actually arrive in some ports of the eastern states, the cargoes may be engrossed by individuals at an extravagant rate, with a view of preying upon the public; to guard against which evils,

Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the legislative and executive authorities of the respective states, not to grant any exemption from embargo to any vessels whatever, unless, in addition to the former security recommended, the persons applying for the same, comply with the following stipulations, to wit:

That the shipper or shippers of the cargo solemnly make oath, that no part of the flour or grain proposed to be shipped has been purchased or contracted for since the 10th day of October, 1778.

That the shipper and every man on board of the said vessels, whether seamen or passengers, solemnly swear that they will not, directly or indirectly, be privy to or concerned in any measure whatsoever, which may tend to defeat the arrival of the vessel at some safe port in one of the eastern states; but that they will, without any deception, mental reservation or equivocation whatever, take every measure to carry into effect the intention of the license granted: That the shipper shall first agree with the commissary general, or person by him duly authorized, for such purpose, on the price for which the flour shipt shall be delivered at one of the ports in the eastern states for the public use.

Resolved, That the exemption from the embargo, as recommended by the resolution of Congress of the 2 September, be extended to vessels belonging to the middle and southern as well as those of the eastern states, under the restrictions and stipulations above mentioned. [XII Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), October 2, 1778, pp. 974, 975, 976, 977, 978, 979.]

DISPOSITION OF GOODS BELONGING TO ENEMIES.

Whereas, upon the evacuation of this city by the British army, certain seizures made of goods and effects, supposed to belong to the subjects of Great Britain, and other goods were taken up under contracts entered into with the inhabitants of this city by the officers, in the departments of quarter master, cloathier and commissary generals, and a committee hath been appointed by Congress to examine into the conduct of the said officers in making said seizures and contracts, that justice may be done to the public and individuals, but report hath not yet been made.

Resolved, That the Board of War direct such of the said goods, whether seized or contracted for, as may be wanted for the immediate use of the army, especially for cloathing, to be appropriated for that purpose; and that the Board of War direct that proper accounts be kept of the goods so appropriated, the quantity and quality,

and of whom seized, or with whom contracted for. [XII Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), October 22, 1778, p. 1055.]

RESOLUTION REGARDING OBTAINING OF SUPPLIES FOR THE ARMY.

Resolved, That in all cases where forage is wanted for the troops, and cannot be purchased by the commissaries at reasonable rates, application be made to the executive or legislative authority of the State wherein the forage is required, or to some person or persons properly authorized by them for that purpose, for their interposition and assistance in procuring the necessary supplies:

That it be recommended to the governments of the states, wherein the army or any detachment or part thereof now is, or hereafter shall be, to take such measures, in aid of the forage masters, who shall first use every endeavour to purchase the same, for the procuring sufficient quantities of forage, at reasonable rates, as shall, in their opinion, be effectual, and most likely to procure a speedy supply. [XII Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), November 30, 1778, p. 1177.]

RESOLUTION RESPECTING PAYMENT FOR CLOTHING FOR TROOPS.

Resolved, That a proper person be forthwith appointed and commissioned to settle and pay all accounts of arrearages of cloathing due to the troops of these states for the year 1777.

That this commissioner be authorized to call on the cloathier general and his deputies, for immediate and exact returns of all cloathing by them issued for the year 1777, shewing at what times, to whom, and for whose use the same was issued; which returns the cloathier general and his deputies are directed to make accordingly. The cloathiers in the several states are also desired to make to the said commissioner similar returns of all the cloathing by them issued for that year, on account of the United States, and the governments of the states respectively are requested to give the orders and assistance necessary for this end. And all officers of the army who have received cloathing for the troops, either of any continental or state cloathier, or by purchase or impressment, are directed to render to the commissioner aforesaid, a return of the same, and account with him for their due application: [XIII Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), March 2, 1779, p. 266.]

RESOLUTION REGARDING RETURN OF SEIZED MERCHANDISE.

Resolved, That the cloathier general be, and he is hereby, ordered, if there be any of the goods on hand, by him taken from the merchants of Philadelphia, at the time of the evacuation of the city by the enemy, and not fit for the use of the army, to return such goods to the persons from whom they were taken without delay; that for all such goods as he has sold to private persons, he pay to the persons from whom they were taken the sums for which they were sold:

With regard to the residue, a motion was made that the memorialists receive from the quarter master and cloathier general twelve hundred per cent. upon the sterling cost of the goods seized by them for the use of the army of these states; to which an amendment and substitute was moved as follows:

That the cloathier general and quarter master general pay to the memorialists from whom goods were taken for public use, the current price of the same at the time when the said goods were taken. [XIII Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), March 12, 1779, p. 308.]

RESOLUTION RESPECTING PROTECTION OF PROPERTY BELONGING TO OR USED OR OCCUPIED BY THE UNITED STATES.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the legislatures of the respective states, to make effectual provision by laws for the preservation of the buildings belonging to the United States within their respective jurisdictions, and for the punishment of those who shall seize upon or injure the same; and that in cases where there are considerable buildings which cannot be removed with convenience to the public, the proprietors of the ground be obliged to suffer the buildings to remain thereon, at least during the war, receiving therefor such compensation as shall be allowed by indifferent and proper persons duly appointed and authorized to appraise and value the same; that all grounds or places occupied for the purposes of defenco, although the property of individuals, shall remain during the war appropriated (if not before that time abandoned by orders of the proper authority,) for the military purposes intended by their being possessed by the troops; and that no encroachments shall be made on the said grounds or places; but the officer commanding at the post shall remove all such encroachments on the dependencies of the garrison, the forts or any out-works thereof, so that such extent of ground shall remain unoccupied for any private purpose round the forts or garrisons, as the defence of the same posts may require: [and that compensation be made to the proprietors of such grounds in the manner herein before mentioned:]

That where permanent buildings are erected with the consent of the owners of the ground, and no price is agreed on or transfer made thereof, if voluntary agreements cannot be made, the appraisers so to be appointed as herein before mentioned, shall value and appraise the ground on which such building is erected, according to circumstances, and on receipt or tender of the amount of such appraisement, the said ground be vested in and considered as the property of the United States, in fee simple or otherwise, according to the estate held therein by the proprietor or former occupant thereof.

And whereas divers persons become possessed of the property of the United States, either expressly delivered to their care on public roads from an impossibility to transport the same to the place or places of destination by badness of roads, breaking down of teams or other causes, or by finding or taking the same:

Resolved, That it be also recommended to the said legislatures to make provision by law, to oblige persons possessed of horses, cattle, stores, or other property belonging to the United States, to deliver the same on demand to the proper officer, or in case no demand is made, to give notice thereof in a limited time to the executive power of the State wherein they reside, or to the nearest quartermaster, commissary or public agent, and imposing heavy fines on such who neglect or refuse so to do; and in cases of felonies committed on the property of the United States, that persons guilty thereof be brought to immediate and exemplary punishment. [XIV Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), July 23, 1779, p. 868, 869.]

RESOLUTION REGARDING NONSEIZURE OF SUPPLIES BELONGING TO THE FRENCH.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorial of the honble the Minister Plenipotentiary of France; and thereupon came to the following resolutions:

Whereas the Minister Plenipotentiary of France hath represented to us that a quantity of wheat and flour hath been procured and collected in the State of Maryland, at a great expence, for the fleet of his most Christian Majesty, and for his garrisons in the French islands; that they are in pressing want of those supplies; that by an act of the legislature of the said State, commissioners therein named are authorized to seize wheat and flour in stores; and that the seizure of the wheat and flour collected as aforesaid, and in the hands of William Smith, Esq., of Baltimore, in the said State, would embarrass the measures of the agent of the marine of the King of France, endanger the success of military plans, and expose to want the garrisons aforesaid; and hath requested our interposition in this regard: Therefore,

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Resolved, That it be, and hereby it is recommended to the governor and council of the State of Maryland, to direct the commissioners appointed to carry the act for the immediate supply of flour and other provisions for the army into full force and execution, to refrain from seizing the provisions which have been purchased by permission of the State of Maryland for the agent of the marine of his most Christian Majesty; to replace them in case they have been already seized; and to permit the exportation thereof.

That a copy of the memorial of the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, and a copy of the papers enclosed, be immediately transmitted, with the foregoing resolution, to the governor and council of the State of Maryland.

Resolved, That Congress entertain a high sense of the exertions of the legislature and governor and council of the State of Maryland to procure an immediate supply of flour and other provisions for the army, and that the governor and council be requested to cause the same to be forwarded as fast as procured to the army, the pressing wants of which demand immediate relief. [XVI Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), January 17, 1780, pp. 67, 68.]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING IMPRESSMENT.

A motion was made by Mr. [James] Madison, seconded by Mr. [Joseph] Jones,

That the Board of War be, and are hereby, directed to transmit to Brigadier General Wayne, copies of the intelligence received yesterday, relating to the sailing of the British fleet from New York; and that General Wayne be, and he is hereby, authorised and directed, in case the supplies of provisions and forage necessary for the immediate march of the detachment under his command to the southern department cannot be otherwise obtained, to impress the same, and to report the amount thereof to the executives of the states within which the same shall be taken; such states to be credited therefor as part of the specific supplies due on the requisitions of Congress.