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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, SEPTEMBER 21, 1787.
Congress assembled present as yesterday.
On the report1 of a committee consisting of Mr [Nathan] Dane Mr [Abraham] Clark Mr [James Mitchell Varnum Mr R[ichard] H[enry] Lee and Mr [William] Grayson to whom it was referred to consider what officers in the civil department are become unnecessary and to whom was also referred a motion2 of Mr [Nathan] Dane,
[Note 1: 1 See August 9, 1787, for the original report. The amended report, as passed, is recorded on a broadside of the original, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, p. 659. See also August 2, 1787.]
[Note 2: 2 See August 3, 1787.]
Resolved Unanimously that Samuel Osgood, Walter Livingston and Arthur Lee, Commissioners of the board of treasury appointed in pursuance of the Ordinance3 of Congress passed May 28, 1784 for putting the department of finance into commission with all the powers and duties appertaining to the said board and commissioners be and the same are hereby continued to the tenth day of November 1789.
[Note 3: 3 Journals, vol. XXVII, pp. 469--471.]
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Resolved That the Offices of the comptroller and Auditor and the clerkships pertaining thereto from and after the first day of November next shall cease and determine And the powers and duties thereof shall be transferred to the board of treasury and after the same period shall vest in and be exercised and discharged by the said board and by persons appointed by the said board; and the said Board for the dispatch of the business thus transferred shall have authority to employ an Accountant, whose salary shall not exceed the rate of eight hundred dollars per annum and not more than two clerks.
Resolved That when the said Offices shall cease as aforesaid, that all the books and papers pertaining thereto shall be lodged in the Office of the board of treasury and that all the returns directed to be made to the said comptroller and auditor shall after the said first day of November be made to the said board.
Resolved That the said accountant and clerks shall respectively take an oath of fidelity to the United States and the oath of Office. And the commissioners of the said board shall severally before the tenth day of November next renew their bonds given to the United States in pursuance of the resolutions1 of Con2gress of February the 3d. and March the 15th. 1785, or give bonds and security to the United States, of the same tenor force and effect, as those directed by the said resolutions, for the faithful execution of the trust reposed in them by these resolves, or any other Acts of Congress; and shall also take an Oath of fidelity to the United States and the Oath of Office, certificates of which shall be filed with the Secretary of Congress.
[Note 1: 1 Journals, vol. XXVIII, pp. 38 and 158--159, respectively.]
[Note 2: 2 Roger Alden resumes the entry.]
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[Motion of Mr. David Ross on expenses for Indian chiefs 1]
[Note 1: 1 This motion was entered by Thomson in the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 166. It was referred to the Board of Treasury to take order.]
Whereas Mr Thomas Harwood Continental loan Officer for the state of Maryland Did, on the 14th of June last at the instance of the governor and Council of the said state, advance to captain John Woods one hundred dollars to enable him to proceed with two indian chiefs on their way to Congress, the board of treasury be directed to give the said loan Officer credit for the same and issue a warrant for that purpose.
[Reports of Secretary of Congress on sundry letters and petitions 2]
[Note 2: 2 Reports of Secretary of Congress, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 180, pp. 60--61. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, pp. 165--166, all the letters and petitions were referred in accordance with the indications of the Secretary.]
Office of Secy. of Congress
Sept 21 1787
On the letter of 11 Aug 1787 from his Exy governor Hancock stating that a number of persons some probably convicts and all of them people whose manners and conduct will be detrimental to the state have been set on shore in the eastern part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from a brig bound from Ireland to Baltimore
The Secy of Congress report
That the letter of 11 Aug from his Exy govr Hancock with the papers accompanying it be referred to the Secy for foreign Affairs to report.3
[Note 3: 3 Report rendered September 28, 1787. See September 20, 1787.]
On a Petition from P. French and nephew stating his arrest of Mr T. Barclay, remonstrating against the Arret of parliament which discharged him and praying for leave to proceed against him
Secy Secy of Congress reports
That the pe[ti]tion from P. French and Nephew be referred to the Secy for foreign Affairs to report,4 also the letter5 of 21 June from the honble. Thos. Jefferson so far as relates to this subject and to the proposed convention between the post Offices of the United States and france, and the claim of individuals against the State of South Carolina for serving on board the ship Indien Capt Gillon.
[Note 4: 4 Report rendered September 26. See September 20, 1787.]
[Note 5: 5 See September 20, 1787.]
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On the petition of Wm Blodget late Aid de camp to gen1 Greene praying for the benefit of Commutation and the petition of Michael Henderson claiming lands
The Secy of Congress reports
That the petition of WmBlodget1 and the petition of Michael Henderson2 be referred to the Commissioner of Army Accounts to report.
[Note 1: 1 Report rendered September 27. See September 20, 1787.]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, III, pp. 578--579, read September 21, 1787. Report rendered September 27, 1787.]
On the petition of sundry West Chester farmers stating damages they have suffered and praying for a settlement and compensation
The Secy reports
That the petition of the West Chester farmers3 be referred to the board of treasury to report.
[Note 3: 3 According to the Despatch Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 185, IV, p. 17, this petition of Cornelius Oakly and others was received September 20, 1787.]
On the petition of Mr John Cleves Symmes praying that Congress will be pleased to order a contract to be made with him for a certain tract of western territory on similar terms with that made with Sergeant Cutler and others
The Secy of Congress reports
That the petition of John Cleves Symmes be referred to a comee.4
[Note 4: 4 According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 166, the committee consisted of Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. William Grayson, Mr. Abraham Clark, Mr. Melancton Smith, and Mr. William Samuel Johnson, which reported October 2, 1787. See September 20, 1787.]
On the petition of Capt G Cunningham touching the settlement of his Accots
The Secy of Congress reports
That the petition of capt Gustavus Cunningham5 be referred to the board of treasury to report.
[Note 5: 5 According to the Despatch Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 185, IV, p. 17, this petition was delivered September 20, 1787.]
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[Letter of Postmaster General regarding education of White Eyes 1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, p. 311, read September 21, 1787. A letter of Col. G. Morgan, August 6, 1787, on this same subject, is copied by Thomson in the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 167, where it is stated that it was referred to the Board of Treasury to take order.]
August 10th. 1787.
Sir: Some Time ago I called on the Board of Treasury with a former Accot. of Col. Morgan's for the Maintenance and Education of White Eyes, and they informed me that the Resolution of Congress, authorising that Expence, had long since expired, and of Course the Accot. could not be paid. When I waited upon them yesterday, as your Excellency desired, they repeated the Information, and referred me to the Comptroller's Office for Particulars. I went there, but the Clerk could not then lay his hand on the Papers relating to that particular Business. I apprehend the fact is, that as the time fixed for the Maintenance of White Eyes, by the Act of Congress, has expired, without any subsequent Act being passed, the Comptroller does not think himself justifiable in giving a Certificate for, nor the Commissioners of the Treasury in paying, any more Money on that Account; while, at the same Time Col. Morgan does not conceive himself at Liberty to send White Eyes home, without the Orders of Congress for that Purpose.
I have the Honor to be, etc.,
Eben Hazard2
[Note 2: 2 September 21, 1787. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, pp. 165--166, the following were referred:
Letter of Col. Josiah Harmar to H. Knox, July 7, 1787, so far as it relates to contractors and contract for provisions. Referred to the Board of Treasury to report. See September 20, 1787 and May 23, 1788.
Letter of T. Jefferson to J. Jay, June 21, 1787, so far as it relates to the case of T. Barclay, the convention touching American and French post offices and claims of individuals on South Carolina. Referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report. See September 20, 1787.
Letter of Governor Hancock, August 11, 1787. Referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report. Report rendered September 28, 1787 (the Committee Book erroneously says October 1). See September 20, 1787.
Letter of J. Temple, August 16, 1787. Referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to Report. Report rendered September 26. See September 20, 1787.
Memorial of Beriah Norton, September 15, 1787, read September 21, respecting the claim he is prosecuting against the treasury of Great Britain. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VII, p. 134. Referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report. Report rendered September 26, 1787.
According to the Despatch Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 185, IV, p. 18, the following petition was received:
Petition of Andrew McFarlan praying for one year's pay as a deranged officer.]
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