[Philadelphia] Tuesday, May 21, 1776
The Congress then resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on prisoners, respecting the manner of treating prisoners; and the same being read, debated and amended was agreed to:
Resolved, That all persons taken in arms on board any prize, be deemed prisoners, to be taken care of by the supreme executive power in each Colony to which they are brought, whether the prize be taken by vessels fitted out by the Continent, or by others:
That such as are taken, be treated as prisoners of war, but with humanity, and be allowed the same rations as the troops in the service of the United Colonies; but that such as are officers supply themselves, and be allowed to draw bills to pay for their subsistence and cloathing:
That the officers be not permitted to reside in or near any sea port town, nor public post road; and that the officers and privates be not suffered to reside in the same places:
That in case the officers cannot draw or sell their bills, the Congress will allow for each of them, Two Dollars a week for board and lodgings, to be repaid by said officers before they are released from their captivity:
That no tavern keepers supply any officers, who are prisoners, on the credit of the Continent:
That the capitulations entered into with prisoners, at the time of their surrender, be punctually observed:
That such officers as surrender prisoners of war, be put on their parole, unless Congress shall otherwise direct:
That the said Parole be signed by the officers:
That such as refuse to subscribe the parole, be committed to prison:
That the Committees of Inspection and Observation, for the counties, districts, or towns, assigned for the residence of prisoners, be empowered to superintend their conduct, and, in cases of gross misbehaviour, to confine them, and report to their respective Assembly, Convention, or Committee, or Council of Safety, the proceedings had on such occasions:
That a list of the prisoners in each Colony be made out by the Committees of the counties, towns, or districts where they reside, and transmitted to the Assembly, Convention or Council or Committee of Safety of such Colony, respectively, who shall send a copy thereof to Congress.
That the said Assemblies, Conventions, and Committees or Councils of Safety, be authorized and requested, to take the paroles of the officers, and to cause a strict observance of the terms on which they are enlarged, and also to take especial care, that none of those confined by order of the Congress, be suffered to escape; also, to advance the allowance of Two Dollars a week to each of the officers who cannot draw or sell their bills, and to draw for the same on the President of the Congress:
That the said Assemblies, Conventions, Committees or Councils of Safety of the Colonies, respectively, in which prisoners are or shall chuse to be appointed to reside, be empowered to remove such prisoners from place to place, within the same Colonies, as often as to such Assemblies, Conventions, Committees or Councils of Safety, it shall seem proper, having regard to the former resolutions of Congress concerning prisoners.
Ordered, That the same be immediately published.