say, what nine States ought to do; second, that it might ensnare Mr. Livingston; third, that it would commit the present, who ought to be open to discussion when nine States should be on the floor. The motion of Mr. PETERS being withdrawn, that of Mr. HAMILTON was agreed to."

86

See Journal.

THURSDAY, JUne 5th.

FRIDAY, JUNE 6TH.

The Report as to the territorial cession of Virginia, after some uninteresting debate, was adjourned.

MONDAY, JUNE 9TH.

Not States enough assembled to form a Congress. Mr. CLARK signified to those present, that the Delegates of New Jersey being instructed on the subject of the back lands, he should communicate the Report thereon to his constituents.

87

TUESDAY, JUNE 10TH.

The Report on the cession of Virginia was taken up. Mr. ELLSWORTH urged the expediency of deciding immediately on the cession. Mr. HAMILTON joined

him, asserting at the same time the right of the United States. He moved an amendment in favor of private claims. Mr. CLARK was strenuous for the right of the United States, and against waiting longer, (this had reference to the absence of Maryland, which had always taken a deep interest in the question.) Mr. GORHAM supported the policy of acceding to the Report. Mr. FITZSIMMONS recommended a postponement of the question, observing, that he had sent a copy of the Report to the Maryland Delegates. The President was for a postponement till the sense of New Jersey be known. The Delaware Delegates, expecting instructions, were for postponing till Monday next. It was agreed, at length, that a final vote should not be taken till that day. Mr. MADISON yielding to the sense of the House, but warning that the opportunity might be lost by the rising of the Legislature of Virginia.

Mr. HAMILTON and Mr. PETERS, with permission, moved for a re-commitment of the Report, in order to provide for crown titles within the territory reserved to the State. Mr. MADISON objected to the motion, since an amendment might be prepared during the week, and proposed on Monday next. This was acquiesced in. It was agreed that the President might informally notify private companies and others, as well as the Maryland Delegates, of the time at which the Report would be taken into consideration.

The order of the day for appointing a Secretary of Foreign Affairs was called for, and none having been put in nomination, the order was postponed. Mr. BLAND then nominated Mr. Arthur Lee.

Mr.

GORHAM nominated Mr. Jefferson, but being told he would not accept, then named Mr. Tilghman. Mr. HIGGINSON nominated Mr. Jonathan Trumbull. Mr. MONTGOMERY nominated Mr. George Clymer. It was understood that General Schuyler remained in nomination.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11TH.

See Journals, secret and public.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12th.

The instruction in the Secret Journal touching the principles, &c., of the neutral Confederacy, passed unanimously.

The resolution, as reported by the Committee, being in a positive style, and eight States only being present, the question occurred whether nine States were not necessary. To avoid the difficulty, a negative form was given to the resolution, by which the preamble became somewhat unsuitable. It was suffered to pass, however, rather than risk the experiment of further alteration.88

FRIDAY, JUNE 13TH.

The mutinous memorial from the sergeants was received and read. It excited much indignation, and was sent to the Secretary at War."

No Congress.

MONDAY, JUNE 16TH.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17th.

The day was employed chiefly in considering the Report on the Journal relative to the Department of Finance. Some thought it ought to lie on the files; some that it ought to receive a vote of approbation, and that the Superintendent should, for the period examined, be acquitted of further responsibility. Mr. GORHAM, particularly, was of that opinion. Finally, the Report was entered on the Journal, without any act of Congress thereon, by a unanimous concurrence."

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18TH.

Nothing done.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19th.

A motion was made by Mr. WILLIAMSON, seconded by Mr. BLAND, to recommend to the States to make it a part of the Confederation, that, whenever a fourteenth State should be added to the Union, ten votes be required in cases now requiring nine. It was

Mr. MADISON.

committed to Mr. WILLIAMSON, Mr. HAMILTON, and The motion had reference to the foreseen creation of the western part of North Carolina into a separate State.

Information was received by Congress, from the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, that eighty soldiers, who would probably be followed by the discharged soldiers of Armand's Legion, were on the way from Lancaster to Philadelphia, in spite of the expostulations of their officers, declaring that they would proceed to the seat of Congress and demand justice, and intimating designs against the Bank. This information was committed to Mr. HAMILTON, Mr. PETERS, and Mr. ELLSWORTH, for the purpose of conferring with the Executive of Pennsylvania, and taking such measures as they should find necessary. The Committee, after so conferring, informed Congress that it was the opinion of the Executive that the militia of Philadelphia would probably not be willing to take arms before their resentments should be provoked by some actual outrage; that it would hazard the authority of government to make the attempt; and that it would be necessary to let the soldiers come into the city, if the officers who had gone out to meet them could not stop them.

At this information Mr. IZARD, Mr. MERCER, and others, being much displeased, signified that if the city would not support Congress, it was high time to remove to some other place. Mr. WILSON remarked, that no part of the United States was better disposed towards Congress than Pennsylvania, where the prevailing sentiment was, that Congress had done every thing that depended on them. After some