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upon us in this manner solemnly to testify to the world, that His Majesty has no subjects more faithful than the inhabitants of North-Carolina, or more ready, at the expense of their lives and fortunes, to protect and support his’ person, crown, and dignity. If, however, by the signal proofs your Excellency speaks of, you mean those Addresses lately published in the North-Carolina Gazette, and said to be presented to you, the Assembly can receive no pleasure from your congratulations thereupon, but what results from the consideration, that so few have been found in so populous a Province weak enough to be seduced from their duty, and prevailed upon by the base arts of wicked and designing men to adopt principles so contrary to the sense of all America, and so destructive of those just rights and privileges it was their duty to maintain. We take this opportunity, Sir, the first that has been given us, to express the Warm attachment we have to our sister Colonies in general, and the heartfelt compassion we entertain for the deplorable state of the Town of Boston in particular, and also to declare the fixed and determined re solution of this Colony to unite with the other Colonies in every effort to retain those just rights and liberties which, as subjects to a British King, we possess, and which it is our absolute and indispensable duty to hand down to posterity unimpaired The exhausted state of the publick funds, of which your Excellency complains, we contemplate with great concern, alleviated, however, by the reflection that it has not been owing to any misconduct in the Assembly. We were with held from passing any inferior Court Law, but upon such terms as our duty rendered it impossible to accept; by which means no list of taxables could be taken for the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-three, and consequently no money collected to defray the charges of Government for that year; and as your Excellency did not think proper to meet the Assembly at their usual time of meeting in the fall, no Act could be passed to defray the contingent charges of Government for the year one thou sand seven hundred and seventy-four. The Treasury, by these means, deprived of two years collection of taxes, must consequently be unable to answer the great demands upon it till an Act of Assembly can be passed to enable it to discharge them. The House, convinced of the necessity of Courts of Justice, would willingly adopt any plan for the establishment of them, which, in their opinion, is consistent with the circumstances of this Colony; and for independent Judges, of capacity and integrity, they would, with the greatest pleasure, very liberally provide. We are sorry, Sir, the impoverished state of the publick finances will not permit us to provide for the usual establishment of Fort Johnston. The advanced season of the year, which, of all other times, made it most inconvenient for us to attend publick business, will, your Excellency may assure yourself, induce us to forward it with all possible expedition. JOHN HARVEY, Speaker. Resolved, That the House do highly approve of the Proceedings of the Continental Congress lately held at Philadelphia, and that they are determined, as members of the community in general, that they will strictly adhere to the said Resolutions, and will use what influence they have to induce the same observance in every individual of this Colony. This House having received information that William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and Richard Caswell, Esquires, were appointed, by the Convention held at Newbern, as Delegates to attend the meeting of the Continental Congress soon to be held at Philadelphia: Resolved, That the House approve of the choice made by the said Convention. Resolved, That the thanks of the House be given to William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and Richard Caswell, Esquires, for the faithful and judicious discharge of the important trust reposed in them as. Delegates for this Colony at the late Continental Congress. Mr. William Brown, the Member Car-Bath Town, Mr. Thomas Respess, one of the Members for Beaufort County, Mr. Jonathan Hearring, one of the Members for Pasquotank County, and Mr. William Haywood and Mr. Elisha Battle, the Members for Edgecombe County, appeared. The Honourable John Rutherford and Lewis H. De Rosset, Esquires, two of the Members of Council, came to the House, and Mr. Brown, Mr. Respess, Mr. Hearting, Mr. Haywood, and Mr. Battle were qualified, by taking the several oaths by law appointed for qualification of Publick Officers, and repeating and subscribing the Test. Then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o’clock. Saturday, April 8, l775. His Excellency the Governour, by Proclamation, was pleased to dissolve the Assembly. At a Council held at the Council Chamber, the 7th of April, 1775, in the evening, Present: His Excellency the Governour, the Honourable James Hasell, John Rutherford, Lewis H. De Rossett, Alexander McCulloch, Samuel Strudwick, Martin Howard, Samuel Cornell, and Thomas McGuire, Esquires: His Excellency laid before the Board the Journals of the House of Assembly, in which was contained, amongst other unwarrantable proceedings, the following Resolve: “Resolved, That the House do highly approve of the Proceedings of the Continental Congress lately held at Philadelphia, and that they are determined, as members of the community in general, that they will strictly adhere to the said Resolutions, and will use what influence they have to induce the same observance in every individual of this Colony.” Upon consideration hereof, this Board gave it as their opinion, that the longer existence of such a House of Assembly is incompatible with the honour of the Crown and the safety of the people, and therefore unanimously advised His Excellency to dissolve them, which was done by the following Proclamation: North-Carolina, ss. By His Excellency JOSIAH MARTIN, Esquire, &c. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas several Resolves appear on the Journals of the House of Assembly, now sitting, tending to alienate the affections of His Majesty’s subjects, and subvert the Constitution; and whereas the longer existence of such an Assembly is incompatible with the honour of the Crown and the safety of the people: I have therefore thought fit, by and with the advice and consent of His Majesty’s Council, to dissolve the said Assembly, and It is accordingly dissolved. Given under my hand, &c., at Newbern, &c., this 8th day of April, 1775, &c. Jo. MARTIN. GOD save the. King. NORTH-CAROLINA PROVINCIAL CONVENTION. The Journal of the Proceedings of the Provincial Convention of NORTH-CAROLINA, held at NEWBERN on the third day of APRIL, A. D. 1 775. North-Carolina, ss. At a General Meeting of the Delegates of the Inhabitants of this Province, in Convention, at Newbern, the third day of April, in the year 1775, Present— ANSON County.—(None.)
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