On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Joseph] Jones,

So it was resolved in the affirmative. [XX Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), May 18, 1781, p. 516.]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING IMPRESSMENT.

A report of the Board of War, was read; Whereupon,

SIR,

WAR OFFICE, June 4, 1781.

In consequence of the Resolution of Congress respecting the Convention Troops, of the 23d of May: The Board directed Col. Wood to begin his march as soon as possible; they have taken every measure in their power to prevent delays and interruptions, but from the present situation of public affairs it is possible that unforeseen accidents may retard his march which may eventually be productive of the worst consequences, they therefore request that Congress will be pleased to resolve

Resolved, That Colonel James Wood be, and he is hereby, authorised and directed, in case the supplies of provisions, forage, and waggons necessary for the immediate march of the Convention troops, and the guards under his command, cannot be otherwise obtained, to impress the same, and to give information thereof to the executives of the states within whose limits he shall be obliged to take such measures. [XX Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), June 4, 1781, p. 598.]

Preamble.

be purchased, except, &c.

PART. V. STATUTES ENACTED BY THE STATES

DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

ACTS AND LAWS OF CONNECTICUT.

[Printed from "Acts and Laws, made and passed by the General Court or Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut, in America; holden," etc.

[1777, p. 476]

An Act to encourage fair Dealing, and to restrain and punish Sharpers and Oppressors.

Whereas all Conspiracies, and other Acts to enhance the Prices of Merchandise or any of the necessaries and conveniencies of Life, bought and sold, are at all Times immoral, oppressive to the Poor, and pernicious to the State, and more especially so at the present Time, by Reason of the Interruption of Commerce and great Demand for many Articles, occasioned by the War.

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the twelfth Day of November next, no Person in this State shall purchase any of Articles not to the following Articles, (except in small Quantities for their own Use and Consumption, or for the Use and Consumption of their Families or immediate Dependants, or Tradesmen and Artificers, for carrying on the Business of their Trades), viz. Rum, Sugar, Molasses, Tea, Wine, Coffee, Salt, Tow-Cloth or any kind of linen or woollen Cloths, Stockings, Shoes, raw Hides, Leather, Wool, Flax, Cotton, Cotton and Wool Cards, Butter, Cheese, Wheat, Rye, Indian Corn, Beans, Peas, Meal or Flour of any Kind, Beef, Pork, Cyder, Tobacco, Neat-Cattle, Sheep, or other live Stock, (except to keep or fat on their own Without a Li Farms), unless such Persons first obtain a License therefor, signed by the Civil Authority and Select men in the Town wherein they dwell, or a Majority of them when convened together; who shall not grant such License to any Persons but such as are known to be of good Character for Probity, public Spirit, and Friends to the Freedom and Independence of the American States, and who shall have taken the Oath of Fidelity to this State by Law prescribed.

cense.

228

revoked.

And if any Person so licensed, shall misbehave in said License may be Business, by selling any Articles at unreasonable Prices, or refusing to sell them at reasonable Prices for Bills of Credit of this State, or Bills of the United States, the said Authority and Select men, or the major Part of them, may revoke the License granted to such Persons so misbehaving as aforesaid.

ticle, &c. not to

Licence.

Be it further enacted, That no Person shall sell in this State any of the Articles aforesaid, which he has engrossed or has now in his Possession, or which he may hereafter purchase and bring in from any of the neighbouring States, without first obtaining a License therefor as aforesaid, or a Permit from the Governor and Council of Engrossed ArSafety of this State, on Penalty of forfeiting double the be sold without Value of every Article so sold, or suffer six Months Imprisonment. And to prevent any Fraud in regard of said Articles which shall be sold by any such Purchaser or Engrosser, who has any of said Articles in his Possession, he shall before any such License or Permit be given him, make out a true List or Account of all such Articles which he has for Sale, and deliver the same on Oath to the Authority granting such License.

And whereas many Persons under Pretence of being employed to purchase for the Army, have heretofore purchased up many of the Articles enumerated in this Act, in order to engross them, and sell them again at exorbitant Prices.

a

Be it further enacted, That no Commissary or Assistant Commissary, or other Person whatever, authorized to purchase Supplies for the Army or Navy of the United States, shall purchase any such Articles in this State, until he has produced his Authority to, and obtained Certificate thereof from the Governor, Deputy-Governor, or an Assistant in this State; and any Person who shall purchase any of the Articles aforesaid, under Pretence that they are for the use of the Army or Navy, who is not properly authorized as aforesaid, shall forfeit treble the Value of the Articles so purchased, and be liable to be imprisoned at the Discretion of the Court, before whom the Conviction is, not exceeding six Months.

Commissariesto have Certificates.

And whosoever shall be guilty of the Breach of the first Paragraph in this Act, by purchasing any of the Articles therein mentioned, without Licence, shall forfeit Penalty. double the Value of the Articles so purchased. And all Forfeitures by Virtue of this Act, shall belong, one Half

disposed of.

to the Informer who shall prosecute his Information to Forfeitures how Effect, and the other Half to the Treasury of this State, unless the Prosecution be made by an Informing Officer, in which Case the whole Forfeiture shall belong to the Treasury of the State. And it is enjoined on all Informing Officers, and recommended to all other Persons to be vigilant in detecting and prosecuting all Breaches of this Act.

Act's Continuance.

This Act shall continue in Force until the rising of the General Assembly in October next, and no longer.

to be transported

on Certificate being procured.

[1777, p. 478]

An Act in Addition to, and for the Alteration of some Part of the Law of this State, relating to Embargoes.

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That when any Person or Persons shall purGoods allowed chase or procure any Article of Goods, Wares, Merchanthro' this State, dize, or Commodity whatsoever, from any other State, in order to transport through this State, shall immediately, upon his or their coming into this State, apply to the next Assistant or Justice of the Peace for a proper Certificate for that Purpose. That upon such Person or Persons producing sufficient Evidence, to the Satisfaction of such Assistant or Justice of the Peace, that such Goods, &c. were procured bona fide in some other State, and not in this, and that such Person or Persons so applying are friendly to the Liberties of America, such Assistant or Justice of the Peace shall certify the same accordingly, by Writing under his Hand; in which Case such Person or Persons so obtaining such Certificate, shall have free Liberty to transport such Article, &c. through this State, without Hindrance or Molestation.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That whensoever any of the Inhabitants of this State shall apply to an Assistant or Justice of the Peace, for Liberty to transport out of this State, by Land or Water, so much of their Produce (excepting Sheep's-Wool, and Cloathing Produce carried of every Kind) as shall be sufficient to purchase a sufficient Quantity of Salt for the Use of their Families respectively, and that only; such Assistant or Justice of the Peace with the Assistance of two or more of the selectmen of the respective Towns to which such Person or Persons (so applying) belongs, shall consider and adjust

out to purchase salt.

the Quantity of Produce that ought to be permitted: And such Assistant or Justice of the Peace, with the Advice of said Select-men, is hereby directed to grant such Permits for that Purpose accordingly.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That Bonds taken. whenever a Permit is applied for (by Vertue of this Act) to transport Produce by Water, it shall be the Duty of the Authority granting the same, to require Bond with Surety, of the Person or Persons applying for the same, to the Amount of three Times the Value of the Articles of Produce so permitted, that he or they will not dispose of the same to the Enemies of this State, but will apply the Avails thereof for the purchase of Salt, and that only.

[1778, p. 482]

An Act enabling the Civil Authority and Select-men in the several
Towns within this State, to appoint Barrack-Masters within said
Towns.

Whereas it may frequently happen, during the Course of the present War, that the Continental Troops, and Militia within this State, may be ordered into the several Towns in this State, either for Winter Quarters, or for the Defence of Preamble, such Towns, whereby it may become necessary that some suitable Person be appointed in the respective Towns as a Barrack- Master, to provide Barracks or Houses fit and proper for the reception of such Troops. Therefore,

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That whenever any Corps of the Continental Forces, or Militia within this State, shall be properly ordered into any Town within this State, either to take up Winter Quarters, or for the Defence of such Town, the Civil Authority and Select-men of such Town, on Application to them made, by the Commanding Officer of such Corps, for Barracks as aforesaid, be, and they are hereby authorized and directed to appoint some proper Person in such Town, a Barrack-Master, to provide Barracks or Houses suitable, Barrack - Masters appointed. for the Reception of such Troops, who shall immediately take up such House, Houses or Parts of Houses, Shops, Stores, or other Buildings as may be necessary for the Accommodation of such Troops, taking the Advice of the Civil Authority and Select-men of such Town therein. And in Case such Building cannot be procured by such Barrack-Master, with the Consent and Approbation of