Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

That the said general assembly be earnestly requested to send a sufficient number of their artillery and militia, effectually to suppress the tories in the counties of Somerset and Worcester, and to seize and secure the persons mentioned in a list to be transmitted with these resolves, and all others in the said counties who shall appear to have been the leaders of the tory faction there:

That it be recommended to the general assembly, aforesaid, to direct, that a day be given to all the inhabitants of the said counties, to assemble at appointed places. and take the oath of allegiance required by the said state, and that all who shall refuse or neglect so to do, be disarmed:

That general Smallwood be, and he is hereby, required to assist in executing the orders of the said assembly for the purpose aforesaid;

That this Congress will afford one battalion, or more, if requested by the said assembly, for the said purpose:

That the said assembly be requested to cause all offenders, as aforesaid, to be brought to immediate trial, agreeably to the laws of the said state.

Ordered, That the president write to general Smallwood, and inform him, it is the direction of Congress, that he call to his assistance any continental officers and troops he shall think proper.

Resolved, That St. George Peale be appointed a signer of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed.

Congress proceeded to the election of a commissary of military-stores, in Maryland, and, the ballots being taken,

Mr. Saint George Peale was elected.

The committee on the northern department, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Congress approve of general Schuyler's proposal of purchasing the clothing and arms of a troop of horse formerly raised in Shenectady, mentioned in his letter of the 13th of January:

That the pay-master in the northern department be directed to render a particular account to Congress of the sums of money that have been paid into his hands in specie, and of his expenditure of the same.

Resolved, That the second paragraph of the report be postponed for farther consideration.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock on Tuesday next.

TUESDAY, February 4, 1777.

Mr. John Adams and Mr. Lovell, delegates from Massachusetts-Bay, attended, and took their seats.

Mr. Burke, a delegate from North-Carolina, attended, and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read as follows:

"NORTH CAROLINA. IN CONGRESS, December 20, 1776.

"Resolved, That William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and Thomss Burke, esqrs. be, and they are hereby, appointed delegates to attend the Congress of the United States of America, in behalf of this state, until such time as the general assembly shall direct otherwise; and they are invested with such powers as may make any act done by them, or any of them, or consent given in the said Congress, in behalf of this state, obligatory upon every inhabitant thereof.

"By order,

CORNELIUS HARNET, President.
JAMES GREEN, jun. Secretary."

A letter, of the 30th of January, from the committee of Congress, at Philadelphia; one, of the 26th of the same month, from general Washington, at Morristown; and one, of the 21st, from Daniel Joy, at Philadelphia, to the committee of Congress, were read.

A letter, of the 23d of December, from Cornelius Harnet, president of the convention of the state of North-Carolina, together with a memorial from the said convention, and a deposition of Emperor Mosely, respecting the capture of the brig Joseph, by the schooner Eagle, Brasilla Smith, commander, and an invoice of the cargo on board the said brig, at the time of the capture, were laid before Congress, and read:

Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three; and that the letters on this subject, formerly committed to the marine committee, be referred to this committee:

The members chosen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Hall, and Mr. Sergeant.

A letter, of the 3d, from the council of safety of Maryland, was read. Resolved, That Joseph Gaither be appointed a signer of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed.

Ordered, That the letters from the committee of Congress, general Washington, and Daniel Joy, be referred to the board of war.

A memorial from Dr. Thomas Young was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the medical committee.
A memorial from Nathaniel Donnel was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the council of safety of Maryland, to cause the tories in the counties of Somerset and Worcester to be disarmed as quickly as possible; and the provisions to be removed from those counties, that have been collected there for public use.

The committee on the state of Georgia, brought in a report, which was read.

Resolved, That Mr. Burke, of Jamaica, who has applied to Congress to be taken into the service of the United States, be referred to general Washington:

Resolved, That Dr. Burke be added to the medical committee; and that he be appointed a member of the marine committee, in the room of Mr. Hooper. Ordered, That Mr. Hooper have leave to return home.

Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the letter from governor Trumbull, and the proceedings of the committees from the four New-England states, and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. F. L. Lee reported, that the committee have had under consideration the matters to them referred, but, not having come to a conclusion, desired leave to sit again:

Resolved, That Congress will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the letter from governor Trumbull, and the proceedings of the committees from the four New-England states.

A letter, of the 1st, from the committee of Congress, at Philadelphia, was read.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

WEDNESDAY, February 5, 1777.

A letter, of the 2d, from the committee of Congress at Philadelphia, was read; also, a resolution entered into by the officers of the Baltimore town battalion, was laid before Congress :

Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war.

A letter from general Putnam, with a number of papers enclosed, and a letter from the North-Carolina prisoners, were read:

Ordered, That they be referred to the board of war.

Resolved, That Mr. Hudson, the pay-master in Baltimore; be directed to settle with colonel Gist, and pay such of his men, as are inlisted to serve three years, or during the war, up to the 10th of this month, and also to pay

the Virginia troops on their march to general Washington, the arrearages of pay due to them; and that he transmit an account of what he pays to the paymaster general, in order to regulate the future pay of the said troops.

Resolved, That 20,000 dollars be advanced to Mr. Jonathan Hudson, for the public service; he to be accountable.

A letter from Henricus Godet, of Eustatia, was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the secret committee, and that they return

an answer.

A memorial of Gotleib Klose, a native of Silesia, and late a missionary from the United Brethren to the negroes, in the island of Jamaica, was read; setting forth, that he was taken on his passage to Bristol, in the snow Thomas, T. Nicholson, master, by the continental cruiser, Andrew Doria; and praying that his effects, consisting of the tools of his trade, and clothing, may be restored to him; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the prayer of the memorial be granted.

A petition from Edward Southouse was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:

The members chosen, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Chase.

A petition from the shipwrights at Fell's-point, was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That a brigadier be appointed for the troops in North-Carolina, and that his rank be determined when the other general officers for the army are elected:

The ballots being taken, Francis Nash, esq. was elected.

The marine committee having recommended captain Henry Johnson to the command of the Lexington, in the room of captain Fulford, who, as they inform, has declined:

Resolved, That a commission be granted to him accordingly.

Resolved, That Elijah Bowen be appointed first-lieutenant of the said brig Lexington.

Resolved, That brigadier Moore be directed to detach into the different parts of North-Carolina, recruiting officers; and that he be careful to select such for that purpose, as are well acquainted and esteemed in that state:

And, in order to expedite this important purpose of recruiting the army, Resolved, That brigadier Nash use his personal influence in the western parts of that state, and, by every means in his power, stimulate the inhabitants to inlist, and urge the recruiting officers to be active in their duty, as it is a matter of much importance to the common cause, that the six regiments, formerly raised in North-Carolina, should be filled up, and the three lately ordered, recruited to their full complement, before the 15th day of March next.

Resolved, That brigadiers Moore and Nash, proceed with the nine continental regiments, raised and directed to be raised in the state of North-Carolina, to join general Washington; and that they begin the march from SouthCarolina, of such of the said nine regiments, as shall be then there, on the 15th day of March next, and of such continental troops as shall be in the state of North-Carolina, as soon as they shall be joined by the regiments which are ordered, as aforesaid, from South-Carolina. That the troops be marched by regiments or parts of regiments, as the commanding officer shall judge best. Resolved, That the governor of the state of North-Carolina, and the executive powers of the several states, through which such troops shall march on their way to head-quarters, be requested to render them every assistance in their power, to expedite their progress :

That brigadier Moore be empowered to draw upon the deputy pay-master general of the southern department, for such sums of money as shall be necessary to procure supplies for the said troops, until they join the continental

army; and that all commissaries and quarter-masters in the continental service, who shall be in the states through which they pass, contribute their best endeavors to aid in carrying this resolve into execution, with all possible expedition.

The board of war, who were directed to confer with general Armstrong, reported, that they have had a conference with him; that the conference turned upon various and important subjects, relative to the raising the new army, supplying them with arms, ammunition, clothing, provisions, and medicines:

Ordered, That the board of war digest the said conference, and bring in a proper report on the several matters mentioned, saving what relates to medicines.

Resolved, That the medical committee be empowered to employ a suitable person in each of the states, to purchase such medicines as they shall direct, for the use of the army, which can be procured at any reasonable rates. Ordered, That the said committee enquire what has become of the medicines which Dr. Morgan took from Boston, and which Dr. Stringer bought for the northern army, and take measures to have them secured, and applied to the use of the army.

Resolved, That three members be added to the committee on Indian affairs: The members chosen, Mr. Page, Mr. Lovell, and Mr. Burke.

Resolved, That Mr. Thomas Cummings be appointed and empowered to supply the continental troops, in the state of Maryland, with rations, on the most reasonable terms he can, till the farther orders of Congress.

Resolved, That William Aylett, esq. deputy commissary-general, be directed forthwith to purchase, with as much secrecy as possible, and lay up in proper magazines, convenient to water-carriage, under the care and management of trusty store-keepers, a quantity of good merchantable Indiancorn, not exceeding 10,000 barrels.

the

Resolved, That 500,000 dollars be advanced to the state of North-Carolina, upon a warrant from the governor of the said state for that sum, said state to be accountable.

Resolved, That the commissioners at the court of France, be directed to use their utmost endeavors, to send, without delay, 80,000 blankets, 40,000 complete suits of clothes, for soldiers, of green, blue, and brown colours, with suitable facings, and cloth of the same colours, with trimmings, sufficient for 40,000 suits more, 100,000 pair of stockings, fit for soldiers, 1,000,000 of flints, and 200 tons of lead, in armed vessels, to such parts of the United States, as the secret committee shall direct; that they pledge the faith of the United States for complying with their contracts; that the several states be requested to order their armed vessels into the service of the United States, under the direction of the secret committee; that they be allowed a reasonable compensation for the use thereof, with the appraised value of such as may be lost; and that one of the new continental frigates, with the armed vessels which may be furnished by the respective states, be employed by the secret committee, to export produce, and import military stores for the next campaign.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to consider the extraordinary service of the reverend Mr. Caldwell, of New-Jersey, and report what compensation should be made him :

The members chosen, Mr. Clark, Mr. Hall, and Mr. Page.

Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to consider the letter from governor Trumbull, and the proceedings of the committees from the four New-England states; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. F. L. Lee reported, that the committee have had under VOL II.

consideration the matters to them referred, and have come to a resolution thereon, which he was ordered to deliver, when Congress is ready to receive it: Ordered, That it be now received.

The report from the committee of the whole Congress, being read,
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.

Ordered, That the proceedings of the committees from the four NewEngland states, which were under the consideration of the committee of the whole Congress, be referred to a committee of five:

The members chosen, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Chase, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Sherman.

Resolved, That the warrant of general Washington, for 5000 dollars, in favor of colonel Hartley, be paid and charged to the account of the paymaster general, and that an account thereof be transmitted to the said paymaster general.

Resolved, That the arrears of pay due to brigadier Armstrong's brigademajor, be paid and charged to the account of the pay-master general, and that he be informed thereof.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.

THURSDAY, February 6, 1777.

Resolved, That two members be added to the board of treasury:

The members chosen, Mr. Page, and Mr. Elmer.

A number of copies of the address from the convention of New-York, to their constituents, translated into the German language, were sent to Congress :

Ordered, That they be delivered to the board of war, who are directed to have them distributed.

The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration ; Whereupon,

Resolved, That colonel H. Hollingsworth continue to supply the troops passing through the Head of Elk, with provisions at the usual rates. A motion being made and seconded,

Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of five:

The members chosen, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Heyward.

Resolved, That 1400 dollars be advanced to Mr. Robert Cummings, for public service; he to be accountable.

Resolved, That 6000 dollars be advanced to brigadier Smallwood, for the purpose of paying the arrearages due to his late battalion; he to be accountable. Ordered, That the secret committee deliver to colonel Stone, for the use of his battalion, 1050 yards of linen and cloth, proper for facings for his soldiers' clothes.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the state of Georgia; Whereupon,

Resolved, That a supply of arms and clothing for the continental battalions, in Georgia, ought to be furnished as expeditiously as possible:

And, as that state is in the neighborhood of numerous and powerful nations of Indians, it is an object of important consideration, to cultivate their friendship and secure peace with them; and this is rendered more necessary by the contiguity of those nations to the colonies of East and West-Florida, from whence the agents of the king of Great-Britain are perpetually stimulating the savages to make war upon the people of Georgia; therefore,

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to procure, for the defence of Georgia, a supply of arms and clothing for the continental forces raised as the quota of that state, and that they also procure goods for car

« ZurückWeiter »