Resolves of the Continental Congress.

MAY 30, 1775.

A letter from Col. Arnold, dated Crown Point, May 23, 1775, was laid before the Congress, informing that he had certain intelligence, that "on the 19th there were then four hundred regulars at St. John's, making all possible preparation to cross the lake, and expected to be joined by a number of Indians, with a design of retaking Crown Point and Ticonderoga,” and earnestly calling for a reenforcement and supplies. This letter being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That the governor of Connecticut be requested immediately to send a strong reenforcement to the garrisons of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and that so many of the cannon and other stores be retained, as may be necessary for the immediate defence of those posts, until further order from this Congress, and that the provincial convention of New York be informed of this resolve, and desired to furnish those troops with provisions and other necessary stores, and to take effectual care that a sufficient number of batteaux be immediately provided for the lakes.

Ordered, That the above resolve be immediately transmitted in a letter by the president, to Gov. Trumbull, and the convention at New York.

Ordered, That the president in his letter acquaint Gov. Trumbull, that it is the desire of Congress, that he should appoint a person, in whom he can confide, to command the forces at Crown Point and Ticonderoga.

JUNE 1, 1775.

Upon motion, Resolved, That it be recommended to the government of Connecticut, or the general of the forces of that colony, to appoint commissaries to receive at Albany and forward the supplies of provisions, for the forces on Lake Champlain, from the provincial convention of New York, and that the said convention use their utmost endeavors in facilitating and aiding the transportation thereof, from thence to where the said commissaries may direct.

JUNE 8, 1775.

The Congress being informed that a Major Skene, with some other officers, who arrived last evening, in a vessel from London, were, with their papers, in the custody of the troops of this city; that the said Skene had lately been appointed governor of the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point; that one of the officers with him is a lieutenant in the regulars, now in the province of Quebec; and moreover, that the said Skene had declared that he has authority to raise a regiment in America; from all this, apprehending that the said Skene is a dangerous partizan of administration, and that his papers may contain intelligence of ministerial designs against America, very important to be known,

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to examine the papers of the said Skene and lieutenant, in their presence.

That the committee consist of Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Deane, and Mr. Mifflin.

That the said committee be upon honor to conceal whatever, of a private nature, may come to their knowledge by such examination; and that they communicate, to this Congress, what they shall discover relative to the present dispute, between Great Britain and America.

JUNE 10, 1775.

The committee for examining Gov. Skene's letters, &c., having communicated to Congress what they found relative to the dispute between Great Britain and these colonies:

Upon motion, Resolved, That Gov. Philip Skene, Lieutenant Moncrief, and Mr. Lundy, be released from their present confinement, and permitted to go at large any where within eight miles of the city, between Delaware and Schuylkill, on their parole of honor, not to pass those limits, and that they will hold no correspondence with any person whatsoever, on any political subject.

JUNE 19, 1775.

The president laid before the Congress, sundry letters he had received from Massachusetts Bay and New York, which were read.

The letters from Massachusetts Bay being taken into consideration, the Congress came to the following resolve:

That the governor of Connecticut be requested to direct all the forces raised in that colony, not employed at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, or recommended by this Congress to be marched towards New York, to be immediately sent to join the combined army before Boston. And it is earnestly recommended to the colony of Rhode Island, and to the provincial convention of New Hampshire, to send immediately to the army before Boston, such of the forces as are already embodied, towards their quotas of the troops agreed to be raised by the New England colonies.

JUNE 22, 1775.

A letter from Crown Point, dated June 10, was laid before the Congress and read. Information being given, that two officers who brought the letter were at the door, and had some things of importance to communicate,

Ordered, That they be introduced, and they were introduced. After they withdrew, the Congress came to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the officer commanding in the New York department, to procure, as soon as possible, a list of the men employed in taking and garrisoning Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and keeping possession of the lakes, and also of their disbursements, in order that they may be paid.

Resolved, That their pay be the same as that of the officers and privates in the American army; the highest of the officers not to exceed that of a captain, and that the pay commence the third day of May last, and continue till they are discharged.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the convention of New York, that they, consulting with General Schuyler, employ in the army to be raised for the defence of America, those called Green Mountain Boys, under such officers as the said Green Mountain Boys shall choose.

EXTRACTS

FROM THE

JOURNALS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

RELATING TO MASSACHUSETTS:

SEPT. 14, 1774.

THE delegates from the province of Massachusetts Bay, agreeable to a request from the joint committees of every town and district in the county of Middlesex, in the said province, communicated to the Congress the proceedings of those committees at Concord, on the 30th and 31st days of August last, which were read.

SEPT. 17, 1774.

The resolutions entered into by the delegates from the several towns and districts in the county of Suffolk, in the province of the Massachusetts Bay, on Tuesday, the 6th of September, and their address to his excellency governor Gage, dated the 9th, were laid before the Congress.

The Congress taking the resolutions into consideration,

Resolved, unanimously, That this assembly deeply feels the suffering of their countrymen in the Massachusetts Bay, under the operation of the late unjust, cruel, and oppressive acts of the British parliament-that they most thoroughly approve the wisdom and fortitude, with which opposition to these wicked ministerial measures has hitherto been conducted, and they earnestly recommend to their brethren, a perseverance in the same firm and temperate conduct, as expressed in the resolutions determined upon at a meeting of the delegates for the county of Suffolk, on Tuesday, the 6th instant, trusting that the effect of the united efforts of North America in their behalf, will carry such conviction to the British nation, of the unwise, unjust, and ruinous policy of the present administration, as quickly to introduce better men and wiser measures.

NOTE. Several resolutions of the Continental Congress, closely connected with the proceedings of the Provincial Congress, or its committees, have been inserted in their appropriate places: May 17, 1775, relating to exportations to the British dominions, ante page 313: May 29, 1775, respecting exportations to the island of Nantucket, page 313; June 9, 1775, for furnishing flour; and June 10, 1775, for encouraging the manufacture of gunpowder, page 354; June 9, 1775, for assuming government, page 359; May 18, 1775, relating to the stores at Ticonderoga, page 706; and other resolves relating to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, pages 724-5-6.

Resolved, unanimously, That contributions from all the colonies for supplying the necessities, and alleviating the distresses of our brethren at Boston, ought to be continued, in such manner, and so long as their occasions may require.

Ordered, That a copy of the above resolutions be transmitted to Boston by the president.

Ordered, That these resolutions, together with the resolutions of the county of Suffolk, be published in the newspapers.

OCTOBER 6, 1774.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the means proper to be used for a restoration of American rights. During this debate, an express from Boston arrived with a letter from the committee of correspondence, dated the 29th of September, which was laid before the Congress.

In this the committee of correspondence inform the Congress, that they "expected some regard would have been paid to the petitions presented to their governor, against fortifying their town in such a manner as can be accounted for only upon the supposition, that the town and country are to be treated by the soldiery as declared enemies-that the entrenchments upon the Neck are nearly completed—that cannon are mounted at the entrance of the town-that it is currently reported, that fortifications are to be erected on Copp's hill, Beacon hill, Fort hill, &c., so that the fortifications, with the ships in the harbor may absolutely command every avenue to the town both by sea and land-that a number of cannon, the property of a private gentleman, were a few days ago seized and taken from his wharf by order of the general-that from several circumstances mentioned in the letter, there is reason to apprehend, that Boston is to be made and kept a garrisoned town; -that from all they can hear from Britain, administration is resolved to do all in their power to force them to a submission—that when the town is inclosed, it is apprehended the inhabitants will be held as hostages for the submission of the country-they apply therefore to the Congress for advice how to act that, if the Congress advise to quit the town, they obey-if it is judged that by maintaining their ground they can better serve the public cause, they will not shrink from hardship and danger-finally, that as the late acts of parliament have made it impossible that there should be a due administration of justice, and all law therefore must be suspended-that as the governor has by proclamation prevented the meeting of the general court, they therefore request the advice of the Congress."

OCTOBER 7, 1774.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the letter from the committee of correspondence in Boston, and after some debate

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare a letter to his excellency General Gage, representing "that the town of Boston and province of Massachusetts Bay, are considered by all America as suffering in the com

mon cause, for their noble and spirited opposition to oppressive acts of parliament calculated to deprive us of our most sacred rights and privileges." 2d. Expressing our concern, that, while the Congress are deliberating on the most peaceable means for restoring American liberty, and that harmony and intercourse, which subsisted between us and the parent kingdom so necessary to both, his excellency, as they are informed, is raising fortifications round the town of Boston, thereby exciting well grounded jealousies in the minds of his majesty's faithful subjects therein, that he means to cut off all communication between them and their brethren in the country, and reduce them to a state of submission to his will, and that the soldiers under his excellency's command, are frequently violating private property, and offering various insults to the people, which must irritate their minds, and if not put a stop to, involve all America in the horrors of a civil war -To entreat his excellency, from the assurance we have of the peaceable disposition of the inhabitants of the town of Boston and the province of the Massachusetts Bay, to discontinue his fortifications, and that a free and safe communication be restored and continued between the town of Boston and the country, and prevent all injuries on the part of the troops, until his majesty's pleasure shall be known, after the measures now adopting shall have been laid before him. Mr. Lynch, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. Pendleton, are appointed a committee to draught a letter agreeable to the foregoing resolution.

OCTOBER 8, 1774.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the letter from Boston, and upon motion,

Resolved, That this Congress approve the opposition of the inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay, to the execution of the late acts of parliament; and if the same shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force, in such case, all America ought to support them in their opposition.

OCTOBER 10, 1774.

The Congress resuming the consideration of the letter from Boston; Resolved unanimously, That it is the opinion of this body, that the removal of the people of Boston into the country, would be, not only extremely difficult in the execution, but so important in its consequences, as to require the utmost deliberation before it is adopted; but in case the provincial meeting of that colony should judge it absolutely necessary, it is the opinion of the Congress, that all America ought to contribute towards recompensing them for the injury they may thereby sustain; and it will be recommended accordingly.

Resolved, That the Congress recommend to the inhabitants of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, to submit to a suspension of the administration of justice, where it cannot be procured in a legal and peaceable manner, under