USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. XIII > Part 34
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Given in Council, under the hand of the Honorable JAMES POT- TER, Esquire, Vice President, and the seal of the State, at Philadelphia, this twenty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two.
JAMES POTTER, Vice President.
Attest :- TIMOTHY MATLACK, Secretary.
GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH.
VOL. XIII .- 26.
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MINUTES OF THE
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, October 22nd, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine, Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Van Campen.
A pass was granted to Jacob Sneider to go to Boston and to re- · turo again.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, October 23d, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Ewing, Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Levan, and Mr. Irvine.
In Council.
.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, October 24, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
ai
Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Irvine,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Van Campen.
On consideration,
Ordered, That Colonel Robert Levers, Lieutenant of the county of Northampton, be authorised and directed to contrast with some suita- ble person in the said county, for supplying the troops stationed in the said county with provisions, at the most reasonable rate, not ex- ceeding the price heretofore agreed upon with Colonel Stephen Bal- liott, provided that the said Colonel Balliott shall decline furnish- ing provisions agreeably to his contract, but if he chooses to con- tinue his contract it will be agreeable to Council.
Council having received information that a certain Henry Welf- lang, hath lately came out of New York and is now in this city, and who, they have reason to believe, is an attainted traitor, by the
403
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
name of " Henry Welflang, shoemaker, late of the city of Phila- delphia;" On consideration,
Ordered, That the Doorkeeper secure the said Henry Welflang, and take him before Plunket Fleeson, Esquire, for examination.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, October 25, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine, Mr. Levan,
Mr. Van Campen, and Mr. Ewing.
A letter from Thomas Scott, Esquire, of Washington county, of the fourth instant, with a return of Justices for Cumberland town- ship, in the said county, was received and read, by which return it appears that William M'Cleery, and John Armstrong, were duly elected Justices. On consideration,
Ordered, That the said letter and return lie on the table for con- sideration.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, October 26, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
1 Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Irvine, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Van Campen.
The Council resumed the consideration of the letter from Thomas Scott, Esquire, and the return of Justices for Cumberland town- ship, Washington county ; and thereupon,
Ordered, That a letter be written to the said Thomas Scott, Es- quire, informing him that Council think it not quite prudent to issue a commission upon so old a return as that in which Mr. Ed- gar is mentioned, unless a petition from the people of the district had supported the sentiment expressed in his letter ; and that they have also thought it best to delay their decision on the return now received, as they are informed it is probable that one of the gen- tlemen named therein may be returned a member of the General Assembly ; but when that point is known, the Council will nomi- nate and issue the commission, so as to forward it by the first opportunity.
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MINUTES OF THE 8
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, October 28th, 1782
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine, Mr. Ewing,
Mr. Van Campen, and Mr. Levan.
A pass was granted to Joseph Webb to go to Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, with one team loaded with flour and hemp, and to return again.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, October 29, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine,
Mr. Ewing, and
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Levan,
Mr. Wall, (now returned from his family.
In Council.
1
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, October 30, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine, Mr. Wall,
Mr. Van Campen, and
Mr. Ewing.
Mr Levan,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Poartch, for twenty-nine pounds five shillings specie, for thirteen hundred rails, for fencing Billingsport, delivered to William Smith.
A letter from the Honorable Robert Morris, Esquire, Superin- tendant of the Finances of the United States of America, of the twenty-third instant, was read, inclosing two acts of Congress in the following words, vizt :
By the United States in Congress assembled, 16th Oct'r, 1782. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Grand Committee, consisting of a member from each State, was agreed to
405
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
as follows: ten States being represented, and assenting to the same.
That the estimate for the service of the year 1782, be as fol- lows :
For the pay of the army, -
-
2,609,320 dollars.
Hospital department,
.
103,177
Quarter Master General's do.,
718,500
Cloathier General's, -
200,000
For military stores, -
49,891
Rations, -
1,281,174
Civil and military staff,
304,447
Marine, -
300,000
Civil list, -
181,214
Contingencies,
. 252,277
Amounting to six millions of dollars,
6,000,000
Resolved, That a requisition be made from the several States of two millions of dollars, in such quotas as Congress may assign to them respectively, as a part of the sum necessary for the service of the year ensuing ; and that any further requisition be suspended until the result of the measures taken by Congress for obtaining loans shall be known.
By the United States in Congress assembled, October 18, 1782.
On the report of a Grand Committee, consisting of a member from each State,
Resolved, That the several quotas of the two millions of dollars required of the States by the resolution of the sixteenth instant for the service of the year 1783, be assigned to the respective States, vizt :
To New Hampshire,
80,000 dollars.
Massachusetts,
320,000
Rhode Island, & Providence Plantations,
48,000
Connecticut,
-
-
-
-
222,000
New York, -
-
-
-
-
90,000
New Jersey,
110,000
Pennsylvania,
300,000
Delaware, -
28,000
Maryland, -
220,000
Virginia,
290,000
North Carolina, -
148,000
South Carolina,
120,000
Georgia,
24,000
-
-
-
Dollars, 2,000,000
Resolved, That the several States be called upon to furnish the Treasury of the United States with their respective quotas. in four equal proportions or quarterly payments, the first payment to be
.
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MINUTES OF THE
made on the first day of April next ; that the said sums, when paid, shall be credited to the accounts of the several States, on in- terest, to be hereafter adjusted, agreeably to the resolution of the sixth of October, 1779.
Resolved, That it be impressed on the several States as abso- lutely necessary to lay taxes for raising their quotas of money for the United States separate from those laid for their own particular use, and to pass acts directing the Collectors to pay the same to such persons as have or shall be appointed by the Superintendant of Finance to receive the same within the State, and to authorise such receiver to recover the monies of the Collectors, for the use of the United States, in the same manner, and under the same pen- alties as State taxes are recovered by the Treasurer of the respect- ive States, to be subject only to the orders of Congress or the Superintendant of Finance.
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ry.
One other letter from the said Superintendant of Finance of the twenty-first instant, circular to the several States in the Union, was also read, stating the deficiencies in the payment of the supplies required by Congress, and the sufferings of the army thereupon, and calling upon them to exert themselves in completing the same, to enable him to comply with his contracts. On consideration,
Ordered, That the said letters from the Superintendant of Fi- nance, and resolutions of Congress, be immediately laid before the General Assembly.
A letter from Brigadier General Irvine, at Fort Pitt, of the eighth instant, acquainting the Board of his intention to carry on an expedition from that place into the Indian country, being ap- prehensive of the further ravages of the Indians; the expedition to consist of two hundred Militia, sixty Rangers, some few Regu- lars, and as many Volunteers as can be raised on that side of the Mountain, was read ; and
Ordered, To lie on the table.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, October 31, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr Irvine,
Mr. Van Campen, and
Mr. Wall,
Mr. Ewing.
Mr. Levan,
The following orders were drawn on the Treasurer, vizt :
In favor of Samuel Cunningham, Esq'r, for the sum of one hun - dred and seventy-seven pounds four shillings and eight pence spe-
407
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
cie, balance of his account for purchasing cloathing in the county of Chester, for the army in 1777 and 1778.
In favor of Frederick Sneider, for sixteen pounds thirteen shil- lings and nine pence specie, balance of his account for fire-wood purchased for the Council, and his wages as doorkeeper till this day.
In favor of William Bradford, Jun'r, Esq'r, Attorney General, for twenty-eight pounds five shillings, for extra services as Attor- ney General.
In Council.
.
PHILADELPHIA, Friday, November 1, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Wall,
Mr. Van Campen.
Mr. Ewing,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of James Loug- head, Paymaster, for eighty-seven pounds five shillings and ten pence specie, to pay the militia lately called into service ; said Pay- master to account. To be charged to Colonel William Henry, and paid out of money arising from militia fines.
A letter from John Craig, Esquire, acquainting the Board that he hath been elected a Representative in the General Assembly for the county of Lancaster, and praying Council to accept his resigna- tion of his office of Justice of the Peace for the said county, as necessary previous to his taking his seat, was read ; and there- upon,
Ordered, That the said resignation be accepted.
The petition of John Seely, convicted in the county of North- ampton of fornication and bastardy, praying remission of his fine, was read ; a recommendation of divers inhabitants of the said county being also read ; thereupon,
Ordered, That the fine adjudged to be paid to the use of the State by the said John Seely, be remitted.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of John Nichol- son, Esquire, Comptroller General, for five hundred pounds, State money of the seventh of. April, 1781, for paying one-third of de- preciation certificates to officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania line, for which sum he is to account.
Mr. Joseph Montgomery and Mr. James McClean, a committee from the General Assembly, attended in Council, and informed the Council that the House is now met and ready to receive any busi-
408
MINUTES OF THE
ness which the Council may be pleased to lay before them. Where- upon,
A draft of a message to the General Assembly being prepared and laid before the Board, was read, and approved, and is in the words following, vizt :
A message from the Vice President and Supreme Executive Council, to the Representatives of the Freemen of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania. in General Assembly met :
GENTLEMEN :- The expeditions planned against the Western Indians having been laid aside, after the preparations for them were in great forwardness, in which the spirit of patriotism among the people of the frontier counties shewed itself in a conspicuous manner; and there was reason to hope for success even beyond what so sudden a movement at first view seemed to promise. We think it proper to lay before you the intelligence upon which the Coun- cil was induced to countermand their first orders, and to lay aside the expedition, in full expectation that the House will see the pro- priety and policy of the measure. With those papers the Secre- tary will lay before you several letters from the Superintendant of of Finance, inclosing resolutions of Congress which contain matter of great importance, and deserve the earliest attention, as the state of affairs in Europe render it prudent and necessary to make vigor- ous preparations in expectation of a continuance of the war.
The resolutions of Congress of the twenty-third of April last, re- specting provisions to be made for sick and wounded soldiers, also requires the attention of the House, as several applications have already been made to us for the aid which Congress have recommend- ed to be made for them.
We shall cultivate, on all occasions, that perfect harmony between the Executive and Legislative, which is essentially necessary for the support of government at all times, and more especially in times of danger and difficulty.
JAMES POTTER, Vice President.
Council Chamber, Phil'a, Nov'r 1, 1782.
Ordered, That the said message be laid before the General As- sembly, together with the following papers, vizt :
A letter from the Superintendant of Finance of the twentieth of September last, and a resolution of Congress of the eighteenth of the same month.
Ditto from ditto of October 5th, and resolutions of Congress of the 1st instant, on the New Jersey representation.
Circular do., from do. of the twenty-first, on the subject of the de- lay of payment of the supplies required by Congress from the several States in the Union, and the sufferings of the army in consequence thereof.
409
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Do. from do. of the twenty-third, and resolutions of Congress of the seventeenth, containing an estimate from Congress for the ser- vices of the year 1783, and of the eighteenth, quotaing the same upon the several States.
Do. from his Excellency General Washington of the twenty- third ulto., recommending the laying aside the Indian expedition under Generals Potter and Irvine.
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of David C. Claypoole, for eight pounds fifteen shillings specie, for quills, paper, ink, &c., furnished by him to the Comptroller General's office.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, November 2, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Wall,
Mr. Van Campen.
Mr. Ewing,
John McDowell, Esquire, Councillor elect for the county of Chester, attended in Council and took the oaths required by the Constitution to qualify him for the said office, and thereupon took his seat at the Board.
A deed was examined and signed by the Honorable the Vice President to George Henry, for lots No. 1685, 1686, and 1687, in the city of Philadelphia, marked in the general plan of city lots remaining in the Surveyor general's office, and sold for redemption of the bills of credit of this State of the twenty-ninth day of April, 1780, vizt : for eight hundred pounds. Deeds dated the second instant.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, November 4, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine,
Mr. Levan,
Mr. Wall,
Mr. McDowell,
Mr. Van Campen, and Mr. Ewing.
John Dickinson, Esquire, Councillor elect for the county of Philadelphia, attended in Council and took the oaths required
410
MINUTES OF THE
by the Constitution to qualify him for the said office, and thereupon took his seat at the Board.
This being the day appointed for the meeting of the Board of of Property, the Honorable the Vice President and Mr. Irvine agreed to meet the other members of the said Board at twelve o'clock this day.
' 'T'he Honorable John Byers' account was presented to the Coun- cil, and is as follows, vizt :
The State of Pennsylvania,
To John Byers, Dr.
For attendance in Council from the fifth of October till the fifth of November, 1782, 32 days, a 17s 6, £28 125 miles, coming to Phil'a and going home, a ls, 6 5
£34 5
And thereupon,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable John Byers, for thirty-four pounds five shillings specie, amount of the said account.
Mr. William Maclay and Mr. William Montgomery, a committee of the General Assembly, and John Hazlewood, Esquire, one of contractors for the army, attended in Council and represented that some of the cattle lately purchased by Mr. Montgomery for the Indian expeditions, and since sold to the said Hazlewood, for the . use of the army, (the said expeditions being laid aside,) are not fit for killing, and recommended to the Board to order them to be disposed of in some other way: Whereupon,
The Council taking the same into consideration,
Ordered, That William Montgomery, Esquire, be authorised and directed forthwith to dispose of such cattle lately purchased by him, as are now not fit for killing, in such manner as he shall judge most for the interest of the State, and report to this Board as soon as may be.
Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Joseph Montgomery, and Mr. Atlee, a com- mittee of the General Assembly attended in Council, and proposed to the consideration of the Council the appointing a day for electing a President and Vice President of this Council, when Thursday next was agreed on as a proper day.
Mr. Ewing and Mr. MeDowell, two members of this Board, agreed to meet the committee of the General Assembly, in order to agree upon the ceremonies necessary to be observed at the election of a President and Vice President, to be held on Thursday next.
Mr. Maclay and Mr. Rush, a Committee of the House of Assem- bly, attended in Council and requested a conference with the Coun- cil on the subject of the expence of the trial between this State
411
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
and the State of Connecticut ; when the Council agreed to meet at four o'clock this afternoon, on the same business, and that the agents of this State be notified to attend.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
4 o'clock, P. M., Monday, November the 4th, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine,
Mr. Levan,
Mr. Wall, Mr. M'Dowell, and
Mr. Dickinson,
Mr. Ewing.
Mr. Van Campen,
The committee of the General Assembly attended in Council, and the Agents and Solicitor attended in the committee room adjoin- ing the Council Chamber.
The Council and Committee of the General Assembly resumed the consideration of the expence of the trial between this State and that of Connecticut ; and thereupon,
Agreed, That two hundred and fifty pounds be allowed as a fee to each of the Agents, in full of all their services on the said trial, and that one hundred and fifty pounds specie be allowed to Henry Osborne, Esq'r, as a fee, in full for his services as Solicitor on the trial aforesaid.
Agreed, That the sum of thirty shillings per day be allowed to each of the said Agents and to the Solicitor, for their expences dur- ing the time they shall be employed in the said business.
-
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, November 5th, 1782. 1
. 0
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine,
Mr. Van Campen, 3
Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Wall, Mr. Ewing.
Mr. M'Dowell,
The petition of Samuel Jefferis, praying leave to go to New York, taking with him the tools of his trade, was read ; and on con- sideration,
Ordered, That an order be granted accordingly, not to return again.
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MINUTES OF THE
A letter from Charles Thomson, Esquire, informing that Elias Boudinott, Esquire, was on the fourth elected Presi- dent of Congress, was read, and Ordered, To be filed.
On application,
An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Captain Joseph Stiles, Commissary of Military Stores, for the sum of one hundred pounds, specie, for repairing arms for the State, for which he is to account.
On application, and a pass from head quarters being produced, Ordered, That a pass to Maryland be granted to William Bay.
In Council.
PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, November 6, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honourable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine, Mr. Wall, Mr. Ewing.
Mr. Van Campen, and
Mr. M'Dowell,
1
A committee of the Council and a committee of the General Assembly having conferred together,
Agreed, That the etiquette of the election, and proclamation of the President and Vice President, be in the form of last year, ex- cept only that the procession return to the State House instead of going to the City Tavern ; that the bells be rung ; and that thirteen cannon be fired on the proclamation being read.
Ordered, That the City Lieutenant do call out a proper number of the Artillery Militia, to conduct the Artillery on the day of the election of a President and Vice President; and that orders be given to fire thirteen cannon in the State House yard immediately after the proclamation.
Ordered, That the Secretary direct the bells to be rung imme- diately after the proclamation of the President shall have been read.
Ordered, That the agents of the State, in the case of the Con- necticut claims, and the Solicitor, be requested to attend in the Council Chamber, on Friday next at eleven o'clock, for the pur- pose of a free conference on that subject, more especially respect- ing the state of the evidence collected thereupon.
A return of Justices for the district of West Nantmell and East Caln, in the county of Chester, was now received and read, by which it appears that John Culbertson and James Moore, Esquires, were duly elected.
413
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
On consideration,
Ordered, That James Moore, Esquire, be appointed a Justice of the Peace for the county of Chester, and that he be commissioned accordingly.
A pass was granted to Mary Thomson to go to New York, not to return again.
A pass was granted to Daniel Buckwater and Christian Marie, to go to Boston and Salem, in the State of Massachusetts, and to return.
In Council. 1 :
PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, November 7, 1782.
PRESENT :
The Honorable the Vice President.
Mr. Irvine, Mr. Dickinson,
Mr. M'Dowell,
Mr. Van Campen,
Mr. Levan, and
Mr. Ewing.
A pass was granted to Catharine Jones to go to Dobbs' Ferry, on the North river, and to return.
The Clerk of the Honorable House of General Assembly at- tended in Council and informed the Council that the House of Assembly is now ready to proceed to the election of a President and Vice President. Thereupon,
Ordered, That the Secretary of the Council do attend the House and inform them that the Council is now ready to meet the Gene- ral Assembly in the Assembly room, and to proceed to the election of a President and Vice President of the Council.
The Honorable the Vice President and the members of the Council met the General Assembly in the Assembly room ; and thereupon,
The Secretary of the Council and the Clerk of the House pro- ceeded to take the votes for President.
And the votes were as follow, vizt :
For John Dickinson, Esquire, forty-one.
For James Potter, Esquire, thirty-two.
The Council and General Assembly then proceeded to the choice of a Vice President, and the votes being taken were as follow, vizt :
For James Ewing, Esquire, thirty-nine.
For James Potter, Esquire, thirty-four.
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And thereupon,
It was declared that JOHN DICKINSON, Esquire, was then duly elected to be President, and JAMES EWING, Esquire, was then duly elected Vice President.
And the following declaration of the said election being read,. was signed by his Excellency John Dickinson, Esquire, President, the Honorable James Ewing, Esquire, Vice President, and the other members of the Council then present, and the same was signed by the Honorable Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Esquire, Speaker of the General Assembly, and by the members of the General Assembly then present, vizt :
To all People to whom these presents shall come, or may concern, the General Assembly and Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania send greeting :
Know ye that we, the Representatives of the freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, in the State House at Philadelphia, together with the members of the Supreme Executive Council of the said Commonwealth, in the same place convened, to elect a President and Vice President of the said Council, have, agreeable to the direction of the nineteenth section of the Constitution of the said Commonwealth, duly and fairly elected and chosen by ballot his Excellency John Dickinson, Esquire, President, and the Honorable James Ewing, Esquire, Vice President of the said Supreme Executive Council; and to the end that due regard and obedience may be paid to them in the execution of their respective offices on all occasions, we do hereby make known and declare, that the said John Dickinson is the Presi- dent, and James Ewing is the Vice President of the said Supreme Executive Council.
In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, the seventh day of November, in the seventh year of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two.
And the said John Dickinson, Esquire, is hereby proclaimed to be Captain General and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania.
Signed,
JAMES POTTER, Vice President of the Council.
John Dickinson, James Irvinė, George Wall, Jun'r, John M'Dowell, James Ewing, Sebastian Levan, John Van Campen,
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