the consideration of the Report on a plan or form of Government.

After some time spent therein,

Major Cattell, from the said Committee, delivered in a partial Report, on a plan or form of Government in this Colony, until an accommodation shall take place between Great Britain and the British American Colonies.

And the said Report being read,

Ordered, That the same be taken into consideration tomorrow.

Ordered, That Mr. President do prepare a draft of a declaration of pardon and amnesty to the late Insurgents, agreeable to the Resolution of this Congress of yesterday.

Resolved, That the Committees for Georgetown and Beaufort, respectively, be, and they are hereby, authorized and empowered to purchase, and fit out, a proper Armed Vessel at each of those ports, for the protection of the trade and navigation thereof.

The Report of the Committee to point out the best mode of encouraging the making of Saltpetre in this Colony, being taken into consideration,

After some debate thereon, the Congress

Resolved, That Dr. David Ramsay be requested to superintend the Publick Nitre Works in Charlestown, and to direct the manufacturing of Nitre at the said Works. And that the sum of five hundred Pounds be lodged in Dr. Ramsay’s hands, for the repairing of the said Works, and for the carrying on the manufacture of Nitre thereat to the best advantage, to be by him accounted for.

That the said Works be open to all persons, who, for the purpose of acquiring instruction, shall choose to visit them. And that Dr. Ramsay be requested to publish, as soon as he can, the most easy and simple method of manufacturing Nitre; and that, from time to time, he also publish such further improvements therein as he may experience.

That a person be appointed by every Parochial or District Committee, to receive all such good Nitre made in the Colony as shall be offered to such person; and the said Committees shall transmit the quantities so received to the Council of Safety, who, after the Nitre now belonging to the publick shall be made into Gunpowder, shall then be authorized to exchange Gunpowder for Saltpetre, at the rate of one pound of Gunpowder, manufactured at the Publick Works, for one pound and a half of Nitre transmitted as aforesaid. And where the owner of the Nitre shall not choose such Powder in exchange, he may receive, in lieu thereof, twenty Shillings, currency, the pound.

Ordered, That the Secretary do forthwith cause a number of copies of directions for an easy process in the making of Saltpetre, sent by Mr. Lynch, from Philadelphia, to be printed, and distributed amongst the Members, that they may be properly dispersed.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Friday, March 15, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The Congress proceeded to take under consideration the Report of the Committee of the Whole, on a plan or form of Government in this Colony.

And proceeding in that clause of the first section of the said Report, “That this Congress, being a full and free representation of the people, shall henceforth be called the General Assembly of South-Carolina;”;

A motion was made that the said clause be struck out.

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

On reading the clause, “That this Congress, as a General Assembly, shall continue as such, until the 20th day of July next,”

A motion was made for an amendment, by striking out the words “20th of July,”; and inserting in their stead, the words “21st of October.”;

And the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

The second section of the said Report being read,

A motion was made that the words “Legislative Council,” be struck out.

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

The yeas went forth. Yeas, 30; Nays, 40.

So that it was determined in the negative.

A motion was then made that the said Legislative Council shall consist of twenty-one Members, eleven whereof to be a quorum.

After some time spent in debate, the question was put, and passed in the negative.

On motion, That the said Council shall consist of seventeen Members, nine of them to be a quorum;

The question was put, and passed in the negative.

A motion was made, That the said Council shall consist of fifteen Members, whereof nine to be a quorum.

And the question being put, it passed in the negative.

A motion was made, That the Members of the said Legislative Council be chosen by ballot “from among the Members of the General Assembly.”

After some time spent in debate, the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Saturday, March 16, 1776.

The Congress met.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee of the Whole, on a plan or form of Government.

And the third section of the said Report being read,

A motion was made, to strike out the word “President,” and to insert instead thereof, the word “Governour.”

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

The fourth section of the said Report being read,

A motion was made for an amendment, by inserting, after the words “by ballot,” the words “from among themselves, or the people at large.”

The question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

The fifth section of the said Report being read,

A motion was made for an amendment, by inserting, after the words “Legislative Council,” “Provided always, That no Officer in the Army or Navy, in the service of the Continent, or of this Colony, shall be eligible.”

After some time spent in debate, the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

The Congress then proceeded in the seventh section of the Report, on a plan or form of Government.

A motion was made to amend the same, by striking out the words “bills of supply,” and inserting instead thereof, the words “money bills.“

After some debate, the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Sunday, March 17, 1776.

The Congress met. And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee of the Whole, on a plan or form of Government.

The eleventh section of the said Report being read,

A motion was made to strike out the words “every year,” and to insert in lieu thereof the words “the same days in every second year.”

After some debate, the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

On motion, to agree with that part of the said eleventh section which directs “that each Parish and District have the same representation as at present;”

A debate ensued; and the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

Adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow.

In Congress, Monday, March 18, 1776.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

And the Journal of yesterday was read.

Resolved, That the Council of Safety be, and they are hereby, empowered and directed to appoint a proper person