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In Congress, Monday, March 4, 1776. The Congress met. And the Journal of yesterday was read. The President of the Council of Safety laid before the Congress a Letter which he had last night received from Mr. Habersham, in Georgia, dated Savannah, February 28, 1776, representing the present state of publick affairs in that Colony. Ordered, That Mr. Simon Berwick be added to the Commissioners for signing the first emission of Money ordered by Congress. Resolved, That a Letter be forthwith written to Colonel Bull, enclosing to him a copy of the Letter received from Savannah. Ordered, That Mr. Kershaw be added to the Committee on Publick Accounts. Colonel Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, from the Committee appointed to prepare such a plan or form of Government as will best produce the happiness of the People, and most effectually secure peace and good order in the Colony, during the continuance of the present dispute between Great Britain and the Colonies, delivered in a Report. Ordered, That the determination when the said Report shall be taken into consideration, be postponed till to-morrow morning, eleven o’clock. Resolved, That all the Members of Congress within sixty miles of Charlestown, who are still absent, be forthwith sent for, by special messengers, at their own expense. The Rev. Mr. Tennent, from the Committee to whom the Petition of William Hill, relative to a Bloomery, was referred, delivered in a Report. Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed. Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow. In Congress, Tuesday, March 5, 1776. The Congress met. And the Journal of yesterday was read. Ordered, That the Committee appointed to superintend and promote the making of Gunpowder in this Colony, do forthwith make a Report of their proceedings to this Congress. Ordered, That Colonel Powell, the Rev. Mr. Tennent, Mr. Corbett, Colonel Gervais, Mr. Felder, and Mr. Kershaw, be a Committee to consider and report the best means of erecting a Powder-Mill, and of promoting the making of Gunpowder in this Colony. Mr. President of the Council of Safety laid before the Congress the following Papers, received this morning, by express, from Georgia, and addressed to their Board, viz: A Letter from the Council of Safety of Georgia, dated Savannah, the 1st instant. Another from the same, dated the 2d instant. Copy of certain Resolutions entered into by said Council, same date. Copy of a Proclamation issued by said Council, same date. Resolved, That the unanimous thanks of this Congress be returned, by Mr. President, to the Council of Safety of Georgia, in terms of the highest approbation of their noble and spirited conduct. A Return was made of the election of Thomas Tudor Tucker, Esquire, on the 26th past, to be a Member of the present Congress, to represent the Parish of St. George, Dorchester. Notice being at the same time given that Mr. Tucker declined to serve, Ordered, That the Committee for the said Parish of St. George, Dorchester, do forthwith take the proper measures for filling up the vacancy. The Rev. Mr. Tennent, from the Committee to consider and report the best means of promoting the making of Nitre in this Colony, delivered in a Report. Resolved, That Henry Peronneau and Benjamin Dart, Esquires, joint Publick Treasurers, be ordered forthwith to lay before this Congress an exact state of the Treasury under their care. Ordered, That they be immediately served with a copy of the above Resolve. Captain Roger Smith, from the Committee to consider of ways and means for payment of the services already voted, delivered in a Report. Ordered, That Mr. President, Mr. John Rutledge, Colonel Powell, Colonel C. C. Pinckney, and Captain Shubrick, be a Committee to prepare proper Rules and Articles for the better regulation and government of the Navy of this Colony. The Congress then proceeded in the Order of the Day. After a considerable time spent in debate, A motion was made, that this Congress do postpone the consideration of the Report on the plan or form of Government until May next. A debate arose, the question was put, and passed in the negative. Resolved, That this Congress will, on Thursday morning next, in a Committee of the Whole, take into consideration the Report of the Committee who were appointed, by ballot, to prepare such a plan or form of Government as will best produce the happiness of the People, and effectually secure peace and good order in the Colony. Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow. In Congress, Wednesday, March 6, 1776. The Congress met. And the Journal of yesterday was read. Mr. President laid before the Congress the following copy of the Letter, written by their order, to Georgia: Charlestown, South-Carolina, March 5, 1776. [By authority of Congress.] To the Honourable the Council of Safety for GEORGIA: GENTLEMEN: Your letters of the 1st and 2d instant, and your resolutions, order, and proclamation of those dates, were laid before the Congress, transfusing a general and perfect joy. And the Congress, sensible of the vast importance which your exemplary conduct must be of to the American cause, unanimously voted their thanks; and I have the honour thus to transmit them to you, for your having decisively taken the noble, politick, and vigorous resolution, that the vessels in the ports of Savannah, ready to sail contrary to the interest of America, shall be forthwith unrigged and unruddered; and that, rather than the enemy shall possess those vessels and your Capital, all shall perish in a noble conflagration, lighted by yourselves—an instance of heroick principle not exceeded by any, and equalled but by few, in history. Your conduct, in citing such of the inhabitants of Savannah as had abandoned their possessions in that town to return to its defence, under penalty of being deemed to have deserted such property, and of being excluded from any support towards obtaining an indemnification for any loss they may sustain by a general conflagration, received the highest applause, as being worthy of imitation; the policy and justice of the measure are equally conspicuous. In short, the Congress feel the greatest satisfaction from their having anticipated your call for assistance; it is sufficient that we know our friends stand in need of our aid. We hope that our forces under Colonel Bull will fully accommodate your necessities; and you may rest assured that we shall continue to afford to the friends of America in Georgia, every support in our power. I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most humble servant, WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, President. Mr. Peronneau and Mr. Dart, in conformity to the Order of yesterday, attended, and delivered in the following: “State of the Paper Currency in the Publick Treasury of SOUTH-CAROLINA.
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