T H A T for the better Management of the Powers and Trust aforesaid, the
provincial Council shall from time to time divide itself into four
distinct and proper Committees, for the more easy Administration of the
Affairs of the Province, which divides the Seventy-two into four
Eighteens, every one of which Eighteens shall consist of six out of each
of the three Orders or yearly Elections, each of which shall have a
distinct Portion of Business, as followeth: _First_, a Committee of
Plantations, to situate and settle Cities, Ports, and Market-Towns, and
Highways, and to hear and decide all Suits and Controversies relating to
Plantations. _Secondly_, a Committee of Justice and Safety, to secure
the Peace of the Province, and punish the Male-Administration of those
who subvert Justice to the Prejudice of the publick or private Interest.
_Thirdly_, a Committee of Trade and Treasury, who shall regulate all
Trade and Commerce according to Law, encourage Manufacture and
Country-Growth, and defray the publick Charge of the Province. And
_Fourthly_, a Committee of Manners, Education, and Arts, that all wicked
and scandalous Living may be prevented, and that Youth may be
successively trained up in Virtue and useful Knowledge and Arts: The
_Quorum_ of each of which Committees being six, _that is_, two out of
each of the three Orders or yearly Elections, as aforesaid, make a
constant and standing Council of Twenty-four, which will have the Power
of the provincial Council, being the _Quorum_ of it, in all Cases not
excepted in the fifth Article; and in the said Committees and standing
Council of the Province, the Governor or his Deputy shall or may
preside, as aforesaid; and in the Absence of the Governor or his Deputy,
if no one is by either of them appointed, the said Committees or Council
shall appoint a President for that Time, and not otherwise; and what
shall be resolved at such Committees, shall be reported to the said
Council of the Province, and shall be by them resolved and confirmed
before the same shall be put in Execution; and that these respective
Committees shall not sit at one and the same Time, except in Cases of
Necessity.