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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 --THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1787.
Congress Assembled present, Massachusetts New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia and from Delaware Mr [Dyre] Kearny, and from Rhode Island Mr [Peleg] Arnold.
Mr. David Ross and Mr Nathaniel Ramsay, Delegates for Maryland attended and produced credentials whereby it appears that they are appointed to represent the said State in Congress for one Year from the second Monday in December 1786.
[Credentials of Maryland delegates1]
[Note 1: 1 Original credentials read May 3, 1787, in Papers of the Continental Congress, Maryland Credentials. Copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, p. 214. See February 15, 1787.]
To the Honourable William Harrison, William Hindman, Uriah Forrest David Ross, and Nathaniel Ramsey Esquires.
The State of Maryland reposing special Trust and Confidence in your diligence, wisdom and fidelity, hath appointed you Delegates for this State in the United States in Congress assembled, with full power and authority to you, or any two or more of you, to representW. Smallwoodand act for this State in the United States in Congress assembled, for One whole year from the second Monday of this instant December, and also you or either of you, are fully
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empowered and authorised to represent and Act for this State in a Committee of the States, which may within the time aforesaid be appointed by the United States in Congress assembled.
Given under my Hand and the Seal of the State, at the City of Annapolis this second Day of December Anno Domini 1786
[SEAL PENDENT]
The committee consisting of Mr [Nathaniel] Gorham Mr [Charles] Pettit and Mr [William] Grayson, to whom was referred the Memorial of John Dean Junr in behalf of John Dean and Henry Bowers of Boston in the State of Massachusetts, praying that a Sea Letter may be granted for the Ship Friendship, Josiah Roberts Commander, having reported,1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Mr. Nathaniel Gorham, is indorsed on the back of the petition which was read May 2, 1787.]
That they are assured that the vessel abovementioned with her cargo belongs to citizens of the United States, and is navigated by citizens of the United States,
Resolved, That a Sea letter in the usual form be granted.
On a report2 of the Board of Treasury to whom was referred a motion for repealing the special Requisition3 of the 21st. of October last; together with the resolve directing the Board of Treasury to open a loan on the credit of the said Requisition,
[Note 2: 2 See April 18, 1787.]
[Note 3: 3 Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 894--895.]
Resolved, That all monies accruing from the Requisition of the 21st of October last, or advanced by any of the States for the recruiting, subsisting or cloathing of the Troops, directed to be raised by the Resolves of Congress of the 20th. of October last,4 be credited to such States, on the Specie requisition of 1784, 1785 or 1786, at the option of the States respectively; Provided, that no State having made
[Note 4: 4 Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 892--893.]
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such Advances shall obtain credit therefor, till the Accounts relative to the same are adjusted at the Treasury of the United States.
Resolved, That the Act of Congress of the 21st of October last directing the Board of Treasury to open a Loan on the credit of the said requisition, be and it is hereby repealed.
1Congress proceeded to the consideration of the report2 of the Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs, to whom was referred his letter of 8th December last to His Excellency The President with two commissions from his britannic Majesty dated the 5th. day of April 1786, the one constituting Phineas Bond Esqr. his Consul for New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, the other constituting him his Majesty's Commissary for commercial Affairs throughout the United States, and Congress approved of the said report and agreed to the following Resolutions3 to wit,
[Note 1: 1 The proceedings from this point to the end of the entry of the Public Journal are also entered by John Fisher and signed by Charles Thomson in the Secret Journal Foreign, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 6, III, pp. 372--373 and by Benjamin Bankson in Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 5, III, pp. 1607--1609.]
[Note 2: 2 See March 29, 1787.]
[Note 3: 3 There is a Mss. copy of this Act recognizing Bond, signed by Thomson, in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 55, pp. 309--310.]
Whereas Phineas Bond Esqr. has presented to the United States in Congress Assembled a commission in due form bearing date the 5th. April 1786 from his britannic Majesty constituting and appointing him the Consul General of his said Majesty in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, and although no commercial treaty or convention subsists between his Majesty and the United States whereby either have a perfect right to establish Consuls or Commissaries in the dominions of the other, yet as the United States are disposed by every proper mark of liberality and attention to promote a good
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correspondence between the two countries, and particularly as amicable negotiations are now depending between them,
Resolved, That the said Phineas Bond Esqr be and he hereby is received and recognized as the Consul of his britannic Majesty, throughout the States of New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware and Maryland, and that his commission be registered in the Secretary's Office.
Resolved, That all the privileges, pre-eminences and Authority which the Laws of Nations and of the land give to a Consul received by the United States from any Nation with whom they have no commercial Treaty or convention are due to and shall be enjoyed by the said Phineas Bond as Consul for the five States abovementioned, and that certified copies of these resolutions be transmitted to the Executives of the said five States for their Information.
1The Secretary for foreign Affairs reported the following draught of a Letter to Mr. Adams
[Note 1: 1 From this point to the end of the day the entries were made by John Fisher and attested by Charles Thomson in Secret Journal Foreign, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 6, III, pp. 373--374 and by Benjamin Bankson in Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 5, III, pp. 1609--1610.]
"Sir: In Obedience to the orders of Congress I have the honor of informing you that Phineas Bond Esqr. has presented to Congress a Commission from his Britannic Majesty constituting him Commissary for all Commercial Affairs within the United States, and another Commission constituting him Consul for the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.
Congress being desirous on this and every other occasion to manifest their disposition to cultivate a friendly correspondence with Great Britain have received Mr. Bond in his latter Capacity, although no treaty or Convention subsists between the two Countries whereby
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either have a right to establish Consuls in the dominions of the other.
As yet Congress have not received any Commissaries for Commercial Affairs, and they think it most prudent not to receive them from any Nation until their powers shall have been previously ascertained by agreement, lest as those appointments are seldom made, and both parties may not have precisely the same Ideas of the extent of the powers and privileges annexed to them, disagreeable questions and discussions might and probably would otherwise take place on those delicate Subjects.
You will be pleased to submit these reasons to his Majesty, and to assure him that Congress regret the objections which oppose their complying with his wishes in this instance but that they are ready to join with his Majesty in such agreements or Conventions as may be necessary to remove them and which may also tend to promote and establish a friendly and satisfactory Commercial intercourse between the two Countries.
Ordered1That the above letter be referred to the Secretary for foreign affairs to take order.
[Note 1: 1 Notation as to this order is made in the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 148.]
ChaS. Thomson Secy.
[Letter of Secretary at War on discharge of troops2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, II, pp. 327--329, read May 3, 1787.]
War Office May 2nd. 1787.
Sir: I have the honor to inform Congress that in consequence of their resolves of the 9th. ultimo I have directed all the troops which were raised by virtue of the acts of Congress of the 20th. of October 1786 to be disbanded excepting two companies of artillery from the State of Massachusetts.
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The commissioned officers in the states of New Hampshire and Rhode Island were appointed but the recruiting service had not commenced.
I have not yet received the Muster rolls from Massachusetts but the recruits amount to about three hundred men, all of whom excepting two companies of artillery each of one captain, two subalterns and seventy noncommissioned officers and privates were ordered to be disbanded previous to the first instant. The artillery companies will march to Springfield about the 4th. or 5th. instant; on their arrival at that place the Connecticut troops amounting to one hundred and fifty seven noncommissioned officers and privates will be disbanded.
The troop of cavalry in Virginia was completed to the establishment and will be disbanded as soon after the orders arrive as shall be practicable.
The state of Maryland did not comply with the requisition of Congress for the troops.
The Board of Treasury propose as the best means in their power to draw orders on the Receivers of Continental taxes of the states respectively in which the troops were raised for the payment of the arrears.
Agreeably to the order of Congress of the 20th. of October 1786 I arranged the troops then specified into
By the disbandment of the 9th. of April 1787 the present establishment will consist of
One Regiment of infantry of eight companies of seventy noncommissioned officers and privates.andOne company not formed owing to the fractional parts of companies from the several states not being completed.
One battalion of Artillery commanded by a major and consisting of four companies of seventy noncommissioned officers and privates each
I have the honor to be, etc.,
H Knox
His Excellency
The President of Congress
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[Letter of Secretary for Foreign Affairs transmitting correspondence1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, III, p. 241, road May 3, 1787.]
Office for foreign Affairs
3d May 1787
Sir: I have the Honor to transmit to your Excellency herewith enclosed two Letters from Mr. Jefferson2 of 27th. October and 14th. February, also two from Mr. Adams3 of 27th. January and 24th. February, and one from Coll. Smith4 of 26th. February last, together with the Papers mentioned to be enclosed with them respectively; and am with great Respect and Esteem etc.,
[Note 2: 2 Jefferson's letter of October 27, 1786, transmitting enclosures of letter of October 23 on commerce, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 87, I, p. 762. Copy of that of February 14, 1787, announcing the death of Vergennes and discussing medals for generals, is in No. 107, II, pp. 2--3. See July 26, 1787.]
[Note 3: 3 Adams' letter of January 27, 1787, dealing with sixteen Chinese seamen and the practice of changing British into American bottoms for the East Indian trade, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 84, VI, p. 407, with its enclosures on pp. 411 and 415--416. That of February 24, 1787 relating to the expenses of R. Harrison for prisoners released from Morocco, is in ibid, p. 427 with its enclosures on pp. 431--436. There is also another letter of Adams' of January 27, 1787, dealing with the conclusion of the Moroccan treaty, commendation of Barclay and Franks and no progress in Portuguese negotiation, in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 84, VI, pp. 403--405. See July 6 and 30, 1787.]
[Note 4: 4 Smith's letter, giving an account of debates in English parliament respecting America, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 92, pp. 192--193.]
John Jay.5
[Note 5: 5 May 3, 1787. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, pp. 148--149, the following committees were appointed:
Mr. Melancton Smith, Mr. Nathaniel Gorham and Mr. Nathan Dane on a letter of Samuel Fraunces, May 2, 1787, requesting that a mistake in a resolution respecting him be rectified. Report rendered May 11, 1787.
Mr. Abraham Clark, Mr. Charles Pettit, Mr. William Grayson, Mr. William Pierce and Mr. Henry Lee on a motion of Mr. Pierce respecting a requisition for the present year with the estimate of the Board of Treasury for 1787. The Committee was renewed on July 10, 1787. The estimates for 1787 are in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 141, II, pp. 161--187. See April 2, 1787.
Also according to the Committee Book a memorial of John Vanderhoven, received May 3, 1787, for the adjustment and payment of his accounts was referred to the Board of Treasury report.]
His Excellency The President of Congress.
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