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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, MAY 26, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina and Georgia; and from New Hampshire, Mr. [Pierse] Long; from Rhode Island, Mr. [James] Manning; from Virginia, Mr. [William] Grayson, and from South Carolina, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney.
On motion of Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, seconded by Mr. [Stephen Mix] Mitchell,
Resolved, 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 forty-first degree of North latitude, one hundred and twenty miles West of the western boundary line of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as now claimed by the said Commonwealth, and from thence by a line to be drawn North parallel to, and one hundred and twenty miles west of the said west line of Pennsylvania, and to continue North until it comes to forty two degrees two minutes North latitude, whenever the delegates of Connecticut shall be furnished with full powers, and shall execute a deed for that purpose.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of John Bubenheim Bayard, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 521. The following proviso has been crossed out: "Provided that the acceptance of the said cession shall in no degree be construed to affect the claim of any State or States to any Territory which has been or shall be ascertained by the degree of a federal Court to be within the territory or jurisdiction of any State of States." The motion is indorsed by Roger Alden: "the reports and motions enclosed--Act filed with similar Acts of the States."]
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On the question to agree to the above resolution, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
War Office, May 25, 1786.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to Congress a copy of a letter received from Mr. Humphreys. I have also received from him the ten swords specified in his letter, the design and execution of which are in a masterly style. I shall forward the swords to the Gentlemen to whom they were directed to be presented, or to their representatives.
I have the honor to be etc.
H. Knox.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, I, folio 309. According to indorsement it was read May 26. A copy of Humphrey's letter is on folio 305.]
The Honorable
Nathaniel Gorham, Esqre.,
Chairman of Congress.
That the secretary for foreign affairs be directed to report instructions to the Ministers of the U.S. in Europe to conclude [on the best
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terms in yr power] as soon as may be treaties [of peace] with any person or persons authorized by the states of Barbary [or any of them] for that purpose, and that the said ministers be impowered to open a loan in H borrow on the faith of the U. S. in Europe, [upon the best terms in yr. power] a sum not exceeding 3,000,000 of [Dutch] florins for effecting the said treaties.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Charles Pinckney, except the words in brackets which are in that of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 257. The heading at the top and reference order at the bottom are in Charles Thomson's writing. The reference was also entered by Thomson in Resolve Book No. 190 which states that the Secretary for Foreign Affairs reported May 30.]
May 26, 1786: Referred to the Secy. for foreign Affairs to report.
Office of Secy of Congress,
May 26, 1786.
On the letter of 22 from Mr. Gardoqui relative to the Account of Messrs. J. Gardoqui & Sons agst. the United States
The Secretary of Congress reports: That the board of treasury have reported on a similar letter from Mr. Gardoqui and that this Report of the board of treasury lies before Congress.
The Secretary farther reports: That the 27 Jany., 1786, from Mr. Dumas and the papers therein enclosed relative to his Accot. with the United States be referred to the board of treasury to report.
The Secretary farther reports: That the note of 11 May from the Encargado de Negocios of Spain relative to the Sums received from his Excy. Senr. Count de Galvez other subjects of New Orleans and Havanna by O. Pollock be referred to the board of treasury to report.2
[Note 2: 2 This proceeding is entered by Thomson in Reports of the Secretary of Congress No. 180.
May 26: On this day, according to indorsement, was read a petition from Isaac Sears and Pascal Nelson Smith, merchants of New York, and Ebenezer Woodward and Jonathan Nutting, merchants of Boston on the case of the captured British sloop Jane. It is in No. 42, VII, folio 229.
Also, was read a letter of May 16 from Governor Patrick Henry, of Virginia, informing of the hostile conduct of western Indians. It is in No. 71, II, folio 427. See post, May 30.]
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