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of open explicit acts, on the seventh of June, three resolutions were presented to Congress for consideration. The first resolved, "that these colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE and INDEPENDENT STATES, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." This resolution was offered by Richard Henry Lee under the recent instructions from Virginia, adopting as her own the very language of her neighbor, North Carolina, and was seconded by Massachusetts. The second resolution declared, "that it is expedient to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign alliances," and the third, "that a plan of confederation be proposed and transmitted to the respecive colonies, for their approval and adoption."

On the two following days, these resolutions were considered. That of independence, several of the colonies not having yet authorized the measure, was postponed until the first of July. "That no time be lost in case Congress agree thereto," a committee was appointed the next day to prepare a declaration of it. The committee were Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert R. Livingston of New York.

Committees were also ordered to prepare a form of confederation, and a plan of treaties.

In the interval of their reports, a "Board of War and Ordnance" was established, composed of a committee of Congress, John Adams, Sherman, Harrison, Wilson, E. Rutledge.*

A resolution, believed to have been suggested at head

* June 13.

quarters, was also adopted. It declared that "all persons abiding within any of the united colonies and deriving protection from its laws, owe allegiance to those laws, and are members of such colony, and also persons passing through it, or sojourning temporarily, and that all such persons levying war against any of the colonies within them, or adhering to the king of Great Britain or other enemies of it, or any of them, within it, giving him or them aid or comfort, "guilty of TREASON." The legislatures of the several States were recommended to pass laws for punishing such treasons, and also persons counterfeiting or passing counterfeit continental bills of credit.

Three days after, on the twenty-eighth of June, a draught of a declaration of independence was read and laid on the table.

On the first of July, all the colonies, excepting New York, having now authorized the measure, the resolution of independence was considered in committee, reported to the House, and passed the next day, when the Declaration of Independence was considered. It was approved on the fourth by eleven States, the assent of New York being deferred for want of power in its delegates until the fifteenth, when they, being duly empowered, also gave its sanction.

Being signed by all the members of Congress with two exceptions, it was duly authenicated.

*

This national manifesto was hailed with exultation throughout the United States. Washington ordered it to be published at the head of every division of the troops. In New England that office was performed by the clergy,

* January, 1777. Thomas McKean subsequently added his signature. John Dickinson withheld his signature. The resolution of the N. York convention of 9th of July, was reported by John Jay, and unanimously approved.

who, on the previous Sunday, had read it to their people from their desks.

Rejoicings were heard in every city, town and hamlet, and the great Presbyterian seat of learning resorted to by the youth of North America, Nassau Hall, known as Princeton College, was illuminated.

The New York convention ordered it to be published with beat of drum. The patriots of that city exhibited their zeal by mutilating the equestrian statue of the king, and laying its fragments in the dust, soon to be converted into bullets.

Such was the general feeling, but there were many, some from unworthy, others from noble motives, unwilling to abandon their allegiance, and anxious to see restored of the crown.

the power

CHAPTER V.

ENGLAND as yet had made no advance towards her object. Canada she held, but she had evacuated Massachusetts, and had failed in her attempt upon Charleston. Her marauding incursions had only exasperated the colonists, confirming their opposition. Finding the resistance more determined than she had been led to expect, her monarch resolved to make an effort commensurate with her great resources. Strengthened by his German auxiliaries, he decided to throw a powerful army into New York, and thus terminate the contest in a single campaign. One body landed on the seaboard, co-operating with another advancing from Canada, would, it was supposed, defy all opposition and dissever the colonies. At the same time an entire suspension of trade was to impoverish, and reduce them to submission. In this view she was complaining to France and Spain of the illicit commerce with her colonial ports.

Relying upon their maritime skill and prowess to force a trade, the only coveted supplies throughout the United States were instruments of war. The only cry was "powder."

Foreseeing that the course of events was leading to an open rupture, Hamilton, during the previous winter, applied himself to the study of arms; and before any steps were taken to organize a regular force, had by great assi

duity, made such progress as books and the instruction of a British bombardier would enable him, in the knowledge of pyrotechnics and gunnery. Thus prepared, he asked the command of the company of artillery ordered to be raised by the convention of New York.

Doubts of his fitness being entertained, he was examined, his friend McDougall being present,* and on the fourteenth of March, seventy-six, was appointed "CAPTAIN of the provincial company of artillery." He "recruited his men, and with the remnant of the second and last rcmittance from his relatives in Santa Cruz having equipped"† them, his company was attached to General Scott's brigade.‡

His first letters to the convention relate to discriminations between the State and Continental troops. These were followed by a communication in August, asking them to fill a vacancy, in which he suggested the policy of advancing officers in succession from the lowest grades. "I would beg the liberty," he wrote, "warmly to recommend to your attention the first sergeant in my company -a man highly deserving of notice and preferment. He has discharged his duty in his present station with uncommon fidelity, assiduity, and expertness; he is a very good disciplinarian, possesses the advantage of having seen a good deal of service in Germany, and has a tolerable share of common sense. In a word, I verily believe he will make an excellent lieutenant, and his advancement will be a great encouragement and benefit to my company in particular, and will be an animating example to all men of merit to whose knowledge it comes."

This suggestion, of which the important principle, not admitted in the routine system of Great Britain, has since Mulligan's Narrative.

* American Archives.

Journal of New York Provincial Congress.

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