The delegates for New Hampshire laid before Congress a letter, of 28 April, from the president of that State, which was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War. A letter, of this day, from E[lbridge] Gerry was read.1 The Medical Committee, to whom was referred the letter, of 1, from Governor Trumbull; and The committee, to whom was referred the memorial from the Minister of France, &c. brought in reports which were read. The report of the committee on the memorial from the Minister of France was taken into consideration; and some time being spent thereon, adjourned to 7 o'Clock. Seven O'Clock. Congress met and resumed the subject under debate, and having made some progress therein, Adjourned to 10 o'clock to Morrow. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1780 A letter, of 12, from Colonel Bailey was read:2 A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on Nathaniel Appleton, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Massachusetts bay, in favour of Michael Hillegas, treasurer of the United States, for five hundred and ninety thousand dollars; for which the said Michael Hillegas is to be accountable.3 That on the application of James Wilkinson, cloathier general, approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue on the president and supreme executive council of the common 1 Ward's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 203; that of Lee in No. 78, XIV, folio 327; the New Hampshire letter in No. 64, folio 106; Gerry's letter in No. 78, X, folio 227. 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, III, folio 465. This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 305. From this point the entries are made by George Bond, of the Secretary's office. wealth of Pensylvania, in his favor, for three hundred thousand dollars (part of the monies raised in the said commonwealth, for the use of the said United States), to be applied in the hide department; and for which the said James Wilkinson is to be accountable. That on the application of Mr. Samuel Holten, a delegate from the State of Massachusetts Bay, a warrant issue, in his favor, on the treasurer, for six thousand dollars, for which the said State is to be accountable. That on the application of Joseph Carleton, secretary to the Board of Ordnance and paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in his favor, for eight thousand dollars, on account of his salary.1 ble Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the memorial of the Hon Minister Plenipotentiary of France; Whereupon, Resolved, That the States of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pensylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts bay, and New Hampshire, be most earnestly called on to collect and pay into the continental treasury, immediately, if possible, and, at all events, within thirty days from this time, ten million dollars, for the special purpose hereafter mentioned, in the following proportions; the payments to be credited to the said states respectively, on their quotas of money due to the United States to the first day of March last, viz. 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 309. Here Charles Thomson resumes the entries. ble Resolved, That bills be immediately drawn under the direction of the Board of Treasury on the hon Dr. B. Franklin, for 25,000 dollars, and on the hon" John Jay, for 25,000 dollars, payable at sixty days sight:' that they be offered for sale in Massachusetts bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pensylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, in the following proportions, viz. Resolved, That the money to be raised as aforesaid be appropriated and applied solely to the bringing the army into the field, and forwarding their supplies in such manner as the exigency and nature of the service may require. Resolved, That the committee at headquarters be directed [to expedite the drawing forth the supplies of the states required by the resolution of Congress, of the 25 day of February last, as the exigency and nature of the service may require, and the Commander in Chief shall judge them necessary. That in case of any extraordinary emergency, more of any of the articles enumerated in the said resolution shall become necessary than is therein provided for, the said committee, with the advice of the Commander in Chief, do apply to the legislative or executive powers of any of the states aforesaid, from New Hampshire to Virginia, inclusive, as may be most convenient, to have them immediately purchased at the expence of the United States, or otherwise procured on the credit of the same, if necessity shall so require: That the said committee give directions for procuring any other articles not provided for in the said resolution of the 25 of February, which the exigency of the service may, in the This paragraph was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. opinion of the Commander in Chief render necessary, and in ease they cannot be purchased or otherwise obtained on the credit of these United States, that they direct the proper applications to the civil magistrates of any of the states, for obtaining them in such manner as shall not admit of delay. That said committee be directed in general to give every aid in their power to a successful cooperation of the forces of these United States with those of his Most Christian Majesty that shall be sent to our assistance. Previous question. That the said committee be also authorised to give assurance where any of the aforesaid articles shall be purchased or otherwise procured on the credit of the United States, that the just value of the same shall be paid, with interest at six per cent. as fast as money can be raised for that purpose. That the said committee report their proceedings and measures to Congress as often as may be, and also take the further directions of Congress where they find it nee essary and time shall be given them therefor, once a fortnight.] Resolved, That the legislatures from New Hampshire to Virginia, inclusive, be requested to invest their executive authority, or some other persons, with such powers as will enable them, on the application of the committee aforesaid, to draw forth, at this critical period, the resources of the State.1 In debating the foregoing resolutions, particularly relative to the powers of the committee, an amendment was moved by Mr. [William] Ellery, seconded by Mr. [James] Searle, by inserting "except the States of Rhode Island and Providence 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 280, and a draft of the portion in brackets, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is on folio 282. It was also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal. A transcript from the entry in the Journals is in Committee Book, Proceedings of the Committee appointed on the 13th of April, 1780, folio 3. Plantations, and the commonwealth of Pe the words, "from New Hampshire to Vir And on the question, the yeas and nays b Mr. [James] Searle, So it passed in the negative. A motion was made by Mr. [William] Ell Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, That the powers conferred on the said c foregoing resolutions, continue and be in for from the date thereof, and no longer. On which the previous question being [Samuel] Holten, seconded by Mr. [Nathan on the question, the yeas and nays being [William] Ellery, |
