The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-06-06
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A Critical Business,

1t was a critical business, this of
drawing all the colonies into COM
mon congress, as if to create a di-
recting body for the continent, with
out constitution or warrant. The es-
Establishment of committees of CORE
Spondence had seemed little short Of
Seditious, for it was notorious the COM
mittees were formed to concert action
against the government at home; but
this congress of committees" was an
even more serious matter.
Would the colonies venture a con-
tinental organization to defy parlia-
ment? Dangerous differences of opin-
ion were blown hot between neighbors
by such measures.
Some of the best men in America
were opposed to the course which was
now evidently to be taken.
So long as it was merely matter
of protest by the colonies severally,
they had no criticism to make-except
perhaps that Mr.. Otis and Mr.. Henry
had held unnecessarily high language.
and had been bold and defiant beyond
measure; but when they saw how the
opposition gathered head, fastened
from protest to concerted resistance,
put popular conventions into the place
of lawful legislative assemblies, and
advanced at length to a continental
organization, they deemed it high time
to bestir themselves, vindicate their
loyalty to his majesty's government
and avert a revolution.
Opposed to Rash Measures.
They were not men to be trifed
with. Had they been able to unite
upon active measures, had they adj
vanced from defence to aggressive ac-
ton, they might have rendered them
selves formidable beyond possibility
of defeat.
/ Everywhere men of substance and
of influence were to be found by the
score who were opposed to a revolu
tionary agitation, such as this that
now seemed to be gathering head.
Even in Massachusetts men who bore
the best and oldest names of the COM
monwealth were of this number; in
New York and Pennsylvania, at the
very heart of the continent, they
could, it was believed, boast a ma
jority, as we'll as to the far south
ward, in the low country of South
Carolina and Georgia.
Without Hurt to the Empire.
No one, they declared, but designing
tot ~
erty, those who had much to gain and
nothing to lose by the upsetting of
law and ordered government, wished
20 see this contest with the ministry
pushed to extremes.
They wished no less than others to
see the colonies keep their lawful and
chartered liberties, but the thing must
be accomplished soberly, and without
loss of things equally dear-of honor,
and the maintenance Of an unbroken
English empire
The nice balance Of the parties was
disclosed in the congress itself.
The Pennsylvania delegation was
led by Joseph Galloway, a man in the
prime of life, full of force and learn
ing, who had been speaker of the
provincial house these eight years by
the almost unanimous choice of his
colleagues, and who now stood forth
TO utter the real voice of his colony
In proposing measures of accommoda-
ton.
The Speakers Proposition.
He proposed that the home govern
ment be asked to sanction the estab-
hshment OF confederate parliament
for America, composed of delegates to
be chosen every third year by the
legislatures of the several colonies,
and acting under a governor-general
to be appointed by the crown.
Edward Rutledge, of South Caro-
lima, hot orator for liberty though he
was, declared in an almost perfect
plan" and was eager to see it adopt
ed; influential members from almost
every quarter gave it their hearty
support, Mr.. John Jay, of New York.
among the rest; and it was defeated
only by the narrow majority of a sim
gle colony's vote.
Chatham's Opinion of CONGRESS.
Chatham might very justly COM
mend the congress of 1774 as con-
spicuous among deliberative bodies for
Its "decency, frmness and wisdom"
Its "solidity of reasoning, force of
sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion,
under such complication of circum-
stances was such as even he did not
fully comprehend.
For seven weeks of almost contin-
uous session did it hammer it's stiff
business into shape, never wearying
OF elaboration or debate, till it could
put forth papers to the world-an adj
uress to the king, memorials to the
people of Great Britain and to the
people of British America. their fell
io"-suoJects, and a solemn declara-
ZION OF rights-which should mark it
no revolutionary body. but a congress
OF Just and thoughtful Englishmen, In
love- not with license or rebellion. but
with right and wholesome liberty.