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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, FEBRUARY 1, 1786
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina; and from the State of Maryland, Mr. [William] Hindman, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
Mr. Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, attended, and produced his Credentials, by which it appears, that on the 15 of November, 1785, he was, by joint ballot of both houses, elected a delegate to serve in Congress from the time of his appointment, until the first Monday in November, 1786.
Virginia, Scilicet:
The General Assembly of this Commonwealth on the fifteenth Day of this present Month, by joint ballot of both Houses, elected Henry Lee jun. esquire a Delegate to serve in Congress from the time of his Appointment, until the first Monday of November one thousand seven hundred and eighty six.
Seal attached Given under my hand and the Seal of the Commonwealth this 17th. Day of November, 1785.
P. Henry.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Virginia, Credentials of Delegates. It is indorsed by Thomson as read February 1 and is entered also in the Record of Credentials but not in the Journals.]
On a report of the board of treasury, to whom was referred a motion of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
Resolved, That all holders of loan Office certificates, issued since the first of March, 1778, be, and they are hereby authorised to present the same to the loan Officer of the State in which such certificates issued, in Order that the specie value thereof may be liquidated; and that on the former certificates being given up, specie certificates to the same value shall be issued, agreeably to such form, and in such sums as the board of treasury may direct, provided that no certificate issue for a less sum than One hundred
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dollars; and that the paper, checks and devices of the new certificates resemble as nearly as may be the old certificates, which shall be transmitted as vouchers of Reissue to the comptroller's Office.
On the question to agree to this the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Kean
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.1
[Note 1: 1 The vote was entered by Thomson on the report of the Board of Treasury, Nov. 18, 1785, read November 30, on the Gerry motion. After duly entering the vote on the Journal, Thomson crossed it off.]
On a report of the board of treasury, to whom was referred a petition of Edward Keran, claiming depreciation on monies received by him in the Ordnance department,
Resolved, That the claim of Edward Keran, for depreciation of pay during his service in the Ordnance department, is inadmissible.
On a report of the board of treasury, to whom was referred a memorial of William Hoskins,
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Resolved, That the memorial of William Hoskins, late an Assistant in the commissary general's department, praying that the former adjustment of his account by the commissioner duly authorised for such purpose, may be revised and that a further compensation be made him, cannot be complied with.1
[Note 1: 1 The Board of Treasury's report was read in Congress, Nov. 30, 1785.]
On the motion of Mr.Mitchel, seconded by Mr. Nathaniel Gorham,
Resolved, That the injunction of Secrecy upon Mr. Adams' letters, so far as relates to the appointment of Commissioners to treat with the Barbary powers, be taken off.
Office For Foreign Affairs,
31st. January, 1786.
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs to whom was referred his Letter of 28th. December, 1785, enclosing Mr: Adams of 15th., 17th., 21st., 25th. and 27th. October last, Reports:
That in his Opinion it should be--
Resolved, That Congress approve of the Manner in which Mr: Adams appears from his several Letters to have executed the Duties of his Legation to the Court of Great Britain, and that they are greatly pleased with the Diligence, Attention and Intelligence he has Manifested therein.
1 Feby. 1786, Referred to the board of Treasury to Report. Resolved, That Ways and Means should be seasonably devised for placing such further Funds in Europe as will probably be necessary as well for the Support of the public Servants there, as for supplying any Deficiency in the Sum appropriated for the Negociations with the Barbary Powers.
Ordered, that this Resolution be referred to the Treasury to report.
From the Tenor and Complection of all Mr: Adams Letters it appears evident to your Secretary.
[Note 1: 1 This proceeding is entered by Thomson in Secret Journal, Foreign and Domestic, No. 4; an attested copy is hi Secret Journal No. 6 and a copy is in No. 5.
On this day, according to indorsement, the report of a committee on the letter of October 23, 1783, from the Superintendant of Finance, was postponed. This report was read in Congress November 3, 1783, q. v.]
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Your Secretary is also induced to believe as well from Conversations with Mr: Gardoqui as from Mr: Carmichaels Letter, that Spain would if applied to very sincerely endeavour to exert her Influence with the Emperor of Morocco in favor of the United States, Wherefore he thinks that application should be made to his Catholic Majesty for that Purpose.
Your Secretary sees many good Consequences that might result from communicating Mr: Adams Letters to the Executives of the different States, and accompanying them with a Letter from Congress urging the Necessity of ordering all the general Concerns of the Union by a Stable, well digested System, and to that End of delegating such Powers as may be adequate to the great Objects of duly regulating the Commerce protecting the Union, and of drawing forth and directing its Resources both of Wealth and Power, as Exigences may require. Your Secretary nevertheless has great Doubts of the Prudence of communicating Mr: Adams Letters, lest Copies of them
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should return to England and place him there in a Situation neither agreeable to himself nor advantageous to the Public.
Your Secretary has Reason to believe that too much of their Contents has already slipped out, He having been lately told by a Person who ought not to have had such Information, that Mr: Adams had written that the Situation of the british Debts was made an Objection to the Evacuation of our Posts. He is however of Opinion that a Letter from Congress cautiously stating the general State of our Affairs and strongly impressing the Necessity of Efficiency and Vigour in the federal Government would be very expedient.
All which is submitted to the Wisdom of Congress.
John Jay.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 81, II, folio 27. According to indorsement it was read this day and referred as noted. Adams's letters are in No. 84, V, folios 661, 665, 673, 689, and 709.
February 1: The following committee was appointed: Mr. [John] Kean, Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [Melancton] Smith and Mr. [Charles] Pettit, "To make such extracts from Mr. Adams letters of 15, 17, 21, 25, & 27 Octr., 1785, respecting the regulation of Commerce, as they may deem necessary to communicate to the executives of the several states & to prepare a draft of a circular letter to the legislatures on the subject." Report was rendered February 13.
Also the Secretary for Foreign Affairs was instructed "to draft and report Instructions conformable to the 4 and 5 Articles of his report of the 31st Janr. 1786--Instructions to Ministers at Versailles and London." Report was rendered March 22.
Also the Secretary of Congress was directed to take order on the report on John Wingrove's letter. See ante, January 31.
Also John Neuville was nominated by Mr. [John] Kean and [Henry] Remsen by Mr. [John Cleves] Symmes, as Commissioner, under resolve of June 20, 1785, to examine into and report on the administration of the late Superintendant of Finance.
Committee Book No. 190.]
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