Tuesday, April 2, 1776, Six o’clock, P. M.

The House met according to adjournment.

Captain Simons reported, that the Committee to inquire after the counterfeiters of money had prosecuted their inquiry, but made no further discovery.

Ordered, That Mr. Smithson and Mr. Askew be carried before some Magistrate for examination, according to law, so that such Magistrate may proceed therein as the case may require.

The House proceeded to ballot for their Messengers; and the ballots being cast up, Mr. Speaker reported that Mr. John Vinyard was, by a majority of votes, duly elected First Messenger, and Captain John Stephenson, Second Messenger.

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

Wednesday, April 3, 1776.

The House met according to adjournment.

On motion, Resolved, That the Report of the Committee to consider what recompense and provision should be made for several persons wounded and disabled in the publick service; and, also, for the families of such as may be killed in the said service, be taken into consideration to-morrow.

A Bill to prevent Sedition, and punish Insurgents and disturbers of the peace, was read a second time.

On motion, the following clause was added to, read twice, and made a part of the Bill:

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all fines and penalties to be incurred by virtue of this act, shall, upon recovery thereof, be paid into the Colony Treasuary, to be applied to, and for such uses and purposes as are hereinbefore mentioned.

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

Ordered, That Captain Lempriere and Mr. Verree do carry the same to the Legislative Council.

Ordered, That the Honourable Mr. Drayton and Doctor Haig be a Committee for a free conference with a Committee of the Legislative Council, touching the manner of signing, and mode of delivery of their joint Address to his Excellency the President.

Captain Lempriere reported, that he, with Mr. Verree, had delivered the Bill they had in charge to the Legislative Council.

Captain Moultrie presented, according to order, an Ordinance to repeal an Ordinance of the General Assembly, passed 23d February, 1771, appointing Henry Peronneau and Benjamin Dart, Esquires, joint Publick Treasurers, and to appoint Commissioners to take a state of the Treasury; and the same was received, and read a first time.

Resolved, That the Ordinance be read a second time.

The Honourable Mr. Drayton reported, that, in compliance with the Message from this House to the Legislative Council, touching the signing and delivery of the joint Address to his Excellency the President, they appointed the Honourable Colonel Pinckney and Doctor Oliphant as a Committee, to confer with the Committee of this House; and it was agreed, as the engrossed Address was in the General Assembly, the Speaker of this House should sign it first, leaving room for the Speaker of the Legislative Council to sign above; that then the Address should be sent to the Legislative Council, to be signed by their Speaker, in presence of both Houses.

On motion, Resolved, That the House do, in the present instance, agree to the mode proposed in the above Report, but that the same shall not be drawn into precedent.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do sign the joint Address of this House and the Legislative Council.

Message from the President, that his Excellency is now in the Council Chamber, ready to receive this House with their Address.

The House accordingly went into the Council Chamber; and, being returned, Mr. Speaker reported, that the honourable the Legislative Council having, with this House, waited on his Excellency the President, with their joint Address, his Excellency was pleased to return them the following answer:

“Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the General Assembly:

“My most cordial thanks are due, and I request that you will accept them, for this solemn engagement of support in discharging the duty of the honourable station to which, by your favour, I have been elected. Be persuaded that no man would embrace a just and equitable accommodation with Great Britain more gladly than myself; but until so desirable an object can be obtained, the defence of my country, and preservation of that Constitution which, from a perfect knowledge of the rights and a laudable regard to the happiness of the people, you have so wisely framed, shall engross my whole attention.

“To this country I owe all that I hold dear and valuable, and would with the greatest pleasure sacrifice every temporal felicity to establish and perpetuate her freedom.

“JOHN RUTLEDGE.

“April 3, 1776.”

Ordered, That the joint Address of this House and the honourable the Legislative Council, this day presented to his Excellency the President, together with his Excellency’s Answer, be forthwith printed and made publick.

Message from the Legislative Council, by their Clerk.

“In the Legislative Council, April 3, 1776.

“Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen:

“In answer to the verbal message, just now received by Colonel Gadsden and Mr. Chief Justice, relative to the amendments made by this House to the Ordinance making 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 execute certain powers in manner therein mentioned; we beg leave to acquaint you, that, agreeable to your request, we have examined the Ordinance, and cannot find any mistake therein. We, therefore, return the same, and shall be glad you will point out to us, either by message or at a free conference of both Houses, those mistakes you refer to.

“By order of the House:

“GEORGE GAB. POWELL, Speaker.“

Colonel Pinckney, according to order, presented a Bill to empower the Court of Admiralty to have jurisdiction in all cases of capture of Ships or Vessels of the inhabitants of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British West-Indies, and to establish the trial by Jury in such cases.

And the same was received and read a first time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a second time.

An Ordinance to repeal an Ordinance of the General Assembly, passed the 23d February, 1771, appointing Henry Peronneau and Benjamin Dart, Esqs., joint Publick Treasurers, and to appoint Commissioners to take a state of the Treasury, was read a second time.

Ordered, That Captain Townsend and Mr. John Boone, do carry the said Ordinance to the Legislative Council.

Message to the Legislative Council.

In the General Assembly, April 3, 1776.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: Agreeable to your message, desiring that a Committee should be appointed by this House to have a free conference with a Committee of the Legislative Council, on certain amendments to an Ordinance making 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 execute certain powers in manner therein mentioned, we have appointed a Committee to have a free conference with a Committee of your House, in the Conference-Room, as soon as may be. Our Committee are Colonel Gadsden, the Honourable Mr. Drayton, and Colonel Pinckney.

Ordered, That the said Message be engrossed, and that Mr. Speaker do sign the same.

Ordered, That Colonel Pinckney and the Honourable Mr. Drayton do carry the said Message to the Legislative Council.

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

Ordered, That the said Bill be sent to the Legislative; Council.

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