Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-07-18
America t0Ireiand in 1875.
From the Boston Pilot.

10 in Congress assembled in Philadei,
pha. July %, l7T5;-~
To the people Of Ireland. Fl
the delegates appointed by the United
Colonies of New Hampshire, Massa'
chusetts Bay. Rhode Island, and
Providence Plantations, Connecticut,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the lower
counties on Delew ere, Maryland, Vtr-
ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina
in general Congress at Philadelphia,
the 10th Of May, l775.
Friends aud Fellow Subjects.
AS the important contest into whlch
We have been driven, is now becom.
| ing interesting to every European
State, and particularly affects the
members Of the British Empire, we
think it our duty to address you on the
subject. We are anxious, a. is natur-
al 10 injured Innocence, Of possessing
the good opinion of the virtuous and
humane. We are peculiarly desirous
Of furnishing you with true state of
our objects, the better to enable you TO
judge Of our conduct with accuracy,
aud determine the merits OF the con.
troversy with impartiahty and precIs.
ion. However incredible 1t may ap-
pear, that at this enlightened period,
the leaders OF a nation, which III every
are mas sacraticcd hecatombs Of her
hrave,t patriots on the altar OF liberty,
should presume grayeIy to assert, AMI
by force OF arms, attempt to establish
an arbitrary sway over the lives, lib>
critics, and property OF their fellow
subjects in America, 1t IS, nevertheless
a most deplorable aud indlsputable
truth. These colonies have, from the
time of their first settlement, fJr near
two centuries, peacebly enjoyed those
rights Of which the minority have,
for ten years past, endcavored hy
fraud and by violence to deprive
them. At the conclusion Of the las,
war, the genius Of England and the
spirit OF wisdom, as If offended at the
ungratetu treatment OF her sons,
withdrew from the British councils,
and left that nation prey toa race
Of ministers, with whom ancient eng
lish honesty and bcneyelence dI>dalu
ed to dwell. From that period, jeal
ousy, diScoltent, oppression aud dS'
cord have ragged among all his tnaics
ties subjects, and filled every part of
his domInions with distress and com
plant.
Not content with our purchasing Of
Britain at her own price, clothing
and thousand other articles used by
three mlllions OF people Oh this vast
continent, not satisfied with The a
massing profits made from the nnonop-
oily OF our trade, without giving Us
time to breathe after long though
glorious war, or the least credit for
the blood and treasure we have ex-
pended in il; notwithstanding the zeal
we had manifested for the service OF
oar sovereign, and the warmest at
tachment :" the constitution OF BRIT
ian aud the people Of England, a
black and horrid design vas formed 10
convert US from free men into slaves.
from subjects into vassals, ard from
friends into enemies.
Taxes, for the first time since
we landed on the American shores,
were, without our consent imposed on
us; All unconstitutional edict TO com
pei US to furnish neceSsarcs for Il
standing amy, that we wished to see
disbanded, was issued and the leg.
islatnre Of New Yorh suspended for
refusing to comply with it. Oar all.
cieut and lnestlnable right of trial by
jury was, IN many Instances, abolish.
ed aud the common law Of the land
made to give place to admiralty juris.
| dictions.
Judges were rendered, by the ten
ure OF their commissions entirely de-
pendent OF. the will of minister.
New crime, were arbitrarily ere
ated aud new courts, unknown TO
the constitution, instituted. Wicked
aud insluous governors have been set
over us; and dutifuI petitions, for the
removal Of even the notoriously infa.
nous Goycrner Hutchinson, were
branded with the opproblons appelIa-
ton Of scandalnus and deiamatory
Hardy attempts have been made,
under color of Parliamentary authori
! ", to seize Americans aud carry them
to Great Brtlan to be tried for Of,
/ fences committed in the colonies
Ancient charters have no longer re.
NAMED sacred, that of Massachusetts
| Bay was violated aud tbcir form OF
government essentially mutlatrd and
transformed. On preteucc Of punish
ing violation of s"ne private proper
". committed by a few dignfied IN.
dWldaals, the populous aud flourish.
ing town Of Boston was surrounded
by fleets and armies and thirty
thon~and citizens subjected to all the
misrries attending az SudIca a con.
vul.iOn in their commerce ii metropolis;
and to remove every obstacle TO the
/ rigorous execution Of this system Of
oppression, an act Of Parlinent was
passed evidently calculated 10 indem
nifty those who might, in the prosecu
ton of il, even imbrue their hands in
the biootl Of the inhabitants. Though
pre- .sed by such an accumulation Of
undeserved injuries, Am'ric still re-