At a " time when the utmost resources of this State were " laid open to their wants, and the members of Con- " vention personally submitted to the labour and " fatigue which were necessary, on a sudden emer- " gency, and after frequent losses of Provisions and " Barracks, to supply two numerous Armies, aug- " mented by the Militia, with every article which " they required, the Court-house and the remains of " the Village, at the White Plains, which had been " spared, on the retreat of our forces, was, after the " enemy had, in their turn, retired, wantonly de- " stroyed, without the Orders and to the infinite re- " gret of our worthy General. Besides, in spite of " all his Excellency's efforts, wherever our troops " have marched or been stationed, they have done " infinite damage to the possessions and farms, and " have pilfered the property of the people.

" I am directed. Sir, to submit it to the honourable " Congress, whether some effectual remedy ought " not to be provided against such disorderly and dis- " graceful proceedings. The soldier who plunders " the country he is employed to protect, is no better " than a robber, and ought to be treated accordingly ; " and a severe example ought, in the opinion of the " Committee, to be made of the Officer who, without " necessity or his General's permission, set fire to the " Court-house and other buildings, at the White " Plains. He is guilty of the crime of Arson ; and if " he cannot be punished by the Articles of War, he " ought to be given up to the Laws of the land. If " so glaring a violation of every sentiment of human- " ity should be passed over, in silence, if the Army " is not seasonably restrained from such acts of bar- " barity, the consequence must be fatal to the cause " of a people whose exalted glory it is to be advocates " for the Rights of Mankind against the tyranny and " oppression of lawless power." '