THE CHANCELLOR'S CASE.—1 BLAND. 595

the hoof, pork, and tobacco, at specified rates. The resolute free-
men of those days appear to have cheerfully paid into the Treasury
their last dollar; and then to have contributed with alacrity, under
all the wasteful disadvantages of such a mode of contribution, a
share even of their provisions for the support of those who had
taken the field in the common cause. These taxes in kind, or these
" specifics," as they were called in those days, were collected in
many different warehouses, and places of deposit throughout the
State; and, as circumstances required, were distributed and
handed over to the army, or the public creditors, or sold to raise
money to meet instant and pressing demands. And, as we have
seen, it was made optional with the Chancellor, in the year 1782,
to draw his salary in bills of credit of the last emission, or in
wheat, one of those specifics. Such was the general pecuniary
and fiscal poverty, and embarrassment of the first years of the
Republic, that, at the April Session of 1782, an Act was passed
declaring, that no suit should be brought for the recovery of any
debt unless the debtor had neglected to pay interest, or had re-
fused to deliver any property he might have for sale, to his credi-
tor in payment at a fair valuation; and further, that the time from
thence until the first of January, 1784, should not be estimated in
the limitation to the prosecution of suits.

About the close of the year 1783, there being every reason to
hope for a rapid restoration of a sound circulating medium, with
which the taxes might be paid, and the Treasury replenished, the
law allowing the payment of taxes in kind was abolished; and the
specifics on hand were ordered to be sold. The finances of the
State in fact recovered, as was expected: but they were not so
soon cleared of all embarrassment, and re-established upon so
regular and permanent a basis, as to enable the General Assembly,
immediately, to determine what amount of salaries could, with
propriety, be secured to the judicial officers during the continuance
of their commissions, as was required by the Constitution.(p)

(p) The authority for what is stated in this and the three preceding para-
graphs, relative to the paper currency and the pecuniary condition of the
country in general, may be found in the history of the Union and in the
proceedings of Congress; (2 Ram. His. U. S. cha. 18; Jour. Cong. 25th Feb-
ruary, and 26th. August, 1780.) And that for what relates to Maryland in
particular has been derived from the public Acta of her Government; (Feb-
ruary, 1777, ch. 3, 9 & 21; October, 1777, ch. 18; October, 1778, ch. 18; March,
1779, ch. 16: July, 1779, ch. 32; November, 1779, ch. 42; March, 1780, eb. 25
and 31; June, 1780, ch. 29; November, 1781, ch. 29 and 30; and November,
178S, ch. 33: and the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Delegates of
the 12th of November. 1777; of the 21st and 35th of March, the 13th August,
and the 11th and 21st December of the year 1779; of the 24th & 25th April,
16th May, 1st & 7th November, and 16th December of the year 1780; of the
36th of January, and 3d June, 1781; of the 14th December, 1782; and of the
15th December, 1784.) The salaries of the Governor and Council, of the year