and claim of the State of Connecticut to certain western lands, beginning at the completion of the 41st degree of north latitude, one hundred and twenty miles westward of the Western boundary line of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as now claimed by the said Commonwealth, and from thence a line to be drawn north, parallel to, and one hundred and twenty miles westward of the said west line of Pennsylvania, and to continue north until it comes to forty two degrees and two minutes North latitude, whenever the delegates of Connecticut shall be furnished with full powers, and shall execute a deed for that purpose; provided that the acceptance of the said cession shall in no degree be construed to affect the claims of any state or states, to any territory which has been or shall be ascertained by the decree of a federal Court, to be within the territory or jurisdiction of any State or states.
A motion was made by Mr. [Nathan] Dane, seconded by Mr. [Rufus] King, to postpone the report as amended, to take up the following:
That Congress, in behalf of the United States, are ready to accept all the right, title, interest, jurisdiction and claim of the state of Connecticut, to certain western lands westward of the following line, that is to say, beginning at the completion of the forty first degree of
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north latitude, one hundred and twenty miles westward of the western boundary line of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as now claimed by the said Commonwealth, and from thence a line to be drawn northerly, parallel to, and one hundred and twenty miles westward of the said west line of Pennsylvania, and to continue northerly until it comes to the latitude of the boundary line between the States of Connecticut and Massachusetts, and will accept a deed of cession thereof from the delegates of the said State of Connecticut, whenever they shall tender the same duly executed.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Nathan Dane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 539. On the verso in an unidentified writing is: "Improper to do any thing respecting former Cessions because they must be construed upon the principle contained. Injury."]
On the question to postpone for the purpose abovementioned, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Rufus] King,
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So the question was lost.
The question being then taken on the report as amended, was lost.
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The Board of Treasury to whom was Referred the Petition of Patrick Bennett, Beg leave to Report:
That the Petitioner acted as Forage Master in the late Army from the Year 1777 to the year 1780; and prays that the Depreciation of Monies received by him on Account of his Services whilst acting in that line, may be made up to him.
On the above Application the Board beg leave to observe that, no provision has been made by the United States in Congress for making up Depreciation of Pay to any Persons who have Served in the late Quarter Master General's Department.
That should the United States in Congress hereafter judge it proper to place the Officers of the late Staff Departments of the Army on the same footing with Officers of the Line, with respect to the Allowance of Depreciation, the Petitioner would not then be Entitled to the Benefit of such provision, since it appears by his own Shewing that he quitted the Service on the 17th. March, 1780; and the different Acts of Congress of the 10th. April and 8th. August, 1780, and of the 15th. May and 12th. August, 1783, relative to the Allowance for Depreciation, evince it to be the uniform intention of that Honorable Body to exclude from the Claim of Depreciation all Persons whatsoever, who were not in Service at the Periods above mentioned.
The Board therefore Submit to the Consideration of Congress the following Resolve:
That the Memorial of Patrick Bennet, a Forage Master in the late Army, praying for an Allowance of Depreciation to the time he left the Service of the United States (being in the Month of March, 1780) is Inadmissible.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, I, folio 107. According to indorsement it was read May 25.
May 25: On this day, according to indorsement, was read a letter of May 24, from the Board of Treasury, forwarding an extract from the minutes of the Board establishing the salaries of the various Commissioners of the Loan Offices. The letter is in No. 140, II, 223 and the extract is on folio 227.
Also a petition of Rachel Wells was read, praying payment of interest on the money she lent the United States in 1778. It is in No. 42, VIII, folio 354.
Also was read the report of May 24, from the Commissioner of Army Accounts, on the memorial of Nathan Fuller. See ante, May 3. The report is in No. 62, folio 123.
Also was read a letter of May 24 from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, forwarding a letter from C. W. F. Dumas. Jay's letter is in No. 80, II, folio 365.]
May 24th., 1786.
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