20 



limitations which have been imposed on each of the conventions 

 he3,{J iii this States since 1776. 

 Fifth Provincial Congress, 1776 . 



The resolution of the Council of Safety of 9 August 1776, 

 impliedly approved by the people in casting their votes for 

 delegates to the Fifth Provincial Congress, conferred on the 

 Congress the poxo'ers of a constituent asserably. That resolution 



stated simply that the Congress would "form a Constitution for 



2 

 this State," There was no further limitation placed on the powers 



of that Congress, 



Convention of 1788 , 



The Convention of 1788 was called by the General Assembly for 

 the purpose of deliberating and determining on the Constitution 

 of the United States. By legislative resolution, it was recom- 

 mended to the people that they also direct their convention dele- 

 gates "to fix on the place for, • . the unalterable Seat of Govern- 

 itient for this State," Wo other constitutional matter was acted 

 upon by that convention. 

 Convention of 1789 . 



The Convention of 1789, which was also called by the General 

 Assembly "for the purpose of deliberating end determining on the 

 proposed FoederalConstitution," was further authorized by the 

 General Assembly to consider the propriety of granting the Town 

 of Fayetteville a borough member in the House of Commons, a privilege 



^ Journal o f the Council of Safety, Begun and Held in the Town of 

 Halifax. 21st July, 1776 , 9 Aug, 1776, 10 Colonial Records 695^ 



3 Senate— First Journal— 1787 , 6 Dec, 1787, 20 State Records 371. 



^House Journal— 178 7 i 6 Dec, 1787, 20 State Records 197. 



S senate Journal— 1788 , 17 Nov, 1786, 20 State Records 5lU-5l5j 

 Ho use JouiF nal — 1788 , 19 Nov, 1788, 21 State Records 66, 



Silouse Journal— 1788. 19 Nov, 1788,' 21 State Records 68, 



