Courts at Staunton and Pittsburgh directed to proceed in all matters relating to keeping the peace

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Tuesday, August 22, 1775.

A Letter from James Wood, Esq˙, on the subject of Indian affairs, was laid before the Convention, read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Whereas the quiet of this Colony will greatly depend upon the County Courts attending particularly to the suppression of all irregularities in their respective Counties; and whereas the Courts held at Pittsburgh are by writs of adjournment, which renders it impossible to hold Courts for suppression of irregularities or trial of criminals at Staunton, in East Augusta, when, the adjournment is to Pittsburgh, and so vice versa:

Resolved, That the Courts at Staunton and Pittsburgh do proceed, in all matters relating to keeping the peace and good behaviour, and in all criminal matters, as if they were distinct Counties.

Ordered, That Mr˙ Richard Lee, Mr˙ Peyton, Mr˙ Clapham, Mr˙ Henry Lee, and Mr˙ Blackburn, have leave to be absent from the service of this Convention for the remainder of the session, they being necessarily called away, to settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to examine, state, and settle the Accounts of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service do make a special Report of the expense of building and repairing Forts, which is not to be

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The Convention, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for appointing a Committee of Safety, for the more effectual carrying into execution the several rules and regulations established by this Convention for the protection of this Colony; and after some time spent therein, Mr˙ President resumed the chair, and Mr˙ Harrison reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had the said Ordinance under their consideration, and had gone through the same, and made several amendments thereto, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk' s table, where the same were again twice read, and, on the question severally put thereupon, agreed to by the Convention.

Ordered, That the said Ordinance, with the several amendments, be fairly transcribed, and read a third time.

The Convention then resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinance for the election of Delegates and ascertaining their allowances, and also for regulating the election of Committee-Men in the several Counties and Corporations within this Colony, and for other purposes therein mentioned; and after some time spent therein, Mr˙ President resumed the chair, and Mr˙ Harrison reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the said Ordinance, and had made a considerable progress therein; but not having time to go through the same, had directed him to move for leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this Convention will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a Committee on the said Ordinance.

The Orders of the Day — for the Convention to resolve itself into a Committee on the Ordinances for establishing a General Test; to encourage the making Saltpetre, Gunpowder, Lead, the refining Sulphur, and providing Arms for the use of the Colony; and the Order of the Day for a call of the Convention — being read,

Ordered, That the same be put off till to-morrow.

Adjourned till to-morrow, nine o' clock.