Journal of the proceedings of the Provincial Congress of North Carolina, held at Halifax on the fourth day of April 1776

              58
allowed and paid for the same, with all necessary expences, by the Trea-surers,
or either of them, when passed by the executive power of govern-ment.
Whereas it appears, by the report of the committee of Accounts, that
there is at this time in the hands of Matthew Lock, Esq. the sum of 2986 1.
13 s. 9 d. halfpenny, belonging to the public; it is therefore Resolved, That
the said Matthew Lock do pay unto such of the soldiers who inlisted with
Col. Alexander Martin in the second regiment, and who actually served
the lull time of their inlistment, or at least six months thereof, and now
discharged, the sum of 40 s. each as a bounty, the same never having been
paid them; and that Mr. Lock also pay off" all arrears to those soldiers, and
who are now in the counties of Rowan, Surry, Guilford and Anson; and
that the soldiers now in actual service with Col. Martin at Cape Fear, be
paid their bounty money and arrears by the Paymaster General, and the
balance remaining be paid by the said Matthew Lock to the militia officers
and soldiers in Rowan county.
On motion, Resolved, The House resolve itself into a committee of the
whole, to take into consideration a civil temporary Constitution.
The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole House accord-ingly,
and chose John Campbell, Esq. Chairman; and after seme time spent
therein, came to sundry resolutions. Then, on motion, Mr. President re-sumed
the Chair, and Mr. Chairman reported as follows, to wit:
Resolved, That this Congress choose by ballot one person, and each dis-trict
two persons, who shall serve as a Council of Safety for this Colony
Iromthe end of this session until the meeting of the next Congress^ and
that no person holding any military office from which he receives or expects
profit, nor any person holding a lucrative office under any military com-manders
in particular, or the army in general, shall be capable to act as a
member of the said council, officers and commanders of the militia only
excepted.
Resolved, That from the end of this present session, for and during the
time aforesaid^ the said Council of Safety, or a majority of them, shall be
vested with full power and authority to do and execute all acts and things
necessary for the defence and protection of the people of this Colony; pro-vided
that their power shall not extend to alter, suspend, or abrogate any
resolution of this or any former Congress, or to emit any bills of credit, or
levy any taxes on the people, or impose any duties or imposts on goods or
merchandize to be imported or exported, or give orders to draw on the
Continental Treasury, or to erect any office or offices, courts or jurisdic-tions,
or to try, adjudge, or condemn, any person or persons, for any of-fence
civil or criminal, except where expressly permitted by resolve of this
Congress.
Resolved, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to extend to
prevent the said Council of Safety from examining and committing any
>erson or persons who may be accused on oath of practices inimical to A-
.nerica, or to restrain any person or persons from departing this Colony by
Sea.
Resolved, That the said Council of Safety be impowered to direct the
"reasurers of this Colony, on any urgent exigency, to draw on the Conti-ental
Treasury, on the account and credit of this Colony, for any sums
jiot exeeeding 30,000 1. in the whole.