The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-03-25 00:00:00, page 2

An ACT for funding and redeeming the Bills of Credit
ot the United States of America, and fur providing
means to bring the present war to an happy conclusion.
WHEREAS the Honorable Congress of the United
States of America, by their AA of the eighteenth instant,
have resolved and recommended to the several States in
{the words following ; that is to fay,
In CONGRESS, March 18th, 1780.
THESE United States having been driven into
this just and necetfary war at a time when no re
gular civil governments were eftabliflied, Sufficient
energy to enforce the collection of taxes, or to provide
funds for the redemption of such Bills of Credit as their
necessities obliged them to issue; and before the powers of
Europe were fufficiently convinced of the justice of their
cause, or of the probable event of the controversy to afford
them aid or credit, in consequence of which, their Bills
increasing in quantity beyond the sum necessary for the
purpose of a circulating medium, and wanting at the fame
time Specific funds to rest on for their redemption, they
have teen them daily fink in value, notwithstanding every
effort that has been made to support the fame ; insomuch
tnat they are now passed by common consent in most parts
of these United States, at least thirty.nine fortieths below
their nominal value, and (till remain in a state of depre
ciation, whereby the community fuffers great injustice,
tne public finances are deranged and the necessary difpofi
tions for the defence of the country are much impeded and
perplexed; and as effectually to remedy these evils for
which purpose the United States are now become compe
tent, their independence being well assured, their civil
governments eflablifhed and vigorous, and the spirit of
their citizens ardent for exertions, it is necessary speedily
to reduce the quantity of the paper medium io circulati
on, and to eftablffli and appropriate funds that fliall en
sure the punAual redemption of the Bills; therefore,
Resolved, That the several Stakes continue to bring
into the Continental Treasury by taxes, or otherwise, their
full quotas of Fifteen million of dollars month), as align
ed them by the resolution of the 7th of October, 1779; a
clause in the resolve of the 23d of February lafl, for relin
qdfhing two thirds of the said quotas to the contrary not
withftinding ; and that the States be forthwith called on
to make provision for continuing to bring into the said
Treasury their like quotas monthly to the month of Apri l ,
One thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, inclusive :
That Silver and gold be receivable in payment of the
said quotas at the rate of orae Spanish milled dollar, in
lieu of forty dollars of the Bids now in circulation :
That the said Bills as paid in, except for the months
of January and February past, which may be necessary
for the difehargeof pafi contrails be not re- ; ffned but de
flroyed:
That as faft as the said Bills shall be brought in to be
destroyed, and fundsfhali be eflablifhed as hereafter men
tioned for other Bills, other Bills be issued not to exceed
on any account one twentieth part of the nominal sum of
the Bills brought in to be deflroyed:
That the Bills which shall be issued, be redeemable in
Specie, within fix years alter the present, and bear an in
terest at the rate ot five per centum per annum, to be paid
alio in specie at the redemption of the Bills, or the election
of the holder annually at the refpeHive Continental Loam
Offices, in Sterling Bills of Exchange drawn by the United
States on their Commissioners in Europe, at four Shillings
an I fix pence Sterling per dollar.
That the (aid new Bills issue on the funds of individual
States for that purpose eflablifhed, and to be Signed by
persons appointed by them, and that the faith of the United
States be also pledged for the paymentof the said Bills, in
case any State on whose funds they shall be emitted fliould
bythe events of war be rendered incapable to redeem them;
which undertaking of the United States, and that of draw
ing Bills of Exchange for payment of in tereft as aforefaid,
shall be indorfed on the Bil's to be emitted, and figoed by
a Commiffiouer to be appointed by Congress for that pur
pose :
That the face of the Bids to be emitted read as fol
lows, viz.
The possessor of this Bill shall be paid Spanish
milled dollars, by the thirty-firft day of December 1786,
with interest in like money at the rate of five percent per
annum by the State of according to an Aft of
the Legislature of the said State of the day of -
1780.
And the indorsement fliall be as follows, viz.
The United States ensure the payment of the within
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Wednesday, March 22.
TH E Committee appointed to bring in
a Bill for carrying the A& of Congress of
the 18th instant into execution, brought in
a draft of the fame, which was read, and
ordered to lie on the table.
Thursday, March 23.
The House resolved itfelf into a Commit
tee of the whole, Mr. Wynkoop in the Chair,
on the Bill entitled, An Act for funding and
redeeming the Bills of Credit of the United
States of America, and for providing means
to bring the present war to an happy issue,
“ founded on the Ad of Congress of the
18th instant; and having gone through the
lame, the Speaker resumed the Chair, and
the Chairman of the Committee reported the
Bill with fomeamendments thereon. Where
upon the House resolved, that the fame be
published in the news-papers for considerati
on," before the second reading in the House,
and that five hundred copies be printed in
handbills.
Extract from the Minutes,
THOMAS PAINE, Clerk of the
General Assembly.
Bill, and will draw Bills of Exchange for the interest annu
ally if demanded, according to a refutation of Congress of
the 12th day of March, 1780.
That the said new Bills shall be firuck under the di
rection of the Board of Treasury, in due proportion for each
State according to their said monthly quotas, and lodged
in the Continental Loan-Offices in the refpeHive States,
where the Commissioners to be appointed by Congress in
conjunction with such persons as the refpe&ive States, ap
point, shall attend the signing of the said Bills, which shall
be compleated no fafler than in the aforefaid proportion of
one to twenty of the other Bills brought in to be deflroyed,
and which shall be lodged for that purpose in the said
Loan Offices.
That as the said new Bills are signed and compleated,
the States refpeftively, on whose funds they issue, receive
fix tenths of them ; and that the remainder be fubjeft to
the orders of the United States, and credited to the States
on whose funds they are issued, the accounts whereof shall
be adjusted agreeably to the resolution of the sixth of Oc
ober, 1779.
That the said new Bills be receivable in payment of
the said monthly quotas at the fame rate as aforefaid of spe
cie; the interest thereon to be computed to the refpeft
ive States, to the day the payment becomes due.
That the refpedive States be charged with such parts
of the interest on their said Bills, as shall be paid by the
United States in B 11s of Exchange, and the accounts there
of shall be adjusted agreeably to the resolution aforefaid of
the sixth of October, 1779.
That wherever interest on the Bills to be emitted fha'l
be paid prior to their redemption, such Bills shall be there
upon exchanged for others of the like tenor, to bear date
from the expiration of the year for which such interest is
paid.
That the several States be called on to provide funds
for their quotas of the said new Bills, to be so productive
as to fink or redeem one sixth part of them annually after
the firft day of January next.
That nothing in the foregoing resolutions fhJIl be con
flrued to afeertain the proportions of the expence incur
red by the war, which each State on a final adjuflment
ought to be charged with; or to exclude the claims of any
State to have the prices at which different States have
furoifhed Supplies for the army hereafter taken into con
figuration and equitably adjusted.
That the foregoing resolutions, with a letter from the
Prifident, be dispatched to the Executive ofthe several
States, and that they be requested to call their Assemblies
if not already convened, as speedily as possible to take
them into immediate confederation, to establish ample and
certain funds for the purposes therein mentioned, and to
take every other m^afure necessary to carry the fame into
full and vigorous effect, aad that they transmit their Ads
for that purpose to Congress without delay.
AND WHEREAS, it is incumbent on us to provide
for the execution of the said Ad of the Honorable Con
gress, so far as the fameconcerns this State :
Be it therefore enacted, and it is hereby enaßed, by the
Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and by the au
thority of the fame, That the monthly taxes on estates
real and personal, and on taxable persons, which are di
refted to be quotaed, assessed and levied, throughout the
several counties of this State, in and by an A€ tof Assem
bly, intitled, " An AH for raising the sum of two milli
ons five hundred thousand dollars monthly, during eight
months, in the year One thousand seven hundred and eigh
ty, for the supply of the Treasury of the United States of
America, and the Treasury of this State," passed on the
26th of November last, shall be continued from the end of
the said eight months, for so long time as shall be necessa
ry, together with the said monthly taxes already directed
as aforefaid, to redeem the said Bills of Credit of the Uni
ted States of America now in circulation, to the amount
of twenty five millions of dollars; and that gold and sil
ver and the Bills of Credit to be emitted by virtue of an
Aa of Assembly of this (effion,i intitled, " An Aft for e
minting the sum of One hundred thousand pounds in Bills
of Credit, &c. and also the new Bills of Credit herein af
ter mentioned, be received in payment of the said monthly
taxes, after the rate of one milled dollar, in lieu of forty
ofthe said Bills of Credit ofthe United States of America,
now in circulation ; and that the Bills of Credit last men
tioned, when received in taxes, (except as to the taxes of
the months of January and February last) be not again
issued, but kept in the hands of the Treasurer of this State,
to be cancelled and deflroyed, and that other and new
Bills redeemable in Specie, within fix years, after the
prefect year, bearing a yearly interest of five per centum,
payable also in r fpecie, at the time of redemption, cr at
th~ option of the holder, annually, in sterling Bills of Ex
change, after the rate of Four and Six Pence fitting per
dollar, in the manner and to rhe amount, it the fame
iha'lbe necessary, recommended by the Honorable Con
grefi in their Aft aforefaid.
And it is hereby declared by the authority aforefaid,
That this House will as Soon as convenient, provide ade
qu te funds for redeeming and cancelling the eighth part
of the said new Bills of Credit, amounting to one million
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, of the value of
four (hillings and fix pence Sterling each, or of so many
thereof, as may be issued in manner aforefaid, together
with the interest there on to accrue as aforefaid.
Provided always, and be it enaded by the autho
rity aforefaid, That nothing in this Aft shall extend to
Establish or continue, beyond the tax for the month of
August next, the apportionment and appkxment of the
said monthly taxes, according to the assessment thereof,
within any township, diftrid or ward, made by virtue of
an Aft of Assembly, intitled, '' An Aft for raising the
additional sum of Five Millions Seven Hundred Thousand
Dollars, in the year 1779," but the fame shall be re aflef
fed within such townships, difiriHs and wards, on new
returns of persons and eriates, to be directed and made for
that purpose, in the manner and under the penalties di
redei and provided, in and by the A& of Assembly last
recited, without altering the quotas of the fevetal coun
ties, or of the said townships, diftriffs and wards, or any
of them, in order to levy the taxes, by this Aft authori
zed to be raised and collected, for the month of Septem
ber, and the months following, in an equal and just man
ner.
And Whereas, certain tenants were, in and by the
said Aft of Assembly, for raising the additional sum of
Five Millions Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars in the
year 1779, obliged to pay thetaxes upon their several hol
4th. Because, the motion of postponing the comparing
of this Bill till next session of Assembly, and ^ motion for
the previous question on the palling of this Bill, were over
ruled; as both these motions were only intended to gain
more time for knowing the Sentiments of our confiituents,
amd to know whether a change of circumstances might not
then enable us to v®te for the Bill.
Samuel Culbertson, James Cunningham,
James Anderson, James Dickson,
John Whitehill, Christian Lower,
John Van Campen, Valentine Eckert,
Chrifiopher Wagner, Christopher Kucker,
Samuel Mechlin, William Portor,
William Brown, Jun. David Kennedy,
James Jacks, James Boyd,
John Prohor, Patrick Anderson,
Jofepb Park, Joseph Blewer,
Isaac Meafon, Robert Martin.
Daniel Heefter, Jun.
ON the firft and second reasons, it is observable, that
the Bill had been firfl read in Assembly 18 months
since- ,published for consideration twice; the firft time
above a year ago, so that the Southern States having
Delegates fitting here in Congress, as well as the usual
information of our news papers, have bad full notice of
the intention, surely the jealopfy with which private in
terest ever watches over property, if it was firuck at,
would have been alarmed long before now, and these Dif
fentients have imagined dangers for the rice, indigo and
tobacco planters, which they themfeives have not appre
hended. But is it strange reasoning, that when the Bri
t?fh Generals every where proclaim liberty to slaves, any
relaxation of their bondage, on our part, Should pro
voke the negroes againß the Americans. These gentle
men perhaps have not heard,that Col. Laurens, son ofthe
late worthy Prefide.:t of Congress, is lately returned home
from the main army to prop fe to the Slate cf South-Ca
rolina, to arm and array regiments of slaves for the pub
lic Service, to be free at the end of the war ; which if the
gradual freedom of the offspring cf a few thousand slaves
in Pennsylvania, is of any consequence, must be drowned
and loft in the magnitude cf the worthy Colonel's proposi
tion.
As to the third reason ; the Constitution Secures to eve
ry one equal liberty, to Grangers as well as natives. But
the objefls of this Law will be ail natives. Can there then
be any reserve ? As to their marrying whites, is not the dif
ference of colour, and the approbrium which fixes on a
adl Because, notwithftaßding, we approve and are sen
sible of the humanity and just ice of manumiting slaves in
time of peace; we cannot think this the proper time, since
the feat of war is likely to be transferred to the Southward;
and to all appearance the force of that country may be cal
led out, when the white inhabitants will beobliged to leave
their families, and all that is near and dear to them, at
the mercy of a superior force of slaves, which may from
the found of freedom, that may go forth from this Law,
(perhaps unattended with every circumstance) Lai th Ne
groes of these States, to a demands/ an immediate and En
tire freedom, or to other disorders, that may end in the
greatef lcruelties, which an ignorant, and perhaps des
perate people, Simulated by tne enemies of their masters,
can be capable of committing.
gd. Because, if even the time were come when slaves
might be fafely emancipated, we could net agree to their
being made free citizens in so extensive a manner as this
law proposes ; we think they would have been well fatif
fied, and the Legislature would have fufficiently answered
their humane purposes, had these unhappy people been
enabled to enjoy the fruits of their labour, and been pro
t.&ed in their lives and property, in the manner white
persons are, without giving them the right of voting for,
and being voted into offices, intermarrying with white per
sons, confronting them with their masters, and being
witnesses in every refped during the limited time of their
servitude, which we fear in fame instances may ruin fa
milies. We think that future Legislatures, might have
added to their privileges in proportion as they would
have found them more civilized and better qualified to re
ceive them, with much more propriety than they could
abridge them ; Should they be found too extensive, after
being fixed by a fundenaental law.
dings, as a eafemenf so their landlords for the depreciated
rents paid for the fime, and it is intended to give relief
otherwise to the said landlords, and ground rents for the
fame reason, were not by said AR made liable to be
taxed.
F Be it therefore enabled by the authority aforefaid, that
in the (aid re-assessment to be made, for levying the said
further monthly taxes by virtue of this All, the taxes
upon the said holdings, shall be charged to and paid by
the said landlords; and that ground rents, and rent
charges, fhq/ Ibe liable to be assessed, as other read estates,
in such re-assessment.
Provided always, That an appeal be allowed from
such re-assessment, in like manner as is direHed in and by
the Aft for raising the supplies for the year 1779, passed
on the third day of April last.
Mr. DUNLAP,
The following reasons of dissent from the Aft for the
gradual abolition of slavery, lately passed, appears 02
the printed minutes of the Assembly, and I am induced
to desire you to iifert it in your paper, with some re
marks.
Reasons of the dissenting Members, on the Bill for the gra
dual abolition of slavery.
Difcntient, °
R ECAU'SE, altho' we are the Reprefenfa
tives of a free State, and accountable to no q
ther for our proceedings, as far as regards our internal po #
lice ; yet as we are confederated with other States for our
common exertion and defence, we are of opinion, that,
in adopting a measure, to which some of them cannot in
their present invaded condition (with its attendant calami
ties) conform, we fliould be highly censurable, as regard
less of the fafety of our neighbours, even (uppofing that
it could not injure ourselves: but when we confider, that
the pernicious consequences which such a measure, may
draw on any Stateor States in the Union, tend to weaken
that Body, of which this State is a Member, and indirect
ly to involve this State in difficulties which we think we
fliould have to answer for to our constituents § we must
confider it as a step imprudent, premature, and for which
we had no inftruaions from them.