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Continental Congress Motion Respecting the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 4 June 1783

Continental Congress
Motion Respecting the Secretary for Foreign Affairs

[Philadelphia] June 4, 1783

Mr. Livingston1 having signified to Congress his desire of relinquishing the exercise of the office of foreign affairs and his intention of returning to the state of New York:

Resolved that the secretary of Congress be directed to receive the papers of the said office into his care, ’till a successor to Mr. Livingston can be appointed and that next Wednesday2 be assigned for the election of a Secretary for the department of foreign affairs.

Resolved that the thanks of Congress be presented to Mr. Livingston for his services during his continuance in office, and that he be assured Congress entertain a high sense of the ability zeal & fidelity with which he hath discharged the important trust reposed in him.

AD, Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives.

1. As early as December 2, 1782, Robert R. Livingston had submitted his resignation to Congress, but he was twice induced to remain in office, first until January 1, 1783, and then until May, 1783. On May 9, 1783, he informed Congress (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, 1904–1937). description ends , XXIV, 336–37) that he would no longer remain in office.

2. The words “next Wednesday” are not in the writing of H.

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    Hamilton Papers
    Title
    Continental Congress Motion Respecting the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 4 June 1783
    Authors
    Hamilton, Alexander
    Continental Congress
    Date
    4 June 1783

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    Cite as
    “Continental Congress Motion Respecting the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 4 June 1783,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-03-02-0246. [Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 3, 1782–1786, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1962, p. 374.]