The congrefs in the mean time continued to act with all the vigour which Articles of confederation and perpetual union agreed upon; by which they bound themThese were in fubfiance as follows:

its conflituents had expected. were drawn up and folemnly felves and polterity for ever.

1. Each colony was to be independent within itself, and to retain an abfolute fovereignty in all domeftic affairs.

2. Delegates to be annually elected to meet in congrefs, at fuch time and place as fhould be enacted in the preceeding congrefs.

3. This affembly fhould have the power of determining on war or peace, making alliances; and in fhort all that power which fovereigns of flates ufually claim as their own.

4. The expenfes of war to be paid out of the common treasury, and raifed by a poll-tax on males between 16 and 60; the proportions to be determined by the laws of the colony.

5. An executive council to be appointed to act in place of the congrefs during its recefs.

6. No colony to make war with the Indians without confent of congrefs.

7. The boundaries of all the Indian lands to be fetured and afcertained to them; and no purchases of lands were to be made by Individuals, or even by a colony, without confent of congrefs.

8. Agents appointed by congrefs fhould refide among the Indians, to prevent frauds in trading with them, and to relieve, at the public expence, their wants and distresses.

9. This confederation to laft until there fhould be a reconciliation with Britain; or, if that event fhould not take place, it was to be perpe

tual.

After the action of Bunker's Hill, however, when the power of Great Britain appeared lefs formidable in the eyes of America than before, congrefs proceeded formally to juftify their proceedings in a declaration drawn up in terms more expreffive, and well calculated to excite attention.

"Were it pollible (faid they) for men who exercife their reason, to believe that the divine Author of our exifience intended a part of the human race to hold an abfolute property in and unbounded power over others, marked out by his infinite goodness and wifdom as the objects of a legal domination, never rightfully refiftable, however fevere and oppreffive; the inhabitants of these colonies might at leaft require from the parliament of Great Britain fome evidence that this dreadful authority over them had been granted to that body but a reverence for our Great Creator, principles of humanity, and the dictates of common fenfe, muft convince all thofe who reflect upon the fubject, that government was inftituted to promote the welfare of mankind, and ought to be adminiftered for the attainment of that end.

"The legislature of Great Britain, however, flimulated by an inordinate paffion for power, not only unjuftihable, but which they know to be particularly reprobated by the very conftitution of that kingdom; and despairing of fuccefs in any mode of contest where regard fhould be had to law, truth, or right have, at length, deferting thofe, attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic purpose of enflaving thefe colonies by violence, and have thereby rendered it neceffary for us to clofe with their laft appeal from reafon to arms. Yet, however blinded that affembly might be, by their intemperate rage for unlimited domination, fo to flight jultice in the opinion of mankind, we

elleen ourselves bound by obligations to the rest of the world to make known the juftice of our caufe."

After taking notice of the manner in which their ancestors left Britain, the happiness attending the mutual friendly commerce betwixt that country and her colonies, and the remarkable fuccefs of the late war, they proceeded as follows: "The new miniftry finding the brave fues of Britain, tho' frequently defeated, yet ftill contending, took up the unfortunate idea of granting them a hafty peace, and of then fubduing her faithful friends.

"Thefe devoted colonies were judged to be in fuch a flate as to prefent victories without bloodshed, and all the eafy emoluments of ftatutable plunder. The uninterrupted tenor of their peaceable and refpectful behaviour from the beginning of their colonization; their dutiful, zcalous, and ufeful fervices during the war, though fo recently and amply acknowledged in the most honourable manner by his Majefty, by the late king, and by parliament, could not fave them from the innovations. Parliament was influenced to adopt the pernicious project; and affuming a new power over them, had in the courfe of eleven years given fuch decifive fpecimens of the fpirit and confequences attending this power, as to leave no doubt of the effects of acquiefcence under it.

"They have undertaken to give and grant our money without our confent, though we have ever exercised an exclufive right to difpofe of our own property. Statutes have been paffed for extending the jurifdiction of the courts of admiralty and vice-Admiralty beyond their ancient limits; for depriving us of the accustomed and inestimable rights of trial by jury, in cafes affecting both life and property; for fufpending the legislature of one of our colonies; for interdicting all commerce to the capital of another; and for altering fundamentally the form of government eftablished by charter, and fecured by acts of its own legislature; and folemnly confirmed by the crown; for exempting the murderers of colonifts from legal trial, and in effect from punishment; for erecting in a neighbouring province, acquired by the joint arms of Great Britain and America, a defpotifm dangerous to our very exiftence; and for quartering foldiers, upon the colonifis in time of a profound peace. It has also been refolved in parliament, that colonifts charged with committing certain offences, fhall be tranfported to England to be tried.

But why should we enumerate our injuries in detail ?-By one ftature it was declared, that parliament can of right make laws to bind us in all cafes whatever. What is to defend us against fo enormous, fo unlimited a power? Not a fingle perfon who affumes it is chofen by us, or is fubject to our control or influence; but on the contrary, they are all of them exempt from the operation of fuch laws; and an American revenue, if not diverted from the ouftenfible purposes for which it is raifed, would actually lighten their own burdens in proportion as it increases ours.

We

"We faw the mifery to which fuch defpotifm would reduce us. for ten years inceffantly and ineffectually befieged the throne as fupplicants; we reasoned, we remonftrated with parliament in the most mild and decent language; but adminiftration, fenfible that we fhould regard thefe measures as freemen ought to do, fent over fleets and armies to enforce them.

"We have pursued every temperate, every refpeâiful measure; we have even proceeded to break off all commercial intercourfe with our fellowfubjects as our last peaceable admonition, that our attachment to no nation on earth would fupplant our attachment to liberty: this we flattered ourfelves

was the ultimate ftep of the controverfy; but fubfequent events have shown how vain was this hope of finding moderation in our enemies!

"The lords and commons, in their addrefs in the month of February, faid, that a rebellion at that time actually exifted in the province of Maffachufett's; and that thofe concerned in it had been countenanced and encouraged by unlawful combinations and engagements entered into by his Majelly's fubjects in feveral of the colonies; and therefore they befought his Majefty that he would take the most effectual measures to enforce due obedience to the laws and authority of the fupreme legiflature. Soon after the commercial intercourfe of whole colonies with foreign countries was cut off by an act of parliament; by another, feveral of them were entirely prohibited from the fisheries in the feas near their coafts, on which they always depended for their fubfiflence; and large reinforcements of ships and troops were immediately fent over to General Gage.

"Fruitless were all the intreaties, arguments, and eloquence of an illuftrious band of the most diftinguished peers and commoners, who nobly and ftrenuoufly afferted the juftice of our caufe, to ftay, or even to mitigate, the heedlefs fury with which thefe accumulated outrages were hurried on. Equally fruitless was the interference of the city of London, of Bristol, and many other respectable towns in our favour."

The addrefs after reproaching parliament, General Gage and the British government in general, goes on thus: "We are reduced to the alternative of choofing an unconditional fubmiffion to tyranny or refiftence by force. The latter is our choice. We have counted the cost of this conteft, and find nothing fo dreadfnl as voluntary flavery. Honour, juftice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to furrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent poflerity have a right to receive from us. Our caufe is jnft; our union is perfect; our internal refources are great; and if neceffary, foreign affiftance is undoubtedly attainable. We fight not for glory or conqueft; we exhibit to mankind the remarkable fpectacle of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies. They boaft of their privileges and civilization, and yet proffer no milder conditions than fervitude or death. In our own native land, in defence of the freedom that is our birthright, for the protection of our property acquired by the honeft induftry of our forefathers and our own, againft violence actually offered, we have taken up arms; we fhall lay them down when hoftilities fhall ceafe on the part of our aggreffors, and all danger of their being renewed fhall be removed, and not before."

These are some of the most striking paffages in the declaration of congress on taking up arms again Great-Britain, dated July 6th 1775. Without inquiring whether the principles on which it is founded are right or wrong, fays a British hiftorian, the determined fpirit which it fhews, ought to have convinced us, that the conquest of America was an event fcarce ever to be expected. In every other respect an equal fpirit was fhewn; and the rulers of the British nation had the mortification to fee those whom they filed rebels and traitors, fucceed in negociations in which they themselves were utterly foiled. In the paffing the Quebec-bill, miniftry had flattered themfelves that the Canadians would be fo much attached to them on account of restoring the French laws, that they would very readily join in any attempt against the colonists who had reprobated that bill in fuch frong terms: but in this, as in every thing else they found themselves miflaken. The Canadians having been fubject to Britain for a period of fifteen years, and being thus

rendered fenfible of the fuperior advantages of British government, received the bill itself with evident marks of difapprobation; nay, reprobated it as tyrannical and oppreffive. A fcheme had been formed for General Carleton, governor of the province, to raise an army of Canadians wherewith to act against the Americans; and fo fanguine were the hopes of adminiflration in this refpect, that they had fent 20,000 ftand of arms, and a great quantity of military flores, to Quebec for the purpose. But the people, though they did not join the Americans, yet were found immovable to their purpofe to fland neuter. Application was made to the bishop; but he declined to interpofe his influence, as contrary to the rules of the Popish clergy; fo that the utmoll efforts of government in this province were found to answer liule or no purpose.

The British adminiftration next tried to engage the Indians in their cause. But though agents were difperfed among them with large prefents to the chiefs, they univerfally replied, that they did not underftand the nature of the quarrel, nor could they diftinguish whether those who dwelt in America or on the other fide of the ocean were in the fault: but they were furprised to fee Englishmen ask their affistance againff one another, and advised them to be reconciled, and not think of fhedding the blood of their brethren.--To the reprefentations of congrefs they paid more refpe&t. These fet forth, that the English on the other fide of the ocean had taken up arms to enflave not only their countrymen in America, but the Indians allo; and if the latter fhould enable them to overcome the colonists, they themselves would foo be reduced to a flate of slavery also. By arguments of this kind these favages were engaged to remain neuter; and thus the Americans were freed from a mofl dangerous enemy. On this occafion the congrefs thought proper to hold a conference with the different tribes of Indians. The fpeech made on the occafion is too long to be inferted here, we shall therefore, only lay before our readers, fome of the moft remarkable paffages.

"Brothers, Sachems, and Warriors!

"We, the delegates from the Twelve United Provinces, now fitting in general congrefs at Philadelphia, fend their talk to you our brothers. "Brothers and Friends, now attend !

"When our fathers croffed the great water, and came over to this land, the king of England gave them a talk, affuring them that they and their children fhould be his children; and that if they would leave their native country, and make fettlements, and live here, and buy and felt, and trade with their brethren beyond the water, they fhould still keep hold of the fame covenant-chain, and enjoy peace; and it was covenanted, that the fields, houses, goods and poffeffions, which our fathers fhould acquire, fhould remain to them as their own, and be their childrens for ever, and at their fole difpofal.

"Brothers and Friends, open a kind ear!

"We will now tell you of the quarrel betwext the counsellors of King George and the inhabitants and colonies of America.

"Many of his councellors have perfuaded him to break the covenantchain, and not to fend us any more good talks. They have prevailed upon bim to enter into a covenant againft us; and have torn afunder, and caft behind their backs, the good old covenant which their ancestors and ours entered into, and took ftrong hold of. They now tell us they will put their hands in our pocket without afking, as though it were their own; and at their pleasure they will take from us our charters, or written civil conflitu

tion, which we love as our lives alfo our plantations, our houses, and goods, whenever they pleafe, without afking our leave. They tell us, that our veffels may go to that or this ifland in the fea, but to this or that particular inland we thall not trade any more; and in cafe of our non-compliance with thefe new orders, they fhut up our harbours.

"Brothers, we live on the fame ground with you; the fame island is our common birth-place. We defire to fit down under the fame tree of peace with you: let us water its roots, and cherish the growth, till the large leaves and flourishing branches fhall extend to the fetting fun, and reach the skies, If any thing difagreeable should ever fall out between us, the Twelve United Colonies, and you, the Six Nations, to wound our peace, let us immediately feek measures for healing the breach. From the prefent fituation of our affairs, we judge it expedient to kindle up a fmall fire at Albany, where we may hear each other's voice and disclose our minds fully to one another."

rous.

The other remarkable tranfactions of this congrefs were the ultimate refufal of the conciliatory propofal made by Lord North, of which fuch fanguine expectations had been formed by the English miniftry; and appointing a generaliffimo to command their armies, which were now very numeThe perfon chofen for this purpose was George Washington, a native of Virginia a man fo univerfally beloved, that he was raised to fuch an high flation by the unanimous voice of congrefs; and his fubfequent conduct fhowed him every way worthy of it. Horatio Gates, and Charles Lee, two English officers of confiderable reputation, were also chofen; the former an adjutant general, the fecond a major-general. Artemus Ward, Philip Schuyler, and Ifrael Putnam, were likewife nominated major-generals. Seth Pomeroy, Richard Montgomery, a native of Ireland. David Woofter, William Heath, Jofeph Spencer, John Thomas, John Sullivan, and Nathaniel Green, were chofen brigadier, generals at the fame time.

Congrefs had now alfo the fatisfaction to receive deputies from the colony of Georgia, expreffing a defire to join the confederacy. The reafons they gave for renouncing their allegiance to Britain was, that the conduct of parliament towards the other colonies was oppreffive; that though the obnoxious acts had not been extended to them, they could view this only as an omiffion, because of the feeming little confequence of their colony; and there fore looked upon it rather to be a flight than a favour. At the fame timethey framed a petition to the King, fimilar to that fent by the other colonies, and which met with a fimilar reception.

The fuccefs which had hitherto attended the Americans in all their meafures, now emboldened them to think not only of defending themselves, but likewife of acting offenfively against Great Britain. The conqueft of Canada appeared an object within their reach, and one that would be attended with many advantages; and as an invafion of that province was already facilitated by the taking of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, it was refolved if poffible, to penetrate that way into Canada, and reduce Quebec during the winter before the fleets and armies which they were well affured would fail thither from Britain fhould arrive. By order of congrefs, therefore, 30co men were put under the command of generals Montgomery and Schuyler, with orders to prodeed to Lake Champlain, from whence they were conveyed in flat-bottomed boats to the mouth of the river Sorel, a branch of the great river St. Laurence, and on which is fituated a fort of the fame name with the river. On the other hand, they were oppofed by General Carleton governor of Canada, a man of great activity and experience in war; who No. 22.