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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1775
Two letters from General Washington, dated the 14 and 16 December, 1775,1 with an enclosed letter from Dr. Morgan, a letter from Governor Trumbull, dated 20 December, with a resolution of the Assembly of that colony ∥of Connecticut,∥ also a letter from sundry masters of vessels, dated Guadaloupe, September 19, 1775, were laid before Congress and read.
[Note 1: 1 These letters are in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, I, folios 339 and 347. The former is printed in Writings of George Washington, (Ford) III, 274. The letter of Morgan is in No. 152, I, folio 343.]
The Deputy muster master general sent to Congress sundry Muster rolls of the Pensylvania Battalion and others.
Ordered, That the Deputy muster master General be directed to ∥repair to New-Jersey, and∥ muster the battalions raised in New Jersey, and return the rolls to Congress.
Resolved, That Friday next be assigned for taking into consideration the propriety of opening the ports of the United Colonies after the 1st day of March next.
∥The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the state of the treasury, and thereupon came to the following resolutions:∥
Whereas an estimate hath lately been formed of the public expence already arisen, and which may accrue in the defence of America, to the 10 day of June next, in pursuance whereof this Congress, on the 29 day of November, resolved that a farther sum of three millions of dollars be emitted in bills of credit,
Resolved, Therefore that the thirteen United Colonies be pledged for the redemption of the bills of credit so directed to be emitted.
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That each colony provide ways and means to sink its proportion of the said bills, in such manner as may be most effectual, and best adapted to the condition, circumstances, and equal mode of levying taxes in each colony.
That the proportion or quota of each respective colony be determined according to the number of inhabitants, of all ages, including negroes and mulattoes in each colony.
That it be recommended to the several assemblies, conventions, or councils, or committees of safety of the respective colonies, to ascertain, by the most impartial and effectual means in their power, the number of inhabitants in each respective colony, taking care that the lists be authenticated by the oaths of the several persons who shall be entrusted with this service; and that the said assemblies, conventions, councils, and committees of safety, do respectively lay before this Congress a return of the number of inhabitants of their respective colonies, as soon as the same shall be procured.
That each colony pay its respective quota in four equal payments; the first to be made on or before the last day of November, 1783; the second, on or before the last day of November, 1784; the third, on or before the last day of November, 1785; and the fourth or last, on or before the last day of November, 1786; and that, for this end, the several assemblies or conventions provide for laying and levying taxes in their respective colonies, towards sinking the continental bills; that the said bills be received by the collectors in payment of such taxes, and be by the collectors paid into the hands of the provincial treasurers, with all such other monies as they may receive in lieu of the continental bills; which other monies the provincial treasurers shall endeavour to get exchanged for continental bills; and when that cannot be done, shall send to the continental treasurers the deficiency in gold and silver,
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with the bills, making up the quota to be sunk in that year; taking care to cut, by a circular punch of an inch diameter, an hole in such bills, and to cross the same, thereby to render them unpassable, tho the sum or value is to remain fairly legible; and the continental treasurers, as fast as they receive the said quotas, shall, with the assistance of a committee of five persons, to be appointed by the Congress, if sitting, or by the assembly or convention of the province of Pensylvania, examine and count the continental bills, and, in the presence of the said committee, burn and destroy them; and the silver and gold sent them to make up the deficiencies of quotas, they shall retain in their hands, until demanded in redemption of continental bills, that may be brought to them for that purpose; which bills, so redeemed, they shall also burn and destroy in the presence of the said committee; and the treasurers, whenever they have silver or gold in their hands for the redemption of continental bills, shall advertise the same, signifying that they are ready to give gold or silver for such bills, to all persons requiring it in exchange.
The reports of the committees on General Schuyler's letters, and the report of the Committee sent to Ticonderoga, being read.
Resolved, That the same be recommitted to Mr. [John] Dickinson, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. [William] Hooper, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, and Mr. [John] Langdon.
The report of the committee, to whom was referred a paragraph of Lord Stirling's letter to the Congress, complaining that several of his recruits had been arrested and imprisoned for triffling debts, being taken into consideration, was agreed to as follows:
This Committee hath reason to believe, that divers
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persons, either from inattention to the public good, or with design to retard the recruiting service, have arrested and imprisoned, for very triffling debts, many soldiers, who had engaged to risque their lives in defence of the rights and liberties of America; and, as it has always been found necessary, in time of war, to regulate and restrain a practice of such pernicious tendency, and in such cases, to abate the rigors of the law:
Resolved, therefore, That it be recommended to the several legislatures in these colonies, whether assemblies or conventions, to pass acts or ordinances, prohibiting the arrest of continental soldiers for small debts; and in order that the same rule may pervade all the colonies, that no such soldier be arrested at the suit of any of his creditors, unless the said creditor makes oath, that the said soldier is justly indebted to him in the sum of thirty five dollars over and above all discounts; and that the estate of no such soldier be liable to attachment at the suit of, or for the benefit of all his creditors, unless their debts in the whole, on being ascertained by their oaths, shall amount to more than one hundred and fifty dollars.
Resolved, That the several letters received from Lord Stirling, be referred to a committee of three, who having taken the same into consideration, are directed to report an answer.
The members chosen, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, Mr. W[illiam] Livingston and Mr. [John] Jay.
Resolved, That the battalion raised in Pensylvania, be supplied with gun brushes, prickers, double worms, screw drivers, and oil; and that it be recommended to the committee of safety of the said colony to provide the same.
Whereas this Congress, by a resolution passed the 15th day of July last, did direct that every vessel importing into these colonies, gun powder, salt petre, sulphur, and
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other military stores therein specified, within nine months from the date thereof, should be permitted to load and export the produce of these colonies, to the value of such powder and stores aforesaid, the non-exportation agreement notwithstanding, by permits from the committees of the several colonies; to the end, therefore, that this Congress may be the better informed of the quantity of military stores, which are or shall be so imported, and of the produce exported in consequence of the resolution aforesaid.
Resolved, That it be recommended to all committees by whom any permits, under the said resolution, have been or may be granted, to transmit to this Congress, from time to time, a true account of the military stores, &c. imported, and of the produce exported, with the price and value of both.
Ordered, That the foregoing resolution be published.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution was printed in the Pennsylvania Packet, 1 January, 1776.]
The Committee appointed to prepare instructions to [lieut.] Col. Irvine brought in a draught, which being read, was agreed [to].
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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