Resolved unanimously, That the Honourable Matthew Tilghman, and Thomas Johnson, jun., 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 authorise 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, JOHN DUCKETT, 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 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 New Bern, the 5th day of April, 1775; Present; The Hon[ora]ble John Harvey, Esquire, Moderator, and sixty eight Members: On Motion, Resolved, That William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and Richard Caswell, Esquires, be, and are hereby appointed Delegates to attend the 'The original is a printed broadside giving the proceedings of the meeting in full, of which this is only a paragraph. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Maryland, Credentials of Delegates. 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, Cik. JOHN HARVEY, Moderator.' IN THE ASSEMBLY, 7th of April, 1775. Resolved, that the House do highly approve of the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, lately held at Philadelphia, and that they are determined, as Members of the Community in General, that they will strictly adhere to the said Resolutions, and will use what influence they have, to induce the same observance in every Individual of this Province. This House having received information, that William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and Richard Caswell, Esquires, were appointed by the Convention, held at New Bern, as Delegates to attend the meeting of the Continental Congress, soon to be held at Philadelphia: Resolved, That the House approve of the Choice made by the said Convention. Resolved, That the Thanks of the House be given to William Hooper, Joseph Hewes and Richard Caswell, Esquires, for the faithful and Judicious discharge of the Important Trust reposed in them as Delegates for this Colony at the late Continental Congress. JOHN HARVEY, Speaker NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA. Above copy taken from the Journals of the House of Assembly for the Province aforesaid. JA: GREEN, JUN., Clk.' SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE COMMONS HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, FRIDAY, February 3, 1775. WHEREAS the Continental Congress, held at the City of Philadelphia, in September last, amongst other things, recommended to the several 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 59, Vol. I, folio 9. *The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 76, folio 1. Colonies in North America, to chuse Deputies as soon as possible, to hold another Congress at the same place, on the tenth day of May next; and whereas, this House being fully satisfied with the conduct and fidelity of their late Deputies at the Congress; do hereby nominate and appoint The Honorable Henry Middleton, Esquire, Thomas Lynch, Christopher Gadsden, John Rutledge, and Edward Rutledge, Esquires, 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 said Deputies in General Congress, with full power and authority to concert, agree to, and effectually prosecute such measures, as in the opinion of the said Deputies, and of the Deputies so to be Assembled, shall be most likely to obtain a redress of American Grievances. Resolved, That the Deputies hereby appointed on the part and behalf of this Colony, are authorised and empowered to agree, That the Continental Congress may meet at any future time, and at such place, as shall 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. Resolved, That this House will provide the sum of One thousand five hundred Pounds Sterling to pay the expence of the said Deputies, going to said Congress. Attested, THOMAS FARR, jun, Clerk. Extract from the Journals of the Provincial Congress of South Carolina, published by order of the Congress, 11th of January, 1775. Resolved, That the Hon[ora]ble Henry Middleton, Esquire, Thomas Lynch, Christopher Gadsden, John Rutledge, and Edward Rutledge, Esquires, or any three of them, be, and they are hereby appointed and authorized to Represent this Colony, on the 10th day of May next, or sooner, if necessary, at the American Congress, to be held at Philadelphia, or elsewhere; with full Power to Concert, agree upon, direct and order such further Measures, as, in the Opinion of the said Deputies, and the Delegates of the other American Colonies to be Assembled, shall appear to be necessary for the Recovery and Establishment of American Rights and Liberties, and for Restoring Harmony between Great Britain and her Colonies.1 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, South Carolina, Credentials of Delegates. Upon motion, Resolved, That the thanks of the Congress be given to the rev. Mr. Duché, for performing divine service, agreeable to the desire of the Congress, and for his excellent prayer so well adapted to the present occasion. Ordered, That Mr. [Richard] Bland, Mr. [Thomas] Willing, and Mr. [John] Sullivan, be a committee to wait upon Mr. Duché, and return the thanks of the Congress, agreeable to the above resolution. Circular letter from the Agents. Upon motion, Resolved, That the doors be kept shut, during the time of business, and that the members consider themselves under the strongest obligations of honor to keep the proceedings secret, until the majority shall direct them to be made public. A circular letter from the agents, William Bollan, Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur Lee, Esq, directed to the Speakers of several Assemblies, dated 5 Feb, 1775, with sundry papers therein referred to, was laid before the Congress and read; the letter is as follows: SIR, [here insert it] "LONDON, February 5, 1775. Our last 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 house, but undistinguished among a variety of letters and other papers from America. A motion made by lord Chatham, to withdraw the troops from Boston, as the first step towards a conciliating plan, was rejected; and the ministry have declared in both houses the determination to inforce obedience to all the late laws. For this purpose, we understand, that three regiments of foot, one of dragoons, seven hundred marines, six sloops of war, and two frigates, are now under orders for America. We think it proper to inform you, that your cause was well defended by a considerable number of good and wise 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 presented, or, as we understand, are preparing to present, petitions to parliament, declaring their great concern, for the present unhappy controversies with America, and praying expressly, or in effect, for healing measures, as the proper means of preserving their commerce, now greatly suffering or endangered. But the treatment the petitions, already presented, have hitherto received, is such, as, in our opinion, can afford you no reliance on the present relief through their means. As soon as we learnt that the petition of the Congress was before the house of commons, we thought it our duty to support it, if we might be permitted so 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 purpose. Sir George Saville kindly undertook to present 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 division, 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 transmit, viz. "Dec. 15, 1774. Your lordship's idea of disarming certain provinces, would doubtless be consistent with prudence and safety, but it neither is, nor has been practicable, without having recourse to force, and being masters of the country.' It was thrown out in debate by a principal member of administration, that it would be proper to alter the charters of Connecticut and Rhode-Island. Inclosed, we send you a copy of the resolutions passed in a committee of the whole house, on Thursday last, which are to be reported on Monday. It is said that these resolutions are to be the foundation of several bills to be brought in, but the purport of those bills we have not yet learnt with sufficient certainty. We send you likewise, a copy of lord Chatham's first motion in the house of lords, and of his plan of a bill for settling the troubles between Great-Britain and the colonies; both which were rejected on the first reading. With great respect, we are, sir, your most obedient, humble servants, (Signed) WILLIAM BOLLAN, |