touching the said treaty, to decide and adjudge according to the true intent and meaning of the same, any thing in the said acts or parts of acts to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding. Signed by order of the House of Assembly. JEHU DAVIS, Speaker. Signed by order of the Council. THOMAS M'DONOUGH, Clerk. Passed at Dover, February 2d, 1788. MARYLAND. An Act declaring the Treaty of Peace between the United States and his Britannic Majesty the supreme law within this State. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, and it is hereby declared, That the treaty of peace made between the United States of America and his Britannic Majesty is the supreme law within this State, and shall be so considered and adjudged in all courts of law and equity; and all causes and questions cognizable by the said courts respectively, ought and shall be determined according to the said treaty, and the tenor, true intent, and meaning thereof. By the Senate, May 14, 1787. Read and assented to. By order, J. DORSEY, W. SMALLWOOD. By the House of Delegates, May 15, 1787. W. HARWOOD. In testimony that the aforegoing is a true copy from the original act of the General Assembly of Maryland, remaining in the General Court, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of office, the 29th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1787. THOS. B. HODGKIN, FROM PATRICK HENRY TO JOHN JAY. Richmond, June 7, 1786. Sir, An act of our Assembly, and sundry resolutions, accompany this; and from them will appear everything which has been done by our Legislature touching the subjest mentioned to me in your last favor. I am, sir, &c., P. HENRY. The Hon. John Jay, Esq. VIRGINIA, to wit: General Assembly begun and held at the public buildings, in the city of Richmond, on Monday, the 18th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four: An Act respecting further Confiscations. Whereas it is stipulated by the sixth article of the treaty of peace between the United States and the King of Great Britain that there shall be no future confiscations made: Be it enacted, That no future confiscations shall be made, any law to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, This act shall not extend to any suit depending in any court which commenced prior to the ratification of the treaty of peace. ARCHIBALD CARY, Speaker of the Senate. JOHN TYLER, Speaker of the House of Delegates. Certified as a true copy from the enrolment. JOHN BECKLEY, Clerk of the House of Delegates. FROM RICHARD CASWELL TO JOHN JAY. North Carolina, Kingston, June 21, 1786. . Sir, Your letter of the 3d of last month I had the honor to receive, and, in compliance therewith, you have enclosed a copy of a procla mation issued by my predecessor in office, and a copy of an act to restore to Mr. Bridgin his estate. These are the only acts of the legislative and executive powers of this State, in consequence of the definitive treaty of peace between the United States of America and Great Britain, and the recommendation of Congress thereupon, that I at this time recollect. I have the honor to be, &c., RH. CASWELL. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. At a General Assembly begun and held at Newbern on the 19th day of November, Anno Domini 1785, Among other acts was passed the following, viz: An Act to restore to Edward Bridgin, his heirs and assigns, all his property, real and personal, in this State. Whereas the estate of Edward Bridgin, merchant of London, hath been confiscated by the laws of this State: and whereas a committee of the General Assembly have reported they are of opinion that the said Edward Bridgin is entitled to every indulgence of the Legislature: Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That all the real and personal estate of the said Edward Bridgin, lying and being in this State, confiscated as aforesaid, and as yet undisposed of, and the amount of purchase money or obligations for such part as has been sold, be, and hereby is, restored to him, his heirs and assigns, and shall not be liable to the operation of any confiscation law heretofore made. Read three times, and ratified in General Assembly the 29th day of December, A. D. 1785. ALEXANDER MARTIN, Speaker of the Senate. RD. DOBBS SPAIGHT, I certify the foregoing to be a true copy. Speaker of Commons. WINSTON CASWELL, Secretary. VOL. II.-50. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. By his Excellency Samuel Johnston, Esquire, Governor, CaptainGeneral, and Commander-in-Chief in and over the said State. To all whom these presents shall come : It is certified that James Glasgow, who certifies the act hereunto annexed to be a copy of the original act filed in the Secretary's office, is Secretary of the said State; and that full faith and credit are due to his official acts. Given under my hand and the great seal of the State, at Edenton, this 25th day of August, 1788. By his Excellency's command: SAMUEL JOHNSTON. WILLIAM JOHNSTON DAWSON, P. S. [The following is the title of the act herein referred to :] An Act declaring the Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the King of Great Britain to be part of the law of the land. FROM WILLIAM MOULTRIE TO JOHN JAY. Charleston, South Carolina, June, 21, 1786. Sir, I have been honored with your favor of the 3d of May, requesting to know, for the information of Congress, how far this State has complied with the proclamation and recommendation of Congress of the 14th January, 1784. The subjects of Great Britain have encountered no other difficulties or impediments than have the citizens of America in the recovery of their debts. Such was the situation of the State, that the Legislature conceived it necessary to pass laws tantamount to the shutting the courts; and in this case, even British subjects who had property among us were saved from ruin equally as those of America. Agreeably to the 5th article of the treaty, which Congress earnestly recommended, this State, upon serious consideration, very liberally complied with that recommendation, and restored most of the estates that were under confiscation. The property carried off by the British, and belonging to the citizens of the State, far exceeds in value the property which by our laws has been confiscated and sold; and no subsequent act of confiscation has taken place to the above recommendation of Congress. This State passed an act February 26, 1782, to prevent the recovery of debts; and this being done prior to the treaty of peace, and since continued from time to time in force, could not possibly have in view to distress the British subjects. The treaty of peace also required twelve months to be allowed. banished persons, and others attached to the British Government, to settle their affairs. This State has generously added three months more to the twelve, and, in some instances, upon application, it has been further extended by the Executive. I have the honor to be, &c., WILLIAM MOULTRIE. Sir, FROM JOHN ADAMS TO JOHN JAY. Grosvenor Square, London, 16th June, 1787. Enclosed is a copy of the translation, from the Dutch into the English, of the contract entered into by me in behalf of the United States, by virtue of their full power, for a million of guilders. This measure became absolutely necessary to prevent the total ruin of their credit, and the greatest injustice to their former creditors, who are possessed of their obligations; for the failure in payment of the interest, if but for one day, would, in Holland, cause those obligations to depreciate in their value like paper money. It is of great importance that this contract should receive a prompt ratification in Congress, and be retransmitted to Amsterdam as soon as possible. Whether this loan may not enable Congress, or their Board of Treasury, to raise the credit of their own paper at home, in some degree, is for them to consider; and whether the Board of Treasury may not purchase produce to advantage, and contract to have it delivered free of all risk and charges at Amsterdam, and pay for it in bills of exchange, I know not. If they do this, I should advise them to send one cargo to the house of Willinks, and another to the house of Van Staphorst, instead of |