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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Governor's Council
North Carolina. Council
April 09, 1770
Volume 08, Pages 191-193

[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
COUNCIL JOURNALS.

At a Council held at Brunswick 9th April 1770.
Present
His Excellency the Governor
The Honble James Hasell Esquire
The Honble John Rutherford Esquire
The Honble Lewis DeRosset Esquire
The Honble William Dry Esquire and
The Honble Robert Palmer Esquire

His Excellency was pleased to inform the Board he had received a letter from the Earl of Hillsborough one of His Majesty's principal Secretarys of State, dated the 16th January last—signifying his Majesty's royal Pleasure that he might as soon it was necessary and convenient meet the General Assembly; and thereupon desired the Opinion of this Board—It is the unanimous opinion of this Board, That as the heat of the Summer will soon be coming on, The most convenient and proper time for meeting the Assembly will be the 30th day of November next, then to meet at New Bern.

Ordered that a proclamation issue accordingly in the following words, Vizt

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North Carolina—Ss.
By His Excellency William Tryon Esq, &c.
A Proclamation—

Whereas the General Assembly is appointed to meet at New Bern the 1st day of May next, and as it is found expedient to prorogue the same, I do therefore by and with the advice and consent of His Majesty's Council Issue this my Proclamation hereby proroguing the said Assembly until the 30th day of November next, then to meet at Newbern for the dispatch of public business.

Given under my hand & the Great Seal &c,

[Signed]
Wm. TRYON.

His Excellency was pleased to lay before this Board a letter from Maurice Moore Esqr one of His Majestys Associate Judges dated Salisbury the 13th of last month, in the course of his Circuit through the province (in the following words) Vizt


Salisbury March 13th 1770.

Sir,

The Sheriffs of the several Counties of this district complain heavily of the opposition made to them, in the Execution of their office, by the people who call themselves regulators; I am told there is no such thing as collecting the public tax, or levying a private debt among them; a plain proof (among many others) that their designs have ever extended further than to promote a public enquiry into the conduct of Officers. This is an Evil Sir (tho' cognisable in the Courts of Law) no civil process can remedy—the reason is obvious none such can be executed among them—I have therefore recommended to the Sheriffs to petition your Excellency and the Assembly at your next meeting on this subject—and I wish, it may not be found necessary to redress them by means equal to the obstinacy of the people, who have given occasion for it.

I am Sir wishing your Excellency and Family every Felicity
Your most obt and most humble servant
M. MOORE.
His Excellency Willm Tryon.

It is the opinion of this Board, that no effectual steps can be taken until the meeting of the General Assembly, when the Sheriffs will

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have made their returns to the Treasurers of their several Collections of the Taxes, and that in the mean time a proclamation issue requiring the Sheriffs of the several Counties in Salisbury district, as well as all other Sheriffs who have or may meet with obstructions in the execution of their Office to Report thereof at the next meeting of the General Assembly,—which proclamation is in the following words Vizt

North Carolina—Ss.

By his Excellency William Tryon Esq, &c.

A Proclamation.

Whereas it hath been represented unto me that the Sheriffs of the several Counties within the district of Salisbury meet with great obstructions in the execution of their Office, I do therefore by the Advice of His Majestys Council issue this my Proclamation hereby strictly requiring and commanding the several Sheriffs of the Counties in the said district of Salisbury, and all other Sheriffs in this Government, to exert every lawful means, and to pursue every justifiable measure to enforce a due execution of the Laws in the discharge of their duty. And I do hereby require that all Sheriffs who have been, or may be obstructed in the execution of their Office, do give their attendance at the next meeting of the General Assembly, to make report thereof.

Given under my hand & the Great Seal.

Signed

Wm. TRYON.

The Honble John Rutherford Esquire His Majestys Receiver General In pursuance to Order of the 18th Dec last laid before His Excellency in Council, a Copy of his Account delivered to the Auditor from the 25th March 1766 to 25th March 1768, and also a particular and general account of his collection of Quit Rents, fines and forfeitures &c. from that time to the 25th March last, These accounts with his letter of this day His Excellency acquainted the Board he proposed to transmit to His Majestys principal Secretary of State

Ordered—That the Court of Claims be Advertized to be held at New Bern on the 30th November next, and that the Secretary remove to New Bern, all the necessary Records and papers.