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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 --2MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1786.
[Note 2: 2 Charles Thomson here resumes the entries.]
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia; and from New Jersey, Mr. [Josiah] Hornblower.
On a report from the board of treasury, to whom was referred their letter of the 17, enclosing a letter of the 10th, from William Ellery, esqr. commissioner of the loan Office in the State of Rhode Island,
Resolved, That it would have been improper to have continued the issue of indents of interest in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, after the Act of the said State declaring their paper currency receivable in payment of federal taxes, and that the conduct of the Commissioner of the loan Office in the said State, in discontinuing, on that Account, the further issue of indents of interest, be, and it is hereby approved.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood, Walter Livingston and Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, I, folio 385.]
The com. [consisting of Mr. Henry Lee, Mr. Charles Pinckney, Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. Charles Pettit, and Mr. John Henry] to whom were referred the motion of Mr. [Arthur] St Clair, the motion
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of Mr. [Henry] Lee with the letter from the Governor of Virga. and the accompanying papers together with the letter from the Sec. at War dated Oct. 19th and all the enclosures report--
With respect to the first your com. are of opinion that the executive of Virga. have conducted themselves in the measures which they have been pleased to direct for the protection of their citizens with the most profound respect to the sovereignties of the U. States and in perfect conformity to the Confederation and that the offensive operations commenced by the inhabitants of Kentucky are authorized by self preservation and their experience of the imbecility of the foederal government.
With respect to the 2d., Your com. presume that an official report on the causes of disquietude which pervades the states of No. Carolina and Georgia may be expected from the superindt. of Indian Affairs for the Southern department, previous to which any determination of Congress will be premature.
Respecting the 3d., your committee have the fullest conviction of the inimical disposition of the Indian tribes north west and south adjoining the territory of the U. States and are of opinion that this enmity is founded on the sentiments they hold relative to the inability of the thirteen govs. which opinion arises from the detention of the Western posts contrary to the treaty of peace by his brittannick majesty, nor can a change in the minds of the savages be effected but by the British troops abandoning the territory of the U. States. To accomplish this soon your com. recommend the following position of the foederal forces on the Ohio: A detachment at Cayothoga, another at Sandusky, and headquarters at the head of the navigation of the Miami river which falls into lake Erie.
Among the many papers submitted to your com. is a letr. signed Legrass, an inhabitant of St. Vincents narrating certain evils which
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oppress the good people of that country; to remedy which your committee consider it indispensably necessary immediately to extend the benefits of government to the Illinois settlements and in the meantime to prevent the continuance of the evils which are communicated by Mr. Legrass, they conceive it proper that the minister of war take order to reply to Mr. Legrass assuring him of the approbation of Congress and of their intention to establish without loss of time a government in the western country, till which period they recommend a perseverance in united measures calculated to defend the inhabitants from their indian enemy and to protect them from vagabonds and robbers; that a copy of Mr. Legrass letter to Gen. Clarke and his answer be transmitted to the Superindts. of Indian affairs.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Henry Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 321. According to indorsement it was read October 30. Committee Book No. 189 states that it was transferred. Legrace's letter is in Papers, No. 150, II, folio 42.
October 30: The letter of the Postmaster General, dated October 30, "respectg. contract for transportation of Mail" was referred back to the Postmaster General to report and report rendered November 2.
The letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs of October 26 "with letters from Chargé des Affairs and the Consul gen. of France" was referred back to the Secretary for report. Jay's letter is in No. 80, III, folio 129.
Committee Book No. 190.
Also was read, according to indorsement, a letter from Postmaster General Ebenezer Hazard dated October 30, forwarding intelligence from Frederick Green, Postmaster at Annapolis, informing that the Maryland legislature is considering taking control of the Maryland postoffice under the idea that Congress has control in interstate postoffice business and not within the state. Hazard's letter is in No. 61, folio 391.
Also was read a report of the Board of Treasury on the memorial of Constant Freeman for payment of a bill of exchange drawn by American officers, when prisoners in Quebec. The Board's letter, transmitting this report is in No. 140, I, folio 291. Freeman's petition is in No. 142, III, folio 143. Committee Book No. 189 states that it was transferred.]
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