284 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION [1776.

be empowered to give a bounty of twenty dollars to each able sea-
man, and ten dollars to each landsman, who shall enlist to serve in
the marine service of the state during the war, or until discharged
by the supreme authority of (his state; and that the council of safe-
ty may also order any vessel now fitting, or which shall be fitted
under the resolutions of convention, on such cruize as they may
think fit; and further the council of safety may retain any men who
shall voluntarily offer and subscribe articles for a cruize only, with-
out any bounty or wages, and any prizes which may be made, as to
those who go on bounty and wages, shall be divisible according to
the resolutions of Congress, two-thirds to the public, and one-
third to the crew; but as to those who shall enter for the cruize
without bounty or wages, the division shall be one half to the pub-
lic, and one half amongst the crew, according to the common prac-
tice of privateers.

The convention having received information, that a number of
the inhabitants of Caroline county had marched down into Dor-
chester county, and committed sundry depredations in the said
county, by entering the houses of the inhabitants thereof, and in a
violent manner taking and carrying away their salt, and that sun-
dry of the inhabitants of Dorchester county had joined with them
in committing such unwarrantable depredations and outrages,

Ordered, That the committees of Caroline and Dorchester coun-
ties make immediate enquiry into the causes of the said disorders,
and, if they judge it necessary, to send under a sufficient guard to
this convention, or in their recess to the council of safety, such
persons as shall appear to them to have been most active therein,
and that the committees of Caroline and Dorchester counties do
apply to brigadier-general Hooper, to order out such part of the
militia under his command as they may judge necessary to bring
the said offenders to justice.

Mr. John Ennalls has leave of absence.

Whereas, justice may in many instances require that individuals
of this state enlisted in the service of the continent or of this state
should be discharged, it is therefore Resolved, That the council of
safety may discharge any such person either absolutely or condi-
tionally on such terms as to them may seem proper.

Agreeable to the order of the day, the convention resolved itself
into a committee of the whole, to consider further of the declara-
tion of rights, and form of government for this state; Mr. Worth-
ington in the chair. After some time spent therein, Mr. President
resumed the chair, and Mr. Worthington reported that the commit-
tee had according to order, taken into their consideration the de-