| You are here: Home >> American Archives |
NEW-YORK CONGRESS TO THEIR DELEGATES IN CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. [Read June 13, 1776. Referred to Mr. Sherman, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Sergeant, Mr. F. Lee, and Mr. Gwinnet.] In Provincial Congress, New-York, June 11, 1776. GENTLEMEN: I am directed by the Congress of this Colony to transmit the enclosed papers to you, for the purpose of being communicated to the Continental Congress. I am, gentlemen, your very humble servant. By order: NATHANIEL WOODHULL, President. To the New-York Delegates in Continental Congress, at Philadelphia. In Provincial Congress, New-York, June 11, 1776. SIR: Your letter has been received and communicated to the Congress of this Colony. Be pleased to inform his Excellency General Washington that this Congress has, by a resolution, of which the enclosed is a copy, restrained the exportation of beef and pork for fourteen days. They are of opinion that application should be immediately made to the Continental Congress, in order that a general regulation may take place; for although this Congress will always be ready to pursue such measures as may advance the common cause, yet the justice due to their constituents forbids their subjecting this Colony to partial restraint. I am, sir, your most obedient and humble servant By order: NATHANIEL WOODHULL, President. To Joseph Trumbull, Esq., Commissary of Stores and Provisions. In Provincial Congress, New-York, June 11, 1776. Whereas it has been represented to this Congress that great quantities of salted Beef and Pork have been purchased for exportation, which, if not restrained, may render the supplies of the Army difficult and uncertain: Resolved, therefore, That no salted Beef or Pork, except as much as may be necessary for the use of the crew, be exported from this Colony, in any vessel, under any pretence whatever, for the space of fourteen days; by which time the Continental Congress will have an opportunity of making some general regulations respecting the same. Extract from the Minutes: ROBERT BENSON, Secretary. GENTLEMEN: I am directed by his Excellency General Washington to apply to you, informing that he understands that considerable quantities of salted pork are shipping from this City and Colony to different foreign ports and places, and that he is apprehensive that the great augmentation of troops to be made here and in Canada will require all the pork in this and the neighbouring Colonies for their subsistence this campaign, until new pork comes in, and therefore request your interposition to put a stop to such exportation, in such manner as to you shall appear most proper, to prevent the want of provisions for subsisting the troops employed in the necessary defence of our just rights and privileges. I am, gentlemen, with great respect, your most obedient, humble servant, JOSEPH TRUMBULL, To the Honourable the Colonial Congress at New-York. Sunday afternoon. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: In addition to what information I gave you last Thursday, I am now to say, that the Congress Secret Committee, so called, are now actually shipping from this place large quantities of pork; and I fear with such an example before them, no great effect can be expected from an application to Provincial Congress to stop others; and that I really fear very bad consequences therefrom to the operations of the present campaign, and pray your Excellency to mention the matter to Congress. I cannot be answerable for supplying the Army with that article unless a stop is put to its being shipped out of the country JOSEPH TRUMBULL. To General Washington. In Provincial Congress, New-York, June 11, 1776. SIR: Your letter has been received and communicated, to the Congress of this Colony. Be pleased to inform his Excellency General Washington that this Congress has, by a resolution, of which the enclosed is a copy, restrained the exportation of beef and pork for fourteen days. They are of opinion that application should immediately be made to the Continental Congress, in order that a general regulation may take place; for although this Congress will always be ready to pursue such measures as may advance the common cause, yet the justice due to their constituents forbids their subjecting this Colony to partial restraints I am, sir, your very humble servant. By order: NATHANIEL WOODHULL, President. To Joseph Trumbull, Esq., Commissary of Stores and Provisions. JOSEPH TRUMBULL TO JAMES WARREN. New-York, June 11, 1776. HONOURED SIR: I am directed by General Washington to send forward persons to supply the New-England troops marching into Canada with provisions. In order to do it effectually, I have directed Captain Farnsworth to call on you, to be informed the route the troops from your Colony will take. He is acquainted in that part of the country, was employed in the like business last spring, and can possibly give you as good information as any person of the best, easiest, and cheapest route for the troops to take. He will pay the mileage to the troops till they arrive at the stores he will establish, to give them provisions at. We have no news here; all is quiet at present, but don’t expect a long continuance of it. I was at Philadelphia last week, and left your Colony Congress, gentlemen, in good health. I am, with esteem and respect, dear sir, your most obedient, humble servant, JOSEPH TRUMBULL. To the Honourable James Warren, Esq. WESTCHESTER COUNTY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE. In Committee for the County of Westchester, at the White Plains, the 11th of June, 1776: As many enemies to America are daily travelling through this country in disguise, and under divers pretences, though in reality for the purpose of aiding the Ministerial Troops when they shall arrive in this Colony, and counteracting the salutary measures formed for our common preservation, this Committee find themselves under the disagreeable necessity of taking measures for the publick safety, which they conceive only to be justified by the conduct of such ingrates who occasion it. And, therefore, Resolved, 1st. That the several members of this Committee, and of the sub-Committees within the County, and commissioned Militia Officers, be, and hereby are, empowered and required to examine all and every transient person, and others who have not certificates of their being friends to America from one or more of the members of the County or sub-Committee of the place where they usually reside, or one of the Field-Officers of the Regiment to which they belong. And if any such person shall refuse to render a satisfactory account of himself to the said Committee-man or Militia Officer, and he shall be convinced that he is an enemy to his country, he shall be detained or committed at his own expense, until the sub-Committee or Committee-men of the District can be called; and if the sub-Committee or Committee-men of the District are of opinion that such person is an enemy to his country, they are hereby authorized to send him back to his place of residence, or confine him in jail, at his own expense, at the election of the said Committee-men. 2d. That no boatmen, ferrymen, or others, within this County, who are possessed of boats, pettiaugers, or small crafts, or other persons whatsoever, do presume, under penalty of being treated as enemies to their country, to transport or carry any passengers from this County, by water or land, to New-York, Long-Island, New-Jersey, or Orange County, or from either of those Counties to this, without their having certificates from one or more of this Committee,
|