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Alfop, Thomas Lynch, Richard Henry Lee, and James Wilfon, Efquires, and the furvivor of them in truft for the united Colonies.

That the provincial affemblies or conventions do each chufe a treasurer for their refpective Colonies, and take fufficient fecurity for the faithful performance of the trust.

That each Colony provide ways and means to fink its proportion of the bills ordered to be emitted by this Congrefs, in fuch manner as may be most effectual and beft adapted to the condition, circumstances and equal mode of levying taxes in such Colony.

That the proportion or quota of such Colony be determined according to the number of inhabitants of all ages, including negroes and mulattoes in each Colony; but as this cannot at present be affertained, that the quotas of the feveral Colonies be fettled for the prefent as follows, to undergo a revifion and correction, when the lift of each Colony is obtained.

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That each Colony pay its refpective quota in four equal annual payments, the first payment to be made on or before the laft day of November, which will be in the year of our Lord 1779; the fecond or before the laft day of November 1780; the third, on or before the last day of November, 1781, and the fourth or laft, on or before the last day of November, 1782; and that for this end the feveral provincial affemblies or conventions provide for laying and levying taxes in their respective Provinces or Colonies, towards finking the continental bills: That the faid bills be received by the collectors in payment of fuch taxes, and be by the collectors paid into the hands of the provincial treafurers, with all fuch other monies as they may receive in lieu of the continental bills, which other monies the faid provincial treafurers fhall endeavour to get exchanged for continental bills, and where that cannot be done, fhall fend to the continental treasurers the deficiency in filver or 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 each bill, and and to cross the fame, thereby to render them unpaffable, though the fum or value is to remain fairly legible. And the continental treasurers, as faft as they receive the faid quotas, fhall with the affiftance of a Committee of five perfons, to be appointed by the Congress, if fitting, or by the affem

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bly or convention of the province of Pennfylvania, examine and count the continental bills, and in the presence of the said Committee burn and deftroy them. And the filver and gold fent them to make up the deficiencies of quotas, they fhall retain in their hands until demanded in redemption of continental bills that may be brought to them for that purpose, which bills fo redeemed, they fhall alfo burn and destroy in presence of the faid Committee. And the said treafurers, whenever they have filver or gold in their hands for the redemption of continental bills, fhall advertise the fame, fignifying that he is ready to give filver or gold for fuch bills to all perfons requiring it in exchange.

The Provincial treasurers and collectors are to have such allowances for their respective fervices as fhall be directed by the feveral Affemblies or Conventions, to be paid by their respective Province or Colony.

That the continental treasurers be allowed for their fervice this year five hundred dollars each.

Refolved, That the Paymafter General, Commiffary General, Quarter-Master General, and every of their deputies, fhall take an oath truly and faithfully to discharge the duties of their respective stations.

Ordered, That the Continental Treasurers do pay to Col. William Thompson, or his order, 5000 dollars; on account, being by advance for the fervice of a battalion of Rifie Men under his command.

Refolved,

Refolved, That this Congrefs will, as foon as the public bufinefs permits, adjourn to the Fifth of September next.

Refolved, That the Congress will on Monday next confider of the state of trade, after the Tenth of next September.

Mr. McKean, from the Committee reported the form of a bond, to be given by the Joint Continental Treasurers.

Ordered, That the faid Committee do infpect into the fufficiency of the fureties. Adjourned till Monday, at 8 o'clock. MONDAY, July 31, 1775

Met according to adjournment.

The Congress took into confideration the report of the Committee, on the refolve of the House of Commons, and the fame being debated by paragraphs, was agreed to as follows:

The feveral affemblies of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, having referred to the Congress a refolution of the House of Commons of Great Britain, which refolution is in these words:

Luna, 20 die Feb. 1775. The House in a Committee on the American papers. Motion made, and question propofed.

That it is the opinion of this Committee, that when the General Council and Affembly, or General Court of any of his Majesty's Provinces or Colonies in America, fhall propofe to make provifion according to the condition, circumftance,

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or fituation of fuch Province or Colony, for contributing their proportion to the common defence Juch proportion to be raised under the authority of the General Court, or General Assembly of fuch Province or Colony, and difpofable by parliament) and fhall engage to make provifion alfo, for the Support of the civil government, and the adminiftration of justice in fuch Province or Colony, it will be proper if fuch proposal fhall be approved by his Majesty and the two Houses of Par liament, and for fo long as fuch provifion fhall be made accordingly, to forbear in refpect of fuch Province or Colony to lay any duty, tax, or af Selfment, except only fuch duties as it may be expedient to continue to levy or impofe, for the regulation of commerce; the net produce of the duties laft mentioned, to be carried to the account of fuch Province or Colony respectively.

The Congress took the faid refolution into confideration, and are thereupon of opinion,

That the Colonies of America are entitled to the fole and exclufive privilege of giving and granting their own money: That this involves a right of deliberating whether they will make any gift, for what purposes it fhall be made, and what fhall be its amount; and that it is a high breach of this privilege for any body of men, extraneous to their conftitutions, to prefcribe the purposes for which money fhall be levied on them, to take to themselves the authority of judging of their conditions, circumftances, and fituations

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