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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, MARCH 13, 1787.
Congress assembled. Present as yesterday.
On a report 1 of the Secretary for foreign Affairs to whom was referred a letter2 of the 20 feby. 1787 from J M Pintard
[Note 1: 1 See March 8, 1787.]
[Note 2: 2 See February 26, 1787.]
Resolved That a commercial Agent to reside at the Port of Lisbon be appointed, who shall not be entitled to receive any Salary fees or emoluments of Office.
Ordered That Monday next be assigned for the election of the said commercial Agent.3
[Note 3: 3 This proceeding is entered by Benjamin Bankson, in Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 5, III, pp. 1562--1563.]
On a letter4 from Mr A Lee a commissioner of the board of treasury stating that the situation of his Affairs requires his presence and requesting leave of Absence for six weeks
[Note 4: 4 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XlV, p. 735, dated March 12, 1787.]
Ordered That leave of Absence be granted to him agreeably to his request.
[Report of Secretary of Congress on sundry petitions 5]
[Note 5: 5 Reports of Secretary of Congress, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 180, p. 48.]
March 12, 1787.
Office of Secretary of Congress.
On the letter6 of the 27 of February from J Pierce, late paymaster general stating, that in the course of payments made by George Reid one of his deputies by some accident there is a deficiency in his cash account to the amount of 520 dollars which deficiency it is apprehended arose from the mistake of paying away notes of a larger denomination instead of those of a smaller, and praying that this sum may be allowed and passed to his credit in the settlement of his Accounts as has been done to others in cases of a similar nature,
[Note 6: 6 See March 8, 1787. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 140, The letter was referred as indicated in the report.]
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The Secretary of Congress reports
That the letter of 27 Feby from J. Pierce with the Agreed to March 13th papers enclosed be referred to the board of treasury to report.
On the memorial1 of Moses Hazen late brigadier general in the Army of the United States, praying
[Note 1: 1 See March 8, 1787.]
That Congress will be pleased to recommend to the several states the adoption of the Unfortunate Canadian refugees from the time they left Canada as citizens of the States in which they reside or are settled,
The Secretary of Congress reports
That the memorial of M Hazen late brigr genl be Negatived March 13 referred to a committee.
The memorial to be filed.
[Report of Secretary at War on removal of military stores from Springfield 2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 151, pp. 243--254, read March 13, 1787. See March 8, 1787.]
The Secretary of the United States for the department of War, to whom was referred the Motion of the Honorable Mr. Grayson respecting the removal of the Arms, and Military Stores from Springfield in the State of Massachusetts,
Reports
That he humbly conceives it will be necessary, in order to form a right judgement of the measure proposed, to examine, whether Springfield possesses those qualities, which are essential to a permanent national deposit of the United States. To take into consideration the number and convenience of the buildings erected there. The expence that would be incurred in removing the ordnance and Stores, and also, to enquire into the existing political circumstances of Massachusetts, as they may affect the safety of the federal property at Springfield.
If the local situation of Springfield be examined relatively to the Country east of Hudsons River, excepting the remote parts of Massachusetts formerly the province of Main, it will be found, to be well placed as common centre, whence might be issued such warlike apparatus as national objects should, from time to time require; Being a considerable distance up on Connecticut river, it has the
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benefits of a water transportation by boats, and a perfect security against a marine enemy.
In the year 1777, the United States in Congress assembled, decided on Springfield, as one of their important deposits of Ordnance and Stores. A lease of 10 acres of ground in an eligible situation, was purchased of the town for 99 years, on which were erected, a variety of large wooden buildings for the reception of the Stores, and accomodation of the troops and artificers, a laboratory, a foundery for casting of brass cannon, and a spacious and well constructed brick Magazine.
The returns on the files of Congress will show the numbers of Cannon, and small arms, and the variety of Stores deposited at Springfield, the whole weight of which amounts by estimation to 450 or 500 Tons.
The expence of removal would depend on the distance and circumstances of the place to which they should be removed, but in almost any case, a considerable sum would be required for the purpose.
If the political state of Massachusetts be investigated it will appear, that a rebellion has arisen within that state, and that it is in a train of being effectually suppressed by the vigor of the government.
That in the commencement, and progress of the rebellion, the executive government of said State, manifested the highest degree of attention to the safety of the federal Arsenal and Magazine.
That on the first application of your Secretary to the Governor of said State, on the 19th. September 1786, he instantly issued an order to the Major General of the division of Militia in the vicinity of Springfield, directing him, to furnish such a guard for the protection of the Stores, as your Secretary should judge necessary.
Although circusmtances rendered it prudent to pospone the immediate execution of said order, yet in consequence thereof, a large body of militia were in constant readiness, to march to the Arsenal on the shortest notice.
That when the executive government of said State decided on the employment of troops, against the insurgents as the last remedy, the security of the federal Arsenal, was considered as a most important object, and accordingly, Major General Shepard of the Militia, was directed to take post at the same, with 1200 men, two days before the troops assembled in the vicinity of Boston. That a large body of armed insurgents, did make their appearance before General Shepard, on the 25th of January, who repulsed and dispersed them by discharging cannon against them.
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That after the said 25th. of January, an adequate guard was stationed at the federal buildings by the officers of said State, untill relieved on the 24th. of February by a detachment of the troops of the United States, raised in Connecticut, amounting to about 120 men.
That however just, the apprehensions which may have been entertained for the safety of the Stores at Springfield; yet the power, and dispositions of the government of Massachusetts to protect the same, have been amply evinced.
That the guard now stationed at Springfield will be sufficient to protect the Stores against any small parties of desperate men, and a large body of such cannot be collected without the circumstance being known, and time given to assemble a sufficient reinforcement of the well effected militia of the neighbourhood.
That certain block houses and defences were constructed, and partly executed, by General Shepard which Colonel Humphreys is finishing, and which will afford considerable security to the buildings.
That your Secretary is decidedly of opinion, that no Arsenal or Magazines of the United States, can be deemed perfectly secure, unless guarded by a military force bound to obey the orders of Congress.
Impressed with the Idea, that in proportion to the freedom of government is the danger of faction, your Secretary apprehends, that all the States in the Union, are liable in different degrees, to be agitated with similar commotions to those which have manifested themselves in Massachusetts, but that the issues may be dissimilar. He therefore is utterly at a loss to point out any place, where the stores will be more secure than at Springfield, unless at the fortified post of West-point on Hudsons River.
But in the opinion of your Secretary there is an insuperable objection to West Point as a national Arsenal. The bold navigation of the river, renders it continually liable to be insulted, or injured by the caprice or interest, of any foreign marine power. The importance of the place in a military point of view, is particularly reported and submitted to Congress1 on the 31st. July 1786.
[Note 1: 1 Journals, vol. XXX, pp. 447--449 and vol. XXXI, p. 467.]
Besides its insecurity against a foreign invasion unless strongly garrisoned, it would be highly injudicious, in addition to the numerous Ordnance and Stores already there, which are but indifferently accomodated, to crowd those which are at Springfield. The accidents to
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which powder, or other combustible matter is perpetually liable, should ever prevent too great an accumulation of stores at one point.
Should the disorders of Massachusetts extend themselves, West Point with its advantages might tempt some daring usurper to possess himself of it, in its present weak situation, to the extreme injury of the public. Anxious to guard against such an event, your Secretary has ordered the recruits of Massachusetts from Boston to Springfield in order to releive the recruits of Connecticut who will be ordered to West-Point, Provided that Massachusetts will furnish the necessary means to march their recruits to and subsist them at Springfield; and that the means can be obtained for the same purposes for the Connecticut troops at West Point, and provided also, that the same should be conformable to the intentions of Congress.
Convinced as your Secretary is of the probable comparative security of the Arsenal at Springfield for the present, he cannot report in favor of removing them--a measure, the expenses of which, would be great and immediate, the consequences at least equivocal, if not politically injurious.
Your Secretary has had under his consideration for a long period, a system for the establishment of permanent national Magazines, and Arsenals, throughout the United States. He has not brought it forward because the state of the public treasury has been such, as to preclude any expences, but those which are essential to immediate existence. In the report, which will be submitted on this subject, four places are pointed out, at which it may be proper to establish the principal national deposits. Vizt.
1. Springfield in Massachusetts. To supply all the Country east of Hudsons River.
2. At some suitable place on the Delaware not lower than Coriels ferry nor higher than Easton, for all the Country westward of Hudsons river to the Potowmak inclusively.
The public are in possession of a variety of brick buildings at Carlisle in Pennsylvania, constructed and erected specially for the purpose of a national deposit. The returns on the files of Congress will show that the military stores now there are inconsiderable. Were the river Susquehannah navigable for Boats, and also the Creek which runs through Carlisle, the stores in Philadelphia might be transported to that place. But as the navigation of the said Creek and River is not a probable event, at an early period, it would be fortunate if the said buildings could be sold to any tolerable advantage. It would require
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a larger sum of money than can probably be furnished for the object, to transport the stores by land to Carlisle. But the expence of the first transportation is not so great an objection as the amount of the successive transportations and re-transportations during a period of forty or fifty years. The probability of the navigation of the Delaware being completed in a few years from the falls of Trenton to Easton, renders the place beforementioned between Coriels ferry, and Easton, much more eligible than Carlisle. But its relation to the Country between Hudsons River and the Delaware, The facility with which stores could be transported to Christiana Bridge and thence by a portage of 12 miles to the head of Elk render the Delaware decidedly superior to Carlisle. The Stores in Philadelphia, are liable to be destroyed by fire and they are not well deposited being in common buildings in different parts of the City, the rent of which, annually amounts to a considerable sum of money.
3d. At on near the point of Forks on James River, to serve Virginia and part of North Carolina.
4th. At or near the junction of the Congaree and Wateree with the Santee, to serve part of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
A deposit might be formed at Fort Pitt for all the posts on the Ohio; and the posts on the lakes might be supplied from West point on Hudsons river, by the way of the Mohawk river and Wood creek.
The aforesaid proposed principal deposits will enjoy the great advantages of a water communication with the Ocean without the danger of being injured by a hostile navy. Circumstanced as the United States are and as they probably will be for a long period in future, the means of defence ought to be secured from a sudden approach of a foreign enemy.
It will be proposed, that the number of one hundred thousand arms, shall be deposited in the respective Arsenals, a train of battering Artillery and every kind of Stores necessary thereto, field Artillery and every necessary equipment for an army of every species of troops.
That the respective Arsenals and Magazines should contain Arms, Ammunition and other stores in proportion to the population of the districts they were intended to supply. But that the trains of battering Artillery with their apparatus and Ammunition should be equal at each Arsenal and Magazine.
That the Ordnance, Arms, and Stores at present in possession of the United States should be distributed to the Arsenals in proportion
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to the numbers and quantities to be deposited at each according to the directions of Congress. The Arms Ordnance and Stores deficient, should be manufactured and produced if practicable within the United States, as soon as the finances of the same would admit agreably to the orders and appropriations of Congress.
All which is humbly submitted.
H. Knox.
War Office March 13th. 1787.
[Report of committee on resolution of Virginia 1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, p. 325, in the writing of Mr. William Blount. Read March 13 and question taken and lost May 8, 1787. See February 26 and March 1, 1787.]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. William Blount, Mr. James Mitchel Varnum and Mr. William Grayson] to whom was refered the Resolution of the State of Virginia of the 13th January 1786 passed in Conformity to a Resolution entered into by the State of Maryland in the same year and to whom was refered the Resolutions of the said State of Virginia of the 22d. November 1786 report the following Resolve
That Congress do consent to the Annual Meetings of Commissioners as proposed in the said Resolutions for the purposes therein expressed for the Term of seven Years. unless some general Regulation of Congress shall sooner take place.2
[Note 2: 2 March 13, 1787. According to indorsement and Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 140, the letter of Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, October 23, 1786, was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report. According to the indorsement it was referred to the Secretary to report particularly on Mr. Jefferson's request to be permitted to travel on account of his health and on what respects the Marquis de Lafayette. See March 8, 1787.]
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