USA > Connecticut > The public records of the State of Connecticut, from October 1776 to Ferbruary 1778, inclusive > Part 43
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368
PUBLIC RECORDS
[August,
their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government and to pro- vide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies, and such is now the necessity which con- strains them to alter their former systems of government. The his- tory of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated in- juries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his assent to Laws the most wholesome and neces- sary for the publick good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained, and when so suspended he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and for- midable to tyrants only.
He has called together Legislative Bodies at places unusual, un- comfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time after such dissolutions to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of an- nihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise: the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the Population of these States, for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners ; re- fusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and rais- ing the conditions of new appropriations of land.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harrass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us in times of peace Standing Armies without the consent of our Legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation :
For Quartering large bodies of Armed Troops among us.
369
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
For protecting them by a mock tryal from punishment for any murthers which they should commit on the inhabitants of these States.
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world.
For imposing Taxes on us without our consent.
For depriving us in many cases of the benefits of Tryal by Jury.
For Transporting us beyond seas to be tryed for pretended offences.
For abolishing the free system of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instru- ment for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies.
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments.
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated government here by declaring us out of his pro- tection and waging war against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of Foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny already begun, with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited Domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has en- deavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their Legis- lature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to dis- avow these usurpations which would inevitably interrupt our con- nexions and correspondence ; they too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must therefore acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, 24
370
PUBLIC RECORDS
[August,
in general Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, Do, in the name and by the authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are and of right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved, and that as Free and Independent States they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honour. JOHN HANCOCK.
Button Gwinnett. Georgia - Lyman Hall.
Delaware. Caesar Rodney. Geo. Read.
Geo. Walton.
Wm. Hooper.
New York.
Wm. Floyd. Phil. Livingston.
North Carolina. - Joseph Hewes. John Penn. Edward Rutledge.
South -- Thos Heyward junr.
Carolina. Thomas Lynch jun". Arthur Middleton. Samuel Chase. Wm. Paca. Thos Stone.
New Jersey
Fras Hopkinson. John Hart. Abra. Clark. Josiah Bartlett
Maryland.
New Hampshire ? William Whipple. Matthew Thornton. Samuel Adams. John Adams.
Virginia <
Charles Carroll of Carrolton. George Wythe. Richd Henry Lee. Thomas Jefferson. Massachusets Bay Benja. Harrison. Thomas Nelson jun". Francis Lightfoot Lee. Providence &c. ยง William Ellery. 1
Robt Treat Payne.
Elbridge Gerry.
Carter Braxton. Robert Morriss.
Connecticut.
Roger Sherman. Samuel Huntington. William Williams. Oliver Wolcott.
1
Pennsylvania
Benjamin Rush. Benja. Franklin. John Morton. George Clymer. Jas. Smith. George Taylor. James Willson. [ George Ross.
In Congress, Jan' 18th, 1777.
Ordered, That an authenticated copy of the Declaration of Inde- pendency with the names of the Members of Congress subscribing the same be sent to each of the United States, and that they be desired to have the same put on record.
By Order of Congress John Hancock President. Attest. CHAS. THOMSON Secry. A true copy, JOHN HANCOCK, President.
Rhode Island and ( Stephen Hopkins.
Francis Lewiss. Lewiss Morriss. Richd Stockton. John Witherspoon.
371
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
In compliance with a resolution of the Congress of the United States of the 31st of July, 1777,
Resolved by this Assembly, That a proper person be appointed within the limits of each brigade in this State, to recruit men to fill up the regiments raised in this State to serve in the continental army, who shall give bond with sufficient surety to the Governor and Com- pany of this State in the sum of two thousand pounds, lawfull money, for the faithfull discharge of his duty and rendering just accounts of all publie monies that shall come to his hands. And the persons so appointed shall have authority to take up, receive and secure, all deserters from the army that shall come within their respective dis- triets, and when force is necessary for this purpose they shall apply to some commanding officer of the militia who shall afford the neces- sary aid ; and said person shall receive eight dollars for every effective man by him inlisted to serve for three years or during the war, and five dollars for each deserter by them taken up and secured, in full for his trouble and expence, agreeable to said resolution of Congress. And for the encouragement of the men to enter the said service they shall have liberty at the time of their inlistment to make choice of the regiment, troop or company, in which they will serve : provided such regiment, troop or company is not full, and if it is they may choose any other regiment, troop or company which is not full, which shall be entered against their names and returned to the officer appointed to receive such recruits, who shall at the time they are sent to join their corps transmit the same to the general or commanding officer.
And it is further resolved, That his Excelleney the Governor with advice of the Council of Safety be authorized and desired to appoint convenient places of rendezvous within this State for receiving reernits and deserters, and give information thereof to General Wash- ington, and to give the necessary orders for carrying this resolution into execution. And each effective man who shall inlist as aforesaid shall be entitled to a bounty of ten pounds from this State besides the allowances made by Congress. And said recruiting officers shall be exeused from other military service during their continuance in said office.
Resolved by this Assembly, That the officers of the two battalions of militia now ordered to march and join the northern army be de- tached from the several brigades in this State in the following order, viz :
From the first brigade,
1 Lieutenant Colonel.
3 Captains.
3 Lieutenants.
4 Ensigns.
From the second brigade,
1 Colonel.
3 Captains.
3 Lieutenants.
2 Ensigns.
372
PUBLIC RECORDS
[August,
From the third brigade, 1 Colonel.
4 Captains.
4 Lieutenants.
4 Ensigns.
From the fourth brigade, From the fifth brigade,
2 Lieutenants.
1 Lieutenant Colonel.
1 Major.
4 Captains.
3 Lieutenants.
4 Ensigns.
From the sixth brigade,
1 Major.
2 Captains.
1 Lieutenant.
2 Ensigns.
That the officers from the 1st, 24, 6th, and one lieutenant from the 4th brigade, belong to the first of said battalions, and that the officers from the third, fifth, and one lieutenant from the 4th brigade, belong to the second of said battalions ; that the colonels of the two battalions nominate and appoint the necessary staff officers of their regiments respectively ; that the commanding officers of each brigade do and shall detach and appoint the field officers, captains and subalterns for the said two battalions according to the above proportion; and his Excellency the Governor is desired to issue his orders to the officers commanding the several brigades accordingly.
Resolved by this Assembly, That the selectmen of the respective towns within this State be directed to provide for the families of the non-commission officers and soldiers raised by this State for the con- tinental army with whatever necessaries such families may want, at the rate established by a late law of this State fixing the prices at which the necessaries and convenient articles of life should be sold at, to the amount of any sum such non-commission officer and soldier shall deposit in their hands, not exceeding three quarters of their wages, at the expence of such towns wherein the families of such non- commission officers and soldiers dwelt at the time of their inlistment till the first day of December next, before which time this Assembly will make such other provisions for said families as shall be equitable and just; and such selectmen are directed to procure such necessaries at the most reasonable rate, and if necessary shall apply to some Assistant or justice of peace, who shall issue a warrant to impress such necessaries, the value whereof shall be apprized by indifferent persons appointed by the authority issuing such warrant, and there- upon the price at which such necessaries are apprized shall be paid by such selectmen. Provided, that if any town has appointed a com- mittee to provide for the families of such non-commission officers and soldiers, such committee shall have the same authority as by this act is given selectmen, and it shall be their duty to provide for said families accordingly.
373
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Whereas many of the inhabitants of this State were wounded by the British troops in their incursion to Danbury in April last, whereby they have been put to great expence and no provisions made by law for payment thereof to such persons,
Resolved by this Assembly, That every person who was wounded in any action with the British troops in their said incursion shall be paid out of the treasury of this State all his reasonable expenditures for surgeons, medicines, boarding and nurses; and the Committee of Pay-Table is hereby directed and impowered to examine and adjust all such accounts as shall be presented to them, and the same or such parts thereof as they shall find to be just and right to draw upon the Treasurer for payment of the same.
Resolved by this Assembly, That the two battalions of militia now ordered to be raised in this act, to consist of seven hundred and twenty-eight men each including commission officers, to be appointed and to join and assist the northern army of the United States, be raised from the several brigades in the following proportions, viz : From the first brigade two hundred and ninety-two; from the second, two hundred and forty ; from the third, three hundred and thirty-one ; from the fourth, sixty ; from the fifth, three hundred and thirty-one; and from the sixth, one hundred and thirty men, exclusive of commis- sion officers.
Resolved by this Assembly, That one half of the troops of light- horse within this State, not now in actual service, and who are by order of his Excellency the Governor and Council of Safety detached and held in readiness to march at the shortest notice, do, as soon as may be, march to and join the continental army in the northern department and act under the direction of the commander-in-chief of said army, and continue in said service two months from the time they join the army, unless sooner discharged.
Resolved, That one regiment, to consist of 728 men including offi- cers, be forthwith raised by voluntary inlistment, to continue in ser- vice untill the first day of January next, unless sooner dismist, to be subject to the orders of his Excellency the Governor and Council of Safety, and to serve in the northern department or elsewhere in this or the neighbouring States, and that each non-commission officer and soldier who shall so inlist shall receive one months advanced pay and a bounty of four pounds ten shillings, lawfull money, and if he pro- vide himself arms and accoutrements shall be allowed the further sum of fifteen shillings, and also fifteen shillings more to such as provide themselves with a blanket and knapsack. They shall also be allowed the same pay, subsistance and refreshments, that are allowed to the continental troops raised in this State. And his Excellency the Governor with the advice of the Council of Safety is desired to
374
PUBLIC RECORDS
[August,
issue the necessary orders for carrying these resolutions into execu- tion .*
Resolved, That the raising the regiment ordered by this Assembly to be raised for the defence of this or the neighbouring States be post- poned for the present, and that his Excellency the Governor with the advice of the Council of Safety have power to give all necessary orders for raising the same if it shall be necessary in the recess of the Gen- eral Assembly.
Resolved by this Assembly, That his Excellency the Governor be and he is hereby desired to write to the commanding officers of the respective battalions raised in this State to serve in the continental army, and request them to cause true and authentic returns to be made of the non-commission officers and soldiers inlisted or detached to serve in the nine and half battalions ordered to be raised in this. State, containing therein their rank, names, and the names of the towns to which they belonged, the time of their inlistment or detach- ment, and term for which they are to serve, with a particular account of those who have deserted or not joined, and those who have been hired for three years or during the war, agreeable to the recommenda- tion of Congress, and by whom hired. And his Excellency is further desired to issue orders to the several brigadier generals of the militia in this State, directing them to give orders to the colonels of the respective regiments within their brigades, to cause true returns to be made of the names of all the non-commissioned officers and soldiers who have inlisted or been detached to serve in the continental army, the towns and companies to which they belonged, those that have been hired and by whom as aforesaid, and the names of those who have not joined their corps, specially noting those who have been detained by sickness, and the same transmit to his Excellency as soon as may.
Whereas a large party of the militia have been ordered by his Ex- cellency the Governor with the advice of the Council of Safety, to march to Peekskill under the command of Brig" General Ward, to reinforce the army there on the requisition of Majr General Putnam desiring they might be sent on horseback with suitable persons to return the horses : Resolved by this Assembly, that the Committee of Pay-Table receive, examine and adjust, all such accounts as shall be exhibited to them for the hire of such horses, at three pence per mile, persons employed to return said horses at four shillings per diem and expences of such persons and horsekeeping in assisting the aforesaid party in their march, and give orders on the Treasurer for such sums as they shall judge just and reasonable.
* A draught for a proclamation for the raising this regiment, dated Aug. 16, and approved by both Houses, is in Rev. War, vii, 405.
375
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Resolved by this Assembly, That forty shillings be advanced in part pay to each of the non-commission officers and privates in the troops of light-horse ordered by this Assembly and now on their march to join the northern army, and the Committee of Pay-Table are hereby authorized to draw on the Treasurer of this State therefor accordingly.
Resolved by this Assembly, That the sum of three pounds, lawfull money, additional bounty, be paid to each of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers in the company of rangers under the command of Capt. Silvanus Mead, ordered to be raised by this Assembly in May last for the defence of this and the other United States.
Resolved by this Assembly, That the two regiments of militia now ordered to march and join the northern army be held in said service two months from the time they shall join said army, unless sooner discharged ; that they have the like pay, wages, allowances and re- freshments, as the continental troops receive, and one half gill of rum per man per day while on their march to join said army ; that each non-commissioned officer and soldier who shall be duly discharged shall receive the sum of forty shillings, bounty for each kalendar month he shall continue in service, and in that proportion for any term less than one month, on his return, and that twenty shillings be advanced to each of them before they march; that the divisions not heretofore drafted for any special tour of duty be detached, and if a sufficient number do not appear to go forth on this service that the same be compleated by an indiscriminate peremptory draught from the able-bodied effective men in the company under fifty years of age, excepting such as are exempted from actual service by reason of hiring men for the continental army, any law to the contrary notwithstand- ing.
And it is further resolved, That if any person of the alarm list or training band peremptorily drafted as aforesaid shall neglect to march agreeable to the above resolve, and shall not procure some able-bodied man in his room within twenty-four hours from the time of his being so drafted, not making a reasonable excuse to the satisfaction of the officer who drafted him, shall be considered as a soldier in the army for the time aforesaid and treated as such; that those who shall march on horseback be allowed four pence per mile out for each horse, and that sufficient carriages to transport their baggage be pro- vided for those who shall march on foot; that they be supplied with provisions on their march, and that his Excellency the Governor be and he is hereby impowered and desired to appoint some suitable per- son or persons to furnish such provisions and carriages accordingly ; that arms and accoutrements be provided for those unable to provide for themselves agreeable to the law in that case made and provided ; that a sufficient number of tents and canteens be provided from the several towns, which the commanding officers of said battalions are to
376
PUBLIC RECORDS
[August,
take proper measures to have returned, and in case that any shall be lost or damaged in the service that they be paid for by the State.
Resolved by this Assembly, That two battalions consisting of 728 men each, officers included, of the militia of this State, be ordered to march with the utmost expedition to join and assist the continental army in the northern department.
This Assembly do appoint Samuel McLallen, Esqr, to be Colonel, Noah Phelps to be Lieutenant Colonel, and Bezaleel Beebe, Esq", to be Major of the battalion now to be raised.
Jonathan Trumbull, Esq", Captain General and Commander-in- Chief of the State of Connecticut,
To Greeting :
I do hereby authorize and impower you by beat of drum or other- wise, to raise a company of able-bodied effective volunteers within this State, to consist of ninety men officers included, to serve in the north- ern department or elsewhere in this or the neighboring States, untill the first day of January next, unless sooner discharged. And the colonels of the respective regiments and the several officers thereof are required to afford you all proper aid and assistance, and the cap- tains in the several regiments are hereby required to muster their respective companies when requested thereunto by you for the purpose aforesaid.
Given under my hand this 13th day of August, A.D. 1777.
In the Lower House : The above form is read and approved &c. Attest. BENJA. HUNTINGTON, Cler. Concur'd in the Upper House, Test. GEORGE WYLLYS, Secret'.
I of do hereby acknowledge to have voluntarily inlisted myself a soldier to serve untill the first day of January next in a regiment of foot raised by the State of Connecticut for the defence thereof and the neighbouring States, to be subject to the orders and directions of his Excellency the Governor and Council of Safety, to be commanded by as witness my hand the day of
in the year of our Lord 1777.
In the Lower House : The above form is read and approved &c. Attest. BENJA. HUNTINGTON, Clerk. Concur'd in the Upper House. Test. GEORGE WYLLYS, Secr".
Resolved by this Assembly, That the non-commissioned officers and soldiers who were drafted from the militia and served at the station of New London and places adjacent and continued in that service for the term of two months in May, June and July last, shall be paid by the Treasurer of this State a bounty of twenty shillings, L. money, to each man; and the Committee of Pay-Table are directed to draw upon the Treasurer for the same accordingly.
377
OF CONNECTICUT.
1777.]
Resolved by this Assembly, That the names of the members of the General Assembly to whom the oath of fidelity is administred be inrolled in the records of this Assembly, and that the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit to the Secretary a list of the names of the members of that House to whom said oath shall be admin- istred.
Resolved by this Assembly, That for the purpose of supplying the treasury of this State a rate or tax of one shilling on the pound upon the grand list be raised upon the poles and rateable estate of the inhabitants of this State upon the lists of the year 1776, and that the same be paid into the treasury by the first day of November next; and the Treasurer is hereby directed and impowered to issue his war- rants for collecting and paying in the same accordingly.
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