The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-12 00:00:00, page 2

tied to cruize for or make prize of any vessel or cargo, before
he fliall have obtained a commiflion from the Congress, or
from such person or persons as (hall be for that purpole ap
pointed in some one of the United Colon et.
That it be aid is hereby recommended to the several le
gislatures in the United Colonies, whether Assemblies or
Conventions, as soon as possible to erett courts of justice or
give jurifdiaion to the courts now in being for the purpose
of determining concerning the captures to be made as afore
faid, and to provide that all trials in such case be had by a
jury, under such qualifications as to the refpedive legislatures
shall seem expedient.
That all prosecutions shall be commenced in the court of
that Colony in which the captures shall be made, but if no
such court be, at that time, ereded in the said Colony, or if
the capture be made on open sea, then the prosecution shall
be in the court of such Colony as the captor may find molt
convenient, provided that nothing contained in this resolution
shall be conitrued so as to enable the captor to remove his
prize from any Colony competent to determine concerning
the seizure, after he shall have carried the vessel so seized within
any harbor of the fame.
That in all cases an appeal shall be allowed to the Con
gress, or such person or persons as they shall appoint for the
trials of appeals, provided the appeal be demanded within
five days after definitive sentence, and such appeal be lodged
with the Secretary of Congress within forty days afterwards,
and provided the party appealing shall give security to prose
cute the said appeal to effed. And in case of the death of
the Secretary during the recess of Congress, then the said ap
peal to be lodged in Congress within twenty days after the
meeting thereof.
That when any vessel or vessels shall be fitted out at the
expence of any private person or persons, then the captures
made shall b± to the use of the owner or owners of the said
vessel or vessels ; that where the vessels employed in the cap
ture shall be fitted out at the expence of any of the United
Colonies, then one third of the prize taken shall be to the
use of the captors, and the remaining two thirds to the use
of the said Colony. And where the vessel so employed shall
be fitted out at the Continental charge ; then one third shall
go to the captors, and the remaining two thirds to the use of
the United Colonies, provided nevertheless, that if the cap
ture be a vessel of war, then the captors shall be intilled to one
half of the value, and the remainder fliall goto the Colony or
continent, as the case may be, the necessary charges of con.
demnation of all prizes being deducted before distribution
made.
That, in cases of recaptures, the recaptors have and retain,
in lieu of salvage, one eighth part of the true value of the vessel
and cargo, or either of them, if the fame hath or have been
in the pofleffion of the enemy twenty-four hours, and less
than forty-eight hours ; one third part if more than forty
eight and less than ninety-fix hours; and one halfif more than
ninety-fix hours, unless the vessel shall, after the capture,
have been legally condemned as prize, by some Court of Ad
miralty, in which case the recaptors to have the whole. In
all which cases the share detained, or prize to be divided be
tween the on ners of the ship making the recapture, the Colony
sr the continent as the case may be, and the captors agree
able to the former resolution.
December 26th.
Whereas the Congress, on the twenty-ninth day of Novem
ber, Resolved, That a farther sum of THREE MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS be emitted in bills of credit,
Resolved, That the Thirteen United Colonies be pledged
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for the redemption of the bills of credit so direaed to be
emitted.
That each colony provide ways and means to fink its pro
portion of the said bills, in such manner as may be mod ef
fedual and best adapted to the condition, circumstances and
equal mode of levying taxes in each Colony.
That the proportion, or quota of each refpedive Colonv,
be determined according to the number of inhabitants of ail
ages, including Negroes and Mulattoes in each Colony.
That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Con
ventions, or Councils or Committees of Safety of the respec
tive dolonies, to afeertain, by the most impartial and effectual
means in their power, the number of inhabitants in each re
fpedive Colony, taking care that the lift be authenticated by
the oaths or affirmations of the several persons who fliall be
entrusted with this service ; and that the said Assemblies,
Conventions, or Councils or Committees of Safety, do re
spectively lay before Congress a return of the number of in
habitants of their refpe<stive Colonies, as soon as the fame
shall be procured.
That each Colony pay its refpedive quota in four equal
payments ; the firft to be made on or before the lad day of
November, 1783 ; the second on or before the latt day of
November, 1784; the third on or before the last day of No
vember, 1785, and the fourth or last on or before the last day
of November, 1786.
And that for this end, the several Assemblies or Conven
tions provide for laying and levying taxes, in their refpedive
Colonies, towards finking 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 Treasurer, with all such other monies as
they may receive in lieu of the Continental bills, which
other monies the Provincial Treasurer shall endeavor to get
exchanged for Continental bills, and where that cannot be
done, fliall fend to the Continental Treasurers the deficiency in
silver and gold, with the bills, making up the quota to be
funk in that year, taking care to cut, by a circular punch of
an inch diameter, an hole in such bills, and to cross the
fame, thereby to render them unpaffable, though the sum or
value is to remain fairly legible. And the Continental T.ea
furers, as fall as they receive the said quotas, shall, with the assist
ance of a Committee of five persons, to be appointed by the Con
gress then fitting, or by the Aflembly or Convention of the
province of Pennsylvania, examine and count the Continental
bills, and in the pretence of the said Committee burn and
destroy them.
And the silver and gold sent them to make up the defi
ciencies of quotas, they shall retain in their hands, until de
manded 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 fame, lignifying that they are ready
to give gold or silver for such bills to all persons requiring
it in exchange.
Resolved, That th&infpeftors of the press deliver the proof
sheets and checks of the Continental bills to the Continental
Treasurers, and that they deliver one of each to the Delegates
of every Colony to remain with the Provincial Treasurer to be
appointed in such Colony, and retain the rest in their hands.
Whereas there is reason to believe, that divers persons,
either from inattention to the public good, or with delign to
retard the recruiting service, have arretted and imprisoned,
for very trifling debts, many soldiers who had engaged to ri&