"NORTH-CAROLINA: State of North-Carolina. In Senate, 25th of April, 1778. To his excellency Richard Caswell, esquire, Captain-General, Governor, and Commander in Chief, &c. &c. SIR: The two houses of the general assembly have taken into consideration the confederacy proposed to the United States by the Continental Congress, and have unanimously acceded thereto, and request your excellency will be pleased to inform the president of the Continental Congress thereof by the earliest opportunity. WHITMILL HILL, S. S. "SOUTH-CAROLINA: In the General Assembly, the 4th day of February, 1778. Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the delegates of this state in the Continental Congress, or any three of them, be, and they are hereby authorized, on the part of this state, to agree to and ratify articles of confederation between the United States of America. Ordered, That the foregoing resolution be sent to the hon. the legislative council for their concurrence, and to his excellency the president for his assent. By order of the house, In the Legislative Council, the 5th day of February, 1778. Ordered, That it be sent to his excelleney the president for his assent. By order of the house, HUGH RUTLEDGE, Speaker." ❝ GEORGIA: House of Assembly, Thursday, February 26, 1778. The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole house, to take into consideration the articles of confederation and perpetual union, and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Whitefield, from the committee of the whole, reported, they had taken the said articles into consideration and gone through the same, and made several amendments thereto, which were read and agreed to. Extract from the minutes, GEORGE CUTHBERT, Clerk. Report of the amendments to the articles of confederation and perpetual union: 4th article, 4th page, 4th line, add the words "white inhabitants:" 6th line, between the words "vagabonds and" add "all persons who refuse to bear arms in defence of the state to which they belong, and all persons who have been or shall be attainted and adjudged guilty of high treason in any of the United States." 9th article, 20th page, 20th line, between the words "emitted to" add " and the expenditure of the same:" 11th article, 25th page, between the words "Canada acceding” add " and the colonies of East and West Florida." A true copy from the original, taken the 24th of May, and examined by GEORGE CUTHBERT, C. H. A. House of Assemly, Thursday, February 26, 1778. Resolved, That the delegates from this state be authorized and required to lay before the general Congress of the United States, the several alterrations proposed and agreed upon by this house this day in the articles of confederation, and that they do use their exertions to have such alterations agreed to and confirmed in Congress. Resolved, That in case all or none of such alterations shall be agreed to and confirmed in Congress, that then and notwithstanding they be empowered and required, in behalf of this state, to sign, ratify and confirm the several articles of the confederation recommended to the respective legislatures of the United States by Congress, or any other plan of a general confederation which shall be agreed upon by nine of the United States. Extract from the minutes, GEORGE CUTHBERT, Cik.” PHILADELPHIA: According to adjournment, the president and a number of the members met at the state-house on Thursday the 2d of July, and adjourned from day to day, to Ten states attending. TUESDAY, July 7, 1778. Mr. E. Boudinot, a delegate from New-Jersey, attended, and took his seat. A letter, of the 21st, one of the 28th, and one of the 29th of June, and one of July 1st, from gen. Washington, were read. A letter, of June 19th, from gen. Heath, was read, enclosing sundry letters that passed between him and major-general Philips, consequent to the death of lieut. Richard Brown, of the troops of the convention of Saratoga who was shot by a centinel "for not stopping when repeatedly challenged, as he was riding out of the lines with two women:" Whereupon, Resolved, That Congress approve of major-general Heath's conduct re specting major-general Philips, consequent upon the death of lieut. Richard Brown, of the troops of the convention. Ordered, That an extract of major-general Heath's letter, with the letters that passed between him and major-genera! Philips, together with the inquest held on the body of lieut. R. Brown, be published. Ordered, That so much of gen. Heath's letter as relates to money, with the account of provisions issued to the troops of the convention of Saratoga, from November 6th, 1777, to March 7th, 1778, and those received in lieu thereof, be referred to the board of treasury. Congress took into consideration the letter of June 29th, and that of July 1st, from gen. Washington, giving an account of his movements from ValleyForge to Monmouth court-house, in the state of New-Jersey, in pursuit of the enemy, and of a victory obtained over the British army commanded by gen. sir H. Clinton, in a battle near Monmouth court-house, on the 28th of June: Whereupon, Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of Congress be given to gen. Washington for the activity with which he marched from the camp at ValleyForge, in pursuit of the enemy; for his distinguished exertions in forming the line of battle; and for his great good conduct in leading on the attack and gaining the important victory of Monmouth over the British grand army, under the command of gen. sir H. Clinton, in their march from Philadelphia to New-York. Resolved, That gen. Washington be directed to signify the thanks of Congress to the gallant officers and men under his command, who distinguished themselves by the conduct and valour at the battle of Monmouth. Ordered, That Mr. Huntington, Mr. Wolcott, and Mr. Scudder, have leave of absence. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, July 8, 1778. A letter, of June 30th, from major-general Putnam, was read: A letter, of April 4th, and one of the 26th of the same month, from majorgeneral R. Howe, at Savannah, and one of April 4th, from gov. Houston, of Georgia, were read : Ordered, That they be referred to the board of treasury. A letter, of June 29th, from gov. Trumbull, enclosing a letter to him from Duncan Stewart, of London; also one of May 27th, from Mr. President Weare, of New-Hampshire, were read. A letter, of June 25th, from gov. Livingston, was read, enclosing a copy of Ephraim Marsh's affidavit : Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. Duer, Mr. R. H. Lee, and Mr. Boudinot. A letter, of the 3d, from gov. Livingston, was read, representing the distressed condition of the New-Jersey brigade for want of clothing: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war, and that the said board be directed to take speedy and effectual measures for supplying the NewJersey brigade with necessary clothing. A letter, of June 16th, from Mr. John Carter, continental agent in Virginia, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the committee of commerce. A letter, of the 23d, and one of the 28th of June, and one of July 2d, from gen. Gates, were read, enclosing a number of papers : Ordered, That they be referred to the board of war. The board of war transmitted to Congress a letter, of June 27th, from major-general Schuyler, at Albany, with a copy of a letter from Mr. Deane, Indian interpreter, and a letter of July 3d, from col. Butler, of Westmoreland, which were read: Whereupon, Resolved, That the board of war be directed to send for and confer with the Seneca chiefs who have lately quitted the city of Philadelphia, to enquire in what character and with what views they have come among us, whether as representatives or ambassadors of the Seneca nation; and whether the Seneca nation, as such, have committed hostilities against us, and report specially and immediately to Congress. A letter, of June 30th, from major-general Heath, was read, enclosing a copy of a letter of May 18th, from B. Franklin and John Adams, esqrs.commissioners of the United States at Paris : Ordered, That the letter from B. Franklin and John Adams, esqrs. be published. Ordered, That the clothier-general, or in his absence, his deputy in Philadelphia, be directed immediately to make out and lay before Congress an exact and particular invoice of all and every kind of goods, wares, and merchandise which have been purchased or taken up by the clothier-general or any of his deputies within this city, together with a list of the names of the persons of whom they have been purchased, and from whom taken, and the prices at which they were purchased. Resolved, That the governors of Maryland and Virginia be severally requested to take proper measures for giving the earliest intelligence to any French fleet or ships of war that may appear off the Bay of Chesapeake, of a fleet of British ships of war being ready to sail for North-America, as by the information transmitted from the American commissioners at Paris; and that they be respectively desired to accommodate any such French fleet or ships of war with good pilots for bringing them safely into the Bay, should they incline to come there : VOL. II. 78 That a similar request and proper advice be transmitted to each of the governors of North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia. An application being made for an advance of 200,000 dollars to the state of New-Jersey, Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow. THURSDAY, July 9, 1778. Mr. Andrew Adams, a delegate from Connecticut, attended, and took his seat in Congress. A letter, of the 7th, from gen. Washington, at Brunswick, was read: Whereupon, Ordered, That the committee appointed to arrange the army, repair, without delay, to gen. Washington's head-quarters, and proceed on the business committed to them. A letter from major Romand de Lisle, was read: A memorial from officers belonging to different regiments of the state of Pennsylvania, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the committee of arrangement. A memorial from the lieutenants and masters in the navy and captains of marines, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the marine committee. A memorial from the chevalier Faillie, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the board of war. Ordered, That Mr. Hancock, and Mr. Ellery have leave of absence. Resolved, That in the ratification of the articles of confederation, to be signed by the delegates, the following words be omitted, to wit: "which articles were by Congress proposed to the legislatures of all the United States, to be considered, and, if approved of by them, they are advised to authorize their delegates to ratify the same in the Congress of the United States." The ratification of the articles of confederation, engrossed on a roll of parchment, being laid before Congress, was examined, and the blanks in the third line from the bottom being filled up at the table with the words "ninth," and "July," and the blank in the last line with the word " third," the same was signed, on the part and in behalf of their respective states, by the delegates of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and SouthCarolina, agreeably to the powers vested in them. The delegates of the states of New-Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, informed Congress that they have not yet received powers to ratify and sign. North-Carolina, whose legislature has ratified the articles of confederation, and the state of Georgia, were not at this time represented in Congress. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare a circular letter to the states in this union, that have not hitherto authorized their delegates in Congress to ratify the confederation, informing such states how many, and what states have already ratified the same, and desiring that such states will, with all convenient despatch, authorize their delegates to ratify the confederation in the Congress of the United States: the members chosen, Mr. Lee, Mr. Dana, and Mr. G. Morris. Several members of Congress having intimated that they have received letters from some of the British commissioners; Ordered, That all letters received by members of Congress from any of the British commissioners or their agents, or from any subject o the king of Great-Britain, of a public nature, be laid before Congress. Mr. R. Morris laid before Congress a letter directed to him, dated Philadelphia, June 16, 1778, and signed George Johnstone, which was read. Ördered, That the committee of commerce consult with the board of war, and jointly agree with the governor of Virginia for such part of the Roderique's cargo, purchased by the state of Virginia, as they shall think wanting for continental use. A letter, of this day, from general Arnold, was read. The board of war, to whom was referred an invoice of sundry merchandise, consigned to Mr. Holker, and lately arrived at York-town, brought in a report; Whereupon, Resolved, That the committee of commerce be directed and authorized to contract with Mr. Holker for all the hats, blankets and shoes, specified in the said invoice, on such terms as they shall deem expedient. Resolved, That Mr. Boudinot be added to the committee on the petition from the prisoners in New-York. The president laid before Congress a bill drawn on him by John Baynton, deputy pay-master general, in favour of col. John Piper, for £ 2074 14 4, Pennsylvania currency, being the amount of pay due to the militia of Bedford county, in the continental service : Ordered, That it be referred to the board of treasury. FRIDAY, July 10, 1778. Two letters, of the 6th, from the marquis de la Fayette, were read: A letter, of June 25th, from major-general Heath, enclosing a copy of a letter from him to major-general Philips; also a letter, of the 1st instant, from major-general Schuyler; were read. The delegates from Pennsylvania laid before Congress the following letters, which were read, viz. one, of the 2d, from Samuel Hunter to John Hambright, esq. one, of the 8th, from Robert Levers to George Bryan, esq. vice-president of Pennsylvania; and one, of the 7th, from Jacob Stroud to Robert L. Hooper, esq. Ordered, That they be referred to the board of war. A petition from August Wille, was read: Ordered, To lie on the table. The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on John Gibson, esq. auditor-general, in favor of col. John Piper, for 5532 52-90 dollars, to answer a draught in his favor from John Baynton, deputy pay-master of the western district, dated Fort-Pitt, April 27, 1778, for £ 2074 14 4, Pennsylvania currency; the said John Baynton to be accountable: That, upon application of major-general R. Howe, by his letter, dated Savannah, April 26, 1778, a warrant issue on John Gibson, esq. for 2029 dollars, in favor of col. Marbary, to reimburse part of a sum which he advanced for the payment and subsistence of the troops under the command of majorgeneral Howe, who is to be accountable : That a warrant issue on John Gibson, esq. for 100,000 dollars, and another warrant on Joseph Borden, esq. commissioner of the continental loan-office in the state of New-Jersey, for 100,000 dollars, in favor of the delegates of that state, it being agreeably to an application of the general assembly thereof, for the purpose of discharging the arrears due to their militia; the said state to be accountable. The committee appointed to prepare a circular letter to the states in this union, who have not hitherto authorized their delegates to ratify the confederation, brought in a draft, which being read and amended, was agreed to as follows: |
