The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-10
HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES.
Origin Of the American Congress.

The Legislature Of Virginia being in session
when the news Of the Boston port bill arrived
l774-appointed the lst day of June, the day on
which the port of Boston was to be closed, as a
day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. The day
was thus observed throughout the colonies, aud
sermons were preached adapted 90 the OCCASION
The Governor Of Virginia, dispeascd with this
measure, dissolved the Assembly
The members, however before they separated
recommended 10 their committee Of correspond
ence to communicate with the several committees
Of the other colonies on tho cSpediency Of ap-
pointing deputies to meet annually in General
Congress to deliberate on those general measures
which the united interests Of America might,
from time 10 time, render necessary.
This proposition was readily acccded to by the
other colonies.
The FIRST General Congress met in Philadelphia
the 9Th OF September, IVA. It consisted Of fifty
one delegates fiom twelve colonies. They chose
pcyton Randolph, OF Virginia, President, and
Charles Thomson, Secretary. The delegates
were appointed by the Colonial Legislatures, or,
where no legislature existed, the appointments
were male 10y select meetings and associations of
citizens. The novelty aud Importance OF the
meeting OF this Congress excited universal alton
ton, and their transactions were such us could
NOT NiI tCOu 10 fonutF iut III ltspttLlDlN.
The Congress published declaration of rights,
protesting against the right of Great Britain 10
tax the colonies, or 70 interfere with their inter-
nal affairs; with statement of grievances,
declaring the late acts OF Parliament to be viola
tiOnS Of the rights OF the cOlOnists. They also
prepared and signed an agreement, in which they,
for themselves and their constituents, were
pledged not to import or 10 use British goods t'll
the acts complained of we're repealed. And it
these acts should not be repealed by the 10th day
of September, l775, no goods were to be exported
to Great Brit9in or her West India colonies,
except rice 90 Europe.
Addresses to the king and to the people Of
Great Britain were also prepared, and an address
TO the people OF the colonies.
The congress was dissolved on the 26h Of
October, having recommended that another Con-
grcss convene on the 10th Of May following, Il
a redress, OF grievances should not render it
unnecessary.
In May, i775, a second Congress met from all
the colonies. Il was determined TO organize an
army, and Washington was appointed COM
mandcr-in- chief Of the American forces.
Three millions OF dollars of paper money, in
bills of credit, were authorized to be issued, for
the redemption of which each colony was to pay
its proportion, and the United Colonies were TO
pay such part OF the quota of any colony as the
colony should fail tu discharge. A general post
office was established. Congress also published
a declaration of the causes of taking up arms
and another addressed to the King, entreating q
change Of measures and an address 10 the people
Of Great Britain requesting their aid, and admOn-
isbiug them Of the threatening evils of u separa-
ton.
The petition to the king was, as usual, unavail-
inV.
This Congress, at its second meeting--a recess
from August TO September having been had-pro-
CCoded in its measures for resistance. Rules were
adopted for the regulation of the navy n further
emission of bills was authorized; and a treasury
department was established.
The Colonies being declared by the king 10 he
IN a state Of rebellion, war measures were adopted
by the British Government
In December Parliament pissed an act inter
dieting all trade with the Colonies, and authorl-
ing the capture and condemnation OF all Amer-
can vessels and their cargoes, and all other YES
sells found trading in any part OF the Colonies, rs
if they were the vessels of open enemies.
tie mass Of the American people having become
convinced of the necessity of an entire separation
from the parent country, Congress, on tue 10th
of June, l776, appointed committee to prepare
u dee aTatiOn, "that these colonies are, and of
right ought TO be, free and independent States"
The committee consisted OF Thomas Jefferson,
OF Virginia; John Adams of Massachusetts, ;
Ber jamin Franklin, of Pannsy yvania; Roger
sherman, OF Connecticut; and Robert II. Liy-
iugstnn, of New York.
Thus we see that redress of grievances was
all they asked and not until after their petitions
were frequently answered by insult and injury
did they think of separation. Ia contrast to tho
American people then, { us now read the
Declaration Of Independence OF l776, and then
also read the speech Of Alexander fl Stephens,
OF Georgia, in the Legislature of that State,
November IA, 1850, and thon ask, calmly aud
Cclihcrate y, Is secession right? u. +. X.