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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 --WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
Mr. S. H. Parsons, having, in a letter of the 29th September, stated sundry circumstances, and informed Congress, that under these circumstances, the duties he owes to his family forbid his absenting himself from them a time sufficient to discharge the duties of his Commission in Virginia, and therefore prayed Congress to accept his resignation.
On motion of Mr. [Edward] Carrington, seconded by Mr. [Henry] Lee,
Resolved, That the resignation of Mr. S. H. Parsons be accepted.
Resolved, That to-morrow be assigned for the election of a commissioner, in pursuance of the resolution of the 13th April, 1785, in the room of Mr. Parsons resigned.
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Congress resumed the Consideration of the Ordinance for the government of the western territory, and
A motion was made by Mr. [Nathan] Dane, seconded by Mr. [Melancton] Smith, to amend the Ordinance by adding:
Whereas Congress, on the 7 of July last, recommended it to the legislature of the state of Virginia, (here insert the recommendation). And whereas, the said state not having been in session, hath not yet revised her said Act, and from this circumstance, it remains uncertain what number of states may hereafter be formed in the said territory, and consequently of what extent such state must be; and whereas there is reason to expect that the said state will comply with the said recommendation, whereby Congress will be enabled with more propriety to determine at what periods, the new states, that may be formed in the said territory, shall, on principles of equality, be admitted into the Confederacy. Be it Ordained, that when the said State shall finally determine, relative to the said recommendation, Congress will ascertain and fix the number of free inhabitants, which shall entitle each district or new state, that may be formed in the said territory, to an admission into the Confederacy, on an equal footing with the original States.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Nathan Dane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 113.]
On the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Edward] Carrington,
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So the question was lost.
The Committee consisting of Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [Melancton] Smith, and Mr. [Nathan] Dane to whom was referred the report of the board of Treasury on the memorial of Colo. William Fennie, report:
That in their opinion the sums of money advanced by the said Fennie in the defence of a law suit brought against him for his engagements in his public character and expended by him in the settlement of certain Accounts ought to be reimbursed to him and that his other claims for immediate payment of further sums and to pay and Depreciation mentioned in his memorial cannot be complied with.
Whereupon they submit the following Resolve.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Nathan Dane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 275. According to indorsement it was read October 4; the submitted resolve was passed October 5, where it is spread verbatim on the Journal.]
Hartford, October 1st., 1786.
Sir: I arrived here this morning and find by authentic accounts that the malcontents to the government of Massachusetts who had assembled at Springfield, had dispersed to their respective homes.
I am diffident of transmitting any details arising from a variety of reports: But it appears to be tolerably well established, that Major General Sheppard had under his orders 900 men well affected to Government, assisted by a respectable number of officers of the late continental army. The disaffected amounted to about 1,200, three hundred of whom were armed with musquets and bayonets. Six hundred armed with common militia musquets, and three hundred with sticks. The greater part of the latter were from the counties of Berkshire and Worcester.
The supreme Court opened on Wednesday and adjourned on Thursday without day, which being the object of the malcontents they dispersed on that day or friday.
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It is said Genl. Sheppard has secured the magazine by a guard. I shall be at Springfield early tomorrow morning and shall write your Excellency particularly from that place respecting the measures which shall appear to be necessary for the future protection of the stores.
I have the honor to be etc.
H. Knox.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, I, folio 583. According to indorsement it was read October 4. It inclosed a letter from Brig. Gen. William Shepard, dated September 29, from Springfield. It is on folio 579.
Also was read, according to indorsement, a letter of September 30 from Egbert Benson accepting the appointment of judge in the boundary dispute between South Carolina and Georgia. It is in No. 78, IV, folio 525.]
His Excellency,
The President of Congress.
Office of Secretary of Congress,
Oct. 4, 1786.
On the memorial of R. Lloyd, stating that in consequence of the resolve of Congress Novr. 3, 1783, the certificates for the arrears of pay &c. due to the Officers and soldiers of Hazen's regt. amounting to 226,544 53/90 dollars were delivered to him as agent for the regt., that he has been employed in distributing the said certificates and settling his accots. with the comr. of Army Accots. from the time of his appointmt. to the Agency until last winter that though he might have charged and recd. a commission on the delivery or retained such certificates as remained undelivered at the last settlement with the Comr. until he was paid for his services yet his reliance on Congress for compensation prevented his doing either. That though the resolve of 6 Sept. allows for his trouble I per cent on the amount of the Certificates delivered, yet from the terms in which it is couched he can only obtain a certificate, the intrinsic value of which he states would be to him no more than £93 6 8 which he conceives inadequate, and therefore prays Congress to reconsider his case.
The Secretary of Congress reports: That the memorial of Richard Lloyd be referred to the board of treasury, -- Agreed Oct. 5. amended, to report.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in Reports of the Secretary of Congress, No. 180.]
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