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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, FEBRUARY 18, 1788.
Congress assembled present as before.
[Report of committee on memorial of T. H. Cushing1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, pp. 617--618, in the writing of Mr. James R. Reid. Read February 18, 1788. According to indorsement, on March 20, 1788, this report was postponed and the report of the Secretary at War was taken up. See October 12, 1787, February 14 and 15, and June 11, 1788.]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. William Irvine, Mr. John Eager Howard and Mr. James R. Reid] to whom was referred the report of the Secretary at war on a petition of Thomas H. Cushing, praying for rank and amoluments beg leave to report, that they have again very fully enquired into the circumstances upon which Mr Cushing grounds his claims, and have with attention heard his Allegations in support thereof.
It appears that there were two Lieutenants viz Messieurs Hollis and Williams elder in the first Massachusetts Regt . than Mr Cushing.
It appears also by the two letters of Colonel Vose commanding Officer of said Regiment and an intervening regulation2 of Congress of the 21st of October 1780 that those two Lieutenants chose rather to continue and do duty as Lieutenants than be promoted and deranged.
[Note 2: 2 Journals, vol. XVIII, pp. 959--960.]
And it further appears that Mr . Cushing continued to do duty under said Lieutenants untill May 1781 when he was taken prisoner and being exchanged in May 1783 joined the Army and did duty as Lieutenant until July 1784 and as Mr . Cushing did not avail himself of the redress which he knew existed only in the army, there is a strong presumption either of an acquiesence, or neglect of application on the part of Mr . Cushing, or we must suppose that the Commander in chief and boards of General Officers were not disposed to listen to the just complaints of the Army, from all these circumstances Your
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Committee are still of opinion that the petition of Thomas H Cushing praying for rank and amoluments cannot be granted.1
[Note 1: 1 February 18, 1788. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 182, the petition of Archibald Steele, read February 18, 1788, respecting the settlement of his accounts as deputy quarter-master general, was referred to the Board of Treasury to report. Report rendered February 25 and acted on February 28, 1788.
According to the Despatch Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 185, IV, p. 26, was received (read):
Letter of Governor of Massachusetts and President of Convention to [Charles Thomson], February 8, 1788, transmitting the ratification of the Constitution.]
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