Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/564

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
536
Union and Independence
[1776

That at any sessions of the Council and Assembly, neither Branch shall adjourn for any longer time than from Saturday till the next Monday, without consent of the other.

And it is further Resolved, That if the present unhappy dispute with Great Britain should continue longer than this present year, and the Continental Congress give no instructions or directions to the contrary, the Council be chosen by the people of each respective County, in such manner as the Council and House of Representatives shall order.

That General and Field-Officers of the Militia, on any vacancy, be appointed by the two Houses, and all inferior Officers be chosen by the respective Companies.

That all Officers of the Army be appointed by the two Houses, except they should direct otherwise, in case of any emergency.

That all Civil Officers for the Colony, and for each County, be appointed, and the time of their continuance in office be determined by the two Houses, except Clerks of Courts, and County Treasurers, and Recorders of Deeds.

That a Treasurer, and a Recorder of Deeds, for each County, be annually chosen by the people of each County respectively ; the votes for such officers to be returned to the respective Courts of General Sessions of the Peace in the County, there to be ascertained as the Council and Assembly shall hereafter direct.

That Precepts, in the name of the Council and Assembly, signed by the President of the Council, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall issue, annually, at or before the first day of November, for the choice of a Council and House of Representatives, to be returned by the third Wednesday in December, then next ensuing, in such manner as the Council and Assembly shall hereafter prescribe.

A true copy. Attest :

E. Thompson, Secretary.


We, the subscribers, chosen by the people of several Towns in the Colony of New-Hampshire, to represent them in the Congress of said Colony, held at Exeter, on the 21st day of December, 1775. beg leave to enter and dissent to, and protest against the present plan of taking up Government, for the following reasons :

First. That the vote of the Continental Congress countenancing the same, was obtained by the unwearied importunity (both within doors and without) of our Delegates there, as appears by their letter.