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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 --1MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1787.
[Note 1: 1 Roger Alden takes up the entry.]
Congress Assembled present, Massachusetts Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey Pensylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia and from South Carolina Mr [Daniel] Huger.
Mr Peleg Arnold a Delegate for Rhode Island attended and produced the credentials of his appointment, whereby it appears that he is duly elected appointed a Delegate to represent said State in Congress until the first Monday in Novr. next.
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[Credentials of Peleg Arnold, Rhode Island1]
[Note 1: 1 Original credentials, read April 9, 1787, in Papers of the Continental Congress, Rhode Island Credentials. Copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, pp. 210--211.]
By His Excellency John Collins, Esquire, Governor, Captain General and Commander in Chief of and over the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations,
To Peleg Arnold Esqr. Greeting.
Whereas you the said Peleg Arnold was at the Anniversary Election of Officers for the State aforesaid, held at Newport on the First Wednesday in May instant, elected One of the Delegates to represent the said State in Congress for One Year from the First Monday in November next: I do therefore hereby empower and authorise you the said Peleg Arnold to represent the said State in the Congress of the United States of America, now sitting at New York, and to continue and act as a Delegate of the said State in the same, whensoever and wheresoever the said Congress shall meet, for One Year from the said First Monday in November next. And for your so doing this Commission shall be your sufficient Warrant.
Given under my Hand and the Seal of the said State the Eighth Day of May in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-six, and in the Tenth Year of Independence.
John Collins
By His Excellency's Command
Henry Ward Secry
The Report of the committee2 consisting of Mr [James Mitchell Varnum, Mr [Edward] Carrington, Mr [Rufus] King, Mr [William] Few and Mr [James] Madison being amended as follows, viz.
[Note 2: 2 See April 4, 1787.]
Resolved,3 That two companies of Artillery be formed out of the troops already enlisted in the State of Massachusetts
[Note 3: 3 This resolve, in the writing of Mr. Edward Carrington, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, pp. 413--414. After "Artillery" Mr. Rufus King added "and one of infantry" and before "Resolved" Mr. William Few added "excepting the Cavalry which the Secretary at War is directed to take order immediately to discharge". The modifications were not adopted.]
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in pursuance of the resolution of the 20th. of Octr. 1786. That the Secy. at War take order for arranging the same with the proper proportion of Officers. That all the remaining troops which have been enlisted in any of the States under the said resolutions, be discharged, and a stop put to any further enlistments. That all the Officers appointed under the said resolutions except those necessary for the said two companies, be discharged.
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury take Order for the payment of the Officers and Soldiers discharged as aforesaid.
Ordered1 that the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the Secretary at War, and that he without delay direct the two companies of Artillery to be marched from Boston to Springfield, and upon their arrival at that post, that he put in operation the resolutions aforesaid for the discharge of the troops raised by the State of Connecticut and now at Springfield.
[Note 1: 1 This order in the writing of Mr. Rufus King, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, p. 415.]
On the question to agree to the above resolutions the Yeas and Nays being required by Mr [Rufus] King
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[Note 1: 1 This is the first day in 1787 that Mr. Charles Pettit appears as attending sessions of Congress. Neither his individual credentials for 1787 nor any record thereof appears in the Papers of the Continental Congress. The fact of his election as delegate is established by the certificate of the act of election. See Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 929--930.]
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
[Report of Board of Treasury on proposals for coining copper2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, pp. 473--481, read April 9, 1787. The covering letter of the Board, also read, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, II, p. 403. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 143, the report was referred to a committee consisting of Mr. William Samuel Johnson, Mr. Rufus King, Mr. William Pierce, Mr. Abraham Clark and Mr. Charles Pettit, which reported April 20, 1787.]
The Board of Treasury to whom was referred sundry Propositions, relative to a Copper Coinage for the United States,
Beg leave to Report,
That they have maturely considered such of the Propositions as have been made relative to this object, as contain any precise offer for undertaking the said Business, the Substance of which they beg leave to lay before Congress.
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of the City of New York, is to Supply the United States with the Sum of Sixty thousand Dollars in Copper Coin, agreeably to the Standard established by Congress, within Twelve Months after the date of the Contract; Provided, that as the delivery of the said Coin shall from time to time be made, payment shall be made of the same in Gold or Silver Coin, or Bills of Exchange, at the rate of Seventy five Pounds, for every Hundred Pounds of Copper Coin.[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, pp. 487--488.]
It is further proposed by the above Gentleman to take the Copper belonging to the United States at its full value; and to pay for the same in Gold or Silver, or to Allow for the same in part Payment of the Copper Coin he furnishes.
of London, communicated by the Hon'ble Mr. Franklin, late Minister from the United States to the Court of France, is--To furnish the United States with any quantity of Copper Blanks, which they may want ready for Coinage, at the Rate of Thirteen Pennies and one eighth of a Penny Sterling per Pound; provided he is paid for the same on the delivery, in ready Money, or in Bills of Exchange at Sixty days sight.[Note 2: 2 According to the General Index, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 17, p. 340, the proposal of Brigden and Waller was transmitted to the Office for Foreign Affairs, December 1787.]
They further propose to mill the above Blanks at One penny Sterling per Pound (should it be judged advisable) and to strike and furnish them at One Penny Sterling more per Pound. The drawings if done in London to be at the Public expence. The Copper Blanks and Coin at the prices above stated are proposed to be delivered free from every expence on board of Ships at the Port of London.
is to furnish the United States with One hundred thousand Pounds Sterling in Copper Coin, for which he expects payment to be made on delivery at the current value, either in produce at Market price, or unquestionable Bills of Exchange.[Note 3: 3 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, pp. 483--486.]
are to furnish the United States with 600,000 lb. of Copper Coin within three Years from the date of the Contract; for which he offers to receive in Payment on the delivery, the Obligations of the United States for the amount of the same, payable in ten, fifteen, or twenty Years; computing two pounds[Note 4: 4 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, pp. 491--492.]
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and one quarter Avoirdupois, at Four Shillings and Six pence Sterling, or at one Federal Dollar. The above Obligations to be as valid as any heretofore given by the United States, and to be subject to no deduction whatsoever. The rate of Interest on them to be Six per Cent per Annum; and the United States to be allowed a Premium of 10 per Cent on the value of the Copper when Coined.
He proposes further, in case the Contract should take place, to receive the Public Copper, at the rate of Nine Pence Sterling per Pound, allowing the United States on the same Twenty five per Cent Premium, and Paying the amount of the Purchase and Premium in Copper Coin.
in behalf of himself and Associates.[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, pp. 501--504. There is also a proposition of Joseph Hopkins of Waterbury, Connecticut, of March 1787, on p. 495.]
These Gentlemen propose to receive the Public Copper now on hand, and to pay for it (at a price to be hereafter agreed on) in Copper Coin, delivering every Week Three hundred and fifty Pounds New York Currency in Copper, untill the whole is paid; Or to refine Sheet and Blank the Crude Copper, and Coin it under the inspection of a Person for such purpose appointed by Congress; receiving for the same fifteen Pence New York Currency per Pound, free from every expence, except the Salary of the Person appointed to inspect the Coinage.
They further propose to refine Sheet Blank and Coin such a farther quantity, as with the Copper belonging to the Public will amount to Three hundred Tons of Copper Coin, within two Years computed from the date of the Contract; the Coinage to be carried on under the like Inspection as beforementioned free of all expence, excepting the Salary of the Inspector, and to pay to the United States, Fifteen pounds of Copper Coin on every hundred Pounds Coined; the Coin to be of the Federal Standard; and fifty pounds weight of it to be furnished previous to the conlusion of the Contract as the Standard of impression and quality.
Having thus given an Abstract of the several Propositions before the Board on the subject of Copper Coinage we beg leave to lay before Congress, such Remarks as may enable that Honorable Body to form a proper judgment of their comparative Merits.
The Proposition of Peter Allaire offers as great a premium, as could in all probability be afforded by any Contractor in these States, so
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as to leave an adequate compensation for the expence and trouble attending the business; that is, Twenty five per Cent. Premium.
The Profit resulting on the Sum of Sixty thousand Dollars, to the United States, would at that rate be Fifteen thousand Dollars, and so in proportion for a larger Sum. But as Payment is expected for the amount of the Copper Coin when furnished, in Gold or Silver, or in good Bills of Exchange, the present state of the Finances will not, in the opinion of this Board, authorise a Contract on such Principles; because, though the Public exigencies would occasion the issue of the Copper Coin as fast as the same could be delivered, no dependance can be placed on the Collection of Gold and Silver on the general Requisitions, to enable the Treasury to make Payments agreeably to the proposed Contract.
The Propositions of Messrs. Brigden and Waller of London so far as it respects the price of the Copper Coin, appears in a point of view, highly favorable. At the rate proposed by those Gentlemen, the Copper Coin of the Federal Standard and Impression, might be delivered on board Ships at the Port of London, at fifteen one eighth of a Penny Sterling, per Pound; so that adding the price of Freight, Exchange, Insurance, &c. the Profit to the United States would be greater from an Acceptance of this offer, than from that of any other which has been referred to the Board. But as the payment is to be on the delivery of the Copper, the difficulties which presented themselves in Mr. Allaire's proposition, oppose themselves in the present Instance.
The Proposal ofis altogether inadmissable, both with respect to Terms and mode of Payment; and however serrious the proposer might have been in making the offer, Congress will easily discern that it by no means deserves a serious consideration.
The Propositions on the whole which in the judgment of this Board, deserve the most attentive consideration are those of Mr. James Jarvis, and Mr. Mathias Ogden.
Both the Proposals offer to furnish within a reasonable period of time, such a quantity of Copper Coin, as would in the opinion of this Board, amply supply the whole circulation of that Metal throughout the States; and thereby prevent the necessity of State Coinage, the evils of which are already too apparent.
The Premium offered by Mr. Jarvis is, Ten per Cent.
That by Mr Ogden is Fifteen per Cent.
But as the Copper supplied by the former, may, at the option of the United States, be paid in Twenty Years, a question will arise, whether
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the difference of the Sum allowed on the Coinage, will be more than adequate to a common Premium for a Credit of the whole Capital, for a long period.
With respect to the Interest on the value of the Copper delivered; the same on a comparison of the Propositions cannot be taken into consideration, since the Public have the use of the whole Capital, amounting to 266,666 Dollars, paying an Interest of Six per Cent on 240,000 Dollars. The difference betwixt that Sum and 266,666 Dolls. being the amount of the Premium to be given to the United States.
It may be necessary however to observe, that whilst the embarrassments of the Public Finances on the one hand, as well as the Policy of furnishing with as little delay as possible, a sufficient quantity of Copper Coin of the Federal Standard, to supply the general Circulation, plead in favor of Mr. Jarvis' Plan; the circumstances proposed by Mr. Ogden and his Associates of Manufacturing the Copper Coin, from its first stage, in the Ore of this Country, are certainly deserving the Public attention.
Should the United States determine in the first instance, to procure by Contract a supply of Copper Coin (which considering the small Stock of the Copper in hand, and the low state of their Finances, would probably be eligable) the Coining of the same under the Inspection of a proper Officer of the United States, cannot in the opinion of this Board be dispensed with, without exposing the Public to the risque of Abuses, both as to the quality, and quantity of Copper, which might be thrown into circulation.
On the whole, considering the importance of the matter in referrence, the Board beg leave to suggest, whether it might not be proper, to submit the different Propositions, on which this Report is founded, together with the Report, to the consideration of a Special Committee, in order that Congress may, on the maturest deliberation, determine whether it would be most eligable in the first instance, to procure a sufficient Stock of Copper Coin of the Federal Standard, or to Work up the present Stock of Copper, and trust to future resources for augmenting the quantity; Should the latter be the determination, as the Public Copper is in a crude State, and the Spirit of Coining under the authority of the respective States is daily extending itself, as little delay as possible, ought to take place in a determination on this subject.
All which is most humbly Submitted.
Samuel Osgood
Walter Livingston
April 9th. 1787.
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[Letter of Board of Treasury respecting salary of E. Fox1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, II, pp. 411--413, read April 9, 1787. A copy of Fox's letter is on p. 407 and of the Act of Virginia on pp. 415--416.]
Board of Treasury
April 9th. 1787.
Sir: We request the favor of Your Excellency to lay before Congress, a copy of a Letter received by the Board from Mr. Edward Fox, Commissioner for Settling certain Accounts in the State of Virginia, relative to the Western Territory, added by that State to the Union. In consequence of the Letter of that Gentleman of the 26th. of January, which was referred to the Board on the 12th. of February last, we had a Conference with him on the subject of those Accounts, and of his proposed augmentation of Salary.
We did not think it proper on our part to give him any encouragement as to its encrease; neither did he hold up the idea which he now does of resigning his Commission. Mr. Fox supposes that the Board was directed to Report on his Letter; but this was not the case, as will appear by the Entry on the Journals. Notwithstanding our favorable opinion of this Gentlemans talents to execute the trust reposed in him, we can by no means recommend an augmentation of his present Allowance. His conduct in hazarding the Public Interest, whilst he is stipulating for a Salary (against which he made no objections when it was fixed) added to the disquietude which such augmentation might create amongst other Officers on the Civil Establishment (whose Salaries have been lately reduced) are circumstances, which, in our opinion, operate strongly against a compliance with Mr. Fox's demands.
The matter with respect to this Gentleman is brought, by his present Letter, to a short issue. If his Salary is not encreased, it appears to be his intention to resign. From the enclosed Extract of the Proceedings of the Legislature of the State of Virginia, Congress will judge how indispensable it is, that a Commissioner on the part of the United States should be present at the Examination and Adjustment of those Accounts, which was the object of Mr. Fox's Appointment.
Should therefore, that Honorable Body be of Opinion, that it would not be proper to Accede to that Gentlemans stipulations, we submit it to their judgment whether it would not be proper, that another Commissioner should be forthwith appointed to proceed to the State
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of Virginia, who has disposition, as well as capacity, to execute the Trust reposed in him.
We have the honor to be, etc.,
Samuel Osgood
Walter Livingston
His Excelly.
The President of Congress.
[Letter of Secretary at War on Indian affairs1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, II, p. 299, read April 9, 1787. A copy of General Butler's letter of March 20, 1787 is on pp. 287--298.]
War Office 9 April 1787
Sir: I have the honor to submit to Congress a letter from the superintendant of Indian affairs for the northern department, containing favorable and interesting intelligence of his negociations with the Indians; and also his opinion respecting the posts necessary to be established on the frontiers.
His idea of a general Council or meeting with the indians, merits the attention of Congress. A general council would probably be the wisest and most oeconomical mode, not only of avoiding hostilities at present, but of laying the foundations of a firm and durable peace.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
H Knox
His Excellency
The President of Congress
[Letter of Secretary for Foreign Affairs on circular letter to the States2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, III, p. 213, read April 9, 1787. The report, which is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 81, III, pp. 213--224, was also read and made the order of the day for April 12. It was agreed to on April 13, where it is entered verbatim on the Journal. See March 21, 1787.]
Office for foreign Affairs 6th. April 1787
Sir: I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency herewith enclosed, the Draft of a circular Letter which by the Order of Congress of the 21st. Ult. I was directed to report. The State of my Health has been such as to prevent my compleating it sooner; and the same Reason constrains me to delay reporting Instructions for Mr Adams
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on the same Subject. I shall however endeavor to report them in Season to be compleated and sent by the next Packet.
I have the Honor to be, etc.,
John Jay1
[Note 1: 1 April 9, 1787. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 144, the following Committee was appointed:
Mr. Edward Carrington, Mr. James Mitchel Varnum, Mr. Abraham Clark, Mr. Rufus King and Mr. Benjamin Hawkins on a motion of Mr. Carrington for revising the ordinance for surveying and selling the western territory. Report rendered April 25, 1787.
According to indorsement and the Committee Book was read and referred to the Commissioner for Army Accounts to report:
Letter of William Irvine to President of Congress, April 4, 1787, regarding an extra allowance, while commanding at Fort Pitt. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIII, pp. 407--408. Report rendered April 11, 1787.]
His Excellency
The President of Congress
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