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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, JUNE 25, 1788.
Congress assembled present New hampshire Massachusetts Rhode island New York New Jersey Pensylvania Virginia and South Carolina and from Connecticut Mr [Pierpont] Edwards from Maryland Mr [Benjamin] Contee from North Carolina Mr [Hugh] Williamson and from Georgia Mr [Abraham] Baldwin.
On motion of Mr [Abraham] Clarke seconded by Mr [Hugh] Williamson
Resolved That the office of Inspector of the troops in the service of the United States immediately cease and be discontinued, and that the Secretary at war report what mode may be most eligible for having the troops inspected for the future.
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[Motion of Mr. Wingate regarding claims1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, p. 403, in the writing of Mr. Paine Wingate. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 196, the motion was referred to the Board of Treasury to report. Report rendered July 14, 1788, according to the Committee Book; July 11, 1788, according to indorsement.]
Whereas by the Resolution2 of July 23, 1787, it was resolved that all persons having unliquidated claims against the united states, pertaining to the marine, as well as several other departments, shall exhibit particular abstracts of such claims to the proper commissioner appointed to settle the accounts of those departments within eight months from the date thereof, and
[Note 2: 2 Journals, vol. XXXIII, p. 392.]
Whereas the Officers, marines and other[s] seamen who served during any part of the late war on board the continental armed Vessels, may not have received timely notice of this order, or have had opportunity to present their claims within the time limited, by means of their being absent from the country [these states], on long Voyages, or for other good reasons,
Therefore
Resolved that the said Officers marines and seamen others shall be allowed to bring in their claims for adjustment for the space of months further from the passing of this resolution, and the commissioner of the marine department is directed to settle with them accordingly, the Resolution of July 23, 1787 notwithstanding.
[Report of Board of Treasury on memorial of S. Nicholson3
[Note 3: 3 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, pp. 205--210, read June 25, 1788. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 196, the report was referred to a committee consisting of Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. Abraham Baldwin, Mr. Paine Wingate, Mr. Pierpont Edwards and Mr. Hugh Williamson. Report rendered June 27 and acted on July 2, 1788. See June 20, 1788.]
The Board of Treasury to whom were referred the Memorials of Samuel Nicholson of the 23d . March 1787,4 and 18th . June 1788,5
[Note 4: 4 Journals, vol. XXXII, p. 131n.]
[Note 5: 5 See June 18, 1788.]
Beg leave to Report to Congress
That the Petitioner states, that during the late War with Great Britain, he Captured in company with two armed Vessels, commanded by Captains Weeks and Johnson in the Year 1777, Twenty five sail
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of British Vessels, eight of which (being valuable Prizes) were carried into a Fort of France and taken possession of by Mr . Thomas Morris one of the Commercial Agents for the United States in that Kingdom.
That he hath never received any proportion of the Prize Money arising from the Sale of those Vessels, and is therefore after many Years expectation of it compelled, in behalf of himself and Officers, to apply to the United States for redress in the premises.
On the above Memorial the Board beg leave to Report, That the following Minut1 appears on the Journals of Congress of the 4th Sepr . 1778 vzt
[Note 1: 1 Journals, vol. xII, p. 879.]
"Congress being informed that the Books and Papers of Thomas Morris late commercial agent of the United States in France, are deposited with the Commissioners at the Court of France, or some of them; and the Hon'ble Robert Morris Esqr surviving Partner and Administrator of the deceased applying to this House, to cause the same to be delivered to him, so that he may proceed to a Settlement of the Estate &c."
"Ordered, That the Commissioners or Commissioner, who shall be possessed of the said Books and Papers when this Order arrives, deliver the same both public and private to the said Robert Morris, or to his Order."
That the said Books and Papers were accordingly in the Month of Jany 1779; delivered to Mr John Ross agreeably to the Orders of Mr Robert Morris.
That no settlement has been made by the Administrator of Mr Thomas Morris of the public accounts of the deceased with the United States, for although certain Statements appear to have been made of the Accounts of Penet, Plearne &c. and Penet Da Costa, Freres and Co .; in which some of the transactions of Mr Thomas Morris, on account of the United States appear to be included; yet the said Accounts, are no more in fact, than the Accounts of Mr Thomas Morris with those Houses; and not a statement of that Gentleman's Accounts with the United States.
In the Accounts above stated, Credit appears to be given for no more than two of the Prizes in which the Memorialist declares the Officers and Crew of the Vessel under his Command to be interested; and Captain Weeks stands charged with considerable Sums of Money said to have been advanced to him; but there being no
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Vouchers in the Treasury in support of the Accounts abovementioned it is not possible to ascertain what part of those advances (if properly charged) were for Disbursements, and what on Account of Prizes.
Of course it is not practicable to make any Estimate of the Captors proportion even of those Prizes, which appear to be included in the said Accounts.
The Board are therefore of opinion, that an adjustment should without delay, be made of the Public Accounts of Mr Thomas Morris, with the United States, in order that justice may be done to such Captors, whose Shares of Prize Money may have been received by him, or by persons acting under his directions, in pursuance of any instructions for such purpose given by Congress, or by the late Commercial or Marine Committees; and for this purpose they submit to the consideration of Congress the following Resolve.
That Mr Robert Morris Surviving Partner and administrator of the late Thomas Morris, one of the Commercial Agents for the United States in the Kingdom of France be required to transmit to the Treasury, all the Accounts and Vouchers relative to the public transactions of the deceased, in order that an adjustment may be made of the same with the Administrator, agreeably to the intention of the Act of Congress of the 4th Septr 1778.
All which is humbly Submitted.
Samuel Osgood
Walter Livingston
Arthur Lee
June 25th 1788.
[Letter of Board of Treasury transmitting loan contract1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, II, p. 535, read June 25, 1788.]
Board of Treasury
June 25th 1788.
Sir: We have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency for the consideration of Congress an attested notarial Copy2 of the last Loan opened in Holland by the Hon'ble Mr Adams for one Million of Guilders.
[Note 2: 2 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 145, pp. 297--309, translation from the Dutch, dated March 13,1788. The entry in the Despatch Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 185, IV, p. 35, states that the contract was received June 27, 1788. See July 2, 1788.]
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Should the United States in Congress think it adviseable to confirm this Loan; (which appears to be on the same principles with the Million Loan preceeding it) we beg leave to submit it to their consideration, whether it would not be adviseable to transmit the ratification of it as soon as possible; that no time may be lost in the commencement of its operations. We have the honor to be, etc.,
Samuel Osgood
Walter Livingston1
[Note 1: 1 June 25, 1788. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 196, the following committee was appointed: Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. Samuel Allyne Otis and Mr. Abraham Baldwin, on a memorial of George Morgan, as agent for the New Jersey Land Society, dated and read June 25, 1788, respecting a modification of the land contract. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, pp. 510--512. An additional statement of Morgan is en pp. 514--515. The committee reported July 1, 1788. See July 15, 30, August 11, 12, 15 and 28, 1788.]
His Excellency
The President Of Congress
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