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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, MAY 7, 1788.
Congress Assembled present as yesterday.
[Report of committee on Post Offices2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, p. 567, in the writing of a clerk. Read May 7, 1788. This committee was probably that of March 27, 1788, consisting of Mr. Jonathan Dayton, Mr. Jeremiah Wadsworth, Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. John Brown and Mr. Thomas Tudor Tucker.]
Whereas difficulties have been lately experienced by the several printers in the exchange of their papers by post and doubts have arisen how far they have the right of making such exchange free from postage, therefore Resolved,
That, in order to promote the circulation of useful intelligence the printers of newspapers throughout these States, be allowed to exchange their papers with each other by means of the public mail without any charge of postage. Provided always that no newspaper shall be suffered to pass in the mail unless it shall be thoroughly dry and the wrapper left open at one end so that it may be clearly seen how many newspapers of the [or] publications and whether any letters, are contained therein; and if it shall appear upon examination that any letters are concealed under such wrapper, the full rate of postage shall be charged not only on such letter, but also on the other contents of the wrapper.
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[Report of Board of Treasury on letter of Governor of Virginia1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, pp. 77--80, read May 7, 1788. The covering letter of the Board, also read, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, I, p. 499. See May 5, 1788. See also June 23, 1788.]
The Board of Treasury to whom was referred a Letter from His Excellency the Governor of the State of Virginia of the 13th , March 1788,
Beg leave to Report
That the application of the State of Virginia for an extension of the Period assigned by the Ordinance2 of the 7th May 1787, for rendering the accounts of the several States with the Union, appears to be founded on an Idea entertained by the Executive, that the Accounts of the State cannot be rendered in season, under the heads which they apprehend may be required by the Commissioner; and that consequently they would be precluded from exhibiting them at a subsequent period.
[Note 2: 2 Journals, vol. XXXII, pp. 262--266.]
On which the Board beg leave to observe
That although the different heads, under which the accounts of several States with the Union, are pointed out by the Ordinance aforesaid, and the Commissioner for the district, in which the State of Virginia is comprehended, may have suggested to the State the propriety of stating their accounts under such heads for the sake of facilitating their adjustment, yet that the States are not precluded by any clause in the said Ordinance from rendering their accounts, under such forms as their particular situation may render most adviseable.
That the great and desireable object is to obtain from the several States all their accounts against the Union, so that a proper statement may be made of the same with as little delay as possible; but nevertheless, as the District Commissioners are limited to the period of Six months, after they have received the State accounts for adjusting such of them as fall under their respective cognizance, it is to be wished that the several States would render the same under the heads pointed out by the Ordinance.
It is however the intention of the Board (unless otherwise directed by Congress) to direct the district Commissioners to receive from the several States all their Accounts against the Union, under such Forms, as they may judge it adviseable to exhibit the same, should the time limited for their reception not enable the States to class them under the several heads, as stated in the Ordinance.
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For this reason (without the necessity of suggesting others which will obviously present themselves to the consideration of Congress) they are of opinion, it would not be expedient to extend the time assigned by the Ordinance of the 7th . May 1787, for exhibiting the Accounts of the several States against the Union.
All which is humbly submitted.
Samuel Osgood
Walter Livingston
Arthur Lee
May 7th . 1788
[Report of Board of Treasury on memorial of J. May1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, pp. 81--82, read May 7, 1788. See March 25, 1788.]
The Board of Treasury to whom was referred the Memorial of John May
Beg leave to Report
That the protested bill, for the payment of which application is made by the Memorialist is drawn,by the Agent of the Contractors for the Western Posts, on the Contractors in Philadelphia.
That the Accounts of the said Contractors have been adjusted at the Treasury, and the balance found due to them (so far as they have produced Vouchers) paid; but should any further Sums hereafter accrue to the credit of the Contractors, the same can only be paid to them, or their legal Assigns; as the engagements made by the Contractors are on their private Credit, and the public are in no wise bound to make good the demands which Individuals may have against them.
For the reasons above stated,
The Board of opinion, That the application of John May for the Relief mentioned in his letter of the 15th . of January last, cannot be complied with; the United States not being liable for any engagements, made by public Contractors on their private Credit.
All which is humbly submitted.
Samuel Osgood
Walter Livingston
Arthur Lee2
[Note 2: 2 May 7, 1788. According to indorsement the petition of Rapalje and Woods was debated and negatived. See March 12, 19 and 25 and May 2 and 5, 1788.]
May 7, 1788.
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