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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, JULY 11, 1788.
Congress assembled. Present New hampshire Massachusetts, Rhode island, Connecticut, New York New Jersey Pensylvania Delaware, Maryland, Virginia North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
[Report of committee on petition of W. Gardner3]
[Note 3: 3 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, pp. 373--374, in the writing of Mr. Paine Wingate. Read July 11 and question taken and lost July 15, 1788. See May 2 and 5, 1788.]
The Committee consisting of [Mr. Thomas Tudor Tucker, Mr. William Irvine and Mr. Paine Wingate] to whom was refferred the memorial of William Gardner and the Report of the Board of Treasury thereon,
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Beg leave to report,
That according to the statement of said Gardner, he was for several years of the late war, a purchasing agent of clothing for the Army of the United States, in which employ he was often in large advances for supplies sent on to the army, and ever had the approbation of the Clothier general for his conduct. That in October 1780 in consequence of very pressing orders to purchase a quantity of linnens to relieve the suffering condition of the army, and the strongest assurances of immediate remittance therefor, the said Agent was induced to contract for linnens to a considerable amount and to give his personal security for the pay.
That not until six months after the purchase did he receive any remittance, and then not sufficient to discharge the contract, and finally not having been able to obtain any further remittances, he was obliged in December 1783 to pay the remaining balance with his own money in specie, being 685. 51/90 Dollars. Which sum, besides a balance for articles supplied to the army by himself, and for his personal services as agent, is still due to him from the public.
That the said Gardner asks payment only of that part of his due which he advanced in money of his own specie, and which recent losses and disappointments particularly compel him to solicit at this time. And which he would be content to receive by an order on the loan officer in New Hampshire to pay him out of the specie tax for the year 1787.
From the foregoing statement of facts, the principal of which are confirmed by the commissioner of accounts of the clothing department and by letters on the subject, the committee would observe that the said Memorialist, from a zeal to serve his country when in distress did pledge his private credit, when the public would not avail, and has actually submitted to the hard necessity of discharging those engagements out of his own resources, when he had a right to expect the relief of promised remittances, and at a time when pressed with additional misfortunes. That his request is very moderate, being only for the money advanced and not the residue of his debt, and not in a way that might be incompatible with the state of the treasury but by an order on a loan officer where he has reason to expect delay and loss in the mode of payment.
Under these circumstances the committee are of opinion that it is reasonable and just the memorialist should receive the relief asked for.
Therefore they would submit the following Resolution
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That the Board of Treasury take order for the payment of a final settlement certificate due to William Gardner for the sum of Six hundred eighty five dollars and 51/90 of a dollar, and that it be paid by an order on the loan officer of the State of New Hampshire out of the Specie tax Requisition for the year 1787.1
[Note 1: 1 July 11, 1788. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 198, the following committee was appointed:
Mr. Abraham Baldwin, Mr. Benjamin Huntington and Mr. Hugh Williamson on the memorial of John Pierce, dated July 9 and read July 11, 1788, for compensation for extra services and expences. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, pp. 246--247. Report rendered July 15 and acted on July 16, 1788.]
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