USA > Massachusetts > The journals of each Provincial congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of safety, with an appendix, containing the proceedings of the county conventions-narratives of the events of the nineteenth of April, 1775 > Part 11
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a ||his being.[]
44
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[Oct. 29,
It must be matter of grief to every true Briton, that the honor of British troops is sullied by the infamous errand on which they are sent to America; and whilst, in the unjust cause, on which you are engaged, menaces will never produce submission from the people of this prov- ince, your excellency, as well as the army, can only preserve your honor by refusing to submit to the most disgraceful prostitution of subserving plans so injurious, [and] so notoriously iniquitous and cruel to this people.
Your excellency professes to be solicitous for "preserving union and harmony between Great Britain and the colonies ;" and we sincerely hope that you will distinguish yourself by exertions for this purpose ; for, should you be an instrument of involving in a civil war this op- pressed and injured land, it must forever deprive you of that tranquilli- ty which finally bids adieu to those whose hands have been polluted with innocent blood.
Your excellency reminds us of the spirit of the British nation ; we partake, we rejoice in her honors, and especially revere her for her great national virtues ; we hope she never will veil her glory, or haz- ard success by exerting that spirit in support of tyranny.
Your excellency's strange misconception of facts, is not less conspic- uous in the close of your message than in many other parts of it. You have suggested that the conduct of the province, for supporting the constitution, is an instance of its violation. To declare the truth, relative to this matter, must be a full vindication of our conduct therein.
The powers placed in your excellency, for the good of the province, to convene, adjourn, prorogue, and dissolve the general court, have been perverted to ruin and enslave the province, while our constitu- ents, the loyal subjects of his majesty, have been compelled, for the laudable purposes of preserving the constitution, and therein their freedom, to obtain the wisdom of the province in a way which is not only justifiable by reason, but, under the present exigencies of the state, directed by the principles of the constitution itself; warranted by the most approved precedent and examples, and ||ªsanctioned|| by the British nation, at the revolution ; upon the strength and validity of which precedent the whole British constitution now stands, his present majesty wears his crown, and all subordinate officers hold their places. And although we are willing to put the most favorable construction on the warning you have been pleased to give us of the " rock on which
a | sanctified.||
45
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS
1774.]
we are," we beg leave to inform you that our constituents do not ex- pect, that, in the execution of that important trust which they have re- posed in us, we should be wholly guided by your advice. We trust, sir, that we shall not fail in our duty to our country and loyalty to our king, or in a proper respect to your excellency.
Resolved, That the foregoing replication to his excellency's answer be published in the newspapers.
Ordered, That Major Hawley, Col. Lee, and Mr. Gerry, be a com- mittee to extract such parts of the resolves which passed in this Con- gress, the 26th and 28th current, and are necessary now to be publish- ed; who reported as followeth :
Whereas, it has been recommended by this Congress, that the moneys heretofore granted and ordered to be assessed by the general court of this province, and not paid into the province treasury, should not be paid to the Hon. Harrison Gray, Esq., for reasons most obvious :
Therefore, Resolved, That Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, be, and hereby is, appointed receiver general until the further order of this or some other Congress or house of representatives of this province, whose business it shall be to receive all such moneys as shall be offer- ed to be paid into his hands to the use of the province, by the several constables, collectors, or other persons, by order of the several towns or districts, and to give his receipt for the same. And it is hereby re- commended to the several towns and districts, within this province, that they immediately call town and district meetings, and give direc- tions to all constables, collectors, and other persons who may have any part of the province tax of such town or district in their respective hands or possession, in consequence of any late order and directions of any town or district, that he or they immediately pay the same to the said Henry Gardner, Esq., for the purposes aforesaid. And it is also recommended that the several towns and districts, in said direc- tions, signify and expressly engage to such constable, collector, or other persons as shall have their said moneys in their hands, that their pay- ing the same to Henry Gardner, Esq., aforesaid, and producing his re- ceipt therefor, shall ever hereafter operate as an effectual discharge to such persons for the same. And it is hereby recommended, that the like order be observed respecting the tax ordered by the great and gen- eral court at their last May session. And it is further recommended to all sheriffs or deputy sheriffs, or coroners, who may have in their hands any moneys belonging to the province, that they immediately pay the same to the said receiver general, taking his receipt therefor. And the said Henry Gardner, Esq., the receiver general, shall be ac-
46
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[Oct. 29,
countable to this or some other Congress or house of representatives of this province.
And to the end that all the moneys heretofore assessed in pursuance of any former grants and orders of the great and general court or as- sembly of this province, and hitherto uncollected by the several con- stables and collectors to whom the several lists of assessment thereof were committed, may be effectually levied and collected; and also to the end that all the moneys granted and ordered to be assessed by the general court at their session in May last, which have been assess- ed, or which may be assessed, may be also speedily and punctually col- lected, it is earnestly recommended by this body to the several consta- bles and collectors, respectively, who have such assessments in their hands, or to whom any assessments yet to be made may be committed by the assessors of any towns or districts, that, in levying and collect- ing the respective part or proportion of the total of such assessments therein set down to the several persons named therein, they should act and proceed in the same way and manner as is expressed and provided in the form of a warrant, given and contained in ||ªan|| act or law of this province, entitled " an act prescribing the form of a warrant for collecting of town assessments," &c.
And it is hereby strongly recommended to all the inhabitants of the several towns and districts in this province, that they, without fail, do afford to their respective constables and collectors all that aid and as- sistance which shall be necessary to enable them in that manner to levy the contents of such assessments; and that they do oblige and compel the said constables and collectors to comply with and execute the directions of this resolve, inasmuch as the present most alarming situation and circumstances of this province do make it absolutely necessary for the safety thereof.
Whereas, in consequence of the present unhappy disputes between Great Britain and the colonies, a formidable body of troops, with war- like preparations of every sort, are already arrived at, and others des- tined for the metropolis of this province; and the |'expressed|| design of their being sent, is to execute acts of the British parliament utterly subversive of the constitution of the province ; and whereas, his ex- cellency General Gage has attempted by his troops to disperse the in- habitants of Salem, whilst assembled to consult measures for preserv- ing their freedom, and to subjugate the province to arbitrary govern- ment ; and, proceeding to still more unjustifiable and alarming lengths, has fortified against the country the capital of the province, and thus
a ||one.|| b ||express. ||
47
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1774.]
greatly endangered the lives, liberties and properties of its oppressed citizens; invaded private property by unlawfully seizing and retaining large quantities of ammunition in the arsenal at Boston, and sundry pieces of ordnance in the same town ; committed to the custody of his troops, the arms, ammunition, ordnance, and warlike stores of all sorts, provided at the public expense, for the use of the province ; and by all possible means endeavored to place the province entirely in a defenceless state ; at the same time having neglected and altogether disregarded assurances from this Congress of the pacific dispositions of the inhabitants of the province, and entreaties that he would cease from measures which tended to prevent a restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the colonies :
Wherefore it is the opinion of this Congress, that notwithstanding nothing but slavery ought more to be deprecated than hostilities with Great Britain, notwithstanding the province has not the most distant design of attacking, annoying, or molesting his majesty's troops, afore- said, but, on the other hand, will consider and treat every attempt of the kind, as well as all measures tending to prevent a reconciliation be- tween Great Britain and the colonies as the highest degree of enmity to the province, nevertheless, there is great reason, from the considera- tions aforesaid, to be apprehensive of the most fatal consequences ; and that the province may be in some degree provided against the same, and under full persuasion that the measures expressed in the fol- lowing resolves are perfectly consistent with such resolves of the Con- tinental Congress as have been communicated to us, it is
Resolved, and hereby recommended to the several companies of mili- tia in this province, who have not already chosen and appointed officers, that they meet forthwith, and elect officers to command their respective companies; and that the officers so chosen assemble as soon as may be; and where the said officers shall judge the limits of the present regiments too extensive that they divide them, and settle and determine their limits, and proceed to elect field officers to command their respec- tive regiments ||so formed ;|| and that the field officers, so elected, forth- with endeavor to enlist one quarter, at least, of the number of the re- spective companies, and form them into companies of fifty privates, at the least, who shall equip and hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice; and that each and every company, so formed, choose a captain and two lieutenants to command them on any neces- sary and emergent service, and that the said captains and subalterns, so elected, form the said companies into battalions, to consist of nine companies each, and that the captains and subalterns of each battalion,
48
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Nov. 23,
so formed, proceed to elect field officers to command the same. And the Congress doth most earnestly recommend that all the aforesaid elections be proceeded in and made with due deliberation and ||a|| gen- erous regard to the public service.
Also Resolved, That the security of the lives, liberties, and proper- ties of the inhabitants of this province depends, under Providence, on their knowledge and skill in the art military, and in their being proper- ly and effectually armed and equipped ; if any of said inhabitants are not provided with arms and ammunition, according to law, that they immediately provide themselves therewith, and that they use their ut- most diligence to perfect themselves in military skill; and that if any town or district within the province is not provided with the full town stock of arms and ammunition, according to law, the selectmen of such town or district take effectual care, without delay, to provide the same.
The committee on the state of the province, reported a resolve rela- tive to the removal of the inhabitants of the town of Boston. After the same was read and some debate had thereon, the question (upon a motion made) was put, whether the matter now subside, and it passed in the affirmative.
Resolved, As the opinion of this Congress, that Cambridge is the most eligible place for the committee of safety, at present, to sit in.
Resolved, That two gentlemen be added to the committee of safety.
Ordered, That Col. Prescot, Doct. Holten, and Mr. Gill, be a com- mittee to count and sort the votes for two gentlemen to be added to the committee of safety.
The Congress then proceeded to bring in their votes. After count- ing and sorting the same, the committee reported that Mr. Pigeon and Capt. Heath were chosen.
Resolved, That the extract of the resolves, relative to the militia, which passed this day be printed, and a copy thereof sent to all the towns and districts in this province.
The Congress adjourned till the 23d day of November next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then to meet in this place.
WEDNESDAY, November 23, 1774, A. M.
The Congress met according to adjournment, and then adjourned till half past two o'clock this afternoon.
Afternoon.
The Congress being apprehensive that the Hon. Walter Spooner, Esq., had not received the resolve passed by them, inviting the mem-
49
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1774.]
bers of his majesty's constitutional council to attend the Congress on this day, Resolved that he be again wrote to, desiring his attendance here immediately, and that a messenger be despatched therewith with- out delay.
Resolved, That the gentlemen who were members of the late Conti- nental, and are of this Provincial Congress, be joined to the committee on the state of the province.1
Resolved, That John Adams, Esq., be desired to favor this Congress with his presence, as soon as may be.
Resolved, That Robert Treat Paine, Esq., be desired to attend this Congress, as soon as possible.
Then the Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock.
THURSDAY, November 24, 1774, A. M.
Resolved, That the chairman of the committee from this province who were members of the continental Congress, be desired to report the proceedings of said Congress.
Ordered, That Capt. Gardner, Col. Prescot, and Doct. Holten, be a committee to wait on the Rev. Doct. Appleton, and desire that he would officiate as chaplain to this Congress, during their session in this town.
The committee waited on the Rev. Doct. Appleton accordingly, and reported that they had delivered the message, and that the Doctor would officiate as chaplain, agreeably to the desire of the Con- gress.
The chairman of the committee appointed by this province to meet in Continental Congress, reported, that they had attended that service; that the Congress had taken into consideration the state of the colo- nies, [and] that he had a journal of their whole proceedings, which he would lay on the table.2
Resolved, That the doings of the Continental Congress be now read, which were read accordingly.
Resolved, That the state of rights, state of grievances, and the as-
(1) Hon. James Bowdoin, Ilon. Thomas Cushing, Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, Esq., and Robert Treat Paine, Esq., were elected by the house of representatives of Massachusetts, June 17, 1774, delegates to the Continental Congress, which convened at Philadelphia, September 5th, and was dissolved October 26, 1774. These gentlemen, with the exception of James Bowdoin, were returned as members of the l'rovincial Congress.
(2) The journal of the proceedings of the Continental Congress was printed immediately after the dissolution of that body, in October, 1774, by William and Thomas Bradford, at Philadelphia, in an octavo pamphlet of 132 pages.
50
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Nov. 25,
sociation, as stated by the Continental Congress, be committed.1 The same was accordingly committed to the Hon. Major Hawley, Hon. Mr. Dexter, Doct. Warren, Col. Lee, Mr. Gerry, Col. Warren, and Doct. Church, who are to consider thereof and report.
Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.
Afternoon.
The petition from the officers of the minute men, in the northwest part of the county of Worcester, [was] read and committed to the com- mittee on the state of the province,2
Ordered, That the committee appointed to sit in the recess to pre- pare a plan for the defence and safety of the government, be directed to sit forthwith,
Ordered, That the committee appointed to publish the names of the mandamus counsellors, and others, now in the town of Boston, be di- rected to sit forthwith and prepare a report.
Adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock.
FRIDAY, November 25, 1774, A. M.
Ordered, That Doct. Holten, Col. Foster, and Col. Roberson, be a committee to inquire what number of the constitutional counsellors are now in town.
Resolved, That the members from the town of Worcester apply to Col. Chandler, and receive from him the bayonets he has in his hands and is now ready to deliver ;3 and inquire what sum or sums of money have been paid to him by the treasurer, for the purpose of procuring bayonets; how many were procured by him, and to whom they were delivered, and the state of his account relative to the money by him received for the purpose aforesaid.
Ordered, That a copy of this resolve be given to the members afore- said.
Resolved, That Doct. Holten, Col. Foster, Col. Roberson, Capt. Baldwin, and Mr. Cushing, be a committee to wait on such gentlemen of his majesty's constitutional council of this province, who are now in town at the request of this Congress, and acquaint them that this
(1) The declaration of rights and statement of grievances, were adopted by the Continental Con- gress, October 14, 1774 : the plan of an association for carrying into effect the non consumption, non importation, and non exportation agreements, having been reported and considered, was ac- cepted and subscribed by the members, October 20, 1774.
(2) The militia of Worcester county requested that the Congress would establish the military drill called the Norfolk exercise, instead of that system prescribed for the discipline of his majes- ty's troops in 1764.
(3) About one hundred bayonets were in the keeping of Col. Chandler.
51
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1774.]
Congress respectfully acknowledge their cheerful attendance, but will not be ready to offer any matters for their advice, until a quorum of that honorable board shall appear, and which is soon expected ; and that in the mean time a seat is provided for them in this house, if they shall see cause to be present.
Resolved, That it be the rule of this Congress at present, that they sit in the forepart of the day, and that they adjourn over the afternoon, in order to give time for the committees to sit and perfect the business with which they are severally charged.
Ordered, That Col. Thomas, Capt. Gardner, and Mr. Watson, be a committee to inquire whether a more convenient place than that in which the Congress now sits, can be procured for them to meet in.
Resolved, That every member of this Congress be enjoined to give constant attendance during the session thereof; and in case any should be under a necessity of absence, that they signify the same to the Con- gress, in order to their obtaining leave to withdraw.
Adjourned till ten o clock to-morrow morning.
SATURDAY, November 26, 1774, A. M.
The committee appointed to wait on the members of his majesty's council now in town, reported, that they had attended that service ; had seen the Hon. Mr. Cushing, and the Hon. Mr. Seaver, and had deliv- ered to them the message with which they were charged ; they being the only members in town.
Ordered, That the same committee wait on the other gentlemen of his majesty's council, invited by this Congress to attend here, as they come into town, and inform them of the resolve of this Congress.
Ordered, That Capt. Heath, Mr. Adams, Col. Doolittle, Col. Pome- roy, and Hon. Mr. Dexter, be a committee to devise some means of keeping up a correspondence between this province, Montreal and Quebec, and of gaining very frequent intelligence from thence of their movements.
The committee appointed yesterday to see if some more convenient place could be procured for the Congress, than that in which they now sit, reported, that the new chapel can be had, and that it is the most convenient place that they can obtain.
Ordered, That this matter now subside.
Ordered, That Mr. Sullivan, Hon. Major Hawley, and the Hon. Mr. Cushing, be a committee to draw the form of an order with respect to the treasurer's giving bonds, and report.
Ordered, That Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Adams, Hon. Mr. Cushing, and
52
FIRST PROVINCIAL.CONGRESS. [Nov. 28,
Doct. Church, be added to the committee appointed to publish the names of the mandamus counsellors, and others, now in Boston.
Adjourned till Monday morning, ten o'clock.
MONDAY, November 28, 1774, A. M.
Ordered, That Mr. Palmer, Mr. Cushing, Col. Gerish, Mr. Bigelow, Major Fuller, Mr. Pickering, and Col. Pomeroy, be a committee to take into consideration the state of the manufactures, and how they may be improved in this province.
||Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock.
TUESDAY, November 29, 1774, A. M.
Ordered, That Col. Henshaw, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Gorham, Mr. Lothrop, and Mr. Pigeon, be a committee to make as just an estimate as may be of the loss and damage of every kind ||ªaccrued|| to the province by the operation of the Boston port bill and the act for altering the civil government, from their commencement to this time.
Ordered, That Doct. Foster, Mr. Gorham, and Col. Orne, be a com- mittee to state the amount of the sums which have been extorted from us since the year 1763, by the operation of certain acts of the British parliament.
Resolved, That a messenger be despatched to the town of Salem, in order to gain what intelligence can be had by the last vessels from Lon- don, and that the messenger bring with him the Essex paper to this Congress; and that Mr. Bigelow be desired to take upon him the above service.
Resolved, That Mr. Devens be desired to go to Boston and inquire what advice came by the last vessels from London.
Resolved, That when this Congress shall adjourn, that it be adjourn- ed to three o'clock this afternoon, ||which was then adjourned ac- cordingly.||
Afternoon.
Mr. Devens reported that, in obedience to the order of the Con- gress, he had been to the town of Boston ; that the letters from Lon- don by the last ships had not come to hand; that Doct. Church was in Boston, and would bring them to the Congress as soon as they should arrive.
Resolved, That to-morrow, at eleven o'clock, the Congress will take into consideration the expediency of appointing members to attend a
a |occasioned.||
: b |Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.||
53
FIRST PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1774.]
Continental Congress, to be held at Philadelphia, agreeably to the re- commendation of the last Continental Congress. ,
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning.
WEDNESDAY, November 30, 1774, A. M.
The order of the day was moved for.
The expediency of appointing members to attend a Continental Congress, was considered : Thereupon,
Resolved, unanimously, as the opinion of this body, that members be appointed to attend a Continental Congress, proposed to be held at Philadelphia, on the tenth day of May next, agreeably to the recom- mendation of the late Continental Congress.
Resolved, That five members be appointed.
Resolved, That to-morrow, at three o'clock in the afternoon, be as- signed to come to the choice of delegates to attend the Continental Congress, proposed to be held at Philadelphia, on the 10th day of May next.
Ordered, That the Hon. Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Sullivan, and Doct. Foster, bring in a resolve expressing the thanks of this body to the other colonies, for their generous donations to the inhabitants of the town of Boston, now laboring under the oppression of certain acts of the British parliament.
||Resolved, That the same committee prepare a brief, to be cir- culated throughout the several towns in this province, to promote donations for the persons suffering, in the towns of Boston and Charlestown, under the operation of certain acts of the British par- liament.||
Adjourned till three o'clock this afternoon.
Afternoon.
Resolved, That the letters from Doct. Franklin to Mr. Cushing, which have been now read, be committed to the provincial committee of correspondence.1
||Then the Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock.
(1) Letters addressed by Doct. Franklin to the Hon. Thomas Cushing, bearing date, December 2, 1772; January 5, March 9, April 3, May 6, June 2, June 4, July 7, July 25, August 24, Septem- ber 12, November 1, 1773 ; and January 5, 1774; have been published in the collections of the writings of the patriot and philosopher. As none of the communications preserved by the editors . of Franklin's writings, correspond with the time when those mentioned in the text were laid be- fore Congress, it is probable that the letters entrusted to the committee of correspondence have perished with the other papers on their files.
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