Second Continental Congress: May 3, 1776

Congress continues to pay the bills and run the war effort through committees. And as Samuel Huntington notes, Congress makes sure that the Journal of Congress is published.

Link to date-related documents.

Journals of the Continental Congress [Edited]

Ordered, That the account reported by The Committee of Claims be paid.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to assist the continental forces in the Southern Department.

A petition from Peter Simon was presented to Congress, read, and sent to a committee of three: Thomas M’Kean, George Wythe, and John Adams.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee help the inhabitants of the township of Shrewsbury, to defend themselves and their property.

The committee appointed to prepare an estimate of the expense of an expedition against Fort Detroit brought in their report. Congress considered the report along with the letter from General Washington of April 19 and “after some debate” postponed further consideration.

The Congress then took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter from Lord Stirling, dated the 18 of March last; which was agreed to; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Ogden, of the first batallion of New Jersey, was made upon good grounds, the Congress having reserved and
frequently exercised the right of promoting men of distinguished merit:

That the commissary, Mr. Lowry, be directed to supply such of the soldiers of said battalion, as desire it, with uniforms, the cost to be deducted from their pay:

That as the army is now removed from Cambridge to New York, the consideration of raising a regiment of Artillery for the service in that city, as applied for in the said letter, be postponed till further advice may be received from General Washington, or the commanding officer there.

A petition from Captain Oswald [Oswell] Eve was presented to Congress and read.

Resolved, That the same be referred to a committee of three: Roger Sherman, William Floyd, and Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant.

Resolved, That money be drawn on the treasurers, for the use of the Delaware battalion.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to send powder, and lead, to Lewistown, for the use of the troops stationed there.

The committee, to whom was recommitted the report on General Washington’s letter of March 24, brought in their report, which was read and Ordered, To lie on the table.

Resolved, That fixing the time for holding a treaty with the Indians in the middle department, be taken into consideration tomorrow.

Adjourned to 10 o’Clock tomorrow.

Samuel Huntington to Jabez Huntington [Connecticut Merchant and Politician]

The Congress have Some time since ordered their Journals to be printed, that the Colonies may See their whole proceedings, but by one accident or other they are not yet finished. [The Journal covering January to May 1776 was published on October 9, 1776.] Hope the Impressions will be out soon, Shall not fail to forward Some to Connecticut first opportunity. They have on mature deliberation [taken off] the restrictions for regulating the price of goods except the article of Teas, as trade is now open to all foreign ports.  It is a Long time Since we have had any news from England, & nothing late from Quebec.

Edited with commentary by Gordon Lloyd.