THREE O'CLOCK, P. M. Resolved, That major general R. Howe, be, and he is hereby directed to repair immediately to gen. Washington's head-quarters. Resolved, That major-general Lincoln take command in the southern department; and repair immediately to Charleston, South-Carolina. A motion being made to order count Pulaski immediately to march with his legion to South-Carolina, Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the marine committee under debate the 15th: Whereupon, Resolved, That the new frigate building at Norwich, in Connecticut, and now nearly ready to be launched, be named the Confederacy. Congress proceeded to the election of a captain of the said frigate, the Confederacy, and the ballots being taken, capt. Seth Harding was elected. The committee on the treasury brought in a report; Whereupon, Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of major William Dark, for 600 dollars, in discharge of a bill of William Palfrey, esq. pay-master general, in favor of the said W. Dark, for that sum, dated September 15, 1778, and expressed to be for the use of the forces of the United States of America; for which the said pay-master gen. is to be accountable: That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of Alexander Baugh, for 2000 dollars, it being so much received of him by Lewis and Charles Cope, deputy commissaries, as per their receipt appears for James Rae, esq. deputy commissary-general of purchases in Georgia, who is to be accountable. The board of war, to whom was referred the letter of baron Steuben, relative to Mons. John Ternant, having reported thereon, Congress took the report into consideration: Whereupon, Resolved, That Mr. John Ternant be appointed a lieutenant-colonel in the service of the United States, and be ordered to repair to South-Carolina forthwith, to perform the duties of inspector, to the troops in the service of these states in South-Carolina and Georgia: that he report his proceedings as inspector, from time to time, to the board of war and inspector-general, conforming himself to such regulations as are or shall be established by Congress for the inspector-general's department; and, until he shall be duly notified of the plan of the department being arranged and confirmed by Congress, that he govern himself as near as may be by the rules and practice pursued by baron Steuben, during his having executed the office of inspector-general with the grand army, procuring the approbation and authority of the officer commanding the troops of the United States in the said states of South-Carolina and Georgia, in all matters relative to the discipline of the troops, and the police of the camps, garrisons or quarters, previous to their being put in practice by him as inspector. Resolved, That Mr. Ternant be allowed the pay and subsistence of a lieutenant-colonel from the 26th of March last. Resolved, That the marine committee be authorized to employ a secretary for their board, on the most reasonable terms they can. The board of war brought in a report, which was taken into consideration : Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution: Whereas Congress, by a resolve passed on the 26th of August, 1776, made provision for commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the army and navy, as also for the private soldiers, marines, and seamen, who should thereafter lose a limb in any engagement, or be otherwise so disabled in the service of the United States of America, as to render them incapable afterwards of getting a livelihood; and, whereas, divers officers, and others, have Jost limbs, or been otherwise disabled as aforesaid, before the said 26th of August, to whom the like relief ought equitably to be extended: Resolved, That all provisions and regulations contained in the said resolve of August 26th, 1776, shall extend to all persons who lost a limb or were otherwise disabled as aforesaid in the service of the United Colonies or States of America, before the said 26th of August, and since the commencement of hostilities on the 19th of April, 1775. And whereas doubts may arise in some cases, whether certain persons mained or disabled and claiming pensions, were at the time in the service of the said colonies or states: for removing the same, Resolved, That every commissioned and non-commisioned officer and private man who, since the commencement of hostilities, as aforesaid, has been, or hereafter shall be, drawn forth for the common defence, (and not for the service of any particular state,) or who has turned out, or shall hereafter turn out, voluntarily to oppose the enemies of the said United Colonies or States, upon any sudden attack or invasion, or upon any enterprize carried on under their authority, and in such service has lost or shall lose a limb, or has been or shall be otherwise disabled as aforesaid, shall be entitled to the pension allowed in the said resolve of August 26th, 1776; provided, that any such commissioned or non-commissioned officer or private man, being found capable of doing guard or garrison duty, shall be subject thereto, and serve in the corps of invalids when required, or an refusing so to do, shall be struck off the list of pensioners; unless the person so refusing have a family, or be otherwise peculiarly circumstanced, and the governor or president and council of the state he belongs to, or in which he resides, are of opinion an exception should be made in his favor, and an exemption granted him from such service, a certificate of which opinion he shall produce, previous to his receiving his pension. And whereas it may happen, that many persons, maimed or disabled as aforesaid, by reason of their falling into the hands of the enemy, the deaths of their officers and surgeons, or other accidents, may not have it in their power to procure the certificates required by the aforementioned resolve, to entitle them to their pensions, Resolved, That in such cases applications be made to the governor or president and council of the state to which any person maimed or disabled as aforesaid belongs, or in which he resides, and upon shewing to him or them satisfactory proof, that he was maimed or disabled in the manner before mentioned, and producing his or their certificate thereof, he shall be entitled to and receive a pension in like manner as if he produced the certificate required by the said resolve. Congress took into consideration the report of the committee of commerce respecting Messrs. Hewes, Smith, and Allen, and after debate, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed, and that the committee of commerce be directed to call on Mr. Hewes to produce an account of the continental property that came into his hands as commercial agent, and how the same has been disposed of. Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. SATURDAY, September 26, 1778. Ordered, That Mr. Carmichael be directed to attend at the bar of this house on Monday afternoon at three o'clock, to be examined, touching the matter set forth in the resolution of the 22d. Ordered, That Tuesday afternoon be assigned for hearing the hon. Silas Deane esq, and that he be notified to attend on that day at three o'clock. A letter, of the 26th, from col. G. Morgan, was read." Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed to Monday next. A letter, of the 25th, from John and Alexander Wilcox, was read: Whereupon, Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee appointed, in conjunction with a committee of the executive council of Pennsylvania, to determine the property of goods, wares and merchandise, &c. after debate, Resolved, That the state of facts reported by the said committee be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. Reed, Mr. G. Morris, and Mr. Smith. A letter, of the 24th, from Mr. John Wharton, was read, requesting leave to resign his office as member of the navy board of the middle district: Resolved, That his resignation be accepted. Ordered, That the resolution passed yesterday, respecting pensions, be published. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the arrangement of the treasury, and thereupon came to the following resolutions: Resolved, That a house be provided, at the city or place where Congress shall sit, wherein shall be held the several offices of the treasury: That there be the following offices, to wit, the comptroller's, auditor's, treasurer's, and two chambers of accounts: That each chamber of accounts consist of three commissioners and two clerks, to be appointed by Congress : That in the treasurer's office there be a treasurer annually appointed by Congress, and one clerk appointed by the treasurer: That in the auditor's office there be an auditor annually appointed by Congress, and two clerks appointed by the auditor: That in the comptroller's office there be a comptroller annually appointed by Congress, and two clerks appointed by the comptroller: That the auditor, treasurer, and comptroller shall not be appointed unless by the votes of nine states, and they be accountable for the conduct of their clerks respectively: That the auditor shall receive all accounts brought against the United States for money lent, expended, or advanced; goods sold or purchased; services performed or work done, with the vouchers, and shall refer them to one of the chambers of accounts, endorsing them in the manner marked A : That the commissioners of the chamber to whom an account shall be referred shall deliver the same to their clerks, to be properly stated: That the clerks shall state the accounts referred to them by the commissioners, number and arrange the vouchers, examine the castings, and make necessary copies : That the clerks, to whom an account shall be delivered, after they have completed the same, shall endorse it in the manner marked B: That the commissioners to whom an account is referred as aforesaid, shall carefully examine the authenticity of the vouchers, rejecting such as shall not appear good, compare them with the articles to which they relate, and determine whether they support the charges; that they shall reduce such articles as are overcharged, and reject such as are improper, and shall endorse the accounts in the manner marked C, and transmit them, with the vouchers, to the auditor, and cause an entry to be made of the balances passed: That the auditor shall receive the vouchers and accounts from the commissioners to whom he referred them, and cause them to be examined by his clerk. He shall compare the several articles with the vouchers, and if the parties concerned shall appeal from the judgment of the commissioners, he shall call before him the commissioners and the party, and hear them, and then make determination, from whence no appeal shall lie, unless to Congress. That after a careful examination of the account as aforesaid, he shall endorse it in the manner marked D, of which endorsement he shall send a duplicate, to be filed in the same chamber of accounts, and shall transmit the account and vouchers to the comptroller: That the comptroller shall keep the treasury books, and seal and file all the accounts and vouchers on which the accounts in the said books are founded, and shall direct the manner of stating and keeping the public accounts. He shall draw bills under the said seal, on the treasurer, for such sums as shall be due by the United States, on accounts audited, which, previous to the payment, shall be countersigned by the auditor, and also for such sums as may, from time to time, be ordered by resolutions of Congress, in the form marked E. When moneys are due to the United States, on accounts audited, he shall notify the debtor, and, after hearing him, if he shall desire to be heard, fix a day, for payment, according to the circumstance of the case, not exceeding 90 days, of which he shall give notice to the auditor, in writing, in the form marked F. That it shall be the duty of the treasurer to receive and keep the moneys of the United States, and to issue them on bills drawn by the comptroller as aforesaid, filing duplicates thereof with the auditor, day by day, as he shall make payment: that, on receipt of moneys, he shall give a receipt therefor, and transmit the same to the comptroller; and that he shall draw out and settle his accounts quarterly, giving the same in to the auditor for examination, by one of the chambers of accounts, to be from thence transmitted, through the auditor, to the comptroller, who shall compare the same with the treasury books, ascertain the balance, and return a copy of the same to Congress : That the comptroller shall receive from the treasurer all receipts by him signed, and after making due entry thereof, by charging the treasurer and crediting the proper accounts, he shall endorse the same in the manner marked G, and deliver them to the party who made payment: that he shall, every quarter of a year, cause a list of the balances on the treasury books to be made out by his clerks, and lay it before Congress. That, where any person hath received public moneys, which remain unaccounted for, or shall be otherwise indebted to the United States, or have an unsettled account with them, he shall issue a summons in the form marked H, in which a reasonable time shall be given for the appearance of the party, according to the distance of his place of residence from the treasury, of which he shall notify the auditor : That, in case the party summoned to account shall not appear, nor make good essoin, the auditor, on proof made of service in due time or other sufficient notice, shall make out a requisition in the form marked I, which he shall send to the comptroller's office where the same shall be sealed, and then it shall be sent to the executive authority of the state in which the party shall reside: That it be recommended to the several states to enact laws for the taking of such persons, and also to seize the property of persons who, being indebted to the United States, shall neglect or refuse to pay the same; notice whereof shall be given by the auditor to the executive authority of the respective states, in the form marked K, under the treasury seal : That the several officers of the treasury do, before they take upon them the execution of their offices respectively, before the president of Congress for the time being, make and subscribe the following oath, viz. "I, A. B. , in the treasury of the United States, solemnly and sincerely swear, promise and declare, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will, diligently and faithfully, according to the best of my skill and understanding, in all things do my duty as a , as aforesaid, without fear, favor, affection, or partiality." Forms referred to. A. Account between the United States and with the vouchers referred to in the year commissioners of accounts, the day of A. B. Auditor. B. The within account hath been stated, the castings examined, and the vouchers arranged, by C. The within account, stated by between the United States and C. D. E. F. Clerks of accounts. , Done the day of and a balance of by hath been examined and settled, and D. Audited the accounts between the United States and stated and due to A. B. Auditor. E. To the treasurer of the United States, greeting: (L. S.) You are required to pay the sum of according to (say either account audited, &c. &c. or a resolution of Congress, &c.) whereof entry is made the day of greeting: You are required, on or before the day of next, to appear before the auditor, in the treasury office of the United then and there to adjust and settle your accounts, whereof take notice. Given the day of in the year States, at N. O. Comptroller. to.ac I. To greeting: The United States having summoned count, the which he hath neglected to do, it is their request that you do cause to be taken and sent to the said before them, on the day of next, before the auditor in their treasury, at justice may in this behalf be done. Witness, hath been, before us in our treasury, found to be indebted in the sum of which sum was by his assent to be paid before the day of in the year but is not yet paid, or in any manner satisfied. These therefore are thereof to notify you, to the end that you, according to the powers and authorities unto you given, may of the estate of the said cause to be made the sum aforesaid, with the costs and charges which may accrue: and of your proceedings in the premises you are desired to certify us in our said treasury, with all convenient speed. Given the day of , &c. Witness, A. B. Auditor. That in the blanks of the forms above written, no figures be used either for dates or sums; but that the same be distinctly and plainly set in words at length, and without erazures or interlineations. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare a seal for the treasury and for the navy: the members chosen, Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. G. Morris, and Mr. R. H. Lee. |