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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 --WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, as before.2
[Note 2: 2 July 5: "Motion of Mr. [Charles] Pettit for extending the resolution of May 10, 1780, to certificates lost out of the bounds of U.S." was referred to the Board of Treasury to report and report rendered August 9.
Committee Book No. 190.]
Office for Foreign Affairs,
3d. July, 1786.
Sir: I find that Congress were pleased on the 22d. Ult; to order me "to transmit to the Executives of the States Abstracts of the Numbers, Names, and Owners of Negroes carried away by the British in contravention to the late Treaty of Peace, and which were the Property of the Citizens of such States respectively."
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I suspect that Congress were not apprized of the Length of this Account. A very diligent and good Clerk in this Office was employed six Weeks in making a Copy of it for Mr. Adams. The Number of Clerks now in the Office are barely sufficient for the ordinary Business of it. If therefore thirteen manuscript Copies are to be made, with any tolerable Degree of Expedition, it will be necessary for me to employ a large additional Number. The Expence will be considerable, and the Means of defraying it being rendered uncertain by the present State of the Treasury, which is now in arrear, even to the stated Clerks, creates Difficulties which merit consideration.
This Account does not appear to me capable of Abridgement, and I am inclined to think that the Wages of extra Clerks would exceed the Price for which it might be printed.
That Congress may judge of these Circumstances with greater Precision I herewith transmit the Book in which this Account is entered.
Whatever may be the Orders on this or any other Subject, it will always give me Pleasure to execute them with Punctuality and Expedition.
I have the Honor to be etc.
John Jay.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, III, folio 21. According to indorsement it was read July 5 and referred to Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [William] Grayson and Mr. [Timothy] Bloodworth, who reported July 6. The report was acted on August 9.]
His Excellency,
The President of Congress.
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