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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 22, 1788.
Congress assembled present as yesterday and from Rhodeisland Mr [Peleg] Arnold.
The committee consisting of Mr [Nathan] Dane Mr [Hugh] Williamson Mr [William] Irvine Mr [Alexander] Hamilton and Mr [John] Brown to whom was referred a motion3 of
[Note 3: 3 See May 19, 1788.]
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Mr Dane relative to public and unsettled accounts having reported,1
[Note 1: 1 See May 21, 1788.]
That on carefully examining the subject referred to them they find that during the late war, and especially in the early periods of it, many millions of dollars were advanced by the United States to sundry persons, of the expenditures whereof proper accounts have not been rendered; and though the persons who have been entrusted with public monies have been frequently called upon to settle their accounts by the Acts and officers of Congress yet in many cases they have not produced or exhibited to the proper Officers any documents or vouchers on which regular settlements can be made. That several accounts of very considerable extent have been taken up and so far passed on that balances appear to be stated generally and in some cases payments made, though it does not appear that the proper statements were made of the articles which composed those accounts, or that the regular vouchers were produced to support the charges in them. Accounts thus imperfectly stated and unsupported the committee conceive are justly liable to revision and particularly so as it does not appear that the parties have at any time considered them as being finally settled. That from a general view of this subject the Committee are induced to think and believe that the United States have already suffered very great inconveniences by inexcusable negligence and unauthorised delays in persons entrusted with public monies in not rendering and settling their Accounts and that it is become highly expedient that decisive measures be speedily adopted for closing all the unsettled accounts of the late war Whereupon Resolved and therefore the Comee . are of Opinion That the board of treasury be and they are hereby directed to cause suits to be commenced in behalf of the
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United States against all persons, who stand charged with public monies or other property and that they cause the same to be commenced within three months from this date against all those persons who have been already specially required to settle their accounts by the proper Officers and who shall not within that time adopt and pursue measures effectual in the opinion of the said board for settling the same; and within five months from this date against all other persons so charged and who shall not within that time adopt and pursue like measures. Resolved And That when any material questions shall arise concerning any doubtful or partial settlements of accounts which may have been made or concerning the operation of any particular snits, the said board be and they are hereby directed to state to Congress particularly the circumstances of the case with their Opinion thereon".
Resolved1 That Congress agree to the sd . report.
[Note 1: 1 Broadsides of this resolve, signed by Charles Thomson, are in Papers of the Continental Congress, Broadsides.]
[Report of Secretary of Congress on petition of Elizabeth Wallac2]
[Note 2: 2 Reports of Secretary of Congress, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 180, p. 76.]
May 22, 1788
On the petition3 of Elizabeth Wallace daughter of Robt . Patton late Messenger to Congress stating that Among the papers of her late father she finds a certificate that 400 dollars are due to him and praying as this was on account of wages, that Congress would be pleased to Order the same to be paid
[Note 3: 3 See May 21, 1788.]
The Secy of Congress reports
Agd . That the petition of Elizabeth Wallace be referred to the board of treasury to report4
[Note 4: 4 According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 191, the petition was referred as indicated in the report. Report rendered June 13, 1788. See June 24, 1788.]
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[Report of committee on memorial of T. Hutchins1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, p. 241, in the writing of Mr. Edward Carrington. Read May 22, 1788. See May 20 and 23, 1788.]
The Committee consisting of Mr [Edward] Carrington Mr . [Abraham] Clarke and Mr . [James R.] Reid to whom was referred the Memorial of Thos . Hutchins, beg leave to report in part, that upon examining the Journals of Congress it appears that the appointment of the said Mr . Hutchins to the office of Geographer of the United States will expire on the 27th . Instant, whereupon the following Resolution is submitted,
That Monday next be assigned for the appointment of electing Ag: a Geographer of the United States, [whose commission shall continue for two years unless sooner revoked].
[Report of committee on contract of J. Trowbridge2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, p. 51, in the writing of Mr. Samuel Mix Mitchell (?). Read May 22, 1788. A resolution was passed touching the memorialist's claim on June 17, 1788. See May 13, 1788.]
The Comtee . [consisting of Mr. Samuel Mix Mitchell, Mr. Edward Carrington and Mr. Samuel Allyne Otis] to whom was referrd . the Petition of Isaac Trowbridge and the report of ye . Post Master Genl . thereon,
Report,
That the Sum for which ye . Petitioner has contracted to transport the Mail from New York to Hartford in Connecticut is less than it can be performd . at; and that ye Contractor who transports the Mail from Hartford to Boston is allowed three hundred and ten Dollars more than is allowed the Petitioner, alth'o the Distance is not so large.
Whereupon your Comtee . would Submit the following Resolve viz
That Isaac Trowbridge ye . Contractor for Transportation of the Mall from Hartford to New York, be allowed three hundred and ten Dollars in Addition to the Sum of seven hundred and forty Dollars contracted for.
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[Report of Board of Treasury on contract for supplying troop1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, pp. 685--687, read May 22 and passed May 23, 1788. The covering letter of the Board, also read, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, I, p. 515.]
The Board of Treasury to whom was referred the letter of General Harmar,
Beg leave to Report
That in consequence of a Contract entered into betwixt this Board and Messieurs Turnbull Marmie and Co . of Philadelphia to supply the Troops under General Harmar with Thirty thousand Rations on their route to Post St . Vincents, the Contractors have exhibited certain documents to prove the offer of the Provisions stipulated for by the Contract; and that the same appear to have been rejected by General Harmar.
That although those documents are not of such a nature, as to render their Claim admissable at the Treasury (more especially as it is declared on the part of General Harmar, that the Provisions were not furnished within the period limited by the Contract) yet it appears equitable that a further investigation should be made of this subject, in Order that if any damage has been sustained by the Contractors on the part of the Public, the same may be made good.
The Board therefore submit to the consideratio of Congress the following Resolve Vizt .
That the Board of Treasury in concurrence with the Secretary at War, be authorised and directed to cause an enquiry to be made into the execution of a certain Contract entered into betwixt the said Board and Messrs . Turnbull Marmie and Ct . for the supply of the Troops under General Harmar on their late March to Post St . Vincents; That the same be conducted in such mode as shall appear best adapted for ascertaining the Claims of the Contractors; and that if any damages shall appear to have been sustained by them, the same be made good2.
[Note 2: 2 The change made in the last part of the resolve upon adoption. is indicated in the original report.]
All which is humbly Submitted.
Samuel Osgood
Walter Livingston
Arthur Lee
22d .May1788.
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[Report of Postmaster General on post from Wilmington to Dove1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, p. 435, read May 22, 1788. The covering letter, also read, is on p. 341. This report was superseded by the Act of August 29, 1788. See May 20, 1788. According to Reports of Committees, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 189, p. 35, this report was filed.]
General Post Office,
New York May 22d . 1788.
Upon the Motion for the Establishment of a Post between Wimington and Dover in the State of Delaware, the Postmaster General begs leave to
Report,
That he apprehends there can be no Objections against such an Establishment provided it can be made upon the Principles of the Resolution2 of Congress of the 15th . of February 1787; but, as the Rates of Postage have been very considerably reduced, and it cannot yet be known whether there will be a proportionable Increase of the Number of Letters sent by Post, be cannot recommend an Addition to the Expences of the Department at present.
[Note 2: 2 Journals, vol. XXXII, pp. 59--60.]
He begs leave to add, that upon the Adoption of the new Constitution, which a very short time will probably effect, such farther Powers will be vested in Congress as will enable them to make the Income of the Post Office not only adequate to every present Exigency, but much more diffusively useful, and an Addition to the Revenues of the Union.
Which is very respectfully submitted.
Eben Hazard
[Letter of Secretary for Foreign Affairs transmitting correspondence3]
[Note 3: 3 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, III, p. 504, received (read) May 22, 1788.]
Office for foreign Affairs
22d . May 1788
Sir: I have the Honor to transmit to your Excellency herewith enclosed, a Letter4 from Mr . Adams of 26th . March, and one5 from
[Note 4: 4 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 84, VI, p. 631, read May 22, 1788. It introduces Cot. Smith.]
[Note 5: 5 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 87, II, pp. 55--59, read May 22, 1788. It discusses proposal for a new loan in Holland. The enclosures are an estimate, p. 63, and an extract from a letter from Vergennes to the French Ambassador at the Hague, pp. 67--68, with a translation, pp. 71--72. See May 23 and 28, 1788.]
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Mr . Jefferson of 16th . March last, together with the Papers that accompanied the latter; and also a sealed Letter directed to the United States in Congress assembled.
I have the Honor to be, etc.,
John Jay1.
[Note 1: 1 May 22, 1788. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 191, the following was referred to the Board of Treasury to report:
Motion of the delegates of Maryland respecting the protested bill of Mr. Carmichael. See May 16, 1788. Cf. May 20, 1788.
According to Reports of Committees, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 189, p. 31, the petition of John Porter, respecting emoluments, was debated and postponed. See March 27 and April 10, 1787.
According to indorsement was read:
Letter of Richard Winn to Charles Thomson, March 31, 1788, accepting the office of Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Southern department. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, p. 603. See May 23, 1788.]
P.S. one of the Papers from M: Jefferson being in french is translating.
His Excellency the President of Congress.
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