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But because the happiness of mankind depends so much upon the enjoying of liberty of their consciences as aforesaid, I do hereby solemnly declare, promise and grant, for me, my heirs and assigns, that the first article of this charter, relating to liberty of conscience, and every part and clause therein, according to the true intent and meaning thereof, shall be kept and remain, without any alterations inviolably forever.

And lastly, I, the said William Penn, Proprietary and Governor of the province of Pennsylvania, and territories thereunto belonging, for myself, my heirs and assigns, have solemnly declared, granted and confirmed, and do hereby solemnly declare, grant and confirm, that neither I, my heirs or assigns, shall procure or do any thing or things, whereby the liberties in this charter contained and expressed, nor any part thereof, shall be infringed or broken: And if any thing shall be procured or done by any person or persons, contrary to these presents, it shall be held of no force or effect.

In witness whereof, I, the said William Penn, at Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, have unto this present charter of liberties set my hand and broad seal, this twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and one, being the thirteenth year of the reign of king William the third over England, ScotLand, France and Ireland, &c, and in the twenty-first year of my gov

ernment.

And notwithstanding the closure and test of this present charter as aforesaid, I think fit to add this following proviso thereunto, as part of the same, that is to say: That notwithstanding any clause or clauses in the above mentioned charter, obliging the province and territories to join together in legislation, I am content, and do hereby declare, that if the representatives of the province and territories shall not hereafter agree to join together in legislation, and that the same shall be signified to me, or my deputy, in open assembly, or otherwise from under the hands and seals of the representatives, for the time being, of the province or territories, or the major part of either of them, any time within three years from the date hereof, that in such case the inhabitants of each of the three counties of this province shall not have less than eight persons to represent them in assembly for the province: and the inhabitants of the town of Philadelphia (when the said town is incorporated) two persons to represent them in assembly; and the inhabitants of each county in the territories shall have as many persons to represent them in distinct assembly for the territories, as shall be requested by them as aforesaid.

Notwithstanding which separation of the province and territories, in respect of legislation, I do hereby promise, grant and declare, That the inhabitants of both the province and territories shall separately enjoy all other liberties, privileges and benefits, granted jointly to them in this charter, any law, usage or custom of this government heretofore made and practised, or any law made and passed by this general assembly, to the contrary hereof notwithstanding. WILLIAM PENN.

This Charter of Privileges being distinctly read in Assembly, and the whole and every part thereof being approved of and agreed to by us, we do thankfully receive the same from our Proprietary and Governor, at Philadelphia, this twenty-eighth

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day of October, one thousand seven hundred and one. Signed, on behalf and by order of the Assembly, per

EDWARD SHIPPEN,

JOSEPH GROWDEN, Speaker.

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Proceedings of the Provincial Conference of committees of the Province. of Pennsylvania, held at Carpenter's Hall, in Philadelphia, began. June 18th, and continued by adjournments to June 25th, 1776.

TUSEDAY, June 18, 1776.

This day a number of gentlemen met at Carpenter's Hall, in Philadelphia, being deputed by the committees of several of the counties of this province, to join in provincial conference, in consequence of a circular letter from the committee of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, inclosing the resolution of the continental congress of the 15th of May last.

Col. M'Kean, as chairman of the city committee, declared the motives which had induced that committee to propose the holding of the present conference, and then laid on the table, a certificate of deputies appointed to attend on the part of said committee.

Returns were also given in, from the counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, Berks, Northampton, York, Cumberland, Bedford and Westmoreland, by the deputies of said counties, by which it ap peared the following gentlemen were appointed, viz.§

For the committee of the city of Philadelphia.

*Dr. Benjamin Franklin,
Col. Thomas M'Kean,

Mr. Christopher Marshal, sen.
Major John Bayard,

Col. Timothy Matlack,

Col. Joseph Deau,
Cap. Francis Gurney,
Major William Coates,
Mr. George Schlosser,
Cap. George Goodwin,
Mr. Jacob Barge,
Mr. Samuel C. Morris,
Cap. Joseph Moulder,

Mr. William Lowman,

Dr. Benjamin Rush,

Mr. Christopher Ludwig,
Mr. Jacob Shriner,
Cap. Sharp Delaney,
Major John Cox,
Cap. Benjamin Loxley,
Cap. Samuel Brewster,
Cap. Joseph Blewer,
Mr. William Robinson,
Cap. Jonathan B. Smith,
Mr. James Milligen.

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Col. James Smith,
Col. Robert M'Pherson,
Col. Richard M'Alister,
Col. David Kennedy,
Col. William Rankin,

Col. Henry Slagle,

Mr. James Egar,

*Mr. John Hay,

Cap. Joseph Read.

For the committee of Cumberland county.

Mr. James M'Lane,
Col. John Allison,
John M'Clay, Esq.
William Elliot, Esq.
Col. William Clark,

Dr. John Colhoon,
Mr. John Creigh,

Mr. Hugh M'Cormick,
Mr. John Harris,

Mr. Hugh Alexander.

Samuel Davidson, Esq.

For the committee of Bedford county.

Col. David Espy,

Col. John Piper,

Mr. Edward Cook,

For the committee of Westmoreland county
Mr. James Perry.

$ All the members attended except those marked (*)

A quorum of the members from the above counties being met, except that only two appeared from Chester county; proceeded to the choice of a president, vice-president and two secretaries, and

Col. THOMAS M'KEAN, was chosen president.
Col. JOSEPH HART, vice-president.

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The conference met, present 12 committees, 97 members.

A return was delivered at the table, from Northumberland; and the deputies attending, being

Col William Cook,
Alexander Hunter, Esq.

Mr. John Heitzel,

As did those also from Chester.

Mr. Robert Martin,

Mr. Matthew Brown.

On motion, it was resolved unanimously, That in taking the sense of this conference, on any question which may come before them, the city and counties respectively shall have one vote.

Ön motion, it was ordered, That the resolution of the continental congress, of the 15th of May last, recommending the total suppression of all authority under the king of Great Britain, &c. be readand it was read accordingly, and is in the words following, viz.

IN CONGRESS, May 15, 1776.

Whereas, his Brittanic majesty, in conjunction with the lords and commons of Great Britain, has by a late act of parliament, excluded the inhabitants of these United Colonies from the protection of his crown: And whereas, no answer whatever, to the humble petitions of the colonies for redress of grievances and reconciliation with Great Brittain, has been, or is likely to be given, but the whole force of that kingdom, aided by foreign mercenaries, is to be exerted for the destruction of the good people of these colonies. And whereas, it appears absolutely irreconcilable to reason and good conscience, for the people of these colonies, now to take the oaths and affirmations necessary for the support of any government, under the crown of Great Britain; and it is necessary, that the exercise of every kind of authority, under the said crown should be totally suppressed, and all the powers of govern ment exerted, under the authority of the people of the colonies, for the preservation of internal peace, virtue and good order, as well as for the defence of their lives, liberties and properties, against the hostile invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies. Therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective assemblies and conventions of the United Colonies, where no government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs, has been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general.

By order of the congress.

JOHN HANCOCK, Presidents

By special order, the same was read a second time, and after mature consideration,

Resolved unanimously, That the said resolution of congress, of the 15th of May last, is fully approved by this conference.

On motion, resolved unanimously, That the present government of this province is not competent to the exigencies of our affairs.

Un motion, resolved unanimously, (That it is necessary that a pro. vincial convention be called by this conference, for the express purpose of forming a new government in this province, on the authority of the people only.)

Resolved unanimously, That a committee be appointed to ascertain the number of members of which the convention ought to consist, and the proportion of representatives for the city and each county, and that two members from the city and each county, be appointed on said committee, except from Westmoreland, which can furnish but one, and the following gentlemen were appointed, viz. Messrs. Bayard, Atlee, Hart, Bull, Bird, Levis,

Kidd,

Gray, Weitzel, Creigh,
Smith, Cook, Piper,

Matlack, Cunningham, M'Clean, Levis,

Hunter.

Davis, Mather, Haller, Espy, M'Allister, Resolved, That the committee now appointed, be instructed to fix upon some number, not less than ninety, nor more than one hundred and ten, for the whole province.

A petition from the German associators of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, was read, praying that all associators, who are taxables, may be entitled to vote,

On motion, resolved unanimously, that this conference will now enter into a consideration of the qualifications of electors, and of persons who may be elected.

THURSDAY, June 20, 1776.

Col. Hart, from the committee of the whole, reported, that they had come into two resolutions which he was ready to report, when the conferrence would receive them.

Ordered, That they be received forthwith; then the said resolutions being read and considered, were agreed to by the conference without one dissenting voice, and are as follow, viz.

Resolved, That every associator in the province shall be admitted to a vote for members of the convention, in the city or county in which he resides: Provided, such associator be of the age of 21 years, and shall have lived one year in this province immediately preceding the election, and shall have contributed at any time before the passing of this resolve, to the payment of either provincial or county taxes, or shall have been rated or assessed towards the same.

Resolved, That every person qualified by the laws of this province, to vote for representatives in assembly, shall be admitted to vote for members of the intended convention, provided he shall first take the following test on oath or affirmation, if thereunto required by any one of the judges or inspectors of the election, who are hereby empowered to administer the same.

I

do declare, that I do not hold myself bound to bear allegiance to George the third, king of Great Britain, &c. and that I will not by any means, directly or indirectly oppose the establishment

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