Middletown transcript., 1876-05-20
May l776.l076.

The three specially notable days in
May, 1776, were the 9th, the 10Th and
the 18th. On the 9Th, in England.
letters patent were issued to Lord Howe
and General Howe. as Commissioners
to grant pardon to rebels who would
recant and sue for pardon On the
same day the Burgesses Of Virginia
met and determined that as the King
and Parliament had subverted the am
cient constitution. they were no longer
a legal body. The Assembly was dis
solved under the old regime. and the
Con vention met under the new On the
same day, the 9Th of May, as it was
understood that Commissioners we're to
be delegated on the part Of Great Bri-,
tain, Congress decided to adopt no
measures for their reception. until the
authority Of Congress should be recog-
nized by previous application. And.
as if perfectly assured that the purpose
Of the Commission was not reconcilia-
ton. but subjugation. BY fomenting.
divisions, the Congress voted to raise
t, q millions Of dollars for the war ex-
penses Of the current year. Thus were
force ON the one side and resistance on
the other determined upon With COIN
cidence which could not have been
more exact If London and Philadelphia
had been united by telegraph. :
As early as July. i1775, John Adams
had proposed in Congress the assump-
ton by the Colonies Of the powers Of
Government, the holding Of the King
officers as hostages, the opening Of the
ports of the Colonies to all nations, and
the formation Of general Government.
This proposition bad in terms been de-
layed, though in effect its most import-
ant features were forced upon Congress
by the progress Of events. The hope
Of reconciliation with Great Britain
had been gradually relinquished the
declared friends Of Independence leav-
ing the hestitatipg to be convinced BY
the test Of experience rather than by
argument. Oa the 10th Of May, 1776,
after two days debate the proposition Of
John Adams was adopted in the form
of a resolution, recommending to the
Assemblies and Conventions Of the
Colonies in ell cases where it had not
already been done, to establish govern
ments adequate to their exigencies. -
The force OF this resolution will be OBJ
served in its assumption, that where the
Colonies had not established govern
ments no governments existed. It was
a virtual denialo Of allegiance to Great
Britain. i8sts.4
After the passage Of the resolution q
committee composed Of John Adams,
Edward Rutledge and Richard Henry
Lee, were appointed to draw up pre-
amble. This preamble. adopted on the
18th of May, declared that lit was alb
solutely irreconcilable with reason and
good conscience for the people Of these
colonies now to take oaths and afirna-
tions necessary for the support Of any
government under the crown Of Great
Britain; and that it was necessary that
every exercise Of authority under the
crown should be totally suppressed. and
all the powers Of government exerted
under the authority Of the people Of the
colonies, for the preservation Of their
peace and their defence against their
enemies . M 4
On the same 18th day of May. in
Virginia, the Convention which had
organized on the 9th passed unani-
mously series Of resolutiors instruct
ing the Virginia delegates in Congress
to propose to that body 'to declare the
United Colonies free and independent
States" On the passage of these re-
solutions the British flag, which had
hitherto floated on the State House Of
Virginia, was hauled down. On the
9th the famous Virginia "Bill Of
Rights" was reported, and on the 18th
Of June following passed. 1t has been
remarked that while similar declara-
tions by other colonies were framed in
reference to their relations with Great
Britain the Virginia declaration .'vaa
the voice of reason going forth to create
new institutions Ito speak . new politi-
cal world into being"
North Carolina had already declared
in convention for the independence Of
the colonies the Chief Justice Of South
Carolina at the opening Of the May
Courts. had charged the Grand Jury in
Charleston "thst George the Third had
abdicated, the Government" and that
the colonies owed him no obedience. =
The General Assembly of Rhode Island,
on the 4th Of May. passed. with only
six dissentient votes in both Houses, an
act discharging the inhabitants of that
colony from their allegiance to the
crown of Great Britain. At the annual
election in Massachusetts, the voters
we're requested to instruct their repre-
sentatives on the subject Of indepen.
denco, and the vote was unanimous in
| its favor.
On the 24th OF May, "mass meet.
ing" was held in the State House yard
Philadelphia. presided over BY Daniel
Roberdeau. The topics Of discussion
we're: the instructions Of the late As.
semhly to the delegates in Congress t.
oppose any proposition that might lead
to separation from the mother conn.
try. and the preamble and resolution o.
Congress with which such instructions
were in direct conflict. The meeting
declared against the instructions, and
made provision for constituent Cen
vention to form new government
And so passed the month Of May, 1776
MEXICAN GIRLs.-The Mexicans ar,
graceful dancers. They go through th'
figures with much spirit and pleasure
They have beautiful eyes. general.
dark and piercing They glide through
4 r IL l..