OF NORTH CAROLINA. 1786. JOURNAL OF THE SENATE COMMENCING THE 20TH NOVEMBER, 1786. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, IN SENATE, NOVEMBER 20TH, 1786. At a General Assembly begun and held at Fayetteville on the 20th day of November, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven hundred and eighty six, and of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America the eleventh, it being the first session of this Assembly. The returning officers for several of the counties within the State certified that the following persons were duly elected to represent such Counties in the Senate, viz: For Anson County Beaufort-John Bonner. Bertie Brunswick Bladen-Thomas Brown. Burke Craven-James Coor. Cumberland Carteret-James Eaton. Currituck Chowan-Jacob Jordan. Camden-Isaac Gregory. Caswell-Dempsey Moore. Chatham-Ambrose Ramsey. Dobbs Duplin James Gillispie. Edgecombe-Elisha Battle. Franklin Guilford-William Gowdy. Gates Granville-Howell Lewis. Greene Halifax-Benjamin McCullock. Hertford Hyde Johnston Jones-Frederick Harget. Lincoln-Robert Alexander. Moore-Phillip Alston. Martin-Nathan Mayo. Mecklenburgh Montgomery--John Stokes. Northampton Nash-Hardy Griffin. New Hanover Onslow Orange-William McCawley. Pasquotank-Thomas Relf. Rowan-Griffith Rutherford. Rutherford-Edward Sharpe. Richmond-Charles Medlock. Rockingham Surry Sullivan Sampson-Richard Clinton. Tyrrell Washington- Warren-John Macon. Wayne Wake- Wilkes-Benjamin Herndon. Pursuant to which the following members appeared, presented their Certificates, were qualified agreeably to law, and took their seats, viz: Edward Sharpe, Jacob Jordan, Elisha Battle, John Skinner, Ambrose Ramsey, James Coor, Charles Medlock, John Armstrong, John Macon, William McCawley, Robert Alexander, Philip Alston, Dempsey Moore, John Simpson, John Bonner, Isaac Gregory, Jas. Whiteside, John Easton, James Gillispie, Thomas Brown, Nathan Mayo, Benjamin McCullock, Hardy Griffin, Richard Clinton, Griffith Rutherford, Frederick Harget, Howell Lewis, John Stokes, Thomas Relfe, Benjamin Herndon & William Gowdy. Gen'l. Rutherford proposed for speaker James Coor, Esq., who was unanimously chosen and placed in the Chair accordingly. On motion, John Haywood was appointed Clerk, and Sherwood Haywood, assistant. William Murphy and Nicholas Murphy, Doorkeepers. Received from the House of Commons the following message: Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen: The House of Commons being now formed, acquaint you they are ready to proceed on the public business. On motion, ordered that the following message be sent to His Excellency, the Governor, first being approved of by the House of Commons, to wit: To His Excellency Richard Caswell, Esqr., Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief in and over the State of North Carolina. SIR: The General Assembly being now convened, are ready to take under consideration such public dispatches and other matters as your Excellency may have to lay before them. Ordered that the following, with the foregoing message, be sent to the House of Commons: Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen: The Senate being likewise formed, are ready to proceed on public business, and propose that the message herewith sent you be presented to His Excellency the Governor. Should it meet your approbation, Mr. Macon and Mr. Skinner will, on the part of the House, attend and present him with the same. On motion of Mr. Gillispie, seconded by Mr. Macon Resolved, That Gen'l Rutherford, Mr. Harget, Mr. Macon, Gen'l Gregory, Mr. McCawley, Mr. Eaton, and Mr. Brown be a Committee of Privileges and Elections. Mr. Gillispie presented the Memorial of Henry Lightfoot, Esquire, which was read and referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections. Mr. Thomas Armstrong, the member for the county of Cumberland, appeared, presented his certificate, was qualified agreeably to Law, and took his seat. Mr. John Herritage, the member for the county of Dobbs, appeared, presented papers declarative of his Election, was qualified agreeably to Law, and took his seat. On motion of General Rutherford, seconded by Mr. Gillispie, Ordered that a writ of Election Issue to the County of Anson for Electing one member to represent said County in Senate, instead of Thos. Wade, Esqr., deceased, and that the said Election be held on the first Friday and Saturday in December next. Mr. Battle presented sundry petitions from the Inhabitants of the Counties of Washington, Sullivan and Greene, which, being read, were referred to a special committee. The members chosen on the part of this House were Gen'l Rutherford, Mr. Skinner, Mr. Macon, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Battle, and Mr. Gillispie, and sent to the House of Commons. On motion of Gen'l Rutherford, seconded by Mr. MaconResolved, That the following rules of decorum be observed by the Senate during the present session of Assemby, viz.: Firstly. When the Speaker is in the Chair, every member may sit in his place with his head covered. Secondly. That every member shall come into the House uncovered, and shall continue so at all times, but when he sits in his place. Thirdly. No member in coming into the House or removing from his place shall pass between the Speaker and any member speaking; nor shall any member go across the House or from any part thereof to the other, whilst another is speaking. Fourthly. When any member intends to speak, he shall stand in his place, uncovered, and address himself to the Speaker, but shall not proceed to speak until permitted to do so by thẹ Speaker, which permission shall be signified by naming the member. Fifthly. When any member is speaking no other shall stand or interrupt him, but when he has done speaking and taken his seat, any other member may rise, observing the rules. Sixthly. When the Speaker desires to address himself to the House, he shall rise and be heard without interruption; and the member then speaking shall take his seat. Seventhly. If more than one member attempt to speak at any time, the Speaker shall determine which was first up. Eighthly. When any question shall be before the House and not perfectly understood, the Speaker may explain, but shall not attempt to sway the House by argument or debate. Ninthly. No member speaking to be disturbed by coughing, spitting, conversation or otherwise; and whoever by speaking, hissing, or in any other manner, wilfully or carelessly, disturbeth or interrupteth any member on the floor, he shall answer it at the bar, and be liable to be censured by the Speaker. Tenthly. He that digresseth from the subject to fall on the person of any member shall be suppressed by the Speaker. Eleventhly. Exceptions taken to offensive words to be taken the same day they shall be spoken, and before the member who spoke them shall go out of the house. Twelfthly. Whatever is spoken in the House may be subject to the censure of the House. Thirteenth. Whenever any matter is in debate before the House, it shall be determined or postponed before any new business shall be introduced. Fourteenth. No bill shall be read twice in the same day, unless pressing emergency, where the good and safety of the State shall make it necessary. upon some Fifteenth. No heats or animosities shall be permitted in the House. Sixteenth. No member shall speak more than twice, without leave, in the same question, unless it be in a committee of the whole House. Seventeenth. No question shall be put on any motion unless seconded. Eighteenth. Every member making any motion which is not of |