cessant execrations." With this preamble, a part of which is only here given, and after referring to the late acts of parliament, they declared and resolved, that no obedience was due from the province to any part of these acts; but "they be rejected as the attempts of a wicked administration to enslave America." That the judges who were appointed and held their places, by any other tenure, than that which the charter and the laws of the province directed, were unconstitutional officers, and as such, no regard ought to be paid to them; and that if they should presume to sit and act, they would support and bear harmless all sheriffs, constables, jurors and other officers, who should refuse to carry their orders into execution. To prevent the inconveniences which might be occasioned, by a suspension of the courts, they earnestly recommended to creditors, a general forbearance to their debtors; and to debtors, to pay their just debts, with all possible speed; and in case of dispute, to submit the same to arbitration. They declared, that the persons, who, by virtue of the royal appointment, had accepted their seats, in the council, had given great and just offense to the people; and that those who refused to resign, should be considered obstinate and incorrigible enemies to their country. Nor were the members of this meeting unmindful of the probable future state of the province. They recommended that the best officers should be appointed in the militia, that the inhabitants use their utmost diligence, to acquaint themselves with the art of war, as soon as possible; and for that purpose, appear under arms, at least, once every week. They at the same time declared, their determination, to act merely on the defensive, so long as such conduct might be justified, by reason and the principles of self-preservation, and no longer. They proposed to their fellow citizens, that a provincial congress be held at Concord, on the second Tuesday of October, and recommended to all collectors of taxes, and all other officers, having public monies in their hands, to retain the same, until the government of the province should be placed on constitutional ground, or otherwise ordered, by the provincial congress.*

* Bradford, vol. 1, pp. 339, to 343.

These recommendations and proceedings of the inhabitants of the county of Suffolk, were in accordance with the views and feelings of the people of Massachusetts in general.

The royal councillors, were either obliged to resign or seek protection in Boston.

The grand and petit jurors, when summoned to attend the courts, under the new order of things, refused to take the oaths required, or to act. In some of the counties, the people would not permit the courts to be held, by unconstitutional judges. They assembled, on the days of the session of the courts in such numbers, as to fill the avenues to the court houses, and when the sheriffs commanded them to give place for the judges, they refused, declaring, "that they knew of no court, nor any other establishment, independent of the ancient laws and usages of their country, and to none other would they submit or give way on any account."

Gordon, vol. 1, p. 259.

CHAPTER VIII.

Congress of the Colonies in September, 1774-The conduct of Massachusetts approved-A Committee appointed to state the rights of the Colonies-Their violations and the means of redress-Suffolk resolutions approved-Declaration of the rights of the Colonies-Non-importation, non-consumption, and non-expor tation agreement-Address to the King-To the people of Great Britain-To the inhabitants of the Colonies, and to the inhabitants of the Province of QuebecGalloway proposes a plan of reconciliation-This postponed-Congress is dissolved in October-Proceedings of Congress approved by the Colonies-Lord Chatham's motion for the recall of the troops from Boston-His speech on this motion-His conciliatory Bill-Rejected by a large majority-Parliament determines to enforce obedience-Augments the Army and Navy-Restrains the trade and fisheries of the Colonies-Indirect negociations with Dr. Franklin, as to terms of reconciliation-Lord North's conciliatory proposition-Its object-Disarming some of the Colonies contemplated-Preparations for defense in the Colonies-Hostilities commence in Massachusetts-Excite great alarm--Massachusetts Convention raise troops and prepare an address to the people of Great Britain.

On the 5th of September, 1774, the second general congress, since the peace of 1763, met at Philadelphia, where all the colonies were represented except Georgia. Peyton Randolph, one of the delegates from Virginia, was elected president, and Charles Thompson, a citizen of Philadelphia, was chosen secretary.

The delegates from Massachusetts, were empowered "to deliberate and determine upon wise and proper measures; to be by them recommended to all the colonies, for the recovery and reestablishment of their just rights and liberties, civil and religious, and the restoration of union and harmony, so ardently desired by all good men."

The general instructions given to the delegates of Pennsylvania, directed them to meet in congress," to consult together upon the present unhappy state of the colonies, and to form and adopt a plan for purposes of obtaining redress of American grievances, ascertaining American rights, upon the most solid and constitutional principles, and for establishing that union and harmony, which is indispensably necessary to the welfare and happiness of

POLITICAL AND CIVIL HISTORY, &c.

283

both." The Virginia delegates were, " to consider of the most proper and effectual manner of so operating, on the commercial connection of the colonies with the mother country, as to procure redress, for the much injured province of Massachusetts Bay, to secure British America, from the ravage and ruin of arbitrary taxes, and speedily, to procure the return of that harmony and union, so beneficial to the whole empire, and so ardently desired by all British America."

One of the rules adopted by this congress, for the regulation of their proceedings, was, that "as congress were not then possessed of, or able to procure proper materials for ascertaining the importance of each colony, each colony or province should have one vote, in determining questions."

They, also, resolved, to sit with closed doors, and that every member consider himself under the strongest obligations of honor, to keep the proceedings secret, until a majority directed them to be made public.

One of the first acts of this body, was the appointment of a committee, consisting of two from each colony, to state the rights of the colonies in general, the several instances, in which those rights had been violated, and the means most proper to be pursued for obtaining a restoration of them.

Congress, at first, contemplated extending their enquiries, relative to the violation of American rights, to the several statutes, affecting the trade and manufactures of the colonies;" and for this purpose, a committee of one from each colony was appointed.

A majority, however, afterwards determined to confine themselves, to the consideration of such rights, as had been infringed, by acts of parliament, since the year 1763. While these important subjects were before committees, the resolutions of the delegates of the county of Suffolk, to which we have before alluded, were laid before congress; and, thereupon, the following resolution was unanimously adopted, "that this assembly deeply feels the sufferings of their countrymen in the Massachusetts Bay, under the operation of the late unjust, cruel, and oppressive acts of the

British parliament-that they most thoroughly approve the wis dom and fortitude, with which opposition to these wicked ministerial measures, has hitherto been conducted, and they earnestly recommend to their brethren, a perseverance in the same firm and temperate conduct, as expressed in the resolutions, trusting that the effect of the united efforts of North America, in their behalf, will carry such conviction to the British nation, of the unwise, unjust, and ruinous policy of the present administration, as quickly to introduce better men, and wiser measures.”

They, also, recommended, the continuance of contributions for the relief of the sufferers at Boston.

During the session of this congress, a constant communication was kept up, by means of expresses, between Boston and Philadelphia. Informed by a letter from the committee of correspondence, of the conduct of general Gage, in raising fortifications round Boston, and in preventing a free communication with that town, congress not only addressed a letter to the general, requesting him to discontinue such fortifications, but, also, passed a resolution, approving of the opposition of the inhabitants of Massachusetts, to the execution of the late acts of parliament, and declaring that, "if the same shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force, in such case, all America ought to support them, in their opposition." They still, however, recommended to the people of that province," to conduct themselves peaceably towards his excellency general Gage, and his majesty's troops stationed at Boston, as far as could possibly be consistent with their immediate safety and the security of the town; avoiding and discountenancing every violation of his majesty's property, or any insult to his troops, and that they peaceably and firmly persevere in the line they were then conducting themselves, on the defensive." They at the same time, unanimously declared, that every person, who should take, accept, or act under, any commission or authority, in any wise derived, from the act changing the form of government, and violating the charter of Massachusetts, "ought to be held in abhorrence, by all good men, and considered, as the wicked tools of that despotism, which was prepar