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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Samuel Johnston to John Gray Blount
Johnston, Samuel, 1733-1816
April 12, 1788
Volume 21, Page 462

GOV. SAML. JOHNSTON TO MR. J. G. BLOUNT.
(From Executive Letter Book.)

Hays, April 12th, 1788.

Dear Sir:

I was sometime ago applied to by the Consul of France respecting a Debt due from this State to the Government of Martinique and being unacquainted with the particulars of that transaction I applied to the late Governor Mr. Caswell for information. I have lately received his answer referring me to you as a person qualified to give me the fullest information on that subject. I shall therefore consider myself under the highest Obligations to you for a full State of all the facts within your knowledge which you may judge necessary to enable me to give a satisfactory answer to the Consul.

I have lately had an express from Holstein giving an account of some very dangerous Riots in which some blood has been spilt and two men killed by the Rioters under the Command of Sevier. I hope the Assembly at their next meeting will either use means effectually to enforce the Execution of our laws in that Country or leave them to Govern themselves, to suffer them to continue in the present unsettled State, may in time be attended with very bad influence on the Conduct of the Citizens in other parts of the State.

I am, &c., &c.,
SAM. JOHNSTON.