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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, JANUARY 17, 1787.
Congress assembled. Present
The Credentials of the respective delegates being read Congress proceeded to the election of a president but not coming to a choice adjourned till to morrow.
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[Credentials of Massachusetts delegates1]
[Note 1: 1 Original credentials of King and Dane, indorsed as read January 17, 1787, by Thomson, Papers of the Continental Congress, Massachusetts Credentials. They are copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, pp. 179--182. The credentials of the Massachusetts delegates were first read November 6, 1786, as indicated by the notation in the Record of Credentials, under which date that of Gorham is printed in Journals, vol. XXXI, p. 929, but those of King and Dane are not there mentioned. The credentials of Dane are identical with those of King and are therefore not printed.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
To our trusty and well beloved Rufus King Esqr. (Seal) of Newbury Port in our County of Essex. Greeting
Whereas the General Court of our Commonwealth aforesaid, did on the twenty seventh day of June Ao. Di. 1786, agreeable to the Constitution of our said Commonwealth appoint The Hon:ble Rufus King, Esqr. a Delegate to represent our said Commonwealth in the Congress of the United States for one year commencing the first Monday in November 1786.
Now therefore Know ye, that we do by these presents and in pursuance of the said appointment Commission you the said Rufus King Esqr. to represent our said Commonwealth in Congress, and vest you with all and singular the powers and authorities to the said office or place of Delegate belonging by virtue of the Constitution of said Commonwealth and the appointment aforesaid, and to hold said Office until the first Monday in November 1787. And you the said Rufus King Esqr. are hereby required to observe the instructions which from time to time shall be given to you by the General Court of our said Commonwealth.
In Testimony whereof we have caused our Publick Seal to be hereto affixed.
Witness James Bowdoin Esqr. our Governor and Commander in Chief at Boston the fourteenth day of October Ao. Di. 1786; and in the Eleventh Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
James Bowdoin
By His Excellency's Command
John Avery junr Secretary
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[Credentials of Connecticut delegates1]
[Note 1: 1 Original, indorsed as read January 17, 1787, Papers of the Continental Congress, Connecticut Credentials. Copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, p. 194--195, where there is the marginal note "Entered the 28th December, 1786".]
State of Connecticut
At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut holden at Hartford in said State, on the second Thursday of May Anno Domi. 1786.
This Day being appointed by Law for the Choice of Delegates to represent the State of Connecticut at the Congress of the United States of America Proclamation was made in manner(Seal) accustomed, and then the Votes of the Freemen were given in to the Persons appointed by the Assembly to receive sort and Count them and to declare the Names of the Persons Chosen to Office aforementioned according to Law.
Which Persons so appointed are Benjamin Huntington Esqr Capt Jonathan Bull Mr Simeon Bristol Mr Thomas Skinner Mr William Hawley Capt Daniel Tilden Capt Simeon Smith and Capt Cornelius Higgins, who were all sworn to a faithfull discharge of that Trust.
And the Votes of the Freemen being brought in sorted and Counted, William Samuel Johnson Esqr. Jonathan Sturges Esqr., Joseph Platt Cook, Esqr., Stephen Mix Mitchel Esqr John Canfield Esqr. James Hilhouse Esqr and James Wadsworth Esqr. are Chosen and were publickly declared to be Delegates to represent the State of Connecticut, in the Congress of the United States of America according to Law.
A true Copy of Record
Examin'd By George Wyllys Secret.
[Credentials of New York delegates2]
[Note 2: 2 Printed in Journals, vol. XXX, p. 123--124.]
[Credentials of New Jersey delegates3]
[Note 3: 3 Original on parchment, indorsed as read January 17, 1787, in Papers of the Continental Congress, New Jersey Credentials. Copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, p. 185.]
The State of New Jersey.
To the Honorable Lambert Cadwalader,(Seal)
Abraham Clark and James Scheurman Esquires.
Greeting.
The Council and Assembly, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Integrity, Prudence and Ability, have, at a Joint Meeting,
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appointed you the said Lambert Cadwalader, Abraham Clark and James Scheurman, or any two of you to represent and vote in behalf of this State in the Congress of the United States of North America from this day until the first Monday in November One Thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven unless a new Appointment shall sooner take place.
In Testimony whereof the Great Seal of the State is hereunto affixed Witness William Livingston Esquire Governor Captain General and Commander in Chief in and over the State of New Jersey and Territories thereunto belonging Chancellor and Ordinary in the same at Trenton the seventh Day of November in the Year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and eighty-six and of our Sovereignty and Independence the Eleventh.
Wil: Livingston
By His Excellency's Command
Bowes Reed Secy.
[Credentials of William Irvine, Pennsylvania1]
[Note 1: 1 Original indorsed December 7, 1786, Papers of the Continental Congress, Pennsylvania Credentials. It is a printed form on parchment filled in by hand. Copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, p. 191, where Thomson placed on the margin "Decr. 7, 1786." The credentials of Meredith and the certificate of the Pennsylvania delegates are printed in Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 930--931 and 929--930, respectively. The original credentials of William Bingham, the third Pennsylvania delegate, are among the Pennsylvania Credentials and are copied in Record of Credentials, p. 188. They were produced November 20, 1786 and indorsement indicates they were read, but the date is not given. They are identical with those of Irvine and therefore are not printed.]
In the Name and by the Authority of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Supreme Executive Council, of the said Commonwealth, To The Honorable William Irvine Esquire
(Seal)Whereas, the General Assembly of this Commonwealth have, by their Act of the thirty first Day of Chay Biddle October in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six elected you a Delegate to represent this State in the Congress of the United States, You are therefore hereby commissionated as such.
Given in Council, under the Hand of The Honorable Charles Biddle esquire, Vice President, and the Seal of the State, at Philadelphia,
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this second Day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six.
Attest.
John Armstrong jr Sy
[Credentials of South Carolina delegates1]
[Note 1: 1 The originals, one for each delegate, Papers of the Continental Congress, South Carolina Credentials, are all identical with those of Pinckney. They are copied in the Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, pp. 171--174, 176. The credentials of Pinckney were first read June 9, 1786, and those of Kean, May 22, 1786. The credentials of Bull, Huger and Parker are printed in Journals, vol. XXX, pp. 410, 352 and 384 respectively. Those of Kean are not printed.]
State of South Carolina
By His Excellency William Moultrie Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the State aforesaid.
To the Honorable Charles Pinckney Esquire, Greeting.
Know Ye that by Virtue of the Power and Authority in me vested, by the Legislature; I have Commissioned Constituted and Appointed and by These Presents, do Commission Constitute and Appoint, You, the said Charles Pinckney, to be a Delegate to represent this State in the Congress of the United States.
This Commission to continue and be in force until the twenty first day of February which will be in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, and no longer.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State in the City of Charleston this twenty first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six and of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America the Tenth.
Willm. Moultrie
By His Excellency's Command.
John Vander Horst Secretary.
[SEAL PENDENT]
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[Credentials of (Georgia delegates1]
[Note 1: 1 Original, indorsed as read January 17, 1787, Papers of the Continental Congress, Georgia Credentials. Copied in Records of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, pp. 196 and 197.]
The State of Georgia by the grace of God Free Sovereign and Independent.
To the Honorable William Peirce, esquire Greeting.
We reposing especial trust and Confidence in the integrity and ability of you the said William Peirce, Have nominated and appointed, and by these presents do nominate and appoint you Edwd. Talfair a Delegate to represent this our State in the Congress of the United States, from the first Monday in November next to the first Monday in November which will be in the year our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, there to exercise all and singular the powers and authorities appertaining to the said Office of Delegate agreeably to the Articles of Confederation.
Witness our trusty and well beloved the Honorable Edward Telfair, esquire, our Captain-General Governor, and Commander in Chief, under his hand and our great Seal, at Augusta, this ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty six; And of our Sovereignty and Independence the Eleventh.
By his Honors Command.
J. Milton, Secy.
[SEAL PENDENT]
The State of Georgia by the Grace of God free Sovereign and Independent.
To the Honorable William Few, esquire,
Know You, That by the Legislature of our said State, you are Authorized and appointed a Delegate to represent our said State in the Congress of the United States from the first Edwd. Telfair Monday in November next until the first Monday in November which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven, there to Exercise all the powers, rights and privileges of a Delegate agreeably to the Articles of Confederation.
Witness our trusty and well beloved Edward Telfair, esquire, our Captain-General Governor and Commander in Chief, under his
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hand and our Great Seal at Augusta this first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty six, and of our Sovereignty and Independence the tenth.
By his Honors Command
J. Milton, Secy.
[SEAL PENDENT.]
[Credentials of North Carolina delegates1]
[Note 1: 1 Original, indorsed as read January 17, 1787, Papers of the Continental Congress, North Carolina Credentials. Copied in the Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, p. 183--184, where a marginal note by Thomson says "Read Novr. 7, 1786"]
The State of North Carolina
To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting
Know ye that our General Assembly at their Session in November and December last, did by Joint Ballot of both Houses, elect, the Honorable Abner Nash, Robert Burton, William Blount, Charles Johnson, Timothy Bloodworth and Nathaniel Macon Esquires Delegates of this State to Represent the same in Congress of the United States of America for one year, to commence on the first Monday in November next.
We do therefore, by these presents, nominate, commissionate and appoint the said Abner Nash, Robert Burton, William Blount, Charles Johnson, Timothy Bloodworth and Nathaniel Macon Delegates to Represent this State in the Honorable the Congress of the United States of America for one Year to commence on the first Monday in November next To hold, exercise and enjoy the said appointment, with all powers, privileges Authorities and Emoluments to the same belonging or in any wise Appertaining, for and during the Term aforesaid.
Witness Richard Caswell Esquire our Governor, Captain General and Commander in Chief under his hand and our Great Seal at Kinston the eleventh day of March in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and eighty Six and in the Tenth Year of our Independence.
R. C. Caswell
By His Excellencys Command
Winston Caswell P.ro. Sec.
[SEAL PENDENT]
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