On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress resolved

That the 20th day of July be fixed on for holding a treaty, at Pittsburg, with the Indians, in the middle department; and that the standing committee be directed to inform the Agent, and desire him to notify the Indians, and invite them to attend at the time and place mentioned: and also, that the said committee inform the commissioners, and desire them to attend.

Resolved, That John Harvey be appointed a commissioner for the Indian affairs in the middle department.

That day the Congress also considered

the resolves of the officers, and petition of the committee of privates of the military association of the city and liberties of Philadelphia

John Harvie (as he usually spelled his name) from Albemarle County, Virginia was a friend of Thomas Jefferson who would later be elected to the Continental Congress and serve in other elected offices throughout the Revolution.

The “Committee of Privates” comprised the enlisted members of the Philadelphia Associators — the soldiers from Philadelphia who had volunteered to fight against the British. Additional Committees of Privates were also organized in each of the counties of Pennsylvania with 6000 of these men called into service in the Continental Army. The Committee of Privates contended that “it was their Right to make the Appointment [of the Generals to command the Pennsylvania troops], and that the Security of their Liberties depended greatly on the Exercise of this Right, and [that they were] desirous of having it enjoyed equally by all.” In contrast to the Pennsylvania Assembly and the governing bodies of the other colonies, membership in the Committee of Privates was not restricted to property owners. These men were beginning to assert their voice in the governance of Pennsylvania, effectively expanding the electorate that governed the state.

Sources: Journals of the Continental Congress at 348; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Harvie; https://journal.c2er.org/history/aoc-module-2-the-philadelphia-goings-on-sam-john-adams-and-thomas-paine-at-work/; https://hsp.org/education/primary-sources/daniel-cunyngham-clymer-papers