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Western waters. If accommodation was the object, the clause ought, by no means, to be struck out. The cession of Virginia would never be accepted, because it guarantied to her the country as far as the Ohio, which never belonged to Virginia. (Here he was called to order by Mr. JONES.) The question, he said, must be decided. The indecision of Congress had been hurtful to the interests of the United States. If the compliance of Virginia was to be sought, she ought to be urged to comply fully. For the vote in the affirmative, with the exception of Virginia and South Carolina, see Journal.

The plan of revenue was then passed as it had been amended, all the States present concurring except Rhode Island, which was in the negative, and New York, which was divided: Mr. FLOYD, aye, and Mr. HAMILTON, no."

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MONDAY, APRIL 21ST.

A motion was made by Mr. HAMILTON, seconded by Mr. MADISON, to annex, to the plan of the eighteenth instant, the part omitted, relating to expenses incurred by individual States. On the question, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia alone were in the affirmative; Connecticut and Georgia not present.

See Journal.

TUESDAY, APRIL 22ND.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 23RD.

The resolution permitting the soldiers to retain their arms was passed at the recommendation of General Washington. (See his letter on the files.)

The resolution for granting furloughs or discharges was a compromise between those who wished to get rid of the expense of keeping the men in the field, and those who thought it impolitic to disband the army whilst the British remained in the United States."

THURSDAY, APRIL 24TH, and Friday, April 25th.

See Journal.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH.

It was

* Address to the States passed nem. con. drawn up by Mr. MADISON. The address to Rhode Island, referred to as No. 2, had been drawn up by Mr. HAMILTON.

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The writer of these notes absent till

MONDAY, MAY 5TH.

Mr. BLAND and Mr. MERCER moved to erase from the Journal the resolution of Friday, the second

* See Appendix, No. 2.

instant, applying for an addition of three millions to the grant of six millions, by His Most Christian Majesty, as in part of the loan of four millions, requested by the resolution of September the fourteenth, 1782. As the resolution of the second had been passed by fewer than nine States, they contended that it was unconstitutional. The reply was, that as the three millions were to be part of a loan heretofore authorized, the sanction of nine States was not necessary. The motion was negatived, the two movers alone voting in the affirmative."

TUESDAY, MAY 6TH.

A motion was made by Mr. LEE, to recommend to the several States to pass laws indemnifying officers of the army for damages sustained by individuals from acts of such officers rendered necessary in the execution of their military functions. It was referred to Mr. LEE, Mr. WILLIAMSON, and Mr. CLARK.

He proposed, also, that an equestrian statue should be erected to General Washington."

A report from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, of a treaty of commerce to be entered into with Great Britain, was referred to Mr. FITZSIMMONS, Mr. HiGGINSON, Mr. RUTLEDGE, Mr. HELMSLEY, and Mr. MADISON.

VOL. I.-29

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7TH.

The resolution moved yesterday, by Mr. LEE, for indemnifying military officers, being reported by the Committee, was agreed to.

The Committee, on a motion of Mr. DYER, reported that the States which had settled with their respective lines of the army for their pay since August the first, 1780, should receive the securities which would otherwise be due to such lines.

The Report was opposed, on the ground that the settlements had not been discharged in the value due. The notes issued in payment, by Connecticut, were complained of, as being of little value. The Report was disagreed to. See Journal.78

THURSDAY, MAY 8TH.

Mr. BLAND suggested, that the prisoners of war should be detained until an answer be given as to the delivery of slaves, represented in a letter to Mr. Thomas Walke, to be refused on the part of Sir Guy Carleton.

On his motion, seconded by Mr. WILLIAMSON, it was ordered that the letter be sent to General Washington for his information, in carrying into effect the resolution of April the fifteenth, touching arrangements with the British Commander for delivery of the posts, negroes, &c.

A portrait of Don Galvez was presented to Congress by Oliver Pollock."

FRIDAY, MAY 9TH.

A question on a report relating to the occupying the posts when evacuated by the British was postponed by Virginia, in right of a State.

Mr. DYER moved a recommendation to the States to restore confiscated property, conformably to the provisional articles. The motion produced a debate, which went off without any positive result."

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Mr. HAMILTON and Mr. ELLSWORTH moved a call on the States to fulfil the recommendation relative to the Tories. After some remarks on the subject the House adjourned."

See Journal.

THURSDAY, MAY 15TH.

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