USA > Delaware > Minutes of the Council of the Delaware state from 1776 to 1792, V 1 > Part 3
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For New Castle County-James Latimer, John McKinly, Abram Robinson, John Lea, Nicholas Vandyke.
For Kent County-Cæsar Rodney. James Sykes, Thomas Collins, John Baning, Richard Bassett.
For Sussex County-David Hall. Jacob Moore, John Wiltbank, John Rodney, James Rench.
·Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.
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THE DELAWARE STATE, 1776.
FRIDAY, November 8th, 1776.
Council met. Present all the members.
On motion and order,
The bill " for printing and emitting fifteen thousand pounds in bills of credit of this State, to be let out on loan; and for striking the further sum of ten thousand pounds in such bills for the use of this State, and for providing a fund for sinking the same,"
Was read the second time, and divers amendments were pro- posed and agreed to.
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Ordered, That Mr. Cantwell wait on the House of Assembly with the said bill and the amendments thereto proposed by this Council for their consideration and concurrence.
Mr. Cantwell reported that he had waited on the House of Assembly according to the order aforesaid.
The resolution for raising a battalion in this State to serve during the war, and appointment of commissioners to carry the same into execution, being transcribed, were ordered to be signed by the Speaker and to be delivered to the said commissioners.
A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door with a verbal message, was admitted and delivered the same, to wit :
That the House of Assembly acceded to the amendments proposed by this Council to the bill "for printing and emitting £15,000 in bills of credit of this State, to be let out on loan, &c.,' and requests this Council to nominate three persons, in addition to those already named in the bill, to be signers of the said bills of credit.
Acceded to, and Mr. Sykes, Mr. Wiltbank, and Mr. Jones are appointed as signers.
Ordered, That Mr. Vandyke wait on the House of Assembly and inform them of the above appointments.
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Mr. Vandyke reported that he had waited on the House of Assembly according to the order aforesaid.
A committee from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, were admitted and delivered to the Chair
A bill "for ascertaining the salaries and allowances to the officers and persons herein mentioned employed in the Govern- ment of this State, and for the providing funds for the payment thereof." .
Which, by order, was read the first time.
On motion,
Ordered, That a certificate of the appointment of the Delegates to the Congress, as chosen yesterday in the General Assembly, expressing the powers they are to be invested with, be drawn up and sent to the House of Assembly for their concurrence; which being done at the table and transcribed, is as follows, to wit :
IN COUNCIL, November 8th, 1776.
WHEREAS George Read, John Dickinson, and John Evans, Esquires, have been chosen, by joint ballot of the two Houses of Assembly, to represent the Delaware State in Continental Con- gress,
Resolved, That they, or any one or more of them, are hereby fully authorized and empowered for and in behalf of this State to concert, agree to, and execute any measure which they, or he, together with a majority of the Continental Congress shall judge necessary for the defense, security, interest and welfare of this State in particular and America in general; with power to ad- journ to such times and places as shall appear most conducive to the public safety and advantage.
Ordered, That Mr. Vandyke wait on the House of Assembly and deliver the same for their concurrence; who, having re- turned, reported that he had delivered the same according to order.
Adjourned till to-morrow, 10 o'clock.
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THE DELAWARE STATE, 1776.
SATURDAY, November 9th, 1776.
Council met. Present all the members.
The committee appointed to confer with a committee of As- sembly to adjust and settle the accounts of the Military Treasur- ers of the several Counties in this State, and to settle and adjust the pay and accounts of the officers appointed in the battalion ordered to be raised by the late Convention in September last in this State ; likewise the accounts of the signers of the last emis- sion of paper currency, and of those persons who attended the press, &c., brought in their report,
Which, by order, was read and ordered to lie on the table for consideration.
The Council being informed that the commissioners appointed to repair to the camps were ready to proceed as soon as the' General Assembly should direct.
Ordered, That Mr. Dingee wait on the House of Assembly with a verbal message containing the following quæres, to wit :
As the commissioners appointed to go to the camps should be furnished with some of the printed resolutions of Congress relat- ing to the reënlistment of the army, and the blank commissions transmitted by the President of Congress :
Quære. If the House of Assembly are not in possession of both ?
Quære. If the commissioners ought not to have a sum of money voted to them for the expenses of their journey ?
Quære. If any one person is appointed by the House of Assembly to collect all the blankets, linens and woolen cloth, recommended by the Council of Safety, whose proceedings are before the House of Assembly, and to carry the same forward to the camps and there distribute to such as may want at first cost ?
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The Council would have taken up this last business, but under- stood some directions had been given to individuals, and there- fore avoided doing anything in it that might interfere with what the House of Assembly had done; and for this further reason, that a grant of money for the carrying it into execution would be necessary.
Mr. Dingee, being returned, reported that he had waited on the House of Assembly according to the order aforesaid.
A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and proposed sundry amendments to the report of the committee appointed to confer with a committee of Assembly to adjust and settle the accounts of the Military Treasurers, &c., to wit:
As to Col. Collins, nothing allowed for the transportation, &c., of money.
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As to Capt. Porter, forty shillings added, which was omitted by mistake of committee.
As to John Clowes, 40s. added.
And the same being taken into consideration,
Ordered, That Mr. Bassett wait on the House of Assembly with the following verbal message, to wit:
The Council having considered the amendments proposed by the House of Assembly to the report of the Committee for Pub- lic Accounts, to wit:
The taking off £6 : 4 : o from the allowance made to Colonel Thos. Collins, for expenses attending the delivery of part of the bills of credit, lately signed by him; the addition of 4os. to the allowance made to Capt. Alex. Porter, and the addition of the like sum to Mr. John Clowes, for their attending the printing of the same bills of credit; as to the two last amendments the Coun- cil accede thereto.
As to the first, they apprehend the committee have misstated the service for which that allowance was made. The Council are informed that the greater part of the charge arises from the car- raise of the bills from the press to the house of the signer, where
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THE DELAWARE STATE, 1776.
it might be expected they ought to have been delivered by the attendants of the press, who undoubtedly should have been allowed therefor. The remaining part of the charge to Dover, it is urged, was for that part of the moneys belonging to the office in Sussex. For these reasons the Council are of the opinion such a charge is just, and submit it to the reconsidera- tion of the House.
The Council propose an alteration in the sum allowed for com- missions on the £500, in the first part of the report, to Brigadier McKinly, this sum being paid under an order drawn by him, as Chairman of the Council of Safety of New Castle County, on Col. Collins in favor of Lieutenant Kamford, Col. Collins being allowed commissions thereon, £7 : 10, the sum to be deducted.
Mr. Bassett reported that he waited on the House of Assembly according to the order aforesaid.
A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the resolutions following, to wit:
"On motion, by order,
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"The report of the committee appointed to devise the best "method of supplying the inhabitants of this State with salt, was "read the second time, and, being debated and amended, was "agreed to, as follows, to wit:
"That they are of opinion the most certain and expeditious "method of procuring a speedy supply of salt would be to au- "thorize and empower some careful and prudent persons at the "Town of New Castle to purchase one or more cargo or cargoes "of salt from on board vessels bound to Philadelphia, or after "their arrival there, at the lowest prices for which the same can "be procured, and to distribute, to the quantities they shall buy, "from time to time, equally between the several Counties of this "State, and cause the proportion for each County to be delivered "to some member of the Council of Safety in such County, who, " with the advice and assistance of the other members of the said "Council, residing in said Counties respectively, shall cause the "same to be delivered out to the inhabitants thereof in proportion "to their several wants.
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"That 4,000 bushels of salt are now wanted to supply the im- "mediate necessities of the people, and that the commissioners "appointed to buy it ought to be supplied with {2,500 for that "purpose, and that it should be retailed out to the inhabitants "at so small an advance as would be only sufficient to reimburse "the State.
"Resolved, That Messrs. Zachariah V. Lenvington and Joseph "Tatlow, of the Town of New Castle, be and they are hereby "appointed commissioners to carry the foregoing resolutions "into execution ; and that they be authorized to borrow, from "any person or persons who will lend the same on the credit of "this State, any sum or sums of money, not exceeding £2, 500, "to be repaid, with interest at six per cent., in three months.
"Resolved, That certificates, signed by the said commissioners, "expressing therein the sums borrowed, to be upon the above "terms and for the above purposes, shall be sufficient vouchers " to entitle the lenders to the repayment thereof by this State.
"Resolved, That the said commissioners render an account of "their proceedings in the premises to the General Assembly of "this State at the next session."
Read and concurred in.
A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the resolution following, to wit :
"Resolved, That the balance of public money remaining in the "hands of Thos. Collins, Esq., Military Treasurer for the County "of Kent, be paid into the hands of the Speaker of this House, "whose receipt shall be a sufficient discharge to the said Military "Treasurer for the same ; and that the Speaker be accountable "for the disposal thereof."
For the consideration and concurrence of the Council.
Read and concurred in.
A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and returned the resolution of Council expressing
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THE DELAWARE STATE, 1776.
the appointment and powers of the Delegates to Congress, with the concurrence of the House of Assembly thereto, and delivered to the Chair the following verbal message, to wit :
"That the Speaker of the Assembly has delivered several of " the printed resolutions of Congress relating to the reenlistment "of the army, and forty blank commissions, received from the "President of the Congress, together with eight copies of the "Articles of War, to Col. Samuel West, one of the commission- "ers appointed to repair to the army.
"This House will do their part in satisfying the commissioners "for their expenses to be incurred in the service of the State.
" The Assembly have taken measures for securing the blank- "ets, linen and woolen cloth, purchased in consequence of the "directions of the Council of Safety, and hope the same may be "sent to the camps some time next week ; to pay for which they "have passed the resolution sent to the Council for their concur- "rence."
Ordered, That Mr. Bassett wait on the House of Assembly with the concurrence of Council to their resolution respecting the most certain and expeditious method of procuring a speedy supply of salt; and also their resolution respecting the payment of the balance of the public money in the hands of Col. Collins to the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Mr. Bassett returned and reported that he had waited on the House of Assembly according to the order aforesaid.
A member of the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered a verbal message that the House of Assembly had postponed the consideration of that part of the report made by the Committee of Accounts as objected to by the Council in their message till the next sitting of the General Assembly.
To which the Council agreed.
Ordered, That a member of Council wait on the House of As- sembly and inform them that the Council concurred in the other parts of the report.
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A verbel message being sent to the House of Assembly desir- ing their sentiments as to the settling and defraying the expenses of the present session, and how the same shall be done ;
In answer to which, it is proposed that the whole expenses should be severally ascertained and defrayed by orders, to be drawn by the Speakers of both Houses, on the several Trustees of the Loan Office in this State.
And the Council concurred.
The Council took into consideration the expenses of their ses- sion, and thereupon
Resolved, That there be paid to the members of Council : For New Castle County, for personal expenses by them incurred, to wit : 3 members, 13 days, . £21 14 10 1
To the members of Kent County, for same, . 25 15.11
To the members of Sussex County, for same, 27 14 10 To Slator Clay, Clerk to Council, for 12 days' attend- ance, @ 7s. 6, 4 10 ' 0
To Robert Booth, Doorkeeper, for 12 days' attend- ance, @ 5s., 3 0 0.
£82 15 7
Ordered, That the same be transcribed and sent to the House of Assembly for concurrence; which was done accordingly.
Orders, drawn and signed by the Speaker of Assembly, for the amount of the said expenses were delivered to the Chair.
A notice, in writing, subscribed by the Speaker of the Assem- bly, that that House had adjourned to Monday, the sixth day of January next, to meet at the State House, in the Town of New Castle, was delivered to the Chair.
Then the Council adjourned to the 6th day of January next.
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JANUARY, 1777.
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OF THE DELAWARE STATE.
NEW-CASTLE-ON-DELAWARE, MONDAY, January 6th, 1777.
Agreeable to adjournment, the Speaker and a number of the members met, but these not being sufficient to enter upon busi- ness, the Council adjourned from day to day until Friday fol- lowing.
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FRIDAY, January 10, 1777.
Council met. Present-All the members except Messrs. Bas- sett, Collins, and Dingee.
The two first being officers in the Militia of this State, marched to reinforce General Washington in New Jersey, their absence is excused.
A member from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the resolutions following, to wit :
" On motion,
"Ordered, That Messrs. Cook, Robinson and Horsey be a
" committee to settle and adjust the accounts of the officers and
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"privates of the Second Delaware Battalion, raised for the Fly- "ing Camp, previous to their being passed by the Commissary "of Musters.
"Ordered, That the same be transcribed, and that Mr. Ridgely " wait on the Council therewith and propose to them the appoint- " ment of a committee of their House, to join with the committee "aforesaid, in the business referred to them."
And the same being read, ordered to lie on the table for con- sideration.
The Speaker laid on the table a letter addressed from the Hon- orable John Hancock, Esq., President of Congress, inclosing sundry resolutions of the 11th, 27th, 30th and 31st of December last, which were read.
On motion,
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three.
Whereupon Messrs. Vandyke, Cantwell and Sykes were ap- pointed a committee for that purpose.
The report of the commissioners appointed to repair to the camps and inquire into the condition of the Battalions under Cols. Haslet and Patterson, and commission a sufficient number of officers for the battalion to be raised in this State to serve dur- ing the war, with sundry papers as vouchers of their proceedings, being presented to the Chair, by order, was read and laid on the table for consideration.
Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.
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THE DELAWARE STATE, 1777.
SATURDAY, January 11th, 1777.
Council met.
A member from the House of Assembly delivered at the Chair a written paper, subscribed with the name of Jacob Bennett, pur- porting an account of his being taken by a British ship of war to the southward of Cape Henlopen, and that while a prisoner five persons, supposed to be inhabitants of this State, came in a boat, with some live stock, on board said ship, one of which persons passed there by the name of Daniel Dingee; and the House being informed that John Trip and Levi Potter were prisoners at the same time on board the said ship ;
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Ordered, That the Speaker issue notices, by way of summons, to Jacob Bennett and John Trip and to Levi Potter to attend here on Monday next, at i1 o'clock, A. M., to give evidence of their knowledge of the persons aforesaid and their conduct on board the said ship.
The committee to whom the Honorable Mr. Hancock's letter and resolutions of Congress were referred, prayed further time to report thereon, and granted.
Mr. Polk desired leave of absence for a few days to visit his brother, dangerously ill. Granted.
Adjourned to Monday next.
MONDAY, January 13th, 1777.
Council met, but there not being a quorum to proceed on busi- ness, adjourned till to-morrow.
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TUESDAY, January 14th, 1777.
Council met.
The Speaker reported from the chair that he had issued no- tices requiring the attendance of Jacob Bennett, John Trip and Levi Potter, agreeable to the order of Saturday.
It appearing to the House that Jacob Bennett and John Trip were sick, their non-attendance is excused till their recovery.
Mr. Dingee, a member of this House, not having attended during the sitting thereof, and a sufficient reason not being as- signed for his absence,
Ordered, That the Speaker write to Mr. Dingee requiring his attendance in this House forthwith, and that a messenger be, sent with such letter.
The committee to whom the Honorable Mr. Hancock's letter and resolutions of Congress were referred, brought in their re- port, which, by order, was read and referred till to-morrow.
Adjourned till 10 o'clock to-morrow morning.
WEDNESDAY, A. M., January 15th, 1777.
Council met, and resumed the consideration of the report of yesterday referred to this day, which was agreed to, as follows :
Your committee, to whom the Honorable Mr. Hancock's letter and resolutions of Congress of the 11th, 27th, 30th and 31st of December last was referred, do report, that they have taken the
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THE DELAWARE STATE, 1777.
same into consideration and are of the opinion that the resolution of the IIth of December aforesaid, recommending the appoint- ment of a day of solemn fasting and humiliation, is highly proper to be complied with, and propose Thursday, the 27th of February next, as a proper day, and that a proclamation issue for that pur- pose, in the following form, to wit :
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS the just war into which the United States of America have been forced by Great Britain is likely to be still continued by the same violence and injustice which have hitherto animated the enemies of American freedom ; and whereas it becomes all pub- lick bodies, as well as private persons, to reverence the Provi- dence of God, and look up to Him as the Supreme Disposer of all events and the Arbiter of the fate of Nations ;
Therefore the General Assembly of the Delaware State do appoint Thursday, the 27th of February next, to be observed by all ranks of people within the same as a day of solemn fasting and humiliation, to implore of Almighty God the forgiveness of the many sins prevailing among us, and to beg the countenance, protection and assistance of His Providence in the prosecution of this just and necessary war, and a happy and speedy conclu- sion of the same.
And it is recommended to Christians of all denominations within this State to assemble for publick worship and to abstain from servile labor and recreation on said day.
Signed by order of the General Assembly.
Given at New Castle, - of January, 1777.
Your committee are also of opinion that the resolution of Con- gress of the 27th of December, recommending the march of the new levies of this State for the Continental army, by companies or parts of companies, be also complied with; and that it be recommended to the commanding officer of the Delaware Bat- talion to issue orders to the respective captains thereof to march their companies to Philadelphia, to receive further orders from the commanding officer there, and, if not yet complete, to cause so many as may be already enlisted immediately to repair there, under a proper officer or officers, provided the number shall
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amount to thirty-five, leaving one or more officers to recruit, ; order to fill up the companies ; and that a sum of money be pro vided for the subsistence of the companies so marching till the arrive at Philadelphia, which, your committee think, will rende the appointment of a commissary, to proceed there for the pur pose of procuring provisions, unnecessary.
Your committee are further of opinion that the resolution o: Congress of the 30th of December, prohibiting the exportation of bacon, salted beef and pork, soap, tallow, and candles, be also complied with and strictly observed by the inhabitants of this State, and that the said resolution be published within the State for their information.
Your committee do likewise recommend that the resolution of Congress of the 31st of December, by which the restrictions heretofore imposed upon the exportation of staves, or other lum- ber, except to Great Britain, Ireland and the British Islands, or any place under the dominion of Great Britain, is taken off, be also published within this State,
Ordered, That the foregoing resolutions of Council be trans- cribed and sent to the House of Assembly for their consideration and concurrence, and that Mr. Vandyke deliver the same, to- gether with the President's letter and resolutions of Congress aforesaid.
Adjourned till 3 o'clock.
EODEM DIE, P. M.
Council met.
Mr. Vandyke reported that he had waited on the House of Assembly and delivered the resolutions of this day, with the President's letter, according to order.
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Mr. Dingee appeared in the House and assigned the indispo- sition of his wife as an excuse for his non-attendance hitherto, which was admitted.
Mr. Dingee being informed of the contents of the written paper, subscribed by Jacob Bennett and delivered to this House on Saturday last, wherein mention is made of five persons, sup- posed to be inhabitants of this State, going on board a British ship of war with live stock, one of which persons passed there by his name, requested that the said Jacob Bennett, and all other persons who had any knowledge of that transaction, might be summoned before this House, to give evidence thereof, at some future day, and that in the meantime his attendance in Council be dispensed with, as he did not choose to continue his seat here while under such a suspicion.
Resolved, That Mr. Dingee's attendance in Council be dis- pensed with till further order.
Ordered, That the Speaker issue other summonses, directed to Jacob Bennett, John Trip and Levi Potter, and summonses for Griffith Minshall, Jun., John Marshall and Joseph Poole, requir- ing their attendance on this House on Friday next, at 11 o'clock, to give evidence of their knowledge of the charge against Mr. Dingee, at which time he is ordered to attend.
The House taking into consideration the condition of the Militia of this State, and it appearing that there had been for some considerable time past almost a total neglect of the attend- ance of associators on muster and review days, and a general omission to levy the penalties and taxes imposed by the articles and rules made for the better governing of the Militia by the late House of Assembly, and that the said articles and rules required some attention and amendments for their more effectual execu- tion, therefore,
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