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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 --THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1788.
Congress assembled present as before.
[Report of Board of Treasury on settlement of accounts1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, pp. 659--660, undated and signed by Samuel Osgood, Walter Livingston and Arthur Lee. Read May 8, 1788. The covering letter of the Board, May 7, 1788, also read, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, I, p. 503.]
The Board of Treasury to whom was referred a Motion of the Hon'ble Mr Carrington, for continuing the appointment of the two Commissioners, for settling the Accounts of the five great Departments;
Beg leave to submit to the Consideration of Congress, two reports of the present Commissioners on the General State of the Accounts in those Departments.
From a consideration of the Circumstances stated in the said Reports; and of the great Importance it is that all those Accounts should be brought to a close, previous to the Orginization of the new Goverment, which in all probability will take effect in the Commencement of the ensuing Year,
The Board are of opinion that it will be advisable to continue the appointment of the present Commissioners for the Space of one Year; and in Order more effectually to induce Individuals, who stand chargeable with Public Monies received in any of the five great Departments to render their Accounts, so that the same may be adjusted previous to the termination of the appointments aforesaid; the Board submit to the consideration of Congress the following Resolves; shou'd that Hon'ble Body concur in Opinion that it will be adviseable to continue the said Appointments.2
[Note 2: 2 The report concludes with two resolves which, except for verbal changes noted, are the order and second resolve that follow in the Journal.]
On a report of the board of treasury to whom was referred a motion3 of Mr [Edward] Carrington
[Note 3: 3 See May 6, 1788.]
Resolved That congress proceed to the election of two commissioners for settling the Accounts of the five great departments, to continue in Office one year.
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Ordered1 That the commissarioners of Accounts for the quarter masters commissaries, hospital and marine and cloathing departments, with the approbation of the board of treasury,2 commence suits in behalf of the United States against all persons in any of the said departments who stand chargeable with public Monies and whose Accounts shall not be lodged with the proper commissioners within four months computed from the present date and that this resolve order be published in the several States for the period above mentioned.
[Note 1: 1 "Resolved" in the original report.]
[Note 2: 2 The phrase "with the approbation of the Board of Treasury" was substituted for "be directed to" in the original report.]
Resolved That the said commissioners be directed to continue their unremitted attention to the final adjustment of all accounts which have arisen in the said departments and to the recovery of all sums for which suits may be commenced and that at the termination of their commission they deposit with the Register of the treasury all the books and papers of their respective Offices together with a general abstract of the sums due from individuals in order that immediate Measures may be adopted for the recovery of the same.
Congress proceeded to the election and the Ballots being taken
Mr Jonathan Burrall was elected a commissioner for settling the Accounts of the quarter masters and commissary's departments having been previously nominated by Mr [Abraham] Clarke, and
Mr Benjamin Walker was elected commissioner for settling the accounts of the hospital, marine and cloathiers departments having been previously nominated by Mr [Nathan] Dane.
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[Motion of Mr. Clark on interment of Robert Patton1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, p. 399, in the writing of Mr. Abraham Clark. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 190, this motion was referred to the Secretary of Congress and the Board of Treasury to take order.]
Congress having recd . information that Robert Patton late Messenger of Congress deceased this morning, whereupon in Consideration of his long and faithful Services,
Resolved, That the Secretary of Congress give directions for the decent interment of said deceased at the public expence and that the board of Treasury povide for the payment of the same.
[Report of committee on petition of J. Mason2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 46, p. 301, in the writing of John Fisher. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 190, this report was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to take order. See May 6, 1788.]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. Abraham Clark and Mr. Samuel Allyne Otis] to whom was referred the Petition of John Mason of Warren in the State of Rhode Island praying for Sea letters for a Ship of four hundred and fifty Tons called the Warren, Report,
That the said John Mason having produced a Certificate and certain papers whereby it appears that Hate Mason is a Citizen of the said State, and that he having acquired considerable property in the East Indies is desirous of returning to the said State with his effects in a Ship of the description aforesaid, himself master and owner, for which Sea letters are requested, whereupon the following resolution is submitted,
Resolved That a Sea letter be granted in the usual form agreeably to the prayer of the said Petition.3
[Note 3: 3 May 8, 1788. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 190, the following were referred:
Memorial of Thomas Goadsby, read May 8, 1788, relative to a contract for making a die to strike medals. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, III, p. 556. Referred to the Board of Treasury to report. Report rendered June 18, 1788.
According to indorsement was read:
Letter of W. Smallwood, governor of Maryland, to President of Congress, May 1, 1788, transmitting ratification of the Constitution. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, p. 557.]
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