In Congress, Saturday, March 9, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to resume the consideration of the Report on a plan or form of Government.

And some time being spent in the said Committee,

Major Cattell reported that they had made some progress in the Report on the plan or form of Government, and desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to resume the consideration of the said Report.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Sunday, March 10, 1776.

The Congress met.

The Rev. Mr. Turquand performed Divine service.

The Journal of yesterday was read.

Resolved, That the Resolution of Congress in January, 1775, prohibiting the killing of Sheep in this Colony, be repealed. And, in lieu thereof, it is now resolved that no Lambs, or Sheep under two years old, shall be killed for sale.

Agreeable to the Resolve of yesterday, the Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole.

After some time spent therein,

Major Cattell reported that they had made a further progress in the Report before them; and desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to resume the consideration of the Report on the plan or form of Government.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Monday, March 11, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

Resolved, That every Soldier or Militia-man who shall engage to labour on the publick works, shall, in addition to bis Regimental or Militia pay, receive such pay as, with each of them, shall be agreed by Mr. Daniel Cannon, who shall weekly render in and receive payment on his account for such services.

The Congress, agreeable to the Order of yesterday, again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to resume the consideration of the Report on the plan or form of Government.

And having spent some time therein,

Major Cattell, from the said Committee, reported that they had made a further progress; and desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to resume the consideration of the said Report.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Tuesday, March 12, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The Congress, agreeable to the Resolve of yesterday, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, and resumed the consideration of the Report on a plan or form of Government.

After some time spent therein,

Major Cattell, from the said Committee, reported that they had made a further progress; and desired leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to proceed on the said Report.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Wednesday, March 13, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

Ordered, That Mr. Loocock, Mr. Theodore Gaillard, Jun., Mr. Kershaw, Mr. Toomer, and Mr. Verree, be a Committee to inquire and report the quantity of Salt now in the Colony, and the prices at which the respective holders purchased the same.

Resolved, That no person shall have permission to remove out of this Colony, until such person, so intending to remove with permission, shall have first given ten days’ publick notice, by advertisements affixed at the doors of the State-House, of his or her intention to apply for such leave.

The Congress having resumed the consideration of the Report to inquire into the state of the interior parts of the Colony, lately in commotion, and the most likely measures to preserve peace, and to prevent future commotions therein; and having gone through the said Report,

Resolved, That a declaration of pardon and amnesty be published to the late Insurgents, with certain exceptions.

That all persons who shall hereafter bear arms against, or shall be active in opposing, the measures of the Continental or Colony Congress, and upon due conviction thereof, before a majority of the Committee of the District or Parish where such persons reside, shall be disarmed, and, at the discretion of the said Committee, taken into custody; and, if necessary thereto, the said Committee shall call in the aid of the military as soon as possible, transmitting to the Congress or Council of Safety an account of such proceedings.

That all reasonable indulgence ought to be given to the aforesaid late Insurgents, and, as far as is consistent with the publick safety, they be allowed to trade as usual, except for Arms and Ammunition.

That if any person who has been disarmed, shall convince the Committee aforesaid that he sincerely desires to join in support of the American cause, his arms shall be restored to him, and, in every respect, he shall be put on the footing of an Associator, upon his taking the following oath:

“I, A B, do, upon the Holy Evangelists, (or, according to the form of my profession,) freely, voluntarily, and without the least compulsion, evasion, or mental reservation, solemnly swear and declare, that I will, at all times, to the best of my power, aid and support the authority of Congress, and every authority derived from them. And also, that I will pay obedience to the Continental and Provincial Councils, according to the true meaning and spirit of the Association entered into by the Congress of this Colony, on the 4th of June last. So help me God.”;

That if any person, having been disarmed, shall, without leave of the Committee aforesaid, be found in possession of Arms or Ammunition, or be convicted of having purchased either of those articles, he shall again be disarmed, and committed to close confinement by the said Committee; they transmitting, as soon as possible, to the Congress or Council of Safety, an account of such proceeding.

That all Commissions of officers who have been in arms against the authority of Congress, or who have been, or shall be, convicted of having been active in opposing the authority of Congress, or having refused to act in support of that authority, be, and shall be null and void.

That the respective Committees, and the supporters of the American cause, ought to discourage the use of any opprobrious language reflecting upon the late misbehaviour of the aforesaid Insurgents, who, behaving in a peaceable manner, ought to be treated with friendship and humanity, tenderness and moderation, as the Congress wishes to reclaim rather than to punish.

Resolved, That the consideration of the Order of the Day be postponed.

Resolved, That this Congress will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to resume the consideration of the Report on a plan or form of Government.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Thursday, March 14, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, according to the Resolve of yesterday, and resumed