duty upon every subject of every State, where it is not professed and declared, must have brought it house to your own consideration, and you are therefore certainly well qualified to explain the obligatory nature and importance of it to the people. They will naturally look up to you for a rule of conduct in these wild and distempered times; and I have no doubt that, taught by your example, they will immediately return to their duty and obedience to the laws, and gladly free themselves from that tyranny which ill-directed zeal and lawless ambition, by all the arts of misrepresentation and delusion, are courting them to submit to. I have the high satisfaction to tell you, gentlemen, that I have already received signal proofs of the steady loyalty and duty of a great number of the good people of this Province, and I have the fullest assurance that many more will follow their laudable example. These, gentlemen, are favourable presages, upon which I congratulate you, and which I persuade myself your prudent conduct will improve to the honour and advantage of your Country.

The state of the Colonies is at this time the subject of the deliberations of the grand Council of the Nation, from whose wisdom and justice they have every thing to expect consistent with the principles of the British Constitution and the general welfare of the Empire, while they continue in the duty they owe to it. The confessed generous character of Britain, and the magnanimity of our most gracious Sovereign, who, through the whole course of his reign, has uniformly made the happiness of his people the object of all his views, and the rule of all his actions, insures it to them. On this great Arbiter of British rights it therefore becomes you to rely with the fullest confidence, and to deserve, by a dutiful behaviour, its favourable regard. If a precedent could be wanting, as I cannot suppose it is, to induce to such right conduct, one of the most respectable of the Colonies affords it to you; and you will see, without question, how highly improper it will be, at such a conjuncture, to countenance any measures of a contrary nature. If the people of this Colony have any representations to make to the supreme powers of the State, you are the only legal and proper channel of their applications, and through you they may be assured of every attention to their dutiful petitions. You, gentlemen, I dare say, esteem too highly the rights of the people committed to your guardianship, and know too well the limits of your own power, to consign them to any other hands that must only be disqualified to serve the people, but will infallibly divest you of that dignity and consequence which belong to you as their lawful Representatives.

Let me hope, gentlemen, that, laying aside all passion and prejudice, you will calmly, and with one accord, pursue such a line of conduct in these points of general concern to America, as may be most likely to heal the unhappy differences now subsisting between Great Britain and her Colonies. Consider how great an opportunity you now have to serve, to save your Country, to manifest your loyalty to the best of Kings, and to demonstrate your attachment to the British Constitution—the most free, the most glorious and happiest political system in the whole world. If you consult but for a moment your own interest and welfare, and the happiness of this people, I cannot be disappointed in my hopes that you will avail yourselves of the occasion. Be it your glory, gentlemen, to record to latest posterity, that at a time when the monster Sedition dared to rear his impious head in America, the people of North-Carolina, inspired with a just sense of their duty to their King and Country, and animated by the example of its Legislature, stood among the foremost of his Majesty’s subjects, to resist his baneful snares and to repel the fell invader of their happiness. Thus, gentlemen, you may redeem your sinking Country to prosperity; thus you will acquire to yourselves immortal honour and renown: while a contrary conduct must inevitably plunge this once happy land in honours beyond all imagination; whence nothing can recover it but the generous hand of Britain, interposed to save you from your own destruction. Thus, gentlemen, I have set before you, upon principles of your duty to the Constitution and the welfare of your Country, the necessity of discouraging, to the utmost of your power, the illegal meetings into which the innocent people have been betrayed, and the unlawful establishments and appointments they have been led to give their sanction to. I have also stated to you the more especial obligations you lie under to prevent that meeting to which the people have been invited to send Deputies here at this time, and I have fully admonished you of the ruinous consequences of a different conduct. In addition to these powerful motives, gentlemen, I am authorized to say, that the unwarrantable measure of appointing Delegates to attend a Congress at Philadelphia, now in agitation, will be highly offensive to the King, and this, I cannot doubt, will be reason with you of the greatest force to oppose so dangerous a step.

Your next attention, gentlemen, is due to the particular state of this Country, that calls for your strictest regard.

The exhausted state of the public Treasury, the large demands upon it that remain unsatisfied, the dues of publick officers that are unpaid, call loudly for your attention to the ill condition of publick credit and the finances of this Country, and I trust you will not fail to pay that regard which is due to points of so great importance. I heartily wish, with regard to matters of finance and modes of taxation, as well as to the regulation of the Treasury, to draw your attention to the admirable systems of New-York and Maryland, in which last Colony publick credit is established upon the firmest basis; but the example of every other Colony, with regard to the latter article, I am sorry to say it, is better than has been yet adopted here.

You have now, gentlemen, a fair opportunity to restore to this Province, by a law for the permanent establishment of Courts, that great store of political blessings, arising from a due and regular administration of justice, of which I have long lamented to see it deprived. I have received His Majesty’s determination upon the proposed regulations with regard to proceedings by attachment, which have been the apparent cause of this misfortune. This I shall communicate to you in the course of your session, and I hope it will obviate all the difficulties that have occurred on this subject. When the establishment of Courts shall come under your consideration, you cannot fail to see the necessity of making provision for the Judges, and the propriety of that provision being adequate and honourable, and suitable to offices of so high dignity and importance.

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly:

I cannot doubt that you will see the same necessity for supporting the usual establishment of Fort Johnston, founded upon the same principles of public utility that have induced you to maintain it during so long a series of years.

Gentlemen of His Majesty’s Honourable Council,

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly:

I am sensible that the advanced season of the year requires your attendance on your domestick affairs, and I shall therefore be glad to find that your unanimity in the conduct of the very important business you are now met upon, affords me opportunity to conclude your session speedily and happily; on my part, I do assure you, nothing shall be wanting to promote these good ends.

Jo. MARTIN.

Newborn, 4th April, 1775.

Then, on motion, Ordered, His Excellency the Governour’s Speech lie for consideration till to-morrow morning.

On motion, James Green, Jr., is appointed Clerk to this House; James Glasgow, Assistant; Benjamin Fordham, Mace Bearer; Francis Lynaugh and Evan Swann, Doorkeepers.

Mr. Jonathan Hearring, one of the Members for Pasquotank County, appeared.

Then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning 10 o’clock.

Wednesday, 5th April, 1775.

The House met according to adjournment.

This House being informed that Mr. Isaac Edwards, who was elected Member For the Town of Newbern, is dead:

On motion, Ordered. The following Message be sent to his Excellency the Governour, to wit:

To His Excellency JOSIAH MARTIN, Esquire, Captain-General, Governour, &c., &c.

SIR: This House having been informed that Mr. Isaac Edwards, who was elected Member for the Town of Newbern, is dead, therefore desire your Excellency will be