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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, NOVEMBER 1, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
A motion was made by Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [John] Bull, in the words following:
Whereas it appears that the resolution of the 4th of September last, authorizing and instructing the Postmaster general to enter into contracts for the transportation of the mails in stage-carriages, if practicable, so far as it respects the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, is inexpedient, and that they might be conveyed upon more reasonable and convenient terms, should the postmaster-general be left at liberty to contract for the same, either by the stage carriages or post riders, as shall appear to him most conducive to the public interest: Resolved, That the postmaster-general be, and he is hereby empowered to contract for carrying the said mails through all or either of the states above mentioned, in such way and manner as shall appear to him most consistent with the public interest, giving, however, in all proposals for contracts which are equal or nearly so in expense, a preference to the conveyance by stage carriages. And whereas the intention of Congress in having the mails transported by stage carriages, was not only to render their conveyance
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more certain and secure, but by encouraging the establishment of stages to make the intercourse between the different parts of the Union less difficult and expensive than formerly; and as a discretionary power in the postmaster general, either to employ post riders or contract with the owners of the stage-carriages for conveying the mati in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, might interfere with the object for promoting and establishing the running of stages in the said states: Resolved, That so far as respects the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, it is improper to alter the postmaster-general's present instructions, touching the conveyance of the mati through the same.
On the question to agree to this motion, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Charles] Pinckney,
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So the question was lost.1
[Note 1: 1 November 1: A letter from James Jarvis was read, according to indorsement, offering to furnish the United States with three hundred tons of copper coin. It was referred to the Board of Treasury to report. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, folio 491. A report on this and various similar proposals, was read in Congress April 7, 1787.
Also was read, a long letter, dated October 12, from Thomas Hutchins, from the junction of the Wheeling and Ohio rivers, reporting the progress of the survey of the Western Territory and the Indian situation. It is in No. 60, folio 261 and enclosed various intelligence, which is on folios 273--279.]
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