Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-26

just rights ana preroRatiVe. Iney are
to adhere to the claims and resolutions
of the first Continental Congress. yet
are authorized, for the restoration of
harmony, to yield such contested
claims of right as do not apparently be
long to the colonists, or are not essen.
italy necessary to their well-being.
They received instruction, in case the
Congress should Lot allow the govern
ment CT the three lower counties an
equal vote with any other province.
"decentiy but firmly to urge" its right
ITO an equal voice in Congress with the
other colonies. ~
Thus it appears that up to that time
1T75l the three lower counties on Della.
ware were in favor of reconciliation. In
June, the Assembly approved OF the
opinion OF Congress that an armed force
was necessary, and agreed that the tor
r;tories should bear their share of the
expenses In the same month the COM
mittee of Broad Creek hundred APP
pointed correspondence committee,
and favored colonial union. 1t was
once proposed to make fourth county
of Broad Creek hundred, but it was not
done.
But the people of the lower counties
on Delaware were not of one mind on
the great questions of the times. In
stances of this are found IN the Ameri-
can Archives. The Sussex county COM
| mittee, after investigating rumors
concerning one Thomas Robinson, a
storekeeper, and finding that he had
sold "Bohea tea and had spoken
against the committees and the Con-
gress, summoned Robinson before
Them. He declined to come unguarded.
The committee thereupon decided that
he was an enemy to his country, Q
contumacious opposer of liberty and
the natural rights Of mankind" One
Robert Holiday, 10 retracting letter
said to misrepresent the people of keni
county, says: '.None are more ready TIC
oppose tyranny, or to be first in tht
cause of liberty, than the inhabitant:
of Kent county, Early in 1776 thu
Kent County COMMITTEES of inspection
and Observation decided that Johr
Cowgirl was an enemy to his countr.
because he had refused to take Con
tinental money in discharge of debts o
for other purposes.
rockingham, in 1.-The Rise of tn
Republic, says that Independence me
with strcng opposition in the countie
on Delaware. Under instructions o
March I'D, 1776, the Congressiona
Representatives were to labor 10
reconciliation with Great Britain, and
as probable means to the desire
/ ends, were TO cultivate the union pre-
, vailing throughout the colonies, an
ito avoid and discourage any separat
treaty. Until peace be obtained the
: were to Join with the other colonies j
: military operations. They were. also
a to urge the right of the governmer
of the counties to an equal voice
a Congress with any other province. III
, deputies were not authorized to vol
!. for Independence.
4 Congress took an important step c
May 10th, when it passed resolutic
. recommending to the assemblies ar
v conventions of the colonies, ''where l
q government sufficient to the exigenci
!, OF their affairs hath been hither
y adopted, to adopt such government
i. shall, in the opinion of the represent
!. tives of the people, best conduce
h the happiness and safety Of their co
i stituents in particular, and America
n general Congress directed the sti
" ring preamble of May 10Th and til
Il resolution to be published. ,*
st In Kent county the resolution W
favored by one party and opposed
1t another. They first instructed the Ke
" county representatives in the Assent
g. to do their utmost to have the res
S. luton complied with, railways saw
" to the freemen and inhabitants OF I'll
y. colony the full eDioyments of their j.
at rights and liberties, agreeable to
or Constitution, laws, customs, and usas
or of the said colony, so far as the sal
of are not injurious or destructive 10
ey union and general safety and hi
at piness of the united colonies" Shol
us the Assembly not comply with
is recommendation of the resolution,
"a. delegates are to endeavor to get
les Assembly to direct the appointing
he of convention, to consist OF not ]
he than ninety persons If this be dem
nd the delegates are to withdraw and 9
a solve the House.
on The address Of the iemonstrants 4
nd to the representatives in Assembly m
ed They hold that the recommendation
cir the resolution does not apply to
led people of the government of the tn
lower counties, whose Assembly
ra- Eeen and still is competent and adequ
Tvs to the exigenoies of their affair
are Holding that ''for the defence
IS. pTeSBrVuIlUH VI tUb CuhEbbTeu rig
i'd and privileges of tho colonies,
an. their then forms of government"
ans unhappy disputes we're begun, t
)ns 'apprehend that the changing or
ort Constitution at this critical pei
vas would be acting contrary TO the avo
ia principles upon which the opposii
IA. was made to the oppressive meas,
ere of the British ministry" They
,aa onnrahapd that this 'twould tend ,
on much to disunite the people, ane
ba- productive of the most dangerous I
the sequences. {" They pray that the Hc
and may not yield up any OF its cor
ing tutional powers under pretence OF
nal venience or necessity. ...
,ot- The popular party was the victo
j of the contest. On June 18th, 1776,
ZEN Assembly approved of the resoiutio
nee Congress, and instructed the Gong
sional deputies to concur with o
ia, delegates in Congress in forming {
Nc further compacts between the I'm
the colonies, concluding such treaties
hold foreign kingdoms and states, an
SEN adopting such other measures MS
med be judged necessary for promoting
EN-. liberty safety and interests of Anne
9th, reserving to the people OF this co
YER the sole and exclusive right of reg
anne ing the internal government and p
lies, of the same" 1t was under thes
for structions that the deputies signed
With Declaration of Independence.
i of On June 18th, the Assembly, in a
are amble and resolution. unanimousl,
heir clared the necessity of establishing
the authority adequate to the exigenoi
ION, the affairs of the people until a
,Iect government could be formed, an