MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF THE DELAWARE STATE. NEW-CASTLE-ON-DELAWARE, MONDAY, October 28th, 1776. At a meeting of the Council, one of the branches of the Legislature for the Delaware State, it appears, by the returns of the Sheriffs and Inspectors of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, that on the 21st day of October, instant, at the usual places of election for the said counties, the following gentlemen were chosen members thereof, with the number of votes annexed and following each name, to wit : FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY. FOR KENT COUNTY. FOR SUSSEX COUNTY. Daniel Dingee, with 541 votes. Council adjourned till to-morrow, 3 o'clock, P. M. TUESDAY, P. M., October 29th, 1776. Council met. Present all the members, who proceeded to the choice of a Speaker, when George Read was unanimously chosen. The Speaker, in the Chair, Mr. Slator Clay was appointed Clerk, and Robert Booth, Doorkeeper. Then the Speaker, in the Chair, and afterwards all the members, took and subscribed the oath and the declaration prescribed by the Constitution or system of government formed by the late Convention for this State.* On motion, Resolved, That a quorum of this Council shall consist of five members, including the Speaker. On motion, * The oath, and the declaration of faith, here and subsequently mentioned, are recorded and signed in a “ Book of Qualifications," as follows: I[A. B.] will bear true allegiance to the Delaware State, submit to its Constitution and Laws, and do no act, wittingly, whereby the freedom thereof may be prejudiced. ITA. B.) do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration. GEO. READ, Speaker. to report a set of Rules for conducting the business of this Council. Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock. WEDNESDAY, A. M., October 30th, 1776. Council met. Present all the members. Slator Clay attended and took and subscribed a qualification for the faithful execution of the office of Clerk of this Council, and that he will not disclose or reveal the secrets thereof.* The committee appointed to report a set of Rules for conducting the business of this Council brought in their report, which, by order, was read and agreed to, and follows in these words, to wit: RULES TO BE OBSERVED BY MEMBERS OF COUN CIL DURING THE SITTING THEREOF. 1. That all members of Council shall appear at the calling over their respective names at every adjournment. 2. That no member of Council shall be allowed to speak to any one matter or thing above three times, without license from the Speaker first had and obtained, and that no member presume to speak in the House sitting, but direct his discourse to the Speaker standing. 3. That no member of Council shall presume to speak or interrupt any other member whilst he is speaking. *The oath here mentioned is given in the “ Book of Qualifications," as follows: I, Slator Clay, do swear that I will faithfully, according to the best of my abilities, perform the office of Clerk of the Council of the Delaware State, and that I will not disclose or reveal the secrets thereof. SLATOR CLAY. 4. That no member go out of the House during the sitting thereof and continue thereout above the space of half an hour without leave first had and obtained. 5. That where any question is put in Council that may cause a debate, the names of the members who are for the affirmative, and also those who are for the negative, be set down at large on the minutes, being first moved for by one or more of the members thereof. The Speaker laid on the table a letter addressed from the Honorable John Hancock, Esq., President of Congress, inclosing sundry resolutions respecting the augmentation and reënlistment of the Continental army during the war, which were read and laid on the table for consideration. Adjourned till 3 o'clock. EODEM DIE, P. M. Council met. Present all the members. A committee from the House of Assembly, attending at the door, were admitted and delivered the following verbal message, to wit : That the House of Assembly requested the Council to appoint a committee to confer with a committee of their House on the subject matter of making a Great Seal for this State, and withdrew. The Council, taking the same into consideration, Resolved, That Messrs. Sykes and Vandyke be appointed a committee from this House to confer with the committee of the House of Assembly on the subject of forming a device and making a Great Seal for this State. Ordered, That Mr. Bassett wait on the House of Assembly and inform them of the said appointment. |