extensive Principles of mutual and friendly Intercourse, originating in the Constitution of free and confederated States, and absolutely necessary for the Preservation of mutual Harmony and Union, unconnected with the Ideas of private and separate Interest, have permitted a general Exportation, whereby we have been gradually deprived of the Articles of Life, and those States received. from us what they would not suffer to be returned: And whereas we have Reason to apprehend that a different System may not soon be adopted by them, notwithstanding the Recommendations of Congress, and our own Solicitations; in Consequence of which, though with the greatest Reluctance, we are impelled, from the first Principles of Nature, Self-preservation, to suspend for a Time the Exportation of every Article of every Kind from this State, by Sea or Land, hoping that the Policy of the States before mentioned will soon enable us to annul a Resolution so contrary to our Feelings, and repugnant, as we conceive, to general Utility, saving from the Necessity imposed upon us: Be it therefore Enacted by the General Assembly, and by the Authority thereof it is Enacted, That no Exportation of any neat Cattle, Sheep, Horses, Swine, Provisions, of all and every Sort, Sheep's Wool, Flax, Salt, Coffee, Cheese, Butter, Cocoa, Lime, Tobacco, Rum, Wine, or Spirits of any Sort, Leather, Skins or raw Hides, or any other Goods, Wares or Merchandize, of any Sort or Kind, be made, either by Land or Water, from any Part of this State, after the Thirtieth Day of October current, to any place not within this State. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Vessel or Boat, or Team, shall be loaded with of the Articles aforesaid, suspected to be transported any out of this State into either of the States of Connecticut or Massachusetts-Bay, the Justices of the Peace, TownCouncilmen, or any two Freemen, being Freeholders within any of the Towns within this State, are hereby empowered and directed to stop and seize all such Vessels, Boats, Teams or Live Stock, till they shall obtain satisfactory Evidence that the same are not to be carried into the States of Connecticut or Massachusetts-Bay; which Evidence shall arise from the proper Passes and Passports given by the Intendant of Trade to said Vessels or Boats, or by Certificates from two or more Justices of the Peace from the Town where such Articles were taken, that the Goods or Driver or Drivers of any Live Stock belong, which Certificate shall be as follows: WE do hereby Certify, that the Team loaded with or Cattle, Sheep, Swine or Horses (as the case may be) drove by Teamer or Teamers, Driver or Drivers in the County (as the case may be) of the Town of of is or are driving the same to the Town of in the County of within this State, for the Use of the Inhabitants thereof; and the same is or are not to be carried or driven out of this State. Given under our Hands this A. D. 17 Day of Justices of Peace. And if satisfactory Evidence as aforesaid shall not be given, within Ten Days after the Detention, the Persons so detaining the same are hereby directed to make Application to One of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas within the County where such Seizure and Detention is made, to forthwith call a Special Court to try the Justice of said Seizure; and the said Judge is hereby empowered and directed to call a Special Court, in the same Manner as by Law Special Courts are now directed to be holden, and thereupon Information shall be filed in said Court, and the Court shall have full Power to try the Justice of said Seizure by a Jury; and if it shall appear that the Vessel, Boat, Team, with the Load, Drivers of Cattle, or any of the before enumerated Articles, Goods, Wares or Merchandize, were intended to be carried out of this State to any Place in Massachusetts-Bay or Connecticut, the same shall be adjudged forfeited, and the Court shall condemn the same, and after all legal Charges of Prosecution are paid, One Half of the Remainder shall be to and for the Use of the Prosecutor, and the other Half Part to and for the Use of the State. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Person or Persons within this State shall knowingly sell unto any Person or Persons any of the aforenamed Articles to be carried out of this State, he, she or they, so offending, shall be liable to pay a Fine of double the Value of the Goods, Articles or Stock so sold, to be recovered in any Court in this State proper to try the same, One Half to the Prosecutor, and the other Half to and for the Use of the State. And be it further Enacted, That if any Person or Persons, not being Inhabitants of this State, shall purchase any of the before enumerated Articles, in order to engross the same, and shall leave the same within this State, the same Articles aforesaid shall and may be liable to Seizure in the same Manner as though an Attempt was made to carry the same out of this State. Provided always and nevertheless, That this Act shall not extend, or be construed to extend, to prevent any Ships or Vessels belonging to the Inhabitants of this State bound on Voyages to any foreign Ports in Amity with the United States, from taking on board sufficient Provisions for the Voyage, or from lading on board any Articles not heretofore prohibited Exportation, or for preventing any Ship or Vessel belonging to the Subjects of any Prince, Power or Potentate, who are in Amity with the United States, from Lading, Purchasing and Exporting all such Articles of Commerce as are not heretofore prohibited Exportation. Resolved, That a Copy of this Act be published in the next Providence Newspapers. PASSED AT FEBRUARY SESSION, 1780.1 [P. 9.] It is Voted and Resolved, That the Act of this As-, Land-Embargo Act repealed in sembly, for preventing the Exportation of the Articles Part. therein enumerated, by Land, from this State, made and passed at last October Session, so far as the same respects the State of Massachusetts-Bay, be, and the same is hereby repealed: That his Excellency the Governor be requested to communicate this Resolution to the President of the Council of the said State of Massachusetts-Bay; and that a Copy hereof be published in the Newport and Providence News-Papers. [P. 13.] tinued. It is Voted and Resolved, That the Act of this As-, Embargo consembly, made and passed at October Session, A. D. 1779, for preventing the Exportation of certain Articles therein named be, and remain in Force until the First Day of April next. See relieving agents from liability, same session, p. 22. PASSED AT JULY (SECOND SESSION) SESSION, 1780. [P. 21.] Pastures provided for the Cat Army and Fleet. WHEREAS it is represented unto this Assembly, That tle of the French there is great Want of Feed for the Cattle belonging to and employed by the Army and Fleet of his Most Christian Majesty within this State: It is therefore Voted and Resolved, That Mr. Simeon Martin, DeputyCommissary of Forage, be, and he is hereby empowered and directed, to apply to the Proprietors of a Lot of Land, containing about Sixty Acres, lying at the North End of the Town of Newport, and belonging to Colonel John Malbone, and others, and agree with them for such Consideration, for the Use of the said Land, for the Purpose aforesaid, as shall be adjudged to be reasonable by Three Persons, to be mutually chosen by the major Part of the said Proprietors and the said Simeon Martin: And that in case the said Proprietors shall refuse or neglect to agree on Men to appraise the said Pasturage, or shall refuse to agree to their Appraisment, then the said Simeon Martin be, and he is hereby empowered and directed, to take Possession of the said PastureLand, and convert it to the Use aforesaid, and cause the same to be appraised by any such Three judicious Persons as he may appoint for that Purpose. Apportionment of Beef. AND it is further Voted and Resolved, That the said Simeon Martin take effectual Care that the said Pasture be guarded in such a Manner as to prevent any Injury to the adjoining Lands. PASSED AT JANUARY SESSION, 1781. An ACT for proportioning to the several Towns in this State, and col- WHEREAS the General Congress of the United States of America, by a Resolution passed the Fourth of November last, apportioned Two Hundred Thousand Pounds Weight of fresh Beef, to be furnished by this State, as their Quota of the Supply of that Article for the Year 1781: And this Assembly hath received a Letter from the Commissary-General of Purchases, urging the Necessity of Part of said Beef being immediately forwarded for the Use of the Army; whose Existence depends on Supplies being regularly and punctually furnished, and without which it is impossible to support the War in which we are engaged. IT therefore Voted and Resolved, That the several Towns in this State be required to pay and deliver to Stephen Mumford, Esq. on or before the Seventh Day of February next, the Sums of Money in Silver or Gold herein respectively apportioned to them, to be appropriated for purchasing Part of the aforesaid Quota of fresh Beef, viz. PROVIDED nevertheless, That any of the aforesaid Towns shall have permission, in Lieu of the Money apportioned as aforesaid, to deliver at their own Expense, good merchantable Ox Beef which shall be fit for Slaughter, which Beef shall be delivered at the Dwelling-House of Israel Bowen, Esq. in Coventry, on the Seventh Day of February next; for which there shall be allowed Forty Shillings, like Money, as aforesaid, for the best of Beef by the Hundred Weight, and for other Beef a Price in Proportion to the Goodness; none to be delivered which shall be of a less Value than Thirty-six Shillings per Hundred, of the like Money. AND as it is necessary that the said Beef be forwarded on the Hoof to the Army, in order to prevent any Imposition on the State, of Beef which shall not be good, It is further Voted and Resolved, That Mr. John Demount, 37639°-18- -55 |
