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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 --MONDAY, JULY 3, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia; and from Rhode Island, Mr. [James] Manning, and from Connecticut, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson.
Mr. John Parker, a delegate for South Carolina, attended, and produced the credentials of his appointment, by which it appears, that he is appointed a delegate to represent that State in Congress, until the first day of February next.
State of South Carolina:
By His Excellency William Moultrie Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief, in and over the State aforesaid.
To The Honorable John Parker Senior, Esquire, Greeting:
Know ye that by Virtue of the Power and Authority in me Vested by the Legislature of this State I have Commissioned, Constituted, and Appointed and by These Presents do Commission, Constitute, and Appoint you the said John Parker Senior to be a Delegate to represent the State in the Congress of the United States of America.
This Commission to Continue and be in force until the twenty-first day of February which will be in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and eighty-seven, and no longer.
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Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State in the City of Charleston this twenty-first of February in the year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty-six and of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America the tenth.
Willm. Moultrie.1
[Note 1: 1 The original commission is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, South Carolina, Credentials. According to indorsement it was read July 3. It is entered in Record of Credentials No. 179 but not in the Journal.]
[Seal Pendant]
By His Excellency's Command:
Peter Freneau,
Dy. Secy.
On a report of the board of treasury, to whom was referred a memorial of John Wilcox and Gerardus Clarkson, executors of Benjamin Flowers, deceased, late Commissary general of Military Stores.
Board of Treasury,
June 29th, 1786.
Sir: In our Report to Congress of the 22d instant we informed that Honorable Body of a difference in Statement betwixt the Comptroller of the State of Pennsylvania and the General Treasury, of payments made by that State on Account of the Requisitions of the 27th. and 28th. April 1784, and 27th. September, 1785. In Consequence of Mr. Nicholson's (the State Comptroller's) directions, the Treasurer of the State of Pennsylvania has refused to pay the Commissioner of the Loan Office, any further sums on Account of the last Requisition; and the Comptroller of the State has applied to Mr. Smith the Loan Officer, for a Receipt in behalf of the State for a number of Facilities which they propose paying to Complete their Quota. This sum the State Comptroller in his Letter of the 11th. instant (Copy of which is enclosed) computes at about 170,000 Dollars. By the enclosed Statements made by this Board of the payments made by the State of Pennsylvania on the Requisitions of the 4th. September, 1782, 27th. and 28th. April, 1784, and 27th. September, 1785, The Balance due from the State in Facilities is only 72,759 Dollars: of Course the Commissioner of the Loan Office cannot be authorised by this Board to receive any further Sum in Indents of Interest than the above mentioned balance; neither can a discharge be given for this sum, 'till the whole Amount
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of the Specie required by the Requisitions for the years 1784 and 1785 is paid into the Treasury.
Congress will observe that the difference in our Statement, and that made in behalf of the State, arises from a variance in the Construction of the Requisition of the 27th. and 28th, April, 1784. The State claims a right to place to the Account of Facilities one-fourth Part of their whole Quota of the Moiety of Eight Million of Dollars: The Requisition says Explicitly, "that only one-fourth part of the Balance then due may be discharged in Facilities." It is not for this Board to enter into the Merits of the Claim made in behalf of the State of Pennsylvania. As the Executive Officers of Congress it becomes our Duty to direct the Commissioner of the Loan Office to suspend the Issue of Indents 'till the State have fully complied with ye Requisition of the 27th. September, last.
It did not occur at first that the Act of Pennsylvania was only a partial compliance. This upon a close examination appears to be the case. Had we been fully aprised of this matter before any Facilities were issued, we should not have furnished the Loan Officer of Pennsylvania with them.
We have the honor to be etc.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter, signed by Samuel Osgood, Walter Livingston, and Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, folio 335. According to indorsement it was read July 3 and referred back to the Board of Treasury to report. Committee Book No. 190, notes the report as rendered July 20. The enclosure, from John Nicholson to Thomas Smith, is on folio 339; Pennsylvania's account with the United States for her specie quota of several requisitions is on folio 345 and the account of the Indents of interest is on folio 349.]
Resolved, That the executors of colonel Benjamin Flowers, late commissary general of military Stores, be directed to transmit to the comptroller of the treasury, such vouchers and documents relative to the accounts of that department, as may facilitate the settlement of the particular accounts of the deceased, and of the persons acting under him as principal of the department.
That the board of treasury cause the particular account of the deceased, for articles purchased or received by him as principal, to be forthwith examined; and, if, on a report of the comptroller, in consequence of such examination, it shall
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appear, that the best account is rendered of the articles purchased or received by the deceased, which present circumstances will admit of, that they be, and they hereby are authorised to direct the issue of the usual certificate for any balance which may appear due on the settlement of the cash account of the deceased.1
[Note 1: 1 July 3: The following committees were appointed: Mr. [Josiah] Hornblower, Mr. [John Cleves] Symmes and Mr. [Melancton] Smith, on the "Report of board of treasy. and Secy at War on claim of Capt. Baldwin." Report was rendered July 20. See ante, April 24.
A Grand Committee consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Livermore, Mr. [Nathan] Dane, Mr. [James] Manning, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [Melancton] Smith, Mr. [John Cleves] Symmes, Mr. [Charles] Pettit, Mr. [John] Henry, Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Timothy] Bloodworth, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney and Mr. [William] Houstoun, "To report such amendments to the Confederation and a draft of such resolutions as it may be necessary to recommend to the several states for the purpose of obtaining from them such powers as will render the federal government adequate to the ends for which it was instituted." Report was rendered August 7.
The "Report of Secy at War on claims of Jesse Cook and Jesse Grant" was referred to the Commissioner of Army Accounts to report and report rendered July 6.
"A motion of Mr. [William] Houstoun respect lieut Col. Pannill of the Georgia line" was referred to the Commissioner of Army Accounts to report and report rendered August 1.
Committee Book No. 190.]
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