appointments were made formally in each of the colonies. The grievances which had been complained of were not redressed, and before the time for the meeting arrived, others had been added. England had attempted to assert her claims by other means than her declarations and laws. The sword had been drawn at Lexington, and war, one of the greatest of earthly calamities, was brought upon the country. Under these circumstances the second General Congress convened.

CHAPTER XX.

THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.-THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF NEW JERSEY.-CONSTITUTION OF NEW JERSEY.

THE Second General Congress convened on the 10th of May, 1775. They immediately entered upon decided action. A resolution was passed prohibiting all exportations to the neighbouring British colonies, or the fisheries on the coast. Another followed, that the colonies should directly be put in a state of defence. This was considered necessary in consequence of the actual commencement of hostilities in Massachusetts. That province was also advised, to consider the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor as vacant, and that a Council should be chosen by the Assembly to direct the government, until his Majesty should appoint a Governor to conduct affairs according to the charter. New York, where a body of troops was shortly expected, was advised to act on the defensive, so long as such a course could be safely maintained, but that they should not permit the erection of fortified works by the British, or the communication between town and country to be cut off. It was still resolved, that an humble and dutiful petition should be addressed to the King, asking that measures might be taken to accommodate the present unhappy disputes. The propriety of this step was much doubted by many, considering the direct rejection of previous petitions, but it was finally agreed to, as well as addresses to the people of England, of Ireland, and of the province of Quebec. In these, the attacks that had been made upon the colonies were repelled, their desire of peace upon just and constitutional grounds, was asserted, as well as their attachment to England, her laws, her people, and her King. But there was also a bold declaration of rights, and a strong vindication of former proceedings and designs.

Their final appeal was now made, and Congress proceeded to perfect the measures for the defence of the country, by making

provision for raising and organizing an army. On the 15th of June, George Washington was appointed General-in-Chief of the armies raised, or to be raised, for the defence of American liberty. To defray the necessary expenses, it was resolved that the sum of three millions of dollars should be issued in bills of credit, which sum was to be apportioned for sinking, among the several colonies, in the proportion of inhabitants, but the faith of the "Twelve United Colonies" was to be pledged for its redemption.'

On the 15th of May, 1775, the Assembly of New Jersey was convened by the Governor, for the purpose of considering the conciliatory plan of Lord North, which had been sent by a circular to the several colonies. It was recommended by the Governor in a long and elaborate address. He believed that the offers it contained were all that the colonists could justly demand or desire, and said that a happy opportunity was presented of getting rid of an unnatural contest, by only complying with an acknowledged duty. But the previous course of the Governor, had not been such as to favor his influence and argument. Under no circumstances, however, could these have prevailed with the House on the present occasion. It was perceived that the plan submitted to them, fell far short of the demands and rights of the people. In entering upon the subject, regret was expressed by the House, that as the Continental Congress was then sitting to consider the situation of affairs in America, the present meeting had not been deferred until the sense of that body should be known, as they supposed that no one would suspect them of an intention to aban

1 Georgia had not yet become associated, but her accession took place in July, and the "Thirteen" then became united.

2 Beside the general course of the Governor, the attention of the House was called at this time to statements purporting to come from his Excellency, in relation to the previous action of the House. A copy of the "Parliamentary Register" was produced, containing a letter from the Governor to Lord Dartmouth, in which the former represented the Assembly as having been divided in their approbation of the proceedings of the late Congress. The Assembly requested to know of the Governor whether the extract contained a true representation of the substance of the letter written by him. His Excellency complained of the course of the House in placing the extract on their minutes, and seeking to inculpate him, but denied the correctness of the extract.

don the cause of their country. But they said they had considered the proposal that had been offered, and though they wished to avoid a hasty conclusion, they could form no other opinion than that it was essentially the same that had heretofore been made ; that it did not appear to be materially different from that which was presented before the passage of the stamp act; they said that America did not comply with it then, and that though they were sincerely disposed to use all proper means in order to become reconciled to his Majesty, and the Parliament of England, yet they could not comply with a proposition which they believed to be inconsistent with the privileges of freemen; nor did they want any time to consider, whether they should submit to that which in their apprehension would reduce them to a state but little better than slavery. That they might, according to the present proposal be fully and effectually taxed by their fellow subjects of Great Britain, and that perhaps to a much greater degree than before; as it seemed to require that they should raise such a proportion as Parliament should think proper, and it was impossible to tell how far the people of the colony might be involved by assent to so undeterminate a provision. "Upon the whole," they said, "though sincerely desirous to give every mark of duty and attachment to the King, and to show all due deference to the Parliament, we cannot, consistent with our real sentiments, and the trust reposed in us, assent to a proposal big with consequences destructive to the public welfare; and hope that the justice of our parent country will not permit us to be driven into a situation, the prospect of which fills us with anxiety and horror. We heartily pray that the supreme disposer of events, in whose hands are the hearts of all men, may avert the calamities impending over us, and influence our Sovereign, his Ministry, and Parliament, so as to induce them to put a stop to the effusion of the blood of the colonists, who wish always to look upon their fellow subjects of Great Britain as their brethren."

The conciliatory plan was afterwards brought forward in Congress, and was referred to Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, and Lee, and on the report of this committee, on the 31st of July, Congress rejected the terms as unreasonable, insidious, and unsatisfactory.

The Governor replied, and declared that he had done his duty in the case, and soon afterwards prorouged the House.

It has been stated that the convention of delegates which was held in New Brunswick in July, 1774, appointed a number of their members to serve as a general committee of correspondence. The latter body met at the same place on the 2d of May, 1775. Taking into consideration the alarming condition of public affairs, especially the commencement of hostilities in one of the colonies, the committee resolved that a second Convention would be necessary, and directed that a meeting should be called by the Chairman, on the 23d of May, to consider upon such matters as should be then brought to their notice. In accordance with the notice, delegates were again elected in the counties, and met at the time and place appointed. Eighty-seven representatives appeared, delegates being present from all the counties. The Provincial Congress (as this body was constantly styled,) proceeded, the day after their meeting, to effect an organization by the appointment of officers. Hendrick Fisher was chosen President, Jonathan D. Sergeant Secretary, and William Paterson and Frederick Frelinghuysen Assistant Secretaries. The business of the Congress was opened with a full acknowledgement of the importance and solemnity of the engagement; that it might effect the lives and properties, the religion and liberties of their constituents, and their posterity; and hence that it became them, as the representative body of a christian people, to look up to that All-Powerful Being by whom all human events were guided, and to implore his favor, and direction.5

There were five from Bergen, thirteen from Essex, eleven from Middlesex, seven from Morris, eight from Somerset, four from Sussex, seven from Monmouth, fifteen from Hunterdon, five from Burlington, three from Gloucester, three from Cumberland, five from Salem, and one from Cape May. [Journal of Proceedings.] The meetings and proceedings of this body (as well as previous meetings of a similar character,) are to be carefully noticed. The people had been driven by the refusal of the Governor to call the Assembly, to an independent procedure, and this course of procedure was now continued, and thus the Provincial Congress came, in a great degree, to take the place of the Assembly, and the latter, as will be seen, was soon afterwards entirely suspended.

* It was therefore ordered that during the session the business of each day should be opened with prayer.