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throw off their dependence upon Great Britain; the assertion appears to me to be rather indefinite; if they mean that the Colonies are desirous to render themselves independent of the regal authority of Great Britain, I believe they will find but few who entertain such thoughts or designs. But the intentions of these men, my friends, are to stir up hatred and divisions among you; to set these Colonies at variance with each other, and by that means defeat the intent of the virtuous struggles which they are now making, in hopes that a change of affairs may conduce to their advantage. They are earnestly engaged to involve this once happy country, in distress and shivery,—among other things they endeavour to represent the proceedings of the Continental Congress in the most unfavourable light; and we are told by one of these sycophants, "that the Members of the Congress have either ignorantly misunderstood, carelessly neglected, or basely betrayed, the interest of all the Colonies." With respect to these charges against the Congress, I shall in the first place observe, that the Members of that Congress were chosen by you; and to suppose that you would act so unwisely as to delegate men for that great purpose who were not well acquainted with the subject in dispute; I say, to imagine this, would be such an insult to your understandings, and argue so little sense, that I am surprised to find it asserted, that the Members were ignorant of the grand dispute, or unacquainted with the means necessary for happily terminating it.
To insinuate "that they have carelessly neglected the interest of all the Colonies," discovers not only a weakness of mind, but a depravity of heart. Why should they carelessly neglect your interest when it is blended with their own?
With respect to this charge, viz: that they have basely betrayed the interest of the Colonies, I shall only observe, that the supposition is evidently absurd, for the reasons above alleged. But I should be more particular in this part were it not for the regard I have to the merit of a person who has lately cleared up this matter in the most striking manner; he has given reasons sufficient to convince the reasonable part of the Americans that the Members of the Congress, so far from basely betraying the interest of their constituents, have adopted the wisest and best mode of proceeding. Nothing now remains to be done but to follow their directions, adhere firmly to their Association, and you will undoubtedly experience the happy consequences. It has been clearly proved that no better mode could have been fallen upon than that which the Congress have proposed and recommended. When, therefore, the advocates for slavery declaim against the proceedings of the Congress, they do it not from a consciousness of their being inefficacious, but solely with a view to load you away from your duty at this time. You are in honour bound to abide by the determinations of the Congress, and 1 durst say, that the good sense for which the inhabitants of these Colonies are so remarkable, will teach them at this time to adopt and follow the same. Be not deceived, my friends, judge freely for yourselves, and remember that the greatest duty you can discharge to your country will be to follow the directions of that respectable body, which you chose to be the guardians of your liberty; lot not artful and designing men lead you away from the paths of virtue; remember the eyes of all Europe are upon you, and if you hold out to the end you will experience deliverance from your present troubles. By conducting yourselves thus honourably, you will convince the Ministry and Parliament of Great Britain, that the wisest way for them to act will be to restore you to your former happy situation. But should you continue inflexible for a lime, you may depend upon it, that the cries of the Nation at home will at last rouse them from their dream of arbitrary power.
New-York, December 28, 1774.
FAIRFIELD (CONNECTICUT) COMMITTEE.
At a legal Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Fairfield, Connecticut, held by adjournment, on the 29th day of December, A. D. 1774:
EBENEZER SILLIMAN, Esquire, Moderator:
This meeting having duly considered the Agreement and Association entered into by the Continental Congress lately held at Philadelphia, do heartily approve thereof, and adopt the same; and take this opportunity to express their most grateful sense of the good services of the worthy Delegates from this Colony who attended said Congress; and pursuant to the eleventh Article of said Agreement and Association, make choice of the following gentlemen to be a Committee for the purposes therein mentioned, viz:
Gold S. Silliman, Jonathan Sturges, Job Bartram, Andrew Rowland, Samuel Squier, Jonathan Bulkley, Elijah Abel, Increase Bradley, Eliphalet Thorp, Aaron Jennings, Benjamin Lacey, Daniel Wilson, Azariah Odell, David Hubble, Zulmon Bradley, John Hubble, Thomas Cable, Joseph Han ford, Stephen Gorham, Thad. Burr, Jonathan Lewis, David Dimon, JohnWilson, Joseph Strong, Alvert Sherwood, Moses Kent, Samuel Wakeman, John Squier, Ichabod Wheeler, Ebenezer Bartram, Jonathan Dimon, Jabez Hill, George Burr, Hezekiah Hubble, Benjamin Wheeler, Joseph Hide, Jeremiah Sherwood, Daniel Andrews, Hezekiah Bradley, Joseph Bradley, Ephraim Lyon, John Allin.
Voted, That if any person or persons, shall directly or indirectly, with intent to dissuade, disunite, or otherwise prevent us from strictly complying with, and conforming to said Agreement and Association, publish, vend, or sell, or otherwise dispose of any books, pamphlets,* or publications in this Town, directly lending thereto, such person or persons shall be dealt with and exposed in the same way and manner as is prescribed in said eleventh Article, for such person or persons as violate said Agreement and Association.
Voted, That it is expedient a County Congress be held to advise and consult on the most effectual measures to carry the said Agreement and Association into execution.
Voted, That Colonel Gold Silleck Silliman, Jonathan Sturges, Andrew Rowland, Esquires, Mr. Job Bartram, and Thaddeus Burr, Esquire, be a Committee to attend the same, at such time and place as they shall appoint, agreeable to the other Towns in this County, who shall adopt said measure.
Voted, That said Colonel Gold S. Silliman, Jonathan Sturges, Andrew Rowland, Esquire, Mr. Job Bartram, and Thaddeus Burr, Esquire, be a Committee of Correspondence for this Town.
Ordered by this meeting, that a copy of the foregoing Votes be sent by the aforesaid Committee of Correspondence to one or more of the Printers, that they may be made publick.
NATHAN BULKLEY, Town Clerk.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM DEPUTY GOVERNOUR EDEN TO THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH, DATED ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, DECEMBER 30, 1774.
This Province has been tolerable quiet since I arrived; before that they had, in one or two instances been second, (I think) in violent measures, to Boston. The spirit of resistance against the Tea Act, or any mode of internal taxation, is as strong and universal here as ever. I firmly believe that they will undergo any hardships sooner than acknowledge a right in the British Parliament in that particular, and will persevere in their Non-Importation and Non-Exportation experiments in spite of every inconvenience that they must consequently be exposed to, and the total ruin of their trade.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM OYSTER BAY, NEW-YORK, TO MR. RIVINGTON.
You are desired to assure the publick that at a meeting for choosing a Committee for the Township of Oyster Bay, in Queen's County, on Long-Island, on Friday, the 30th day of December, 1774, about ninety of the Freeholders of said Township were assembled, in order to take into consideration the present unhappy disputes subsisting between our mother country and the Colonies,
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