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Sunday, September 10, 1775.
The Congress met according to adjournment.
Whereas the Independent Companies now subsisting in this Province may probably interfere with the Regulars' and Minute service:
Resolved, That the same be and they are hereby dissolved; but any person or persons after the Regulars and Minute-Men are completed, may with leave of the Committee of the County, wherein he or they reside, form an Independent Company or Companies, subject to the regulations of such Committee.
Resolved, That it be recommended to such of the inhabitants of this Province as may not be provided with Bayonets to their Guns, to procure the same as soon as possible, and be otherwise provided to turn out at a minute' s warning.
Whereas the Magistrates nominated in the last Commission of the Peace issued by his Excellency for the County of Pitt, have refused to qualify, for motives laudable in themselves; but since it is absolutely necessary that Courts should be held in every County for the probat of Deeds, Wills, granting Administration, Guardianship, &c˙:
Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby recommended to the Magistrates in the said Commission mentioned, to qualify and hold Courts under the same.
The Congress taking into consideration the encouragement of Manufactures within this Province, entered into the following Resolutions, viz:
Resolved, That the sum of twenty-five Pounds be paid for every hundred weight of good merchantable Saltpetre that shall be made and manufactured in this Province, and delivered to the Provincial Council within the space of six months from this time; and that the sum of twenty Pounds be paid for every hundred weight of good merchantable Saltpetre that shall be made and manufactured in this Province, and delivered to the said Council within six months next following; and so in proportion for any greater quantity.
Resolved, That the sum of two hundred Pounds be paid for the first five hundred weight of good merchantable Gunpowder, equal in goodness to Gunpowder imported from Great Britain, of the price of eighty-five Shillings sterling per hundred weight, that shall be made and manufactured within this Province, and delivered to the Provincial
Resolved, That a Premium of two hundred and fifty Pounds be given to the first person who shall erect and build a Rolling and Slitting Mill, for the purpose of preparing Iron to make Nails, and which Mill shall be actually set to work and five tons of Iron slit out within this Province, and approved of by the Provincial Council, within two years from this time; and that the sum of two hundred Pounds be given to the person who shall erect and build a second Rolling and Slitting Mill, for the purpose aforesaid, and which Mill shall be actually set to work and five tons of Iron slit out within this Province and approved of by the Provincial Council, within two years from this time.
Resolved, That a Premium of fifty Pounds be given to the person who shall first make in a workmanlike manner fifty pair of Cotton Cards, of Wire made and drawn in this Province, equal in goodness to Cotton Cards imported from Great Britain of the price of two Shillings sterling per pair; also the like Premium to the person who shall first make in a workmanlike manner one hundred pair of Woollen Cards, equal in goodness to Woollen Cards imported from Great Britain of the price of fifteen Pence sterling per pair, the same to be delivered to and approved of by the Provincial Council within twelve months from this time.
Resolved, That a Premium of fifty Pounds be given to the first person who shall make, in a workmanlike manner, twenty-five dozen Pins, each dozen to contain twelve thousand, of Wire drawn in this Province, to be equal in goodness to Pins imported from Great Britain of the price of seven Shillings and six Pence sterling per dozen, the same to be delivered to and approved of by the Provincial Council within twelve months from this time.
Resolved, That a Premium of fifty Pounds be given to the first person who shall make, in a workmanlike manner, twenty-five thousand Needles, sorted, such as are had from Great Britain, from number one to number twelve, inclusive, to be equal in goodness to Needles imported from Great Britain of the price of two Shillings and six Pence sterling per thousand, the same to be delivered to, and approved of by the Provincial Council within twelve months from this time.
Resolved, That a Premium of one hundred Pounds be given to the first person who shall erect and build a Furnace for manufacturing of good merchantable Steel, equal in goodness to Bristol Steel, and which Furnace shall be actually set to work and one ton of good merchantable Steel, as aforesaid, at least, be produced to the Provincial Council, and approved of by the said Provincial Council, within eighteen months from this time; and that the sum of twenty-five Pounds be given to the person who shall erect and build a second Furnace for manufacturing good and merchantable Steel, equal in goodness to Bristol Steel, and which Furnace shall be actually set to work and one ton of good merchantable Steel as aforesaid, at least, be produced to the Provincial Council, and approved of by the said Council, within the time aforesaid.
Resolved, That a Premium of two hundred and fifty Pounds be given to the first person who shall erect and build a Mill for manufacturing of Brown, Whited Brown and good Writing Paper, and which Mill shall be actually set to work, and thirty reams of Brown, thirty reams of Whited Brown, and thirty reams of Writing Paper, at least, be produced to the Provincial Council, and approved of by the said Council, within eighteen months from this time; the Brown Paper to be of equal goodness to Brown Paper imported from Great Britain of the price of two Shillings and six Pence sterling per ream; the Whited Brown equal in goodness to Whited Brown Paper imported of the price of three Shillings sterling per ream; and Writing Paper equal in goodness as aforesaid to eight Shillings sterling per ream.
Resolved, That a Premium of fifty Pounds be given to the person who shall produce to the Provincial Council
Resolved, that Premium of one hundred Pounds be given to the person who shall produce to the Provincial Council six pieces of Woollen Cloth, well dressed, each piece to contain twenty-five yards at least, not less than three-quarters of a yard wide, and not of less value than imported Cloth of the price of four Shillings and six Pence sterling per yard, being the first cost in Great Britain; the same to be produced to the said Council and approved of within twelve months from this time.
Resolved, That a Premium of seven hundred and fifty Pounds be given to any person who shall erect and build proper Works for manufacturing of common Salt on the sea-shore, for the purpose of supplying this Province with that useful article, upon proper proof being made to the Provincial Council that such Works are actually erected and proper for the purpose, and at the same time produce to the said Council fifty tons of good merchantable Ground or Blown Salt within eighteen months from this time.
Resolved, That a Premium of one hundred Pounds be given to the person who shall refine the greatest quantity of Sulphur in such manner that the same may be used in the making and manufacturing of Gunpowder, who shall produce the same to the Provincial Council within eighteen months from this time; and that no person shall be entitled to the above Premium unless he produces before the said Council one thousand weight of the said Sulphur.
Resolved, That a Premium of five hundred Pounds be given to any person who shall erect and build a Furnace for manufacturing good merchantable Pig Iron and Hollow Iron Ware, and other articles necessary for the use of the inhabitants of this Province, to be produced to the Provincial Council within two years from this time; and also full proof must be made to the said Provincial Council
Resolved, That each and every person who shall entitle him or herself to any of the said Premiums, and who shall have obtained a Certificate of the same from under the hands and seals of the Provincial Council, or a majority of them, and upon such Certificate or Certificates being produced to any one of the Treasurers of this Province, the sum expressed in such Certificate or Certificates shall be immediately paid by such Treasurer.
The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee to state the Publick Funds:
Resolved, The consideration of the said Report lie over to the next Congress.
Resolved, That Mr˙ Richard Caswell, Mr˙ James Davis, and Mr˙ James Green, Jun˙, revise and correct the Journal of this Congress.
Whereas many persons in this Province are doubtful whether they ought to pay their publiuk Taxes now due: In order, therefore, to remove their doubts, and to enable the Sheriffs of the Counties within this Province to collect the same,
Resolved, That this Congress recommend to the people to pay up all Taxes due before the present time, but no further, until further orders, except County and Parish Taxes.
Resolved, That Mr˙ Andrew Knox be allowed seventy-five Pounds as Secretary to this Congress; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same, and be allowed in their accounts with the Congress.
That Mr˙ James Green, Junior, be allowed the sum of fifty Pounds, as an Assistant to this Congress, to be paid by the publick Treasurers, or either of them.
That Mr˙ Thomas Craike, be allowed the sum of fifty Pounds, as an Assistant to this Congress, to be paid by the publick Treasurers, or either of them.
That Francis Lynaugh and Evan Swann, Doorkeepers to this Congress, be allowed the sum of thirty Pounds each, for their attendance on this Congress; and that Francis Lynaugh be allowed a further sum of three Pounds, for extra services to the Congress.
That Lewis Coffee be allowed the sum of three Pounds, for going Express on the service of this Congress; and that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same, and be allowed in their accounts with the publick.
Ordered, That the foregoing Orders and Resolutions be signed and certified as the acts of the Congress.
By order:
SAMUEL JOHNSTON, President.
ANDREW KNOX, Secretary.
Sundry Resolutions
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Council within the space of six months from this time; and that the sum of one hundred and fifty Pounds be paid for the second five hundred weight of good merchantable Gunpowder that shall be made and manufactured in this Province, and delivered to the said Council within twelve months next following; and so in proportion for any greater quantity.
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the finest piece of Linen, to contain twenty-five yards at least, no less than one yard wide, and not of less value than imported Linen of the price of three Shillings sterling per yard, being the first cost in Great Britain; the same to be produced to the said Council and approved of within twelve months from this time. And that the sum of twenty-five Pounds be given to the person who shall produce to the said Council the next best piece of Linen, of the same length and width, and not of less value than imported Linen of the price of two Shillings and six Pence sterling per yard, being the first cost in Great Britain; the same to be produced to the said Council and approved of within the time aforesaid. And that the sum of twenty Pounds be given to the person who shall produce to the said Council the third best piece of Linen, of the same length and width, and not of less value than imported Linen of the price of two Shillings sterling per yard, being the first cost in Great Britain; the same to be produced to the said Council and approved of within the time aforesaid.
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that such Furnace actually is erected and proper for the above-mentioned purpose.