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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 --THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and from New Hampshire, Mr. [Pierse] Long; and from Rhode Island, Mr. [James] Manning.
The Secretary of the United States for the department of war to whom was referred a letter of April 27th. from the Secretary for foreign affairs and proposals from Adrian De Nys of Utrecht for raising a regiment in Europe for the service of the United States, Reports:
That he has considered of the proposals of Major Adrian De Nys of Utrecht to raise arm and equip in Europe a corps of one thousand men for the service of the United States as exhibited in an authenticated instrument with his signature signed on the 27th of September, 1785.
That the said proposals appear to be formed on fair and honorable principles and considered only in a pecuniary point of view, would be highly advantageous to the United States were their situation such as to require the assistance of foreign troops.But the articles of Confederation and perpetual Union having directed the mode in which troops shall be furnished for federal purposes, and the said proposals being inconsistent therewith they cannot be embraced.
But as Major De Nys in making the aforesaid proposals appears to have been influenced by a zeal to serve the United States and to have confided in their Justice and Honor, your Secretary submits to Congress the propriety of his writing a letter to the said Major De Nys, to thank him for his liberal offers, and to state the reasons on which Congress decline to accept them. On this principle the following resolution is formed:
Resolved, That the Secretary at war be directed to write a letter to Major De Nys of Utrecht thanking him for the zeal and affection expressed for the United States by his propositions of the 27th of September 1785--to raise arm and equip for their service a corps of one thousand men and to advance the sums necessary for that
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purpose and also to state to him the reasons which induced Congress to decline accepting the same.
All which is submitted to Congress.
H. Knox.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 151, folio 175. According to indorsement it was read May 4.]
War Office, May 4th, 1786.
War Office, May 4th. 1786.
Sir, Lieutenant Colonel Harmar commanding officer of the regiment in the service of the United States, and who commanded the troops on the Ohio, from the 1st. of October, 1784, to the 1st. of October, 1785, has repeatedly stated, that his situation while commanding there, has constrained him to incur expences disproportionate to his pay. That notwithstanding a due adherence to the rules of frugality, as far as the same could with decency and propriety be observed, he has expended a greater sum than his private income would afford, but for which he hopes to be compensated in part by the liberality of the United States. In his letter of the 17th of April to me on this subject, he says,
"It is not my desire to gain any thing from the public, but merely to be reimbursed for the expences incurred in supporting the rank and dignity of commanding officer--
One dollar pr. day, as an allowance for my table, would be sufficient, or if Congress should be of opinion, that this sum would be to great, any lesser allowance which that honorable body may see fit to grant, will oblige me, and will in some degree make up for my private expenses for public service."
The subsistence of the lieutenant colonel commandant is thirty two dollars pr month; a sum much less probably than Colonel Harmar was obliged to disburse for his table during the time of his command,
I have the honor to be etc.
H. Knox2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, I, folio 233. According to indorsement it was read May 5.]
Honorable David Ramsay,
Chairman of Congress.
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Board of Treasury,
May 4th., 1786.
Sir, Agreeably to the Order of Congress of the 24th. of March last, directing the Board of Treasury to Report an Estimate of the Expence that will necessary arise in the Department for settling the Accounts of the five late Departments, we submit the following Estimate:
We apprehend that proper Characters as Assistants cannot be procured under 800 Dolls. per annum, and that it will be necessary to employ two at least for this Purpose.
The Contingencies of Office we have placed at 1,400 Dollars if there should be three Offices opened in different Parts of the United States, at the same time, estimating according to the Contingent Expenses of the Offices that are now in the several States, it will not be less than this sum.
We are with respect1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, folio 113. According to indorsement it was read this day.
Also on this day Roger Alden, Deputy Secretary of Congress, wrote to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs that "Friday the 5th. Inst. at 12 oClock, is appointed for a second visit from the Seneca Chief and his Associates" and requesting Jay to send the original treaty of peace with Great Britain to the Secretary's office for use on this occasion. See ante, May 2. Alden's letter is in No. 55, folio 299.]
To His Excellency,
The President of Congress.
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