| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia; and from New Hampshire, Mr. [Pierse] Long.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Edward] Carrington, Mr. [Timothy] Bloodworth, and Mr. [William] Harrison, to whom was referred a motion of Mr. [Timothy] Bloodworth,
Resolved, That the Secretary of Congress take order for having printed and bound in the usual manner, five hundred volumes of the Journals of Congress for each of the years 1777, 1778, 1780, 1781 and 1782.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Edward Carrington, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, folio 305. According to indorsement it was read this day.]
The Agents for South Carolina and Georgia attending:
The Agents for the State of Georgia, for answer to the Notice given them of the report and prayer of the Agents of South Carolina, say that they have attended agreeable to the order of Congress, but have not been able finally to agree with the agents of South Carolina upon the proper time for holding the said federal Court; that they are desirous to proceed in such manner as that a legal and righteous decision may be had in this cause, and that by the act of the legislature of the State of South Carolina, passed on the 22d day of March, 1786, three Commissioners are to be chosen and invested with full and absolute power and authority in behalf of the said state, to settle and compromise all and singular the differences, controversies, disputes and claims which subsist between that state and the state of Georgia relative to boundary, and to establish and permanently fix the boundaries between the said states, provided the state of Georgia will appoint and vest commissioners with equal powers; and if it should so
Page 651 | Page image
happen that the said Commissioners may not be able to settle and compromise the said differences, then and in that case only, the governor of South Carolina is authorised to appoint and direct agents in behalf of that state, to proceed agreeably to the 9th of the Articles of Confederation, finally to determine the dispute subsisting between the said states of South Carolina and Georgia, respecting their territorial claims: That the Legislature of the State of South Carolina did, on theday ofappoint three commissioners, vested with the powers and for the purpose aforesaid, and transmit information thereof to the state of Georgia, requesting that state to appoint and vest commissioners with sufficient power, mutually to settle and compromise all differences between the said states respecting their territory and boundary: That the State of Georgia has not yet had reasonable time to decide on the proposition made by South Carolina and to transmit the result. Under these circumstances, the Agents of the State of Georgia suggest, that the Agents of the State of South Carolina, are not legally authorised to press that Congress should immediately proceed, agreeably to the 9th of the Articles of Confederation, for a speedy and final decision in this cause; that they, notwithstanding, relying on the wisdom, equity and Justice of Congress, are content to act in such manner as they may direct.
A motion was then made by the delegates of Georgia, That Congress proceed to strike a court in the manner pointed out by the Confederation, for the trial of certain territorial claims between the States of South Carolina and Georgia, to be held at the city of New York, on the first Monday in May next:
The latter part of the motion being postponed,
On the question, Resolved, That Congress proceed to strike a court in the manner pointed out by the Confederation, for the trial of certain territorial claims between the States of South Carolina and Georgia.
Accordingly Congress proceeded, and named three persons out of each of the United States, and from the list of such persons, each party alternately struck out one, the petitioners beginning, until the number was reduced to thirteen:
This done ,a On motion was made byof the delegates of South Carolina, that from the thirteen names left nine
Page 652 | Page image
names be drawn out by lot and on the question to agree to this the yeas and nays being required by the delegates of Georgia
{table}
So it was
Resolved, That from the thirteen names left, nine names be drawn out by lot;
The names being then put into a box, the following were in the presence of Congress drawn out by lot, namely, Alexander Contee Hanson, James Madison, Robert Goldsborough, James Duane Philemon Dickinson, John Dickinson, Thomas McKean, Egbert Benson, Wm. Pynchon.1
[Note 1: 1 September 13: On this day, according to indorsement, was read a memorial from Leake Hunt, John De La Mater, and Cornelius I. Bogart, executors of John Berrien, praying relief in their settlement of the estate. It was referred to the Commissioner of Hospital Accounts to report and a report rendered September 18. See post, September 25.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |