In Congress, Monday, February 19, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

Mr. President laid before the Congress the copy of a Letter which he had yesterday written by their order, relative to the present situation of Messrs. Dunn and Boote, viz:

South-Carolina, Charlestown, February 18, 1776.

[By authority of Congress.]

To the Committee of Safety for SALISBURY, NORTH-CAROLINA:

GENTLEMEN: Mr. Dunn and Mr. Boote, who were sent prisoners from your Colony to this, have repeatedly made applications to our publick Assemblies for their discharge. In our last session of Congress, they presented a petition and remonstrance to the same effect, which the Congress referred to your judgment, and I enclosed the prayer of the petition in the following letter addressed to you. The letter was delivered to Mr. Boote, who undertook to forward it:

“January 10, 1776.

“GENTLEMEN: I have the honour to enclose to you an extract of the prayer of a remonstrance and petition which has been, by Mr. Dunn and Mr. Boote, presented to the Congress of this Colony in their last session. These gentlemen, in their remonstrance and petition, declared they did not mean and never would relinquish any right of action at law which they may have against those gentlemen who were the immediate cause of their being sent prisoners into this Colony. The Congress would not make any other order upon the remonstrance and petition than that it should be referred entirely to your judgment.”

Mr. Dunn is now a prisoner upon his parole; and Mr. Boote is a prisoner in the common jail in this town, he being, of the two, thought to be by much the most dangerous person.

The Congress have directed me to acquaint you with the situation of these gentlemen, requesting that you will signify your sentiments to me thereupon.

I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most humble

WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, President.

Mr. President of the Council of Safety laid before the Congress an Account of Mr. John Champneys, one of the Commissioners for receiving and selling Rice on the publick account.

And the said Account being immediately taken under consideration, the Congress disallowed the following charges therein:

Ordered, That the Committee on Publick Accounts do ascertain the quantity of Rice sold out by retail by said Mr. Champneys, and report the commission proper to be allowed thereon; and that the charge of five hundred Pounds in said Account, for damages sustained, be referred to the Committee on Mr. Thomas Singleton’s Petition.

Resolved, That the Committees in the several Parishes and Districts throughout the Colony ought, and they are hereby required, strictly to execute the Resolution of the Congress in January, 1775, to prevent the removal of the effects of any Debtors out of the Colony, without the knowledge or consent of their Creditors.

Resolved, That at least one thousand men from the country Militia are necessary for the immediate defence of Charlestown.

Captain John Allston’s Letter, of the 15th instant, being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That the Resolution of Congress, of the 27th of November last, relative to Captain Allston’s Indian Company of Foot Rangers or Rovers, be made void, and that the said Company be restored to their original establishment.

Whereas one thousand and fifty men of the country Militia, exclusive of commissioned and non-commissioned Officers, are necessary to do duty in and near Charlestown, in addition to the Regulars and town Militia, from the first day of March to the first day of April next:

Therefore Resolved, That the following drafts be forthwith made and marched to Charlestown, to relieve the Militia to be discharged on the first day of March, viz:

And further Resolved, That the said drafts shall remain in and near Charlestown one month; at the expiration of which time they shall be relieved monthly by the same numbers, to do the same duty, from the same Regiments; that the first drafts shall be made of such men (if there are any such in their respective Regiments) as have not been on duty by order of Congress or Council of Safety—except in such Regiments, respectively, volunteers shall offer to do the duty for which the drafts are intended; and that the Colonels of the said Regiments respectively shall appoint the Captains and Subalterns, to command the said detachments, according to the dates of their commissions.

Resolved, That the Militia on the Sea-Islands, and in Christ-Church Parish, be not included in the said drafts.

Ordered, That Mr. President do transmit copies of the foregoing Resolves to the Commanding Officers of the several Regiments from which drafts are to be made, by express, with the utmost expedition.

Ordered, That Letters be forthwith written, by different conveyances, to the Continental Congress, at Philadelphia, acquainting them with the present situation of affairs in this Colony, and the recent alarming intelligence we have received from Georgia, of the hostile armament collecting at Cockspur.

Adjourned to eleven o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Tuesday, February 20, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The Congress proceeded on the consideration of the Report of the Committee, upon the number of Forces necessary to be raised and kept in pay for the service of the Colony; and made some progress therein.

A motion was made that the Regiment of Rangers be reduced from horse to foot.

A debate ensued; and the question being put, the Congress divided.

The yeas went forth. Yeas, 46; Nays, 54.

So that it was determined in the negative.

A motion was made, that the name of the Regiment of Rangers be changed to that of Light-Dragoons.

A debate arose; and the question being put, it passed in the negative.

A motion was made, that a Colonel be appointed to command the Regiment of Rangers.

A debate ensued; the question was put, and passed in the negative.

A motion was made, that the Rule of Congress, of the 7th instant, restricting the Members from speaking more than twice upon one question, be amended, by adding the words “without leave from the Chair.”

After some debate, the previous question was moved for, and put, and passed in the negative.

A motion was made, that Rations be allowed to the Regiment of Rangers, in like manner as to the Regiments of Infantry.