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Petition would be supported by evidence, it would be absurd not to petition before Parliament took the matter into consideration; for that would be to let the House of Commons consider a business first, and produce the evidence afterwards; a method of proceeding hitherto unprecedented.
Mr. Fuller concluded by observing, that although some of the Members of the Lower House might be, yet he would be bound to say, the majority of them were not apprised of the magnitude of the American business as a national concern; the Petition, therefore, from the West India Merchants, would furnish them with information on that head, which they much wanted.
The question being now called for, the Chairman was about to put it, when a gentleman started an objection to the word "Congress." He said that, as a meeting under that description had not yet been recognised by Parliament, it might be construed as taking a part in the political disputes to adopt the term. It was therefore proposed to vary the language of the motion thus: "Two Resolves passed by a Meeting held at Philadelphia, called a Congress."
Mr. Alderman Turner very properly objected, that the words "called" a "Congress," were certainly of the reflective kind, and might be supposed to contain an oblique censure on the Americans for giving the name of "Congress" to the meeting of their Delegates. The Alderman observed, that equal care should be taken not to offend either the Americans or the Government.
Mr. Fuller yielded, and to avoid the possibility of offence, both the words "Congress" and "called" were struck out of the motion, and it stood simply thus: "A Meeting held at Philadelphia."
Thus put, the motion for a Petition was carried by a majority of about two hundred to seven.
This point being settled, Mr. Fuller proceeded in the next place to move for the instructions to be given to the Committee that might be appointed to prepare the Petition. Accordingly, he offered a second Resolution, which being first read throughout, and the question afterwards put on each paragraph, was, after receiving many amendments, and considerable additions, finally agreed to, (with one division only, on the last paragraph,) and is as follows:
"Resolved, That the said Petition do set forth, that the Petitioners are exceedingly alarmed at an Agreement and Association entered into by a Meeting held at the City of Philadelphia, in North America, the 5th of September, 1774, whereby the Members thereof have agreed and associated for themselves and the inhabitants of the several Colonies lying between Nova-Scotia and Georgia, that from and after the 1st day of December, 1774, they will not import into British America any Molasses, Syrups, Paneles, Coffee, or Pimento, from the British Plantations; and that, after the 10th day of September, 1775, if the Acts of the British Parliament therein mentioned, are not repealed, they will not, directly or indirectly, export any Merchandise, or commodity whatsoever, to the West Indies.
"To represent, that the British property, or stock vested in the West India Islands, amounts to upwards of thirty millions Sterling.* That a further property of many millions is employed in the commerce created by the said Islands; a commerce comprehending Africa, the East Indies, and Europe. That the whole produce and profits of these capitals ultimately centre in Great Britain, and add to the national wealth, while the navigation necessary for the support of this commerce through all its various branches, establishes a strength which wealth can neither purchase nor balance.
"That the Sugar Plantations in the West Indies are subject to a greater variety of contingencies than many other species of property, from their necessary dependence on external support; and that, therefore, should any interruption happen in the general system of their commerce, the great national stock thus employed must become unprofitable and precarious.
"That the profits arising from the present state of the said Islands, and that are likely to arise from their future improvement, in a great measure depend on a free and mutual intercourse between them and the several Provinces of North America, from whence they are furnished with provisions of all kinds, and other supplies absolutely necessary for the support and maintenance of their Plantations. And that the scarcity in Great Britain, and the inadequate population of the Provinces at the extremities of America, forbid them to hope for any material addition to the feeble imports of such supplies from other places.
"That, if the first part of the said Agreement and Association for a Non-Importation hath taken place, and shall be continued, the same will be highly detrimental to the Sugar Colonies; and if the second part of the said Agreement and Association for a Non-Exportation shall be carried into execution, (which the Petitioners are apprehensive will be the case, unless some measures are immediately fallen upon to restore the harmony that subsisted a few years ago between this Kingdom and America, which was of infinite advantage to both,) the smallest Islands, which are supplied with most of their subsistence, both for themselves and Slaves, from thence, will be reduced to great distress; and the Trade between all the said Colonies and this Kingdom, will of course be obstructed, to the ruin of most of the Planters, and to the great prejudice of the Merchants, not only by the said obstruction, but also by the delay of payment of the principal and interest of the immense debt due from the former to the latter.
"And, referring to the salutary effects of that system of policy which formerly subsisted between Great Britain and her Colonies, humbly to pray that the House would take the premises into consideration, and adopt such measures as to their wisdom shall seem adequate to quiet the minds of their fellow-subjects in America, and prevent the evils with which the Planters and Merchants are now threatened, and restore that confidence and affection between the mother country and North America, on which the general happiness of this Empire depends; and that the Petitioners may be heard by themselves or Counsel in support of their Petition, &c."
Savannah, Georgia, January 18, 1775.
This day the General Assembly of this Province met here, when his Excellency Sir James Wright, Baronet, Governour-in-Chief, &c., was pleased to deliver the following Speech to both Houses, viz:
Honourable Gentlemen, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Commons House of Assembly:
This being the first opportunity that has offered in General Assembly, F must not omit acquainting you, that in consequence of the Petition of both Houses, his Majesty was graciously pleased to direct, that if this Province should be engaged in an actual Indian war, we should have every proper succour and protection; and I was ordered to apply to the Commander-in-chief of his Majesty's Forces in America for that purpose, who had received directions thereupon.
The alarming situation of American affairs at this juncture, makes it highly necessary for me to say something to you on the subject; and it is with the utmost concern that I see by every account of all the Colonies to the Northward of us, as far as Nova-Scotia, in a general ferment, and some of them in such a state as makes me shudder when I think of the consequences which it is most probable will soon befall them. The unhappy disputes with the mother country are now become of the most serious nature, and I am much afraid the very extraordinary and violent measures adopted and pursued, will not only prevent a reconciliation, but may involve all America in the most dreadful calamities.
Gentlemen, I think myself very happy in having it in my power to say that this Province is hitherto clear, and I much hope by your prudent conduct will remain so. Be not led away by the voices and opinions of men of overheated ideas; consider coolly and sensibly of the terrible consequences which may attend adopting resolutions and measures expressly contrary to Jaw, and hostile to the mother country, especially at so late a season, when we may almost daily expect to hear the determination of Great
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