Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-03-04

population, and all human blessings,
without feeling that the spot is hallowed
and the hour consecratcd, where and
when your career oi prosperity and hap
pincss began2
But, gentlemen, my heart would sink
within me, and voice and speech would
depart from me, il were compelled TO
believe, that your fidelity to the con-
slitution Of the country, signal and IN
questioned ms il ~, could ever exceed
that Of the state whose soil was mos-
tened by the blood Of the f. martyrs
in the cause Of liberty. and whose histo
ry has been characterized from the be-
ginning by their Jealous and uniform
support Of The principles oil WASHING
Tos.
This first Congress sat from the fifth
day OF September, until the tweniy.sixth
Of October, and il then dissolved. Its
whole proceedings are embraced in forty
nine pages, but these few pages contain
The substance and the original form and
pressure ofour American liberty. Its
principal papers are: an address to the
people of Great Britain, written by John
Jay; a memorial to the inhabitants OF
the British colonies, written by William
Livingston; an address TO the King,
written by John Adams, corrected by
Inhabitants Of Quebec, written Ly John
Dickinson
There is one resolution OF the Old
Congress. adopted on the fourteenth Of
March 1916 which has never received
so much attention as it deserves.
Ii is in these words:-
"In Congress, March l4th, l776.
Resolved, That il be recommended to the sever
al assemblies, conventions. councils, or commit
tees of safety, mmed edia,.y to cause all persons to
be dissrmcd within their respective colonies, Who
are notoriously disa1ected to the cause Of Ameri-
ca, who have act associated and refuse to asso-
ciate TO defend by arms the United Colonie.
against the hostile attempts Of the British asets
anil armies. p"
Extrsc, from the minutes.
CHARLES THoMPsoH, Secretary.
Several OF the Governors Of the states,
conventions, councils, or committees OF
safety, took immediate measures Tor
carrying this resolution into effect. The
proceedings. in consequence oft, have
been preserved, however, onl y in few
bkdlCp. bC suu
be found, are believed to be from New
Hampshire and New York. The form
was a recital Of the resolution OF Con-
gress, and then the promise, or pledge,
in the following words:-
I" In consequence Of the above resolu-
ton Of the Continental Congress, and to
show our determination in Joining our
American brethern in defending the
lives, liberties and properties of the in
habitants OF the United Colonies: We,
the subscribers, do hereby soIemnly en-
gage and promise that We will, to the
utmost Of our power, AT the ris< Of our
lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose
the hostile proceedings Of The British
fleets and armies against the United
American Colonies
In the mountainous state Of New
Hampshire, and among the highest Of
Us moun,acs, tlcn containing only a
lew scatter, settlements, was the iowii.
ship OF Salisbury. The Merrimac river,
now SO pleasant in scenery and with SO
much richness and industry on its banks,
was then roaring and ioaming stream
seeking its way, amid immense forests
on either side IRON the " hi!e Mountains
10 the sea.-The settlers were collected
and the promise or pledge proposed by
the Continental Congress, OF lite and
fortune presented to them. "All, as
the record says, freely singned. except
two"
In looking to this record, thus connec-
ted with the men Of my own birln-l lace,
| confess was graiitied 10 find, who
were the signers, and who were the dis
sentients. Among the TO mer was he
from whom am Immediately descended,
with all his brothers, and his whole kith
and kin. This is sufficient cmblaZonry
for my arms. enough Of Leraldry for
met
In one of the townships of New York,
We find long list Of those who are
called true Wings, and then comes what
is called the list Of Tories, and Oh that
list there was one name.
Are there young men before me who
wish TO learn and to in itate the spirit of
their ancestors, who wish to live md
breathe in that spirit, who desire that
every pulsaton OF their hearts, and
every aspiration Of their ambition shall
be American and moth ng but Ameri-
cant Let them master the contents Of
the immortal papers Of the first Con-
vress. and fully imbue themselves with
,b.;r sen,;m.,t,
r, . ,.L,L, r.
A"o s'o"' ho'" C"'""''' 'Po"S VI
this assembly IN terms which nave
caused my heart to thrill, and my eyes
10 be moistcned whenever | reroilect
,b.m from nv first reading oc them IN
,h;s ,.san, 49,
Wis P'''e"' 'ou''
sThe authorship of these papers is given on the