USA > Delaware > Minutes of the Council of the Delaware state from 1776 to 1792, V 2 > Part 8
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Mr. Collins, a member, &c., was admitted and delivered to the Chair an account of John Gorden, Esq., late Sheriff of Kent County, amounting to (7 : 10 ; with a resolution of the House of Assembly for the payment of the same.
Adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M.
EODEM DIE, P. M.
The Council met.
On motion, by order, the report of the Joint Committee of Accounts on the Clothier-General's accounts, and the resolution accompanying the same, were severally read the first time.
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By special order, the same were read a second time, and the resolution was concurred in.
On motion, by order,
The account of John Gorden, Esq., amounting to £7 : 10, and the resolution of the House of Assembly for the payment of the same, were severally read the first time.
By special order, the same were read a second time, and the said account was allowed, and the resolution concurred in.
Ordered, That Mr. Collins return to the House of Assembly the Clothier-General's accounts, the report of the Committee of Accounts thereon, and the resolution for the payment of £481 : 2 : 8 to the said Clothier-General, concurred in by the Council ; and that he also return the accounts of John Gorden and Samuel Smith, Esqs., for seven pounds and ten shillings each, and the account of Thomas Bradford, printer, amounting to £31 : 12 : 6, together with the several resolutions for the payment of the said suis, severally concurred in, to the House of Assembly.
Mr. Collins reported the delivery of the foregoing papers ac- cording to order.
On motion, by order,
The bill for raising {,26,250 for the service of the year 1783, was read the first time.
On motion, by order,
The Vice-President's Message on the subject of Mr. Winder's letter, and the resolution founded thereon, were severally read, and the said resolution was concurred in.
Ordered, That Mr. Polk return the foregoing message and resolution, with the concurrence of the Council thereto, to the House of Assembly ;
Who, being returned, reported the delivery of the same ac- cording to order.
On motion of Mr. Read, that leave be given him to bring in a bill "For preventing and punishing the counterfeiting of the common seal, bank bills and bank notes of the President, Direc-
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tors and Company of the Bank of North America," the same was granted ; whereupon a draught of a bill for that purpose was laid on the table, and, by order, read the first time.
On motion for the second reading of the resolutions upon the committee's report on the President's Message of the 11th Janu- ary instant, the same was seconded, and passed in the negative.
An order on the State Treasurer in favor of George Craghead, Esquire, for the payment of £481 : 2 : 8, was presented by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, in order to be signed by the Speaker of the Council ; which was accordingly done, and re- turned.
Adjourned till to-morrow at 10 o'clock.
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 1783.
The Council met. Present all the members.
On motion, by order, the bill for auditing and arranging the accounts of this State, and for the more speedy and effectual settlement of the same, was read the second time and postponed for consideration.
Mr. Molleston, a member of Assembly, was admitted and de- livered to the Chair the accounts of Win. Millan, late Receiver of Supplies for New Castle County, and their vouchers, together with the proceedings of the House of Assembly upon the said accounts.
Mr. Kean, a member of Assembly, attending, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the returns of the Second Delaware Regiment, commanded by Lieut. Colonel Henry Neill, together with the pay-rolls of the several officers belonging to the said regiment.
Adjourned till to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock.
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SATURDAY, A. M., Jan. 25, 1783.
The Council met. Present the same members as on yesterday. On motion, by order,
The bill for auditing and arranging the accounts of this State, &c., was read a third time, by paragraphs, for the consideration and amendment of the Council, and after some time spent therein the same was postponed till the afternoon.
Adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M.
EODEM DIE, P. M.
The Council met.
The Council now resumed the consideration of the bill for auditing and arranging the accounts, &c., and after some time spent therein the further consideration is postponed till Monday morning at ten o'clock.
Adjourned till Monday at 10 o'clock.
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 1783.
The Council met. Present the same members as on Saturday last.
Mr. Charles Polk, a member of Assembly, attending, was ad- mitted and delivered to the Chair a bill to exclude members of the General Assembly from places of profit, &c.
The Council now proceeded in the further consideration of the bill for auditing and arranging the accounts of this State, &c.,
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agreeable to the order of the day, and the same, after some debate, will pass.
Ordered, That the same be transcribed and sent, for consider- ation and concurrence, to the House of Assembly.
Mr. Hazzard, a member of Assembly, attending, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the report and state of the public ac- counts by the Auditor, William Killen, Esq., together with the vouchers thereto belonging and accompanying the same.
Mr. Waples, a member of Assembly, attending, was admitted and delivered to the Chair a resolution respecting the adjourn- ment of the General Assembly on Saturday next to some future day.
Mr. Duff, a member of Assembly, attending, was admitted and delivered to the Chair a petition of James Abbott, and also a pe- tition of George Abbott and Charles Williams, which, after their second reading in the House of Assembly, were referred to Capt. James Moore, Superintendent of the Recruiting Service, to do therein what the good of the service and the laws of the State may require.
Mr. Bassett presented the Chair with Mr. Dickinson's resigna- tion of the Presidency of this State, by a writing, under his hand and scal, dated at Dover, Jan. 14, 1783.
On motion, Mr. Bassett has leave of absente till 3 o'clock to- morrow afternoon.
On motion, by order,
The bill for preventing, &c., counterfeiting of the common seal, bank bills, &c., of the Bank of North America, was read second time.
The same was read the third time, by paragraphs, and passed the Council.
Ordered that the same be transcribed.
Adjourned till to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock.
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MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF
TUESDAY, A. M., Jan. 28, 1783.
The Council met. Present the same members as on yesterday. except Mr, Bassett.
Ordered, That Mr. Collins deliver to the House of Assembly the bill for auditing and arranging the accounts of this State, &c., together with the bill for preventing and punishing the counter- feiting of the common seal, bank notes, &c., of the Bank of North America, for their consideration.
Dr. Ridgely, a member of Assembly, attending, was admitted and delivered to the Chair a letter from John Pringle, dated the 28th instant, to Col. Charles Pope, respecting the State schooner, together with a proposal for the appointment of a committee of the Council to confer with a committee of the House of Assembly on the subject matter of the said letter.
Adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M.
EODEM DIE, P. M.
The Council met.
Mr: Collins now reported the delivery of the papers committed to him, according to order.
On motion, by order,
The letter from John Pringle, and the proposal for an appoint- inent of a committee on the part of the Council to confer with a committee of the House of Assembly on the subject of the said letter, were severally read the first time.
By special order, the said resolution was read a second time and concurred in.
And thereupon
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Resolved, That Messrs. Collins and McDonough be a commit- tee on the part of this House to confer with the committee of the House of Assembly on the business above mentioned.
Ordered, That the said letter and resolution, with the concur- rence and appointment of the Council thereto, be returned, by Mr. Grantham. to the House of Assembly;
Who, being returned, reported the delivery thereof according to order.
On motion, by order,
Mr. Dickinson's resignation of the Presidency of this State, by a writing under his hand and seal, was read the first time, and is as follows, viz :
"I, the subscriber, hereby resign to the General Assembly "of the Delaware State the office of President, Commander-in- "Chief and Capt .- General of the State. In witness whereof I "have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, at Dover, this "fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thou- "sand seven hundred and eighty-three.
" (Signed) JOHN DICKINSON."
On motion, by order,
The petitions of James Abbott and George Abbott were sever- ally read the first time.
On motion, by order,
The bill to exclude members of the General Assembly from places of profit, &c., was read the first time.
On motion, by order,
Lieut .- Col. Henry Neill's pay-roll of the Second Delaware Regiment was read the first time.
On motion, by order,
The bill for raising { 26,250 for the service of the present year was read the second time.
Adjourned till to-morrow at 10 o'clock.
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WEDNESDAY, A. M., Jan. 29th, 1783.
The Council met. Present the same members as on yesterday, and also Mr. Bassett.
The Council, taking into consideration the resolutions of Con- gress of the 30th of October and 2d of November, 1781, came to the following resolution, viz :
WHEREAS Congress, by their resolutions of the 30th of Oct. and 2d of Nov., 1781, called upon the United States for their respective quotas of eight millions of dollars for the war depart- ment and civil list for the then ensuing year, of which sum this State's computed quota was 112,085 dollars; and whereas the act of Assembly entitled "An act for raising {23,625, in specie, for the service of the year 1782," passed the 13th day of November, 1781, recognizing the requisition of Congress for a quota of sup- plies and money necessary for supporting the Army of the United States, and defraying other expenses incurred in the prosecution of the present war, is the only fund out of which any part of the computed quota aforesaid may be discharged; and whereas by the said act of Assembly the said sum of £23,625, when brought into the Treasury, is made subject to the joint draughts of the Speakers of the Council and Assembly by order of their respec- tive Houses ; it is therefore
Ordered and Resolved, That the respective Speakers be and hereby are authorized and required to make and subscribe a joint draught upon or warrant to the State Treasurer to pay to the Receiver appointed by the Superintendent of Finance within this State, upon the order or orders of the said Superintendent, the sum of £21,015 : 18 : 9, equal to one moiety of this State's computed quota of the said 112,085 dollars, out of the monies which shall come into the Treasury of the State under or by means of the above mentioned and recited act of Assembly, the said State Treasurer taking such Receiver's receipt on the order of the Superintendent of Finance.
Ordered that the same be transcribed.
Adjourned to 3 o'clock, P. M.
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EODEM DIE, P. M.
The Council met.
Ordered, That Mr. Bassett deliver the foregoing resolution to the House of Assembly, for their consideration and concurrence.
Mr. Bassett reported the delivery thereof according to order.
On motion, by order,
The bill for raising £26,250, &c., for the service of the present year, was read the third time, by paragraphs, and after some time spent therein the further consideration is postponed till to-morrow morning.
Mr. James, a member of Assembly, attending, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the bill for auditing and arranging the accounts of this State, &c., with a paper of amendments proposed thereto by the House of Assembly.
The same member also delivered the bill for preventing and punishing the counterfeiting of the common seal, bank notes, &c., with a paper of amendments proposed thereto.
The same member also returned the resolution of Council, founded on the resolutions of Congress of the 30th October and ed November, 1781, with a paper of amendments proposed thereto.
The same member also delivered a proposition from the House of Assembly for nominating persons to be balloted for as Dele- gates from this State to Congress.
Adjourned till 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.
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MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF
THURSDAY, A. M., Jan. 30, 1783.
The Council met. Present all the members.
On motion, by order,
The general account of William Millan, and the report of the committee of the House of Assembly on the same, were read the first time, and an amendment was proposed to the general ac- count; which was agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.
The committee of Council appointed to confer with the com- mittee of the House of Assembly on the subject matter of Mr. John Pringle's letter relative to the fitting out of the schooner belonging to this State, now laid their report on-the table.
The Council now proceeded in the further consideration of the bill for raising [26,250, &c., by a general tax, and the same is further postponed till the afternoon.
Ordered, That Mr. Grantham deliver to the House of Assem- bly the President's resignation of the Presidency of this State, together with the general account of William Millan, and the paper of amendments proposed thereto by the Council.
Adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M.
EODEM DIE, P. M.
The Council met and debated upon the paragraphs of the bill for raising £26,250, and sundry amendments were proposed, agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed and sent, by Mr. Grant- ham, to the House of Assembly; who now reported the delivery of the papers committed to him, according to order.
Mr. Peery, a member of Assembly, was admitted and deliv- ered to the Chair the account of Robert Bryan, Esq., Treasurer of New Castle County, for money advanced to the officers and
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THE DELAWARE STATE, 1783.
soldiers of the Delaware Regiment, amounting to £255 : 19 : 4, together with a resolution of the House of Assembly for the pay- ment of the same to the said Robert Bryan, and a blank order for that purpose.
The same member also delivered a petition of Wm. Simpson, with the report of the House of Assembly thereon, and a blank order in favor of the said Wm. Simpson.
The same member delivered W. Peery's account for money paid Col. Chas: Pope, for £455, with resolution for payment of the same.
Mr. Duff, a member of Assembly, was admitted and delivered to the Chair the general account of Wm. Millan, and the amend- ment proposed thereto by the Council acceded to by the House of Assembly.
Mr. Charles Polk, a member of Assembly, was admitted“ and delivered to the Chair a bill for discharging the half pay of offi- cers of the Delaware Regiment dying in the service to their widows, &c.
Mr. William Polk presented to the Chair a petition from Isaac Short, a soldier in the Delaware Regiment.
Adjourned till to-morrow at 10 o'clock.
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FRIDAY, A. M., Jan. 31st, 1783.
The Council met. Present all the members.
On motion, by order,
The report of the committee of the House of Assembly on Wm. Millan's account, was read the first time.
By special order, the same was read the second time, concurred in, and is as follows, viz :
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"IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, " FRIDAY, A. M., Jan. 24, 1783.
"The House resumed the consideration of the accounts of "William Millan, late Receiver of Supplies for New Castle "County, and the same being examined and approved, it ap- "pears that there is a balance of £49 : 0 : 4 due from the said "Wm. Millan to this State ; but it is hereby declared, that such "errors or delinquencies as may happen on the uncollected "supplies, amounting to 6594 : 9 : 934, with which the said "William Millan is charged in the aforesaid account, shall be "hereafter allowed to him upon his producing the same, pro- "perly authenticated under the hands of the Justices of the Peace "of the hundred in which such delinquency may happen.
"JAS. BOOTH, Cl'k of Assembly.
" Sent for concurrence.
Ordered, That Mr. Grantham return the foregoing report, with the concurrence of the Council thereto, and the several accounts and vouchers accompanying the same, to the House of Assembly.
Mr. Grantham reported the delivery of the papers above men- tioned to the House of Assembly.
The Council now took into consideration the amendments pro- posed by the House of Assembly to the bill for auditing and arranging the accounts of this State, &c., and proposed addi- tional amendments to the said bill, and also to the said amend- ments of the House of Assembly ; which were ordered to be transcribed.
Mr. Peery, a member of Assembly, was admitted and deliv- . ered to the Chair a message from the House of Assembly to the Council, of this morning, relative to the address or resignation of John Dickinson, Esq., late President of this State, accompa- nied with the said address.
Ordered, That Mr. Collins deliver to the House of Assembly the bill for auditing and arranging the accounts of this State, &c., with their paper of amendments generally acceded to by the Council, and a paper of additional amendments, to the said bill and amendments of the House of Assembly, proposed by the Council.
Adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M.
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THE DELAWARE STATE, 1783.
EODEM DIE, P. M.
The Council met.
Mr. Collins now reported the papers committed to him deliv- ered according to order.
On motion, by order,
The message from the House of Assembly to the Council was read, and is as follows, viz :
"A MESSAGE TO THE COUNCIL FROM THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. "Gentlemen :
" The Assembly transmitted to your House their resolutions "of the fourteenth instant, founded on an address, which is also "before you, from John Dickinson, Esq., President of the Su- "preme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- "vania, and late President of this State, for your consideration "and concurrence ; and as the said resolutions are not yet re- "turned, it is uncertain whether your house have acted or in- "tend to act thereon.
"The present circumstances of the State, in the opinion of this "House, require the determination of the General Assembly on "the subject of the said resolutions, and therefore this House "think it their duty to request that your honors may return the "same, either altered, amended, confirmed, or rejected, by your "House, agreeable to the Constitution.
"Signed by order of the House of Assembly,
"(Signed) SIMON KOLLOCK, Speaker. " Dover, Jan. 31, 1783."
Mr. Barratt, a member of Assembly, was admitted and deliv- ered to the Chair the bill for raising [26,250, &c., with the paper of amendments proposed thereto by the Conncil in part acceded to and in part disagreed to by the House of Assembly, and a paper of amendments proposed by the House of Assembly to the said amendments of the Council.
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The resignation of John Dickinson, Esq., as President and Commander-in-Chief of this State, being read, thereupon
Resolved, That the same be accepted.
Resolved also, That the place of President being now vacant, Mr. McDonough wait upon the House of Assembly and propose to them that both Houses of the General Assembly meet at 10 o'clock to-morrow, in the Council Chamber, to put in nomination persons to be balloted for as President of this State.
On motion, by order,
The resolution of the House of Assembly for nominating per- sons to be balloted for as Delegates to Congress, was read.
Ordered, That Col. McDonough wait upon the House of As- sembly and inform that House that the Council propose Satur- day, at ro o'clock in the forenoon, for the time of the meeting of the two Houses of the General Assembly, in the Council Chamber, for the purpose mentioned in the above resolution.
Mr. McDonough reported the delivery of the above mentioned papers according to order.
On motion, the Council came to the following resolutions, viz:
WHEREAS great delays have happened in the collection of the State tax directed to be raised by the two several acts of Assem- bly, passed in the months of June and "November, 1781, to the injury of public credit and public service ; therefore
Resolved, That the respective County Treasurers of this State do forthwith call upon the several Collectors of Hundreds within their County to render a true and just account of and pay unto the Treasurer of their County the sums which each Collector ought to have paid either under the act of Assembly of this State entitled "An act for raising seven thousand eight hundred and seventy-five pounds, in specie, for the service of the year 1781, by a general tax," passed the 18th of June, 1781, or under the the act entitled "An act for raising [23,625, in specie, for the service of the year 1782, passed the 13th November, 1781.
Resolved also, That in case of non-payment of the whole of the sums they ought to have respectively paid under the said act of June, 1781, and of at least three-fourths parts of the sums they
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THE DELAWARE STATE, 1783.
respectively ought to have paid according to the directions of the said act of Nov., 1781, by or before the 25th day of April next, the said County Treasurers, respectively, shall certify the names of such defaulting Collectors, with the sums which they ought to have paid, to the Clerk of the Peace of his County, who, under the direction of the Attorney General, shall cause suits to be brought upon the bonds given by such defaulters for the faith- ful performance of their duties in the execution of the respective respective acts aforesaid, returnable to the next May term.
Resolved, That copies of the foregoing resolutions be made out and forthwith delivered, as well to the respective County Treas- urers aforesaid as to the several Clerks of the Peace, Attorney General and State Treasurer, which Treasurers and Attorney General are to report their proceedings in the premises to the General Assembly, at their next sitting.
Ordered, That Mr. Joshua Polk deliver the same to the House of Assembly.
Mr. Polk reported the delivery according to order.
On motion, by order,
The bill for discharging the half pay of officers of the Dela- ware Regiment, dying in the service, to their widows, &c., was read the first time.
On motion, by order,
The report of the committee of conference on the subject mat- ter of Mr. John Pringle's letter respecting the State schooner, was read the first time.
Mr. Waples, a member of Assembly, delivered to the Chair the following verbal message, viz :
"A VERBAL MESSAGE TO THE COUNCIL FROM THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
"Gentlemen :
" The House of Assembly agree to your proposition that both "Houses of the General Assembly meet, in the Council Cham- "ber, to-morrow at ten o'clock in the forenoon, for the purpose "of nominating persons to be balloted for as President and Com-
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"mander-in-Chief of this State, and also as Delegates from this "State to Congress for the ensuing year ; at which time and
"place the Assembly will meet your honorable House for the "transaction of this business.
"Friday, P. M., Jan. 31, 1783."
The same member returned the resolution respecting the Col- lectors of the Public Taxes, concurred in by that House.
Adjourned till to-morrow at 10 o'clock.
SATURDAY, A. M., February Ist, 1783.
The Council met. Present all the members.
Ordered, That Mr. MeDonough wait on the House of Assem- bly and inform them that the Council are now ready to receive them, in the Council Chamber, to put in nomination persons to be balloted for as President of this State, and also as Delegates to represent this State in Congress for the ensuing year.
The House of Assembly met the Council, in the Council Chamber, agreeable to the order of the day, and proceeded to the nomination of persons to be balloted for as President, whose names were taken down for the consideration of the members of both Houses.
Previous to the nomination for persons to be balloted for as Delegates to Congress, it was
Resolved, That four persons be elected to represent this State in Congress for the ensuing year.
Then the General Assembly proceeded to the nomination of Delegates ; but before this business was completed, a question was moved by Mr. Peery, "whether any persons who are not inhabitants of or resident within this State should be elected to represent the State in Congress." Then the previous question was moved and seconded, and being put, passed in the negative.
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THE DELAWARE STATE, 1783:
The General Assembly, having completed the business for which it convened,
On motion, agreed that the two Houses now separate, and meet, in the Assembly Room, at 4 o'clock this afternoon, to ballot for a President and Delegates to Congress above men- tioned.
Then the House of Assembly withdrew, and the Council ad- journed till 3 o'clock, P. M.
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