Colonel Woodford directed to send to Williamsburgh all Tories who have borne Arms against the Colony

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Thursday, December 14, 1775.

The President laid before the Convention a Letter from Colonel Woodford, enclosing a Petition from the poor Inhabitants of the Town of Norfolk, requesting his protection; also a Petition from sundry distressed Highlanders, lately arrived from Scotland, praying that they might be permitted to go to Cape Fear, in North-Carolina, the place where they intended to settle, together with sundry other papers, which were read.

Resolved, That the President be desired to write to Colonel Woodford, directing him that all such Tories taken by him, who shall, upon an examination before the Field Officers, appear to have borne Arms against this Colony, be sent to the City of Williamsburgh; and that all others who, upon such examination, shall appear inimical to the liberties of America, be detained by him till the further order of the Convention, or Committee of Safety; that he extend all reasonable indulgence to such as appear to have taken the part of Lord Dunmore through necessity; that he take the distressed Highlanders, with their families, under his protection, permit them to pass by land unmolested to Carolina, and supply them with such provisions as they may be in immediate want of.

The President also laid before the Convention a Letter from Colonel Howe, of North-Carolina, informing him that he had joined Colonel Woodford with the Troops under his command, and should be happy to afford him his best assistance.

Resolved, That the President be desired to write to Colonel Howe, acknowledging the receipt of his obliging Letter, and thanking him for his good intentions towards this Colony.

The Convention then, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the state of the Colony; and after some time spent therein, Mr˙ President resumed the chair, and Mr˙ Cary reported, that the Committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the state of the Colony, and had come to several Resolutions thereupon, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk' s table, where the same were again twice read, and agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, As the opinion of this Committee, that the Ordinance for providing Arms and Ammunition for this Colony, ought to be amended.

Resolved, As the opinion of this Committee, that persons harbouring Deserters from the forces raised, or to be raised for the defence of this Colony, ought to be punished.

Resolved, That the representation from the County of Accomack, and request therein contained, are reasonable, and that they be assured the Convention will pay a proper attention thereto, and afford them every protection in their power.

Resolved, That Mr˙ Mercer, Mr˙ Cary, Mr˙ Fitzhugh, Mr˙ Page, Mr˙ R˙ Carter, Mr˙ John Walker, Mr˙ Harrison, Mr˙ Rutherford, Mr˙ Harvie, Mr˙ Gray, Mr˙ Perkins, Mr˙ Lankford, and Mr˙ Poythress, be a Committee to prepare an Ordinance pursuant to the first of the said Resolutions; and that the Committee formerly appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance pursuant to the Resolutions for recruiting the regular Forces, now in the pay of this Colony, to ten Companies, and for raising six other Battalions, do receive a clause, or clauses, pursuant to the second Resolution.