Second Continental Congress: May 9, 1776

Congress continues to manage the war effort through various committees. Which “one colony” blocked the passage of report of the Committee of the Whole? The Commissioners are coming! The hope for reconciliation persist.

Link to date-related documents.

Journals of the Continental Congress [Edited]

Resolved, That recent letters from Abraham Livingston and Colonel James Easton be referred to a committee of three: Thomas M’Kean, Samuel Adams, and George Wythe.

Resolved, That Richard Henry Lee and Robert Morris be a committee to consider the application for a passage of safe conduct for the wife of Captain Bellew of the Liverpool.

The Congress agreed with the Committee of Claims report of claims due to be paid.

The committee to whom the petition and account of Captain Herman Allen were referred made a report and it was referred to the Committee on the Treasury.

The Committee on Prisoners, to whom a letter from Henry Beaumont, a prisoner of war, was referred, brought in their report, which was considered.  Resolved, That Beaumont be permitted to reside with his wife and family at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, he giving to the committee of inspection and observation of said Borough, his parole, in the form prescribed by Congress.

The committee appointed to devise ways and means for raising ten millions of dollars for the service of the current year, brought in their report, which was read and considered.  Five million dollars were to be “emitted in bills of credit.” The Committee had not determined on the how to raise the remaining five million dollars.

A committee of three– Robert Morris, Joseph Hewes, and Samuel Huntington—was appointed to consider the propriety of exchanging seamen in a prisoner of war exchange.

Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to consider the state of the United Colonies; and, after some time Benjamin Harrison reported that they had come to a resolution.  The Resolution was read but “at the request of a colony, was postponed till tomorrow.”

Resolved, That a passport be granted to Mrs. Bellew to come to the city of Philadelphia, under escort of a continental officer, and that she may reside safely and unmolested in the said city, until her friends in New England come to escort her to Marblehead, when safe conduct shall also be granted to her for that journey, and for her residence there during her pleasure.

Adjourned to 10 o’Clock tomorrow.

Caesar Rodney to Thomas Rodney (Member Delaware Committee of Safety)

I have no News of importance Except what You will find in the papers, by which you will see that our (Much Talked of) Commissioners are turned into Men of War and foreign Troops.

Edited with commentary by Gordon Lloyd.