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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 --[January 12th. 1786.]
The Board of Treasury to whom it was Referred, to Revise the System adopted for the Settlement of the Accounts of the five great Departments, and to report such Alterations therein, or such other Mode as in their Opinion may be more conducive to a speedy and just Settlement of said Accounts, Beg leave to Report:
That, in pursuance of the Reference above mentioned they have turned their attention to the situation of the Public Accounts; the present Arrangements for adjusting the same; and the progress made in this important Business.
That from the result of this Examination, they are imprest with a conviction that the present System for Settling the Accounts in the five great Departments, is more expensive than is consistent with the present state of the Finances, and not calculated to bring those extensive Accounts to a speedy and final Adjustment.
That an uniformity of principles in the Settlement of these Accounts is essential to private as well as Public Justice; and that such a connection exists betwixt the Accounts of the several Departments, as to render a reference to the Papers of Officers employed in the different
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Branches, frequent and indispensably necessary: And that, from these circumstances, arises a necessity of Establishing the different Offices in one Building, and placing the General Superintendance of the Settlement of Accounts under the direction of one person well qualified for this important trust, and who will devote his whole attention to the Execution of it.
That, to the advantages to be derived from this measure may be added, the facility which Accountants will find in closing their Public Transactions, and an easier intercourse betwixt this Board, and the Persons employed in that Business, than can be kept up in the present dispers'd situation of the several Officers. The Board beg leave further to Report to Congress:
That the Yearly Expense of the present Offices for Settling the Accounts of the five great Departments, is not less than thirteen thousand, five hundred Dollars; and that in the Judgement of this Board, the Yearly Expenditure of Nine thousand Dollars will, under a proper Arrangement, compleat this necessary work in a more speedy and efficacious manner.
From these considerations, the Board beg leave to submit to the Judgement of Congress the following Resolves, vizt.:
Resolved, That the Resolves of Congress of the 27th. February, 1782, so far as they relate to the Appointment of Commissioners for Settling the Accounts of the five great Departments be Repealed. That the respective Commissioners deliver to the Order of the Board of Treasury, the Books and Papers of their several Offices; and that they Account respectively with the Comptroller of the Treasury, for the Amount of the Certificate paper delivered to them.
That the Board of Treasury be, and they are hereby empowered and directed to Apply out of the Monies heretofore Granted for the said Departments, a Sum not exceeding Nine thousand Dollars, per annum, for the sole and express purpose of procuring a speedy Settlement of the Accounts of the said Departments. That the Superintendance of the Settlement of the said Accounts, be vested in one person; and that he Exercise all the powers, in the Adjustment of the same, as were assigned to the said Commissioners by any former Resolves of Congress.
That in Organizing the said Office, the Board of Treasury be, and they are hereby Authorized to engage such Persons as they may judge best adapted for their respective Stations, Reporting to Congress the Names of those employed and their several Allowances.
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That all Persons employed in Adjusting the said Accounts, take the Oath of Office previous to their entering on the Execution of the Trust reposed in them.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood, Walter Livingston, and Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, folio 109. It was apparently read this day and is indorsed by Thomson: "Tuesday Jany. 24 assigned." It was printed between January 12 and 24 and one of the printed copies is on folio 117, indorsed: "Jany 25, 1786, Referred to Mr. Pinckney, Mr. Dane, Mr. Monroe, Mr. Johnson, Mr. King."]
Office Of Secretary Of Congress,
Jany. 12, 1786.
On the letter of the 6 September, 1785, from the Marqs. de la Fayette and the Meml. of the Sr. D'argaynarats stating that in the year 1778 he freighted a ship in which he sent to America sundry merchandize and Warlike stores; that the ship arrived at Salem in Massachusetts and the cargo was sold by a Monsr. la Fitte a mercht. That the returns made hint was only an Accot. of 143,616 dollrs. in cont. Currency which on the 26 March, 1782, was deposited in the Consul general's Office at Boston; that this paper still remains there; that the value of the merchandize and stores sent formed the whole of his fortune and that by not receiving any return, he and his large family are reduced to indigence &c.
The Secretary of Congress reports That the subject of the deposits made by the subjects of his M. C. Majesty at different periods in the chancery of the Consulate amounting to between 5 and six millions of dollars has with other matters been stated to Congress in a note from Mr De Marbois Chargé des Affairs of France dated 16 May, 1785, and that a report of the board of treasury on that note now lies for the Consideration of Congress.
And therefore the Secy. is of Opinion that the Meml. of the Sr. D'argaynarts should be filed until Congress shall have come to a decision on the said report.
Agreed to 17 Jany.
Reports of Secretary of Congress No. 180.
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