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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 --TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present as yesterday.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Edward] Carrington, Mr. [William] Henry and Mr. [Nathaniel] Ramsay, to whom was referred a memorial of David Healy, together with a report of the commissioner of Army Accounts thereon,
Resolved, That the commissioner of army accounts be, and he is hereby directed to allow and pay to the said David Henly, one year's full pay upon his commission as a colonel in the service of the United States, in pursuance of the act of 24 November, 1778.
On a report of the board of treasury, to whom was referred a memorial of R. Morris, late Superintendant of the finances of the United States, of the 23 September, 1785,
Resolved, That the board of treasury be, and they hereby are authorised to appoint either the Comptroller of the treasury, or such other suitable person as they may think proper, to adjust, on the part of the United States, with any person
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duly authorised on the part of the State of Pennsylvania, the quantity of Specific supplies for which that state should obtain credit, by commuting the cash received from their Agent, and expended for the general service of the United States, into the specific supplies required, in order that the account of that State, for such supplies, may be finally adjusted.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [John Bubenheim] Bayard, Mr. [Timothy] Bloodworth and Mr. [John] Bull, to whom was referred a petition of John Paul Schott, late a captain in the service of the United States,
Resolved, That the pay master general be, and he is hereby directed, in the settlement of the Accounts of John Paul Schott, late a captain in the army of the United States, to pass to his credit such sums of money as he shall declare upon oath he hath paid for the recruiting and pay of his company, he having, by various misfortunes and accidents, lost the vouchers for the same.
The committee, consisting of Mr. [John Bubenheim] Bayard, Mr. [Melancton] Smith and Mr. [William] Harrison, to whom was referred a petition of John Chaloner and Nathaniel Shaler, praying for sea letters for sundry vessels bound to the East-Indies, having reported, "That they are assured that the ships, with their Cargoes, belong to a citizen of the United States, and are navigated by Seamen who are citizens of the United States,"
Resolved, That Sea letters, in the usual form, be granted for the following ships, namely,
The Ship Betsy, Captain Jonathan Elligood, now lying at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, and bound to the coast of Malabar, in the East Indies:
The Ship Leda, Captain Nicholas Gardner, now lying at Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, and bound to the coast of Coromandel:
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The ship Hope, Bayly Warren, Master, now lying at Norfolk, in the State of Virginia, and bound for Canton, in China.
[Motion of Mr. King.]
Resolved, That the authority of the Commissioners appointed to settle the accounts between the U.S. and individual States from and after theday ofterminate and cease.
Resolved, That a Board consisting ofmembers be appointed who shall and truely are invested with all the powers and authorities of the aforesd. Commissioners.
Resolved, That said Board be and hereby axe farther authorised and empowered to execute the Duties of the resolve of theday ofin the Settlement of the public Accts. of the late Superintendant of Finance.
Resolved, That there be allowed to each member of the said Board a Salary at the rate ofDollars annually.
Resolved, That the commission of the sd. board continue in force years and no longer.
Resolved, That where any State has claims agt. the U.S. not authorized or sanctioned by existing Resolves of Congress, the same shall be laid before the aforesd. board with[in]years, who shall examine the same and Report such decision thereon to Cong. as shall accord with Justice and Equity.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 623. According to indorsement it was referred to the committee of August 9 on King's motion of that day. Committee Book No. 190 notes that the August 9 committee was renewed September 5.]
[Motion of delegates of Virginia]
Resolved, That the powers Authority of the Commissioners heretofore appointed to adjust and Settle the Accounts between the United States and individual States, shall from and after the day ofnext terminate and cease.
R., That a Board to consist ofMembers be appointed who shah be and hereby are invested with all the powers and authorities exercised by the said Commissioners and shall sit where Congress may direct.
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And whereas from the irregular necessities and demands of the service, and various other causes, expenditures have been made in several of the States for the use of the Union which are not sanctioned by Resolutions of Congress or orders of Officers qualified to give authority to them, and in other more fortunate States similar expenditures are so Sanctioned, and it is just and right that all expenditures bona fide, made for the Common good, be now confirmed and brought into the Common debt. Therefore
Resolved, That the said Board be and are hereby authorized and directed in all cases of claims for expenditures, in their nature and circumstances, similar to those which stand covered by any particular or general Resolution of Congress, to admit and adjust the same notwithstanding any defect as to legal authority.
And in cases where no written Vouchers are or can be produced, and the Board shall receive satisfactory evidence that such Vouchers have been destroyed or unavoidably lost, or that from circumstances of the case they have never been obtained, they may receive such other evidence as shall be satisfactory to them, but the best that the nature and circumstances of the case will admit of, and at their discretion may examine on oath any person or persons they may think fit, respecting the claims which shah be exhibitted for settlement, whether accompanied with written Vouchers or not, when the other evidence is not sufficient to satisfy them of the truth or justice thereof.
Resolved, That all claims which shah be exhibitted to the said Board for settlement not in their opinion, admissable upon the principles established for their government, shall by them be reported to Congress with the circumstances and evidence attending the same, and their opinion thereupon, for final decision.
R., That each of the said Commissioners be allowed and paid dollars per diem while they shall respectively attend upon their duties of their appointment including the time of travelling to and from the place of their sitting.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Edward Carrington, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 627. According to indorsement; it was referred to the same committee to which King's motion, ante, was referred, with Carrington, Mr. [William] Henry, and Mr. [John] Kean added. Both the indorsement of Carrington's motion and Committee Book No. 190 note, apparently, that Rufus King was dropped from the committee. A report was rendered September 18.
In Carrington's motion the 3d., 4th., and 6th paragraphs have a pen line through them, which seems to have been added after the motion was made.
September 5: The following committee was appointed: Mr. [John Bubenheim] Bayard, Mr. [William] Harrison, Mr. [William] Henry, on the "Report of Comr of Army Accots. on Meml. A. Baird." This committee "dischd. referred to another Comee. 12 Feb.y." [1787].
Committee Book No. 190.]
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