Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

spectors shall also be fully empowered and directed to attend to the expenditures of public property in the several departments of the army, and report any fraud, neglect of duty, or other misconduct by which the public property is wasted, or expense unnecessarily accumulated, so that the party charged therewith may be tried by court-martial on such charges exhibited against him by either of the said inspectors; and that neither the said inspectors nor the said contractors, or their property, be liable to arrest or subject to martial law, except by the express order of the commander in chief, or commander of the army to which the inspectors shall be appointed, any resolution or act of Congress heretofore made notwithstanding: that the pay to each inspector be 166 2-3 dollars per month, in full of all allowances."

A motion was made by Mr. Rutledge seconded by Mr. Bland, to amend the report further by adding thereto, "that the superintendent of finance be directed forthwith to make contracts for the supply of the southern army." On the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Middleton,

[blocks in formation]

FU

no >

no

Georgia,

no

no

no

no

no

no

TUESDAY, May 7, 1782.

Mr. Telfair,
N. W. Jones,
Few,

ay

ay

ay Say

ay

Mr. Root, a delegate for the state of Connecticut, attended, and took his seat in Congress.

On motion of Mr. Madison, seconded by Mr. Cornell,

Resolved, unanimously, That a committee be appointed to confer with the superintendent of finance and secretary at war, on the practicability and means of procuring supplies for the southern army by contracts, and report thereon.

The report of the committee which was yesterday under consideration, was taken up and agreed to as follows:

Resolved, That the superintendent of finance be, and hereby is authorized, to appoint an inspector for the main and southern army, to take care that the contracts for supplying rations be duly executed by the contractors; that the said inspectors shall also be, and they hereby are fully empowered and directed to attend to the expenditures of public property in the several departments of the army, and report any fraud, neglect of duty or other misconduct by which the public property is wasted, or expense unnecessarily accumulated, so that the party charged therewith may be tried by court-martial on such charges exhibited against him by either of the said inspectors; and that neither the said inspectors nor the said contractors, or their property, be liable to arrest or subject to martial law, except by the express order of the commander in chief, or commander of the army to which the inspectors respectively shall be appointed, any resolution or act of Congress heretofore made notwithstanding: That the pay to each inspector be 166 2-3 dollars per month in full of all allowances:

That each inspector when appointed, shall take an oath for the faithful and impartial execution of the trust reposed in him, as inspector of the contracts of the army.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Boudinot, Mr. Atlee, and

Mr. Rutledge, to whom was referred a letter of the 24th of April from the governor of Connecticut :

Ordered, That the secretary for foreign affairs inform our minister at the court of Versailles, that it is the desire of Congress that he make application to the court of France, for direction to the commander of his most Christian majesty's navy in the West Indies, to forward the number of prisoners due to these United States to some port thereof, in order that they may be exchanged for our prisoners at New-York.

WEDNESDAY, May 8, 1782.

A letter, of the 10th of February, from major-general Greene, respecting the promotion of colonel O. Williams, being read:

A motion was made by Mr. Montgomery, seconded by Mr. Atlee,

"That colonel Otho Williams be, and hereby is promoted to the rank of brigadier in the line of the army of the United States."

A motion was made by Mr. Clark, seconded by Mr. Boudinot, to amend the motion by adding after Otho Williams, the words" and colonel Elias Dayton," and changing the word “is” into “ are.”

An objection was made to this amendment as being out of order, and on the question," is the motion for amendment in order ?" the yeas and nays being

required by Mr. Clark,

[blocks in formation]

A motion was made by Mr. Clark, seconded by Mr. Condict, in the words following:

It being represented to Congress, that one of the brigades in the Maryland line, and the brigade of New-Jersey troops, are without brigadiers of the lines of those states,

Resolved, That two brigadiers be appointed in the army of the United States." A motion was made by Mr. Ellery, seconded by Mr. Patridge, to strike out the preamble, and on the question, "shall the preamble stand?"

The yeas and nays being required by Mr. Clark,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

S-Carolina, Mr. Rutledge,

Ramsay,

Middleton,

So it passed in the negative.

[blocks in formation]

On motion, the resolution was postponed, and a motion was made by Mr. Madison, seconded by Mr. Bland, in the words following:

"General Greene, commanding the army of the United States in the southern department, having represented to Congress that the appointment of a brigadier-general, to command a brigade in the Maryland line of the army, was rendered expedient by the proposed formation of the said line into two brigades, and having recommended colonel Otho Williams, as an officer whose distinguished talents and services give him a just pretension to such appointment, which recommendation is also supported by the testimony of the commander in chief in favour of the said officer:

Resolved, That in consideration of the distinguished talents and services of colonel Otho Williams, he be, and hereby is appointed a brigadier-general in the army of the United States."

A motion was made by Mr. Scott, seconded by Mr. Jones, "that the consideration of this motion be postponed ;" and on the question for postponing, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Scott,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Massachusetts, Mr. Patridge,

ay

[blocks in formation]

So it passed in the negative.

A division was then called for, and on the question to agree to the preamble; the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Scott,

Osgood,

Mr. Dickinson,

Wharton,

Mr. Carroll,

ay

Delaware,

Maryland,

Cornell,

ay S

ay

Wright,

Connecticut,

Mr. Law,

ay 2

[blocks in formation]

Root,

ay S

ay

Bland,

[blocks in formation]

no?

[blocks in formation]

ay say

Floyd,

ay

[blocks in formation]

no

Ramsay,
Middleton,

ay

Boudinot,

[blocks in formation]

av no

Condict,

no

[blocks in formation]

N. W. Jones,
Few,

no no

по

Smith,

ay

[blocks in formation]

So it was resolved in the affirmative.

On the question to agree to the resolution, resolved in the affirmative.

MONDAY, May 13, 1782.

According to order, the hon. the minister of France being admitted to a public audience, addressed Congress in a speech, of which the following is a translation :

GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS: Since the alliance so happily concluded between the king my master and the United States, you have taken too intimate a part in every event which interested his glory and happiness, not to learn with sincere joy, that Providence has granted a dauphin to the wishes of the king your ally, and to those of France. His majesty imparts this event, gentlemen, in the letter which I am directed to have the honor of delivering.

The connexions which unite the two nations, connexions formed in justice and humanity, and strengthened by mutual interests, will be as durable as they are natural The prince who is just born will one day be the friend and ally of the United States. He will, in his turn, support them with all his power, and while in his dominions he shall be the father and protector of his people, he will be here the supporter of your children, and the guarantee of their freedom.

The letter from his most Christian majesty was then delivered and read, of which the following is a translation:

VERY DEAR GREAT FRIENDS AND ALLIES: Satisfied with the interest you take in every event which affects us, we are anxious to inform you of the precious mark which Divine Providence has just given us of his goodness, and of the protection he has granted to our kingdom. We do not doubt that you will partake in the joy we feel on the birth of our son the dauphin, of whom the queen, our most dear spouse, is just now happily delivered. You will easily be convinced of the pleasure with which we shall receive every proof that you may give of your sensibility upon this occasion. We cannot renew, at a period more affecting to us, the assurance of our affection and of our constant friendship for you. Upon which we pray God that he would have you, very dear great friends and allies, in his holy keeping.

Written at Versailles, the 22d of October, 1781.
Your good friend and ally,

Underneath,

LOUIS.

GRAVIER DE VERGENNES.

The president then addressed the minister as follows:

SIR: The repeated instances of friendship which the United States of America have received from his most Christian majesty, give him too just a title to their affections to permit them to be indifferent to any event which interests his happiness. Be assured, sir, that Congress learn with the most lively satisfaction, that it has pleased the Divine Giver of all good gifts, to bless their august ally with an heir to his throne. Our earnest prayer is, that he may with It inherit the virtues which have acquired to his majesty so much glory, and to his dominions so much prosperity, and which will be the means of cementing and strengthening the union so happily established between the two nations an union the mutual advantages of which daily become more conspicuous, and which has derived new lustre and additional force from every effort of the common enemy to dissolve it. Congress do not enlarge upon this subject, but satisfy themselves with the representations which your own observations will enable you, and your regard to the interests of both countries will induce you to make of the affectionate attachment which every rank of people within these states manifest to your sovereign, and of their inviolable fidelity to the principles of the alliance.

Ordered, That a letter be written to the commander in chief, and to the commander in the southern department, by the secretary for foreign affairs, informing them of the public annunciation of the birth of the dauphin, that the same may be published in both armies with such demonstrations of joy as their commanders shall respectively direct:

That the secretary for foreign affairs also inform the governors and presidents of the respective states, of the birth of an heir to the crown of France, that the people of each state may partake in the joy which an event that so nearly affects the happiness of their great and generous ally cannot fail to excite.

TUESDAY, May 14, 1782.

A letter, of the 10th, from the commander in chief, was read, enclosing a copy of a letter to him from sir Guy Carleton, dated head-quarters, NewYork, 7th May, 1782; wherein he expresses a desire to receive a passport for the passage of Mr. Morgan to Philadelphia, for the purpose of carrying a letter of compliment to Congress; Whereupon,

On motion of Mr. Rutledge, seconded by Mr. Telfair,

Resolved, That the commander in chief be, and hereby is, directed to refuse the request of sir Guy Carleton, of a passport for Mr. Morgan to bring despatches to Philadelphia.

THURSDAY, May 16, 1782.

On a report from the secretary at war,

Resolved, That a purveyor be appointed for the southern army, and that Thursday next be assigned for the election.

Resolved, That the pay-master general be, and he is hereby, authorized to appoint a deputy pay-master to reside with the main army.

MONDAY, May 20, 1782.

Mr. John Lowell, a delegate for the state of Massachusetts, attended and produced credentials, dated in council, May 7th, by which it appears that the hon. James Sullivan and the said J. Lowell, esqrs. were chosen in the room of the hon. S. Adams and A. Ward, esqrs. resigned.

Ordered, That Mr. Patridge have leave of absence.

TUESDAY, May 21, 1782.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Ellery, Mr. Clymer, Mr. Boudinot, to whom was referred a letter of the 24th of April, from the governor of Connecticut :

Resolved, That the executives of the several states be, and they are hereby authorized, on information of illegal intercourse, which hath taken place or shall take place between the captains of any private armed vessels belonging to these states and the enemy, or of any other mal-conduct to suspend the commission of such captains until the executive shall have examined into the offence; and if upon enquiry it shall appear that the information was well founded, they are requested to report their proceedings to the United States in Congress assembled, and in this case the commission shall stand suspended until Congress shall have taken order thereon.

On motion, and at the desire of the delegates of Georgia:

Resolved, That it be minuted on the journal, that on their motion such part of the letter of the 11th of January, 1782, from the assembly of Georgia, as respects the settlement of public accounts, was yesterday referred to the superintendent of finance.

Mr. Scott, a delegate for the state of New-York, delivered at the table two papers which he desired to have read; and the same being read, a motion was made by Mr. Scott, seconded by Mr. Middleton, in the following words:

That two papers which have been this day read in Congress, purporting to be certified by Robert Harpur, deputy secretary of the state of New-York, as true copies of two certain original acts of the legislature of the said state lodged in the secretary's office of the said state: the one in the words and figures following, to wit,

“An act for pardoning certain offences committed in the north-eastern partof this state. Passed the

14th April, 1782.

"Whereas divers inhabitants residing in the north-eastern part of this state, who have heretofore denied the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the people of this state in and over that part of this state, and by their unwarrantable combinations, created commotions, to the great disturbance of the peace aud tranquillity of this state, have by their humble petition to the

« ZurückWeiter »