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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, SEPTEMBER 25, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia; and from Pennsylvania, Mr. [Arthur] St. Clair.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Nathan] Dane, Mr. [Henry] Lee and Mr. [Alexander] White, to whom was referred a memorial of the Surveyors employed in the western country, to lay out the lands of the United States, in pursuance of the Ordinance of Congress of May 20, 1785:
Resolved, That Benjamin Tupper, William W. Morris, Alexander Parker, James Simpson, Robert Johnson, Isaac Sherman, Absalom Martin and Edward Dowse, be allowed sixteen hundred and seventy-three dollars and 62/90 of a dollar, being the amount of their expenditures in the year 1785, as appears by their accounts accompanying the memorial of Thomas Hutchins, geographer of the United States, in December last, and that the geographer govern himself accordingly.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Nathan Dane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 427. According to indorsement it was read September 25 and the second resolve thereof postponed. See ante, December 27, 1785.]
Resolved, That each surveyor who shall be employed under the said ordinance for ascertaining the mode of disposing Postponed. of lands in the Western Territory be allowed and paid at the rate of three two dollars and a half for every mile in length he shall run including the wages of chain carriers, markers, and every other expence attending the same.
The committee, consisting of Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [James] Monroe, appointed to confer with the legislature of Pennsylvania, being returned, Report, that in conformity with the act of Congress of the 11th day of August last, they have attended and conferred with the legislature of Pennsylvania, and on the 21 instant received a letter from the
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Speaker of the general Assembly of that State, together with their resolution of the same day, in reply to the resolve of Congress and the Communications of the committee, both which they laid before Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 425. The last phrase of the report is "both which are herewith submitted." Speaker Thomas Mifflin's letter, on folio 427, states that the Pennsylvania "House have unanimously agreed to the Report; and I sincerely wish that the succeeding Assembly may be impressed with the Necessity of granting to Congress the Concessions you have requested." An attested copy of the action of the Pennsylvania Legislature is in No. 69, II, folio 557.]
The Board of Treasury to whom was referred the Memorial of William Finnie, beg leave to Report:
That on the Settlement of the Memorialists Accounts with the United States as Deputy Quarter Master General for the Southern Department during the late War, there appears to be due him the Sum of Seven thousand one hundred and Ninety-one Dollars, of which Two thousand Six hundred and thirty-four Dollars, and nineteen-ninetieths are stated to be advances made by him at different Periods from the year 1778, and partly in Specie.
That the Memorialist States that for part of this sum he has been actually sued, and obliged to pay; and therefore Prays that Directions may be given to the Comptroller of the Treasury to Cancell the Certificates issued to him for the Balance found due, and that he may receive Drafts for the Amount of the same on the Commissioner for receiving the Federal Taxes in the state of Virginia.
The Memorialist further Claims an Allowance of Pay from the first of January, 1777, to the first of January, 1781, as a Commissary of Military Stores in the State of Virginia, in part payment of which alledges to have received Warrant on Pay Master of the Board of War which has not yet been satisfied.
On the first part of this Memorial the Board beg leave to Report:
That the Claim of the Memorialist for the Reimbursement in Specie of the Monies by him Stated to be advanced for the Service of the United States cannot in the opinion of the Board be considered in a more favorable Point of View, than the Claims of Persons who lent their Money at the same time to the United States, and who have received but a small part of their Interest, and no part of their principal and therefore that it would not be proper to make any
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distinction in the payment of the Balance appearing due to Mr. Finnie; even if the State of the Treasury was adequate to such payments.
On that Part of the Memorial of Mr. Finnie Claiming pay for his Services as Commissary of Military Stores, the Board beg leave to inform Congress that this Claim has been examined by the proper Officers of the Treasury (Copies of whose Reports on the same are annexed), and that the reasons offered in these Reports appear to the Board sufficient for not admitting any part of the Claim exhibited by Mr Finnie for the purposes above mentioned.
All which is most humbly Submitted.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood, Walter Livingston, and Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, I, folio 405. According to indorsement it was read September 25. The inclosures mentioned are on folios 409 and 417. See post, September 28.]
Board of Treasury,
September 25th., 1786.
The Board of Treasury to whom was referred a Memorial of the late Brigadier General Scott, claiming Compensation for sundry Expenditures stated to have been by him made for the Relief of the sick Persons at Haddrels Point in the State of South Carolina in the years 1780 and 1781, beg leave to Report:
That the Proofs offered by Genl. Scott in support of this Claim are not of that Nature as to admit of a Settlement of the same agreeably to the Usual Forms of the Treasury; or to Enable this Board to form a proper Judgement of the propriety of making the United States chargeable with the Amount thereof.
That this defect of Proof (from the Statement of General Scott) appears imputable to the Desertion of a certain William Kelly (an Aid-de-Camp to the Genl.) who had the Custody of his Papers, amongst which was the particular Account of the Supplies for which Payment is claimed.
That on a Conference with the Commissioner for settling the accounts of the Hospital Department, the Board find that it will be proper to defer a decission on General Scott's Claim 'till further information is obtained of the Necessity of furnishing supplies above mentioned.
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They have therefore directed the Commissioner for settling the Accounts of the Hospital Department to lose no time in making the necessary enquiries on this Object.
All which is humbly Submitted.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, folio 303. According to indorsement it was read September 25 and referred to Mr. [Arthur] St. Clair, Mr. [Edward] Carrington and Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson. See post, September 29 and October 3.
September 25: The following committee was appointed: Mr. [Arthur] St. Clair, Mr. [Jonathan] Sturges and Mr. [Edward] Carrington, on "Report of Comr. hospital Accots. on petition of Berrien's Executors." A report was rendered October 9.
A letter of August 23 from Oliver Pollock was referred to the Board of Treasury. See post, October 3.
A petition of George Jay, praying a ruling of Congress on the specie value of debts due European merchants. It is in No. 42, IV, folio 84, and was forwarded to Congress in a letter of September 22 from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who remarked that "it appears to me expedient that all Doubts (if there really be Room for any) respecting the Nature of the Public Securities be removed; for if they could by acquiring Credit and Currency, become subservient to Commerce, our Merchants would be benefitted by it." Jay's letter is in No. 80, III, folio 81.
The petition of George Thompson, executor of the late General William Thompson, for payment of his ration allowance, was referred to the Commissioner of Army Accounts to report and a report rendered September 28, which was read September 29.
Committee Book No. 190.]
Board of Treasury,
September 22d., 1786.
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