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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 --FRIDAY, MAY 11, 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.
On Motion1 of Mr [Rufus] King,
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, p. 159, in the writing of Mr. Rufus King.]
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury take order for the payment of five hundred dollars to John Warren, Guardian of the eldest son of the late General Warren for his education for the term of one Year commencing on the 4th. day of July last.
Resolved, That the board of Treasury take order for the payment of four hundred dollars to the Guardian of Hugh Mercer, son of the late General Mercer, for his education for one Year commencing on the 27th. day of April last.
2A motion3 being made by Mr [William] Few seconded by Mr. [William] Pierce in the following words, Viz
[Note 2: 2 From this point to the end of the day the proceedings are entered by John Fisher and attested by Charles Thomson in the Secret Journal Foreign, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 6, vol. III, pp. 375--376. These proceedings are also entered by Benjamin Bankson in Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 5, vol. III, pp. 1610--1612, where the yeas and nays are recorded by members.]
[Note 3: 3 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, p. 363, in the writing of Mr. William Few.
On p. 369 of this same volume there is a motion of Mr. William Pierce, which may have been considered on this or some preceding day. It is as follows: That The Secretary of foreign affairs be directed to negociate proceed in his negociations with the Encargado de Negocios of his Catholic Majesty, conformably to his instructions given him for that purpose on the 25th August 1785.]
That the proceedings of Congress of the 29th day of August4 last do not authorize the Secretary of the
[Note 4: 4 Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 574--596.]
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United States for the department of foreign affairs to enter into any Stipulation with the Minister of his Catholic Majesty whereby the right of the United States to the free Navigation of the Mississippi should be relinquished or impaired nor to give up any right of territory comprehended in the treaty of peace with Great Britain.
A motion1 was made by Mr. [Rufus] King seconded by Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham to amend the motion by striking out "of the 29th day of August last" and from "whereby" to the end, so as to read as follows,
[Note 1: 1 The wording of the original motion of Mr. Few is crossed off and amended to bring it in conformity with this motion.]
That the proceedings of Congress do not authorize the Secretary of the United States for the department of foreign Affairs to enter into any Stipulation with the Minister of his Catholic Majesty.
And on the question shall these words stand? the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Rufus] King
So the Question was lost and the words struck out.
A motion2 was then made by Mr. [William] Grayson seconded by Mr. [William] Few to amend the motion before the House by adding "on terms different from those contained in the resolutions3 of the 25th. of August 1785".
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, p. 365, in the writing of Mr. William Grayson.]
[Note 3: 3 Journals, vol. XXlX, p. 658.]
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On the question for amendment the yeas and Nays being required by Mr. [William] Grayson
So the question was lost.
Chas Thomson Secy
[Report of committee on letter of S. Fraunces1]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. Melancton Smith, Mr. Nathaniel Gorham and Mr. Nathan Dane] to whom was referred a Letter from Samuel Fraunces to his Excellency the President
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, pp. 329--330, in the writing of Mr. Melancton Smith. Read May 11, 1787, and acted on August 21, 1788. See May 3, 1787.]
Report,
That appears to your Committee in consequence of a Memorial the sd. Fraunnces stating that Congress on the 4th. April 1784, Resolved "that in consideration of the singular services of the said Samuel Fraunces and of his advances to the American Prisoners the sum of two thousand dollars be paid to the said Samuel Fraunces on account of the Loan office Certificates in his hands, and that they be delivered up and cancelled."
That in pursuance [consequence] of this Resolution the Board Treasury caused the Loan Office Certificates of the said Samuel Fraunces amounting to Two thousand Dollars w ere presented to the proper Officers of the Treasury to be cancelled, that upon being liquidated their specie value appeared to be 1293 63/90 Dollars, for which Sum a warrant issued in his favor on the Treasurer of the U.S.
That on a subsequent application of the said S. Fraunces, Congress on the 15h. Sepr. 1785, ordered that the full Sum of Two thousand Dollars should be paid to the said Samuel Fraunces, in consequence whereof he was paid [received] the farther Sum of 706 27/90 Dolls.
It farther appears your Committee that the said Samuel Fraunces claims Interest
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Your Committee farther reports that the said Samuel Fraunces alledges that he did advance during the War to the American Prisoners two thousand Dollars in specie, for the Loan Office Certificates aforesaid influenced by no other motives than an attachment to the cause of America, and from some testimonials produced by him, your Committee are induced to believe this was the fact.
Your Committee have examined a number of Letters and papers submitted to them by the said S. Fraunces, by which, as well as from his general Character, it appears that the said Fraunces was firmly attached to the Interest of his Country, rendered very essential services to the Prisoners, and furnished useful and important intelligence, by means of which he expended very considerable part of his property.
Your Committee therefore in Consideration of the services rendered and losses sustained by the Said Samuel Fraunces and in consideration report
That the Board of Treasury take order for paying to Samuel Fraunces the Sum of five hundred Dollars.
[Report of Secretary for Foreign Affairs on consular convention 1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 81, III, pp. 113--118, dated May 10, 1787 and read May 11. This report of Jay was on the part of Mr. Jefferson's letter which related to the consular convention with France. It was passed July 27, 1787, where it is entered verbatim, except for changes necessary to make the report a Journal entry, in the Secret Journal Foreign, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 6, III. See April 18 and 20, 1787.]
[Letter of Board of Treasury on memorial of A. H. Dohrman 2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, I, p. 367, read May 11, 1787. The enclosed report was entered in Reports of the Board of Treasury A, pp. 383--385; Library of Congress photstat copy. With some changes it was entered in the Journal on October 1, 1787. See March 19 and April 19, 1787.]
Board Of Treasury
May 10th. 1787.
Sir: We do ourselves the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency for the consideration of Congress a Report of this Board on their
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Report of the 19th. March last on the Memorial of Arnold Henry Dohrman and are
With the greatest respect, etc.,
Samuel Osgood
Walter Livingston1
[Note 1: 1 May 11, 1787. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 150, the following committee was appointed:
Mr. Dyre Kearny, Mr. William Few, Mr. Benjamin Hawkins, Mr. William Grayson and Mr. Charles Pettit on the letter of May 9, 1787, of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs respecting instructions regarding negotiations with Spain. See May 9, 1787.]
His Excellency
The President Of Congress.
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