That the salt petre and sulphur, collected in consequence of the resolves of Congress for that purpose, be paid for out of the continental fund. [II Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), June 10, 1775, p. 85.]

RESOLUTION FOR ENCOURAGING CERTAIN IMPORTS.

Whereas, the Government of Great Britain hath prohibited the exportation of arms and ammunition to any of the plantations, and endeavoured to prevent other nations from supplying us:

Resolved, That for the better furnishing these colonies with the necessary means of defending their rights, every vessel importing Gun powder, Salt petre, Sulphur, provided they bring with the sulphur four times as much salt petre, brass field-pieces, or good muskets fitted with Bayonets, within nine Months from the date of this resolution, shall be permitted to load and export the produce of these colonies, to the value of such powder and stores afores, the non-exportation agreement notwithstanding; and it is recommended to the committees of the several provinces to inspect the military stores so imported, and to estimate a generous price for the same, according to their goodness, and permit the importer of such powder and other military stores aforesaid, to export the value thereof and no more, in produce of any kind.

Ordered, That a copy of the above be delivered to the delegates of the Colony of Pennsylvania, who are desired to request the committee of this city to forward the same in hand bills to the West Indies and such places as they think proper, taking care that it be not published in the news papers. [II Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), July 15, 1775, p. 184.]

RESOLUTION CONCERNING PUBLICATION EARLIER RESOLUTION AND RECOMMENDATION TO SEIZE CERTAIN KING'S STORES. On motion made,

Resolved, That the resolution of Congress July 15 (for encouraging the importation of arms and ammunition, and the resolution of the 18th inst. for collecting an account of the hostilities committed by the ministerial troops and navy,) be (immediately) published, with this amendment, to expunge the word "provisions" and instead therefor to insert "the produce of these colonies," and dispersed through the different nations of Europe and through W. I. Islands.

It being represented to the Congress that a large quantity of blankets and shirts remains in the King's Stores in New York,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Convention of New York immediately to take possession of the said blankets and shirts, and forward so many of them as may be necessary to Gen'l Schuyler for the use of the army under his command. [III Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), October 26, 1775, pp. 306, 307.]

RESOLUTION REGARDING ARMY SUPPLIES AND IMPRESSMENTS.

Resolved, That in order to supply the army with provisions, the Commissary gen[era]l be directed to cause cattle and hogs to be driven at proper seasons to the camp, there to be [slaughtered and] cured; and as to the articles of bread and flour, that he proceed in the way [that] he has done for some time past.

Resolved, That such officers as have served in the present army to approbation, and are willing to stay, be preferred; and if there are more of these than are necessary for the new army, that the General distinguish such as he deems best qualified.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several legislatures of New England to empower the General to impress carriages, vessels, horses, and other things necessary at a reasonable rate, for the transportation or march of the army, or any part of it, or on any other emergency, and that this power may be deputed in writing under the hand of the General to the quarter master general, or to any inferior officer, who are to be accountable for any abuse thereof. [III Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), November 4, 1775, p. 323.]

SEIZURE AND DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY VESSELS.

Resolved, That if the Convention, or, in their recess, the council of safety of South Carolina, shall think it expedient for the security of that colony, to seize or destroy, and shall seize or destroy, any ship or vessel of war, this Congress will approve of such proceeding. (III Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), November 4, 1775, p. 326].

SEIZURE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION.

The Committee appointed to enquire into the grounds of the information, respecting a quantity of arms and ammunition being to be procured, report, that they have examined into the same, and have received intelligence that a quantity of arms and ammunition, and other articles are concealed in Tryon county, in which also there are several tories armed and inlisted in the enemy's service: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the said committee be directed to communicate the said intelligence to General Schuyler, and in the name of the Congress, desire him to take the most speedy and effectual measures for securing the said arms and military stores, and disarming the said tories, and apprehending their chiefs. [III Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), December 30, 1775, p. 466.]

DISARMING OF CERTAIN PERSONS.

Resolved, That Colonel Nathaniel Heard, of Woodbridge, in the colony of New Jersey, taking with him five or six hundred minute men, under discreet officers, do march to the western part of Queen's County, and that Colonel Waterbury, of Stanford, in the colony of Connecticut, with the like number of minute men, march to the eastern side of said county; that they confer together, and endeavour to enter the said county on the same day; that they proceed to disarm every person in the said county, who voted against sending deputies to the said convention, and cause them to deliver up their arms and ammunition on oath, and that they take and confine in safe custody, till further orders, all such as shall refuse compliance. [IV Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), January 3, 1776, p. 27.]

DISARMING OF CERTAIN COLONISTS.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several assemblies, conventions, and councils or committees of safety of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and shall refuse to associate, to defend, by arms, these United Colonies, against the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies; and to apply the arms taken from such persons in each respective colony; in the first place to the arming the continental troops raised in said colony; in the next, to the arming such troops as are raised by the colony for its own defence, and the residue to be applied to the arming the associators; that the arms when taken be appraised by indifferent persons, and such as are applied to the arming the continental troops, be paid for by Congress, and the residue by the respective assemblies, conventions, or councils, or committees of safety. [IV Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), March 14, 1776, p. 205.]

DISPOSITION OF SEIZED ARMS.

Whereas in the execution of the resolve of Congress of the 14th of March, respecting the disarming disaffected persons, many fire arms may be taken, which may not be fit for use to arm any of the troops mentioned therein: Therefore,

Resolved, That all the fire arms so taken, being appraised according to said resolve, none of them shall be paid for, but those that are fit for the use of such troops, or that may conveniently be so made, and the remainder shall be safely kept by the said assemblies, conventions, councils or committees of safety, for the owners, to be delivered to them when the Congress shall direct. [IV Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), March 20, 1776, p. 220.]

TRADE REGULATIONS CONCERNING EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.

Resolved, That any goods, wares, and merchandise, except staves and empty casks, other than shaken or knocked down casks for molasses, may be exported from the thirteen United Colonies, by the inhabitants thereof, and by the people of all such countries as are not subject to the King of Great Britain, to any parts of the world which are not under the dominion of the said King; provided, that no vessel be permitted to export any greater number of shaken or knocked down molasses casks, than the same vessel is capable of carrying when they shall be filled with molasses.

Resolved, That any goods, wares, and merchandise, except such as are of the growth, production, or manufacture of, or brought from any country under the dominion of the King of Great Britain, and except East India Tea, may be imported from any other parts of the world to the thirteen United Colonies, by the inhabitants thereof, and by the people of all such countries as are not subject to the said King; liable, however, to all such duties and impositions as now are, or may hereafter be laid by any of the said colonies.

Resolved, That nothing herein contained shall be understood to prevent such future commercial regulations as shall be thought just and necessary by these United Colonies, or their respective legislatures.

Resolved, That no slaves be imported into any of the thirteen United Colonies.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the assemblies and conventions in the several colonies, to appoint proper officers, at convenient places in their respective colonies, to take bonds, in adequate penalties, for observing the regulations made by the Congress, or assemblies, or conventions, concerning trade, and for securing the observation of such parts of the association as are not inconsistent therewith;

and that the obligor shall, within eighteen months after the departure of the vessel, produce to such officers a certificate, under the hands and seals of three or more reputable merchants, residing at the port or place where the cargo shall be delivered, that the same was there unladed, and take manifests upon oath, of the cargoes exported and imported, and keep fair accounts and entries thereof, give bills of health when desired, grant registers shewing the property of the vessels cleared out, and sign certificates that the requisites for qualifying vessels to trade have been complied with: And that the fees of the said officers be stated by the respective assemblies or conventions; Provided always, that no prosecution upon any of the said bonds shall be commenced but within three years after the date thereof.. Resolved, That all goods, wares, and merchandise, except such as are made prize of, which shall be imported directly or indirectly from Great Britain or Ireland, into any of these United Colonies, contrary to the regulations established by Congress, shall be forfeited and disposed of, agreeable to such rules as shall be made by the several assemblies or conventions, and shall be liable to prosecution and condemnation in any court erected, or to be erected, for the determination of maritime affairs, in the colony where the seizure shall be made.

Ordered, That the above resolutions be published. [IV Journals of the Continental Congress, April 6, 1776, p. 257.]

IMPRESSMENT OF HORSES AND CARRIAGES.

The committee appointed to devise a plan for providing carriages, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon, Resolved, That the quarter masters in every department be ordered to avoid pressing horses and carriages, as much as possible; and when it is necessary, that they be directed to go to the country houses for that purpose, and discharge, as soon as the service will possibly admit, such horses and carriages so impressed; and that no violence whatever be done to any persons, their horses or carriages, who go to the camp of their own accord, to sell provisions, or other necessaries of any kind. [VI Journals of the Continental Congress (Library of Congress), October 10, 1776, p. 862.]

RESOLUTION REGARDING ENGROSSING.

Congress being informed that some persons in this city [of Philadelphia], governed by principles inimical to the cause of America, and with views of avarice and extortion, have monopolized and engrossed shoes, stockings, and other necessaries for the army,