| 1780. |
LAWS of MARYLAND.
CHAP. XXXVIII.
An ACT to settle and adjust the accounts of the troops of this state
in the service of the United States, and for other
purposes therein
mentioned. |
| Preamble. |
WHEREAS, from a variety of causes, the United States
have not complied
with their engagements heretofore made with their officers and
soldiers (which has occasioned great and unavoidable difficulties and
distresses in the service) to whose virtuous and disinterested exertions
America is
much indebted: |
Commissioner
appointed,
&c. |
II. Be it therefore
enacted, by the general assembly of Maryland, That Zephaniah
Turner be and is hereby appointed commissioner, to settle and adjust
the pay
due to the officers and soldiers of the troops of this state, and the
said commissioner
is hereby empowered and directed, to estimate, in specie, all sums
of paper money
received by the said officers and soldiers, on account of their pay
or otherwise,
agreeable to a scale of depreciation herein after mentioned, according
to the value
thereof at the time of the money received; and that all cloathing furnished
by
this state to their officers and soldiers, which were not properly
chargeable to the
United States, shall be deducted out of their pay, at the value aforesaid
in specie. |
Who is to give
certificates,
&c. |
III. And be
it enacted, That the said commissioner is hereby empowered and
directed to give to the officers and soldiers aforesaid, to whom pay
as aforesaid
may be found due, after deducting for cloathing furnished as aforesaid,
one certificate
or more, bearing interest from the date thereof, and specifying the
sum due
in specie, so that no certificate shall be for less than on fifth part
of the sum due
to the person to whom the same shall be given, and that the whole of
the certificates
given to the same person shall amount to the sum only due to him, which
certificate shall be paid out of such part of confiscated British property
as shall be
appropriated for that purpose; and the commissioner is hereby directed
to provide
printed certificates, in such manner and form as he shall judge necessary,
to be
by him applied to the uses and purposes aforesaid. |
Not to be
transferrable,
&c. |
IV. And be it
enacted, That in order to prevent the certificates of the non-commissioned
officers and privates aforesaid from being counterfeited, or becoming
objects of speculation, no transfer or assignment of the same shall
be good and
valid in law or equity, unless attested by the officer commanding the
regiment or
troops to which such soldier shall belong. |
Commissioner
to adjust the
pay of officers,
&c. |
V. And be it
enacted, That the said commissioner shall in like manner settle
and adjust the pay and accounts of all officers and soldiers who have
fallen or died
in the service, and their widows and children shall be entitled to
such certificates,
and to all the benefits and advantages thereby granted to the officers
and soldiers
in the said service. |
| His oath. |
VI. And be it
enacted, That the said commissioner, previous to his entering
on the duties required of him by this act, shall take the following
oath or affirmation,
to wit: " I, A. B. do swear or affirm (as the case may be) that
I will well
" and truly perform all and singular the duties required of me by the
act to settle
" and adjust the accounts of the troops of this state in the service
of the United
" States, and for other purposes therein mentioned, to the best of
my knowledge
" and abilities, without favour, affection, partiality or respect,
to any person whatsoever;"
and the said commissioner is hereby fully authorised and directed to
settle
the aforesaid accounts upon oath or affirmation, which oath or affirmation
shall
be by him administered. |
Assembly may
call in certificates,
&c. |
VII. And be
it enacted, That this or any future assembly, notwithstanding the
provision made as aforesaid, may, if they think proper, call in all
such certificates
given and not returned as aforesaid, and pay off the same in specie
or other
current money equivalent. |
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