1776.] OF THE PROVINCE OF MARYLAND. 109

That any part of the militia in actual service, during the time of
their actual service only, shall be subject to the rules' made this
convention, for regulating and governing the forces to be raised
and employed in the service of this province, and shall be entitled
to the same pay and rations as the regular forces, and no more;

but general and inferior court martials shall be composed of militia
officers only, and the punishment of whipping shall not be adjudg-
ed against or inflicted on any man serving in the militia.

Mr. Joseph Dashiell has leave of absence.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning half after 9 o'clock.

TUESDAY, January 16, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. The
proceedings of yesterday were read.

A petition from a number of the inhabitants of the city of An-
napolis was read and ordered to lie on the table.

On motion, Resolved, That where any person or persons chosen
or to be chosen of the commiitee of observation for any county or
district, shall refuse to act, if the number so refusing to act in one
county or district, shall not at one and the same time exceed one
fourth part of the whole number of the said committee, any part
of the residue, of the same committee, not less than two third
parts of the same residue, met together after notice, may elect one
other of the most discreet freemen of the said county or district,
to be of the committee in the stead of each person so refusing to
act; and the place of any person dying may be filled up in like
manner, and the same rule shall also be observed, where any mem-
ber of a committee of observation shall, in writing under his hand,
decline to act or shall be disqualified by the acceptance of a com-
mission in the regular forces: but in case the vacancies shall at
one and the same time exceed the said one fourth part, then a ma-
jority of those who remain of the same committee, met together,
may appoint and give ten days notice at least, by advertisements
set up in the most public places of the county or district, as the
case may be, of the election of committee-men, in the stead of
those whose places shall be so vacant, and the election shall be
made accordingly, by those who are qualified to vote for committee-
men, in the presence of three at least of the same committee.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MERIDIEM.

Convention met.

On motion, Resolved, That two hundred and forty copies of the
association ordered by the last convention to be tendered to and