The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-08-09

80: Committees Tor the various dis
lilctS ana towns which were to ex-
erclse such powers as would hest So
cure the territorial divisions over
Wnlch they exercised control The
committees Of Safety of North Caro-
una were composed of thirteen mem
Us tach and were responsible to a
oouncll OF Safety from which it re-
celVed instructions as to What meth
odS ana courses of action should he
pursued.
1nese committees became a very
Important factor in the administra-
tive machinery of each State. The
PRESCRIPTIONS made for the relief OF
the people OF Boston were accepted by
ana forwarded through this medium.
Ihey passed resolutions as to the
mount which should be collected
from the militia companies as they,
IN a collective capacity directed the
military operations within the State.
or gun powder. provisions.
ETC., were issued by them to the
troops; they fxed the pay Of the SOL
dlers, and conferred authority upon
the officers.
me committees also exercised juris-
dlctlon in civil matters. They could
prevent debtors from moving out Of
the State without first satisfying all
claims against them, and they could
seize upon their property or persons,
and compel a settlement of their obli-
cation. They possessed the power of
requiring all persons who were en-
trusted with the public monies to ren-
der an account of all sums paid to
them. The payment Of some fines
were made to them, and the proceeds
resulting from the sale of goods
which had been seized upon for the
satisfaction of creditors. went towards
replenishing the State treasury. In
ITS these committees together with
the Council of Safety entirely sup
planted the Provincial government
and continued to exercise all the gov
ernmental functions until the State
Constitution was adopted in 1776.
The State militl. or North Carolina
was som ething more than a military
force. 1t also served as a part of the
fiscal machinery. 1t was subject to the
rders of the Committees of Safety,
which determined the amounts neces-
sary for any purpose, and each militia
company was responsible for whatever
monies passed through his hands and
statements Of accounts were required
by the Safety Committees In cases Of
emergency they were empowered to
raise whatever sums necessity might
require. The militia officers also col
lected the fines which were imposed
upon the soldiers for delinquenc1es.
During the latter part of the war these
fines must have. to very
COilSittI dDie SUIi1S, dS lb1c IlSil dCoS =
ed in large numbers and mutn1es
were of commC occurrence.
In 177S the Tories of the State re-
fused to pay any taxes. The civil au-
thOrities were uncble to undertake
their collection, and the execution of
the law. together with power to col
lect all taxes and fiEss was turned over
to the State militia. The officers IN
charge were to have personal super
vision of the collection OF all money.
In 1778 Genera William Skinner in
writing to Governor Caswell, says: TT
is with real concern that l inform you
that since 7 left New Bern in Deem
Der last. I have not received one shill-
ing into the Treasury. either by the
collection Of the State Take OF the
opening of the Land Office, nor have I
received 1900 for old Even
under the strong pressure brought to
bear by the military organization of
the State it was exceedingly difficult
and we'll nigh impossible to collect
the revenu necessary for the ordt-
nary expenses Of the government.
In addition to the agencies just de-
Gcribed, b General Assembly during
the course Of the war appointed va
riOus commissions, boards and special
agents as circumstances demanded. In
1777 the people OF the State were be
| ginning to realize that the struggle
could not be carried on Indefinitely by
| means of paper currency, and that
| sooner or later systematic methods Of
taxation must be employed. To bring
bout the establishment of such a sys-
| tenn a committee was appointed to re-
port a bill to the Legislature for rails
| ing money by a general assessment
| Later another mint was ap-
pointed, which was to supervise the
| revenues OF the State and prepar
| Of the amounts necessary to
| carry on the government. The report
of this committee for 1885 is Of spe-
cial interest as it shows the great ad-
vance made in methods Of taxation as
well as the approximate amounts of
the revenue. The estimated receipts
| for that year we're:
land Tax .f14,749 7 Ia
| Doll Tax ......... 1850 II
Town Property ..... I2o 10 g u
Taxes in aid Of h pub
lie revenue estimated
ct -. $500 Is .