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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 --FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
The Order of the day being postponed, Congress took into Consideration the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [Samuel] Livermore, Mr. [Charles] Pettit and Mr. [Theodore] Sedgwick, and the first paragraph being amended to read:
That an Application be made immediately to the legislature of Pennsylvania, by a committee to attend and confer with the said legislature, to explain to them more fully the embarrassed state of the public finances, and to recommend it to the said state to repeal the clause in her Act granting the impost, which suspends its operation until all the states shall have granted the supplementary funds, so as to enable, on her part, the United States to carry the said system into effect as soon as possible.
A motion was made by Mr. [Henry] Lee, seconded by Mr. [Melancton] Smith, that the further consideration thereof be postponed: And on the question to postpone, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Melancton] Smith,
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So it passed in the negative.
On the question to agree to the paragraph; the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Charles] Pettit,
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So it was Resolved, That an application be made immediately to the legislature of Pennsylvania, by a committee to attend and confer with the said legislature, to explain to them more fully the embarrassed state of the public finances,
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and to recommend it to the said state to repeal the clause in her act granting the impost, which suspends its operation until all the states shall have granted the supplementary funds, so as to enable, on her part, the United States in Congress assembled, to carry the said system into effect as soon as possible.
Congress proceeded in the further consideration of the report: and thereupon,
Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the Executive of the State of New York, immediately to convene the legislature of the said state, to take into consideration the recommendation of the 18 of April, 1783, for the purpose of granting the System of impost to the United States, in such conformity with the Acts and grants of the other states, as, on her part, to enable the United States in Congress assembled, to carry the same into immediate effect.
On the question to agree to the above resolution, the yeas and nays having been required by Mr. [John] Haring,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.1
[Note 1: 1 August 11: "Memorial of Udny Hay complaining of the conduct of the Comptroller" was referred to the Board of Treasury to report and a report rendered October 10. The memorial dated August 10 was read August 11, according to indorsement. It is in No. 41, IV, folio 358. Another memorial praying for the privileges and emoluments of a retired lieutenant colonel, dated July 31, and also read on August 11, is on folio 362.
The "Petition of Francis Cazeau to be paid 300 dollars in part of 22,015 76/90 dollars which he says is due him" was referred to the Board of Treasury to report and a report rendered August 15. The petition is in No. 42, II, folio 214.
Committee Book, No. 190.
Also was read, according to indorsement, a letter from the Board of Treasury, announcing that in a policy of expense retrenchment it had directed Mr. Story, one of the Commissioners for settling the accounts with Pennsylvania, to close his office. It is in No. 140, Il, folio 249.]
Office of Secy of Congress,
Aug. 12, 1786.
On the two memorials from Mr. Peter Landais stating the Answers which the board of treasury gave him respecting his two memorials of the 31 July and containing a repetition of the said memorials, the Secretary of Congress reports as his Opinion:
That Mr. Landais be informed that his claim for interest on the gratuity of 12,000 livres from the 4 of Decr., 1777 (the time he thinks it ought to have been made him), to the 6 March, 1779, when Congress were pleased to make him the grant; and interest upon that interest from the 6 of May, 1785, to the time it will be paid cannot be admitted.
That with respect to his other claim to be paid in ready money the sum of 1,814 4/10 dollars Congress have decided thereon by their Act of 2 June, 1785; and that Mr. Landais have leave to withdraw his said memorials.
If this should meet the approbation of Congress Agreed to. the Secretary further reports, That this be referred to the board of treasury to take Order.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is entered by Thomson in Reports of the Secretary of Congress, No. 180.]
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