The propriety of opening the American Ports to all willing to trade with us, Great Britain, Ireland, and the British West Indies

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Saturday, January 20, 1776.

Ordered, That the Treasurer do pay to Captains George Matthews and Alexander M' Clanahan, the money due to their respective Companies, from the publick, on account of the late expedition against the Indians, and reported by the Commissioners.

The Convention then, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee on the Ordinances to amend an Ordinance, intituled An Ordinance for regulating 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 for establishing a mode of making Tobacco Payments during the discontinuance of the Inspection Law; 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 said Ordinances, 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 agreed to.

Resolved, That the said Ordinances, together with the several amendments, be fairly transcribed and read a third time.

Mr˙ Cary, from the Committee of the whole Convention, reported, according to order, that the Committee had come to the following Resolution; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk' s table, where the same was again twice read and agreed to:

Whereas the British Ministry have at length engaged in an open and avowed war with the good people od this Colony, and in the prosecution thereof have manifested the most unrelenting fury, by burning and destroying open and defenceless Towns, contrary to the practice of war among civilized nations, by exciting insurrections among our slaves, inviting the savages, and arming them against us:

Resolved, (as the opinion of this Convention,) That we hold it incumbent upon us (a duty which we owe to ourselves, to our country, and to this whole Continent,) to oppose, by every method in our power, such unjust and cruel attempts; that the most likely means of effecting this, and of gaining relief and assistance to ourselves, and of distressing our enemies, would be by opening our Ports to all persons willing to trade with us, Great Britain, Ireland,

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An Ordinance for establishing a mode of punishment for the enemies of America, having been fairly transcribed, was read a third time, and the blanks therein filled up.

Resolved,That the said Ordinance do pass, and that the title thereof be, "An Ordinance for establishing a mode of punishment for the enemies to America in this Colony."

Resolved, That all the publick Money, except His Majesty' s Quit-rents, now in the hands of the Collectors, Naval Officers, Sheriffs, and Clerks, and which may hereafter be received by them, be paid into the hands of the Treasurer of this Colony.

An Ordinance to amend an Ordinance, entitled "An Ordinance for regulating 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," having been fairly transcribed, was read a third time, and the blanks therein filled up.

Resolved, That the said Ordinance do pass.

Resolved, That in case of the sickness or inability of the Treasurer of this Colony to sign and countersign the Treasury Notes, emitted pursuant to an Ordinance of Convention, he be empowered to appoint such other person as he may think proper to do the same in his stead.

Resolved, That the appointment of Captain John Sears to the office of Deputy Adjutant-General, disqualifies him from holding the office of Captain to his Company.

An Ordinance for establishing a mode of making Tobacco Payments during the discontinuance of the Inspection Law, having been fairly transcribed, and the blanks therein filled up, was read a third time.

Resolved, That the said Ordinance do pass, and that the title thereof be, "An Ordinance for establishing a mode of making Tobacco Payments during the discontinuance of the Inspection Law, and for other purposes therein mentioned."

Resolved, That the several sums following be allowed to the several Officers of this Convention, for their services during the present session:

To the Rev˙ Thomas Price, Chaplain, forty Pounds.

To Mr˙ John Tazewell, Clerk of the Convention, one hundred and seventy-five Pounds.

To Mr˙ Francis Eppes, Messenger to the Convention, fifty Pounds.

To Edmund Pendleton, Jun˙, Clerk to several Committees, fifty Pounds.

To William Dandridge, Jun˙, Clerk to several other Committees, fifty Pounds.

To Robert Hyland, William Hicks, John Creagh, and William Drinkard, Doorkeepers to the Convention, twenty-five Pounds each.

Resolved, That Mr˙ John Pendleton, Clerk to the Committee of Safety, be allowed twenty Shillings per day for his expenses and services while on duty.

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety do allow the Quartermaster and Adjutant to the several Minute-men at Hampton, the Adjutant to the Minute-men in the City of Williamsburgh, and Wagon-master, whatever their several services, in their opinions, shall be thought to deserve.

Adjourned till the second day of April next, then to meet in the City of Williamsburgh, or such other place as may be appointed by the Committee of Safety.