1780 Resolution Extract Signed By Charles Thompson

Rare Resolution setting quotas for provisions. This is the New Jersey copy, written by the clerk and signed by Charles Thompson.

This text is an excerpt from a resolution passed by the Continental Congress on February 25, 1780, regarding the system of specific supplies.Facing a near-total collapse of the Continental currency, Congress shifted the burden of supporting the army onto the individual states. Instead of asking for money, they required states to furnish "quotas" of actual goods—such as beef, pork, flour, corn, and hay—to sustain the military during the Revolutionary War.Key Provisions of the Resolution:State Quotas: Every state was called upon to provide specific quantities of provisions and supplies based on their ability and the needs of the army.Equitable Pricing: To ensure fairness, the articles provided were credited toward the state's monetary quota at equal prices for items of the same quality.Convenience and Adjustment: The "requisitions" were intended to suit the local convenience of each state, and final accounts were to be compared to maintain equity among all states.This "requisition system" was often inefficient, leading to chronic shortages that famously plagued George Washington’s forces. The failures of this decentralized system eventually became a primary argument for the stronger federal powers later established in the U.S. Constitution.

Beyond monetary value, this document has immense evidentiary value. It captures the exact moment the United States shifted from a failed paper currency to a "specific supplies" system to feed the army. This logistical shift was a precursor to the economic debates that eventually led to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

Thomson was the Secretary of the Continental Congress for its entire existence (1774–1789) and is the only person besides John Hancock to sign the first printing of the Declaration of Independence.

Why the "New Jersey" Link Matters

Direct Provenance: In 1780, New Jersey was the "Cockpit of the Revolution." Requisitions sent there were critical because the Continental Army was frequently stationed at Morristown during the brutal winter of 1779–1780.Rarity: While many printed versions exist, the signed manuscript extracts were produced in very limited numbers—usually only one per state governor or commander.Content: These documents were the lifeblood of the army. This specific resolution of February 25, 1780, was Congress's desperate attempt to feed troops by bypassing failed paper money and demanding "specific supplies" directly from states like New Jersey.