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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, AUGUST 8, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present, as before.
On a report of the board of treasury, to whom was referred a letter of the 13 October, 1785, from the Secretary for foreign Affairs, transmitting a letter from Don Diego de Gardoqui,
Resolved, That the board of treasury take order for paying whatever balance shall appear due from the Navy board of the Eastern department, to Joseph Gardoqui & Sons, of Bilboa, on a certificate from the commissioner of the marine department, ascertaining the same; and that the navy be charged with the amount.
On motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [Henry] Lee,
Resolved, That the Salary of the Superintendant of Indian affairs for the Northern district, be one thousand dollars; and of the deputies of the said district, five hundred dollars each, per annum; and that the salary of the Superintendant for the Southern district, be one thousand dollars per annum.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Charles Pinckney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 299.]
Ordered, That Monday next be assigned for the election of a Superintendant for the Northern district. On a report of the Board of treasury,
Resolved, That the standard of the United States of America, for Gold and Silver, shall be eleven parts fine and one part alloy.
That the money Unit of the United States, being by the resolve of Congress of the 6th July, 1785, a dollar shall contain of fine silver, three hundred and seventy-five grains and sixty-four hundredths of a grain.
That the Money of Account, to correspond with the division of coins, agreeably to the above resolve, proceed in a decimal ratio, agreeably to the forms and manner following, viz.
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That betwixt the dollar and the lowest copper coin, as fixed by the resolve of Congress of the 6 July, 1785, there shall be three silver coins, and one copper coin. That the silver coins shall be as follows: One coin containing one hundred and eighty-seven grains and eighty-two hundredths of a grain of fine silver, to be called A half dollar: One coin containing seventy-five grains and one hundred and twenty-eight thousandths of a grain of fine silver, to be called A double dime: And one coin containing thirty-seven grains and five hundred and sixty thousandths of a grain of fine silver, to be called A Dime.
That the two copper coins shall be as follows: One equal to the one hundredth part of the federal dollar, to be called a cent: And one equal to the two-hundredth part of the federal dollar to be called A half cent.
That two pounds and a quarter avoirdupois weight of copper, shall constitute one hundred cents.
That there shall be two gold coins: One containing two hundred and forty-six grains and two hundred and sixty-eight thousandths of a grain of fine gold, equal to ten dollars, to be stamped with the impression of the American Eagle, and to be called An Eagle: One containing one hundred and twenty-three grains and one hundred and thirty-four thousandths of a grain of fine gold, equal to five dollars, to be stamped in like manner, and to be called A half Eagle.
That the mint price of a pound troy weight of uncoined silver, eleven parts fine and one part alloy, shall be nine dollars, nine dimes and two cents.
That the mint price of a pound troy weight of uncoined gold, eleven parts fine and one part alloy, shall be two hundred and nine dollars, seven dimes and seven cents.
Ordered, That the board of treasury report a draft of an Ordinance for the establishment of a mint.
On a report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Henry] Lee, Mr. [Charles] Pettit, and Mr. [Edward] Carrington,
Resolved, That a monument be erected to the memory of Nathaniel Greene, esquire at the Seat of the federal government, with the following Inscription:
Sacred to the Memory of Nathaniel Greene, Esqr. a native of the State of Rhode Island, who died on the 19th of June, 1786, late Major general in the service of the United States, and commander of their army in the Southern department.
The United States in Congress Assembled, in honor of his patriotism, valour and ability, have erected this Monument.
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Resolved, That the board of treasury take Order for the due execution of the foregoing resolution.
The Board of Treasury to whom was Referred a Petition of Return Jonathan Meigs, praying for an Allowance of Interest on the sum ordered to be paid to him by the Resolve of Congress of the 28th September last, Beg leave to Report:
That it is the Established Rule in adjusting Accounts at the Treasury of the United States to Allow on all Sums due to Individuals for Monies by them advanced, or Services done, an Interest of Six per Cent per Annum, from the time the same became due.
That the Sum of Two hundred Dollars ordered to be paid by the Resolve of Congress of the 28thSeptember last to Return Jonathan Meigs, and the legal Representatives of Christopher Greene deceased, appears to have been for Monies by them expended for the relief of their unfortunate fellow Prisoners at Quebec in the Year 1776.
The Board for these Considerations, submit to the consideration of Congress the following Resolve:
That there be allowed to Return Jonathan Meigs, and the legal Representatives of Christopher Greene the usual Interest on the sum of Two hundred Dollars by them advanced for the relief of their fellow Prisoners at Quebec in the Year 1776, to be computed from the date of the Advance.
All which is 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, II, folio 137. According to indorsement it was read August 8.
August 8: The following committees were appointed: Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [John Cleves] Symmes and Mr. [James] Manning, on a "Letter (1) Aug. Revd. J. Ettwein and 3 July, Col. Harmar respectg. the return of Moravian Indians." A report was rendered August 17.
Mr. [William] Grayson, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [Melancton] Smith, Mr. [Josiah] Hornblower and Mr. [Samuel] Livermore, on the "Report of Comee. on Algerines. 9 Aug. A Motion of Mr. [Nathan] Miller." See post, September 11.
The "Petition of Jas. Burnside, Doyl Sweeney and Robert Underwood clerks for pay from 16 April to 16 May, 1786," was referred to the Board of Treasury to report and a report rendered August 22. The petition is in No. 42, I, folio 397 and, according to indorsement, was read August 8 and acted on October 12.
Also Mr. [Theodore] Sedgwick was this day added in place of Mr. [Nathan] Dane to the committee of July 27 to draft an ordinance to carry into effect the impost of April 18, 1783. See post, August 9 and October 16.
Committee Book No. 190.]
August 7th., 1786.
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