by the citizens to the ferry, with colors flying and music playing, amid loud huzzas and assurances, that "they would support, at the risk of every thing dear," such resolutions as the Congress should adopt.

CHAPTER III.

On the appointed day, the fifth of September, the first Continental Congress was organized. Eleven colonies, Georgia not being represented, met as equals, each having The Puritan, Samuel Adams, proposed an episcopal clergyman to open their solemn duties with

one vote.

prayer.

All questions of relative importance, all local prejudices, all differences of religion, customs, manners, were forgotten. Never was the cause of freedom ministered to by men more worthy the great trust. From Virginia, as the eldest colony, the presiding officer was selected in the person of Peyton Randolph, whose black velvet suit marked his precedence.

The Congress first resolved "to state the rights of the colonies in general, the several instances in which those rights were violated or infringed, and the means most proper for a restoration of them." Next, "to examine and report the several statutes which affect the trade and manufactures of the colonies," not earlier than the last nine years.

While these subjects were under consideration, resolutions of Boston and its neighbors were laid before them, stating their wrongs and merely defensive measures to which they would adhere, "as long as such conduct may be vindicated by reason and the principles of self-preser

vation, but no longer." In contemplation of the future, the collectors of their taxes had been instructed not to pay over the public moneys to the provincial treasury, and the election of officers of militia was advised; men "of sufficient capacity for that purpose, who had evidenced themselves inflexible friends to the rights of the people."

Congress unanimously approved and recommended "a perseverance in this firm and temperate conduct," trusting a change in the councils of the British nation. The merchants were urged not to order goods, and to suspend those ordered; and it was resolved, that after the first of next December there should be no importation of British goods, and no consumption of, or traffic in them. A loyal petition to the king was ordered, assuring him that by abolishing the system of laws and regulations of which the colonies complained, enumerating them, the jealousies they had caused would be removed, and harmony restored. "We ask but for peace, liberty and safety. We wish not a diminution of the prerogative, nor do we solicit the grant of any new right in our favor. Your royal authority over us, and our connection with Great Britain, we shall always carefully and zealously endeavor to support and maintain."

General Gage was entreated to discontinue the erection of the fortifications on Boston Neck, and to prevent all injuries on the part of the troops; and Massachusetts was asked "temporarily to submit to a suspension of the administration of justice where it could not be procured in a legal and peaceable manner." Persons accepting office under the recent act, changing the form of her government, were denounced, "as the wicked tools of that despotism which is preparing to destroy those rights which God, nature, and compact have given to America." A memorial was next ordered to the inhabitants of

the British colonies there represented, exposing their common wrongs and urging a united "commercial opposition," warning them to extend their views "to mournful events," to be "in all respects prepared for every contingency, and to implore the favor of Almighty God.” An appeal was made to the enlightened sympathies of the British people. "Permit us to be as free as yourselves, and we shall ever esteem a union with you to be our greatest glory and our greatest happiness; we shall ever be ready to contribute all in our power to the welfare of the empire; we shall consider your enemies as our enemies and your interests as our own." "Place us in the same situation that we were at the close of the last war, and our former harmony will be restored."

Finally, an address was made to the inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, inviting their co-operation.

In the mean time, the form of a non-exportation, nonconsumption association was adopted, and signed by each of the delegates. A desire not to injure their fellow subjects in Great Britain, Ireland or the West Indies, induced them to defer a twelvemonth, as recommended by Virginia, the non-exportation thither of any commodity or merchandise, except rice to Europe. To insure an effectual observance of this covenant, committees of observation for each precinct were recommended, persons violating it to be punished as foes to American liberty. A committee of correspondence for each colony was advised, and intercourse was interdicted with any province not acceding to or violating this agreement, which was to be in force until the specified obnoxious acts were repealed.

A declaration of the rights and injuries of the colonies was made, in which the most difficult question was disposed of.

The right to participate in the legislative council of their common country, was declared to be the foundation of English liberty and of all free government. As the colonists were not represented, and from their local and other circumstances, cannot properly be represented in the British Parliament, they were entitled to a free and exclusive power of taxation in their several provincial legislatures, where their right of representation can alone be preserved in all cases of taxation and internal polity, subject only to the negative of their sovereign. But from the necessity of the case and a regard to the mutual interest of both countries, their cheerful consent was given to the operation of such acts of Parliament as were bona fide restrained to the regulation of their external commerce for the purpose of securing the commercial advantages of the whole empire to the mother country, and the commercial benefits of its respective members, excluding every idea of taxation, internal or external, for raising a revenue on the subjects in America, without their consent.

Of all these proceedings the language was that of peace, except where other language was demanded. For they approved the opposition of the inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay to the execution of the late acts of Parliament, and declared, "If these acts shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force, in such case ALL AMERICA ought to support them in their opposition," and "that seizing or attempting to seize any person in America, in order to transport such person beyond the sea for trial of offences committed within the body of a county in America, being against law, will justify, and ought to meet with, resistance and reprisal."

These were the essential resolutions. They bound the colonies to a common resistance to acts of force against all, or any one of them.