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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, MAY 15, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
The time for which Mr. [David] Ramsay was elected a delegate being expired, and he having departed; on Motion of Mr. [John] Mean, seconded by Mr. [John] Lawrance,
Resolved, That a chairman be elected to serve until the first Monday in June next.
Congress proceeded to an election; and, the ballots being taken, the honble. Nathaniel Gorham was elected.
The order of the day being called for by the state of South Carolina, to proceed to the election of a Minister plenipotentiary to the United Netherlands,
A motion was made by Mr. [Rufus] King, seconded by Mr. [Pierse] Long,
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That the Order of the day be postponed; and on the question for postponing, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Houstoun,
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So the question was lost.
Congress proceeded to the election, but no choice being made,
Ordered, That the order of the day for electing a Minister plenipotentiary to the United Netherlands, be postponed.1
[Note 1: 1 This proceeding was also entered in Secret Journal Foreign Affairs No. 5, by Benjamin Bankson.]
A letter of this day from the honorable James Monroe, was read, informing, "that some circumstances will put it out of his power to act as a judge for the decision of the controversy
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between the states of Massachusetts and New York, and therefore he presents his resignation to Congress."1
[Note 1: 1 Monroe's letter is in No. 78, XVI, folio 491.]
The Board of Treasury to whom was Referred the Memorial of John Thaxter of the County of Essex in the State of Massachusetts, Beg leave to Report:
That it appears by the Deposition of the Memorialist, that he Embarked with the Honorable John Adams as his private Secretary, when Mr. Adams was appointed sole Minister for Negotiating a Treaty of Peace with Great Britain, on the 15th. February, 1779, and that he resided with him in that Capacity until the 14th. November, 1783, at which time he returned to America, with the Definitive Treaty of Peace betwixt Great Britain and the United States.
That the Memorialist states that the whole Amount of Public Monies, which he has received during his residence with Mr. Adams is Three hundred Pounds Sterling, which Sum was Advanced to him by the Minister abovementioned.
On the circumstances stated in the said Memorial the Board beg leave to Observe. That there has been Allowed by Congress to the Private Secretaries of different Foreign Ministers of the United States, the Sum of Three hundred Pounds Sterling per Annum, for the time they Acted in that Capacity; the usual Evidence of which has been the Certificate of the Minister, with whom the said Secretaries respectively resided.
The Board being therefore of Opinion that the Claim of Mr Thaxter for the same Allowance is well founded, recommend to the Consideration of Congress the following Resolve.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood, Walter Livingston and Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, folio 433. According to indorsement it was read May 15; The resolve submitted was passed June 30 and is spread verbatim on the Journal of that date. See ante, May 2.
May 15: The following committee was appointed: Mr. [Pierse] Long, Mr. [William] Blount and Mr. [Timothy] Bloodworth, on the "report of the Commr. for Army Accts. on meml. of John Wheelock." A report was rendered May 19. John Pierce's report, which, according to indorsement was read May 16, is in No. 62, folio 127; the gist of it is in the committee report of May 19.
Also the "Petition of Robert Owen for his pay and compensation for his sufferings" was referred to the Board of Treasury to report. A letter from Owen dated April 15, 1786, is in No. 78, XVII, folio 381.
Also the name of "Doct. S. W. Johnson" was withdrawn from nomination as Minister to the United Netherlands. See ante, March 28.
Committee Book No. 190.
Also, according to indorsement, was read a letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, dated May 12, forwarding sundry letters and papers from Mr. [John] Adams. See post, May 17. Jay's letter is in No. 80, II, folio 233.]
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