348 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION [1776.

Resolved, That nine persons, five of whom to be on the western
and four on the eastern shore, be elected by ballot a council of safe-
ty, and be and continue such until the general assembly shall make
further order therein, and until that time, they or any four or more
of them, having taken the oath prescribed by the December con-
vention, shall have and exercise the like and same powers as the
present council of safety had or might exercise under the resolu-
tions of the several conventions heretofore held for this colony;

and that the said council may convene the general assembly before
the tenth day of February next, if in their judgment it shall be ne-
cessary.

On reading the resolution for the appointment of a council of
safety, it was proposed by Mr. Fitzhugh, that the words "by ballot"
be struck out, and "viva voce" inserted, on which the question, was
put, and carried in the negative.

AFFIRMATIVE.

Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Worthington, Mr. StulJ,

B. Mackall, J. Wilson, Ridgely,

Fitzhugh, Bayly, Deye,

J. Mackall, Williams, Stevenson,

Bowie, Sheredine, Shepherd,

Marbury, Edelen, D. Smith,

Hammond, Beall, Gibson.

NEGATIVE.

Mr. Barnes, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. S. Wright,
Plater, J. T. Chase, Edmondson,
Hooe, Love, Mason,
Dent, Archer, Dickinson,
B. Hall, Gilphin, Johnson,
Sprgg, Ewing, Gust. Scott,
J. Hall, Brevard, Geo. Scott,
S. Chase, T. Smyth, Horsey,
Carroll, Kent, Bishop,
Fischer, Bruff, Mitchell.
On motion, Resolved, That the electors of the senate shall be en-
titled to the same itinerant charges and per diem allowance as
members of convention.

On motion of Mr. S. Chase, the question was put, That the fol-
lowing be inserted as an article in the form of government; "That
no person who refused (unless from religious principles) and did
not subscribe the association on or before the fourth day of July