| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --MONDAY, MAY 26, 1788.
Congress assembled present New hampshire Massachusetts New York New Jersey Pensylvania Delaware Maryland, Virginia South Carolina and Georgia and from Rhode island Mr [Peleg] Arnold from New Jersey Mr [Abraham] Clark and from North Carolina Mr [Hugh] Williamson.
Mr Abraham Yates a delegate for New York attended and took his seat, his credentials being before read1
[Note 1: 1 See February 25, 1788.]
Mr William Few a delegate for Georgia attended and produced his credentials which were read.
[Credentials of William Few, Georgia2]
[Note 2: 2 Original credentials, indorsed as read May 26, 1788, in Papers of the Continental Congress, Georgia Credentials. Copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, p. 256.]
The State of Georgia by the Grace of God free, Sovereign and Independent,
To the Honorable William Few, esquire.
We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Conduct and fidelity Have, and by these presents Do nominate and appoint you the said William Few a Delegate to Geo Mathews represent our said State in the Honorable the Congress of the United States from the first Monday in November Instant, to the first Monday in November next. And for so doing this shall be your Commission.
Witness our trusty and well beloved George Mathews, esquire, our Captain-General Governor and Commander in Chief of our said State under his hand and our great Seal at Augusta this Seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of our Sovereignty and Independence the Twelfth.
By his Honors Command.
[seal pendent]J. Milton, Seey
Page 180 | Page image
Congress, agreeably to the Order of the day1 proceeded to the election of a geographer of the United States whose commission shall continue for two years unless sooner revoked and the ballots being taken
[Note 1: 1 See May 23, 1788.]
Mr Thomas Hutchins was elected having been previously nominated by Mr [Hugh] Williamson
Congress resumed the consideration of the Supplement to An Ordinance for ascertaining the mode of disposing of lands in the Western territory2 and after some debate some progress being made the further consideration thereof was postponed till to morrow.
[Note 2: 2 See March 27, May 27 and July 9, 1788.]
[Report of Secretary of Congress on letter of W. Heth and D. Henley3]
[Note 3: 3 Reports of Secretary of Congress, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 180, pp. 70--71.]
May 24, 1788.
On the letter4 of the 15 from William Heth and David Henly, (two of the Comrs . appointed, agreeably to the a condition of the act of cession from the state of Virginia, to adjust and liquidate the accounts of the state said against the United States for the necessary and reasonable expences incurred in subduing any british post or maintain[in]g any forts within and for the defence or in acquiring any part of the territory ceded by the said state to the United States) informing that they having in conjunction with J. Pierce the other commr . having spent much time and labour in adjusting this complicated and important business and being just at the close of it, by his extreme indisposition deprived of his aid and concurrence they have come to a conclusion; and enclosing their Award wherein they agree "That the United States ought in compliance with the said deed of Cession as one of the contracting parties to reimburse the Commonwealth of Virginia the sum of five hundred thousand dollars specie as a full compensation for all expences paid by said commonwealth and incurred as necessary and reasonable in subduing british posts or in maintaining forts or garrisons within and for the defence
[Note 4: 4 See May 23, 1788.]
Page 181 | Page image
comprehending forts Jefferson and Nelson or in acquiring any part of the territ[or]y ceded and relinquished to the United States, as specified and stated by the said William Heth and David Henley in the accounts thereunto annexed, And do by the powers in them vested award the said sum of five hundred thousand dollars specie accordingly".
The Secry of Congress reports
That the Award of William Heth Commissr appointed 26 Negatived by Virginia and David Henly third comr . be transmitted to the board of treasury and filed in their Office.
[Report of Board of Treasury on sales of land in Western territory1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 139, pp. 689--691, read May 26, 1788. The covering letter of the Board is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, I, p. 519. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 192, this report was referred to the committee of May 23, on the memorial of G. Morgan. It is indorsed "not reported." See also motion of May 23, 1788.]
The Board of Treasury to whom it was referred to report to Congress the State of such Contracts as they have made for the sale of Lands in the Western Territory,
Beg leave to Report
That the Resolves2 of Congress of the 23d . and 27th . July, 2d . and 22d . of October last relative to Contracts for Lands in the Western Territory all stand on the same principles; Except in one article of the Agreement proposed to be made with Messrs . Flint and Parker; by which the United States stipulate to extinguish the Indian Title, instead of the same being done by the Contractors agreeably to their proposition.
[Note 2: 2 Journals, vol. XXXIII, pp. 399--401, 429--430, 598--599 and 695--696 respectively. The resolve dated October 2 should be October 3, 1787.]
That no Contract has been completed in consequence of the Resolves of Congress above stated; except with Messrs. Sarjeant and Cutler; the Board not conceiving themselves authorised to conclude any Contract, till the first installment is paid on the respective purchases.
That assurances have been given to the Board of the intentions of Mr . Symmes, and of Messrs. Flint and Parker to fulfill their proposed Contracts; except in the case of the Two Million Acre Tract on the Wabash, which the Attorney of Mr . Flint in this City informs the
Page 182 | Page image
Board cannot (he presumes) be complied with for want of a sufficient number of Subscribers to complete the Purchase.
With respect to that part of the proposed Contract with Messrs. Flint and Parker; which differs in the point we have suggested from the other propositions, Congress will observe that it necessarily arises, from the Indian Title to the same not being extinguished; which is not the case of the other proposed Contracts; and consequently that the agreement with Messrs. Flint and Parker (should it take effect) will stand precisely on the same grounds with those abovementioned.
All which is humbly submitted
Samuel Osgood
Walter Livingston
Arthur Lee
May 26th .,1788.
[Report of Secretary at War on letter of Governor Randolph1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 151, pp. 347--49, read May 26 and passed June 19, 1788. See May 20, 1788.]
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of War to whom was referred a letter from his Excellency Governor Randolph dated May the 9th 1788, with another from Colo . Joseph Martin dated the 13th of March last
Reports,
That the situation of the Cherokee nation of Indians appears to merit the peculiar attention of Congress.
That the treaty made with the said nation by the Commissioners of Congress at Keowee in 1785 has been violated by the White inhabitants of the frontiers in a manner injurious to the reputation and dignity of the United States.
That although the acts of Congress of the 26th . of October 1787 were intended to comprehend all the tribes of Indians in the southern department, yet as North Carolina have omitted as your Secretary has been informed to appoint a Commissioner agreably to said Act, and as the hostilities of the Creeks may probably occupy as the most pressing case the first attention of the Commissioners and the temporary Superintendant, Your Secretary submits to Congress the consideration of appointing a temporary agent for the Cherokees. That in all cases where the same may be practicable that he act in conjunction with the Superintendant and the Commissioners appointed
Page 183 | Page image
by the States of Georgia and South Carolina and that he have particular instructions relative to the Cherokees.
Agreably to this idea the following Resolve is submitted.
Resolved That an agent be appointed for the Cherokee Nation of Indians to continue in Office six months, the said agent to act in subordination to the Superintendant of the southern department and to govern himself in all cases by the instructions which shall be transmitted to him by Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 Additions in another hand have been made to the resolution to make it read as passed on June 19, 1788.]
All which is humbly submitted.
H Knox
War Office May 26th 1788.
His Excellency
The President of Congress.
[Letter of Secretary at War respecting stores2]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, III, p. 221, read May 26, 1788.]
War Office May 26th 1788
Sir: I have the honor to inform Congress that during the present week I shall examine the public stores at the post of West Point agreeably to the Ordinance regulating the duties of the Secretary at War.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
H Knox
His Excellency
The President of Congress
[Letter of Secretary for Foreign Affairs transmitting correspondence3]
[Note 3: 3 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, III, p. 508, received (read) May 26, 1788.]
Office for foreign Affairs 26th . May 1788
Sir: I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency two Letters which I this Moment received by the french Packet, one from
Page 184 | Page image
Mr . Jefferson1 dated the 13th and the other from Mr Short2 dated the 18th . March last, and am with great Respect, etc.,
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 87, II, pp. 51--52. It discusses the affairs of the United States in the hands of the bankers in Amsterdam.]
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 87, II, pp. 73--76. It treats of treaties with the powers of Europe, war between the two Empires and the Turks, French finances, lettres de cachet, and decree encouraging American commerce.]
John Jay.
His Excellency
The President of Congress.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |