JAMES WILSON — NATION BUILDER the journal and other documents of the period is most deficient, necessitating a painstaking reading of the body of the record in order to get even clues to what he did. Commencing less than three weeks from the day he first took his seat in Congress, May 15, 1775, the journal discloses that he was elected by ballot with Rutledge, Jay, Lee, and Johnson, a member of the commit tee of five, to consider and report upon an important communication from the Colony of Massachusetts Bay (June 3). He soon be came a member of other committees: of three, to draft a communication on behalf of Congress to the inhabitants of Jamaica explaining the situation (June 3); of five, with Philip Schuyler and Patrick Henry, concerning papers on Indian affairs, trans mitted by the New York Convention, and to report steps to be taken for securing and pre serving the friendship of the Indian Nations (June 16); of five, with John Adams and Rutledge, on printing bills of credit, having plate made and contracting with the en gravers (June 23). Within two months he was also unanimously elected with Benjamin Franklin and Patrick Henry, one of three commissioners to prepare articles to pacify the Indians (July 13). Then in quick succession he became a member of the following committees, inter alia: of one, concerning tent supplies, etc., for the army (July 19); of two, with Thomas McKean, to prepare bonds for the Continental treasurers to execute (July 28); of five, to inquire into the state of the Colony of Vir ginia and to report provisions necessary for its defense (Nov. 10); of three, with Richard Henry Lee and Livingston, to draft a declar ation in answer to sundry illegal ministerial proclamations concerning America (Nov. 13); of seven, with Rutledge, John Adams, Liv ingston, and Franklin, to consider letter from Washington regarding disposal of such vessels and cargoes "belonging to the enemy, as shall fall into the hands of or be taken by the inhabitants of the United Colonies" (Nov. 17); on plans for trade with the Indi
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ans (Nov. 23); of three, with Livingston and Jay, Wilson, chairman, on thanks of Con gress to the three generals in the Northern Department for their services (Nov. 30); of three, with Jay and Livingston, on letter from Lord Stirling (Dec. 8). During a part of this time he was away on business of the Colonies and a number of communications from him were received and acted upon by Congress. In 1776 his labors and influence increased. During that year he served, among other committees, upon the following, the member ship of each being usually three or five, though sometimes but two : to take into con sideration the state of the Colonies (Jan. 10); to prepare instructions for the officers in the recruiting service, of which Wilson was chair man (Jan. 11); on letter from Washington (Jan. 15); to draft a letter to the Canadians (Jan. 23); to prepare an address to the inhab itants of the United Colonies (Jan. 24); on sundry Indian affairs (Jan. 27); to contract for supplies for prisoners (Feb. 6); concern ing support of prisoners (Feb. 6); to examine the capitulations entered into with prisoners and to see that they be observed, to have officers' paroles taken and the orders of Con gress punctually executed regarding prison ers (Feb. 7); to contract for rations for troops (Feb. 8); to consider into what departments the Middle and Southern Colonies ought to be formed "in order that the military opera tions of the Colonies may be carried on in a regular and systematic manner" (Feb. 13); to report the best method of subsisting the troops in New York and the money necessary to send thither (Feb, 13). On Feb. 13 the committee onjyje-addxess to the Colonies, appointed Jany54-.pijese^ted its report. This report waB*)|frit»h*rjy ^ai^epy Wilson,1 and although ^p^arently unnoteatl^. is one of the most by American histori; eclarailluminating docum< tion period. James 1 See same in Wil of the Continental 232.
ndwriting, Papers ss," Yol.^^fplios ii7<>5J^,
