Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-09-19 00:00:00, page 2

In Congress, Saturday Sept. 17, 1774°
r ^ ' H E revolutions entered intoby the delegates
1 from the Several towns and diihids in the
county of Suffolk, in the province of Massachusetts
Bay, on Fuelday the 6th inftant,and their address
to Ids Excellency Governor Gage, dated the 9th
instant, were laid before the Congress and arc as
'follows.
nimoufy voted, viz.
WH EREAS the power but not the justice,
the vengeance but not the wisdom of Great-
Britain, which of old persecuted, scourged and
excited ou r fugitive parents from their native shores,
now pursues us their guiltless children with unre
lenti"g feveiity: Ad whereas, this then savage
and uncultivated depart was purchifed by the toil
and treasure, or acquired by the blood and valor
of thoe our venerable progenitors, to us they be
queathed the dear bought inheritance, to our care
and protection they conformed it, and the most fa
cted obligations are upon us to transmit the glori
ous purchase, unfettered by power, unclogged with
Ihackles, to our innocent and beloved offspring.
On the fortitude, on the wisdom and on the exer
tions of this important day is fu pended the fate
of this new w rid and of unborn millions. If a
I. That whereas his Majesty George the third
is the rightful 'ucceffor to the throne of Great-
Britain, and justly entitl'd to the allegiance of the
British realm, and, agreeable to compact, of the
English colonies in merica,—therefore, we the
heirs and successors of the fiift planters of this co
lony do chearfully acknowledge the said George
the third to be our rightful Sovereign, and that
said covenant is the tenure and claim on which
are founded our allegiance and fubmiflion.
2. That it is an indifpenfible duty which we
owe to Ged, ourcountry, ourselves and posterity,
by all lawful ways and means in our power to
maintain, defend and p r eserve those civil and re
ligious rights and liberties, for which many of our
fathers fought, bled and died, and to hand them
down entire to future generations.
3. That the late acts of the British Parliament
for blocking up theharbour of Boston, for altering
the established form of government in this colony,
and for screening the most flagitious violators of
the laws of the province from a legal trial, are grots
infractions of those rights to which we are justly
entitled by the laws of nature, the British consti
tution, and the charter of the province.
4. That no obedience is due from this province
to either or any part of the acts abovementioned,
but that they be rejected as the attempts of a
wicked administration to enslave America
5. That so long as the Justices of our Superior
Court of Judicature, Court of Assize, &c. and
Interior Court of Common Pleas in this county
are appointed, or hold their places, by any other
tenure than that which the charter and the laws
of the province direft,they niuft be considered as
under undue influence, and are therefore unconsti
tutional officers, and as fuch'no regard ought to be
paid to them by the people of this county.
6. That if the Justices of the Superior Ceurt
of Judicature, Assize, &c. Justices of the Court
of Common Pleas, or of the General Sessions of
the Peace, flrall fit and a& duringtheir prefect dif
qualified state, this county will support and bear
harmless all Sheriffs and their deputies, Consta
bles, Jurors and other officers, whofhall refufe to
carry into execution the orders of said Court; and as
far as poffble to prevent the many inconveniences
which must be occasioned by a suspension of the
Courts of Justice, we do most eamel'tlv recom
mend it to all creditors that they (hew all reafon
aole andt ver generous forbearance to their debtors,
and to all debars, to pay their just debts with all
possible speed, and if any disputes relative to debts
% Ye Printer of the Pennsylvania Packet.
SIR,
Ple fe to insert in your paper, the following, extrafl
from the Minutes of the Congress now fitting at
Philadelphia.
By Order of the Congrefs,-
Charles Thomson, Secretary.
fit a meeting of the Delegates of every town and
dpirift in the county of Suffolk on Tuesday t^e 6th
of September, at the koufe of Mr. Richard Hood
ward of Deadham, and by adjournment at the
benfe of Mr. fife of Milton, on Friday the
ninth infant. Joseph Palmer, Est; being chosen
Moderator, and William Thompson, Ejq; clerk,
a Committee was chosen to bring in a report t@ the
Convention, and the following being Jeveral times
read, and put paragraph by paragraph, was una-
lions wi I tamely submit to live, move and have
their being at the arbitrary will of a licentious
minister, they basely yield to voluntary slavery,
and future generations shall load their memories
with incessant execrations. On the other hand,
if we arrest the hand which would ransack our
pockets; if we disarm the parricide which points
the dagger to our bosoms, if we nobly defeat that
fatal edict which proclaims a power to frame laws
for as in al! cases whatever, thereby entailing the
endless and numbeilefs curses of slavery upon us,
our heirs, and then 1 irs forever; if we fuccefs
fully resist that unparalleled usurpation of uncon
stitutional power, whereby our cap tal is robbed
of the means of life; whereby the streets of Boston
are thronged with military executioners; whereby
our coasts are ' lined and harbours crowded with
flips of war; whereby the charter of the colony,
that fadred barrier against the encroach.ments of
tyranny is mutilated and in effect annihilated ;
whereby a murderous law is framed to shelter vil
lains from the hands ^f justice; whereby that un
alienable and inestimable inheritance which we
derived from nature, the conftitutibn of Britain,
and the privileges warranted to us in the charter
of the province, is totally wrecked, annulled and
vacated, posterity will acknowledge that virtue
which preferred them freg and happy; and while
we enjoy rhe rewards and bleffiogs of the faithful,
the toitent of panegyrics will roll our reputations
to that latest period, when the streams of time shall
be absorbed in the abyss of eternity Therefore
ve have resolved and do resolve,
boundless extent of continent swarming with mil-
magazine at Charleftown, and has also forbidden
the keeper of the magazine at Borton, to deliver
out to the owners the powder which they had lod
ged in said magazine.
10. That the late aeft of Parliament for efta
blifhingthe Roman Catholic religion and the French
laws in that extensive country now called Canada,
is dangerous in an extreme degree to the protestant
religion and to the civil rights and liberties of all
America; and therefore as men and protestant
chriftians, we are indispensably obliged to take all
proper measures for our security.
hr trcfpa^cs (hall tatife which cannot be fettled by
the parties, we recommend it to them to submit
all such causes to arbitration, and it is our opinion
that the contending parties or either of them who
(hall refute lo to do, ought to be considered as co
operating with the enemies of this country.
7. That it be recommended to the Collectors
of taxes, Constables and all other officers who
have public monies in their hands to retain the
fame, and not to make any payment thereof to the
provincial county treasurer until the civil go
vernment of the province is placed upon a consti
tutional foundation, or until it (hall otherwile be
ordered by rhe proposed provincial Congress.
8. That the perlons who have accepted feats
at the Council Board, by virtue of a mandamus
from the King, in conformity to the late aft of the
British Parliament, entitled an ad for the regula-
be and hereby are appointed a Committee to con
fider ofthe best ways and means to promote and
establish the fame, and to report to this convention
as soon as may be.
16. That the exigencies of cur public affairs
demand that a provincial Congress be called to con
cert such measures as may be adopted, an 1 vigor
ously executed by the whole people; and we do
recommend it to the several towns in this county,
to chufe members for such a provincial Congress,
to be holden at Concord on the second Tuesday
of October next ensuing.
17. That this county confiding in the wisdom
and integrity of the continental Congress, now fit
ting at Philadelphia, pay all due refpe& and sub
mission to such measures as may be recommended
consumption of British merchandize and manufac
tures, and especially of East India Teas and piece
goods, with such additions, alterations and ex
ceptions only, as the Grand Congress of the colonies
may agree to.
15. That under our present circumstances it is
incumbent on us to encourage arts and manufac
tures among us by all means in our power, and
that
by them to the colonies, for the restoration and
establishment of our just rights, civil and religious,
and for renewing that harmony and union between
|Great-Britain and the colonics so earnestly wished
tor by all good men.
18. That whereas the univerfil uneasiness which
prevails among all orders of men, arising from the
wicked and oppressive meafnres of the present ad
ministration, may influence feme unthinking per
foos to commit outrage upon private property;
we would heartily recommend to all persons ofthis
community not to engage in any routs, tiots or li
centious attacks upon the properties of any person
whatsoever, as being subversive of all order and
ting the government of the Massachusetts-Bay,
have aded in direct violation of the duty they owe
to their country, and have thereby given great and
just offence to this people, therefore resolved, that
this county do recommend it to all persons who
have so highly offended, by accepting said depart
ments, and have not already publicly resigned their
feats at the Council Board, to make public ?efig
nations of their places at laid Board, on or before
the 20th day of this instant, September; and that
all persons fefufing so to do, (hall from and after
said day, be considered by this county as obstinate
and incorrigible enemies to this country.
9. That the fortifications begun and now car
rying on upon Boston Neck, are justly alarming to
this county, and give us reason to apprehend some
hostile intention againftthat town, more especially
as the Commander in Chief has in a very extra
ordinary manner removed the powder from the
apprehension that they are unacquainted with mi
litary discipline. we therefore for the honor, de
fence and security of this county and province ad
vise, as it has been recommended to take away ail
corumiffions from the officers of the militia, that
those who now hold commifiions, or such other
persons be elected in each town as officers in the
militia, as shall be judged of fufficient capacity for
that purpose, and who have evidenced themselves
the inflexible friends to the rights of the people;
and that the inhabitants of those towns and diftrids
who are qualified do use their utmost diligence to
acquaint themselves with the art of war as soon
as possible, and do for that purpose appear under
arms at least once every week.
12. 1 hat during the present hostile appearances
on the part of Great-Britain, notwithstanding the
many insults and oppressions which we most sen
sibly relent, yet, nevertheless, from our affection
to his Majesty, which we have at all times evi
denced, we are determined to a& merely upon the
defenfive,fo long as such conduct may be vindicated
by reason and the principles of felf preservation,
but no longer.
13. Ihvtas we understand it has been in con
templation to apprehend sundry persons of this
county, who have rendered themselves conspicu
ous in contending for the violated rights and li
berties of their countrymen, we do recommend,
should such an audacious measure be put in prac
tice, to seize and keep in fafe custody, every ser
vant of the ptyfent tyrannical and unconstitutional
government throughout the county and province,
until the perfins so apprehended be liberated from
the bands of our adversaries, a id restored fafe and
uninjured to their reflective friends and families.
14. That until our rights are fully restored to
us, we will to the utmost of our power, and re
commend the fame to the other counties, withhold
all commercial intercourse with Great-Britain,
Ireland and the Weft Indies, and abftaim from the
11. That whereas our enemies have flattered
themselves that they shall make an easy prey of
this numerous, brave and hardy people, from an
At a meeting of Delegates from thefeveral towns and
diftrifis in the county of Suffolk, held at Milton
on Friday the 9th day of September, 1774.
VOTE D,
THAT Dr. Joseph Warren, Boston,
Dr. Benjamin Church, ditto,
Deaeon Joseph Palmer, Germantown,
Capt. Lemuel Robiofon, Dorchester,
Capt. William Heath, Roxbury,
Col. Ebenezer Thayer, Braintree,
William Holden, Esq ; Dorchester,
Col. William Taylor, Milton,
Capt. John Homans, Dorchester,
Isaac Gardiner, Esq; Brooklyn,
Mr. Richard Woodward, Dedham,
Capt. Benjamin White, Brooklyn,
Dr. Samuel Gardiner, Milton,
Nathaniel Summer, Esq; Dedham,
Capt. Thomas Afpinwall, Brooklyn,
Be a committee to wait on his Excellency the Go
vernor, to inform him that this county are alarmed
at the fortifications making on Borton Neck, and to
remonstrate against the fame, and the repeated in
sults offered by the soldiery to persons puffing and
- repaffing into that town, and to confer with him
upon those fubje&s. attest
William Thompson, Clerk.
To his Excellency THOMAS GAGE, Est;
Captain General and Commander in Chief of his
Majeftfs province of Mafochufetts-Bay.
May it pleaje your Excellency,
THE county of Suffolk being greatly, and
in their opinion justly alarmed, at the formi
dable appearances of hostility now threatning his
Majesty's good fubjeds of this county, and more
particularly of the town of Borton the loyal and
faithful capital of this province; beg leave to ad
dress your Excellency, and represent that the ap
prehensions of the people are more especially in
creased by the dangerous design now carrying into
execution, of repairing and manning the fortificati
on at the south entrance of the town of Boston,
which when compleated may at any time be im
proved to aggravate the miseries of that already im
poverished and distressed city, by intercepting the
wonted and necessary intercourse between the town
and country, and compel the wre ched inhabitants
to the most ignominious date of humiliation and
vaTalage, by depriving them of the necessary fop
plies of provisions for which they are chiefly de
pendant on that communication: we have been in
formed that your Excellency in confequenceof the
application of the Seled Men of Boston, has in
deed disavowed any intention to injure the town in
your present manoeuvres, and expressed your pur
pose to be for the security of the troops and his
Majesty's fubjeds in the town; we are at a loss to
guess, may it please your Excellency, from whence
your want of confidence in the loyal and orderly
people of this county could originate; a measure so
formidable carried into execution from a^re-con
ceived though causeless jealousy oftheinfecurity of
his Majesty's troops and fubjetls in the town, deeply
wounds the loyalty, and is an additional injury to
the faithful fubje&s of this county, and affords
them a strong motive for this application: we
therefore intreat your Excellency to desist from
your design, assuring your Excellency that the
people of this county are by no means disposed
to injure his Majesty's troops ; they think them
selves aggrieved and oppressed by the late ads of
Parliament, and are resolved by divine assistance,
never to submit to them, but have no inclination to
commence a war with his Majesty's troops, and beg
leave to observe to your Excellency, that the fer
ment now excited in the minds of the people is oc
casioned by some late transactions, by seizing the
powder in the arsenal at Charleftown, by withold
ing the powder lodged in the magazine of the town
of Boston from the legal proprietors, insulting,
beating, and abusing passengers to and from the
town by the soldiery, in which they have been
encouraged by some of their officers, putting the
people in fear, and menacing them in their nightly
patrole into the neighbouring town, and more par
ticularly by the fortifying the sole avenue by laud
to the town of Boston.
government; bot by a steady, manly, uniform and
perlevering opposition to convince our enemies that
in a contest so important, in a cause so folemn,our
conduct shall be such as to merit the approbation of
the wife, and the admiration of the brave and free
of every age and of every country.
19. That should our enemies by any hidden ma
noeuvres, render it necessary to ask the aid and as
sistance of our brethren in the country, some one
of the Committee of Correspondence, or a feled
man of such town or the town adjoining, where
such hostilities shall commence, or ffiall be expos
ed to commence, shall dispatch couriers with writ
ten messages to the fele& men or Committees of
Correspondence of the several towns in the vicini
ty with a written account of such matter, who shall
dispatch others to Committees more remote, until
proper and fufficient assistance be obtained; and
that the expence of said couriers be defrayed by
the county, until it shall be otherwise ordered by
the provincial Congress.
In duty, therefore, to his Majesty and to your
Excellency, and for the restoration of order and
security to this county, we the delegates from the
several towns in this county, being commissioned
for this purpole, beg your Excellency's attention
to this our humble and faithful address, assuring
you that nothing less than an immediate removal
of the ordnance and restoring the entrance into
that town to its former state, and an effectual flop
of all insults and abuses in future, can place the in
habitants of this county in that state of peace and
tranquility in which every free fubjeft ought to
live.
His Excellency was waited on to know if he
would receive the committee with the above-writ
ten address, but desiring he might have a copy of
it in a private way, that so when he received it from
the committee hemight have an answer prepared
for them, he was accordingly furnifhed with a co
py. His Excellency then declared that he would
receive the committee on Monday at 12 o'clock.
Saturday, Seftt. 10, 1774.
The Congress taking the foregoing into con
duration,
Refo ved unanimoufy,
THAT this assembly deeply feels the fuffering
of their countrymen in the Massachusetts-Bay un
der the operation of the late unjust, cruel, and op
pressive ads of the British Parliament—that they
most thoroughly approve the wisdom and fortitude
with which oppolition to these wicked ministerial
measures has hitherto been concluded, and they
earnestly recommend to their brethren a perseve
rance in the fame firm and temperate conduct as
expressed in the resolutions determined upon at a
meeting of the delegates for t'he county of Suffolk,
on Tuesday the 6th inst. trusting that the effe^cf
the united efforts of North America in their be
half, will carry such conviction to the Britiffi nati
on of the unwise, uojuft, and ruinous policy of the
prelent administration, as quickly to introduce bet
ter men and wiser measures.
Resolved unanimously,
That contributions from all 'he colonies for fun
plying the necessities and alleviating the distresses
of our brethren at Boston ought to be continued,
in such manner and so long as their occasions may
require.
<>-*%&,*.,*<M¥^^
B OST O N, Sept. 8.
At a meeting of the following gentlemen, being
Committees from every town and diftrid in the
county of Middlesex, and province of Mafachu
fetts-Bay, held at Concord, in said county, on
the 30th and 31st days of August, 1774, to
consult upon measures proper to be taken at the
present very important day, viz.
Capt. Thomas Gardner, Capt. Sam. Whitt anore,
Mr. Abraham Watson, Mr. Samuel Thatcher, Capt.
E/ipha et Robbins, Capt. Ephraim Fros, Mr. )',-
feph Wellington, Mr. Nath. Sparhawk, Capt. Isaac
Foster, Mr. Peter Edes, Mr. Widiam Wyer, Da
vid Cheever, Esq, Mr. Richard Deavens,Sir. ?ohn
Frothingham, Mr. John Codman, Dr. faac Fofer,
Mr. Samuel White, Mr. fofah Capen, Mr. David
Benmus, Mr. David hanger, Mr. Elijah Bond,
Mr. Ephraim Wood, Jun. Mr. John Flint, Mr.
Nathan Merriam, Mr. ITilliam C ark, Mr. fofbua
Hammond, Capt. Jonas Stone, Mr. Edward Du
rint, Capt. Samuel Wyman, Mr. Robert Doug if,
Dr. Samite 1 Budget, Mr. Loammi Baldwin, Capt.
Ezekiel How, Mr. John Maynard, Mr. Phineas
Gleason, Mr. Sarfan Belcher, Mr. Thomas Plymp
ton, Mr. Hezekiah Maynard, Dr. Samuel Curtis,
Mr Adefhus IVood, Mr. Edward Barnes, Mr.
William Boyd, Mr. Ebenezer Bridge, Jun. Mr.
lofoua Abbot, Capt. Ralph Hi l, Mr. William
Thompson, Dr. Timothy Danforth, Capt. Jofab
Bowers, Mr. Solomon Pollard, Capt. Thad. Bow
man, Mr. Jonas Stone, Mr. Joseph Lorina, Mr.
Benjamin Brown, Joseph Haven, Esq; Capt. Jo-
Jiah Stone, Mr. IVilli mi Brown, Mr. David Ha
ven, Mr. Ebenezer MarJhall, Mr.' Jon. Williams
Aujlin, Mr. Simeon Spalding, Mr. Samuel Stevens,
Jun. Mr. Benjamin Walker, Capt. Francis Harris,
Mr. 4fa Ho den, Mr. Obadiah Spartwell, Mr.'
Benjamin Brown, Mr. Jonathan Flint, Mr. jo
feph Parker, Capt. John Dexter, Capt. Ebenezer
Harnden, Mr. Thomas Hill, Mr. Samuel Sprague
Mr. James Kettell, Mr. Benjamin %arce, Mr.
Thomas Rand, Mr, Jofah Smith, Mr. Jo&a Sv
monds, Mr. Eben. Brooks, Jun. Capt. Jo/iah Hart
we I, Mr. Oliver Hoar, Mr. Daniel Rogers, Jun.
Mr. Samuel Park, Capt. Thomas Mellen, Capt.
Roger Dench, Mr. acob Gibbs, Capt. 'onathan
Minot, Mr. John Abbot, Dr. Afaph Fletcher, Mr.
Nathaniel Boynton, Mr. Zaccheus Wright, Capt.
Richard danger, Mr. Benjamin Faffet, Mr. Samu
el Bullard, Capt. William Coolidge, Mr. Jonathan
Hammond, Mr. Samuel Harrington, Mr Jacob
Bigelow, Capt. Abijah Brown, Mr. Jonathan Stow,
Capt. Daniel Taylor, Mr. James Hofo, Mr. James
Locke, Henry Gardner, Est; Mr. John Marble,
Dr. Charles Whitman, Capt. Phineas Taylor, Mr.
Jofah Bryant, Mr. James Hay,Mr. Edward Buck
man, fames Prescott, Esq; Oliver Frefcott, Esq;
Capt. oJiah Sartwe l, Capt Benjamin daquith,
Mr. Timothy Walker, Mr. Edward Kendell, Mr.
William Boden, Mr. Thomas Upham, Mr. Abel
Perry, Mr. Hezekiah Broad, Mr. Peter Colburn,
Mr. Ephraim Colburn, Mr. Stephen Davis, 7^
Read, Esq; Mr. Joseph Hartw 11, Mr. John Moore,
Capt. John Webber, Mr. Daniel Mellen,Mr
Phipps, Mr. Jfhua Hemenway,Mr. Francis Fulk
""' "';.?"" Hu^d, Mr. Fphraim Hampgood,
Capt. William Prescott, Mr. Henry W^ds,"Mr.
William Green, Mr. Nel emiah Hobart, Mr ChaCes
Bithrel, Capt. Edmond Bancroft, Mr. Jofak Fife,
Mr. Samuel Farrar, Capt. Abijah Pierce, (am
Eleazer Brooks, Capt. Joseph Butterfeld. Mr. fa
feph Danforth, Mr. Lemuel Perham^Mr. Jonathan
Brown, Mr. Caron Beard, Mr. David Bayley, Mr.
Ebenezer Stone, Mr. Jonathan Locke.
The honourable JAMES PRESCOT, Esq-
Chosen Chairman.
After having read the late as f of the British Par
liament, entitled “ an act for the better regulating
the government of the province of Massachu
setts-Bay tn New-England," and debated there
on;
Noted, That a Committee be appointed to take
into consideration the said a^, and report to this
meeting.
I Aed, That Mr. Jonathan-Williams Aufin of
Chelmsford, Captain Thomas Gardner of Cambridge,
Do&or Ifoac Fofer of Char le/lown, Capt. ffoh
Stone of fiamingham, Mr. Richard Deaths of
CharFfown, Doctor Oliver Prefect of Groton. Hen
ry Gardner, Esq; of Mow, Mr. William Brown
° f f r f% ba % and Mr. Eliezer Bridge, fun,
of Billerica, be the Committee.
Who reported as follows,
is evidant to every attentive mind, that this
I province is in a very dangerous and alarming
htuation. Weare obliged to fay, however pain
ful it, may be to us, that the nuelHon now is, whe
ther by a lubmilkm to some late acts of the Par.
liament of Great Britain, we are contented to be
the mod abject slaves, and entail that (Every on
posterity after us. or by a manly, joint and virtu
ous opposition ;Trt arid bi^ott m Weed
There is a mode of conduct which in our 'very
critical circimfi^ccs, we would %@ to aq%t,a