Congress next proceeded to publish a declaration of rights, to which they declare" that the English colonies of America are entitled, by the immutable laws of nature, the principles of the English constitution, and their several charters, or compacts; that as their ancestors were entitled to all the rights, liberties, and immunities of free born Englishmen, at the time they emigrated to America; and that, they having never lost any of those rights, their descendants were now entitled to all those rights, as far as the nature of things could possibly admit," &c.

They next résolved "that the respective colonies are entitled to the common law of England; but more espe cially to the right of trial by jury, and that by peers of the vicinage. The right of petitioning the king in quiet and peaceable assemblies, for a redress of all grievances," &c. They next resolved to enter into a non-importation, a non-consumption, and a non-exportation agreement; to prepare an address to the people of Great Britain; a memorial to the inhabitants of British America, and a loyal address to the king.

1

Congress next proceeded to bind themselves, together with their constituents, in fourteen articles; the second of which expressly enforces a prohibition of the slave trade, after the 1st of December next, and a strict non-intercourse with all such as shall in any way infringe this second article, and that they will neither buy of, sell to, nor associate with any such person. By the third article, they wholly exclude the use of tea from that day; and after the first of March next, not only all teas, but all such goods, as are included in their non-importation agreements. By the fourth article, they suspend the non-importation agreement to September 1775, then to be, and continue in force, if the acts objected to are not repealed. And by the fifth, they declare they will never more have any commercial intercourse with any British mer

chants, who may ship goods in violation of, and with a view to the breaking the association. By the eighth, they recommend industry, economy, frugality, with a strict attention to agriculture, and manufactures; with sobriety of manners, and deportment. And by the fourteenth, they declare against all intercourse with any, and all those colonies, who will not accede to, or shall hereafter violate this association; and that this association be in force until all the obnoxious acts, or parts of acts, relating to these colonies, shall be repealed.-Signed by all the members, October 24, 1774.

Although the proceedings above alluded to, were truly interesting, and valuable documents, and deserving of perpetual remembrance, yet the limits of this work will not permit me to insert them at large.

Congress next resolved that an address be prepared and forwarded to the inhabitants of Great Britain; and the fol lowing address was prepared and forwarded accordingly, by a committee specially appointed, consisting of Messrs. Lee, Livingston, and Jay.

"When a nation, led to greatness by the hand of liberty, and possessed of all the glory, that heroism, munificence, and humanity can bestow, descends to the ungrateful task of forging chains for her friends and children, and, instead of giving support to freedom, turns advocate for slavery, and oppression, there is reason to suspect she has either ceased to be virtuous, or been extremely negligent in the appointment of her rulers.

"In almost every age, in repeated conflicts, in long and bloody wars; as well civil as foreign, against many and powerful nations, against the open assaults of ene mies, and the most dangerous treachery of friends, have the inhabitants of your island, your great and glorious ancestors, maintained their independence, and transmit

ted the rights of men, and the blessings of liberty to you their posterity.

"Be not surprised therefore that we, who are descended from the same common ancestors ; that we, whose forefathers participated in all the rights, the liberties, and the constitution you so justly boast of, and who have carefully conveyed the same fair inheritance to us, guaranteed by the plighted faith of government, and the most solemn compacts with British sovereigns, should refuse to surrender them to men; who found their claims on no principles of reason, and who prosecute them with a design, that by having our lives and property in their power, they may with the greater facility enslave you.

66

Why then are the proprietors of the soil of America, less lords of their property than you are of yours; or why should they submit it to the disposal of your Parliament, or any other Parliament, or council in the world, not of their election? Can the intervention of the sea that divides us, cause disparity in rights; or can any reason be given why English subjects, who live three thousand miles from the royal palace, should enjoy less liberty than those who are only three hundred miles distant from it?

"Reason looks with indignation on such distinctions, and freemen can never perceive their propriety.

"At the conclusion of the late war-a war rendered' glorious by the abilities and entegrity of a minister, to whose efforts the British empire owes its safety, and its fame; at the conclusion of this war, which was succeeded by an inglorious peace, formed under the auspices of a minister, of principles, and of family unfriendly to the Protestant cause, and inimical to liberty; we say at this. period, and under the influence of that man, a plan for enslaving your fellow subjects in America, was concerted, and has ever since been pertinaciously carried into ex-' ecution."

Here follows a statement of the former relative situation of the two countries, and the mutual attachment, as well as common interest of the empire, &c.

"This being a true state of facts, let us beseech you to consider to what they lead.

"Admit that the ministry, by the powers of Britain, and the aid of our Roman Catholic neighbours, should be able to carry the point of taxation, and reduce us to a state of perfect humiliation, and slavery; such an enterprise would doubtless make some addition to your national debt, which already presses down your liberties, and fills you with pensioners, and placemen. We presume also, that your commerce will be somewhat diminished. However, suppose you should be victorious-in what condition will you then be? What advantages, or what laurels will you reap from such a conquest? May not a ministry with such an army enslave you? &c.

"We believe there is yet much virtue, much justice, and much public spirit in the English nation. To that justice we now appeal. You have been told that we are seditious, impatient of government, and desirous of independency. Be assured that these are not facts, but calumnies. Permit us to be as free as yourselves, and we shall ever esteem a union with you, to be 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 interest as our own.

66 But if you are determined that your ministers shall wantonly sport with mankind; if neither the voice of justice, the dictates of the law, the principles of the constitution, nor the suggestions of humanity can restrain your hands from shedding human blood, in such an impious cause, we must then tell you, that we will never snbmit to be hewers

of wood or drawers of water for any ministry or nation in the world.

"Place us in the same situation that we were at the close of the last war, and our former harmony will be restored."

Congress next resolved that a petition be prepared and presented to the king, and Messrs. Lee, John Adams, Johnston, Henry, and Rutledge, were appointed as a committee to draft and forward the same, which was accordingly done as follows. After stating the grievances of the colonies briefly and impressively, the petition proceeds

"Had our Creator been pleased to give us existence in a land of slavery, the sense of our condition might have been mitigated by ignorance and habit; but thanks be to his adorable goodness, we were born the heirs of freedom, and ever enjoyed our rights under the auspices of your royal ancestors, whose family was seated on the British throne, to rescue and secure a pious and gallant nation from the Popery and superstition of an inexorable tyrant.

"Your majesty, we are confident, justly rejoices, that your title to your crown is thus founded upon the title of your people to liberty; and therefore we doubt not but your royal wisdom must approve the sensibility that teaches your subjects anxiously to guard the blessing they have received from Divine Providence, and thereby to prove the performance of that compact, which elevated the illus trious house of Brunswick to the imperial dignity it now possesses.

"The apprehensions of being degraded into a state of servitude, from the pre-eminent rank of English freemen, while our minds retain the strongest love of liberty, and clearly foresee the miseries preparing for us and our posterity, excites emotions in our breasts, which though we VOL. III.

11