188

P'D. I.

CH. V.

CONGRESS AT PHILADELPHIA.

PT. III. at once prorogued them. They, however, formed an association, and voted to recommend to the colonies a general congress. The first of June, the day on The Vir. Which the port bill was to take effect, was devoutly ginians observed, in Virginia, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, to implore that God would avert the evils which threatened them, and "give them one heart, and one mind, firmly to oppose, by all just and proper means, every injury, to the American rights."

keep a

fast.

1974.

First

tal con

CHAPTER V.

Congress at Philadelphia.

1. On the 4th of September, 1774, the proposed Sept. 4. congress convened at Philadelphia. In this body, the continen- most august and important which had ever assembled upon the American shores, all the colonies, except gress. Georgia, were represented; and all parties, struck with 12 colo- its array of splendid talents and stern patriotism, looked nies rep forward to results with deep interest and great expectation.

resented.

2. Their first measure was to choose, by a unani– mous vote, Peyton Randolph, Esq., of Virginia, as Ran president. They decided, that each colony should dolph, president. have one vote. They chose a committee of two from each province, to draw up a " Bill of Rights." They approved of the conduct of Massachusetts, and exhorted all to perseverance in the cause of freedom Approve They addressed a letter to General Gage, entreating duct of him to desist from military operations; lest a difference, altogether irreconcilable, should arise between the colonies and the parent state.

the con

Mass.

9. What petition did they offer to the Almighty?

CHAPTER V.-1. When and where did the continental congress first convene ? How many colonies were represented? 2. What was their first measure? What did they decide? Whom choose? What approve? What exhort? What en

treat?

WISDOM, TALENT AND CONFIDENCE.

189

CH. V.

1774.

3. By a non-importation compact, they agreed and PT. III. associated for themselves and their constituents, "under P'D. I. the sacred ties of virtue, honor, and love of liberty," not to import, or use any British goods, after the first of December, 1774. They agreed to encourage agri- Sanction culture, arts, and manufactures in America. Commit- non imtees were to be appointed in every place, to see that acts. this agreement was observed.

portation

4. Finally, they determined to continue the congressional union, until the repeal by parliament, of Resolve oppressive duties of the laws restricting their rights of trial by jury, and of the acts, against the people of colonial Massachusetts.

to continue the

union.

charac

5. In the several addresses which were drawn up by their committees and accepted, congress fully met the high expectations which were entertained of that body of men, of whom Lord Chatham declared, "that, High though he had studied and admired the free states of ter of a antiquity, the master spirits of the world, yet, for so- congress. lidity of reasoning, force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, no body of men could stand in preference to this congress."

They make an

peal to

6. The petition to the king entreated him, in language the most respectful and affectionate, to restore their violated rights. Their grievances, they said, were the more intolerable, as they were born heirs of freedom, and had enjoyed it under the auspices of his royal ancestors. "The apprehension," say they, "of able apbeing degraded into a state of servitude, from the pre- the king. eminent rank of English freemen, while our minds retain the strongest love of liberty, and clearly foresee the miseries preparing for us and our posterity, excites emotions in our breasts which we cannot describe." 7. They express a hope, that the royal indignation will fall on those designing and dangerous men, who, by their misrepresentations of his American subjects, had, at length, compelled them, by the force of accu

4.

3. What was agreed in the non-importation compact? They determined to continue the union till the repeal of what acts?-5. What was Lord Chatham's opinion of this congress? -6. Give some account of their petition to the king? -7. With what language did this petition close?

This pe

tition draught

ed by

Mr.

Dicken

son.

190

THE CRISIS APPROACHES.

P'T. III. mulated injuries, too severe to be longer borne, thus to disturb his majesty's repose; a conduct extorted "from those" who would much more willingly bleed in his service.

P'D. 1. CH. VI.

8. Not less moving was the appeal to their fellowsubjects of England. "Can any reason," they ask, "be A rea- given, why English subjects, who live three thousand miles from the royal palace, should enjoy less liberty, than those who are three hundred miles from it?"

sonable

appeal.

rial to

9. In the memorial to their constituents, they preMemo- sented an account of the oppressive measures of partheir liament since 1763. They applaud the spirit which consti- they had shown in defense of their rights, and entuents. courage them to persevere, and be prepared for all

rise,

contingencies; hinting that those might occur, which 1774. would put their constancy severely to the test. Congress 10. The congress rose on the 6th of October. AlOct. 6. though their powers were merely advisory, yet their decisions received the approbation of the colonial asings ap- semblies, and carried with them all the force of laws. proved.

Their

proceed

and

CHAPTER VI.

War approaches.-Massachusetts.-British Parliament.

1. THERE were however, a few persons, who faWhigs voured the cause of Great Britain. They were called tories. tories, and were regarded as traitors by the great body of the people; who, in opposition to tories, were called whigs. These party names were derived from England. Military 2. The magazines of gunpowder and other military seized. stores, at Charlestown and Cambridge, were seized by

stores

8. What question did they put to their fellow-subjects in England?-9. What was the subject of their memorial to their constituents?-10. When did Congress rise? What were their powers? What weight had their decisions?

CHAPTER VI.-1. What description of persons favoured the cause of Great Britain?-2. What was done by the assembly of Massachusetts?

of Mass.

order of Gen. Gage. An assembly was called in Mas- P'T. III. sachusetts; but its sittings were countermanded by the P'D. I. governor. The representatives then met at Salem, CH. VI. resolved themselves into a "provincial congress," ad- October. journed to Concord, and chose John Hancock their The assembly president. 3. They then resolved, that, for the defense of the a proprovince, a number of the inhabitants should be enlisted, to stand ready to march at a minute's warning. In November, they sent persons to New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, to request their cooperation, in order to raise an army of 20,000 men, to act in any emergency.

vincial

congress.

Minute

men.

Nov. 20.

4. The British parliament convened. The king, in his speech, informed the members, that a most daring resistance to the laws still prevailed in Massachusetts, 1774. which was encouraged by unlawful combinations in The king the other colonies; and, finally, he expressed his firm and pardetermination to withstand any attempt to weaken or inflexiimpair the royal authority; and in these sentiments the two houses expressed, in their answer, a decided

concurrence.

5. When the British ministry brought the American papers before parliament, Lord Chatham rose. "The

liament

ble.

Chatham

way," ," he said, "must be immediately opened for reconciliation. It will soon be too late. They say, you have no right to tax them, without their consent. They say truly. Representation and taxation must Lord go together they are inseparable. This wise people in favour speak out. They do not hold the language of slaves. of AmeThey do not ask you to repeal your laws, as a favor; they claim it as a right. They tell you, they will not submit to them; and I tell you, the acts must be repealed, and you must go through the work; you must declare you have no right to tax-then they may trust Mea. you."

rica.

sures

proposed

by Chat

re

6. But his plan for conciliatory measures, was negatived by a large majority. Petitions from the mer- jected.

3. What did they resolve? To what states send? -4. What was the tone of the king's speech? What of parliament's reply? -5. Give some account of Lord Chatham's speech?

192

P'D. I.

PARLIAMENT MISJUDGE.

P'T. III. chants of London, and other commercial places, in favor of America, were referred, not to the regular CH. VI. Committee, but to one, called by the friends of the Colonies colonies, "the committee of oblivion." Dr. Franklin, refused a and the other colonial agents were refused a hearing hearing. before parliament, on the plea, that they were ap

pointed by an illegal assembly; and thus was put to silence, the voice of three millions of people, yet in the attitude of humble suppliants.

7. Both houses of parliament concurred, by a large majority, in an address to the king, in which they deBlind- clare, "that the Americans had long wished to become the independent, and only waited for ability and opporrulers. tunity, to accomplish their design. To prevent this,"

ness of

they said, "and to crush the monster in its birth, was the duty of every Englishman; and that this must be done, at any price, and at every hazard."

8. On the 10th of February, a bill was passed, by which the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, were restricted in 1775. their trade to Great Britain and its West India possesFeb. 10. sions, and were also prohibited from fishing on the ment at- banks of Newfoundland. The same restrictions were tempt to soon after extended to all the colonies, excepting the New York and North Carolina. It was expected that colonies. these prohibitions would prove particularly distressing

Parlia

divide

to the inhabitants of New England, as an idea prevailed, that they depended on the fisheries for their subsistence, and must, if deprived of them, be starved into obedience.

6. Did his speech produce any effect? What petitions were offered? How treated? Who was refused a hearing? What may be said of all this?-7. What address was made by parliament?-8. What acts did they pass? What was expected from these acts?