forever confirmed to the people, of those pre colonies respectively with all the rights of jurisdie tion and property, jurisdiction & and government and all other rights whatsoever claimed now Or which might at any time heretofore have been claimed by this colony. The Western and Northern extent of this country shall in all other respects stand as described fixed by the Charter of until by act of the Legislature any new a territory or one or more territories shall be laid off Westward of the Alleganey mountains for the establishment of any new colony or colonies, which colony or colonies when established shall be free and independent of this & shall shall be established on the same fundamental laws contained in this instrument & shall be free & independent of this colony and of all the world. Descents shall go according to the laws of Gavelkind, save only that females shall have equal rights with males. No person hereafter coming into this country shall be held in slavery under any pretext what Slaves ever. All persons who by their own oath or affirmation or by leased, & forever confirmed to the people of those colonies respectively, with all the rights of property, jurisdiction and government and all other rights. whatsoever which might at any time heretofore have been claimed by this colony. The Western and Northern extent of this country shall in all other respects stand as fixed by the charter of until by act of the Legislature one or more territories shall be laid off Westward of the Alleghaney mountains for new colonies, which colonies shall be established on the same fundamental laws contained in this instrument, and shall be free and independent of this colony and of all the world. Descents shall go according to the laws Gavelkind, save only that females shall have equal rights with males. No person hereafter coming into this county shall Slaves be held within the same in slavery under any pretext whatever. All persons who by their own oath or affirmation, or by tion Naturaliza- other testimony shall give satisfactory proof to any court of record in this colony that they purpose to reside in the same [7] years at the least and who shall subscribe the fundamental laws shall be considered as → residents & entitled to all the rights of a persons natural born. All persons shall have full & Religion free liberty of religious opinion; nor shall any be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious institution. But this shall not be held to justify any seditious preaching or conversation against the authority of the eivil government. No freeman shall be debarred Arms proof to any court of record in this colony that they propose to reside in the same [7] years at the least and who shall subscribe the fundamental laws, shall be considered as residents and entitled to all the rights of persons natural born. All persons shall have full and free liberty of Religion religious opinion; nor shall any be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious institution. No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms [within his Own lands]. Arms Salaries, &c. 'any officer but by act of the legislature. No salaries shall be given to the Administrator, members of the house of Representatives, Legislative houses, judges of the court of appeals, justices of the peace, members of the privy council, judges of the County courts or other inferior jurisdictions, Privy counsellors, or delegates to the American Congress. But the reasonable expences of the Administrator, members of the house of Representatives, judges of the court of Appeals, members of Privy counsellors & Delegates for subsistence while acting in the duties of their office may shall be borne by the public if the Legislature shall so direct. The Qualifications of all offiQualificns cers Civil, military of officers Executive Judicial Civil, military & Ecclesiastical shall be an oath of fidelity to the governm state and the having given no bribe to obtain their office. Salaries No Salaries or Perquisites shall be given to any officer but by some future act of the legislature. No salaries shall be given to the Administrator, members of the legislative houses, judges of the court of Appeals, judges of the County courts, or other inferior jurisdictions, Privy counsellors, or Delegates to the American Congress: but the reasonable expences of the Administrator, members of the house of representatives, judges of the court of Appeals, Privy counsellors, & Delegates for subsistence while acting in the duties of their office, may be borne by the public, if the legislature shall so direct. No person shall be capable of acting in any office Civil, Military [or Ecclesiastical] The Qualifications Qualificaof all not otherwise tions directed, shall be an oath of fidelity to state and the having given no bribe to obtain their None of these fundamental laws & principles of government shall be repealed or alt or altered but by the personal consent of the people to be on summons to meet in their respective counties on one & the same day by an act of Legislature to be passed for every special occasion: and if in such county meetings the people of two thirds of the counties shall give their suffrage for any particular alteration or repeal referred to them by the said act, the same shall be accordingly repealed or altered er repealed, and such repeal or alteration shall take it's place among these fundamental [part lacking] the same footting with them in lieu of the article re- [part lacking]. The laws heretofore in force in this colony shall remain still in force except so far as they are altered by the foregoing fundamental laws, or so far as they may be hereafter altered by acts of the legislature. It is proposed that the above bill, after correction by the office who shall have given any bribe to obtain such office, or who shall not previously take an oath of fidelity to the state. None of these fundamental laws and principles of government shall be repealed or altered, but by the personal consent of the people on summons to meet in their respective counties on one and the same day by an act of Legislature to be passed for every special occasion and if in such county meetings the people of two thirds of the counties shall give their suffrage for any particular alteration or repeal referred to them by the said act, the same shall be accordingly repealed or altered, and such repeal or alteration shall take it's place among these fundamentals and stand on the same footing with them, in lieu of the article repealed or altered. The laws heretofore in force in this colony shall remain in force, except so far as they are altered by the foregoing fundamental laws, or so far as they may be hereafter altered by acts of the Legislature. Convention, shall be referred by them to the people to be assembled in their respective counties and that the suffrages of two third of the counties shall be requisite to establish it. REPORT ON CEDARS CARTEL.' C. C. [June 17, 1776.] The Committee to whom were re-committed the Cartel between Brigadier General Arnold & captain Forster for the exchange of prisoners & the several papers relating thereto have had the same under their consideration and agreed to the following report. Your committee having proceeded to make enquiry into the facts relating to the agreement entered into at St. Anne's between Brigadier General Arnold & Capt. Forster, find a part of them well authenticated and others not, yet being apprehensive that silence on the part of Congress may be construed by some into a ratification of the said agreement they have thought it best to state the same as they appear at present, with such resolutions as they will justify if found true, reserving final decision till the whole truth shall be accurately enquired into & transmitted to Congress. Your Committee on the best information they have been able to obtain find: That on the 24th day of May last a party of the enemy consisting as is said of about 600 men under the command of capt. Forster attacked a post at the Cedars held by a garrison of 350 Con[tinental for]ces, then under the command of Major Butterfield. 1 On June 16th Congress referred this matter to Jefferson, Braxton, Paine, and Middleton. They made this report on June 17th, when it was read and laid on the table. On June 24th it was recommitted, and again reported to the Congress on July 10th, when it passed in a much modified form. Cf. Journals of Congress, II., 256. |