receives them, and to the people who give them, ever to resign it to any body of men upon earth. Had we been permitted to enjoy, in quiet, the inheritance left us by our fore-fathers, we should, at this time, have been peaceably, cheerfully, and usefully employed in recommending ourselves, by every testimony of devotion, to your majesty, and of veneration to the state, from which we derive our origin. But though now exposed to unexpected and unnatural scenes of distress by a contention with that nation, in whose parental guidance on all important affairs, we have hitherto, with filial reverence, constantly trusted, and therefore can derive no instruction in our present unhappy and perplexing circumstances from any former experience; yet, we doubt not, the purity of our intention, and the integrity of our conduct, will justify us at that grand tribunal, before which all mankind must submit to judgment. We ask but for peace, liberty, and safety. We wish not a diminution of the prerogative, nor do we solicit the grant of any new right in our favour. Your royal authority over us, and our connexion with Great Britain, we shall always carefully and zealously endeavour to support and maintain. Filled with sentiments of duty to your majesty, and of affection to our parent state, deeply impressed by our education, and strongly confirmed by our reason, and anxious to evince the sincerity of these dispositions, we present this petition only to obtain redress of grievances, and relief from fears and jealousies, occasioned by the system of statutes and regulations adopted since the close of the late war, for raising a revenue in America-extending the powers of courts of admiralty and vice-admiralty-trying persons in GreatBritain for offences alleged to have been committed in America-affecting the province of Massachusetts-Bay-and altering the government and extending the limits of Quebec: by the abolition of which system, the harmony between Great-Britain and these colonies, so necessary to the happiness of both, and so ardently desired by the latter, and the usual intercourses will be immediately restored. In the magnanimity and justice of your majesty and parliament, we confide for a redress of our other grievances, trusting, that, when the causes of our apprehensions are removed, our future conduct will prove us not unworthy of the regard we have been accustomed, in our happier days, to enjoy. For, appealing to that Being who searches, thoroughly, the hearts of his creatures, we solemnly profess, that our councils have been influenced by no other motive, than a dread of impending destruction. Permit us, then, most gracious sovereign, in the name of all your faithful people in America, with the utmost humility, to implore you, for the honor of Almighty God, whose pure religion our enemies are undermining; for your glory, which can be advanced only by rendering your subjects happy, and keeping them united; for the interests of your family depending on an adherence to the principles that enthroned it; for the safety and welfare of your kingdoms and dominions, threatened with almost unavoidable dangers and distresses, that your majesty, as the loving father of your whole people, connected by the same bonds of law, loyalty, faith, and blood, though dwelling in various countries, will not suffer the transcendent relation formed by these ties to be farther violated, in uncertain expectation of effects, that, if attained, never can compensate for the calamities through which they must be gained. We, therefore, most earnestly beseech your majesty, that your royal authority and interposition may be used for our relief, and that a gracious answer may be given to this petition. That your majesty may enjoy every felicity through a long and glorious reign, over loyal and happy subjects, and that your descendents may inherit your prosperity and dominions till time shall be no more, is, and always will be, our sincere and fervent prayer. VOL. I. 1 JOURNALS OF CONGRESS. 1775. WEDNESDAY, May 10, 1775. A number of delegates from the colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware Counties, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, agreeable to their appointment and orders, received from their respective colonies, met at Philadelphia, and being convened in the state-house, proceeded to the choice of a president; when, Upon motion, The hon. Peyton Randolph was unanimously chosen president. After the president was seated, Mr. Charles Thomson was unanimously chosen secretary. 1 Andrew M'Neare was also chosen door-keeper, and William Shed, messenger. Agreed, That the rev. Mr. Duche be requested to open the Congress with prayers to-morrow morning; and that Mr. Willing, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Bland, be a committee to wait on Mr. Duche, and acquaint him with the request of the Congress. Adjourned till to-morrow, at 11 o'clock. THURSDAY, May 11, 1775, A. M. Agreeable to the order of yesterday, the Congress was opened with prayers, by the rev. Mr. Duche. After prayers, the Congress, according to adjournment, proceeded to business. The delegates from the several colonies, produced their respective credentials, which were read and approved, as follows: NEW-HAMPSIIIRE. At the convention of deputies, appointed by the several towns in the province aforesaid, held at Exeter, on the 25th day of January, 1775, The hon. JOHN WENTWORTII, esq. in the chair. Voted, That John Sullivan and John Langdon, esqrs. be delegated to represent this province, in the Continental Congress, proposed to be held at Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next, and that they and each of them, in the absence of the other, have full and ample power, in behalf of this province, to consent and agree to all measures, which said Congress shall deem necessary, to obtain redress of American grievances. True copy attested, MASHECK WEARE, Clerk to the Convention. PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, CAMBRIDGE, Resolved, That the proceedings of the American Continental Congress, held at Philadelphia, on the 5th day of September last, and reported by the honorable delegates from this colony, have, with the deliberation due to their high importance, been considered by us; and the American bill of rights, therein contained, appears to be formed with the greatest ability and judgment, to be founded on the immutable laws of nature and reason, the principles of the I English constitution, and respective charters and constitutions of the colonies, and to be worthy of their most vigorous support, as essentially necessary to liberty; likewise the ruinous and iniquitous measures, which, in violation of these rights, at present convulse and threaten destruction to America, appear to be clearly pointed out, and judicious plans adopted for defeating them. Resolved, That the most grateful acknowledgments are due to the truly honorable and patriotic members of the Continental Congress, for their wise and able exertions in the cause of American liberty; and this Congress, in their own names, and in behalf of this colony, do hereby, with the utmost sincerity, express the same. Resolved, That the hon. John Hancock, the hon. Thomas Cushing, esqrs. Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat Paine, esqrs. or any three of them, be, and they are hereby appointed and authorized to represent this colony, on the tenth of May next, or sooner if necessary, at the American Congress, to be held at Philadelphia, with full power, with the delegates from the other American colonies, to concert, agree upon, direct and order such further measures, as shall to them appear to be best calculated for the recovery and establishment of American rights and liberties, and for restoring harmony between Great-Britain and the colonies. A true copy of record, BENJAMIN LINCOLN, Secretary. IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, CAMBRIDGE, February 6, 1775. Resolved, That the hon. John Hancock, the hon. Thomas Cushing, esqrs. Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat Paine, esqrs. appointed by the last provincial Congress to represent this colony, on the tenth of May next, or sooner if necessary, at the American Congress, to be held at Philadelphia, be, and they are hereby authorized and empowered, with the delegates from the other American colonies, to adjourn from time to time, and place to place, as shall be judged necessary, and to continue in being, as delegates for this colony, until the thirty-first day of December next ensuing, and no longer. A true copy of record, BENJAMIN LINCOLN, Secretary. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT. * This house proceeded to nominate, chuse, and appoint delegates, to attend the general Congress, to be holden at Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next; and made choice of the honorable Eliphalet Dyer, honorable Roger Sherman, Silas Deane, * Titus Hosmer, and Jonathan Sturgess, esqrs. to be their delegates, any three of whom are authorized and empowered to attend said Congress, in behalf of this colony, to join, consult and advise with the delegates of the other colonies in British America, on proper measures for advancing the best good of the colonies. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, Speaker. RICHARD LAW, Clerk. At a provincial convention formed of deputies from the city and county of New-York, the city and county of Albany, and the counties of Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, West-Chester, King's, and Suffolk, held at the city of NewYork, the 22d day of April, 1775, for the purpose of appointing delegates to represent the colony of New-York, in the next Continental Congress, to be * * * * * * held at Philadelphia, on the tenth of May next, Philip Livingston, James Duane, John Alsop, John Jay, Simon Boerum, William Floyd, Henry Wisner, Philip Schuyler, George Clinton, Lewis Morris, Francis Lewis, and Robert R. Livingston, jun. esqrs. were unanimously elected delegates, to represent this colony at such Congress, with full power to them, or any five of them, to meet the delegates from the other colonies, and to concert and determine upon such measures as shall be judged most effectual for the preservation and re-establishment of American rights and privileges, and for the restoration of harmony between Great-Britain and the colonies. Signed, Leonard Lispenard, Isaac Roosevelt, Abraham Walton, Alexander M'Dougall, and twenty-four others. We, the subscribers, do, in behalf of ourselves, and those free-holders of Queen's county, at whose request we attended the convention, signify our assent to, and approbation of, the above delegation. Signed, John Fulman, Zebulon Williams, Jacob Blackwell, Joseph Robinson. NEW-JERSEY. IN ASSEMBLY, PERTH-AMBOY, Tuesday, January 24, 1775. Resolved unanimously, That James Kinsey, Stephen Crane, William Livingston, John De Hart, and Richard Smith, esqrs. or any three of them, be, and they are hereby appointed to attend the Continental Congress of the colonies, intended to be held at the city of Philadelphia, in May next, or at any other time and place; and that they report their proceedings to the next session of general assembly. Upon motion, A true copy from the journals, RICHARD SMITH, Clerk of the Assembly. PENNSYLVANIA. IN ASSEMBLY, December 15, 1774, A. M. Resolved, N. C. D. That the honorable Edward Biddle, John Dickinson, Thomas Mifflin, Charles Humphreys, John Morton, and George Ross, esqrs. be, and they are hereby appointed deputies on the part of this province, to attend the general Congress, proposed to be held at the city of Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next; and that they or any four of them do meet the said Congress accordingly, unless the present grievances of the American colonies shall before that time be redressed. Extract from the journals, CHARLES MOORE, Clerk of the Assembly. IN ASSEMBLY, May 6, 1775, A. M. Resolved, N. C. D. That Benjamin Franklin, the honorable Thomas Willing, and * James Wilson, esqrs. be, and they are hereby added to the deputies appointed by this house, to attend the Continental Congress, expected to meet the tenth instant, in this city. Extract from the journals, On motion, CHARLES MOORE, Clerk of the Assembly. 1 LOWER COUNTIES ON DELAWARE. IN ASSEMBLY, Thursday, March 16, 1775, A. M. Resolved, NC. D. That the honorable Cæsar Rodney, Thomas M'Kean, and George Read, esqrs. be, and they are hereby appointed and authorized Note-All the members attended, except those marked thus.* to represent this government at the American Congress, proposed to be held at the city of Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next, or at any other time or place, with full power to them, or any two of them, together with the delegates from the other American colonies, to concert and agree upon such farther measures, as shall appear to them best calculated for the accommodation of the unhappy differences between Great-Britain and the colonies, on a constitutional foundation, which the house most ardently wish for, and that they report their proceedings to the next sessions of general assembly." True copy of minutes of assembly, DAVID THOMSON, Clerk to the Assembly. MARYLAND. At a meeting of the deputies, appointed by the several counties of the province of Maryland, at the city of Annapolis, by adjournment, on the 8th of December, 1774, and continued till the 12th day of the same month, ** Resolved unanimously, That the honorable Matthew Tilghman, Thomas Johnson, junior, Robert Goldsborough, William Paca, Samuel Chase, John Hall, and Thomas Stone, esqrs. or any three or more of them, be delegates to represent this province, in the next Continental Congress; and that they, or any three or more of them, have full and ample power to consent and agree to all measures,-which such Congress shall deem necessary and effectual to obtain a redress of American grievances; and this province bind themselves to execute, to the utmost of their power, all resolutions which the said Congress may adopt. And further, if the said Congress shall think necessary to adjourn, we do authorize our said delegates, to represent and act for this province, in any one Congress, to be held by virtue of such adjournment. Signed by order, VIRGINIA. JOHN DUCKET, Clerk. At a convention of delegates for the counties and corporations in the colony of Virginia, at the town of Richmond, in the county of Henrico, on Monday, the 20th of March, 1775; The convention proceeded to the election of delegates, by ballot, to represent this colony in general Congress, to be held at the city of Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next, when the honorable Peyton Randolph, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Edmund Pendleton, Benjamin Harrison, and Richard Bland, esqrs. were chosen for that purpose. PEYTON RANDOLPH, President, * JOHN TAZEWELL, Clerk of the Convention. NORTH-CAROLINA. At a general meeting of delegates of the inhabitants of this province, in convention, at Newbern, the 5th day of April, 1775; Present; the honorable John Harvey, esq. moderator, and 68 members: On motion, Resolved, That William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and Richard Caswell, esqrs. be, and they are hereby appointed delegates to attend the general Congress, to be held at Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next, or at any other time and place that shall be appointed for that purpose, and they are hereby invested with such powers as may make any acts done by them, or any of them, or consent given in behalf of this province, obligatory, in honor, upon every inhabitant thereof. A true copy from the minutes, Attested by ANDREW KNOX, Clerk. JOHN HARVEY, Moderator. |