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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, AUGUST 2, 1787.
Congress assembled. Present Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina and from Rhode Island Mr [James Mitchel] Varnum and from Georgia Mr [William] Few.
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Mr. Pierce Butler a delegate for South Carolina attended and produced credentials whereby it appears that on the 6 March last he was appointed a delegate to represent the said state in Congress until the first Monday in November next.
[Credentials of Pierce Butler, South Carolina1]
[Note 1: 1 Original on parchment with seal pendent endorsed as read August 2, 1787, Papers of the Continental Congress, South Carolina Credentials; copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, p. 220.]
State of South Carolina.
By His Excellency Thomas Pinckney Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the State aforesaid
To the Honorable Pierce Butler Esquire Greeting Know ye That by Virtue of the Power and Authority in me Vested by the Legislature of this State; I have commissioned and by these Presents, do commission you the said Pierce Butler to be a Delegate to represent this State in the Congress of the United States of America.
This Commission to continue and be in force until the first Monday in November next and no longer.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State in the City of Charleston this sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, and of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America the Eleventh.
Thomas Pinckney
By His Excellency's Command.
Peter Freneau
Secretary
[SEAL PENDENT]
The comee. consisting of Mr [James Mitchel] Varnum Mr [Abraham] Clark and Mr [Nathan] Dane to whom was referred a letter of 24 Jany 1787 from the Governor of Virginia with the papers enclosed having reported2 "That the request of Virginia to be credited the expenses of a late expedition against the Indians on both sides of the Ohio as stated in Governor Randolph's letter of the 24 Jany last
[Note 2: 2 The report, in the writing of Mr. James Mitchel Varnum, endorsed as read and debated on August 2, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, p. 327. In it the parts indicated in Mr. Grayson's motion are crossed off. See July 28 and 31, 1787.]
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cannot be complied with, the said expedition not having been authorised by or conducted under the knowledge or direction of the United States.
A motion was made by Mr [William] Grayson seconded by Mr [Edward] Carrington to strike out the word "cannot" and the words "the said expedition &c." Go the end. And on the question shall the words moved to be struck out stand? the yeas and nays being required by Mr [William] Grayson
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So the question was lost and the words were struck out.
[Motion of Mr. Varnum respecting a public printer1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, pp. 315--316. The motion is in the handwriting of Mr. Varnum except the words in brackets which are alterations in another hand. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No 190, p. 164, this motion was referred to a committee consisting of Mr. James Mitchel Varnum, Mr. Benjamin Hawkins, and Mr. William Grayson, which reported on August 3, 1787.]
Resolved That a printer be employed by the United States, whose duty it shall be to publish the Journals of Congress, and other necessary official documents [of the U. S.]
That he also publish a paper on Tuesday's and Saturdays weekly at such place where Congress shall hold its sessions to be denominated "The Union [N. America Journal]" and conclude with "by authority of the United States."
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That the publication of "the Union [N. A. J.]", be [published] under the inspection of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and contain information [or under the inspection of such other person or persons as Congress may hereafter direct.] foreign and domestic; Sentiments, moral, philosophical, and elegant;--Strictures, political, literary and historical;--And that [there] from this source of information be excluded every motive of private business [all advertisements], not immediately connected with the public interest, and also whatever may tend to slander and detraction.
That from and after the commencement of the next federal year "The Union" only be received at public expense.
[Report regarding a confederacy against the Barbary States1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, (No. 81, III, pp. 139--142, read August 2, 1787.]
Office for foreign Affairs
2d. August 1787
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs, to whom was referred a Motion made the 27th of last Month in the Words following, Vizt.
"That the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Prance be directed to form a Confederacy with the Powers of Europe, who are now at war with the piratical States of Algiers, Tripoli and Tunis, or may be disposed to go to war with them, for the Purpose of protecting and securing the Citizens and Subjects of the contracting Parties in the free Navigation of the Mediterranean Sea. That it be an Article in the said Confederation, that none of the contracting Parties shall make Peace with any of the said piratical States, in which the whole Confederacy shall not be included; and in Case a general Peace shall be concluded between the belligorant Powers, that the whole Confederacy shall be Guaranties of the same, and in Case of an Aggression on the part of the said piratical States, they shall be obligated to have Justice done by recommencing Hostilities and continuing the same until this End is effected. That there be an Article stipulating the Quotas of the different Powers in Men and Shipping, ascertaining their Stations at different Periods, and fixing the general Command in such Manner as may best secure the desired Object."
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Reports,
That in his Opinion it would always be more for the Honor and Interest of the United States to prefer War to Tribute.
That his sentiments on this Subject are stated in a Report1 he had the Honor to make to Congress on the 20th. October, 1785, to which he refers.
[Note 1: 1 See Journals, vol. XXIX, pp. 842--844.]
That the Measures proposed in that Report were founded on an Opinion, that the Resources of the United States in Seamen and Money were sufficient to execute and support them; but from Causes originating in the Inefficiency of the national Government our Navigation has since rapidly declined, and the public Revenue, depending on the Effect of Requisitions, has become inadequate to the ordinary Exigencies of the Union.
That in his Judgment a vigourous Effort to revive our Navigation and meliorate our Finances should at least accompany any Exertions to establish naval Force; for otherwise that Force will be languid and incompetent to its Object.
It is with great Regret therefore that he is obliged to consider the Motion in Question as rendered unseasonable by the present State of our Affairs.
If the Nations at War with the three States of Barbary should agree to confederate in the Manner proposed, he thinks it highly probable that the Quota of Force expected from the United States will be much greater than it would be in their Power to supply--nor would it become their Dignity to take the Lead in forming such a Confederation, unless they were prepared to support such spirited Propositions by spirited and important Operations.
As Things now are your Secretary much doubts whether Congress could find the Means of building and keeping even three Frigates well manned and provided in that Service; and if such be the Case, he thinks it will be most prudent for Congress to delay entering into the
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proposed, or indeed any other Engagements, until the Means of executing them appear clearly to be within their Reach.
All of which is submitted to the Wisdom of Congress.
John Jay
[Letter of Secretary of Foreign Affairs on the case of the Little Robert1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, III, p. 289, read August 2, 1787. The letter of Reade and Bogardus, August 1, 1787, also read, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIX, pp. 571--572. It was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report. Report rendered September 26, and acted on October 3, 1787.]
Office For Foreign Affairs
2d. August 1787
Sir: I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency the enclosed Letter from Reade and Bogardus, and am with great Respect and Esteem, etc.,
John Jay.2
His Excellency The President of Congress.
[Note 2: 2 August 2, 1787. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 164, the following committees were appointed:
Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. James Mitchel Varnum, Mr. John Kean, Mr. Abraham Clark and Mr. William Grayson on a "report of the Secy for Foreign Affairs on Note of Minister of U. Netherlands touching a law of Virginia." Report was rendered September 24. The report of Secretary Jay, March 14, 1787, read March 15, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 81, III, pp. 193--199. Van Berckel's note, February 20, 1787, with covering letter to Jay and translations, are in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 99, pp. 273--284. See also October 13, 1787.
Mr. Edward Carrington, Mr. Dyre Kearny and Mr. James Scheurman on a Memorial of Adam Jamison respecting the loss of vouchers and settlement of his accounts. Report was rendered August 9, 1787. Jamison's Memorial, February 14, 1786, read March 2, 1786, with accompanying documents is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IV, pp. 499--507.
Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. Abraham Clark, Mr. James Mitchel Varnum, Mr. Richard Henry Lee and Mr. William Grayson on a motion for the reduction of the Civil List, made in 1785. Report rendered August 9, 1787 Renewal of committee of February 12, 1787.
Also on this day was read and referred:
Petition of William Gardner, late agent for clothing, July 28, 1787, regarding the settlement of his account with accompanying account. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, III, pp. 305--309. Referred to the Board of Treasury to report. Report rendered May 2, 1788.]
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