Committee to make an arrangement of Minute-Men for the safety of the Province

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Tuesday, September 5, 1775.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

On motion, Ordered, That the Reverend Mr˙ Patillo, Mr˙ Baker, Mr˙ Thomas Harvey, Mr˙ Miles Harvey, Mr˙ Geddy, Mr˙ William Bryan, Mr˙ Jethro Sumner, and Mr˙ Matthias Brickie, have leave to absent themselves from the service of the Congress.

On motion, Ordered, That Mr˙ Willie Jones, Mr˙ Nash and Mr˙ John Ashe be a Committee of this Congress to make an arrangement of Minute-Men for the safety of the Province, and report their proceedings to this Congress.

On motion, Ordered, That Mr˙ Skinner, Mr˙ Starkey, Mr˙ Locke, Mr˙ Caswell, Mr˙ Thomas Person, Mr˙ Burke, and Mr˙ Coor, be a Committee of Ways and Means, and that they make report of their proceedings.

Mr˙ Caswell, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported as follows, viz:

That it is the opinion of your Committee, that the expenses of the thousand men to be raised and paid at the expense of the Continent, ought to be defrayed out of the fund provided for that purpose by the Continental Congress; and that the Provincial Congress, or such officers as they shall empower, do draw for one hundred thousand Dollars immediately, and for other sums as there may be occasion afterwards.

That it is the opinion of your Committee, sixty thousand Pounds be emitted in paper Bills of Credit, to be applied towards defraying the expense of the Militia and Minute-Men, for purchasing Arms and Ammunition, and paying bounties for the encouragement of Manufactures, expresses and other contingences; this sum to be sunk by a tax of two Shillings every year on each taxable person in this Province, to commence for the year 1777, and continue for seven years after its commencement.

RICHARD CASWELL, Chairman.

Ordered, The said Report lie for further consideration.

The Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o' clock.