and adopted by every city, town, and county, in the British Colonies, and of having your just and well merited praises resounded from one end of this extensive continent to the other. Gentlemen, with hearts penetrated with unutterable gratitude, and overflowing with benevolent wishes for every blessing on you and your posterity, we have the honor of being your affectionate countrymen, and much obliged humble servants. By order of the Committee, ABRAHAM KETELTAS, Chairman. To Philip Livingston, John Jay, Isaac Low, Henry Wisner, James Duane, John Alsop, Simon Boerum, and William Floyd, Esqrs. 4. Jamaica, Jan. 27, 1775. Whereas, a few people in this town have taken upon themselves the name of a Committee, said to be chosen by a majority of the inhabitants, we the subscribers, freeholders and inhabitants of the said township, do think it our duty to declare, that we never gave our consent toward choosing that Committee, or making any resolves, as we utterly disapprove of all unlawful meetings, and all tyrannical proceedings whatsoever; and as we have always been, so it is our firm resolution to continue, peaceable and faithful subjects to his present Majesty, King George the Third, our most gracious sovereign; and we do further declare, that we do not acknowledge any other Representatives but the General Assembly of this Province, by whose wisdom and interposition we hope to obtain the wished redress of our grievances in a constitutional way. Signed by 136 persons, (names omitted,) 91 of whom are freeholders, and the others very respectable inhabitants. There are not above 160 freeholders at most in this township. 5. Newtown, Dec. 10, 1774. The election of a Committee of seventeen persons, for the purposes mentioned in the association entered into by the Continental Congress, for corresponding with the other Committees of this Province, having this day come on, pursuant to advertisement of the supervisor, a great number of the most respectable freeholders assembled at the Town House, and the following persons were unanimously chosen, viz. : Jonathan Lawrence, John Alburtis, Abm. Brinckerhoff, Jacob Blackwell, Richard Alsop, Esq., 6. This Committee did not meet till December 29th, (owing to the small-pox in Col. Blackwell's family,) when "having seriously considered the consequences that must evidently flow from the several acts of the British Parliament to raise revenue in America, and likewise that of having power to bind the people of these Colonies by statute in all cases whatsoever; and that of extending the limits of the Admiralty Court, whereby the judges are empowered to receive their salaries and fees from effects to be condemned by themselves, and his Majesty's American subjects deprived of the right of trial by jury; that of empowering the Commissioners of Customs to break open and enter houses, without authority of any civil magistrate; stopping the Port of Boston; changing the form of government in Massachusetts Bay; and the Quebec Bill: all which, as appears to us, are absolutely intended to deprive his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects of the American Colonies of their most inestimable rights and privileges, by subjugating them to the British Parliament, and driving them to the dire necessity of having their property taken from them without their consent: Resolved, 1. That we consider it our greatest happiness and glory to be governed by the illustrious House of Hanover, and that we acknowledge and bear true allegiance to King George the Third as our rightful sovereign, and under his protection have a right to enjoy the privileges of the Constitution of Great Britain. 2. That man ought to have the disposition of his property, either by himself or his representatives. 3. That it is our indispensable duty to transmit unimpaired to posterity all our most valuable rights and privileges as we have received them from our ancestors-particularly that of disposing of our own property. 4. That as some mode of opposition to the Acts of Parliament imposing taxes in America, has been thought necessary by the inhabitants of the different Colonies on this Continent, to secure their invaded rights and properties: which mode has been left to the determination of the Delegates sent by each Colony, and met in Congress, at Philadelphia, in September last: they having, among other articles of their association, recommended that a committee be chosen in every county, city, and town, whose business it should be to observe the conduct of all persons touching said association; and, as we are willing to establish harmony and union, we will, so far as our influence extends, endeavor that the measures of Congress be strictly adhered to in this town. 5. As we highly approve of the wise, prudent, and constitutional mode of opposition adopted by our worthy Delegates in the General Congress, to the several late tyrannical and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, we therefore render our most sincere and hearty thanks to those gentlemen for their patriotic spirit in so cheerfully undertaking the difficult and arduous task, for their faithfulness in council, and great wisdom in drawing conclusions, which, through the influence of Divine Providence, we trust will be the means of securing to us ol liberty and privileges as freeborn Englishmen, and again re store harmony and confidence throughout the British Empire, which is the hearty wish of all the friends to liberty and foes to oppression. Signed by order of the Committee, JACOB BLACKWELL, Chairman. The Quebec Bill extended the limits of that Province so as to border on the western frontiers of the United Colonies. It established arbitrary government therein, discouraged the settlement of British subjects, so that by the influence of civil principles and ancient prejudices, the Catholic population might not unite with the free Protestant Colonies. "By this Association, signed Oct. 20, 1774, the members of Congress pledged themselves not to import or consume tea, or any articles from the British Possessions, until the revenue acts of Parliament were repealed. They also recommended that a committee be chosen in every county, city, and town, to observe the conduct of all persons touching this Association. 7. Newtown, Jan. 12, 1775. We, the subscribers, were no way concerned in certain resolves signed by Jacob Blackwell, Chairman, entered into by some inhabitants of Newtown, approving the proceedings of the Continental Congress; neither do we acknowledge any other representatives but the General Assembly of the Province. Signed by 58 persons, (names omitted.) Oyster Bay, Dec. 30, 1774. 8. "In December, 1774, there was a notification, signed by several of the principal freeholders, and set up in different parts of Oyster Bay, requesting the freeholders to meet at George Weekes', on the 30th, to take into consideration the resolves of the Continental Congress. "On that day, a number of freeholders appearing, they made choice of Samuel Townsend, Town Clerk, for Moderator. A motion was then made for taking into consideration the resolves of the Continental Congress; and there being present but a small part of the freeholders, the meeting was adjourned to the annual town meeting."-O. B. Records. At a meeting for choosing a committee for Oyster Bay, December 30, 1774, about ninety freeholders assembled to take into consideration the present unhappy dispute between the mother country and her colonies; when there appeared such a number of friends to our happy, regular, established government, under the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain, as to deem that meeting illegal and void, and that no business could with propriety be done; and the meeting was adjourned till a future time, when it is hoped it will be so conducted as to convince the world that his Majesty is not without friends here who will support his government. The resolutions of the Congress were publicly read; after which, exerted himself with that prudence and firmness becoming Justice a magistrate, by arguing the impropriety and illegality of such meetings, in so masterly a manner, as to have the desired effect of preventing any business being done till the legal day of calling town meeting, on the 1st Tuesday in April. SPECTATOR. 9. Flushing, Jan. 14, 1775. "There was a funeral in this town about a fortnight ago, which afforded three or four of the furious sons of liberty' an opportunity of selecting as many out of the number who attended the funeral as would suit their purpose, which was twenty-five, one-seventh of the freeholders of the town. Twelve of these were immediately dubbed Committee Men; but by the authority of a single man, who is a friend to order and good government, they were constrained from entering on any business relating to their office, till the sentiments of all the freeholders were taken upon it; which, when executed, will certainly put an end to their political existence, as it is well known the inhabitants are generally against it."-No. 92, Riv. Gaz. 10. Poetry picked up in the loyal circle of Queens county: O TEMPORA! O MORES! Tell the Committee all around, The Quaker's blood cries" vengeance" from the ground. Thou Boston too, that's covered o'er with guilt, Thy sons shall pay for blood thy impious sires have spilt. Thy venal priests inflame the people's breast These holy cheats! a nuisance and a pest! |