Yet no means were adopted to supply such extraordinary demand, whatever might be the resources of the country.

A still more radical objection to the system was the principle, enabling any state which should take means to comply with the requisition, and should notify those means to the government of the United States, to prohibit the continental agents from making any purchases within its territory.

Among the states which adopted the proposition of congress was New Jersey, in which the largest division of the army was stationed.

Its legislature passed an act prohibiting the purchase of provisions within its jurisdiction by the staff of the continental line, under severe penalties; and refused to authorize its own agents to provide for any emergency however pressing.

It was an additional objection to these requisitions, that they specified no periods of the year within which certain portions of the articles demanded should be raised, and consequently might be complied with, although the army should be left destitute of every necessary for a considerable part of the campaign.
These suggestions, however, with others less material to the military operations, did not receive the attention which was due to their importance.