PREFATORY NOTE With 1784 the Continental Congress entered upon a new phase of its existence. The pressure of war definitely removed and the ratification of peace accomplished, the fundamental weakness of the Confederation became more apparent daily. Representation in Congress, never very regular, became a difficulty, increasingly prominent, which forced Congress, in June of this year, to take refuge in the expedient of a Committee of the States (consisting of one delegate from each), clothed with limited powers but functioning as a legislative substitute. The other delegates returned to the States to arouse a more lively interest in the central governing body without which, it was plain, the national organization would disintegrate and the union, which had been enforced by military necessity, collapse for want of civil political cohesion. Settlement of the Army's accounts, with their vexed problems of half-pay and commutation, together with the joint responsibility of the States and Congress in the matter, brought the powers of Congress into question and bid fair to open up disagreements which would lead into governmental quagmires of serious possibilities. The cessions of western lands and a government for the new territory to be organized from them became matters of importance, but they were not carried far toward solution during 1784. Obtaining possession of the frontier posts from the British and the measures for garrisoning them by United States troops created the problem of a standing army, and Indian affairs became inextricably entangled with the military aspect of this problem. 988140-28 V 244702 Finance, payment of the public debt, and efforts toward economies, through reducing the expense of the civil list, took their places among the vexatious but important difficulties, while foreign commerce and the navigation of the Mississippi River obtruded themselves as diplomatic questions of undoubted longevity and awkward character. Progress was made with the domestic problems of the New Hampshire grants, Connecticut's claim to Pennsylvania lands, and the Massachusetts-New York boundary, but the matter of permanently locating the seat of the National Government was brought no nearer a definite conclusion. As the weakness of the Congress became more and more manifest, that body developed an increasing sensitiveness as to its dignity and importance which, at times, appears almost peevish. The creation of the Committee of the States, though necessary, was a frank recognition of impotence. It marked the beginning of the end, and when Congress reassembled in November it was plain that it had lost ground as a legislative power which it could never hope to recover. The copy for the year 1784 was prepared and sent to the printer by the late Gaillard Hunt, then chief of the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, but unforseen exigencies respecting the printing fund compelled postponement of publication from year to year until now. As prepared, the copy has been slightly amended and a few footnotes added; it has been seen through the press, proof-read, indexed, and the Bibliographic Notes compiled by now. As J. C. FITZPATRICK Acting Chief, Manuscript Division HERBERT PUTNAM CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 1784 THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1784. Six states only attending, namely, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and North Carolina; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster, and from the state of Maryland, Mr. [Jeremiah Townley] Chase, the President adjourned Congress till ten o'clock to-morrow. FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1784. Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster, and from the state of South Carolina, Mr. [Jacob] Read. On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Arthur] Lee and Mr. [Charles] Morris, to whom was referred a memorial of Philip Moore: Resolved, That the following form of sea-letters be granted for the ship United States, belonging to the memorialist and others: Most Serene, Serene, Most Puissant, Puissant, High, Illustrious, Noble, Honorable, Venerable, Wise and Prudent Lords, Emperors, Kings, Republics, Princes, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Lords, Burgomasters, Schepens, Councillors, as also Judges, Officers, Justiciaries and Regents of all the good cities and places, whether ecclesiastical or secular, who shall see these Patents or hear them read: We the United States of America in Congress assembled, make known that Mr. James Moore, supercargo of the ship called "The 98814°-27-VOL 26- -1 United States," of the burthen of three hundred tons, or thereabouts, at present navigated by Captain Thomas Bell, is of the United States of America, and as we wish to see the said James Moore, supercargo, prosper in his lawful affairs, our prayer is to all the before mentioned, and to each of them separately, where the said James Moore shall arrive with his vessel and cargo, that they may please to receive the said supercargo with goodness, and to treat him in a becoming manner, permitting him, upon the usual tolls and expences in passing and repassing, to pass, navigate and frequent the ports, passes and territories, to the end, to transact his business where, and in what manner he shall judge proper. In testimony whereof, &c. The Committee [Mr. Thomas Jefferson, Mr. Elbridge Gerry and Mr. Hugh Williamson] appointed to revise the files of reports and appointment of Committees, and to report what matters will require the attention of Congress previous to an adjournment, have revised the files of Reports, digested them under five heads and agreed to the following report thereon: The first head comprehends important reports requiring the assent of 9 States; these relate to the ratification of the Definitive Treaty, the military arrangements in time of peace, the civil arrangements foreign and Domestic, the territories on our Western border, and the definition of the powers proper for a committee of the States, which several matters are thought essential for the consideration of Congress before their adjournment. The second head comprehends reports which also require the assent of 9 States; they relate to matters of acct. and particular claims for money, which may probably be despatched in those short intervals or portions of the day in which it may not be convenient to discuss the first great subjects. Many of them however are such as ought not to detain Congress, whenever they shall be ready for adjournment. The third head comprehends reports, which may be acted on by 7 States and which therefore may be taken up by Congress immediately. The fourth comprehends those which should be postponed to another Session, some of them being not at all pressing and others not yet matured for determination. The fifth comprehends those reports which, having been rendered useless by subsequent events may be postponed generally. |