The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-07-06

SNiEH&Lu VI dl CnRA4S 0NPS10o 4ON -
ly on a anion of its parts, but on the.
readiness for a united exertion OF
their common force"
Virginia, although -unrepresented
in the Continental Congress of 1765,
was the first TO move In the call of
that of 1774. The House of Burgess
es of Virginia, met in May, Iva, and
soon after the meeting, news was re-
ceived that the port of Boston was to
be- closed by an act of Parliament, on
the first day of June following. They
forthwith passed an order designating
that day as a day of fasting, humilia-
ton and prayer, to implore the Di-
vine interposition for averting the
heavy calamity which threatened de-
struction to their civil rights and the
evils of civil war, and to give them
one heart and a mind firmly to
oppose, by all just and proper means,
every injury to American rights"
This action, as might have been and
doubtless was expected, brought down
upon them the displeasure of the roy
al Governor, who Immediately dis
solved the House. But the members
Immediately reassembled in another
place, and declared that all the Colo
MES had a joint interest in the late
proceedings of Parliament, and ad-
vised the calling of a general Cont
mental Congress- In accordance with
this recommendation a convention of
the people of Virginia was held, by
which seven persons were appointed
to represent the people of that colony
in a General Congress to be held at
Philadelphia in the following Sep
TENDER. =
Massachusetts promptly seconded
the motion of Virginia for Congress,
and other colonies soon followed their
example by appointing delegates.
Here again the delegates were the rep
resentatives of the people and not the
representatives of the local colonial
governments. They were appointed
either by conventions of the people or
by the popular branches of the legis-
latures acting for the people.
These delegates met at Philadel-
phia in Congress on the 9Th day of
September, 1774, and designated
themselves in their proceedings as
The Delegates appointed by the
good people of the Colonies All
the Colonies were. represented in this
Congress except Georgia. .n
Being without a written constitu-
ton or compact of union, and not yet
seriously contemplating independence.
the Congress of 1774. in imitation of
that of 1865, resolved that each Cello
ny should have q vote, but to pre-
vent this from being drawn into
precedent, they declared, as a reason
for this action, that they could not
procure reliable data for determining
the Importance of each Colony.
This Congress, after declaring the
Of the people Of the Colonies
and setting forth the grievances of
which they complained, prepared an
agreement of non-intercourse with
the mother-country, which was signed
by all the members and recommended
to the people for their adoption, until
their grievances should be fully re-
dressed. They adjourned on the 10Th
OF October, having first recommend
ed that another Congress of all the
Colonies should be held at Philadel-
phia on the 10th day Of May. 1775.
unless their grievances should be be-
fore that time redressed, and that
delegates to the new Congress should
be appointed without delay.
In the meantime, the Colonial Gov
eminent of Massachusetts, was revo-
lutionized. Parliament had attempts
ed to subvert their charter by chang
ing the mode OF selecting the Council, |
50 as TO insure the subserviency of
that branch of the Legislature to the
and Parliament. Popular in
was so aroused by this
act of aggression, that the new Coun-
were compelled to resign.
Writs of election had been issued for
a new House of Representatives, but
the royal Governor, In consequence of
countermanded by procla-
nation the writs of election.
The people in disregard of the Gov
proclamation, held their cleo
and the members elect met pur-
suant TO the precepts. There being
no council, and the Governor failing
to recognize the members elected to
the House of Representatives, of
course they had no power under the
Charter to legislate. The members
of the House adjourned from Salem
to Cambridge. and resolved themselves
into a Provincial Congress, and the
of the colony sanctioned this
proceeding by generally yielding obedi-
ence to their authority. ,E
/ On the 10Th ofApril, 1775, the bat
tie of Lexington was fought, and on
the 10th of the succeeding month the
Congress met in Phila-
delphia. The delegates had been
partly by conventions of the
and, partly by the popular
branch of such of the Colonial Legs