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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, JULY 7, 1788.
Congress assembled, present New hampshire, Massachussetts Rhode island, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia and from Connecticut Mr [Benjamin] Huntington.
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According to order The supplement to the Ordinance for ascertaining the mode of disposing of land in the western territory1 was taken up for a second reading and after debate thereon adjourned.
[Note 1: 1 See June 19, July 2, 8 and 9, 1788.]
[Report of committee on instructions to governor of Western territory2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, pp. 155--156, in the writing of Mr. Hugh Williamson. Read July 7 and passed August 29, 1788. See June 24, 1788. The portions underlined by the editor were either struck out or amended during debate.]
The committee consisting of Mr [Hugh] Williamson Mr [Nathan] Dane Mr [Abraham] Clarke Mr [Thomas Tudor] Tucker and Mr [Abraham] Baldwin who were appointed to prepare Instructions to the Governor of the Western Territory submit the following,
You are to proceed without delay, except while you are necessarily detained by the Treaty now on Hands, to the French Settlements on the River Mississippi, in Order that you may give Dispatch to the several Measures which are to be taken according to the Act of 20th June last of which a Copy is enclosed for your Information.
You are to enquire whether there be any Indians who claim the Lands on the East Side of the River Mississippi above the Mouth of the Ohio and take Measures immediately for holding a Treaty with such Indians if there and if there and if there be any such Indians, you are immediately to take Measures for extinguishing their Claim at least to so much of the Territory as you see described in the afforesaid Act. If you find it cheapest and best to extinguish the Claim of those Indians by agreeing to furnish them annually with a certain allowance in Corn or other Provision you will contract accordingly.
When you have examined the Claims of the Settlers on the Mississippi Titles and Possessions of the Settlers on the Mississippi in which they are to be confirmed and given Directions for laying out the several Parallelograms, which the Settlers may divide as they may shall think best among themselves by Lot, you are to report the whole of your Proceedings to Congress.
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After you shall have finished dispatched the several Matters committed to your Care on the Mississippi you will take Post St . Vincent on your the Return, where you are to pursue the measures directed to be taken by the Act of this day, and report your Proceedings accordingly.
[Report of committee on report of former committee regarding inhabitants of St. Vincents1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, pp. 501--502, in the writing of Mr. Hugh Williamson. Read July 7 and passed August 29, 1788. See June 26, 1788. The parts underlined by the editor were struck out during debate.]
The Committee consisting of Mr [Hugh] Williamson Mr [Nathan] Dane Mr [Abraham] Clark Mr [Thomas Tudor] Tucker and Mr [Abraham] Baldwin to whom was referred the Report of a former Committee respecting the Inhabitants of Post St Vincent beg Leave to report that similar Measures ought to be taken with those Settlers as were for quiet for confirming those Settlers in their Possessions and Titles to those which are to be taken with the Settlers on the Mississippi and that an additional Tract of Land ought to be given to every Head of a Family who does not already possess a sufficient Quantity for his or her Support on which they submit the following Resolves
That Measures be taken for confirming in their Possessions and Titles the French and Canadians Inhabitants and other Settlers at Post St . Vincent who on or before the Year 1783 had ag: settled there and had professed themselves Citizens of the U S or any of them and for laying off to them at their own Expence the several Tracts which they rightfully Claim and which may have been allotted to them according to the Laws and Usages of the Governments under which they have respectively settled.
That 400 Acres of Land be reserved and given to every Head of a Family of the above Description settled at Post St Vincent, provided that no Person shall be considered as entitled ag: to the above such Donation who at present has a rightfull Claim to 500 As of Land or upwards within that District.
That the Governor of the Western Territory cause to be laid out at the public Expence in the form of a Square adjoining to the present Improvements at Post St Vincent, and in whatever ag: Direction the Settlers shall prefer, a Tract of Land sufficient for completing the above Donations which Tract shall
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afterwards be divided by Lot among the Settlers who are entitled to any Part of the same in such manner as they shall agree.
[Letter of Secretary at War on inspection of recruits 1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, III, p. 569, read July 7, 1788.]
War OfficeJuly 3d . 1788.
Sir: Agreably to the order of Congress of the 25th . ultimo, I have the honor to report to your Excellency that the recruits at present raising in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania will be mustered and inspected previously to their marching, by Mr . Stagg who is employed in this Office, and is adequate to the business.
That I conceive the troops on the frontiers may be mustered and inspected by the Majors on oath.
I have the Honor to be, etc.,
H Knox
His Excellency
The President of Congress.
[Letter of Secretary at War on affairs in Northwest territory 2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, III, pp. 527--528, read July 7, 1788. The accompanying document No. 1 is on pp. 531--532, with its enclosures on pp. 555--556 and 559--560; No. 2, on pp. 535--537; and No. 3, on pp. 539--550, with its enclosures on pp. 551--553, and 565--568. See July 15, 1788.]
War-Office,July 7th 1788.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency, the following papers respecting the disposition of affairs on the Ohio, and to the North West of the same.
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strong dated April 28'th 1788, and another from Lieutenant Spear dated the 2'nd June 1788.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
H Knox1
[Note 1: 1 July 7, 1788. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 197, the following committees were appointed to inquire into the several departments and report to Congress in conformity with the resolution of June 17, 1782:
Mr. Abraham Clark, Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. Edward Carrington, Mr. William Bingham and Mr. Hugh Williamson on the department of Finance. Report rendered September 30, 1788.
Mr. Samuel Allyne Otis, Mr. Ezra L'Hommedieu, Mr. J ames R. Reid, Mr. Thomas Tudor Tucker and Mr. John Brown on the department of Foreign Affairs. Report rendered August 14, 1788.
Mr. John Eager Howard, Mr. William Few, Mr. Jonathan Dayton, Mr. Nicholas Gilman and Mr. Edward Carrington on the War department. Report rendered July 21, 1788.
Mr. Paine Wingate, Mr. John Swann, Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. James R. Reid and Mr. Peleg Arnold on the Post Office department. Mr. Arnold was replaced by Mr. Dyre Kearny on August 25, 1788. Report rendered August 27 and the committee renewed October 9, 1788. See September 30, 1788.
According to Reports of Committees, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 189, p. 36, was delivered (read):
Report of committee on Baron yon Steuben's letter. See February 1 and June 4, 1788. Report recommitted July 9, 1788. A copy of this report has not been located. See July 25, August 25 and September 11, 1788.
According to indorsement the following were read:
Letter of C. W. F. Dumas to J. Jay, March 15, 1788, No. 37, respecting the return of Mr. Adams. Papers of the Continental Congress, No 93, IV, pp. 43--44, in French, with translation on pp. 47--49.
Letter of William Carmichael to J. Jay, April 29, 1788, respecting the Spanish fleet in the Mediterranean, views of Great Britain on the navigation of the Mississippi and complaint that he is not kept informed on affairs. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 88, II, pp. 504--509, with enclosures No. 1, on pp. 512--513, and No. 2, on p. 440.
According to the Despatch Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 185, IV, p. 35, the following was received (read):
Letter of Samuel Shaw to [J. Jay], December 21, 1787, on the state of European and American trade in China during 1787.]
His Excellency
The President of Congress.
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