At length the general congrefs, on which all America had their eyes now fixed, met at Philadelphia for the first time, September 4, 1774. This affembly confifted of fifty-one members, delegated in fuch proportions from the different colonies as correfponded with their varied extent and population, though each colony had a distinct and separate vote. Amongst their firft refolves they paffed an unanimous vote, that this affembly deeply feels the sufferings of their countrymen in the Massachusetts, under the operation of the late unjuft, cruel, and oppreffive acts of the British parliament ; that they most thoroughly approve the wisdom and fortitude with which their opposition to those measures has been conducted; and they trust that the united efforts of America in their behalf will carry conviction to the British nation of the unwife, unjuft, and ruinous policy of the prefent administration. But if the late acts of parliament shall be attempted to be caried into execution by force, in fuch cafes all America ought to support the inhabitants of the Maffachusetts Bay in their oppofition. The congrefs also published a declaration of rights, to which they conceived themselves entitled by the immutable laws of nature, the principles of the English constitution, and their several charters or compacts. After a specification of these rights, and an enumeration of the recent violations of them, they mention, that, in hopes of being reftored to that state in which both countries formerly found happiness and prosperity, they have for the present only.refolved to pursue the following peaceable measures, viz. to enter into a non-importation, non-confumption, and non-exportation agreement; and to prepare an addrefs to the people of Great Britain, a memorial to the inhabitants of British America, and a loyal and humble petition to his majesty. All thefe different addreffes and declarations were drawn up with great ability, prudence, and moderation. They call upon the people of Great Britain to witness their loyalty and attachment to the common interefts of the empire; they appeal to their own acknowledginent of this truth, manifested by by the reimbursement of large fums of money which they had advanced during the late war, with zeal far beyond their proportional ability. They then proceed to state and examine the measures of government, and the acts of the British parliament, which they confider as hoftile to America. They adduce ftrong arguments to fhew that the final fuccefs of the ministerial plans would in the end be as fatal to the liberties of Britain as to thofe of America. «Place us," fay they, "in the fame fituation that we were in at the close of the last war, and our former harmony will be restored." In the memorial to the inhabitants of British America, they deeply deplore the neceffity which preffed them to an immediate interruption of commerce, and apologize by faying, “We are driven by the hands of violence into unexperienced and unexpected public convulfions, and are contending for freedom fo often contended for by our ancestors." Towards the close they have these words: "We think ourselves bound in duty to obferve to you, that the schemes agitated against these colonies have been fo conducted as to render it prudent that you fhould extend your views to the moft unhappy events, and be in all refpects prepared for every contingency.' ?? But the congrefs feemed to referve their chief ftrength for the addrefs to the KING, which is penned with extraordinary force and animation, in many parts rifing to a very high strain of eloquence. They express their "confidence, that as his majefty enjoys the fignal diftinction of reigning over freemen, the language of freemen cannot be difpleafing:" adding, "your royal indignation, we hope, will rather fall on thofe defigning and dangerous men, who, daringly interpofing themselves between your royal perfon and your faithful fubjects, have at length compelled us by the force of accumulated injuries to disturb your majesty's repose by our complaints." They affure his majefty, that for the fupport of civil government, and the adminiftration of justice, fuch provision has been, and will be made by the colonial legislatures as may be judged fuitable to their respective circumstances. They They affirm, that for their defence, protection, and fecurity in time of peace, their militias, if properly regulated, would be fully fufficient; and in cafe of war, his faithful colonists will be ready and willing, as they have ever been when conftitutionally required, to demonftrate their loyalty, by exerting their most strenuous efforts in granting fupplies and rais ing forces. They fay, "we afk but for peace, liberty, and fafety. We wish not a diminution of the prerogative, nor do we folicit the grant of any new right in our favor. In the magnanimity and justice of your majefty and parliament we confide for a redress of our grievances, trufting that when the causes of our apprehenfions are removed, our future conduct will prove us not unworthy of the regard we have been accustomed in our happier days to enjoy. And appealing to that Being who searches thoroughly the hearts of his creatures, we folemnly profess that our counfels have been influenced by no other motive than a dread of impending destruction. We implore therefore your majefty, as the loving father of all your people, connected by the fame bands of law, loyalty, faith, and blood, not to fuffer the tranfcendent relation formed by these ties to be further violated in uncertain expectation of effects, which, if attained, never can compensate for the calamities through which they must be gained. So may your majefty enjoy every temporal felicity throughout a long and glorious reign, and your defcendants inherit your profperity and dominions till time fhall be no more." It is difficult to conceive how this address could be read without exciting, in the breasts even of the most obdurate, ftrong emotions of compunction and remorfe; but there are thofe who have hearts and understandings upon which no impreffion can be made by any effort of human reason, and who can refolutely "turn a deaf ear to the voice of the charmer, charm he never fo wifely." In a subsequent address to the Roman Catholic inhabitants of Canada, the congrefs with perfpicuity and energy state to the Canadians the rights enjoyed under that constitution from "Thefe from which by the late act they are debarred. rights," say they, "defend the poor from the rich, the weak from the powerful, the induftrious from the rapacious, the peaceable from the violent, the tenants from the lords, and all from their fuperiors. They invite and folicit them to confult their own glory and welfare, and to unite with them in one focial compact. Your province," fay they, "is the only link wanting to complete the bright and strong chain of union. Nature has joined your country to ours, join alfo your political interefts by an acceffion to the general confederation." But the fpirit of liberty was too faint and feeble in Canada, and the aristocracy and priesthood too powerful to admit of any confiderable effect from this addrefs. The congrefs, having finished their deliberations, diffolved themselves after an uninterrupted feffion of fifty-two days. Such was the noble and enthufiaftic deteftation of this affembly to tyranny and slavery, that in one of their debates refpecting the probability and danger of a rupture with Great Britain, a leading member rose up and faid, "I should advise perfifting in our ftruggle, though it were revealed from heaven that nine hundred and ninety-nine were to perish in the contest, and only one of a thousand to survive and retain his liberty." The laft refolution of this affembly imported that another congrefs fhall be held the 10th day of May 1775, unless redress of grievances be obtained before that time. General Gage had issued writs for convoking the general court of Maffachusetts at Salem on the 5th of October, which fubfequent events induced him to recall; but the court nevertheless met, and, voting themselves into a provincial congress, appointed a committee to present a remonftrance to the governor, complaining in ftrong terms of the late arbitrary laws, and the hostile preparations making to enforce them. The governor refused to recognize them as a lawful affembly, and warned them at their peril to defift from their illegal and unconftitutional proceedings. To this requifition or menace little regard was paid, and at a fubfequent meeting a plan a plan was drawn up for the immediate defence of the province; magazines of ammunition and ftores were provided for twelve thoufand militia, and an enrolment made of a number of minute men, fo called from their engaging to turn out with their arms at a minute's warning. Winter approaching, the governor was defirous of providing barracks and clothing for the foldiers: but no workmen could be procured; and the merchants returned for anfwer, that they never would fupply any article for the benefit of men who were fent as enemies to their country. Every thing now ferved to increase the mutual apprehenfion and animofity. A magazine of powder at Charlestown, near Boston, had been feized by general Gage's order, and a battery of cannon fpiked by a detachment from the shipping. On the other hand, the fort at Portfinouth, in New Hampshire, was affaulted by an armed body of provincials, and after a flight refiftance carried by ftorm, and the powder it contained was fent off in boats to a place of fafety. A fimilar fpirit of retaliation and refiftance almost every where difcovered itfelf. The refolutions of the continental congrefs were univerfally confirmed by the provincial affemblies or conventions, and committees of infpection and obfervation were appointed in order to enforce due obedience to the public decifions. It is now neceffary to revert to the ftate of affairs in England, where paffion had during this interval fufficient leisure to cool, and the greatest anxiety began to prevail as to the refult of the late meafures of adminiftration. Lord Chatham, whose sentiments and feelings on all subjects of public concern must be regarded as peculiarly interefting, in a confidential letter to a friend, dated Auguft 1774, writes, "every step on the fide of government, in America, feems calculated to drive the Americans into open refiftance, vainly hoping to crush the spirit of liberty in that vaft continent at one fuccessful blow; but millions muft perish there before the feeds of freedom will ceafe to grow and spread in fo favorable a foil: and in the mean time devoted England muft fink herself un der |