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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 --TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia; and from New Hampshire, Mr. [Pierse] Long; from Rhode Island, Mr. [James] Manning; from Connecticut, Mr. [Stephen Mix] Mitchell, and from South Carolina, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney.
The Board of Treasury to whom was Referred the Memorial of Andrew Caldwell of the City of Philadelphia Beg leave to Report,
That the Transactions stated in the Memorial appear to have taken place under the direction of Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, Agent Clothiers for the Army, whose Accounts stated to the time, when the purchase mentioned in the Memorial took place, have not been Exhibited, although repeated Applications have been made for this purpose.
That a Paper purporting to be a general Account Current of the Agents abovementioned has been deposited in the Commissioner's Office for the Clothing Department, bearing date on the 1st. August, 1780, in which the sum of £45,048 Pennsylvania Currency, is stated to be due to Andrew and James Caldwell as stated in the above Memorial.
That the Account above mentioned is not Authenticated, neither can it be ascertained till such time as the Accounts of Mease & Caldwell are rendered, at what time the Balances became due to the Memorialist, so that the Specie value may be Estimated accordingly.
From the above Statement the Board Submit to the Judgement of Congress the following Resolve:
That the Commissioners for Settling the Accounts of the Clothing Department, be directed forthwith to call upon the Representatives of Messrs. Mease & Caldwell, late Agent Clothiers for the Army to exhibit for Adjustment, the Accounts of the said Agents, for their Transactions in the Capacity above mentioned
That when the Commissioners for the Clothing Department shall be able to ascertain the Specie Value of the Balance due to the late
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House of Andrew & James Caldwell, he be directed to Issue his Certificate for the Amount in favor of such Person or Persons as may be properly Authorised to receive the same.
All which is humbly submitted.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Walter Livingston and Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, I, folio 151. According to indorsement it was read May 30 and referred to Mr. [William] Grayson, Mr. [John Bubenheim] Bayard and Mr. [William] Hindman. Committee Book No. 190 shows that this committee was renewed on September 7, q. v.]
May 27th., 1786.
Motion of Mr. King seconded by Mr. Lawrence, That the Secretary at War take order to forward Capt. Obeal and his Associates to their Own country by the route of the North and Mohawk rivers, and that the board of treasury furnish the money necessary to defray their expences until they arrive at the borders of their own Country.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 259. According to indorsement it was made May 30 and referred to the Secretary at War to take order. It was also entered, by Roger Alden, in Committee Book No. 190.]
The Board of Treasury to whom was Referred the Memorial of Dirk Van Ingen of the Township of Schenectady in the State of New York, Beg leave to Report:
That it appears from the said Memorial that Mr. Van Ingen was employed as a Surgeon in the Hospital of the Northern Department from the 9th. May, 1777, to the 18th. January, 1780, at which time he was dismissed as a Supernumerary.
That the Memorialist states that the Legislature of the State of New York, has, agreeably to the Recommendations of the United States in Congress, made up the Depreciation of all the Surgeons in the Hospital of the Northern Department, excepting that of the Memorialist; and Prays that the United States in Congress would be pleased to recommend his Case to the said Legislature, in order that he may reap the Benefit of the general Recommendations of Congress, equally with the other Officers of the Northern Hospital.
On the Circumstances above mentioned the Board beg leave to Report:
That by the various Resolves of Congress, relative to depreciation of Pay of the 10th. April and 8th. August, 1780, and 15th. May and 12th. August, 1783, it appears to have been the intention of the United
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States in Congress not to extend the Claim of Depreciation to any persons who were not in the Service of the United States on the 10th. April, 1780.
That the Memorialist quitted the Service of the United States on the 18th. of January, 1780; on which Account it is to be supposed that the Legislature of the State of New York declined making up his Depreciation; the same not being agreeably to the Resolves of Congress in that behalf made.
That however meritorious the Services of the Memorialist May have been, it does not appear proper in the Opinion of this Board, to establish a precedent in this case, which may defeat that general System for Allowance of Depreciation, which it is to be presumed by this Board has, after mature consideration been adopted by Congress.
They therefore Submit the following Resolve:
That, the Claim of Dirk Van Ingen for Depreciation of Pay, on account of his Services as a Surgeon in the Hospital of the Northern Department, cannot be admitted; the said Van Ingen, having quitted the Service of the United States before the 10th. April, 1780.
All which is humbly Submitted.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Walter Livingston and Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, folio 471. According to indorsement it was read May 30.
May 30: The following committee was appointed:
Mr. [William] Grayson, Mr. [Nathan] Dane and Mr. [James] Monroe, on "Letter May 16th., 1786, from Govr. Virginia, of hostile conduct of the W. Indians. See post, June 6.
The "Letter and Note, May 29th., 1786, from the Minister of the United Netherlands, respecting the resolution of May 17th. on the subject of his Note of Feby. 19th." was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report, which he did August 23. Van Berekel's letter and note of May 29, which relates to the affairs of the Dutch creditors of De la Lande & Fynje, are in No. 99, folios 259--265, accompanied by translations. Jay's letter of May 30 forwarding the note of Van Berekel is in No. 80, II, folio 369. Committee Book No. 190.
Also, according to indorsement was read a letter of May 25 from the Secretary at War enclosing copies of letters from Lafayette and D'Estaing. Knox's letter is in No. 150, I, folio 313, accompanied by the copies.]
May 27th., 1786.
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