The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-05-15

arrived from England, and on the next
day was elected by the Assembly to the
Continental Congress, which convened on
the 10th Of the same month. He was
also appointed on the Committee Of Safety,
body which soon became, by the forced
inaction Of the Governor Of the Province,
the acting executive of Pennsylvania
Later in the year he was elected by Phil
adelphia to the Assembly.
The Lexington and Concord affair was
more efficient than any proclamation could
have been in reminding the members-elect
of the Provisional Congress of their duties
The whole country was alive. The east
ern members were met and escorted through
New York by Military and other delega-
tions, and, with members from New York,
were escorted through New Jersey as on
triumphal march, and received as they
neared Philadelphia by a cavalcade. Pat
rick Henrys progress through Virginia
was a similar triumph. While official
bodies and conventions preserved some ap-
pearance of deliberation, the popular SEN
timent, knowing no parliamentary restric-
tions, was outspoken everywhere. The
occasion presented style Of "lobbying"
on grander scale, and with honester aims
than has ever been witnessed since.
Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, Presi-
dent of the former Congress, occupied the
chair at the opening of this. He was
Speaker also of the Assembly in his own
Province, and as there was a probability
that the Royal Governor Of Virginia would
call special session, that event was pro.
vided for by the appointment of Thomas
Jefferson as provisional" delegate. The
apprehended vacancy occurred. Randolph
was summoned to Virginia, Jefferson took
his place. in the delegation, and John
Hancock was unanimously elected Presi-
dent Of the Continental Congress. This
unanimity was significant Harrison, of
Virginia, who conducted the President
elect to the chair, said :--"We will show
Britain how much we value her proscrip-
tions." Samuel Adams and John Han
cock had been excepted out of any terms
Of pardon.
Reports were laid before the Congress
of the recent events in Massachusetts; a
letter was received from the same Colony,
asking counsel as to what form Of govern
ment should be adopted, and requesting
the Continental Congress to assume the
control Of the forces assembled before Bos-
ton. Advice was desired from New York
also, and various other communications
were received and referred. In Committee
Of the Whole these various subjects we're
carefully considered; debate being some
what enlivened by the intelligence which
reached Philadelphia on the 18th of May,
that on the 10th Of the month Ethan Allen
and the "Green Mountain Boys had sur
prised the British fortress at Ticonderoga
Another party of "Sons of Liberty" seized
Crown Point, and another Skeensboro, on
the same day. Not a man was hurt in
these affairs, which were complete surpri-
ses. A British armed vessel was also
captured soon after on Lake Champlain.
The action of Congress on these matters
was to assent to the garrisoning Of the
fortresses thus taken by the Province Of
Connecticut, but at the same time to direct
that an inventory Of the property captured
should be drawn up, that, at the close Of
the difficulty, restitution night be made to
the British Government Other military
operations during the month Of May, sell
dom referred to, but important, took place
in Boston harbor. The British forces
were hemmed in at Boston. Their land
ward supplies were entirely cut of. The
Proyincials discovered that the British
were harvesting hay on an island in the
harbor A party of Americans drove them
off and burned the hay, The other islands,
which the British had stocked with cattle
and sheep, were raided upon, and the
stock destroyed or carried away. The
lighthouse at the entrance of the harbor
was burned by the Proviucials. In one
Of these raids protracted skirmish took
place, ia which the British lost twenty
killed and fifty wounded. A British
schooner was captared and destroyed.
To return to Congress. The first de-
eisive act of that body was to advise New
York in relation to the anticipated arrival
Of British force, not to oppose the land
ing, but to resist any attempt at the cree.
tion Of barracks and fortifcations. While
Congress were still in hesitancy, tho New
Jersey delegation made move which pro-
ducsd something like positive action. On
the 26th Of May they presested the vote
Of the Assembly Of that Colony refusing
to consider Lord North's proposition, and
ccnsigning the subject 10 the Continental
It.a.s. Il. =