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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 --TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1788.
Congress assembled present as yesterday and from New Jersey Mr [Jonathan] Dayton New hampshire, Massachusetts New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland Virginia and South Carolina and from Connecticut Mr [Jeremiah] Wadsworth and from No Carolina Mr [James] White.
On the report2 of a comee . consisting of Mr [Dyre] Kearny Mr [John] Kean and Mr [James] Madison
[Note 2: 2 According to Reports of Committees, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 189, p. 28, this report was delivered October 25, 1787. It was apparently made by the committee appointed on the application of J. M. Pintard and acted on that day.]
Resolved3 That the Secy . for foreign affairs for the time being be and he is hereby authorised and directed upon
[Note 3: 3 There is a copy of the resolution, with a usual form of sea letter, in the writing of Thomson, in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 49, pp. 199--201.]
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application made to him for that purpose to grant in the usual form Sea letters for any vessel or vessels owned entirely and navigated chiefly by Citizens of the United States and bound on long and distant voyages at his discretion, provided always that it be made appear to him by oath or Affirmation, or by such other evidence as shall by him be deemed satisfactory, by the person or persons applying therefor that the vessel or vessels for which such sea letters shall be required shall together with all and every part of her cargo be owned entirely and commanded by Officers citizens of the United States and shall be navigated for the most part by the same. That for this purpose the Secretary for foreign Affairs be and he is hereby instructed to procure a sufficient number of blank Sea letters draughted in the usual form and signed by the president of Congress for the purposes aforesaid; and that the same when filled up be Sealed with the Seal of the United States and certified by the Secy . of Congress.
1The Secretary for foreign Affairs having reported2 draughts of letters as being in his opinion proper to focal the honble J Adams from the courts of London and the Hague the same were agreed to as follows
[Note 1: 1 From this point to the end of the day the Journal entries were made by Charles Thomson in the Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 5, III, pp. 1679--1680.]
[Note 2: 2 See February 11, 1788. According to indorsement the report was referred back to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to take order.]
Great and Good friend
As the time we had limited for the duration of Mr Adams' residence in quality of our minister plenipotentiary near your Majesty will shortly expire we have directed him, then to take leave of your Majesty and to assure you of our friendship and sincere desire to promote the most perfect harmony and confidence between the
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two nations. Our opinion of Mr Adams persuades us that he will do this in the manner most expressive of these sentiments and of the respect and sincerity with which they are offered. We pray God to keep your Majesty under his holy protection.
Written at the city of New York theday of by your Majesty's good friends
The United States in Congress Assembled
Great and Beloved Friends
Mr Adams our minister plenipotentiary at your court having signified to us his earnest desire to return to his native country we have thought proper to grant his request and directed him to take leave of your High Mightinesses in writing. The zeal, fidelity and abilities which he hath constantly exhibited in our service persuade us that he will agreeably to our directions assure you in the most explicit and proper manner of our Affection for your Respectable Republic and our sincere desire that the friendship which happily subsists between us may be rendered more and more intimate and permanent by mutual good offices and an intercourse agreeable and beneficial to both countries.
We pray God to keep your High Migtinesses under his holy protection.
Written at the city of New York theday of by your good friends
The United States Or America
in Congress Assembled.
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[Report of Secretary of Congress on sundry letters1]
[Note 1: 1 Reports of Secretary of Congress, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 180, pp. 69--70.]
Office of SecY of Congress Feby 12, 1788
On the letter2 of 10th Sept 1787 from the honble J Adams touching the appointment of a minister plenipotentiary to the Court of Lisbon and the letter3 of 12 Septr . from Mr W Smith so far as relates to the same subject
[Note 2: 2 See February 1, 1788.]
[Note 3: 3 See February 5, 1788.]
The Secy . of Congress reports that the letter of 10 Sept from Agd . Mr Adams and the letter of 12 Sept 1787 from Mr Smith so far as relates to the appointment of a Minister plenipoten to the Court of Lisbon be referred to the Secy . for foreign Affairs to report.4
[Note 4: 4 According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 180, the letter of Mr. Smith was referred in conformity with the report. Report rendered March 13, 1788. See July 28, 1788.]
On the letters5 of 17 and 26 Oct 1787 from Mr Dumas on the insults he has met with and the dangers he is exposed to in his person and property and claiming the protection of the United States and the letter5 of 16 Octr from Mr Smith respectg Mr Dumas' situation
The Secy of Congress reports that the letters of 17 and 26 Agd . Oct from Mr Dumas and the letter of 16 Oct 1787 from Mr Smith be referred to the Secy . for foreign Affairs to report.6
[Note 6: 6 According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 180, the letters were referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in conformity with the report.]
On the letter7 of 30 Decr . from Alexr Hanson one of the judges of the court for deciding the differences respecting territory between the States of South Carolina and Georgia claiming compensation for the time he was employed in that service
[Note 7: 7 See February 5, 1788.]
The Secy . reports that this subject came before the late Congress and was referred to a comee who reported8 that the states of South Carolina and Georgia should make the compensation demanded, but as Mr Hanson thinks he has a just claim upon Congress who appointed him and declines to make application to the states, the Secy reports
[Note 8: 8 July 31, 1787. See Journals, vol. XXXIII, p. 440.]
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That the letter of 30 Decr 1787 from Mr Hanson be referred to a comee 1 and that the report of the Comee on Mr Hanson's Agrd . and Mr Goldsborough's former application be referred to thesaid comee .
[Note 1: 1 According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 180, the letter and committee report were referred, in conformity with the report, to a committee consisting of Mr. John Armstrong, Mr. James Madison and Mr. Nicholas Gilman, which reported on March 5, 1788.]
[Letter of Secretary for Foreign Affairs transmitting correspondence2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, III, p. 442, read February 12, 1788.]
Office for foreign Affairs8th . February 1788
Sir: I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency, herewith enclosed, a Letter3 and a Note of this Date which I have just received from the Encargado de Negocios of his Catholic Majesty, and am with great Respect, etc.,
[Note 3: 3 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 97, p. 204, read February 12, 1788. The note is on pp. 208--210 and the translation on pp. 212--213. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 180, the note was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report.]
John Jay4
His Excellency
The President of Congress.
[Note 4: 4 February 12, 1788. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 180, it was ordered that the delegates of South Carolina be furnished with extracts of the letter of W. Carmichael to J. Jay, August 19, 1787 and T. Jefferson to Jay, September 19, 1787, so far as related to the claim of that State for the use of its frigate and the steps taken respecting the claim. Referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to take order. See February 1, 1788.
According to indorsement was read a letter of B. Tardiveau to President of Congress, February 9, 1788, regarding the attack made on his character by certain inhabitants of Kaskaskias. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 48, pp. 197--199. There are the following accompanying documents, in French with English translations; No. 1. De la Valiniere to La Buxiere, April 11, 1787, copy, pp. 61--63, trans. pp. 65--67; No. 2. Inhabitants of Cahos (Cahokia) to de la Valiniere, April 22, 1787, copy pp. 77--79, trans. pp. 81--82; No. 3. De la Valiniere to people of Cahos, copy p. 69, trans. p. 71; No. 4. De St. Pierre to Tardiveau, original pp. 73--74, trans. pp. 75--76; No. 5. De St. Pierre to Tardiveau, original pp. 53--54, trans. pp. 85--86; and No. 6. Certificate of facts about M. de la Valiniere, September 21, 1787, signed by Vital Beauvais and five others, original pp. 201--203, trans. pp. 205--208. See February 13 and March 6 and 27, 1788.]
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