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Philadelphia, October 22, 1774.
"GENTLEMEN: The present critical and truly alarming state of American affairs, having been considered in a General Congress of Deputies from the Colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, with that attention and mature deliberation which the important nature of the case demands, they have determined for themselves and the Colonies they represent, on the measures contained in the enclosed papers; which measures they recommend to your Colony to be adopted, with all the earnestness that a well directed zeal for American liberty can prompt."
"So rapidly violent and unjust has been the late conduct of the British Administration against the Colonies, that either a base and slavish submission, under the loss of their ancient, just, and constitutional liberty, must quickly take place, or an adequate opposition be formed."
"We pray God to take you under his protection, and to preserve the freedom and happiness of the whole British Empire. We are, &c.
"By order of the Congress,
"HENRY MIDDLETON, President."
Monday, October 24, 1774.
The Committee appointed to prepare an Address to the People of Quebec, reported a draught, which was read, and, after debate, recommitted.
The Committee, to whom the Address to the King was recommitted, brought in a draught, which was read, and ordered to be taken into consideration to-morrow.
Tuesday, October 25, 1774.
The Congress resumed the consideration of the Address to his Majesty, which being debated by paragraphs, was approved, and ordered to be engrossed.
Ordered, That the Address to the King be enclosed to the several Colony Agents, in order that the same may be by them presented to his Majesty; and that the Agents be requested to call in the aid of such noblemen and gentlemen as are esteemed firm friends to American liberty.
Ordered, That Mr. Lee and Mr. Jay be a Committee to prepare a Letter to the Agents of the several Colonies.
Resolved, That this Congress, in their own names, and in behalf of all those whom they represent, do present their most grateful acknowledgments to those truly noble, honourable, and patriotick advocates of civil and religious liberty, who have so generously and powerfully, though unsuccessfully, espoused and defended the cause of America, both in and out of Parliament.
Wednesday, October 26, 1774.
The Committee, appointed to prepare a Letter to the Agents, reported a draught, which was read, and being debated by paragraphs, was approved, and is as follows:
"GENTLEMEN: We give you the strongest proof of our reliance on your zeal and attachment to the happiness of America, and the cause of liberty, when we commit the enclosed papers to your care."
"We desire that you will deliver the Petition into the hands of his Majesty, and after it has been presented, we wish it may be made publick, through the press, together with the List of Grievances. And as we hope for great assistance from the spirit, virtue, and justice of the Nation, it is our earnest desire that the most effectual care be taken, as early as possible, to furnish the Trading Cities and Manufacturing Towns throughout the United Kingdom, with our Memorial to the People of Great Britain."
"We doubt not but your good sense and discernment will lead you to avail yourselves of every assistance that may be derived from the advice and friendship of all great and good men, who may incline to aid the cause of liberty and mankind."
"The gratitude of America, expressed in the enclosed Vote of Thanks, we desire may be conveyed to the deserving objects of it in the manner that you think will be most acceptable to them."
"It is proposed that another Congress be held on the tenth of May next, at this place, but, in the mean time, we beg the favour of you, gentlemen, to transmit to the Speakers of the several Assemblies, the earliest information of the most authentick accounts you can collect of all such conduct and designs of Ministry, or Parliament, as it may concern America to know."
"We are, with unfeigned esteem and regard, Gentlemen,
By order and in behalf of the Congress,"
"HENRY MIDDLETON, President.
"To Paul Wentworth, Dr. Benj. Franklin,
William Bollan, Dr. Arthur Lee, Tho.
Life, Edmund Burke, Charles Garth"
The Committee to whom the Address to the Inhabitants of Quebec was recommitted, reported a draught, which was read, and, being debated by paragraphs, approved:
TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC.
FRIENDS AND FELLOW-SUBJECTS: We, the Delegates of the Colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, deputed by the inhabitants of the said Colonies to represent them in a General Congress, at Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, to consult together concerning the best methods to obtain redress of our afflicting Grievances; having accordingly assembled and taken into our most serious consideration the state of publick affairs on this Continent, have thought proper to address your Province, as a member therein deeply interested.
When the fortune of war, after a gallant and glorious resistance, had incorporated you with the body of English subjects, we rejoiced in the truly valuable addition, both on our own and your account; expecting, as courage and generosity are naturally united, our brave enemies would become our hearty friends, and that the Divine Being would bless to you the dispensation of his over-ruling providence, by securing to you, and your latest posterity, the inestimable advantages of a free English Constitution of Government, which it is the privilege of all English subjects to enjoy.
These hopes were confirmed by the King's Proclamation, issued in the year 1763, plighting the publick faith for your full enjoyment of those advantages.
Little did we imagine that any succeeding Ministers would so audaciously and cruelly abuse the Royal authority us to withhold from you the fruition of the irrevocable rights to which you were thus justly entitled.
But since we have lived to see the unexpected time when Ministers of this flagitious temper have dared to violate the most sacred compacts and obligations, and as you, educated under another form of Government, have artfully been kept from discovering the unspeakable worth of that form you are now undoubtedly entitled to, we esteem it our duty, for the weighty reasons hereinafter mentioned, to explain to you some of its most important branches.
"In every human society," says the celebrated Marquis Beccaria, "there is an effort continually tending to confer on one part the height of power and happiness, and to reduce the other to the extreme of weakness and misery. The intent of good laws is to oppose this effort, and to diffuse their influence universally and equally."
Rulers stimulated by this pernicious "effort," and subjects animated by the just "intent of opposing good laws against it," have occasioned that vast variety of events that fill the histories of so many Nations. All these histories demonstrate the truth of this simple position, that to live by the will of one man, or set of men, is the production of misery to all men.
On the solid foundation of this principle Englishmen reared up the fabrick of their Constitution with such a strength as for ages to defy time, tyranny, treachery, internal and foreign wars; and, as an illustrious author* of your Nation, hereafter mentioned, observes—"They gave the people of their Colonies the form of their own Government, and this Government carrying prosperity along with it, they have grown great Nations in the forests they were sent to inhabit."
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