THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.
"One of the first measures adopted by the American people to resist
the encroachments of the Government of Great Britain, was a system of
self-denial, generally called the Continental Association, or non-importation
agreement. To enforce this, the General Congress had recommended
the appointment of Committees of Safety in the several colonies. But the
number of committee-men, as well as their duration in office, being
unlimited, the Convention of Virginia gave them a more distinct organization.
A General Committee of Safety was appointed by the Convention,
who were invested with the supreme executive powers of government."
The Convention of July, 1775, held at Richmond, Va.,
Peyton Randolph, President, "for the more effectual carrying
into execution the several rules and regulations established
by this Convention, for the protection of this Colony,"
appointed the following eleven members, on the Committee
of Safety, viz.:
Edmund Pendleton,
George Mason,
John Page,
Richard Bland,
Thomas Ludwell Lee,
Paul Carrington,
Dudley Digges,
William Cabell,
Carter Braxton,
James Mercer,
John Tabb.
Again, at the Convention of December, 1775, held at
Richmond, Va., Edmund Pendleton, President, an ordinance
was passed "for revising and amending an ordinance appointing
a Committee of Safety." By this Act the following
eleven members were created:
Dudley Digges,
John Page,
Paul Carrington,
Edmund Pendleton,
James Mercer,
Thomas Ludwell Lee,
William Cabell,
Richard Bland,
Joseph Jones,
John Tabb,
Thomas Walker.
These Committees constituted the executive department of
the government when the Conventions were not in session,
and were held subordinate to the Conventions by the restriction
that "said Committee shall cause all their proceedings
and transactions to be fairly entered in a book or books to be
provided at publick expense for that purpose, which shall be
laid before the next Convention, to whom the said Committee
shall be accountable for their conduct touching the premises
in every respect whatever."
Mr. Hugh Blair Grigsby says, in his "Discourse on the
Virginia Convention of 1776" (page 16), "Let it be kept in
mind that the Convention not only performed the ordinary
duties of the legislative department, but, while in session,
those of the executive also," hence, we find the delicate
machinery of government required for the anomalous condition
of the times carefully provided, and with almost supernatural
wisdom every exigency anticipated.
Edmund Pendleton had the honor of being Chairman of
the Committee of Safety during the perilous period when
Virginia was passing from the Colony to the Commonwealth;
but, his chief claim to the position of Executive is, that he was
President of the Conventions of December, 1775, and of May,
1776; the highest and most responsible office in Virginia, at
the time, in the gift of his fellow-colonists.
