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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, JANUARY 17, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina; and from the State of Maryland, Mr.
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[William] Hindman; from Virginia, Mr. [James] Monroe, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
Mr. Hindman produced credentials, dated the 6 November, 1785; by which it appears, that the honble. John Henry, William Hindman, William Harrison, Richard Ridgely and Nathaniel Ramsay, were empowered and authorised to represent the State of Maryland in the United States in Congress Assembled, for one whole year, from the second Monday in December, 1785.
To the Honorable John Henry, William Hindman, William Harrison, Richard Ridgely and Nathaniel Ramsey, Esquires:
The State Of Maryland reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your diligence, wisdom and fidelity, hath appointed you Delegates for this State in the United States in Congress assembled, with full W. SMALLWOOD [With the Great Seal appendant.] power and authority to you, or any two or more of you, to represent and act for this State in the United States in Congress assembled, for one whole year from the second Monday in December next; and also you or either of you are fully empowered and authorised to represent and Act for the State in a Committee of the States, which may within the time aforesaid be appointed by the United States in Congress assembled.
Given under my Hand and the Seal of the State, at the City of Annapolis, this Twenty-sixth Day of November Anno Domini One thousand seven hundred and Eighty-five.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Maryland, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
Mr. Nathaniel Gorham, a delegate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Mr. Peter W. Yates, a delegate for the State of New York, attended, and took their seats in Congress.
War Office, Jany. 16, 1786.
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of War to whom was referred the Petition of Johannes Schrine a Mohawk indian, reports:
That not having any personal knowledge of said Schrine and the petition being unaccompanied by any certificates to support it your secretary thought it necessary to apply to the late General Schuyler
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for information respecting him: the answer which is annexed contains an ample statement of the circumstances relating to the said Johannes Schrine.
In addition to the above mentioned letter there are nine affidavits of the inhabitants of the district where Shrine resided taken before Mr. Justice Harpur of Montgomery county tending to prove that the said Johannes Schrine previous to the year 1779 was esteemed attached to the American cause.
It is also asserted by Schrines friends that his family were in the hands of the british parties, and that had he left them when on their predatory incursions his wife and children must have suffered for his conduct.
On the information given your secretary observes that there is no evidence to prove that Johannes Schrine ever acted in favor of America unless his going with a flag can be so construed; that with respect to his pay of a captain it is evident from General Schuyler's information that he is not intitled to it from the United States.
But as it appears to be an important policy to conciliate the good dispositions of the indians generally and as Johannes Schrine appears to have been a chief held in considerable estimation, your Secretary is of opinion that it would be proper to make him some donation for the loss of his stock &c, he therefore submits the following resolve:
Resolved, That the sum of one hundred dollars be paid to Johannes Schrine, an indian chief of the Mohawk tribe as a compensation for the services and sufferings which he alledges to have performed and sustained in the service of the United States.
H. Knox1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 151, folio 137. According to indorsement it was read January 17 and passed May 8. A copy of Schuyler's letter is on folio 141 and Roger Alden has indorsed the report: "9 affidavits delivered go Robt. Boyd Esqr. March 14, 1786."
On this day the report of the Secretary of Congress on the memorial of the Sieur D'Argaynarats was agreed to. See ante, January 12.]
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