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Council taking into consideration the return of Justices for Ma- honey Township, Northumberland County, & it appearing that the Election was made by the Inhabitants, whereas the Constitution re- quires it to be by the Freeholders,
Resolved, That the said return be transmitted to Mess Dan. Rees & Chas. Gillespie, in order that a proper Election be had.
The Hon'ble Will'm Paca, Esq'r, Delegate for the State of Maryland in Congress, attended in Council, & informed that Con- gress having appointed a Committee to confer with the Joint Com- mittee of Council & of General Assembly, he now, in the name of the said Committee, gives notice that they are ready to meet in con- ference whenever the said joint Committee shall appoint ; where- upon, Col. Smith was appointed to give notice thereof to Mr. Har- ris, Chairman of the Committee of General Assembly, & to request the said Committee of General Assembly to meet the Council this Evening, at Six O'Clock.
A Message to the General Assembly.
[Blank in Council Book.]
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. 731
The Council met.
PHILAD'A, Wednesday Mar. 31, 1779. PRESENT:
A Letter of thanks & acknowledgements from the officers of the Army to the President of Council & Assembly, was read.
Ordered, That the same be transmitted to the Hon'ble House of Assembly.
Resolved, That Joseph Irwin, Esq'r, appointed one of the Cap- tains of the 5 Companies of Rangers to be raised for the defence of the Frontiers; Alex. Cray 1st Lieu., & Hardy Hill 2d Lieu, to take Rank as may be settled hereafter, having respect to former Rank & Service.
The following Message was sent to the Hon'ble House of Assem- bly, together with the Letter from the Officers of the Army, & the same are as follows, Viz :
" Gentlemen :
"The Letter from the Field Officers of the Pennsylvania line, which accompanies this, being equally designed to manifest their respectful acknowledgements & regard to your Hon'ble House, as to this Board, we accordingly transmit it.
" JOSEPH REED, President.
" March 31, 1779."
The Letter is as follows :
" MILLSTONE CAMP, March 27, 1779.
* Sir :
" Deeply impressed with the truest sense of gratitude, we beg leave, in the name of all the Officers & Troops of the State, to re- turn your Excell'y & the Hon'ble Council & Assembly our most sincere & hearty thanks for the generous resolves passed in our favor.
"It really affords us great pleasure to find our past Conduct acceptable to you, & assure you, Sir, That our endeavours shall not be wanting to merit the esteem & confidence of a virtuous Presi- dent & Legislature, under whose auspices we hope to see unanimity, wisdom, & public Interest flourish, and a Government that it will be the duty & Interest of every individual in the State to support. " And when called forth to the field, rest assured, Sir, we shall
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exert every nerve to advance the honor & dignity of the State to which we belong. With every sentiment of esteem & respect, we remain your Excellency's & the Honorable Council's And Assem- bly's Most Obedient and very Humble Servants.
"JAMES CHAMBERS,
"Colonel 1st Pennsylvania Reg. "RICHARD BUTLER, "Col. 9th Pennsylvania Reg. "T. CRAIG, 1 " Col. 3d Penns'a Reg.
-
"WILLIAM WILLIAMS, "Lieu Col. 3d Penns'a Reg. "JAS. HARMAR, " Lieu. Col. Commandant 6th Penns'a Reg. "J. P. MENTGES, Maj. 7th Pennsylva'a Reg. "JOHN MURRAY, Maj. 2d Penns'a Reg.
"THOMAS L. BYLES, Maj. 3d Penns'a Reg.
"J. GRIER, Maj. 10th Penns'a Reg't.
The Council met.
1 PHILAD'A, Thursday April 1, 1779. PRESENT :
His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President. Joseph Hart, Matt'w Smith, ? Esq'rs.
-
John Macky, &
A Letter from Brig. Gen'l Du Portal.
A Letter from His Excell'y Ger'l Washington, dated 28th March.
Another Letter from His Excell'y Gen'l Washington of the 29th March, inclosing a Letter from Gen'l Maxwell of the 28th Mar., from Elizabeth Town.
The following two orders were drawn on the Treasurer, Vis : -
In favor of the Hon'ble Jos. Hart, Esq'r, or his order, for the Sum of Seventy Two Pounds Seventeen Shillings & Six Pence, to be charged to his account; and
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
In favor of Col. John Bull, or his order, for the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, for which Sum he is to account. The following Recruiting instructions were agreed to, Viz : *
The Council met.
PHILAD'A, Friday April 2, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President. Joseph Hart, Matt'w Smith, Esq'rs.
John Macky, &
A Petition referred by the Hon'ble House of General Assembly to this Council, signed by Tho's Hazlewood, for himself & Officery · of the State Fleet.
On Consideration,
Ordered, That a Proclamation be issued enjoining a due obe- dience to the Militia Laws, & the following being read, was ap- proved & signed.
Ordered, That 600 be printed & sent forward to the several Counties, by the Hon'ble Members of the House of General As- sembly :
" Pennsylvania, 88 :
" A PROCLAMATION.
" By His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esquire, President, & Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :
.
"WHEREAS, there is just cause to believe that our cruel & invete- rate Enemies, despairing'of the Conquest of America by open & manly force, are about to adopt the mean and savage Policy of dis- tress & depredation ; And as a vigourous, firm, & united resistance can alone (under Providence) enable us to disappoint & defeat their barbarous design, We do hereby most earnestly exhort the good people of this State to prepare themselves for such events.
"And we do particularly enjoin & require the General Officers, Lieutenants, Sub-Lieutenants, Field & other Officers_of Militia, diligently to exert themselves in arraying, training & disciplining the Militia of the State, as by Law directed, Enforcing the said Law against all delinquents, & encouraging & animating by their presence & example, those brave & faithful Subjects who chearfully
· See Appendix.
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stand forth in defence of the liberties of their Country. We do also.exhort & enjoin all Officers, both civil & military, to make diligent search after the public Arms & accontrements which have been disposed & lost through the Country, & to recommend & en- deavour to have all the Fire Arms in their respective districts & Counties put in the best repair, so as to be ready on the shortest notice. And as the designs of the Enemy, so far as they may re gard this State, must in their immediate effects (anless frustrated) desolate those parts exposed to the Sea on one side & the frontiers on the other, we do in a special manner recommend a spirit of Union, harmony and mutual Affection, as the most effectual weapon of defence, laying aside all animosities, dissentions & uncharitable- ness, & then we need not doubt, but (with the blessings of God) we may as we have heretofore done, repel our invaders, with shame, disgrace & disappointment, & in a short time enjoy the blessings of peace on free & honorable terms.
"Given by order of the Council, under the hand of his Excell'y Joseph Reed, Esq'r, President, & the Seal of the State, at Philad'a, this Second day of April, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred & Seventy-nine.
"JOSEPH REED, President. " Attest-T. MATLACK, Sec'y. "GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE."
A Message to the General Assembly of Representatives of the Freemen of Pennsylvania, was read, considered, approved & order- ed to be signed by the President. And the same is as follows : " Sir :
" I send into the Assembly some papers laid before the Council by Mr. Scott, one of the members. By them it seems probable that Robert Culbertson, of Bedford County, who was authorized by an act of the late Assembly, To seize Provisions for the use of the Army of the United States, has been sucd & saddled with damages for taking Fifty Bushels of Rye from Jacob Wiltz, for that purpose. Of the merits of this transaction the Council have nothing to communicate. Perhaps some of the Gentlemen who re- present Bedford County can furnish some explanations; particularly Mr. Smith, who as Attorney brought the suit. This is an instance in point of the abuse of Replevins in the case of Public Officers, (whatever ground there was for an action,) an abuse to which we hope you have put a Stop by the Law just passed.
" I trust you will take such order in this business as shall do justice to Mr. Culbertson, as he was employed by the Legislature. " I am, Sir,
" Your most obedient servant,
" JOSEPH REED, President.
"To the Hon'ble JOHN BAYARD, Esq'r, Speaker of the General Assembly." ·
·
.
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
785
The Council met.
PHILAD'A, Saturday April 3, 1779.
PRESENT : His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
, Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, & John Macky, .Esq'rs.
A Letter from the board of War to Col. B. Flowers, Commis- sary of Military Stores, ordering the delivery of Two Pieces of Iron Cannon, & Two Howitz, & as many Riffles from the Magazine at Carlisle, as shall be necessary to Arm five Companies of Ran- gers, to be delivered as they now are, & to be repaired by the State, & to be returned if called for by the United States, they paying for the repairs.
Ordered, That two 24 Pounders Iron Cannon, & two of the larg- est Mortars, be delivered to Col. Proctor of the Artillery.
The Council having received information that Samuel R. Fisher was not confined, according to his Mittimus,
Ordered, That the Secretary do write to the Sheriff & expressly order that the Mittimus be put in due execution immediately.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer, in favor of Robert Allison, for the Sum of Five hundred Pounds, for which he is to account.
The Council met.
PHILAD'A, Monday April 5, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Hon. GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart,
John Macky, & John Hambright, J
Esq'rs.
Ordered, That Capt. Joseph Stiles, Commissary of Military Stores, do furnish to Messrs. Blair, Mc'Clenaghan & Matthew Ir- win, or their order, such ammunition and Military Stores as they shall have occasion for in the fitting out the Armed Ship General Green.
The Joint Committee of General Assembly and of this Council, now made the following report, Vizt :
" Whereas, the Hon'ble the Continental Congress have, for rious good reasons, called out of circulation the whole of the a
.
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MINUTES OF THE
sions of May 20th, 1777, & April 11th, 1778, under certain regala. tions, as mentioned in their resolve of January 2d, 1779 :
" And Whereas, the manner of Exchange as therein mentioned, would be grievous & burthensome to many of the good people of this State, by reason of their very great distance from the place of exchange, the smallness of the quantity many of those persons are possessed, of & the enormity of Travelling charges; many of the persons so situated had better lose their little all than spend it in negotiating an exchange. This House, ever desirous to relieve the distresses of their constituents as much as in them lies, do
Resolve, That Thomas Hislap be, & is hereby appointed a Com. missioner of Exchange for the County of Chester ; John Hubley for the County of Lancaster; Michael Hahn for the County of York ; John Agnew for the County of Cumberland; John Heester for the County of Berks ; John Arndt for the County of Northampton; David Espie for the County of Bedford ; Robert Martin for the County of Northumberland ; & Edward Cooke for the County of Westmoreland, under the regulations herein after mentioned, Viz :
" That each of the said Commissioners of exchange before named. shall give public notico in their respective Counties, of their ar- pointments to that duty; & shall upon application made, receive such Sums of Money, of the dates before-mentioned, as may be offered for exchange by every inhabitant of this State, before the first day of June next, & pass his receipt for the same ; & shall make fair entries, in a book prepared for that purpose, of the names & surnames of each person depositing money, as also of the Sum of Money so deposited, keeping each man's money bound in a bundle by itself, & indorced with the Owner's name, &- the number of Dollars contained.
"That each of the Commissioners aforesaid shall, before the first day of June next, deposit all the Monies by him received for the purpose of exchange, into the Continental Loan-Office of this State, taking the Continental Loan-Officer's receipt for the same. agreeable to the resolution of Congress.
"That the said Commissioners of exchange shall receive from the Commissioner of Loans, new bills, to the Amount of the Sum deposited for exchange, & shall, as soon as convenient, repay the persons & cancel his receipts, reserving to himself, out of each Man's money, at the rate of Two and a-half Dollars for every hun- dred Dollars, for his trouble & expences in negociating said ex- change."
" Ordered, That the Clerk of this House be directed to publish these resolutions in all the German & English Newspapers, once every week, for one month.
" WHEREAS, it was resolved the last sitting of this Assembly, that the wages of the members of this House for said sitting, shall be Two Pounds five Shillings per diem, & one Shilling & Six Pence per mile, for their travelling expences ; The Speaker, Three Pounds
737
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
per diem, with the mileage allowed the members, & the Clerk of the House Four pounds Ten Shillings per diem, for which a Law should be passed this session, to provide for the same & the future wages of said members :
" And Whereas, the necessary & unavoidable business of this House has prevented said bill from being enacted into a Law ; therefore,
" Resolved, That each member of this House shall be allowed for this sitting eight Dollars per diem ; The Speaker Four Pounds per diem, the Clerk of this House five pounds per diem,
. his assistant Clerk Three Pounds Ten Shillings per diem, & each & every of said members are to have & receive Two Shillings & Six Pence per mile for every mile they shall travel to & from this House, which, with the wages of last sitting, be provided for by a Law next meeting of this House :
" And Whereas, the wages now allowed to our delegates in Con- gress & the members of the Supreme' Executive Council, are not adequate to their necessary expences; therefore,
" Resolved, That each Delegate in Congress for this State, shall have and receive for every day he has or shall attend in Congress, from the last election of Delegates for this State, Five pounds per diem, & every member of the Supreme Executive Council, shall have and receive for every day he has attended or shall attend on the duties of his Office, since the first day of February last, Three pounds diem.
"On motion,
" Resolved, That Jared Ingersoll, Esq'r, the gentleman employed as an assistant by the Attorney General, agreeable to a resolve of this House in the case of the Proprietary claims, be allowed One Hundred Pounds for his said services.
"The Joint Committee of Council & Assembly beg leave to report to their respective Houses, That in pursuance of the resolu- tions of the 25th of March last, That have conferred with the Hon'ble Mess. Paca, Laurens, Adams, R. H. Lee, & Root, a Committee of Congress on the subject matter of the representa- tion made on the said day ; That the same hath been fully & freely discussed; That the Conferees of Congress gave this Committee very ample assurances of the disposition of Congress to preserve the most perfect harmony, & remove all ground of apprehension or uneasiness from the minds of the good people of this State; That such mutual overtures of friendship & explanation have been made in the course of the said conference, as afford a prospect of lasting harmony & confidence, & in order to cement and confirm these happy & beneficial sentiments, & to disappoint the Enemies of the common cause, who take encouragement from all appearances of dis- union, it will be proper to give some open proof of the happy issue of this conference ; for this purpose, the joint Committee beg VOL. X1 .- 47.
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MINUTES OF THE
leave to propose to their respective bodies the following Resolves, as tending to promote the desirable & important end aforesaid, Viz :
" Resolved, That the unanimity & harmony between the repre- sentatives of the United States in Congress assembled, & each State individually, have been, under God, the happy means of our past success, & the only sure foundation whereon to rest our future hopes of terminating the contest with Great Britain with honor & advantage.
" Resolved, That the Legislature & Executive authorities of this State, entertain the most proper sentiments of veneration & esteem . for the Hon'ble the Continental Congress, & repose a perfect confi- dence in the wisdom & integrity of that Hon'ble body, which it is their intention to manifest on all occasions.
"JOSEPH REED, President. "In behalf of the Council.
" JOHN HARRIS, "In behalf of the Assembly."
The Council met.
· PHILAD'A, Tuesday April 6, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President. Joseph Hart, Jolm Macky, & John Hambright, { Esq're.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Shields, Esq'r, for the Sum of Two Thousand Dollars, to be delivered by him to Capt. Jos. Irwin of the Rangers, to be applied in raising his Company, the same to be charged to account of the said Capt. Irwin.
A Representation from John Hubly, Esq'r, respecting the Money expended by him in building a Store House at Lancaster, was read: & thereupon,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Hubley, Esq'r, or his order, for the sum of Eight hundred Pounds, to be applied in paying for materials & to Workmen, for the building of a Store House at Lancaster, for which Sum he is to account.
A Resolve of the Hon'ble House of General Assembly of the 5th instant, was read ;
Ordered, That the same be inserted on the Minutes, & they an as follows, Viz't :
.
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
" In General Assembly.
"MONDAY April 5, 1779, P. M.
" Resolved, That the attention & care of the Supreme Executive Council of this State in detecting public abuses, are highly accepts- ble to this House, & that they will support them in the duo dis- charge of so necessary a duty.
" Resolved, That the Executive powers of Government have been administered to the entire satisfaction of this House, & the general content of the good people of this State; & that this House cheer- fully give this testimony of their approbation to his Excellency the President, & the other members of the Council, as an earnest of their resolution to support them in a continuance of the faithful & hon- orable discharge of their duty, & a mark of their perfect confidence & regard."
An order from Col. Flowers, for the delivery of so many Rifles from the Magazine at Carlisle as shall be necessary to arm five Com- panies of Rangers, &ca., being now presented to the Council ;
Ordered, That the same be delivered to Mr. John Carson, of Carlisle, & that they be repaired under his care; & if it should so happen, That Mr. Carson should not accept of this appointment, in such case Stephen Duncan, Esq'r, is requested to undertake & complete the said business.
Another Resolve of the Hon'ble House of General Assembly of the 5th instant, was read, & is as follows, Viz. :
" In General Assembly.
" MONDAY, April 5, 1779, P. M.
" Resolved, That the Supreme Executive Council be & they are hereby empowered to borrow, on any emergency, any Sum of Money not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Pounds, from any person & persons willing to lend the same, & this House will at their next sitting, provide for the re-payment of such Sum or Sum's borrowed as above."
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of William Scott, Esq'r, Pay-master of Militia, of the County of Bucks, or his order, for the sum of One Thousand & Eight Hundred Pounds, for which sum he is to account.
Ordered, That Mr. Joseph Rush & Mr. James Craigg, be ap- pointed to value the ship General Green, agreeable to the proposals made to the State by the Owners of her, & report thereon to this Council.
A Recommendation (by Col. Proctor & other officers of the Regi- ment of Artillery) of Capt. Amos Wilkinson, as a proper person to receive & deliver out the Articles enumerated by a Resolve of Gon- eral Assembly of fifth of December last, was read; & thereupon,
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Ordered, That Capt. Amos Wilkinson be appointed to receive & deliver out to Col. Proctor's Regiment of Artillery, the Articles enumerated in the Resolve of General Assembly of the 5th De- cember last, & that he do also deliver to the Rev'd Mr. Rogers, Chaplain of the Pennsylvania brigade, now doing duty in Philadel- phia, his Ration of the said Articles.
Ordered, That on Monday next this Council will proceed to nominate & appoint the Officers of Marines on board the Ship General Green, & that notice thereof be given in the Public Pa- pers, in order that Officers who chuse to tender their service on this occasion may have an opportunity so to do.
Resolved, That the Prize money of any Vessels which may hereafter be taken by any of the Cruisers fitted out by this State, be divided in such manner & proportions as shall be directed by the Supreme Executive Council of this State, previous to the Sailing of such Vessel, and Article's seized accordingly, & that the Officers, Sailors & Marines of the Vessels now fitted, or which may hereaf- ter be fitted out by this State, be subject to the like Articles of War, Regulations and Tryal, as the Officers, Sailors & Marines of the Gallies in the service of this State now are.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Hon'ble Jos. Hart, for Seventy-Two Pounds Seventeen Shillings & Six Pence, for which he is to account.
The Council met.
PHILAD'A, Wednesday April 7, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President. Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, John Macky, & John Hambright,
-Esq'rs.
The Council resumed the consideration of the appointment of Officers of the five Companies of Rangers, they having obtained the best assistance, from the Members of the General Assembly that has been in their power ; & thereupon,
Ordered, That John McIlhaddon be appointed Captain, Robert Arthur First Lieutenant, of the Company of Rangers to be raised in the County of Northumberland; That Thomas Cluggage be appointed Captain, & - Means First Lieutenant of the Com- pany of Rangers to be raised in the County of Bedford; And that Thomas Campbell be appointed Captain, Isaac Thompson first Lieu- tenant, & Alexander Parker, second Lieutenant, of the Company of
·
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SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Rangers proposed to be raised in the county of Cumberland ; And the said Gentlemen are to take Rank respectively as may be hereafter settled, having respect to former rank & service.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer, in favour of the Hon'ble James M'Lene, or his order, for the Sum of Eighty-four Pounds Eighteen Shillings & four Pence for his attendance in Council 32 days, & Mileage on 155 Miles,
Memorial of Lewis Nicola, Town Major, praying an order for the allowance of the Articles enumerated by the Resolve of Gen- eral Assembly to be supplied to the Officers & Men of the Pennsyl- vania Troops, was read; &
On consideration,
Ordered, That Col. Farmer do supply Col. Lewis Nicola, Town Major, with the enumerated Articles ordered by General Assembly; & that Col. Nicola draw the same with Col. Proctor's Regiment.
A Return of an Election held for chusing in Buckingham & Warwick Townships, Two fit persons for Justices of the County of Bucks, was read, by which it appears that John Wilson & Benja. Snodgrass were elected ; & thereupon,
Ordered, That John Wilson, Esq'r, be appointed and Commis- sioned to be a Justice of the Peace for the County of Bucks.
The Council met.
PHILAD'A, Thursday April 8, 1779.
PRESENT :
His Excell'y JOSEPH REED, Esq'r, President.
Hon'ble GEORGE BRYAN, Esq'r, Vice President.
Joseph Hart, John Hambright, { Esq'rs.
John Macky, &
The Resolve of General Assembly of the 5th instant being read & considered,
Resolved, That Mess. Blair, McClenaghan, & Matthew Irwin, be authorized to receive any Sums of Money which have been or may be subscribed by any persons on Loan to this State, the same to be repaid in Six Months or sooner, if convenient to the State; That they give Receipts to such Subscribers, & to make return to this Board, & to the Treasurer of the State, either paying over to him such Monies as they may receive, or passing the Accounts with him thereupon, so as that the same be made a regular transaction of the Treasury. [See also 742.]
The Hon'ble House of General Assembly having on the 24th of March last,
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Resolved, That theOfficers, Seamen, & Mariners, employed in the Naval service of this State, be entitled to all the allowances & benefits .to which Officers & Soldiers of this State be employed in the Armies of the United States, are entitled by the Resolutions of the Hon'ble House of General Assembly, passed on the 13th of the said Month.
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