Page images
PDF
EPUB

any one Congrefs, to be held by virtue of fuch adjournment,

Signed by order,

JOHN DUCKET, Clerk,

VIRGINIA. 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 reprefent this colony in General Congrefs, to be held at the city of Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next, when the hon. Peyton Randolph, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Edmund Pendleton, Benjamin Harrison, and Richard Bland, Efqrs, were chofen for that purpose..

*

PEYTON RANDOLPH, Prefident. 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

Prefent, the hon. John Harvey, Efq; Moderator, and 68 members.

On motion, Refolved, That William Hooper, Jofeph Hewes, and Richard Cafwell, Efqrs. be, and 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 thall be appointed for that purpofe, and they are hereby

hereby invested with fuch powers as may as may make any acts done by them, or any of them, or confent given in behalf of this province, obligatory, in honour, upon every inhabitant thereof.

A true copy from the Minutes,

JOHN HARVEY, Moderator.

Attefted by ANDREW KNOX, Clerk. In the Affembly 7th of April, 1775.

Refolved, That the Houfe do highly approve of the proceedings of the Continental Congrefs, lately held at Philadelphia, and that they are determined, as members of the community in general, that they will strictly adhere to the faid Refolutions, and will use what influence they have, to induce the fame obfervance in every individual of this province, 52

This Houfe having received information, that William Hooper, Jofeph Hewes, and Richard Cafwell, Efqrs. were appointed by the Convention, held at Newbern, as Delegates to attend the meeting of the Continental Congrefs foon to be held at Philadelphia.

Refolved, That the House approve of the choice made by the faid Convention.

A true copy from the Journal of the House of Allembly. JAMES GREEN, jun. Clerk.

SOUTH-CAROLINA. In the Commons Houfe of Af Jembly, Friday 3d of February, 1775

Whereas the Continental Congrefs, held at the city of Philadelphia in September laft, amongst other things recommended to the feveral Colonies in North America, to chufe Deputies as foon as poffible, to hold another Congrefs at the fame place, on the tenth day of May next, and this Houfe being fully fatisfied with the conduct and fidelity of their late Deputies

Deputies at the Congrefs, do hereby nominate and appoint the Hon. H. Middleton, Tho. Lynch, Chr. Gadfden, John Rutledge, and Ed. Rutledge, Efqrs. Deputies for and in behalf of this Colony, to meet the Deputies appointed, or to be appointed, on the part and behalf of the other Colonies, at the city of Philadelphia, or any other place, that shall be agreed on by the faid Deputies in General Congrefs, with full power and authority to concert, agree to and effectually profecute fuch measures, as in the opinion of the faid Deputies and the Deputies to be affembled, fhall be moft likely to obtain a redrefs of American grievances.

Refolved, That the Deputies hereby appointed, on the part and behalf of this colony, are authorised and empowered to agree, that the Continental Congrefs may meet at any future time, and at fuch place as fhall be agreed on, and to adjourn from time to time; provided it do not exceed nine months from the date of their meeting in May next.

Attefted, THOMAS FARR, jun, Clerk.

Extract from the Journals of the Provincial Congrefs of SOUTH-CAROLINA, published by order of the Congress, 11th of January, 1775.

Refolved, That the hon. Henry Middleton, Esq; Thomas Lynch, Chriftopher Gadfden, John Rutledge and Edward Rutledge, Efqrs. or any three of them, be, and they are hereby appointed and authorised to reprefent this Colony, on the tenth day of May next, or fooner, if neceffary, at the American Congrefs, to be held at Philadelphia or elsewhere, with full power to concert, agree upon, direct and order fuch further measures, as in the opinion of the faid Deputies, and the Delegates of the other American Colonies, to be affembled, fhall appear to be

necef

[ocr errors]

neceffary for the recovery and establishment of American Rights and Liberties, and for restoring harmony between Great-Britain and her Colonies.

Upon motion, Refolved, That the thanks of the Congrefs be given to the rev. Mr. Duché, for performing Divine Service agreeable to the defire of the Congrefs, and for his excellent prayer fo well adapted to the present occafion.

Ordered, That Mr. Bland, Mr. Willing, and Mr. Sullivan, be a committee to wait upon Mr. Duché, and return the thanks of the Congrefs, agreeable to the above Resolution..

Upon motion, Refolved, That the doors be kept fhut during the time of bufinefs, and that the members confider themselves under the ftrongeft obligations of honour to keep the proceedings fecret, until the majority fhall direct them to be made public. Note.All the members attended except those marked thus *.

A circular letter from the Agents William Bollan, Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur Lee, Efqrs. directed to the Speakers of feveral Affemblies, and fundry papers therein referred to, were laid before the Congress and read; the letter is as follows:

SIR,

London, Feb. 5, 1775.

OUR laft letter informed you, that the King had declared his intentions of laying the Petition before his two Houses of Parliament. It has accordingly been laid before each Houfe, but undiftinguished among a variety of letters and other papers from

America.

A motion made by Lord Chatham to withdraw the troops from Bolton, as the first step towards a conciliating plan, was rejected; and the ministry have declared in both Houfes the determination to

[blocks in formation]

inforce obedience to all the late laws. For this purpose we understand that three regiments of foot, one of dragoons, feven hundred marines, fix floops of war, and two frigates, are now under orders for

mrca.

We think it proper to inform you that your caufe was well defended by a confiderable number of good and wife men in both Houses of Parliament, though far from being a majority: And that many of the commercial and manufacturing parts of the nation, concerned in the American trade, have prefented, or as we understand, are preparing to prefent petitions to parliament declaring their great concern for the prefent unhappy controverfies with America, and praying exprefsly, or in effect, for healing measures, as the proper means of preferving their commerce now greatly fuffering or endangered. But the treatment the petitions already presented have hitherto received is fuch, as, in our opinion, can afford you no reliance on the prefent relief through their means.

As foon as we learnt that the Petition of the Congress was before the Houfe of Commons, we thought it our duty to fupport it, if we might be permitted fo to do, as there was no other opportunity for the numerous inhabitants of the Colonies to be heard in defence of their rights: Accordingly we joined in a petition for that purpofe. Sir George Saville kindly undertook to prefent it. But on previously opening the purport of it, as the order is, a debate arose on the propriety of receiving it, and on a divifion it was rejected by a great majority.

The following extract of a letter from General Gage to Lord Dartmouth, as laid before Parliament, we think it our duty to tranfmit, viz.

"Dec. 15, 1774. Your Lordship's idea of dif

arming

« PreviousContinue »