Resolved, That the committee appointed to superintend the publication of the journals of Congress, be empowered and instructed to employ Mr. John Dunlap to continue printing the said journals, instead of Robert Aitkin. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee to whom was referred the letter from the commissioners at Pittsburg; Whereupon, Resolved, That two regiments be raised in Virginia and Pennsylvania, to serve for one year, unless sooner discharged by Congress, for the protection of, and operations on the western frontiers; twelve companies in Virginia and four in Pennsylvania; each non-commissioned officer and soldier to receive 20 dollars bounty, and the same clothing with the other continental soldiers: Every non-commissioned officer and soldier who shall find his own blanket, musket or rifle and accoutrements, shall have the same allowance as is given by Congress to the drafts from the militia for filling up the continental regiments: That brigadier Hand be recalled from his command at Pittsburg, agreeably to his request: That a proper officer be immediately sent to take command on the western frontiers: That a proper person be appointed to perform the duties of quarter-master, commissary and pay-master to the militia of the counties of Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, Bottetourt, Montgomery, Washington and Greenbriar, in Virginia: That the commissioners at Fort-Pitt, or in their absence, the officer appointed to command on the western frontier, be authorized to appoint a person to perform the duties aforesaid, and the officers necessary for commanding the battalions above mentioned: That gen. Washington be desired to appoint the officer to take the command at Fort-Pitt and the western frontiers, and that a copy of the commissioners' letter be sent to the general. Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday. During the adjournment, Mr. Simeon Deane, brother to Silas Deane, esq. one of the commissioners at the court of Versailles, arrived express from France, with sundry important despatches; Whereupon, Congress was convened, and the despatches opened and read, among which are a treaty of commerce and a treaty of alliance, concluded between his most Christian majesty the king of France and the United States of America, on the 6th day of February, 1778. MONDAY, May 4, 1778. A letter, of the 30th of April, from gen. Washington, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Drayton and Mr. Chase. Two letters, of the 1st, from gen. Washington, were read. A letter, of the 2d, from the council of Pennsylvania, with sundry papers enclosed, was read: Ordered, That a extract of the said letter, relative to money, be referred to the board of treasury, and that the letter, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the committee for Indians affairs. A letter, of April the 24th, from James Duane, esq. was read: Ordered, That copies thereof be sent, one to gen. Washington, and one to general Gates. A letter, of April the 29th, from gen. Green, quarter-master general, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. A letter, of January the 24th, and one, of February the 2d, from Messrs. Hughes and Smith, enclosing bills of exchange drawn by them on the committee of commerce, were read: Ordered, That they be referred to the board of treasury. A report from the board of war, dated April the 16th, was read: A petition from the Rev. Mr. Lotbinier, was read: Congress took into consideration the treaties concluded between his most Christian majesty the king of France and the United States of America, which was read. THREE O'CLOCK, P. M. The committee to whom was referred the letter of April the 16th, from major-general Schuyler, with sundry papers enclosed, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That gen. Gates be directed to afford all that protection to the Oneida and Tuscarora tribes, and others of the Six Indian Nations, which the commissioners for Indian affairs in the northern department, promised them in behalf of the United States; and that a copy of the resolution of the said commissioners, passed on this subject, the 15th day of April last, be transmitted to general Gates: That Mr. James Deane, agent and interpreter for the commissioners of Indian affairs in the northern department, have his annual salary augmented to 600 dollars, to commence from the first day of January last; and that the said commissioners be authorized to allow him such sums for his extra expenses as they shall judge reasonable : That the said commissioners be authorized to draw on Jonathan Trumbull, esq. pay-master in the northern department, for 10,000 dollars, for purchasing goods to open a trade at Fort-Schuyler with such of the Six Indian Nations as they shall judge proper, and that the said commissioners appoint some suitable person or persons to superintend and manage the said trade, under such regulations as they shall make, taking care that the said trade be not attended with any expense to the United States, if the end which Congress have in view, which is to provide for and conciliate the affections of the said Indians, can be obtained upon such terms. Congress resumed the consideration of the treaty of amity and commerce concluded at Paris, the 6th day of February 1778, between the most Christian king and the United States of America; and the same being read, duly weighed and considered, Resolved, unanimously, That the same be, and is hereby ratified. Congress also took into consideration the treaty of alliance, concluded at Paris, on the 6th day of February, 1778, between the most Christian king and the United States of America; and the same being read, duly weighed and considered, Resolved, unanimously, That the same be, and is hereby ratified. Congress also took into consideration the act separate and secret, concluded at Paris, the 6th day of February, 1778, between his most Christian majesty and the United States of America; and the same being duly weighed, Resolved, unanimously, That the same be, and is hereby ratified. Resolved, That this Congress entertain the highest sense of the magnanimity and wisdom of his most Christian majesty, so strongly exemplified in the treaty of amity and commerce, and the treaty of alliance, entered into on the part of his most Christian majesty, with these United States, at Paris, on the 6th day of February last; and the commissioners, or any of them, representing these states at the court of France, are directed to present the grateful acknowledgments of this Congress to his most Christian majesty, for his truly magnanimous conduct respecting these states, in the said generous and disinterested treaties, and to assure his majesty, on the part of this Congress, it is sincerely wished that the friendship so happily commenced between France and these United States may be perpetual. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare the form of a ratification of the foregoing treaties: the members chosen, Mr. R. H. Lee, Mr. Dana, and Mr. Drayton. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. TUESDAY, May 5, 1778. On motion, Resolved, That a passport and safe conduct be granted to Mrs. Prevost, wife of brigadier Prevost, now at Augustine, that she may return to Europe. A letter of the Sd, and one of the 4th, from gen. Washington, were read, the latter enclosing a letter and account from general lord Sterling: Ordered, That the letter and account from gen. lord Sterling, be referred to the board of treasury. A letter, of the 1st, from gen. Greene, quarter-master-general, was read. Resolved, That the board of war be directed to send, without delay, a person of diligence and skill to Virginia, there to enquire into the state and condition of the salted pork and beef purchased for the use of the army; that he be directed to pass along the different stages where the said provisions may be lodged, as at Georgetown, Alexandria, Dumfries, Cave's ware-house, Fredericksburgh, &c. &c. and examine into the conduct of all deputy commissaries, deputy quarter-masters, and deputy wagon-masters, on the said route and where he shall discover any misconduct in the said officers, either by neglecting to forward the provisions to the camp, or by suffering the same to be damaged, or by misconducting the wagonage to the public injury, that he report the result of such enquiry to the heads of the respective departments, and to the governor of Virginia, together with the state and condition in which he shall find the provisions; and that he cause necessary cooperage, fresh brine, smoking, and other necessary precautions to be taken, for the preservation of the public provisions; and that he cause all prudent expedition to be used in forwarding the sound provisions quickly to the army. Mr. P. Livingston, a delegate from the state of New-York, attended, and took his seat in Congress. Resolved, That the commissioners, or any one of them, representing these states at the court of France, be instructed to inform that court that, although Congress have readily ratified the treaties of amity and commerce, and treaty of alliance, and the act, separate and secret, between his most Christian majesty and these United States, in order to evince more clearly their sense of the magnanimity and goodness of his most Christian majesty, evidenced in the said treaties; yet, from a sincere desire of rendering the friendship and alliance, so happily begun, permanent and perpetual, and being apprehensive that differences may arise from the 11th and 12th articles in the treaty of amity and commerce, Congress are desirous that the said 11th and 12th articles may be revoked and utterly expunged: The commissioners, or any one of them, are therefore instructed to use their best endeavors to procure the abolition of the said 11th and 12th articles of the said treaty. The committee appointed to prepare the form of a ratification, brought in the same, which was read and agreed to, as follows: The Congress of the United States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, by the grace of God, sovereign, free and independent; to all who shall see these presents, greeting: Whereas, in and by our commission, dated at Philadelphia, the 50th day VOL. II. 68 of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, Benjamin Franklin, one of the delegates in Congress from the state of Pennsylvania, and president of the convention of the said state, &c. Silas Deane, late a delegate from the state of Connecticut, and Arthur Lee, barrister at law, were nominated and appointed our commissioners, with full powers to treat, agree, and conclude with his most Christian majesty the king of France, or with such person or persons as should be by him for that purpose authorized, of and upon a true and sincere friendship, and a firm, inviolable, and universal peace, for the defence, protection, and safety of the navigation and mutual commerce of the subjects of his most Christian majesty and the people of the United States, we, promising in good faith to ratify whatsoever our said commissioners should transact in the premises; and, whereas, our said commissioners, in pursuance of their full powers, on the 6th day of February last, at Paris, with Conrad Alexander Gerard, royal syndic of the city of Strasburg, secretary of his most Christian majesty's council of state, by virtue of powers plenipotentiary to him granted by his most Christian majesty, and dated the 30th day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight, did conclude and sign, on the part of the crown of France, and of the United States of America, a (treaty of amity and commerce, or treaty of alliance, or act separate and secret) in the following words, (here insert the respective treaties verbatim, French and English.) Now know ye, that we, the said Congress, have unanimously ratified and confirmed, and by these presents do ratify and confirm the said treaty, and every part, article, and clause thereof, on our part concluded and signed as aforesaid; and further do authorize and direct our commissioners at the court of France, or any of them, to deliver this our act of ratification in exchange for the ratification of the said treaty on the part of his most Christian majesty the king of France and Navarre. Done in Congress at York-town, in the state of Pennsylvania, this 4th day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight. In testimony whereof, the president, by order of the said Congress, hath hereunto subscribed his name and affixed his seal. Attest. Secretary. President. (L. S.) Ordered, That six copies of the treaties, with the ratification agreed to, be made out and transmitted by the committee for foreign affairs to the commissioners of the United States at the court of France, by different conveyances. Ordered, That the marine committee provide vessels for carrying the said despatches. Ordered, That the committee appointed to prepare the form of a ratification, be directed to prepare a proper publication on the present occasion. THREE O'CLOCK, P. M. The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of Moses Black, for the sum of 54,387 60-90 dollars, in discharge of the following draughts of Otis and Andrews, in favor of Philip Moore, and endorsed to the said M. Black, viz. One dated 1st April, 1778, at three days' sight, for 3,333 50-90 dollars; one dated 2d of April, 1778, at one day's sight, for 3,333 30-90 dollars; one dated 3d of April, 1778, at one day's sight, for 3,333 30-50 dollars; one dated 4th of April, 1778, at three days' sight, for 40,000 dollars; one dated 13th of April, 1778, at four days' sight, for 4,387 60-90 dollars; which sums are paid at the instance of James Mease, esq. clothier-general, and to be charged to his account. Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of col. Charles Stewart, commissary-general of issues, for the sum of 40,000 dollars, for the use of his department, and to be charged to his account. Ordered, That 400,000 dollars be paid to William Buchanan, esq. late commissary-general of purchases, 200,000 dollars of which, for the payment of debts by him contracted in the northern, and 200,000 dollars for the payment of debts contracted in the southern district; which sum is to be charged to his account. Ordered, That 1934 60-90 dollars, be paid to Daniel Joy, it being the amount of his account, liquidated by the board of war, for proving cannon, for the use of the United States. Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of gen. Green, quarter-master general, for 3,000,000 of dollars, for the use of his department, and to be charged to his account. Resolved, That the officers appointed to command the two battalions ordered to be raisd in Virginia and Pennsylvania, for the defence of the western frontiers, be no longer continued in pay, nor be considered as continental officers, longer than the said regiments are continued in service. The committee to whom was referred the letter of April the 30th, from gen. Washington, brought in a report: Whereupon, Resolved, That Congress approve gen. Washington's plan for the institution of a well organized inspectorship: That baron Steuben be appointed to the office of inspector-general, with the rank and pay of major-general; his pay to commence from the time he joined the army and entered into the service of the United States : That there be two ranks of inspectors, under the direction of the inspector-general, the first to superintend two or more brigades, and the other to be charged with the inspection of only one brigade. That the officers appointed inspectors receive, in addition to the pay which they derive from their rank, 30 dollars a month; and that the brigade-inspectors receive, in addition to their pay, 20 dollars a month: That gen. Washington be authorized to appoint such persons to be inspectors and brigade-inspectors for the main army, as he shall think best qualified to execute the several duties of those offices. Resolved, That the pay of the auditors of the army be hereafter augmented to five dollars a day, and that each of them be allowed forage for his servant's horse whilst in camp. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, May 6, 1778. A letter, of April 27th, from John Baynton, pay-master at Fort-Pitt, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. A letter, of April 27th, from the commissioners at Fort-Pitt, with sundry papers enclosed, was read: Ordered, That the same be referred to the board of war, who are directed to report thereon. The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That 16,000 dollars be paid to the marine committee, to enable them to make a partial payment to William Smith, esq. for iron and flour purchased by him for the use of the navy in the eastern department; for which they are to be accountable: That 18,506 dollars be paid to the committee of commerce, to discharge three bills of exchange drawn upon them by Messrs. Hewes & Smith, commercial agents at Edenton, North-Carolina; the said committee to be accountable. |