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 69
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8. Deeply affected with a sense of the miseries and calamities now im- pending over the colonics, and this province in particular, we arc compelled to form these resolutions ; which, as we apprchend, being founded in jus- tice and necessity, on the principles of our natural, essential, and unaliena- ble rights, we are determined to abide by. At the same time, we frankly, and with sincerity declare, that we still hold ourselves subjects of his majes- ty king George the third; as such, will bear him true allegiance; and are ready with our lives and fortunes, to support and defend his person, crown, and dignity, and his constitutional authority over us. But, by the horrors of slavery, by the dignity and happiness attending virtuous freedom, we are constrained to declare, that we hold our liberties too dear to be sported with,
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and are therefore, most seriously determined to defend them. This, in the present dispute, we conceive may be effected by peaceable measures. But, though above all things, slavery excepted, we deprecate the evils of a civil war ; though we are deeply anxious to restore and preserve harmony with our brethren in Great Britain ; yet, if the despotism and violence of our ene- mies should finally reduce us to the sad necessity, we, undaunted, are ready to appeal to the last resort of states ; and will, in support of our rights, en- counter even death, " sensible that he can never die too soon, who lays down his life in support of the laws and liberties of his country."
Voted, That Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Doct. Samuel Holten, and Mr. Elbridge Gerry, be a committee to wait on the Hon. William Browne, Esq., agreeably to the fifthi resolve.
Voted, That a committee be chosen to notify the members of this body to assemble again when they shall think it necessary ; and that the members from Salem and Marblehead, be this committee ; and that they, or the major part of them, be and they are hereby empowered to issue notifications ac- cordingly.
JOHN PICKERING, JUN., Clerk.
Salem, Friday, September 9, 1774.
Jeremialı Lee, Esq., Doct. Samuel Holten, and Mr. Elbridge Gerry, waited on the honorable William Browne, Esq., at Boston, with the fifth resolve of the delegates of this county, and received the following answer, viz. :
Gentlemen :- I cannot consent to defeat his majesty's intentions, and dis- appoint his expectations, by abandoning a post to which he lias been gra- ciously pleased to appoint me ; an appointment made without my solicita- tion or privity, and accepted by me from a sense of duty to the king, and the hopes of serving my country. I wish therefore, to give him no cause to sus- pect my fidelity, and I assure you, I will do nothing without a true regard to its interest. "As a judge, and in every other capacity," I intend to act with honor and integrity, and to exert my best abilities ; and be assured, that neither persuasions can allure me, nor shall menaces compel me to do any thing derogatory to the character of a councillor of his majesty's province of the Massachusetts Bay.
WILLIAM BROWNE.
Boston, September 9th, 1774.
To Jeremiah Lee, Esq., Doct. Samuel Holten, and Mr. Elbridge Gerry.
CONVENTION OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
AT a Congress of committees from every town and district within the county of Ilampshire, and province of the Massachusetts Bay, excepting
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Charlemont and Southwick, held at the court house, in Northampton, with- in the said county, on the 22d and 23d days of September, 1774, to consult upon measures proper to be taken at this time of general distress in the province, occasioued by the late attacks of the British parliament on the constitution of. the said province, whereby they have endeavored to sap and destroy its most fundamental rights, and reduce the inhabitants thereof to a state of vassallage and slavery :
Mr. Ebenezer Hunt, Jun., of Northampton, was chosen clerk of said con- gress, and Mr. Timothy Danielson, of Brimfield, chairman.
After divers observations made upon the late acts of the British parlia- ment, for taxing the American colonies, and for subverting the constitution of this province, a committee of nine persons, members of the said congress, were appointed to consider and report thercon ; which committee reported as follows :
The committees appointed by the several towns in this county, to meet together at this alarming crisis, to consider and determine on measures ex- pedient for the county to adopt, with the respect and deference due to the future determinations of a provincial congress, and the decisions of the grand American Congress, as they are not able to make any resolves respecting the rights and liberties of the people of this province, more agreeable to their own sentiments than such as have been made by their brethren in the other counties, do, on mature deliberation, make the following, for the most part similar to theirs, viz .:
1. That as true and loyal subjects of George the third, king of Great Britain, &c., we by no means intend to withdraw our allegiance from him, so long as he will defend and protect us in the free and full exercise and en- joyment of our charter rights and liberties.
2. That the charter of this province is a inost solemn stipulation and com- pact between the king and the inhabitants thereof; and that it ought to be kept saered and inviolate by each party, and that it cannot, in any respect, be varied or altered by one party only, without a most criminal breach of faith, and that they know of no instance, wherein the inhabitants of this province, on their part, have violated the said compact.
:". That the several acts of the British parliament, which infringe the just rights of the colonies, and of this province in particular, being subjects of deliberation before the Continental Congress now sitting, renders it expe- client for this county to suspend their deterinination respecting them, except so far as their immediate operation requires our immediate resolutions thereon.
4. That whereas, his excellency 'Thomas Gage, Esq., lately appointed by his majesty, governor of this province, did, at the last session of the great and general court, wholly deeline and refuse to accept the grant for bis support, then made him by both houses of assembly ; and has since, by his proelama- tion, bearing date 23d of August last, and otherwise, manifested and declar- ed his full resolution and determination to execute a late aet of the British
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parliament, entitled an act for the better regulating the government of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, whereby they have at- tempted to sap the foundation of the constitution of this province, and anni- hilate the most important rights of the inhabitants thereof; and has also, ac- tually, at Salem, by an armed force, endeavored to execute the said acts ; we are obliged therefore, to declare, that our minds are so deeply impress- cd with the abovesaid conduct of his excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., as to excite in us very great doubts whether he can any longer be considered as the constitutional governor of this province ; and consequently, whether any writs issued by him for convening a general assembly, or any other acts whereby he shall attempt to exercise the office of a governor of this prov- ince, have any force or validity, and whether any obedience or respect there- to can be paid, without a degree of submission to and acknowledgment of the force and validity of said acts; but in case any towns within the prov- ince should judge it safe and expedient so far to regard the writs lately is- sued by his excellency Thomas Gagc, Esq., for the convening a general court or assembly of this province, to be held at Salem, on the 5th day of October next, as to elcet and depute any persons as their representatives to repair to Salem, at the time aforesaid, we cannot but declare it as our clear opinion, that they ought, and our full expectation is that they will, most ma- turely and deliberately consider, whether any such representatives can do any one act in concert with his excellency Thomas Gage, Esq., and his mandamus council, without an implied acknowledgment of the authority and force of the abovesaid acts of parliament.
5. That it is the opinion of this congress, that a provincial congress is ab- solutely necessary in our present unhappy situation, and that we approve of the proposal made by a late Middlescx congress, that the said provincial congress should be holden at Concord, on the second Tuesday of October next, and we accordingly recommend to the several towns and districts within this county, that each appoint one or more delegates to attend the same.
6. That the collectors, constables, and all other officers, who have or shall have by them moneys collected upon the province assessments, delay mak- ing payment of the same to the honorable Harrison Gray, Esq., until the civil government of this province is placed upon a constitutional foundation, but that they deposit the same in the treasuries of their respective towns and districts.
7. Whereas, the universal uneasiness which prevails among all orders of men in this county, arising from the unjust and oppressive measures of the present administration, may influence some persons inconsiderately to com- mit outrages upon particular persons or their property, we would heartily recommend to all the inhabitants of this county, not to engage in any routs, riots, or licentious attacks upon the person or property of any one, as being subversive of all order and government; but, by a steady, manly, uniform, and persevering opposition to the said measures, to convince our enemies,
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that in a contest so important and solemn, our conduct shall be such as to merit the approbation of all sober and wise men.
8 That in the opinion of this Congress, all town meetings ought to be called agreeably to the laws and ancient usage of the province.
9. That the inhabitants of the several towns and districts within this coun- ty, be advised, for their own honor, and for the defence of their country, that they use the utmost diligence, forthiwith, to acquaint themselves with the military art, under the command and direction of such persons as they shall choose, and that they furnishi themselves with the full lawful quantity of am- munition, and good effective arms, as soon as may be, for that purpose.
Attest, EBENEZER HUNT, JUN., Clerk.
CONVENTION OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
AT a meeting of the delegates of every town in the county of Plymouth, in the province of Massachusetts Bay, held at Plimpton, in said county, on Monday, the 26th day of September, 1774, and then by adjournment, at the county court house in Plymouth, on Tuesday, the 27th day of September, 1774, present :
Plymouth-Hon. James Warren, Esq., Mr. John Torrey, Capt. Theophilus Cotton, William Watson, Esq., Mr. Thomas Lothrop.
Scituate-Nathan Cushing, Esq., John Cushing, Jun., Esq., Capt. Israel Vinal, Jun., Mr. Barnebas Little, Mr. William Turner, Capt. Joseph Tolman. Wareham-Mr. Ebenezer Briggs, Mr. Barnabas Bates.
Marshfield-Capt. Anthony Thomas, Capt. William Thomas.
Abington-Doct. David Jones, Capt. Woodbridge Brown, Mr. William Reed, Jun.
Bridgewater-Capt. Edward Mitchell, Mr. Nathaniel Reynolds, Mr. Nathan Mitchell, Mr. Thomas Hooper.
Kingston-John Thomas, Esq., Capt. Jolin Gray, Mr. William Drew.
Hanover-Capt. Joseph Cushing, Mr. Joseph Ramsdell, Mr. Joshua Sim- mons, Capt. Robert Eells, Doct. Lemuel Cushing.
Pembroke-Capt. John Turner, Doct. Jeremiah Hall, Mr. Seth Briggs, Capt. Edward Thomas, Capt. Elijah Cushing.
Duxborough-Capt. Wade Wadsworth, Mr. George Partridge, Mr. Peleg Wadsworth.
Halifax-Mr. Barnabas Thompson, Moses Inglis, Mr. Ebenezer Thomas.
Middleborough-Capt. Ebenezer Sprout, Mr. Jolm Miller, Mr. Ebenezer Wood, Mr. Benjamin Tucker, Mr. Nathaniel Foster.
Rochester-Capt. Ebenezer White, Mr. Nathaniel Hammond, Mr. Nathan Nye.
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Plimpton-Mr. William Ripley, Mr. Samuel Lucas, Mr. Seth Cushing. Voted, That the Hon. James Warren, Esq., be chairman.
A committee of nine, viz. : James Warren, Esq., William Cushing, Esq., Capt. Joseph Cushing, John Thomas, Esq., Doct. Jones, Mr. John Torrey, Mr. Thomas Lothrop, Mr. George Partridge, and Doct. Jeremiah Hall, were chosen to bring in, at the adjournment, a report to this body, and the follow- ing being several times read, and put paragraph by paragraph, was unani- mously voted, viz. :
Whereas, the British administration, instead of cultivating that harmony and affection, which have so long subsisted, to the great and mutual advan- tage of both Britain and the colonies, have, for a series of years, without provocation, without justice, or good policy, in breach of faith, the laws of gratitude, the natural connections and commercial interests of both coun- tries, been attacking with persevering and unrelenting injustice, the rights of the colonists; and have added, from one time to another, insults to oppres- sions, till both have become, more especially in this colony, intolerable, and every person who has the feelings of a man, and any sense of the rights of mankind, and the value of our happy constitution, finds it now necessary, to exert himself to the utmost of his power, to preserve them: we, who are returned from the several towns in the county of Plymouth, and now met on the ground first trod by our venerable ancestors, and at the place Provi- dence directed them to, as an asylum from the persecuting rage and oppres- sion of their cotemporaries in Britain ; feeling the same spirit, and actuated in defence of our rights, by the same principles which animated them in ac- quiring and transmitting them to us and succeeding posterity, in a manner which will ever distinguish the heroism and virtue of their characters, do resolve :
1. That the inhabitants of the American colonies are entitled to all the natural rights of mankind, and are, by right, subject to the control of no power on earth, but by their own consent.
2. That the inhabitants of tliis province have no other political con- nection with, or dependence on Britain, than what was, originally, by our ancestors, for themselves and posterity, stipulated with the king, and in the form of a grant from him expressed in the charter.
3. That the interposition of any other power on earth in our affairs, and more especially, in attempts to tax or even legislate for us, and that of the king himself, in other manner than is expressed and provided for in the original compact, is an infraction of our natural and constitutional rights.
4. That the people of this province have, at all times, been loyal and duti- ful subjects to the king of Great Britain, have observed all the conditions of their original compact, borne great affection to his other subjects in all parts of his dominions, and are ready, at all times, to render him that allegiance which his protection of our rights entitles him to, and to sacrifice our lives and fortunes in defence of lis person and constitutional government.
5. That the parliament of Great Britain has not only assumed, but exer-
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cised with unexampled severity, a power over these colonies, to legislate for, and tax thein without their own consent, and by several acts passed in the late session of parliament, for blocking up the port of Boston, the better reg- ulating the government of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, the securing the most flagitious violators of the laws of the province from a legal trial, and the establishing the roman catholic religion in that extensive country, called Canada, has shewn their determination to deprive us of both our civil and religious rights.
6. That it is a duty every man and body of men owes to posterity, as well as to God and our country, to oppose with all their power, the execution of said acts, and that we strongly recommend it to the inhabitants of the prov- ince, never to submit to them in any instance whatever.
7. That the provision made in one of said acts for the appointinent of a council and of civil officers in this province and the tenure of their several offices, together with the manner of returning jurors, at once destroys every idea of free legislation, and an impartial administration of justice, and breaks down that inestimable barrier of liberty, and security of life and property, a trial by our peers, by rendering the whole of them a set of ministerial tools . and hirelings.
8. That those persons who have accepted seats at the council board, by mandamus from the king, in conformity to a late aet of the British parlia- ment, have violated the fundamental rights of the society they belonged to ; have traitorously atteinpted to destroy the constitution of their country, which they were bound by the laws of God and man to defend ; and have, by their persevering obstinacy, against the entreaties of their fellow coun- trymen, exposed themselves to their just resentment and indignation.
9. That the judges, justices, sheriffs, and other civil officers in the prov- ince, who are appointed to their several offices agreeably to the charter and laws of the same, and refuse to act in conformity to the acts of parliament, or to assist the administration in the execution of them, are the only proper persons who are entitled to the obedience of the people; and that we will aid and support them in the execution of their offices, in the manner usual before the attempt to alter the constitution of the province; and will in- demnify their persons and property ; and that no legal authority can remove them from their respective offices, except that which is constituted pursuant to the charter, and the laws of this province.
10. That all officers and private persons, who shall presume to conform to or by any means aid and assist the execution of the late acts of parliament, do, by such conduct, forfeit that protection and friendship good men in socie- ty are entitled to, and are and ought to be considered and treated as our in- veterate enemies, as men lost to every sense of virtue, and the obligations due to God and man.
11. That every people have a right to meet together when they please, to consult upon their grievances, and the proper methods to be taken for their removal ; and that any act which prohibits such meetings, strikes at the foun- dation of freedom, and will reduce to slavery and misery such as submit to it.
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12. That the present exigencies of our public affairs, render it absolutely necessary that there be a provincial congress ; and we do recommend it to the several towns in this county, to instruct their representatives to forin themselves into such a congress, agreeably to the seventh resolve of the delegates for the county of Essex, for the purposes there mentioned.
13. That our enemies inay be disappointed, and we be the better enabled to make that last appeal, which the law of God and nature will justify, we recommend it to the people of this county, to apply themselves with all dil- igence, and in the most effectual mammer, to learn military discipline, and to equip themselves immediately witli arms and ammunition according to law.
14. That whereas, the present circumstances of the province are such, that if the public moneys now raised should be paid into the public treasu- ries, they may be mnisapplied, perhaps to purposes detrimental to the inter- est of the people : we therefore recommend to thie collectors of taxes, sler- iffs, and other officers in this county, to retain the same in their hands, and not to make any payment thereof to the province treasurer, until the civil government of the province is placed upon a constitutional foundation, or until it shall otherwise be ordered by the proposed provincial congress ; and that they be indemnified in their persons and property for so doing.
15. That the fortification erected on Boston neck, the seizing the powder in the magazine at Charlestown, the prohibiting the keeper of the magazine at Boston to deliver the powder, which is private property, and many other instances of the conduct of the army and commander in chief, are justly alarming, and give us the strongest reasons to apprehend hostile inten- tions against the town of Boston in particular, and the province in gen- eral.
16. That if any persons who have distinguished themselves by virtuously contending for the violated rights and liberties of this country, should be seized, in order to be transported to England, or in any way subjected to the tyrannical power of administration now prevailing, we do recommend, that the good people of this county immediately make reprisals, by seiz- ing and keeping in safe custody, every servant of the present tyrannical government, and all such as are known to have favored and abetted their measures, and detain them till our friends are restored safe and uninjured to their respective families.
17. That it is highly proper and necessary for the towns to continue to meet and transact their affairs as usual, and we recommend to the select- men of the several towns in this county, to issue their warrants for calling town meetings, agreeably to the laws of the province and former usages, and to the constables to warn the same, whenever their circumstances re- quire it, and to the people in the county to support each other in the exer- cise of a privilege and a right, by long experience found so beneficial to their interest and happiness.
18. That it is justifiable and proper for the people, at such a time as is this, to prevent any courts sitting and proceeding to business, or any officers
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of any court executing their office, who shall refuse, when requested, to make and sign a full and ample declaration, expressing their abhorrence of the late innovations attempted in our constitution, and that they do not now, nor will at any time hereafter, hold their commissions in any other way than what is prescribed by the charter and well known constitution of this province, and that they will not, in any way, countenance, aid, or support the execution of the late acts of parliament.
19. That the circumstances of the country require, and make it necessa- ry, that we should, until our rights are fully restored, withhold all commer- eial intercourse witlı Great Britain and Ireland, and refrain from the con- sumption of British manufactures and merchandize, especially East India teas, and other goods, subject to sueh additions, alterations, and exceptions only, as the grand Congress of the colonies may agree to.
20. We recommend to the several towns in this county, to make provis- ion for, and to order the payment of their several representatives out of their town treasuries, in order to do justice to them, and at the same time defeat one of the machinations of our enemies.
21. That those justices of the courts of general sessions of the peace and common pleas for this county, who, at the last term, in the name of the whole, addressed his excellency governor Gage, have, therein, wantonly, without reason, and without provocation, aspersed the clergy, the commit- tees of correspondenee, and other good people of this county, and thereby shown that they have no tender feelings for the distresses of their country, and can rejoice at their calamities.
22. That this county should entertain a high sense of gratitude for the benevolent alacrity and readiness, shown by our brethren in the other colo- nies, to aid and support this province under our present distresses, and to come to our relief, whenever the blood-thirsty malice of our enemies shall make it necessary.
23. That Edward Winslow, Jr. one of the two clerks of the court of general sessions of the peace and court of common pleas for this county, las, by refusing this body a copy of an address made at the last term in this coun- ty to Thomas Hutchinson, E'sq., betrayed the trust reposed in him, and by refusing his attendance when requested, treated the body of this county with insult and contempt, and by that means rendered himself unworthy to serve the county in said office.
24. That it be earnestly recommended to the inhabitants of this county, that they carefully avoid all riots, routs, tumults, and disturbanees, under our present distressed circumstances, and that they maintain all that peace and good order that the nature of our present situation will admit.
THOMAS LOTHROP, Clerk.
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BRISTOL CONVENTION.
CONVENTION OF BRISTOL COUNTY.
AT a meeting of the gentlemen, delegates from the following towns in the county of Bristol, viz .: Taunton, Dartmouth, Rehoboth, Freetown, Dighton, Swansey, Norton, Mansfield, Raynham, Berkeley and Easton, held at the court house, in Taunton, on the 28th and 29th days of September, 1774, to consult upon proper measures to be taken at the present alarming crisis of our public affairs :
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