having duly considered and being deeply affected with the unhappy differences which have long subsisted and are increasing between Great Britain and the American colonies, do resolve that a meeting of committees from the several colonies on this continent is highly expedient and necessary, to consult upon the present state of the colonies, and the miseries to which they are and must be reduced by the operation of certain acts of parliament respecting America, and to deliberate and determine upon wise and proper measures to be by them recommended to all the colonies, for the recovery and establishment of their just rights and liberties, civil and religious, and the restoration of harmony between Great Britain and the colonies, most ardently desired by all good men."

In Virginia, the meeting of delegates from the different counties in the colony resolved that a general congress of deputies assemble from all the colonies, "to consider the most proper and effectual method of so operating on the commercial connexion of the colonies with the mother country, as to procure redress for the much injured colony of Massachusetts Bay, to secure British America from the ravages and ruin of arbitrary taxes, and speedily to procure the return of that harmony and union so beneficial to the whole empire, and so ardently desired by all British America."

The committee of correspondence of Connecti

cut were instructed by the house of representatives of that colony "to attend congress, to consult and advise on proper measures for advancing the best good of the colonies; and such conferences from time to time to report to this house."

In Pennsylvania, the delegates were directed to meet the deputies of other colonies, to consult upon the present unhappy state of the colonies, and to form and adopt a plan for the purpose of obtaining a redress of American grievances, and ascertaining American rights.

The proceedings in other parts of the country, by those organized bodies from which the delegates to this first national assembly received their appointment, were of the same moderate character, and disclosed an intention limited to the appointment of committees of conference, who might interchange their opinions on the alarming condition of the country, and devise such measures as their wisdom should find expedient, to be afterwards adopted by the colonies, and not by the congress, for the protection of the public liberty.

Two considerations led to this guarded conduct. First, the urgency of the occasion for a central and common government was not realized by the whole people. The public mind is always slow in its perceptions, and always alarmed at the proposal of a change. Until oppression was actually grinding the people many among them would not

believe it was designed. The statesmen and leaders of the day were a great way in advance of the intelligence of their times. "They snuffed danger in the coming breeze." They did not wait for oppression. The rumour of an attempt upon their liberties excited them. They traced the six-penny tax upon tea, so ínsignificant in the eyes of a financier, so tolerable in the resources of their countrymen for taxation, to the principle, destructive to freedom, in which it originated. They were successful in extending very widely their own sound doctrines, and bringing up the minds of men to the standard of their policy. But this was in the sphere of their own influence. Others were beyond it who could not enter into all their feelings. Such must be dealt with mildly and moderately; and the leaders of the revolution, with a prudence as rare as it was wise, first enlightened the public mind, and then directed it.

But if the occasion had then demanded such a power, the erecting of it over the several local authorities devolving on the friends of freedom in the several provinces, would have been a delicate task. To the troubles of revolution and war would have been added the contests and collisions of sections or individuals for power, influence, or rights. These were to be avoided and again is seen the wisdom of those distinguished

men.

The passions which grow up in all wars, and are fiercest and wildest in civil commotion,

were kept down and controlled, and the easiest and simplest measures were taken to avoid those dangerous rocks upon which first private virtue and then public happiness is wrecked. The power which was to guide the revolution was made by the revolution-grew as that grew, and strengthened as that advanced, and although it may be lamented that there was not a more self existing power to have directed operations for battle, yet what was lost in the energy of war was balanced in all probability by the additional security of internal peace.

The measures of the first continental congress constituted as it was of the purest and noblest and wisest of the American people, conformed to this restricted authority.

They assembled at Philadelphia on 5th September 1774. They expressed their approbation of the wisdom and fortitude, with which the late unjust, cruel and oppressive acts of the British parliament had been received in Massachusetts; they published addresses to the governour of that colony, to the British colonies, to the people of Great Britain, and to the inhabitants of Quebec, in which, with an eloquence and a force never excelled in the language in which they were written, the rights of the colonists and the wrongs they were suffering were depictured and explained. They made a solemn declaration of their political privileges, they advised as a mean of preserving

them, that an agreement should be formed not to import any article of British produce, and they resolved, what self preservation rendered indispensable, that the seizing or attempting to seize any person in America, in order to transport such person beyond sea for the trial of offences committed within the body of a county in America, being against law, would justify and ought to meet with resistance and reprisal; but they adopted no measure which implied power in themselves to exercise government, and without giving to their deliberations the form of legislative acts they dissolved their assembly on 26th October following.

Great effects were produced by the influence of this congress throughout the continent. The people became satisfied that there was a common feeling with regard to the points in dispute, and a common interest in promoting and supporting measures of resistance. The unwelcome necessity of encountering British tyranny they were assured would not rest with those only on whom the lust of domination chiefly exerted itself. The encouraging opinion strengthened into confidence and certainty, that beyond the immediate operation of ministerial exactions, men of fortune, of talents, and of honour would meet the responsibility which patriotism imposed.

A second continental congress assembled at Philadelphia on 10th May 1775, and was con