CHATHAM COUNTY: Ambrose Ramsey, Colonel; Jeduthun Harper, Lieutenant-Colonel; Mial Scurlock, First Major; Elisha Cain, Second Major.

And the proportion of Minute-Men to be raised in each County is as follows, viz:

Currituck, one Company; Pasquotank, one; Perquimans, one; Chouan, two; Bertie, two; Hertford, one; Tyrrel, one; Martin, one; Halifax, three; Northampton, two; Edgcombe, three;Bute, two; Anson, two; Mecklenburgh, two; Tryon, two; Guilford, one; Surry, one; Rowan, two; Craven, two; Carteret, one; Beaufort, one; Hyde, one; Johnston, one; Dobbs, three; Pitt, one; Brunswick, one; Onslow, two; Duplin, two; Cumberland, one; New-Hanover, two; Bladen, two; Orange, three; Granville, three; Wake, two; Chatham, two.

Resolved, That on the death, refusal to act, or removal out of the Province, of any of the Officers appointed, or hereafter to be appointed for the Minute-Men, that the Committee of Safety for the District shall appoint some person or persons to supply the place of such Officer or Officers.

The Congress adjourned till ten o’clock.

Saturday, ten o’clock.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to take into consideration the Report of the Committee appointed for the purpose of preparing a Plan for the internal peace, order and safety of this Province, and made choice of Mr. William Kennon Chairman; and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and the Chairman reported as follows, viz:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Congress to appoint in each District of this Colony a Committee of Safety, to consist of a President and twelve other Members, who shall sit every three months, at the principal Town within their respective Districts, viz: Wilmington, Newbern, Edenton, Halifax, Hillsborough, and Salisbury, and as often at other times within their respective Districts as they may judge expedient and necessary; and shall, under the control of the Provincial Council hereinafter mentioned, direct the operations of the Militia and such other Forces as are and may be employed for the safety, protection and defence of this Colony, within their respective jurisdictions; and receive informations, and censure and punish delinquents, either in the first instance, or as a superintending power over the Town and County Committees: such Committees of Safety to be elected in Congress by ballot, by the Members of the respective Districts.

That it be recommended as aforesaid to elect by ballot thirteen persons, two to be named by the Members of each District, and one by the Congress, who shall be styled the Provincial Council, and they, or a majority of them, shall certify the appointment of Officers in the Army during the recess of Congress, and fill up vacancies, and grant Certificates, which shall be in the following form, viz:

“NORTH-CAROLINA, in Provincial Council

“This is to certify that. . . . . . . . .was appointed [Captain, Lieutenant, or Ensign, as the case may be,] of Captain . . . . . ’s Company, in the .... Regiment of Foot of the American Army of this Province, commanded by Colonel . . ., this ... day of. . . ., 1775.”

That the Qualification and Test to be taken by Members of the Congress, shall also be taken by Members of the Provincial Council and Committees of Safety, before they be allowed to act.

That the Provincial Council, or a majority of them, as aforesaid, shall be vested with full power to suspend any Officer in the Army or Militia, when they shall deem it necessary for the publick service, and shall, within thirty days after such suspension, order a Regimental Court-Martial to set for the trial of such Officer; the sentence of such Court-Martial to be final, unless otherwise determined by the Congress.

That the Provincial Council, and the Committees of Safety in subordination thereto, shall have the direction, regulation, maintenance, and ordering of the Army, and of all military establishments and arrangements, subject however to the control of the Congress.

That the Provincial Council shall have full power to call forth the Militia, as in case of alarm, and to carry the Acts of Assembly, now or lately in force, with respect to the Militia, into execution; and shall have authority to reject such officers chosen by the people as they shall disapprove; to remove officers upon complaint; to fill up vacancies, and to make out appointments for such as shall have their approbation.

That, in general, the Provincial Council be empowered to do and transact all such matters and things, as they may judge expedient to strengthen, secure and defend the Colony; so as the same shall not extend to altering or suspending any Act or Resolution of the Congress.

That the said Council be empowered and authorized to draw on the Treasury for all sums of money necessary for the publick service, specifying for what particular service each sum of money shall be applied; for which they shall be accountable to the Congress.

That the Provincial Council shall meet at Johnston Court-House on the third Tuesday in October next, and once every three months, or oftener, if necessary, at that or such other place as they may think proper; and may adjourn from time to time as they may judge expedient.

That the Members of the Provincial Council shall be allowed for their expenses in travelling to, from, and attending at the Council on the publick service, ten Shillings per day, and also for their ferriages.

That in case of a vacancy in the said Council, during the recess of the Congress, the Members of the Committee of Safety of the District wherein such vacancy shall happen, shall nominate some proper person to fill up such vacancy, to be chosen by ballot.

That no person holding a military office, from which he receives or expects profit, or any person holding a lucrative office under any of the military commanders in particular or the Army in general, shall be capable to act as a Member of the Provincial Council, or of any of the Committees of Safety, or a Representative of the people in Congress, Officers and Commanders of the Militia only excepted.

That a majority of the Members of each of the Committees of Safety be a quorum.

That the Provincial Council and the Committees of Safety in their respective District shall have full power and authority to compel all debtors, who are suspected of an intention to remove themselves out of this Colony, (such suspicion being first sworn to before such Council or Committee,) to give security to their creditors, and in default threof to cause the persons or effects of such debtors, at the option of the creditors, to be seized and safely kept until such security be given, or the creditors otherwise satisfied; and that the County Committees have the same power to grant remedies in like cases in all demands of twenty Pounds and under; and the Committees of Safety shall also have power and authority to call all persons liable for publick moneys, to account, and by distress of their estates and imprisonment of persons, to compel payment thereof, to the end that the Treasury may be supplied with money for the present exigencies of the Colony, without burdening the people.

That the power of the different Committees of Safety and the Provincial Council shall continue during the recess of the Congress, and until it shall be otherwise determined therein; and that all the proceedings of the said Committees of Safety and Provincial Council shall be laid before the Congress for their inspection.

That on the third Tuesday in October in every year, the freeholders in each County throughout this Province, shall meet at the Court-House of such County, and in the presence of three Inspectors, to be appointed by the County Committee or candidates, or any two of such Inspectors, shall proceed to choose any number of persons, not exceeding five, to represent them in Congress for one year, in the same manner, and under the same regulations and restrictions as near as may be, as directed by an act of Assembly of this Province, entitled “An Act to Regulate Elections.”

And at the same time the freeholders in each Town