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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 --MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1787.
Congress assembled present as before.
On the report2 of a comee. consisting of Mr [Edward] Carrington Mr [Rufus] King Mr [Nathan] Dane Mr [James] Madison and Mr [Joseph Platt] Cook to whom was referred a letter3 of the Secretary at War of the 26 of April last,
[Note 2: 2 See October 12, 1787.]
[Note 3: 3 See April 26, 1787.]
Resolved4 That a million of Acres of land to be bounded east by the seventh range of townships, south by the land contracted for by Cutler and Sargent and to extend north as far as the ranges of townships and westward so far as to include the above quantity, also a tract to be bounded as follows beginning at the mouth of the river Ohio thence up the Mississippi to the river Au Vause, thence up the same
[Note 4: 4 Suggestions regarding the boundaries for the tract of land, which were fixed in this resolve, are found in a letter of H. Knox to Edward Carrington, October 22, 1787. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, II, p. 323.]
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until it meets a west line from the mouth of the little Wabash thence easterly with the said West line to the Great Wabash, thence down the same to the Ohio and thence with the Ohio to the place of beginning, be reserved and set apart for the pur-
Resolved That the Secretary at War take measues for ascertaining the existing claims
pose of satisfying the military bounties due to the late Army and that no locations other than for the said bounties be permitted within the said tract until they shall be fully satisfied.
That the Secretary at War take measures for ascertaining the existing claims for such bounties and that the Geographer proceed to have the same surveyed under the direction of the Secretary at War agreeably to the terms upon which they have been promised.
On motion1 of Mr H[enry] Lee seconded by Mr [William] Irvine
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, p. 132, in the writing of Mr. Henry Lee. This proceeding was also entered by John Fisher in Western Territory, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 176, p. 16. This motion superseded the committee report on the subject. See August 9 and October 12, 1787.]
Resolved That the governor of the western territory be and he is hereby empowered to hold a general treaty with the adjacent Indian tribes in the ensuing Spring, if in his judgment the public good requires it and that he be authorised to draw for such sums of the money appropriated by the resolve of Congress of the 12th. instant as may be necessary to effect this object,2 not exceeding in the whole the sum of fourteen thousand dollars.
[Note 2: 2 The clause from this point to the end of the resolve was not in the original motion. It was added by Charles Thomson and is apparently an amendment.]
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[Report of Board of Treasury on proposals of R. Flint and J. Parker1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, I, pp. 501--502, read October 22, 1787. The resolution to agree to the report is indorsed on the report by Charles Thomson. The report was also entered by John Fisher in the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, pp. 175--176.]
Board of Treasury
Octr. 22d. 1787.
The Board of Treasury to whom was referrd the Proposal of Royal Flint, and Joseph Parker, relative to the Purchase of Certain Tracts of the Western Territory,
Beg Leave to Report,
That the said Proposal is founded on the same Principles as have been agreed to by Congress on the Contracts of Messrs. Cutler, and Sargent, and Mr John C. Symmes, with these Exceptions Vizt.
That the Proposers offer on their Part, and on their own Advance (to be hereafter Compensated) to Extinguish the Indian Claim to the Tracts; which they propose to Purchase, and
That the Proportionate Installments on the respective Tracts should only be paid at Nine Months after the Notification of the said Indian Purchase being Completed.
On the Matter in Reference, The Board are of Opinion, that if Congress should agree to the Sale of the Tracts described in the Memorial; That it would be proper that the United States should Extinguish the Indian Claims to the said described Tracts; should any Exist;
That it would be further Proper, that the first Proportionate Payments, on the Respective Tracts should be made whenever the several Contracts for the same should be completed; as in the Case of other Contracts; and that "Nothing in the said Grants should Affect any
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Claims of Individuals which have been secured to them by the Act of Cession of the State of Virginia; or any Act of Congress."
All which is humbly Submitted
Samuel Osgood
Walter Livingston
Arthur Lee1
[Note 1: 1 October 22, 1787. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 173, the following committee was appointed:
Mr. John Kean, Mr. Abraham Clark and Mr. William Grayson on drafts of commissions for the governor, judges and secretary of the Western territory. Report rendered October 23, 1787. See October 20, 1787.
According to indorsement was read a petition of Enoch Morgan, October 22, 1787, praying for settlement of his account for which the vouchers were lost. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, V, p. 413. A statement of his account is on p. 415.]
Resolved2 That Congress agree to the above report, and that it, together with the proposal of Royal Flint and Joseph Parker, be referred back to the Board of Treasury to take order.
[Note 2: 2 Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 176.]
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