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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, MAY 9, 1787.
Congress Assembled present, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia, and from Rhode Island Mr [Peleg] Arnold and from South Carolina Mr [Daniel] Huger.
Congress proceeded in the second reading of the Ordinance for the government of the western territory and the following
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clause being under debate, viz "The representatives thus elected, shall serve for the term of two Years";
A motion was made by Mr [William] Grayson to amend the same, by striking out, "two", and insert "three".
On the question to agree to this amendment the Yeas and Nays1 being required by Mr [William] Grayson
[Note 1: 1 A record of this vote, in the writing of Roger Alden, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 49, p. 341.]
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So the question was lost.
The Ordinance2 being amended Ordered that it be transcribed, and that Thursday next be assigned for the third reading.
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, pp. 109--110. This broadside, imprint of September 1786, of the report of the committee of September 18, 1786, was what was under debate on this date. It has Mss. changes by Charles Thomson, which resulted from debates of September 21, 1786, April 26, 1787, and May 9, 1787. According to indorsement on the imprint of May 9, 1787, transcription was ordered and a new printing was made for the third reading, ordered for May 10, 1787. See July 9 and 13, 1787.]
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A Letter1 of this day from the Secretary for foreign Affairs, requesting leave of absence, was read.
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, III, p. 245.]
Ordered, that leave be granted agreeably to his request.
[Memorial of Samuel H. Parsons for purchase of lands northwest of the Ohio2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, p. 226, read May 9, 1787. An accompanying set of proposals is on pp. 230--231. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 149, the memorial was referred to a committee, consisting of Mr. Edward Carrington, Mr. Rufus King, Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. James Madison and Mr. Egbert Benson, which reported July 10, 1787. Acted on July 23, 1787.]
To the United States in Congress Assembled
The Memorial of the Associators for the purchase of Lands North West of the River Ohio by their Agent Samuel Holden Parsons Sheweth that many of your Memorialists were Officers and Soldiers of the late foederal Army, who by Resolves of Congress are intitled to a grant of Lands; and others are public Creditors who axe desirous of a Satisfaction of their Debts in the foederal Lands, and for that purpose have associated for purchasing and Settling a Tract of Country in the ungranted Lands of the United States under the Direction and Government of Congress.
They therefore pray that a Tract of Country within the Western Territory of the United States at some convenient Place may be granted them at a reasonable Price, upon their paying a Sum not exceeding One Million of Dollars nor less than five Hundred Thousand Dollars, and that Such of the Associators as by the Resolutions of Congress are intitled to receive Lands for their military Services may have their Lands assigned them within the aforesaid Grant and as in Duty bound your memorialists will pray, &c. Dated in New York the 8h. of May 1787.
Saml H. Parsons
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[Letter of Secretary for Foreign Affairs on negotiations with Spain1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, p. 469, read May 9, 1787. See May 11 and July 4, 1787:]
Office For Foreign Affairs
9th. May 1787
Sir: A Variety of obvious Circumstances and Considerations induce me to request the Favor of Congress to give me their express Instructions on the Points in Difference between the United States and the Crown of Spain.
With great Respect and Esteem
I have the honor to be etc.,
John Jay.
His Excellency
The President Of Congress.
[Letter of Secretary for Foreign Affairs on Mediterranean passports2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, III, pp. 249--250, read May 9, 1787. A copy of Jay's letter to Temple, July 5, 1786, is on pp. 253--254.]
Office For Foreign Affairs
9th. May 1787
Sir: Mr. Temple's Letter3 of 7th. June 1786 complaining that british Mediterranean Passes had been counterfeited at Philadelphia having long since been referred to me to report, it is proper that I should inform Congress that I wrote him an Answer to it of which the enclosed Paper No. 2 is a Copy, and that his Reply4 No. 3 closed our Correspondence.
[Note 3: 3 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 92, pp. 561--562.]
[Note 4: 4 July 5, 1786, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 92, pp. 564--566.]
As he constantly afterwards remained silent on the Subject, it appeared to me better to let the Matter rest in quiet than give either Congress or myself the Trouble of enquiring into the Truth of Charges,
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which ought not to have been made unless accompanied by probable Evidence of their being well founded.
With great Respect and Esteem
I have the Honor to be etc.,
John Jay1
[Note 1: 1 May 9, 1787. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 149, there was referred to the Board of Treasury to report a letter of Thomas Hutchins to the President of Congress, dated and read May 9, 1787, respecting a sum of money advanced to the Surveyors. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 60, pp. 305--306. The accompanying accounts are on pp. 309--321.]
His Excellency
The President Of Congress
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