The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-05
NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Tho monthly meeting Of the New York Historical
Society held last evening, Mr. Frederic De Peyser
presiding and amer the transaction OF the regular bus
ness, which included sketch Of the late Prosper ~
wcmore, to whom the society seems at various
periods to have been under great obligations Mr. John
Austin Stevens read q very interesting paper 1.-The
Delegates Of New York in the Second Continental Con-
grcss" opening with brcf review OF tho pro-
posas for tho union OF the colonies by delegations OF
their Assemblies, the first OF which. drafted by William
Penn 1897, served model TO all the others, and
briefly alluded TO tho conventions known the Indian
Congress. which Albany in 1854 at the request
oil the British government, and the Stamp Act Con-
gress held at New York in l765 Mr. Stevens passed
consideration OF the first and second Continen tal
Congresses which met ~ Philadephia In liza and
l775. The first Of these, the papers OF which
ceved the famous cncomum OF Lord Chatham, ''as
inferior the finest production Of the States of
the World" sprung from the determination OF New
other commercial agreements which experience had
shown 10 be uncqually observed by the different colo.
MES and only TO consent 10 the ordinances OF gen.
era congress Tho only OF the FIRST Continent
tai Congress was petition TO tho King Fortunately,
wnen dissolving, II provided for successor IN the fol-
lowing year. This was the immortal Congress which
declared the Independence OF America The New York
city delegation was the same In both OF these bodies
with exception. or Its m ,mbers three mcr-
chants and two lawyers; their names-Phiip LIVING
ston, John Alsop, FraLcIs Lewis, James Duane and
Jonn lay fra , Lewis Ias oeeh CHOSEN 20 lake
the Hrst Congress, declined further The
important oil the other delegates from the New York
Schuyler, from Albany; Robert r. Livingston, from
Duchess; Colonel Lewis Mcrrs from Westchester aud
the stanch inhcxible George Clinton ator the hrst
Governor Of tho State Sketches OF the lives OF these
characters, In which the illusions OF John Adams to
their personal traits added pleasing color. interviewer
with the local detail OF New York city during tho
period, made up the body Of the paper Its close was
y culogy OF Jay, the most remarkable although the
youngest member OF the Now York delegation, and u
defence OF New York from the charge OF hesitation
lukowarmness In regard 10 independence. After
nluding the action OF the Provincial Congress- he
n NcW
York delegation at Philadelphia vote for indie.
pendence Tor the Provincial Congress In Now YorK
10 instruct them so to vote.
The resolution OF Independence reported by JEFF
fcrson the 2Sth OF June, and considered the
OF July, the day set apart for its debate. When tho
It's iavor South Carolina and Pennsy lvania in
the negative Delaware divided, and New York excused
for the OF instructions The I'd OF July nstruc
tions from Delaware were received, the dissatisfied
members from Pennsylvania abscnted themselves
leaving the vote OF that colony TO the minorty and
resolution unanimously passed, and Thursday, tho
4th OF July The famous Declaration published 10
the world.
The New York Convention empowered to establish q
government Tor the colony and TO declare its nde-
pendcnco OF Great Britain, met ut White Plains Tues
day the 9th Of July The same morning they
from their delegates the Declaration OF
The had been delayed by the interruption CON-
munication. IL was immediately referred 10 a CON-
mittce OF which John Jay, who had returned home TO
take part in these deliberations chosen Chairman
and the afternoon u resolution reported by
him, engaging the New York colony In its support, at
the risk Of their lives and fortunes adopted by
the Convention with enthusiastic unau unity.
Mr. stevens concluded his paper with earnest ap-
peal IN behalf o. the Historical Society