THE STATE RECORDS OF NORTH CAROLINA. PUBLISHED UNDER THE SUPERVISION. OF THE TRUS- OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. COLLECTED AND EDITED BY WALTER CLARK, ONE OF THE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF N. C. VOL. XVIII-1786. WITH SUPPLEMENT, 1779. NASH BROTHERS, GOLDSBORO, N. C. 1900. NO PREFATORY NOTES. The year 1786 is memorable as being the date when the deficiencies of the old Confederation became so apparent that the movement for a change was inaugurated that led to the adoption of the present condition. On July 10th, 1786, Gov. Caswell addressed letters to Gov. Abner Nash, Alfred Moore, Hugh Williamson, John Gray Blount and Philemon Hawkins, informing them that in consequence of the Acts and Resolves of some of the other States to appoint Commissioners to take into consideration the trade of the United States and to report to the States such a draft of an act as would best promote the commercial interests of the United States, the Council had advised him to appoint them commissioners to attend at Annapolis on the first Monday in September. Gov. Nash and Mr. Blount were delayed by illness, and Mr. Williamson, waiting for them, was detained and did not reach Annapolis until the 14th of September, on which day the other commissioners, having determined not to enter on the work, adjourned. But before adjourning, they prepared a letter to the several States recommending that a convention be held at Philadelphia the following May with power to take into consideration other subjects than merely trade and commerce, and on this recommendation the Convention was held which framed the Constitution of the United States. On the part of North Carolina, Gov. Caswell, Col. Davie, Alex. Martin, R. D. Speight and Willie Jones were appointed to this convention; but Col. Jones declining Hugh Williamson was appointed in his stead. An imperfect Census of the State was taken in the year 1786, by State Authority. The returns were certainly far from accurate: but they show that Halifax was the most populous county in the State, having a population of 10,327. Caswell came next with 9,838. Edgecombe third, 8,480; Warren, fourth, 8,295 and Northampton next with 7,043. Duplin had 5,245, Sampson 4,268; New Hanover 5,042 and Richmond returned only 2,585. From these figures it would seem that the overflow from Virginia into the border coun |