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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 26, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
General Post Office,
New York, Septr. 25th., 1786.
Sir: It is with great Reluctance that I intrude upon your Excellency at this Time, but such is the nature of the Case, that silence would be criminal.
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The Irregularity attending the Arrival of the Mall cannot have escaped the Observation of Congress, and the Inattention to its Safety is equally great but no actual Damage can be proved. One only of the contracting Proprietors of the Stages has fulfilled the Stipulations in the Contract; and yet it is said we have no Remedy. Upon an Application to the Commissioners of the Treasury, some of them thought the Bonds of the Delinquents ought to be put in Suit; but others were in doubt whether this could be done with any Prospect of Success as we could not prove any actual Damage sustained; they directed me to apply to Alexander Hamilton Esqr. for his opinion; and having seen it, thought it adviseable not to risque a Prosecution. The Mail arrives as irregularly as formerly and even more so; there is one now due from the Southward of Philadelphia, which should have arrived here Friday Evening; and the Philadelphia Mail which should have arrived on Friday Evening was not brought to the Office til ten O'Clock on Saturday Morning; and was then delivered by a negro Boy about fifteen Years of Age, who said he had brought it over the River the Night before, that he did not know it was the Mail, but had thrown it upon the Wharf with the Baggage of some Passengers to whom he thought it belonged; that upon their telling him the x contrary he put it again on board the Boat, where it remained til two O'Clock in the Morning when he carried it to a neighbouring House; and that it was not discovered to be the Mail until just before he brought it to the Office.
There has been similar, though not equal Inattention to the Eastern Mails which frequently are left at the Office as late as at Eleven and Twelve O'Clock at Night; and in a late Instance, have been carried about the City (and even past the Office) in the Waggon til the Passengers were set down at their respective houses, and then the Mail was left at the Stage-House, from whence it was sent to the Office. These things as well as that the Drivers are not all under Oath, have been represented to the Proprietors but without Effect; and my last Letter to one of them (of which I take the Liberty to enclose a Copy) remains unanswered. I cannot think it right to pay the public Money under such Circumstances without first requesting the direction of Congress and that they may more easily form an Opinion, I take the Liberty of enclosing--
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The present Quarter will expire the 30th Inst. and the Proprietors will expect their Money (which will be ready for them) on the first of next Month.
I have the honor etc.
Eben Hazard.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folio 259. It was read, according to indorsement, September 26 and referred to Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [Edward] Carrington, and Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson. A further indorsement, by Roger Alden, reads "Not reported." The inclosures are on folios 263--74.]
Sep. 26, 1786.
On motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [Henry] Lee,
Resolved, That the commission and instructions issued to Mr. John Lamb, for the purpose of negotiating with the Barbary powers, be and they are hereby vacated and annulled; and that the Secretary for foreign Affairs take the necessary measures for directing Mr. Lamb immediately to repair to New York.2
[Note 2: 2 This proceeding is entered by Thomson in Secret Journal, Foreign, No. 5. A copy by Benjamin Bankson, signed by Thomson, is in Secret Journal, No. 6.
September 26:
On this day the Board of Treasury reported on the accounts of money advanced to delegates, in accordance with the resolve of September 19. The report, the reading of which in Congress cannot be verified, is in No. 140, II, folio 327. It is indorsed by Roger Alden: "See printed Statement containing 82 pages from Registers Office."
Also, according to indorsement, were read two letters of September 25, from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The first transmitted a letter of July 5 from William S. Smith announcing the failure of British plans to aid South America to revolt from Spain and the probability of Britain's next move being against the Mississippi Country. Jay's letter is in No. 80, III, folio 85; Smith's is in No. 92, folio 98. The second letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs inclosed two letters from John Adams, one of June 27 informing that the Queen of Portugal had dispatched a squadron to protect Portuguese ships from the Algerines and had ordered it to protect American ships also. Jay's letter is in No. 80, III, folio 89; Adams' is in No. 84, VI, folio 307. See post, September 29. Adams' letter of July 30 treats of incidental matters and is on folio 343.]
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