Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-02-29
IN CONGRESS,
Saturday, July

IN CONGhESS,
Saturday, July 10, ITO.
WHEREAS the Government of Great
Britain hath prohibited the EXp0rta-
ton of ARMS AND AMMUNITION to any
of the Plantations and eudeavored to
prevent other Nations from fupplying
Us,
ResolCed, That, for the better fur
Bifhing thefe colonies with the neces-
sary means of defending their Rights,
every ycilel importing Gun, Powder,
| Salt-Petre, sulphur, provided they
! bring with the Sulpher four times as
much Salt.Petre, Brafs Field-Pieces,
or good Mufkets fitted with Bayonets,
within Nine months from the Date OF
| this Refolution, fhall be permitted to
load and export the Produce of thefe
colonies, to the value of fuch Powder
and Stores aforeiaid, the No-Expor-
tation Agreement notwithftanding;
and il is recommended to the Commit
tees of the feveral Provinces to infpect
! the Military stores to imported, and
! to Ultimate genero , Price for the
| fame, according to the' e0Odnefs, and
permit the Importer q. iuch Powder
and other Military Stores aforefaid, to
export the value thereof, and no more,
in Produce of any kind.
4 true copy from the Minutes
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Again Bancroft says: There was no
way of obtaining munitions ofwar but
bythroWing open the ports and inviting
commerce, especially with French and
Dutch colonies, yet the last act of Con-
gress, before its adjournment, was the
renewal of the agre ement, neither di-
rectly or indirectly to export any mer-
chandise or commodity whatever to
Great Britain, Ireland or to the British
or even to the foreign, West Indies.
From this paper it would seem that
Bancroft was partially in error as Con-
gress had made this special exception
for the importation ,of arms and am
munition.
LETTER OF JOHN HANCOCK.
The following letter is signed in the
bold angular writing Of John Hancock
which Is so familiar to every Amer
lean eye.
PHILADELPHIA, July Sth, 177G.
GENTLEMEN:
Altho it is not possible to forefee the
Consequences of Human Actions, yet
it is nevertheless q Duty we owe our
felves and posterity in all our public
Councils, to decide in the best Manner
we are able, and to trust the result to
that Being, who controus both causes
and Events so as to bring about bis
own Determinations.
Impressed with this sentiment, and
at the same Time fully convinced that
our Affairs may take more favour
able Turn, the Congress have judged
it necessary to dissolve all Connection
between Great Britain and the Amer
lean Colonies; and TO declare them
free and independent States; as you
will perceive by the enclosed Declara-
tion which l am directed by Congrefs
to transmit to YOU, and to requeft you
will have it proclaimed in the way you
shall think most proper. The impor-
tant consequences to the American
States from this Declaration of Inde-
pendence, confidered as the Ground
and Foundation of n future Govern
ment will naturally fuggest the Pro-
priety of proclaiming it in such
Manner that the people may be uni
versally Informed of it.
/ have the honor to be, gentlemen,
Your most obedent
And very humble serv't,
JOHN HANCOCK, Pres't.
HOn'i Convention of Georgia.
INSTRUCTIONS TO GEN. WASHINGTON.
The original draft of resolutions
passed by Congress Dec. 9th, 1776,
appears with the signature of John
Hancock, President, in the same
handwriting as the former document.
We make a few extracts:
ReSOjUcd, That General Washington
be empowered to use every endeavor,
by giving bOunties and otherwise, to
prevail upon the troops whose time of
enlistment shall expire at the end of
the month to stay with the army so
long after that period as the situation
shall render their stay necessary.
j.
RcSolGed, That General Washington
shall be and is hereby vested with
fall, ample and complete power to
raise and collect together in the most
speedy and eflectual manner, from any
or all these United States, sixteen ba-
tallions OF infantry, in addition to
those already voted 10y Congress; to
appoint officers for the same bataI-
lions; TO raise officers and equip three
thousand light horse; three regiments
Of artillery and corps of engineers,
and establish their pay; to apply to
any of the States for such aid of the
militia as he-shall Judge necessary; to
form such magazines of provisions,
and in such places, as he shall think
proper; to displace and appoint all of
licers under the rank of Brigadier
General, and to fill up all vacancies in
every other department of the Ameri
can armies; to take, wherever he may
be, whatever he may want for the use
of the army, if the inhabitants will
not sell it, allowing reasonable price
for the same; to arrest and confine
persons who refuse to take the Conti-
mental currency, or are otherwise dis
affected to the American cause, and
return to the States of which they are
citizens their names and the nature of
their offenses, together with witnesses
to prove them.
Res0LUed, That the foregoing pow
ers be bestowed on General Washing
ton for and during the term of six
months from the date hereof, unless
soon er determined by Congress.
ResOlUed, That the Council of Safety
for Pennsylvania be requested to take
the most speedy and vigorous meas
ures for furnishing all such as shall
refuse Continental currency, and that
the General be directed to give all