Report of the Committee on the state of Virginia

v3:1941

The Committee appointed on the stale of Virginia, to whom were referred the Letters received on Saturday, brought in their Report, which was read; on which the Congress came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That three Companies of the Battalion raised in the Colony of Pennsylvania immediately march, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine, into Northampton County, in Virginia, for the protection of the Association in those parts, and for the defence thereof against the designs of the enemies of America,

Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby recommended to the inhabitants of the Colony of Virginia, to resist to the utmost the arbitrary Government intended to be established therein by their Governour, Lord Dunmore, as manifestly appears by the whole tenor of his Lordship' s conduct for some months past.

Whereas Lord Dunmore, by his Proclamation lately published, has declared his intention to execute martial law, thereby tearing up the foundations, of civil authority and Government within the said Colony:

Resolved, therefore, That if the Convention of Virginia shall find it necessary to establish a form of Government in that Colony, it be recommended to that Convention to call a full and free representation of the people, and that the said Representatives, if they think it necessary, establish such form of Government as in their judgment will best produce the happiness of the people, and most effectually secure peace and good order in the Colony, during the continuance of the present dispute between Great Britain and these Colonies.

Resolved, That the Committee on the state of Virginia have leave, at their request, to sit again.