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 17
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Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God, thie just and good governor of the world, to permit so great a calamity to befal us as the present controversy between Great Britain and these colonies, and which threatens us with the evils of war ;
And whereas, it has been the annual and laudable custom of this colony, at the opening of the spring, to observe a day of fasting and prayer, to humble themselves before God for their sins, and to implore his forgiveness and blessing ;
. It is, therefore, Resolved, as the sense of this Congress, that it is highly and peculiarly proper, and a duty incumbent upon this people more especially at a time of such general distress, that a day of pub- lic fasting and prayer should be observed and kept throughout this col- ony, not only on account of the present calamity, but also in conform- ity to the laudable custom of our ancestors ; and it is accordingly recommended to the several religious assemblies in the same, that Thursday, the sixteenth day of March next, be observed as a day of fasting and prayer to humble ourselves before God, on account of our sins ; to implore his forgiveness ; to beg his blessing upon the labors of the field, upon our merchandize, fishery and manufactures, and upon the various means used to recover and preserve our just rights and liberties ; and also, that his blessing may rest upon all the British empire, upon George the Third, our rightful king, and upon all the royal family, that they may all be great and lasting blessings to the world ; to implore the outpourings of his spirit, to enable us to bear
(1) In the copy of the journal the preamble is placed after the resolution.
108
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [Feb. 16,
and suffer whatever his holy and righteous Providence may see fit to lay upon us ; and also humbly to supplicate his direction and assist- ance, to discover and reform whatever is amiss, that so he may be pleased to remove these heavy afflictions, those tokens of his displeas- ure, and may cause harmony and union to be restored between Great . Britain and these colonies, and that we may again rejoice in the free and undisturbed exercise of all those rights and privileges, for the en- joyment of which, our pious and virtuous ancestors braved every dan- ger, and transmitted the fair possession down to their children, to be by them handed down entire to the latest posterity.
Ordered, That Mr. Devens, Mr. Gorham and Mr. Watson, be a committee to direct the [printed copies of the] resolve recommending a day of fasting and prayer, and send them to the several religious as- semblies in this province.
Upon a motion made, the question was put, whether the injunction of secrecy now on the members of this Congress be taken off, and that they disclose such parts of their doings as shall appear to them to have a tendency to promote the public interest, and passed in the affir- mative.
Ordered, That Col. Gardner, Mr. Watson, and Mr. Osgood, be a committee, to return the thanks of this body to the proprietors of the meeting-house in Cambridge, for their favors in indulging the Congress with the use thereof during their session.
Ordered, That Henry Gardner, Esq., receiver general of this prov- ince, be and he is hereby directed, to pay unto Mr. William Darling, the sum of two pounds and sixteen shillings, lawful money, in full for his services as doorkeeper.
The committee appointed to bring in a resolve relative to the ad- journment of this Congress, and empowering the members from Charlestown, and others, to call the Congress together sooner than the day to which it may be adjourned, reported ; the report was read and accepted, and is as followeth, viz. :
Resolved, That this Congress be adjourned from this day to the twenty-second day of March next, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, to meet at Concord, in the county of Middlesex; and considering the great uncertainty of the present times, and that important unforeseen events may take place, from whence it may be absolutely necessary that this Congress should meet sooner than the day abovesaid, not- withstanding the adjournment aforesaid :
It is farther Resolved, That the members of this Congress for the towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury and Dorches-
-
1775.]
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS 109
ter, or the majority of them, be and [they] are hereby authorized, in case they shall judge it necessary, to give notice to the several members of this Congress, in such way as they shall think proper, to meet at Con- cord, aforesaid, at any ||"earlier day|| than the abovesaid twenty-second day of March next, which shall be by them appointed ; and it is fur- ther recommended to the members of this Congress that they conform themselves to said notice.
The president then declared the Congress adjourned accordingly.
WEDNESDAY, March 22, 1775, A. M.
Congress met ||baccording|| to adjournment.
Ordered, That Col. Barrett, Hon. Mr. Dexter and Mr. Stickney, be a committee, to wait on the Rev. Mr. Emerson, and desire his attend- ance on the Congress, and [that he would] open the same with prayer, at three o'clock this afternoon.||||
Afternoon.
Ordered, That Col. Barrett, Hon. Mr. Dexter, and Mr. Stickney, be a committee to wait again on the Rev. Mr. Emerson, and desire him, if his circumstances will admit of it, to attend daily on the Congress, and officiate as their chaplain.
Ordered, That all the debates and resolutions of this Congress be kept an entire secret, until the farther order thereof.
Ordered, That Col. Danielson, Col. Henshaw, Major Fuller, Col. Prescot and Col. Farley, be a committee to receive the returns of the several officers of militia, of their numbers and ||dequipments, || and the returns from the several towns of their town stock of ammunition.
Ordered, That Mr. Lothrop and the Hon. Col. Dexter, be added to the committee on the state of the province.
||The Congress then|| adjourned till to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.
THURSDAY, March 23, 1775, A. M.
The committee appointed to wait on the Rev. Mr. Emerson, and desire that he would officiate as chaplain to this Congress, during their present session, in the town of Concord, reported, that they had at- tended that service, and delivered the message, and that Mr. Emerson would officiate accordingly.
Ordered, That Mr. Gerry, Mr. Paine and Mr. Adams, be a commit- tee to bring in a resolve, expressing the sense of this Congress, that
a ||certain day other.||
b ||conformably.||
c ||to which time this Congress stands adjourned.|| d ||equipagc.||
-
110
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [March 24,
for this people to relax in their preparations to defend themselves, &c., would be attended with the most dangerous consequences.
Ordered, That information be given by the members, to the com- mittee on the state of the province, of the number of field pieces, whether the property of the province, towns, or private persons, which have fallen within their knowledge ; as also what number of men [there are] in the province acquainted with the business of making firearms.
Adjourned to three o'clock [this afternoon.]
Afternoon.
||Congress|| adjourned till to-morrow morning, ten o'clock.
FRIDAY, March 24, 1775, A. M.
Adjourned to three o'clock [this afternoon.] Afternoon.
The committee appointed to bring in a resolve, expressing the dan- ger there would be in relaxing from the present preparations for de- fence, &c., reported. The report [was] accepted, and Ordered, that it be attested and published in all the Boston newspapers.
[Whereas, it is indispensably necessary, for the safety of a free peo- ple and the preservation of their liberties, that they, at all times, keep themselves in a state of actual defence against every invasion or dep- redation ; and this country being still threatened by a powerful army posted in its capital, with a professed design of executing certain acts of the British parliament, calculated to destroy our invaluable rights and liberties and the government of this colony, as by charter and law established therein :]
[Therefore, Resolved, That the measures which have heretofore been recommended by this and the former Provincial Congress, for the purpose of putting this colony into a complete state of defence, be still most vigorously pursued, by the several towns, as well as individual inhabitants, and that any relaxation would be attended with the utmost danger to the liberties of this colony and of all America; especially, as by the latest advices from Great Britain, we have undoubted reasons for jealousy, that our implacable enemies are unremitting in their en- deavors, by fraud and artifice as well as by open force, to subjugate this people ; which is an additional motive to the inhabitants of this colony to persevere in the line of conduct recommended by the Con- gress, and to be ready to oppose, with firmness and resolution, at the utmost hazard, every attempt for that purpose.1]
Adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning.
(1) This resolution, omitted in the original record and the copy of the journal, has been restored from the publication in the newspapers.
1
111
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
SATURDAY, March 25, 1775, A. M.
Ordered, That when this Congress || adjourn, || it be adjourned to Monday next, at three o'clock in the afternoon.
Ordered, That the members be enjoined to attend punctually at the adjourninent.
MONDAY, March 27, 1775, P. M.
The committee appointed to prepare a state of the imports, exports, &c., reported : Ordered, that the further consideration thereof be re- ferred to Wednesday next, [at] three o'clock in the afternoon.
The committee appointed to prepare some rules, &c. for a constitu- tional army, reported ; the report [was] read : Ordered, that the far- ther consideration of the report be ||bon the morrow|| four o'clock, P. M., and that the committee make such additions thereto as they shall think necessary.
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning.
[The several] committees [were] enjoined to sit.
TUESDAY, March 28, 1775, A. M.
The several committees [were] enjoined to sit.
Adjourned to three o'clock [this afternoon.]
Afternoon. .
According to the order of the day, [the Congress] went into the consideration of the report of the committee appointed to prepare rules and regulations for a constitutional army, &c.
|| The above report|| was recommitted for amendments.
Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning.
WEDNESDAY, March 29, [1775,] A. M.
||dResumed|| the consideration of the report of the committee, rela- tive to rules, &c .; considered the same in paragraphs, [and] passed [the same] in part.
Adjourned to three o'clock [this afternoon.]
Afternoon.
The |l'above report|| relative to rules, &c., passed in whole, but [was] ordered to be recommitted for ||some|| additions.
Ordered, That Capt. Osgood, Col. Thompson and Capt. Greenleaf, be a committee to bring in a resolve, introductory to the publishing the names of the mandamus counsellors.
The vote of Tuesday relative to information being given to the
a |[shall adjourn that .! |
b ¡¡ postponed until to-morrow.[] c |[which was.||
d ||revised. [[ e ||report of the committee.[]
112
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. [March 30,
committee on the state of the province, ||ªwas|| so far reconsidered as that the information be given to the committee appointed to receive the returns from the colonels.
Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning.
THURSDAY, March 30, 1775, A. M.
· The doorkeeper [was] directed to call in the members : they [were] enjoined to attend. The committee on the state of the province re- ported a resolve, relative to what movements of the troops should make it fit to call the militia together, to act on the defensive ; report read and considered in paragraphs, and passed unanimously in the affirmative.
Upon a motion made and seconded, Resolved, that immediately, when notice shall be given for the assembling the forces of this colo- ny, the members of this Congress repair, without delay, to the place to which they shall be adjourned.
Adjourned to three o'clock [this afternoon.]
Afternoon.
The committee appointed yesterday to draw an introduction to pub- lishing the names of the mandamus counsellors, reported ; [the report was] recommitted, and the committee [were] directed to bring in a report by way of order, &c.
The committee appointed to receive the [returns of ] exports and imports, &c., in the colony, reported ; [the report was] referred to Wednesday next at three o'clock.
Several committees [were] enjoined to sit and perfect their reports without delay, in order, if possible, that the Congress may rise to- morrow.
Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning.
FRIDAY, March 31, 1775, A. M.
The committee appointed to bring in a resolve as introductory to publishing the names of the mandamus counsellors, [reported a re- solve, which] being amended, was read and accepted, and is as follows :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, March 31, 1775.
Resolved, That the names of the following persons be published in all the Boston newspapers, who, having been appointed counsellors by his majesty's mandamus, and having accepted, and acted under said cominissions, have proved themselves implacable enemies to the liber-
a |be.|
113
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
ties of their country, by refusing to publish a renunciation of their commissions, agreeably to a resolve of a former Provincial Congress : that the secretary be directed to transmit authenticated copies of this resolve, with the names annexed, to all the printers in Boston, and that they be desired to insert the same in their papers, that every town may be possessed of a copy of their names, which are to be entered upon the town and district records, that they may be sent down to posteri- ty, if possible, with the infamy they deserve : [They are as follow :]
Thomas Flucker, Foster Hutchinson, Harrison Gray, William Brown, James Boutineau, Joshua Loring, William Pepperell, John Erving, Jun., Peter Oliver, Richard Lechmere, Josiah Edson, Nathan- iel Ray Thomas, Timothy Ruggles, John Murray, and Daniel Leonard, Esquires.
The committee appointed to receive the returns from the several ||ªcolonels;|| &c., reported; the report was recommitted to be com- pleted.
A memorial from the selectmen of the town of Billerica, [was] read, and committed to Mr. Marcy, Capt. Batchelder, Capt. Osgood, Capt. Manning and Mr. Freeman.
Ordered, That the receiver general be directed to lay a state of the treasury before this Congress.
The members [were] enjoined to attend until the farther order of this Congress.
Adjourned to three o'clock [this afternoon.]
Afternoon.
The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve rela- tive to the payment of the public monies immediately to Mr. Gardner : read and accepted, and Ordered, that it be printed in hand bills, and a copy thereof sent to each town, directed to the committee of corres- pondence, if any; if not, to the selectmen; to be laid before the several towns.
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, March 31, 1775.
Whereas, this Congress is informed that many collectors and con- stables, having in their hands considerable sums of the public moneys of this colony, have hitherto neglected to pay the same to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow; and the Congress, earnestly attentive to the ease of the inhabitants of the colony, are desirous of completing the preparations so essentially necessary to the public safety, without call- ing on them for other moneys, than such as are now due to the colony .
a }[colonies.]]
15
114
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[April 1,
It is, therefore, Resolved, That the constables and collectors aforesaid, ought, by no means, to be longer indulged in their unreasonable neglect of complying with the most important plans of this colony ; and it is hereby strongly recommended, to the several towns and districts of the same, that they oblige said constables and collectors forthwith to pay the balances aforesaid, due from them respectively, to the receiver gen- eral; and it is also most earnestly recommended to those towns and districts, having any public moneys belonging to the colony yet uncol- lected, that they do not fail to hire and pay the same to the said Henry Gardner, Esq., without delay; and that they vigorously exert them- selves to suppress every opposition to measures recommended by the Continental and Provincial Congresses, as they regard the freedom and happiness of themselves and future generations.
Ordered, That Mr. Gorham, Mr. Devens and Mr. Watson, be a committee to forward the hand bills to the several towns, &c.
Resolved, That each member be desired to urge the town, of which he is a representative, if they have not paid their money to Henry Gardner, that they would immediately pay it; and if it cannot be soon collected, that they be desired to borrow it; and if there is any town which does not incline to pay their public moneys to Mr. Gardner, they are desired to give their reasons for such refusal to this Congress, at the next session thereof.
Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning.
SATURDAY, April 1, 1775, A. M.
The committee appointed to report rules, &c., for the provincial army, having made the additions directed, the same were read and put in whole and passed ; they were then ordered to be recommitted, for the bringing a form of oaths, and a resolve relative to witnesses.
The committee on the state of the province reported a resolve rela- tive to furnishing the indians with blankets who have enlisted as min- ute men, &c., and an address to them ; it passed, and is as follows :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, Concord, April 1, 1775.
Whereas, a number of indians, natives of the town of Stockbridge, have enlisted as minute men-Resolved, that, for their encouragement, the following address to said indians be presented to them, by Col. John Paterson and Capt. William Goodridge, and that Henry Gardner, Esq., the receiver general, be, and hereby is directed, to pay the sum of twenty- three pounds, lawful money, into the hands of Col. John Paterson and Capt. William. Goodridge, to be employed in purchasing a number of
115
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
blankets and some ribbons, which they are to present to the indians en- listed as aforesaid, viz : one blanket and one yard of ribbon to each person, that is or may be enlisted; and in case the whole of the money should not be employed, in the purchase aforesaid, they are to be ac- countable for the residue.
To Johoiakin Mothksin, and the rest of our brethren, the indians, natives of Stockbridge :
GOOD BROTHERS-It affords us great pleasure and satisfaction, to hear by Col. Paterson and Capt. Goodridge, that our brothers, the na- tives of Stockbridge, are ready and willing to take up the hatchet in the cause of liberty and their country. We find you have not been in- attentive to the unhappy controversy we are engaged in with our mother country, by reason of sundry acts the British parliament have passed, by whichi, our rights and privileges have been invaded, and our property taken from us without our consent. We have frequently peti- tioned the king for redress of our grievances, and the restoration of our rights ; but, instead of granting us relief, the king's ministers have sent a large fleet, and posted a great army in the town of Boston, who are daily abusing and insulting the inhabitants, in order to enforce obedience to these acts. The whole continent, from Nova Scotia to Georgia, by their delegates, have lately presented a petition to the king, praying for relief, to which we hope we shall receive a gracious answer. We wish the fire of friendship may be again kindled between both countries ; but in case our petition should not be attended to, and the ministry should determine to deprive us of our rights and property by a military force, we hold ourselves obliged to defend them at the point of the sword. This is a common cause ; a cause you are equally engaged in with ourselves ; we are all brothers, and if the parliament of Great Britain takes from us our property, and our lands, without our consent, they will do the same by you ; your property, your lands will be insecure ; in short, we shall not any of us have any thing we can call our own. Your engaging in this cause, discovers not only your attachment to your liberties, but furnishes us with an evidence of your gratitude to this province for their past favors. They have fre- quently, at your request, made laws and regulations for your protec- tion and defence against the ravages and frauds of deceitful and de- signing men. They have constantly and cheerfully afforded you aid and assistance, because you have given them abundant proof of your fidelity. We have directed Col. Paterson and Capt. Goodridge to pre- sent each of you, that have enlisted in the service, with a blanket and
116
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
[April 1,
a ribbon, as a testimony of our affection, and shall depend upon your firm and steady attachment to the cause you have engaged in.
Ordered, That Mr. Adams, Mr. Cushing, and Col. Paterson, be a committee to draught a letter to the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, and an address to the chief of the Mohawk indian tribes.
Moved, That the Congress now go into consideration of what ought to be the conduct of the several towns, in case general Gage should send out his precepts for convening a new assembly, on the last Wednesday of May next, and what ought to be their conduct in case he should not send out his writs.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress, that in case writs, in the form the law directs, should be issued, they ought to be obeyed.
Resolved, That, in case writs should not be issued forth, that a Con- gress be called, on the last Wednesday of May next ; and in case gen- eral Gage should not issue precepts for calling an assembly, as the law directs, the members of the towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brook- line, Roxbury, and Dorchester, be desired to publish this resolve and appoint a place where they shall assemble.
Ordered, That Col. Warren, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Gill, be a com- mittee to reduce the several resolutions of this day, relative to calling a new Congress, into form, and bring in a resolve accordingly. The committee reported ; [ªthe report was] read, accepted, and is as follows :
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, April 1, 1775.
||Resolved, As the sense of this Congress, that if writs should be issued, in form as the law directs, for calling a general assembly, to be held on the last Wednesday of May next, that the several towns in this colony ought to obey such precepts, and choose their members as usual; and instruct them to transact no business with the council, ap- pointed by mandamus; and if they should be dissolved, to meet in a Provincial Congress, for the purpose of considering and transacting the affairs of this colony.||
IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, April 1, 1775.
Resolved, That in case writs are not issued according to law, for calling a general assembly, on the last Wednesday of May next, it be recommended to the several towns and districts in this colony, to choose delegates for a Provincial Congress, to meet on the said last Wednesday of May next, at such place as the present members of the towns of Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline, Roxbury, and Dorches-
a ||which was .!!
117
SECOND PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
1775.]
ter, shall appoint ; who are desired to cause this resolution to be pub- lished in the several newspapers, as soon as it can be ascertained that writs are not issued for calling an assembly.
An application from the committee of correspondence of the town of Boston, and others, was read; Ordered, that the consideration ||thereof || be referred to three o'clock this afternoon.
Afternoon.
The Congress proceeded to consider the application from the com- mittee of correspondence of Boston, &c., agreeably to the order of the forenoon ; Ordered, that it be committed to Col. Danielson, Mr. Gerry, Col. Foster, Major Fuller of Middleton, and Col. Warren, to consider of, and report thereon.
The members enjoined to attend at the adjournment [ªof this Con- gress.]
||The Congress adjourned to Monday morning, nine o'clock.||
MONDAY, April 3, 1775, A. M.
Resolved, That the committee on the state of the province be desir- ed to collect all the late intelligence from Great Britain relative to their sending a reenforcement to General Gage, and on other matters which relate to this and the other colonies, and report to the Congress what is best to be done.
Ordered, That Doct. Church, Col. Pomeroy, and Doct. Warren, be a committee to bring in a resolve to be inserted in the Salem papers, requiring the attendance of all the absent members, and a recommen- dation to the several towns and districts, who have not yet sent mem- bers to the Provincial Congress, that they elect them, and direct their immediate attendance.
Ordered, That Major Bliss, Mr. Freeman, and Capt. Osgood, be a committee to bring in a resolve, to be forwarded by an express, to call in the absent members from the counties of Hampshire, Berkshire, Worcester, and Bristol.
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