tion of a requisition on the States for the year. Important problems in the relations with France, Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal, as well as changes in diplomatic representation and the redemption of captives in Algiers, occupied much of the attention of the delegates. A treaty of peace and friendship with Morocco was ratified and published. Indian affairs, matters in connection with the Post Office Department, and interstate questions likewise came in for a share of the time of Congress.

In 1787 the Secretary's office kept, besides the Public Journal and the Secret Foreign and Domestic Journals, various other auxiliary records which have been utilized in editing this volume. These include the Record of Credentials (Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 180, I), the Despatch Book (No. 185, IV), Committee Reports (No. 189), the Committee Book (No. 190), Ordinances (No. 175), Western Territory (No. 176), the President's Letter Book (No. 16), the Secretary's Letter Book (No. 18B), and Ratifications of the Constitution. The endorsements on the original documents from the files of the Secretary's office also furnished much pertinent information as to the proceedings.

As in the preceding volumes, in addition to the Journal entries, the credentials of the delegates, motions, committee reports, reports of the Secretary of Congress, and reports of the heads of the departments, all of which were laid before Congress, are included in this volume in order to give as complete a presentation as possible of the workings of that august body. The names of committee members and a notation of letters and petitions received and read in Congress are given in the footnotes.

A report of the Board of Treasury of March 19, 1787, is taken from a photostat copy of the volume entitled Reports of the Board of Treasury A, the original of which is in the New York Public Library. The notes of James Madison on

the debates of the Congress for a part of the year are taken from the manuscript copy in the Library of Congress. The lists of reports formed by Charles Thomson, in November 1786, at the close of the sessions of the Congress of 1785-86, showing the unfinished business and the subjects which had been negatived or were obsolete, are given in an appendix. Bibliographical notes on the imprints of the Congress for 1787 are also included.

HERBERT PUTNAM, Librarian.
APRIL 1935.

ROSCOE R. HILL, Editor.

JOURNALS OF THE

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

1787

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1787.

Congress assembled. Present

Massachusetts

Connecticut

New York

New Jersey

Pensylvania

South Carolina

Georgia

Mr R[ufus] King and Mr N[athan]
Dane

Mr William] S[amuel] Johnson and
Mr S[tephen] M[ix] Mitchell
Mr Melancton] Smith and Mr
J[ohn] Lawrence

Mr Lambert] Cadwallader Mr
A[braham] Clarke and Mr
J[ames] Sheurman

Mr William] Irvine and Mr
S[amuel] Meredith

Mr J[ohn] Bull Mr C[harles] Pinck-
ney M [John] Kean M' [Daniel]
Huger and Mr J[ohn] Parker
Mr William] Few and Mr William]
Pierce

and from North Carolina Mr William] Blount.

The Credentials of the respective delegates being read Congress proceeded to the election of a president but not coming to a choice adjourned till to morrow.

130052°-VOL 32-36- -1

1

[Credentials of Massachusetts delegates 1]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

(Seal)

To our trusty and well beloved Rufus King Esq
of Newbury Port in our County of Essex. Greeting
Whereas the General Court of our Commonwealth aforesaid, did
on the twenty seventh day of June A D 1786, agreeable to the
Constitution of our said Commonwealth appoint The Hon: ble Rufus
King, Esq' a Delegate to represent our said Commonwealth in the
Congress of the United States for one year commencing the first
Monday in November 1786.

Now therefore Know ye, that we do by these presents and in pur-
suance of the said appointment Commission you the said Rufus King
Esq to represent our said Commonwealth in Congress, and vest you
with all and singular the powers and authorities to the said office or
place of Delegate belonging by virtue of the Constitution of said
Commonwealth and the appointment aforesaid, and to hold said
Office until the first Monday in November 1787. And you the said
Rufus King Esq' are hereby required to observe the instructions
which from time to time shall be given to you by the General Court
of our said Commonwealth.

In Testimony whereof we have caused our Publick Seal to be
hereto affixed.

Witness James Bowdoin Esq' our Governor and Commander in
Chief at Boston the fourteenth day of October Ao D! 1786; and in the
Eleventh Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
JAMES BOWDOIN

By His Excellency's Command

JOHN AVERY jun' Secretary

1 Original credentials of King and Dane, indorsed as read January 17, 1787, by
Thomson, Papers of the Continental Congress, Massachusetts Credentials. They
are copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I,
pp. 179-182. The credentials of the Massachusetts delegates were first read
November 6, 1786, as indicated by the notation in the Record of Credentials, under
which date that of Gorham is printed in Journals, vol. XXXI, p. 929, but those
of King and Dane are not there mentioned. The credentials of Dane are identical
with those of King and are therefore not printed.

[Credentials of Connecticut delegates 1]

State of Connecticut

At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut holden at Hart-
ford in said State, on the second Thursday of May Anno Dom! 1786.
This Day being appointed by Law for the Choice of Delegates to
represent the State of Connecticut at the Congress of the United
States of America Proclamation was made in manner
accustomed, and then the Votes of the Freemen were
given in to the Persons appointed by the Assembly to receive sort and
Count them and to declare the Names of the Persons Chosen to
Office aforementioned according to Law.

(Seal)

Which Persons so appointed are Benjamin Huntington Esq' Capt
Jonathan Bull Mr Simeon Bristol Mr Thomas Skinner Mr William
Hawley Cap Daniel Tilden Cap Simeon Smith and Capt Cornelius
Higgins, who were all sworn to a faithfull discharge of that Trust.

And the Votes of the Freemen being brought in sorted and Counted,
William Samuel Johnson Esq' Jonathan Sturges Esq', Joseph Platt
Cook, Esq, Stephen Mix Mitchel Esq' John Canfield Esq James
Hilhouse Esq and James Wadsworth Esq' are Chosen and were
publickly declared to be Delegates to represent the State of Connecti-
cut, in the Congress of the United States of America according to Law.
A true Copy of Record

Examin'd By GEORGE WYLLYS Secret.

[Credentials of New York delegates 2]

[Credentials of New Jersey delegates 3]

The State of New Jersey.

(Seal)

Greeting.

To the Honorable Lambert Cadwalader,

Abraham Clark and James Scheurman Esquires.

The Council and Assembly, reposing especial Trust and Confidence
in your Integrity, Prudence and Ability, have, at a Joint Meeting,

1 Original, indorsed as read January 17, 1787, Papers of the Continental Congress,
Connecticut Credentials. Copied in Record of Credentials, Papers of the Continental
Congress, No. 179, I, p. 194–195, where there is the marginal note "Entered the
28th December, 1786".

'Printed in Journals, vol. XXX, p. 123–124.

Original on parchment, indorsed as read January 17, 1787, in Papers of the
Continental Congress, New Jersey Credentials. Copied in Record of Credentials,
Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, I, p. 185.