too hastily before the rest. The one which dares to betray the common cause, by rushing forward, contrary to the maxims of discipline, established by common sense and the experience of ages, will inevitably and utterly perish."

“Your sentiments," says Mr. Quincy, in his answer of the 20th of August,"relative to that colony, which shall advance too hastily before the rest, contrary to the maxims of discipline, &c., are no doubt just." "Yet permit me, sir, to use a freedom, which your partiality seems to invite, and observe that these maxims of discipline, are not universally known, in this early period of continental warfare, and are with great difficulty practised by a people under the scourge of public oppression. When time shall have taught wisdom, and past experience, have fixed boundaries to the movements of a single colony, its intemperate and over-hasty strides, will be more unpardonable. But if we should, unfortunately, sec one colony, under a treble pressure of public oppression, rendered impatient by the refinements, delays, and experiments of the Philadelphians; of their less oppressed, and therefore more deliberate brethren; I say, if a colony thus insulted, galled from without, and vexed within, should seem to advance, and break the line of opposition, ought it to incur, the heavy censure of betraying the common cause? Though not to be justified, may not its fault, be considered venial."

"Believe me, dear sir, you know not all our patriotic trials, in this province. Corruption (which delay gives time to operate) is the destroying angel we have most to fear. Our enemies wish for nothing so much, as our tampering with the fatal disease. I fear much, that timid or luke-warm counsels, will be considered by our congress as prudent and politic. Such counsels will inev itably enslave us; we subjugated, how rapid and certain the fall of the rest."* While the people of Boston were suffering, from the loss of their commerce, the act arrived which deprived all the inhabitants of the province, of some of their dearest charter rights. Before bringing to the view of the reader the proceedings of the general congress, we shall briefly notice, some of the

* Memoirs of Quincy, pp. 171, 172.

transactions of the people of Massachusetts, in the trying and distressed situation in which they were placed. The act "for the better regulating the government of the Massachusetts bay," the outlines of which we have before mentioned, was to take ef fect on the first of August. To this act, however, the people determined never to submit. In many of the counties the citizens assembled by their deputies, and expressed this their determination; nor were they deterred from doing this, by the threats of the new governor, who in some instances, declared, "that if the citizens assembled, he should order the sheriff to disperse them and that if the sheriff needed support, he himself would support him with his troops."* The resolutions of the delegates of the county of Suffolk, convened at Milton, on the 6th of September, drawn by that distinguished patriot, Dr. Joseph Warren, who afterwards, unfortunately for his country, fell at Bunker Hill, breathed a spirit of uncommon energy and firmness, and strongly marked the feelings of the people of that county at that trying period. "Whereas the power," they said, "but not the justice, the vengeance, but not the wisdom, of Great Britain, which of old persecuted, scourged and exiled our fugitive parents, from their native shores, now pursues us their guiltless children, with unrelenting severity; and whereas, this, then savage and uncultivated desert, was purchased by the toil and treasure, or acquired by the valor and blood of those our venerable progenitors: to us they bequeathed the dear-bought inheritance, to our care and protection they consigned it; and the most sacred obligations are upon us, to transmit the glorious purchase, unfettered by power, unclogged with shackles, to an innocent and beloved offspring. On the fortitude, on the wisdom of this important day," they added," is suspended the fate of this new world, and of unborn millions."

"If a boundless extent of continent, swarming with millions, will tamely submit to live, move and have their being, at the arbitrary will of a licentious minister, they basely yield to voluntary slavery, and future generations shall load their memories with in

* Bradford, vol. 1, pp. 345, 346.

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 justi'fied, 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 con

gress.

*

* 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."*

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-exportation 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 Pennsylva nia, directed them to meet in congress," to consult together upon "to 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