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ing boundary, jurisdiction, or any other cause whatever, are under the consideration of Congress, the delegates representing the several different states may not, agreeably to the confederation, sit and judge in any question to be decided by Congress relative to such dispute or difference."

On this the previous question was moved by the state of South-Carolina, seconded by New-York, and the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Lowell,

ay

ay

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N-Hampshire, Mr. Gilman,
Massachusetts, Mr. Osgood,
Lowell,

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Delaware,

Mr. McKean,

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So it was resolved in the affirmative.

The order of the day being called for, to proceed in the business of the difference subsisting between the states of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, the delegates for Connecticut laid before Congress an instruction from their constituents, in the words following, viz.

"At a general assembly of the governor and company of the state of Connecticut, holden at Hartford, in said state, by adjournment on the 10th day of January, Anno Domini 1782: "Resolved, by this assembly, That the delegates of this state in the Congress of the United States, be, and they are hereby authorized and instructed to move Congress to postpone the appointment of commissioners, to hear and determine the case respecting the lands in controversy between the state of Pennsylvania and this state, until after the termination of the present war: because that sundry papers of importance in the case are in the hands of counsel in England, and cannot be procured during the war: nor is it convenient for the states to divert their attention from the great objects of the war to attend to private controversies." And thereupon moved the following resolution:

"That Congress postpone the appointment of commissioners to hear and determine the cause respecting the lands in controversy between the state of Pennsylvania and the state of Connecticut, until after the termination of the present war."

A motion was made by Mr. Bland, seconded by Mr. Howell, to postpone the consideration of this motion,

And on the question for postponing, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Scott,

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A motion was then made by Mr. Bland, seconded by Mr. Howell, "That the sense of the house be taken, whether the reasons for the nonattendance of the agents from Connecticut yesterday assigned by the hon. E. Dyer, be sufficient."

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FRIDAY, June 28, 1782.

On a report from the secretary at war,

Resolved, That so much of the resolution of Congress of the 27th day of May, 1778, as relates to the additional pay given to captains and subalterns, acting as aids-de-camp and brigade-majors, be, and is hereby repealed.

Resolved, That there shall be such additional pay and emoluments to the pay of captains and subalterns, serving as aids-de-camp to major generals or brigadier-generals, and to brigade-majors, as shall make their pay and emoluments equal to the pay and emoluments of a major in the line of the army. The order of the day being called for, Congress resumed the consideration of the motion made yesterday, which was amended to read,

"That the sense of Congress be taken, whether sufficient reasons have been shewn for the non-appearance of the state of Connecticut by its lawful agents." After debate, the determination of the question was postponed by the state of Rhode-Island.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Duane, Mr. Izard and Mr. Madison, to whom were referred the letter of the 21st of May from majorgeneral Greene, and the papers accompanying it:

Resolved, That the secretary at war inform major-general Greene, that the United States in Congress assembled, approve of his conduct in rejecting the overtures for a cessation of hostilities made to him by liutenant-general Leslie, commanding the British troops in Charleston, and that he assure him Congress will use their endeavours to enable him effectually to oppose the enemy,

MONDAY, July 1, 1782.

Mr. John Lewis Gervais, a delegate for the state of South-Carolina, attended and took his seat.

On a report of the secretary at war,

Resolved, That a furlough for nine months be granted to captain Brossard, of the Georgia line, for the purpose of returning to Europe.

On motion of Mr. Witherspoon, seconded by Mr. Lowell,

Resolved, That the determination of the question which was postponed on Friday last by the state of Rhode-Island, be farther postponed. On motion of Mr. Ramsay, seconded by Mr. Duane, Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take for a public celebration of the anniversary of independence, on Thursday next; the members chosen, Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Clymer and Mr. Wharton.

proper measures

On a report from the secretary at war, signifying captain Celeron's wish to resign,

Resolved, That the resignation of captain Celeron be accepted.

A letter, of the 11th of June, from J. Avery, secretary of Massachusetts, was read, enclosing an act passed by that state, entitled "An act for granting to the United States in Congress assembled, a permanent revenue for the purpose of discharging the debts which have arisen or may arise in prosecuting the present war with Great-Britain.”

On a report from a committee, consisting of Mr. Madison, Mr. Lowell, Mr. Scott, Mr. Wharton and Mr. Witherspoon, to whom was referred a report from the secretary at war on an extract of a letter from the commissary of prisoners:

Resolved, That the said extract be referred to the commander in chief; and that he be authorized to take order thereon, so far as he shall judge the indulgencies applied for can be guarded from abuses.

TUESDAY, July 2, 1782.

On a report from the secretary at war,

Resolved, That lieutenant-colonel Louis Atayataghharonghta, retain the rank and pay of a lieutenant-colonel in the army of the United States, the resolves of the 31st of December last notwithstanding.

Resolved, That lieutenant-colonel Smith and major Clarkson have leave of absence until Congress shall direct their recal; and that they be permitted to go to the West Indies and serve in any corps of the combined armies of France and Spain to which they shall be invited.

The superintendent of finance, to whom were referred sundry letters from Samuel Parsons, and from Parsons, Alston & Co. reports,

"That he does not conceive it advisable to appoint a consul in any of the West-India islands, at least for the present; that any business which it may be necessary to have done at Martinique, can be well transacted by persons not holding a public character; that there is very little reason to believe there will be many British prisoners carried into the said Islands by American cruizers, under present circumstances; that he conceives any arrangements, with respect to prisoners, should be of a general nature extending to that object through every part of the world; and that the business of exchange being now in the war department, any arrangements with relation thereto, can come with propriety from the secretary at war: he also submits that the superintendent of finance cause the accounts of Samuel Parsons, against the United States, including therein the accounts of Parsons, Alston & Co. to be settled, and that the expenses of the schooner Fame be allowed in the said accounts." Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.

On a report from the superintendent of finance, to whom was referred a letter of the 12th of April, 1781, from W. Lee, esq.

Ordered, That the secretary for foreign affairs inform Mr. William Lee, that he apply for payment of the monies due to him to Mr. Benjamin Franklin.

WEDNESDAY, July 3, 1782.

Mr. Jonathan Jackson, a delegate for the commonwealth of Massachusetts, attended, and produced his commission under the seal of the commonwealth, and signed by his excellency J. Hancock, governor, whereby it appears, that at a general court of the said commonwealth, on the 2d day of May, 1782, the said Jonathan Jackson was elected a delegate, to hold his office until the 5th day of November next.

A letter, of this day, from the secretary at war, was read, together with an extract of a letter from brigadier-general Hazen, informing that the commissaries of prisoners at Lancaster, York and Reading, appear assiduous in supporting an independent, uncontrollable power, at least not subject to his restraint; and that notwithstanding orders to the contrary, the practice of allowing prisoners of war to work in the boroughs, towns and country, on the commissary's pass, is still continued at Lancaster, York and Reading, which has been a means of a very considerable loss of them; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the secretary at war be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to cause courts-martial to be forthwith holden, on the several commissaries and assistant commissaries of prisoners, at York, Reading and Lancaster, for disobedience of orders and neglect of duty, in suffering the escapeof prisoners at those posts:

And that the secretary at war be, and he is hereby authorized to appoint proper persons to take charge of the prisoners of war at the said places, until the said commissaries shall be discharged from their arrests, or Congress shall

otherwise direct.

Resolved, That the secretary at war, in the absence of the commander in chief, be, and he is hereby authorized to order all persons to be arrested and tried for disobedience of any orders which he is empowered to issue.

TUESDAY, July 9, 1782.

On a report of the secretary at war, to whom was referred a petition of Matthew Potan:

Ordered, That the said petition be dismissed.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Wharton, Mr. Madison and Mr. Osgood, to whom was referred a letter of the 20th of June, from the superintendent of finance, as agent of marine, reported the draught of an ordinance for the better distribution of prizes in certain cases, which was read a first and second time. Ordered, That to-morrow be assigned for a third reading.

Congress proceeded to the election of a judge-advocate for the army, and, the ballots being taken, James Innis, esq. was elected, having been previously nominated by Mr. Bland.

WEDNESDAY, July 10, 1782.

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

Ordered, That an official account of the election made yesterday of a judgeadvocate, be not transmitted until the committee appointed to consider the most just and practicable means of reducing the expenditures of the United States in the several departments shall have reported.

Ordered, That the committee report, with all convenient speed, the pay and emoluments proper to be allowed to a judge-advocate.

An act for aiding and more effectually carrying into execution certain acts of Congress of the 20th and 27th of February, 1782, passed by the legislature of Delaware, was laid before Congress and read.

According to the order of the day, was read a third time and passed as follows:

An ordinance for the better distribution of prizes in certain cases.

Be it ordained by the United States in Congress assembled, that so much of the ordinance, entitled, “ An ordinance ascertaining what captures on water shall be lawful,” as ordains that upon the capture of a vessel commissioned as a man of war or a privateer by any of the vessels of war of the United States of America, the whole of the property condemned shall be adjudged to the captors, be, and the same is hereby repealed; and that in all such cases of capture the whole of the property condemned shall be adjudged to the use of the captors, if the vessel taken shall be of equal or superior force to the vessel making the capture: if otherwise, one-half only shall be adjudged to the captors, and the other half to the use of the United States, and shall after condemnation be so appropriated, unless the United States in Congress assembled, in reward of distinguished valour and exertion, shall otherwise specially direct.

And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the resolution of the 15th day of November, 1776, giving to the commanders, officers and men of ships or vessels of war, a bounty for every cannon and for every man belonging to British ships or vessels of war captured by them, be, and the same is hereby repealed.

Done by the United States in Congress assembled, &c.

THURSDAY, July 11, 1782.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Madison and Mr. Scott, to whom was referred a motion of Mr. Lee:

Resolved, That the commander in chief be directed to remand immediately lieutenant-general earl Cornwallis to the United States, unless the honorable Henry Laurens be forthwith released from his captivity, and furnished with passports to any part of Europe or America at his option, or be admitted to a general parole.

On a report of the committee, consisting of Mr. Cornell, Mr. Osgood, Mr. Izard, Mr. Bland and Mr. Duane, appointed to consider and report to Congress the most just and practicable means of reducing the expenditures of the United States:

Resolved, That the pay of the judge-advocate for the army of the United States, be 75 dollars per month: that he be allowed two rations a day, and

12 2-3 dollars per month for subsistence; also a two horse wagon, with forage for two saddle horses: that he be also allowed for a servant 6 2-3 dollars per month, for which servant he shall be entitled to draw the rations and clothing of a private in the army.

Resolved, That the pay of a deputy judge-advocate for the southern army, who shall be taken from the line, be 60 dollars per month, including his pay in the line that he be allowed two rations per day, and 12 2-3 dollars per month for subsistence, including what he may be entitled to as an officer in the line; also a two horse wagon, with forage for two saddle horses, including what he may be entitled to as an officer in the line; that he be also allowed for a servant 6 2-3 dollars per month, for which servant he shall be entitled to draw the rations and clothing of a private in the army, in this last case he shall not be allowed a servant from the line.

Resolved, That the deputy judge-advocate employed in the same army with the judge-advocate, be taken from the line of the army, who shall receive, in addition to his pay in the line, 15 dollars per month; that he be also allowed for a servant the same as the judge-advocate, and that he be allowed forage for one saddle horse.

Resolved, That all resolutions heretofore passed respecting the pay and allowance in the department of judge-advocate be, and the same are hereby repealed.

Resolved, That junior lieutenants, who were to retire agrecably to the act of Congress of the 23d of April last, may at their option be retained in their present pay and rank as far as there are vacant ensigncies in their respective corps. Resolved, That the secretary at war issue no more commissions to officers promoted or appointed, until the further order of Congress.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Clark and Mr. Lee, to whom was referred a letter of the 10th, from the secretary at war:

Resolved, That the secretary at war take immediate order to have all the British prisoners of war closely confined, and to stop all issues of provision to the women and children who are with them, directing passports to be granted to such of the women with their children, who may not incline to remain in the country and support themselves, to go to New-York; and in case any of the said women remaining, shall neglect to support themselves and their children by their industry, or commit any offence against the laws of the state, that it be, and it is hereby recommended to the executive authority of the state in which they may be found, to take measures for immediately removing such idle and disorderly women into New-York.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Scott, Mr. Lee and Mr. Clark, reported the draught of an ordinance more effectually to prevent illicit trade with the enemy; which was read the first time, and to-morrow is assigned for the second reading.

FRIDAY, July 12, 1782.

On a report from the secretary at war, to whom was referred a petition of Darius Stoddard :

Resolved, That the state of Connecticut be requested to make up the depreciation of Dr. Darius Stoddard, during his service as a surgeon's mate and surgeon in the army of the United States.

On a motion of Mr. Howell, seconded by Mr. Dyer,

Resolved, That the commissioners appointed or to be appointed pursuant to the act of the 20th of February last, be empowered and directed to settle the accounts of the loan-officers of the respective states.

On motion of Mr. Clark, seconded by Mr. Lowell,

Ordered, That the superintendent of finance, as agent of marine, lay before Congress a copy of the last instructions given to captain Harding by the late board of admiralty.

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