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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 --WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1788.
Congress assembled. Present New hampshire Massachusetts Connecticut New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware Virginia and South Carolina and from N[orth] Carolina Mr . [James] White.
[Report of committee on pay of A. C. Hanson and R. Goldsborough1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, pp. 37--38, in the writing of Mr. John Armstrong (?). Read March 5, 1788. See July 30, 1787, and February 5 and 12, 1788. According to Reports of Committees, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 189, p. 34, this report was filed.]
The Committee consisting of [Mr. John Armstrong, Mr. James Madison and Mr. Nicholas Gilman] to whom were referred the letters from the Hon. A. C. Hanson and R. Goldsboro Esquires on the subject of an allowance for their attendance as Judges of a Foederal court instituted by Act2 of Congress of the 13th . of September 1786 for hearing and determining a territorial dispute between the States of South Carolina and Georgia, report,
[Note 2: 2 Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 650--652.]
That it has been usual in such eases for the States in controversy to make provision for all the expences incident to foederal courts and that tho' the court of which Messrs Hanson and Goldsbro' were judges was prevented from sitting by an Act of Comprise between the contending States, yet that in the opinion of your Committee this circumstance, which is the only one in which it differs from other cases,
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does not warrant any departure from the customary mode, and that the States of So . Carolina and Georgia should make immediate provision for the discharge of all such expences as did arise under the appointment of the said Court previously to their notice of the Act of compromise afforesaid. Under this Opinion your Committee submit the following Resolution,
Resolv'd that it be recommended to the States of So . Carolina and Georgia to make adequate Allowance to Mr Hanson and Mr Goldsboro for their services as Judges under the Act1 of Congress of the 13th . of Sept. 1786.
[Note 1: 1 Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 650--652.]
[Report of committee on memorial of J. Fitch2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, pp. 277--278, in the writing of Mr. Abraham Clark. The report was delivered March 4 and read March 5, 1788. The memorial was filed August 19, 1788, and the papers delivered to Mr. Clark. See February 5, 11 and 13, 1788.]
The Committee consisting of Mr [Abraham] Clark Mr [Thomas Tudor] Tucker and Mr [John] Armstrong to whom was referred the memorial of John Fitch, Stating that he had at considerable expence determined the Practicability of applying Steam to the purposes of impelling boats against the Currents or tides of large fresh water or other rivers in such manner as exceedingly to lessen the expence, and encrese the facility of Navigating the same; And praying that Congress would make him an Allowance in land; as well in consideration of the discovery itself, as to enable him to bring to effect a project which promises much ultimate advantage to the United States: report,
That having examined the evidence produced by Mr . Fitch in Support of the fact Stated in his memorial, and believing it to be founded, They are of Opinion that the prayer of his memorial should be granted, and Accordingly offer the following resolution,
Resolved, That the board of Treasury be, and they hereby are Authorized and directed to execute a grant unto John Fitch or his Assigns, forAcres of Land to be laid out in any part of the Unappropriated Lands belonging to the United States lying North West of the River Ohio, which the said John Fitch may make choic of, Provided that the said Tract shall be seperated from the other Lands of the United States (excepting where a River shall be made a boundary) by lines running East and West North and South, and
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the said Tract to extend in length North and South twice the distance that it may be in breadth East and West. And also that when ever the said John Fitch shall compleat a boat or Vessel which shall be moved through the Water at the rate ofMiles per hour, by the intire force of Steam, in which the Works and all the necessary Appurtenances thereto, shall not exceed in Weight one fourth part of the burthen of said boat, or Occupy more than that proportion of the room therein, and that said boat so constructed, shall continue in general use for the Span of one Month without any Material repairs, and produce proof thereof by two or more Credible Witnesses, Sattisfactory to the Commissioners of the board of Treasury, That then the said Commissioners are hereby further directed to make an Additional Grant unto the said John Fitch or his Assigns ofAcres of Land to be laid out wherever the said John Fitch shall fix upon, in any part of the Land of the United States on the North West side of the River Ohio, which shall at that time be Unappropriated; Observing in Ascertaining the bounds thereof, the same Rule as to the length breadth and Courses thereof, as directed in the above Proviso.
[Report of Postmaster General on post route1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, pp. 427--428, read March 5, 1788. The covering letter of Hazard is on p. 333. See February 27, 1788.]
General Post Office,
March 4th . 1788
The Postmaster General, having duly considered the Petition of the Inhabitants of Massachusetts, Eastward of Portland, praying for the Establishment of a Post between Portland and Pownalborough, begs Leave to
Report, That, although he has been intimately connected with the Post Office Department ever since May 1775, (when he received an Appointment under the Committee of New York) he does not recollect, nor can he find by any Documents in this Office, that any Post rode between Portland and Pownalborough, at the Expence of the General Post Office of the Union, before October 1784:
That, in May 1784, the Postmaster at Boston, at the Request of some Gentlemen to the Eastward, represented to the Postmaster General, the Anxiety of the Eastern Inhabitants of Massachusetts, for a Rider to "go fifty miles below Falmouth", now Portland; and informed him that if "Thirty Pounds per Year" (100 Dollars) could
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be allowed from the General Post Office, "the Inhabitants engaged to make up the Deficiency by Subscription;" intimating, at the same Time, that it was probable the Thirty Pounds would be reimbursed by the Postage to be received:
That a Post began to ride, upon these Principles, in October 1784, and was continued for fifteen Months, when the new Plan of transporting the Mail, by Stage, took Place:
That, by the Act1 of Congress of Septr . 4th . 1786, the Route from Portland to Pownalborough was enumerated among the Cross Roads, which the Post Master General was directed to farm; but, no Person appearing to take it, upon that Principle, no public Mail has since been carried upon that Route;
[Note 1: 1 See Journals, vol. XXXI, p. 629.]
That from the Petition it appears, that the Establishment of the Post alluded to, is both a favorite and important Object with the Petitioners; and it will, doubtless, facilitate a Communication with the Capital of the State, and prove a Convenience to Government;
That the Expence of Two hundred Dollars per Annum, stated by the Petitioners as necessary for supporting the Establishment, cannot be considered as worthy to be put in Competition with the Advantages which it is supposed will arise from it;
And therefore your Postmaster General is of Opinion, that it will be both prudent and expedient to grant the Prayer of the Petition:
Which is respectfully submitted.
Eben Hazard2
[Note 2: 2 March 5, 1788. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 186, there was referred to the Board of Treasury to report a letter of David Brearley to the Delegates of New Jersey, dated February 22 and read March 5, 1788, respecting his claim for depreciation of pay. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, pp. 469--471, with two accounts on pp. 473 and 477 and a note on p. 475. Report rendered March 12, 1788.]
His Excellency
The President of Congress.
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