The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-25

I td.
present from New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
| Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jor-
sey, fennsylvania Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
| North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
| Let TINS day be ever remembered! II assem-
bled from the several colonies those great men
| whose names have come down to us and will de-
scend To all posterity. Their proceedings are re-
| markable for simplicity, dignity, and uneauaed
| abllliy. Al that day. probably, there could have
been convened on no part of this globe equal
| number of men possessing greater talents and
ability, or animated by higher and more patriotic
| motive. They were men full OF the spirit of the
| occasion, imbued deeply with the general sent
mcnt of the country, Of large comprehension, of
long oresi ght, and of few words. They made no
speeches Tor ostenaon, they sat with closed doors,
| ana their great maxim was, 'Jairte dire" 1t
| 10 true, they only wrote; but the issuing Of such
| writings, ON such authority, and at such a crisis,
was action--hish, decisive, national action They
knew the history OF the past, they alive to all
the difficulties and all the duties of the present and
they acted from the first if the future were all
open before them. Peyton Randolph was unani-
mously chosen President, Charles Thompson WAC
appointed Secretary In such constellation il
would be invidious to point the bright particu-
lar stars Let me only say, what none can
cider injustice to others, that George Washingt
was Of the number
! The proceedings of the assembly were introduced
| by religious observances, and devout supplications
to the Throne of Grace for the inspiration of wis-
| dom and the spirit OF good counsels.
/ On the second day of the session it was ordered
| that committee should be appointed to state the
rights OF the colonies, the instances in which those
rights had been violated, aud the means proper to
| be pursued for their restoration; and another com
| mittee to examine and report upon the several
| statutes OF the English Parliament which had been
passed affecting the trade and manufactures OF the
colonies. Itse members of these committees were
chosen on the following day Immediately after
| wards Congress took up, the foundation of their
proceedings, certain resolutions adopted, Just be-
fore the time of their assembling, by delegates from
towns in the county of Suffolk, and especially the
| town of Boston.
Boeton, the early victim of the inction Of wrong
| by the mother country, the early champion Of
American liberty; Boston, though, in this vast
country, she may be now surpassed by other cities
in numbers, in commerce, and wealth, yet she can
not be surpassed in the renown of her early revo-
lutionary history. She will stand acknowledged
while the world doth stand, as the origin and or
nament, promoter and defender of the rights of
the colonies. The English crown frowned upon
her with severity and indignation it only made
her stand more erect, and put on face OF greater
bodness and defiance. Tho Parliament poured
upon her all its Indignation. 1t only held her up
with greater illumination, and drew towards her
the greater attachmentand vcneraton of the coun-
Try. Boston as che was in heart, in principle and
!etllng IN MA, may she remain till her three
hills shall sink into the and be no more re mem
bered among men.
Gentlemen, these early proceedings Of the citi-
zens OF Boston, and other bitants of the county
Oh SUFFOLK deserve to be written where all posterity
may read them They were carried to the repre-
sentative OF royalty by the first dsting uished
martyr IN the cause of liberty, Joseph Warren.
How ut that he who not long after wards to fall
in the defence of the liberty Of his country and to
seal his love of that country with his blood full of
It's spirit and its principles should be the bearer of
It's renonstrances TO the representative of the
throne OF England. No encomium no eulogy upon
the State of which have the honor to be n citizen
can exceed that which ia expressed in the unan-
imous resolution Of the first American Congress of
the Sth OF October, l774, in these words:
RssoIred, "That this Congress approve the op
position OF the Massachusetts Bay to the execution
OF the late acts Of Parliament and if the same shall
be attempted to be carried into execution by force
In such case all America ought to support them in
their opposition"
This first Congress sat from the fifth day of Sep
tember until the twenty sixth of October, and it
then dissolved Its whole proceedings are en-
Drhccd IN iorty-nlne pages; but these few pages
contain the substance and the original form and
pressure of our American liberty Its principal
papers are an address to the people of Great Br.
tain, written by John Jay; memorial to the inha.
blthnts OF the British colonies, written by William
Livingston; an address to the king, written by
John Adams, corrected by John Dickinson T; and
an address to the inhabitants of Quebec written by
John Dickinson
Gentlemen, | will not believe that the ancient
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, can ever depart
from her true character. | think il impossible
hut should she be left to forsctfuness of herself
and all that belongs 10 her--should she temporar.
ly or permanently stray away from the paths of
her ancient patriotism should she, which Heaven
avert, be willing 10 throw of her original and all
sence Of the world, ofall her nationality of character
there are others who would eagerly seize that man
tie, and who would chow themselves capable Of
wearing II with grace, dignity, and power. need
not say here where those others are to be found.
| am IN the city in which Washington fret took
upon himself the administration of the Govern
ment. am near the spot on which all hearts and
| all hopes were concentrated in 1889 | bring the
whole scene, with all its deep interests before me
see the crowds that fill and throng the strects:
see the ten thousand iaCes. anxious 10 look on hun
| to whose wisdom, prudence, and patriotism the
destnies of the country arc committed 4 see the
august form, behold the serene face of Washing.
ton observe his revorcut manner, when be rises
IN the presence of a countless multitude and look.
| ing up with religious awe 90 Heaven, solcmnly
| sweara before that multitudlnous assembly, aud
before Him that stitch on the circle Of the hcpycr
that he will support the Constitution Of his loun.
| try-sO help him God
| And hear the shouts and acclamatinns that 6li
the air. see outpouring of Joy and hope zee
men clasping each othcr's hands and hear them
| cNclaim, 4" We have ut last n country; We have
Union, and IN that Union IL strength We have a
Government able to keep ne together, and We have
Chief Magistrate, an object OF confidence attach
inent, and love 90 us all j"
Citizens Of New York, men Of this geuoration
Is there any thing which warns your heart more
than these recolloctionfy Or can you contemplate
the unparalleled growth Of your city in Formulation
and nil human blessings, without feeling that the
spot hallowed and tho hour consecratcd whore aud
when your career OF prosperity and happiness
But, gentlemen, my heart would sink within
| me, and voice and speech would depart from me
| II we're compelled TO believe that your fidelity 20
the Constitution Of the country, signal and unques
toned az II is, could ever exceed that Of the State
whose soil wac moistencd by the blood Of the first
martyrs in the cause of liberty and whose history
has been characterized from the beginning by
their Jealous and uniform support OF the principles
| Of Washington.
| There is ono resolution Of the Old Congress
| adopted on the fourteenth OF March, I776, which
has never received much attention as il deserves
| IL is in these words:
| els CosGREss, March 18th, l776.
| "RssOlued That II be recommended 20 the scvc.
| raj Assemblies. Conventions, Councils, or Commit
tees Of Safety, Immediately 20 cause all persons to
| be disarned within their respective Colonies who
are VIGOROUSLY disahectcd 20 the cause of America
or who have not associated and refuse TO associate
to defend by arms tho United Colonies ngninst Inc
hostile attempts Of the British Fleets and Arrnics
| Extract from the minutes.
| CHARLES THOMPSON Secretary"
| Several Of the Governors Of the States, Convcn-
tions, Councils, or Committees. Of Safety took i'm
mediate measures for carrying this resolution into
effect. The proceedings, in consequence Of il, have
been prcserved, however, only in few States. The
fullest returns which can be found, arc believed TO
be from New Hampshire and New York The
form wasa recital Of the resolution OF Congress and
then the promsc pledge, in tho following words: