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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the Provincial Congress of South Carolina
South Carolina. Provincial Congress
November 06, 1775 - November 07, 1775
Volume 10, Pages 305-306

[Reprinted from American Archives. Vol. 4. P. 37.]
Proceedings of South Carolina Provincial Congress in the matter of John Dunn of Salisbury, N. C.


November 6th 1775.

“Mr Lang declared, that on the 31st of October, being at Mr Hatfield's Tavern, he heard a stranger to him, who he since finds is the Mr Dunn in question, arguing warmly in favour of Ministerial measures. He cannot remember the whole of the conversation, but recollects particularly, that Mr Dunn declared we (meaning plainly from the run of his discourse, the Americans) had no right to prescribe to the Prince and Parliment! And by way of burlesque, that he, Mr Dunn, was a tory, and had called his stray dog ‘Tory’! and that through the whole of his discourse, he so spoke as highly offended him, Mr Lang, although he did not know the restrictions which at that time lay upon Mr Dunn.

“Dr Burke witnesses, that Mr Dunn appeared to him to be much in liquor, and spoke somewhat in favour of the American cause, but at different times did so speak against it, as that nothing but drunkenness could excuse him.

“Upon the whole, your Committee are of opinion, that his imprudent conduct was, in a great degree, the result of intoxication, and recommend it to the Congress, that Mr Dunn be admonished to be more cautious for the future.”

Ordered, That Mr Dunn be summoned to attend this Congress, at their meeting to-morrow.

———


November 7th 1775.

Mr John Dunn, summoned to attend this day, was called in and reprimanded from the Chair in words to the following purport:

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“Mr Dunn: You was sent to this Colony as a person inimical to the liberties of America; and as so obnoxious a person, you have been for some time held in close confinement in Charlestown, by publick authority. Upon your pressing entreaties to the late General Committee, you was lately enlarged upon your parole, having first voluntarily taken an oath to observe a conduct of strict neutrality, and that you neither would directly or indirectly, in any shape interfere in the present unhappy dispute between Great Britain and America. You have been charged before this Congress with having violated that oath; and the Committee appointed by this Congress to examine you on that subject and hear your defence, have thereon reported in such terms as induced the Congress to order your attendance to-day, and to direct me to reprehend your past conduct; to admonish you to more strict observance of your engagement; and to declare to you, that if you transgress again, you will be committed a close prisoner to the common jail.”

After which Mr Dunn was dismissed.