USA > Delaware > History of Delaware : 1609-1888 > Part 51
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" You are therefore most rarnestly requested to meet together at the Court-House in the town of New Castle, on Wednesday, the 29th inst., at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, to consider of the most proper molo of procuring relief for our dear countrymen and brethren of Boton. the redressing the before-mentioned grievances, the restoring and securing our invaded property and expiring liberties-and establishing on a constitutional bottom the wanted, and by us so much desired, peace, friendship and love between Great Britain and these colonies. It Is expected that none who have a due regard to their country, posterity or themselves, will be absent."
The meeting was held on the date named, and a committee appointed to collect subscriptions for the relief of the people of Boston. On July 28th, the largest popular meeting ever assembled up to that time in Delaware was held at Lewistown. Mr. Me- Kean made the principal address of the day. He in- trodueed the business of the meeting by an enco- mium on the happiness of the English Constitution. and went on to show that the American colonies brought all British liberties with them, as appears by their charters, the nature of their emigration, and many public declarations at that time made and since. That the colonies were pleased and happy in their union, commerce and mutual as- sistance given to and received from the mother country, even while almost the whole fruits of their labor and industry ever returned to Britain, to her strength and aggrandizement. That they have been, and still are, the most loyal and dutiful of all His Majesty's subjects, and the most closely attached to his present royal family. That they have always granted their aids of money and men when thwir sovereign constitu- tionally demanded them of their Assemblies, and even sensonably and beyond their proportion ; so that in the last war a considerable sam was re- funded to this little .colony on Delaware, as well
217
DELAWARE DURING THE REVOLUTION.
as others. That the present undeserved frowns of the parent State most probably arise from the base calumnies, wirked insinuations and most fabre misrepresentations of the Bernards, Hutchinsons, Olivers and such other malicious enemies of the real interests of Britain and America, who have, absurdly as well as wickedly, represented the colo- nies as rebellious, independent, etc. That hence. for about ten years past, the conduct of the Brit- ish ministry and a majority of Parliament -cems to be one continual plan to rob ns of our derrest liberties. That, if America be enslaved. the free- dom of Britain will not long survive that wretched crisis. That the impositions and oppressions of the most loyal Americans are already become very numerous and very grievous.
He then went on to enumerate and explain, as nearly as he could recollect, after laying down these principles, viz. :
"That all lawful civil governments must be wholly employed to pre- serve the lives, liber ties and properties of the subject.
" No Englishman is bound by any laws to which he has not consented by himself or his own chosen Representatives.
" A man has no property in that of which he may be rightfully dis- possessed at the pleasure of another.
" Britons only can give their own money.
" No man can tax us but ourselves while we enjoy the British Consti- tution."
He went on to show that from these principles, well known to every freeman, the following will appear, to say the least, lawless usurpations, viz. :
"Ist. Restraining the colonists from manufacturing their own trou by erecting shitting nulls, &e.
"2. Restraining the transportation, and thus the manufacturing, hats of our own peltry, dr.
"34. The grievous oppression of preventing farniers to carry their own wool even actions & terry, though the rivers, waters, havets, etc. are given us by our charters.
" 4th. The changing the boundaries of colonies and oldiging men to live under constitutions to which they never consented, as part of Mas- Bachusetts Bay joined to New Hampshire.
"5th. The suspending the legislative powers of New York by an Art of Parliament until they should quarter thays sent to raise an illegal tribute by military execution.
with. The memorable andi detestable Stamp Art
"Fth. The Parliamentary chum to make laws ' binding us in all cases whatsoever ;' consequently, to regulate our internal pofire, give, take away. change and itringe our l'institution- an I t'hirter., for which we hive the most sretna faith of the Crown and Nation for their inviolable security.
"sth. Their assuming to levy sundry taxes upon us, though self- taxation is the basisof English facedom. At the distance of to limites, the Parliament artattarily demands the strings of every American forse, though ignorant of us and our ability, Ar., though they are not in- cluded in the authe tax nor ever were chosen for our Representatives.
"9th. Their denying to is the right to give our own money to mir own King on luis legal demand, a right which Bhitons, from earliest luistories, have enjoyed, and to secure which they bave often spent much blood and treasure.
"With Their laying a tax on paper, glass, painters' counts and ten.
"Ith. And trongh this, with the Stamp Act, were repealed by the non-importation, the American virtue and the influence of our friend-, yet as tax on tos was ,and is continued as the bulge of our slavery.
" 12th. The mean stratagem, unworthy the Representatives of a free and great nation, of attempting to enstive his by pretending a favour to the East India Company, which Americans bravely rejected and discoff- certrd
" 13th. Finding stratagem would not previul, they have thrown off the mask and are now dragooming us into a smetder of our rights by the last Bills, and wreaking their unjust vengeance on those who call- not submit to their impositions.
"14th. Maintaining a standing army in times of pras, above the control of the civil powers, at Boston, &r. which no Briton call sub-
. Ith. Extending the olyob to art of Henry VIII , todrag Americans to Britain to be tried, contrary toroar buth-right privileges of jurirs of our own neighborhood. How shocking to humanity to see a feet and
army on the Art for preserving du Lares, &e , solemnly stationed to Like any paar mi, on dus niet of his being a of the city "va- perate I mob y no att 4th time . ' 'home. when in went 10 Le tried by partisi judges ani . hon 1, at inhorent, at List !
"lath. The voting c'estle Winam out of the hunt of the owners. though the prin qual tostress where the property and stop were de- [rested, and putting it into the award of those was yet ungustly det un it, over whowant .. ciao andparties have no control, at a time when the nichtary thtvatened the s'inghter of the the tintinit;
"lith The powertengan : alvaring Count Postet for the very real-
"Isth Fleets att1 arabes want to enable the Commissioners of the ( ustoms, authorizeu by Parlament, in violation of all English hberty. to plunder treengang's bates, collies, trunks, lod chambers, de . and if they romper asen, by a late Be', they may not be trend in America, and the poor relativea cain ! prospente on the other side of the Atlantic , thus, the le end of cher poor inte its may cry, indeed, to God from the earth, hat from sind g . verdiarit they can be no justice.
' toth The griev. u putichty [ thom who have middle their own juegos iad "patient even of the dems of the crown, yet have sent Judges, a Governoar and att wany General, during pleasure only. under Go ties to the country, but 'na.al 'a the Vanstry, by whom they are sup- ported by a tax uncon uentumiatt squeezed front Ameri ttis. Their circumstances tend to make rbom, like Judge Jeffries, the cruel instru - meats of tyranny mia; monats ..
"with. L'ugratefully disheartening us, and alling insult to injury : quartering insolent troops upen is, to provake the injured to mol ; and sending aver met of the worst character for Governours, Julie's and officers to some colonies ; refusing to hear any complaints of maladmin- istration ; forgetting all our mierst, though the most hrinly of all his Majesty's sutg set attached to the principles of the Revolution ; support- ing our-third of the nation and in reading bor naval power and gr unt- ucur, Lod profusely spending our blood and treasure in all the war's of Britain.
+21gr. Another distressing grievance is that the British Ministry re- we've no information of the state of the Provinces unless from their very enemies, the rioserhours, Julges and officers, while cries and petittous of injured and oppressed colomes, even trom General Congresses and As- sembles will not be favoured unto a hearing and by them kept back from the car of our Sovereign : while the betrayets of the union and happiness both of Britain and America are heard, supported and re- warded by the Adiministration for all their talse and malevolent diy- suuulations.
" 241. Though in all nations the persons of Ambassadors are sacred or inviolabile, the virulent torrent of those premeditated and prepared and poured out in a most scurrilous manner, even in the House of Lords, by the approbation of a majority of them, azatust Dr. Benjamin Franklin, the known agent of our Colonies : though his ane, office, alulities and character (as a philosopher and politician Well known in all Europe) might have exempted him from aluce, even among the rulest compan- ies, bis off nice, strauge to relate, was discovering to his country their false accusery.
"231. The conferring honors, preferments and Incrative posts gener- ally on those unhappy wretches who appear the sole cause of all the dis- seusious ju Britain aod ber unjust measures agust her loyal a mis, as Bernard, baropet, &e., de , muy of whom, if justice could be brought to her ancient channels, wout 1 ju-tly forteit their devoted heads.
"24th. And now, to cutuplete our slavery by violence, which could nut be done by fraud, the Boston Port Bill is executed on Boston ; that ancient, loyal and flourishing enty blocks le thy a fleet and army, with- out ever hearing thein, or even thets agent, one word tu their de- fence.
"25th. By our fast accounts, another Bill has passed the lower House, which is designed to indemnity the othcers of the customs, uivy and army, and all their wretched assistants, in lestroying our rights, from all the barbarities, rapides and miniders they may commit agalust that brave, loyal and patient twoplent Boston.
"26th. And brally, to show us that the stipulated faith of the Crown during the reign of his present Majesty is good for nothing at all, and to cotivince fis that we have nothing that we may call our own, even our charter and constitutions themselves, another Bill has also passed that Honne to change, intringe aud destiny all that was worthy their care in the solemn charter of the Massa husetts Bay. The same Parla- ment, ou the same principles, with equal right may vacate the night to any man's house, plantation, deed of his lands, de , whenever he may happen to displease any Minister of state or any of his twoi-, from a Bernard and Hutchinson to the most infamous tuformer and tide- waiter.
"with. Honice, on the whole, we have gradually lost our free ton- stitution. English libertir- and charters, and are reilly under military government, & state to be deprecated to all good men ; so that it we say a word against a Tea tax, & if -ton Port Bill, or any arbitrary aud tyran- meal imposition, we may expect, like Beton to have one potatis, trude. deet, &c., taken away, and dragons but to insult us ; and it they murder us they are not ammen ihle an for our laws. Dar tin titustimers bear sutny resemblance to the time when they were foreing Bish q's on Scotland, when every common seltter, in the reign of Charles Il. was witness, juge und jury himself; and on asking two or three questions might shout down any person be uitt.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
" Here is a dreadful catalogne, indeed! And I doubt- not," said he, " there are many more which have escaped my memory. Oh, that our gracious sovereign would condescend to read the catalogue and spend one hour apart from Lord North and the other anthors of oar calamities, to meditate upon them! Sure, his Immane heart would bleed for the distresses of his reign, and he would vow redress to his loving and oppressed subjects. Any one of these twenty-seven grievous impositions would have driven a people careless of loyalty, patriotism, prudence and fortitude, into actual rebellion, to take armis in defense of such invalu- able privileges. But, in defiance of all the whis- pers of our enemies, though we love liberty, we love Britain, too, and carnestly desire to continue the most inviolable union, connection and har- mony with the land of our fathers. Though we are now above five millions (and at our present rate of population will soon double that number ), if we were now united, we need not dread, under the conduct of that gracious and Almighty Being who hears the cries of oppressed innocence, any single prince or empire upon earth; but were we ten thousand times so many more, we would still revere, love and support our mother, Britain, while she will treat us as children and friends."
He concluded his address by showing the neces- sity and expediency of a General Congress to culti- vate and restore our friendship with Britain, as well as to agree on a necessary non-importation covenant ; which Congress, he showed, ought to be continued in all future times. He hoped, amidst their important affairs, they would fall on some honorable and safe expedient to put an end to our Afriean slavery, so dishonorable to us and so pro- voking to the most benevolent Parent of the Uni- verse ; that this, with our luxury and irreligion, are probably the remote causes of our present alarming situation.
A convention of the members of the Legislature met at New Castle, August 1st, in pursuance of a call from Casar Rodney, Speaker of the House of Assembly. The following delegates were present :
New Castle County : Thomas M .. Kean, John Evans, John MeKinly, James Latimer, George Read, Alexander Porter.
Kent County : Charles Ridgely, William Kil- len, Cie-ar Rodney, Thomas Collins.
Sussex County : Thomas Robinson, Levin Crap- per, Boaz Manlove, John Wiltbank, Stephen Townsend.
Casar Rodney was elected chairman, and David Thompson elerk. Then the resolutions adoptedl at the county meetings were read, there of the New Castle people coming first in order. They were as follows :
" Realeed, 1. That the Art of Parliament for shutting up the Port of Boston is uuconstitutional, oppressive to the mubalatauts of that town,
.Int.gerous to the hbwerte wof the British colinies, and that therefore, we ogper our biethiet at boston as butlering in the common cause of Am rita.
: That a Congress of Degatos form the spread counties in North America is the most photos and proper mode et grunning tehet for war -the ring la-thren, alduring todos los Snaman griesites, eating our rights and life itus and we-estate-line prace and harmony la- two os tigrat Britain and these cedotur s a na institutional foundation
... That a respostable consulter be intro diate ly appointed for the County of New Castle, to court point with the sister colomes and with the other countries me this gostitinent, in order that all may white the I romofiter and endeavour; to obtain the great and valuable ends men- time d in the foregang resolution.
. 4. That the most eligible mole of granting Depaties would be by the Representatives of the people of this government met in their bigrelative cijasis ; but as the House of Assembly have adp mand theingelves to the 4 th day ut september next, and it is not rxjut ted his Honour, our Guvernom, will call them by writs of summons on this occasion, having rtund to do the bike in los other Province of Pennsylvania ; therefore that the speaker of the Honourable House of Assembly be desned by the conduittre now to in [ Iwanted to write to the several mentale of Assembly. requesting them to content at New Castle not later than the lot of August next, to take into their most serious romaplo ration our was alarming situation, and to appant Dejaities to attend at the Griet- a! Congress for the Colonirs at such thine and place as shall be generally agreed upon.
"5. That the committee now to be cho-en consist of thirteen prisons, to wit . Thomas MeKean, John Evans, John M. Kindly, James Lanturi, George Road, Mexander Poster, Sammel Patterson, Nicholas Van Dyke. Thomas Kooch, Jub Harvey, Gemge Money, Samuel Platt and Richand Cantwell ; and that any seven of them may a. t.
".I. That the said committer immediately set on foot a subscription for the relief of such pour inhabitants of the town of Boston as may be deprived of the means of subsistence by the Art of Parliament common- ly styled the Boston Pott Biil ; the money arising trion auch subscrip- tion to be laid out as the committee shall think will best answer the ends proposed.
"7. That the inhabitants of the county will adopt and carry into eve- ention all and singular such peareable and constitutional measures as shall be agreed upon by a majority of the colomes by their Deputies at the intended Congress, and will have no trade, commune or dealings whatsoever, with any Province, city of town in the British colonies on this continent (it any such should be), or with any individual therein, who shall refuse to adopt the sime, munt the before-mentioned Art of Parliament, and two tolls respecting the Province of Massachusetts Bay (if pas-eil into Acts), are repealed."
The meetings in Kent and Sussex having been held subsequent to that in New Castle, they fol- lowed the pattern of the resolutions adopted in the larger county, with some notable exceptions. Thus, for instance, the Kent County people, who assembled at Dover, July 20th, led off their de- clarations with the resolution that-
" We do acknowledge, recognize and most expressly declare his Ma- jesty, King George III , to be lawin! and night King of Great Britain, and all other his Doombiots and Counties ; and that it is the indepen- sable duty of the people of this country, as tuing jout of his Majesty's Donsimons, always to bear buildful and true allegiance to his Majesty, and him to defend, to the utmost of their power, against all attempts upon his person, crown or dignity."
This emphatic assertion of loyalty to the King did not, however, stay the Kent men from adopt- ing in substance the New Castle resolutions. They appointed as the Boston Relief Committee for their county, Charles Ridgely. William Killen, Casar Rodney, John Haslet, John Clark, Thomas Col- lins, Jacob Stout, James Sykes, James Wells, Thomas Rodney, Richard Bassett, Richard Lock- wood and Zadock Crapper, who were also to petition the Speaker of the House of Assembly to convene that body as set forth in the New Castle resolve. The Kent meeting wound up its business with an instruction to the committee to
"embrace this publick opportunity to testify their gratitude and must cordial thanks to the patrons and trietels of bleity in Great Britain for their patriotic efforts to prevent the present calamity of America."
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DELAWARE DURING THE REVOLUTION.
On July 23d the Sussex County meeting was inder-ed by that body. In these the convention held at Lewistown, and while it opened it- resolu- declared --- tions with the affirmation that " the inhabitants of this county do owe and will pay allegiance to his majesty King George Ill.," it went rather beyond either the New Castle or Kent declarations on two points. One is to be found in the second resolve-
" That it is the inherent right of British subjects to be taxed by their own consent, or by Representatives chown by themselves mis - and that every Act of the British Parlament pr-preting the interind polie of North America is urconstitutional, and an invasion of our just nights und liberties.".
The use of the words " internal police " in: this connection is noticeable. It meant much more than a denial of the taxing power of the parent nation ; it might, indeed, be construed as a repudi- ation of the authority of Great Britain in the local administration of the laws in the colonies. and there is a ring of defiance in it which clearly illustrates an important stage of the separatist movement ; moreover, it comports with the second point in which the Sussex men were in advance of their brethren of the colony, and which was embodied in the subjoined resolution, the fourth of the Sussex series,-
"That it is our opinion that it would conilnce to the restoration of the liberties of America should the colonies enter into a joint agreement not to import any articles of British manufacture, or carry on any branch of trade unless under stich restrictions as may be agreed upon by the Congress."
New Castle and Kent had only progressed to the decision of ceasing commercial intercourse with such of the colonies a> withheld their support from the proposed Congress and its measures, but Sussex went boldly in for non-intercourse with the kingdom. In the light of sub-equent events its radieal tendencies were justified, but the ex- hibition of them so early as July, 1774, i> a testi- mony to the bravery and far-sightedness of its Revolutionary leaders. The committee appointed by this Lewistown meeting embraced Thomas Robinson, Levin Crapper, Boaz Manlove, Ben- jamin Burton, John Wiltbank, Stephen Town-end. David Hall, Rev. Matthew Wilson, Jacob Moore, John Clowes, Daniel Nunez, John Rodney and W'm. Perry.
On August 22d the convention reassembled and appointed Caesar Rodney, Thomas MeKean and George Read, or any two of them,
" Deputies on the part and behalf of this government in a General Continental Congress proposed to be held at the City of Philadelphia, on the first Moulay in september next, or at any other time and place that may be generally agreed on ; then and there to consult an la ivise with the Depaties trom other Colonies, and todetermine upon all auch pro- dent and Lowint measures a- may be prized most expedient for the col- onies umnechately and unttelly to adopt, mn midler to o' ton relief for an oppressed people, and the redress of our general grievances."
"1. In the fh.t plice, that we moist sele muty and -in vrely promisa and decline that we do, to i will, fear fuchs and free alle namen to his most sacred M gesty. Stay hear til, a must go on Simon and rightful lage Lord ; thu. we will, con trit . sevidation protides, and to the atre " if our poser, For gott und desend the Protestant sher paspol earnest les're these the . ttopc for which stostofs between Great Britain und der colmes, shesays they as may one people, may continue to the Latest period of time.
"2. That the Rometta of !'s M. jesty in the British American Colonies have band, and of right ought to five, and enjoy all the libertines, pisa- jeges and icuorithese tive and natural born supports within any of Ins Majesty's Documents, a fully van amply as it they and every one of thede her bas withes the - alm of England, that they have a pageris in theu wane site, and the to be taxed by their own cutter ist only, guer in germany det Representatives, and are ant to be dis- seized of their bbert ", auch customs, bestehend or condemned, but by lawful judgment of inou jog.
"3. That the only mwtil ile presentetives of the treetien in the sev- eral Colonies are persons they port or write as members of the General Assembly there of, and that it is the just night and privilege of the said freenten to lu governed io Laws mide by their General Assembly in the
54. That all trade for trento, impresion of treason, or for any felony Of LEalle v hetsdever, comunited and done in the sand colontes ought uf right to be had an i patducted in un. Majesty's Court- hold within the Atthe, according in the hved ant kaown course of proceeding ; and that the dowding any person or persons orjected if any chiare whatsoever commit d'au thent, and sending much jan on or persons to places beyond the sea, te be tried, is Inglily derogatory of the rights of British sulgeets, as there'y (hr inestimable privilege of being tied by a jury from the vicinage, as well as the liberty of summoning and producing witnesses on such trials, will be taken away from the patty areused.
"5. That all ants and promotings of the British Parliament for pro- hib.ting and restranding American mantartutes; unpaung taxes on the British Colome -. exterring the powers of Custom-House othcers und Admiralty Courts here beyond the it ancient linis, and seizing and sending persons suspected of committing treason, or mispriston of treat- boa, in these culottes to England for trial, are www.urantable assump- tions of power, unconstitutional, and destructive ut British liberty.
"6. That the successive Acts of Parlament made in the last session. for ralfictieg pains and penalties npont the town of Boston, by shutting up their port aud blo kir up their hautbour, for altering the admiti -- tration of justice in vertiin chinaand cars within the Province of Mas- bacunsetts day ; and for new modelling the constitution of th it Prov- iuce, calablished by Royal Chatter, are in the highest degree arbitrary in their principles, unparalleled in their rigour, oppressive in their operation and subversive ot every idea of justice and freedom.
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