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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875

Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1776


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Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1776

Link to date-related documents.

Resolved, That two months pay be advanced to Colonel Kirmovan; he to be accountable.

Resolved, That an order for 400 dollars, be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of David S. Franks, in full of Brigadier General David Wooster's draught, on Jonathan Trumbull, in his favour dated at Chambly, the 30th of May, 1776.

Resolved, That the subaltern officers of the German batallion, do not rank from the dates of their commissions, but that their rank be established hereafter by Congress.

The committee of safety [of Pennsylvania], having recommended Frederick Rowlwagen, Peter Boyer, William Rice, and Jacob Bower, for first lieutenants: George Schaffer, George Hawbecker, John Landenberger, and Frederick Yeiser, for second lieutenants: John Weidman, Christian Helm, Christian [Christopher] Godfried Swartz, and Jacob Cramer, ensigns, of the four German companies raising in Pensylvania.

Resolved, That they be accepted, and that commissions be granted to them accordingly.

Resolved, That the Declaration passed on the 4th, be fairly engrossed on parchment, with the title and stile of


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"The unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America," and that the same, when engrossed, be signed by every member of Congress.

The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That General Schuyler be desired to enquire into the complaints of the soldiers under his command, and give strict orders, that no higher price be charged for the goods furnished to the soldiers, than the first cost of them, and five per cent. for charges:

That the resolution of Congress, prohibiting any officer from holding more offices than one, be sent to General Schuyler:

That a letter be written to General Schuyler, requesting him to recommend, in the strongest terms, harmony between the officers and troops of the different states; to discountenance and suppress all provincial reflections and ungenerous jealousies of every kind, and to promote, by every possible means, discipline, order, and zeal in the public service.

Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the convention of Pensylvania, to hasten, with all possible expedition, the march of the associators into New Jersey, agreeable to a former request of Congress.

Resolved, That the delegates of Maryland be directed to inform the commanding officer of the Maryland troops, that the Congress expect he will immediately march with his troops to New York.

The committee appointed to prepare a resolution for subjecting to confiscation the property of the subjects of Great Britain, &c.; brought in the same, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table, and that the same be taken into consideration on Monday next.


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The Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy adjutant general for the flying camp; and the ballots being taken,

Samuel Griffin, Esqr. was elected.

Resolved, That Mr. Griffin, as deputy adjutant general, have the rank of colonel.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empowered to contract with Mr. Mirtle for the importation of goods to the amount of £30,000 sterling, at his risque, and £15,000 sterling, at the risque of the United States of America, for the public service.

That the Marine Committee be empowered to purchase a swift sailing vessel, to be employed by the Secret Committee in importing said goods.

The committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the miscarriages in Canada, brought in a report, which was read:

Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That the committee have leave to sit again.

The committee, to whom the letters from Lord Howe to Mr. [William] Franklin, &c.; ∥were referred∥, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,

Resolved, That a copy of the circular letters, and of the declarations they enclosed from Lord Howe to Mr. W[illiam] Franklin, Mr. Penn, Mr. Eden, Lord Dunmore, Mr. Martin, and Sir James Wright, late governors, which were sent to Amboy, by a flag, and forwarded to Congress by General Washington, be published in the several gazettes, that the good people of these United States may be informed of what nature are the commissioners, and what the terms, with the expectation of which, the insidious court of Britain has endeavoured to amuse and disarm them, and that the few, who still remain suspended by a


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hope founded either in the justice or moderation of their late King, may now, at length, be convinced, that the valour alone of their country is to save its liberties.1

[Note 1: 1 Printed in thePennsylvania Gazette, 24 July, 1776.]

The Congress proceeded to the election of commissioners for settling the accounts of New York; and, the ballots being taken,

Mr. Wm. Denning, Mr. Thomas Smith, and Mr. James Stevenson, were elected.

A letter from General Lee dated at Charleston, South Carolina, 2 July, instant, enclosing sundry papers, was laid before Congress, and read:

Ordered, That an extract of General Lee's letter be published.

Resolved, That the committee appointed to contract for the making cannon, be empowered to contract with Messrs. Hughes for one thousand tons of cannon, on the terms [by them] proposed.

Resolved, That the paper makers in Pennsylvania be detained from proceeding with the associators to New Jersey.2

[Note 2: 2 Printed in thePennsylvania Evening Post, 27 July, 1776.]

Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.

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