JAY'S REPORT MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1775 The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee on trade, and, the same being read, Upon motion, Resolved, That this Congress will, to Morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the above report. Your Committee having in obedience to the order of this House taken into Consideration the Trade of the thirteen United Colonies, are of opinion 1. That the Regulations respecting Imports and Exports agreed to by this and the preceding Congress ought to be continued and observed. And further that no Lumber, Hides, Leather, live stock, or Deer Skins, should be exported from these Colonies to any Part of the World. 2. That the Island of Bermuda be permitted under the Direction and Inspection of the Provincial Convention or Committee of Safety of General Committee of the City of1[ ] in the Colony of annually to purchase for their own Consumption and export from the Port of and from no other Place. And that they be allowed to pay for the same in Salt or any other Commodities not of the Growth or Manufacture of or exported from Great Britain or Ireland, except Tea. 3. As the Cessation of the American Trade with Ireland originated in Policy dictated by Principles of self Preservation and may be attended with Distress to a People who have always manifested a Noble Regard to the Rights of Mankind and have ever been friendly to these much injured Colonies, Your Committee are of opinion that great Kindness and Attention ought to be paid to such of that oppressed Nation as have or may come to settle in America, and that it be ear nestly recommended by this Congress to the good People of these Col 1 These four words are in a writing other than Jay's. 18247-05-4 onies to let them have Lands at a cheap Rate, and on easy Terms, and that the several Conventions and Assemblies and Committees through out these confederate Countries, afford them Aid and do them every friendly office. And it having been represented to your Committee that the withholding Flax seed from Ireland will be attended with a much greater Degree of Distress and Ruin to the poor of that Kingdom, than the Congress apprehended, they are of opinion that our Friends and Fellow Subjects in Ireland should be admitted to take Flax seed from these Colonies in Exchange for all such Powder and other military Stores and woolen Yarn of their Manufacture as they shall bring to America. 4. That as the Manufactury of Woolens in these Colonies, tho' rapidly advancing may not furnish an immediate Supply of Cloathing, your Committee think it would be for the Interest of the Inhabitants to go into the Practice of wearing Deer Skin leather Waist Coats and Breeches, and that the Members of this Congress should set the Example. 5. That to encourage the internal Commerce of these Colonies, your Committee think Provision should be made to facilitate Land Carriage, and therefore are of opinion that it should be recommended by this Congress to the several provincial Conventions and Assemblies, to put their Roads in good Repair, and particularly the great Roads that lead from Colony to Colony. And that such Troops as may be quartered and unemployed in the Neighbourhood of such Roads be aiding and assisting therein. And that the Colony who shall employ any Soldiers in that Service, pay to each Man of them the (sixth of a dollar) for every Day in which they shall be so employed.1 'This paper, in the writing of John Jay, is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 1, and bears an endorsement: " Report of the Committee on Trade No. 1. Read Monday, 2 Oct. 1775, referred to the Committee of the Whole, appointed to sit Oct 3." COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1775 In the Committee of the Whole.1 That whatever resolutions the Congress come into relative to the non importation and non exportation agreement should be conclusive during this session of Congress. Oct. 13. That it is the opinion of this committee that New York, the lower counties on Delaware, N° Carolina and Georgia ought not to avail themselves of the benefit allowed to them by the last restraining Act and therefore that no persons should apply at the Custom houses in those colonies for clearances or other documents, which other colonies are deprived of by said restraining act for securing the navigation of vessels with cargoes from their ports.3 26 That it-be recommended the several provincial Assemblies, Conventions or councils of safety of the united colonies to export to the foreign West Indies on account and risque of their respective Colony as much provision or any other produce except horned cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry, as they may deem necessary for the importation of arms, ammunition, sulphur and salt petre.* 312 That no Rice be exported under the exception contained in the 4th Article of the Association from any of the United Colonies to Great Britain Ireland or the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey Sark Alderney or Man or any other European Island or Settlement within the British Dominions.5 'This is a manuscript in the writing of Charles Thomson, found in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 3. I place it under the first date on the paper, although the Journals do not show that any resolutions were reported from the committee on that day. On the reverse are two sets of lines, one headed by n and the other by a, six noes and three ayes, but to which paragraph the vote applied cannot be determined. "These figures are in the margin. 3 This paragraph is printed in the Journals, 1 November, 1775. 'On the margin is the word "Reported." The paragraph is printed in the Journals, 26 October, 1775. "These paragraphs are printed in the Journals, 1 November, 1775. That no live stock (necessary sea stores at the discretion of the Committees, and horses excepted) be exported from these colonies, or water borne except in rivers, bays or sounds.' That as the Manufactury of Woolens in these Colonies tho' rapidly advancing may not furnish an immediate supply of clothing, it would be for the interest of the Inhabitants to go into the practice of wearing leathern waistcoats and breeches as far as may be consistent with the convenience and necessities of Individuals and that the Members of this Congress should set the example. And that it be earnestly recommended to all dealers in skins to sell them at the usual price and not take advantage of any additional demand for that article which may happen. |