will, on Friday next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration what powers exist in Congress, by the confederation, for the purpose of forming a military peace establishment. A motion was made by Mr. Howell, seconded by Mr.Ellery, to amend, by inserting after "consideration," the words "whether any and," and on the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Ellery, ay Maryland, N-Hampshire, Mr. Foster, Mr. Carroll, Madison, no no no ay } no no >no Massachusets, Mr. Holten, no div M'Henry, Higginson, ay Virginia, Mr. Jones, Rhode-Island, Mr. Ellery, ay Howell, ay ay Mr. S. Huntington, ay div L'Hommedieu, avdiv Pennsylvania, Mr. Montgomery, nono Peters, So the question was lost. A motion was made by Mr. Williamson, seconded by Mr. Read, to postpone the consideration of the main question, in order to consider the following proposition: That on Friday next, Congress will go into a committee of the whole, to consider the question of a peace establishment; and on the question to postpone for the purpose aforesaid, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Holten, N-Hampshire, Mr. Foster, Massachusetts, Mr. Higginson, Hoiten, The delegates for Pennsylvania laid before Congress an extract from the minutes of the general assembly of that state, which was read, and is as follows: State of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly, August 25, 1785, A. M. Agreeable to the order of the day, the house went into the consideration of the report on the subject of national credit, read August 22d instant; whereupon, Resolved unanimously, That Mr. Rush, Mr. Whitehill and Mr. Hoge, be a committee to prepare and bring in a bill conformable to the resolution of Congress of April 18th, 1783, inserting a clause for repealing the act, entitled "An act to vest in the Congress of the United States, a power to levy duties of five per centum ad valorem, on certain goods and merchandise imported into this commonwealth, and on prizes and prize goods condemned in the court of admiralty of this state, after the first day of May, 1781, and for appropriating the same." Resolved unanimously, That the measures Congress have taken in their resolution of the 18th of April last, to support and establish public and national credit, meet with the approbation of this house, and they will appropriate substantial and permanent funds, by taxes or otherwise, for supplying the continental treasury with their quota as assigned in said resolution. Resolved unanimously, That this house do hereby authorize and direct their delegates in Congress, or any two of them, to join with the delegates of the other states in Congress assembled, and properly authorized, in revoking and making void so much of the 8th article of confederation and perpetual union, between the thirteen States of America, as is contained in the following words, viz. "All charges of war, and all other expenses that shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several 33 VOL. IV. states, in proportion to the value of all land within such state granted to or surveyed for any person as such land, and the buildings and improvements thereon, shall be estimated according to such mode as the United States in Congress assembled shall, from time to time, direct and appoint." And in place thereof to substitute the words following, viz. All charges of war, and all other expenses that have been or shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, except so far as shall be otherwise provided for, shall be defrayed out of the common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states in proportion to the whole number of white and other free citizens and inhabitants of every age, sex and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and 3-5ths of all other persons not comprehended in the forego. ing description, except Indians not paying taxes in each state, which number shall be triennially taken and transmitted to the United States in Congress assembled, in such mode as they shall direct and appoint." On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Bland, Mr. Mercer and Mr. Holten, to whom was referred a letter of the 10th August, from captain Winthrop Sargent, Resolved, That captain Winthrop Sargent be, and he is hereby promoted to the rank of major by brevet in the army of the United States. The ordinance for prohibiting the settlement and purchase of certain lands, was read a second time: Ordered, That it be referred to a grand committee. FRIDAY, August 29, 1785. A letter, of the 25th, from Joseph Bullock, one of the late managers of the lottery, was read, stating that, among the dead letters in the hands of the post-master-general, are several packets containing tickets and letters; that the lottery accounts being now in the hands of the public auditors, those vouchers are absolutely necessary in the settlement of the same;" Whereupon, Ordered, That the packets aforesaid be delivered free to the said Joseph Bullock. MONDAY, September 1, 1783. An act of the general assembly of Connecticut, authorizing the delegates of that state, to agree to an alteration in the 8th of the articles of confederation as recommended by the act of the 18th April last, was laid before Congress and read, as follows: (L. S.) At a general Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford in the said state, on the 2d Thursday of May, Anno Domini, 1783. Whereas the United States in Congress assembled, on the 18th day of April, 1783, among other things resolved, that a more convenient and certain rule of ascertaining the proportions to be supplied by the states respectively, to the common treasury, the following alteration in the articles of confederation and perpetual union, between these states, be, and the same is hereby agreed to in Congress: and the several states are advised to authorize their respective delegates to subscribe and ratify the same, as part of the said instrument of union, in the words following, viz. So much of the 8th of the articles of confederation and perpetual union between the thirteen States of America, as is contained in the words following, to wit: "All charges of war, and all other expenses that shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states, in proportion to the value of all lands within each state, granted to or surveyed for any person, as such land, and the buildings and improvements thereon, shall be estimated according to such mode as the United States in Congress assembled shall, from time to time, direct and appoint," is hereby revoked and maile void, and in place thereof it is declared and concluded, the same having been agreed to in a Congress of the United States, "that all charges of war, and other expenses that have been or shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, except so far as shall be otherwise provided for, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states in proportion to the whole number of white and other free citizens and inhabitants of every age, sex and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and three fifths of all other persons not comprehended in the foregoing description, except Indians not paying taxes in each state, which number shall be triennially taken and transmitted to the United States in Congress assembled, in such mode as they shall direct and appoint. It is resolved, and enacted by this assembly, that the delegates of this state, in the Congress of the United States, or any two or more of them, be, and they are hereby fully authorized and empowered, on behalf of this state, to subscribe and ratify the afore-recited alteration in the 8th of the articles of confederation and perpetual union between the United States of America, as a part of the said instrument of union. The delegates for the state of Pennsylvania, laid before Congress sundry resolutions of the general assembly of that state, which were read and ordered to be entered on the journal as follows: "State of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly, Friday, August 29, 1783, A. M. The report of the committee appointed to consider of the most eligible means for the accommodation of Congress, should that honorable body determine to reside within this state, read August 27th instant, was read the second time; whereupon, Resolved unanimously, That until Congress shall determine upon the place of their permanent residence, it would be highly agreeable to this house, if that honorable body should deem it expedient to return to and continue in the city of Philadelphia; in which case they offer to Congress the different apartment in the state-house and adjacent buildings which they formerly occupied for the purpose of transacting the national business therein. Resolved unanimously, That this house will take effectual measures to enable the executive of the state to afford speedy and adequate support and protection to the honor and dignity of the United States in Congress, and the persons of those composing the supreme council of the nation assembled in this city. Resolved unanimously, That as this house is sincerely disposed to render the permanent residence of Congress in this state commodious and agreeable to that honorable body, the delegates of this state be instructed, to request that Congress will be pleased to define what jurisdiction they deem necessary to be vested in them, in the place wherein they shall permanently reside." THURSDAY, September 4, 1783. Major-general Howe having transmitted to the president, "a full report of the proceedings of the court-martial respecting the late mutiny," Ordered, That they be laid before Congress on Tuesday next. FRIDAY, September 5, 1783. A motion was made by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Holten, That the superintendent of finance be directed to lay before Congress, an account of all the public monies which have been applied at home and abroad to the purchase of clothing for the army since his coming into office; together with an account of what part of such clothing has been received, and how it has been disposed of. On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Lee, Pennsylvania, Mr. Wilson, N-Hampshire, Mr. Foster, Massachusetts, Mr. Gerry, ay ay ay Holten, ayay Montgomery, ay ay ay ay Maryland, Mr. Carroll, no div ay McHenry, ay Virginia, Mr. Bland, ay ay Howell, Connecticut, New-York, Mr. Duane, al. } ay L'Hommedieu, ay So it was resolved in the affirmative. On motion of Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Holten, Resolved, That the secretary at war be directed to lay before Congress, copies of the returns from the clothier-general to him, of the clothing which has been received by the said clothier-general, since the 1st of January, 1781, to the present time; and also of the returns of clothing on hand, every two months in that period, as directed by the regulations passed June 10th, 1781. On motion of Mr. M'Henry, seconded by Mr. Lee, Resolved, That Friday next be assigned to decide on the place proper for a temporary residence of Congress. On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Ellery, Mr. A. Lee and Mr. Gerry, to whom was referred a letter of the 1st, from the agent of marine, Resolved, That the agent of marine be, and he is hereby directed to cause the ship Alliance to be unladen, and her cargo freighted to Europe on the best terms. That the agent of marine discharge the officers and crew of the ship Alliance, cause her to be surveyed, and report to Congress the state she is in, with an estimate of the expense necessary to give her a good repair.. MONDAY, September 8, 1783. The president being absent, Congress proceeded to the election of a chairman, for the purpose of keeping order; and, the ballots being taken, the hon. John Rutledge was elected. TUESDAY, September 9, 1783. The president and the chairman elected yesterday, being absent, Congress proceeded to the election of another chairman, for the purpose of keeping order; and, the ballots being taken, the hon. D. Carroll was elected. A motion was made by Mr. Read, seconded by Mr. Mercer, That the secretary of Congress enquire of Mr. David C. Claypoole, printer of the Pennsylvania packet, dated September 9, 1783, by what means a copy of a letter printed in his paper, dated New-York, August 17, 1783, signed Guy Carleton, and directed to his excellency Elias Boudinot, esq. came to his hands. A motion was made by Mr. Gerry, seconded by Mr. Higginson, that the motion be committed. And on the question for commitment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Howell, N-Hampshire, Mr. Foster, Mr. Carroll, ay required by Mr. Howell, ay * Massachusetts, Mr. Holten, ay 2 Higginson, ay S ay Maryland, M'Henry, ay S ay Mr. Bland, no Rhode-Island, Mr. Ellery, Howell, no Mercer, no Connecticut, Mr. S. Huntington, ay B. Huntington, ay ay On the question to agree to the original motion, the yeas and nays being ay по ay According to order, the full report of the proceedings of the court-martial, respecting the late mutiny, was laid before Congress. Ordered, That the same be committed. WEDNESDAY, September 10, 1783. On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. M'Henry, Mr. Peters and Mr. Duane, to whom was referred a report from the secretary at war, on a motion of Mr. Dyer, Resolved, That the secretary at war inform the pay-master general, that brevet commissions do not entitle to pay or emoluments, unless the same be expressed in the resolution granting such commissions. A motion was made by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Holten, That the superintendent of finance and the treasurer, be directed to lay before Congress an account of all the notes which have been issued by them on the credit of the United States, together with an account of what part of those notes are now in circulation. Whereupon, it was moved by Mr. Read, seconded by Mr. Mercer, that the said motion be postponed, in order to take up the following: That the house proceed to appoint five committees, to be composed of five members each, for the purposes mentioned and pointed out by the act of Congress of the 17th June, 1782. And on the question to postpone for the purpose aforesaid, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Read, N.-Hampshire, Mr. Foster, Massachusetts, Mr. Gerry, Rhode-Island, Mr. Ellery, no no no ay div. no > * Maryland, Mr. Carroll, McHenry, no Holten, Virginia, Higginson, no Howell, Connecticut, Mr. S. Huntington, no New-York, B. Huntington, ay Mr. Duane, L'Hommedieu, no Pennsylvania, Mr. Peters, So the question was lost. પ On the question to agree to the original motion, the yeas and nays being re That the superintendent of finance and the treasurer be, and they are hereby directed to lay before Congress, an account of all the notes which have been issued by them on the credit of the United States, together with an account of what part of those notes are now in circulation. It was then moved by Mr. Read, seconded by Mr. Holten, That Congress proceed to-morrow to appoint five committees, to be composed of five members each, for the purposes mentioned and pointed out by the act of Congress of the 17th of June, 1782. On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Carroll, A motion was made by Mr. Mercer, seconded by Mr. Read, in the words following: Whereas the offices of Congress have been ever open to the members thereof for information; and the late removal of Congress from Philadelphia, having rendered access to the office of finance inconvenient to the members; Resolved therefore, that the superintendent of finance be directed to transmit any information relating to that office which shall be required by a member of Congress. |