By the suffrages of a free People you, sir, have been chosen to hold the reins of Government; an event as honourable to yourself as beneficial to the publick. We firmly trust you will make the Constitution the great rule of your conduct; and, in the most solemn manner we do assure your Excellency that, in the discharge of your duties under that Constitution which looks forward to an accommodation with Great Britain, (an event which, though traduced and treated as Rebels, we still earnestly desire,) we will support you with our lives and fortunes.

The Honourable Mr. Drayton, from the Committee appointed to bring in certain Bills and Ordinances, presented the following:

A Bill to punish those who shall counterfeit, or utter knowing them to be counterfeit, the Certificates issued by the late Houses of Assembly, or the Continental or Colonial Currency which hath been already, or shall be hereafter issued.

An Ordinance for establishing an Oath of Office to be taken in manner therein mentioned.

A Bill to prevent Sedition, and punish Insurgents and disturbers of the Peace.

A Bill for the more effectual prevention of the Desertion of the Soldiers and Sailors in the service of this Colony, and for the punishment of those who shall harbour or conceal them.

A Bill to increase the number of Firemasters in Charlestown, and to empower any two of them to pull down such Houses, or other Buildings, as they shall judge necessary for the stopping and preventing the spreading of Fire.

An Ordinance to suspend the Habeas Corpus Act, in manner therein mentioned.

An Ordinance for making a disposition of Moneys for the support of Government, and to enable his Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of South-Carolina for the time being, to exercise certain powers, in manner therein mentioned.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for establishing an Oath of Office, to be taken in manner therein mentioned, be now read.

The same was accordingly read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

Being read a second time,

Ordered, That Dr. Haig and Mr. Motte do carry the said Ordinance to the honourable the Legislative Council.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for making a disposition of Moneys for the support of Government, and to enable his Excellency the President and Commander in-Chief of South-Carolina for the time being, to exercise certain powers, in manner therein mentioned, be read a first time.

The same was read accordingly.

Ordered, That the said Ordinance be read a second time.

On motion, to strike out the words “and Militia” in the latter clause of the second section,

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

A motion was made for an amendment to the said clause, by inserting the words, “and Militia to act in an adjoining Colony.”

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

The Clerk of the Legislative Council brought to this House the Ordinance for establishing an Oath of Office, to be taken in manner therein mentioned, read a first and second time in the Legislative Council.

Read a second time the Ordinance for making a disposition of Moneys for the support of Government, and to enable his Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of South-Carolina for the time being, to exercise certain pow­ers, in manner therein mentioned.

Ordered, That the same be sent to the Legislative Council.

Ordered, That Captain Roger Smith and Captain Trapier do wait on his Excellency the President, to know when he will be pleased to receive this House with the joint Ad­dress of both Houses.

And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine of the clock.

Tuesday, April 2, 1776.

The House met according to adjournment.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Middleton, Jun., and Mr. Salvador do carry to the Legislative Council the Ordinance making disposition of Moneys for the support of Government, and to enable his Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief for the time being, to exercise certain powers, in manner therein mentioned.

The House having received information that a person, who is suspected to have counterfeited some of the Certificates issued by the authority of Congress, resides somewhere near Colonel Thomas’s, and also that Philip Hart had a considerable sum paid him in such counterfeit Certificates,

Ordered, That Colonel Thomas be desired to use his utmost endeavours to apprehend, or cause to be apprehended and secured, all and every person or persons in his neighbourhood who shall be suspected of being concerned in counterfeiting or uttering any of the Bills, Certificates, or Orders issued by authority of the General Assembly, the Commons Houses of Assembly, or Congresses of this Colony, or of the Continental Congress, so that such persons may be brought to justice.

Ordered, That a copy of the above Order be delivered to Colonel Thomas.

Ordered, That Mr. Verree, Mr. Weyman, and Mr. Ashe, be a Committee to inquire of Mr. Hart touching the sum he has received in counterfeit Certificates.

The Honourable Mr. Drayton presented to the House, according to order, an Ordinance for altering the time of holding certain Circuit Courts, and of holding the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of General Sessions, usually held in Charlestown in May; and the same was received and read the first time.

Resolved, That the Ordinance be read a second time.

A Bill to punish such as shall counterfeit, or utter knowing them to be counterfeit, the Certificates issued by the late Houses of Assembly, or the Continental or Colonial Currency, which shall have been already, or shall be hereafter issued, was read a first time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a second time.

A Bill for the more effectual prevention of the Desertion of the Soldiers or Sailors in the service of this Colony, and for the punishment of those who shall harbour, or conceal them, was read a first time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a second time.

Ordered, That Mr. John Berwick have leave of absence.

Ordered, That Colonel Thomas, Captain Winn, Captain Williams, and Mr. Beard, have leave of absence.

An Ordinance for altering the time of holding certain Circuit Courts, and of holding the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of General Sessions, usually held in Charlestown in May, was read a second time.

Ordered, That Mr. Salvador and Mr. Thomas Middleton, Jun., do carry the Ordinance to the honourable the Legislative Council.

A Bill to increase the number of Firemasters in Charlestown, and to empower any two of them to pull down any such Houses, or other Buildings, as they shall adjudge necessary for the stopping and preventing the spreading of Fire, was read a first time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a second time.

Mr. Salvador reported that he, with Mr. Middleton, had delivered the Ordinance they had in charge to the Legislative Council.

An Ordinance to suspend the Habeas Corpus Act, in manner therein mentioned, was read a first time.

Resolved, That the Ordinance be read a second time.

And the same was read a second time.

Ordered, That Mr. McQueen and Mr. Macpherson do carry the said Ordinance to the honourable the Legislative Council.

Ordered, That Captain Daniel Horry, Mr. Benjamin Elliott, the Honourable Mr. Drayton, Colonel Charles C. Pinckney, and Captain Moultrie, be a Committee, to confer with a Committee of the Legislative Council, on the proper medium, and of the proper persons for carrying on the intercourse, and conveying messages to and from the Legislative Council and this House, respectively, and to report thereon.