PROCEEDINGS

OF

THE CONGRESS HELD AT PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER 5, 1774.

Monday, September 5, 1774.

A number of the Delegates, chosen and appointed by the several Colonies and Provinces in North America, to meet and hold a Congress at Philadelphia, assembled at the Carpenter's Hall. Present:

From NEW-HAMPSHIRE.—Major John Sullivan, Esq., Col. Nathaniel Folsom, Esquire.

From MASSACHUSETTS BAY.—The Honourable Thomas Cushing, Esquire, Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams, Esquire, Robert Treat Paine, Esquire.

From RHODE-ISLAND and PROVIDENCE Plantations.— The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esquire, the Hon. Samuel Ward, Esquire.

From CONNECTICUT.—The Hon. Eliphalet Dyer, Esq., Silas Deane. Esq., the Hon. Roger Sherman, Esquire.

From the City and County of NEW-YORK, and other Counties in the Province of New-York.—James Duane, Esq., John Jay, Esq., Philip Livingston, Esq., Isaac Low, Esquire.

From the County of SUFFOLK, in the Province of NEW-YORK.—Colonel William Floyd, Esquire.

From NEW-JERSEY.—James Kinsey, Esquire, William Livingston, Esq., John De Hart, Esq., Stephen Crane, Esq., Richard Smith, Esquire.

From PENNSYLVANIA.—The Hon. Joseph Galloway, Esq., Samuel Rhoads, Esquire, Thomas Mifflin, Esquire, Charles Humphreys, Esq., John Morton, Esq., Edward Biddle, Esquire.

From NEW-CASTLE, KENT, and SUSSEX, on DELAWARE.—CÆsar Rodney, Esq., Thomas M'Kean, Esq., George Read, Esquire.

From MARYLAND.—Robert Goldsborough, Esq., William Paca, Esquire, Samuel Chase, Esquire.

From VIRGINIA.—The Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esq., George Washington, Esq., Patrick Henry, Esq., Richard Bland, Esquire, Benjamin Harrison, Esquire, Edmund Pendleton, Esq.

From SOUTH CAROLINA.—Henry Middleton, Esquire, John Rutledge, Esq., Christopher Gadsden, Esq., Thomas Lynch, Esquire, Edward Rutledge, Esquire.

The Congress proceeded to the choice of a President, when the Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esq., was unanimously elected.

Mr. Charles Thomson was unanimously chosen Secretary.

The gentlemen from the several Colonies produced their respective Credentials, which were read and approved as follows:

FOR THE PROVINCE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

At a Meeting of the Deputies appointed by the several Towns in this Province, held at Exeter, in the County of Rockingham, 2lst July, 1774, for the election of Delegates, on behalf of this Province, to join the General Congress proposed: Present eighty-five members.

The Hon. John Wentworth, Esq., in the Chair.

Voted, That Major John Sullivan, and Colonel Nathaniel Folsom, Esquires, be appointed and empowered, as Delegates on the part of this Province, to attend and assist in the General Congress of Delegates from the other Colonies, at such time and place as may be appointed, to de vise, consult, and adopt measures, as may have the most likely tendency to extricate the Colonies from their present difficulties; to secure and perpetuate their rights, liberties, and privileges, and to restore that peace, harmony, and mutual confidence which once happily subsisted between the parent country, and her Colonies.

Attested:

J. WENTWORTH, Chairman.

FOR THE PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

In the House of Representatives, June, 17, 1774.

This House having duly considered, and being deeply affected with the unhappy differences which have long subsisted, and are increasing, between Great Britain and the American Colonies, do Resolve: That a meeting of Committees from the several Colonies on this Continent, is highly expedient and necessary, to consult upon the present state of the Colonies, and the miseries to which they are and must be reduced by the operation of certain Acts of Parliament respecting America, and to deliberate and determine upon wise and proper measures, to be by them recommended to all the Colonies, for the recovery and establishment of their just rights and liberties, civil and religious, and the restoration of union and harmony between Great Britain and the Colonies, most ardently desired by all good men. Therefore,

Resolved, That the Honourable James Bowdoin, Esq., the Honourable Thomas Cushing, Esquire, Mr. Samuel Adams, John Adams and Robert Treat Paine, Esquires, be, and they are hereby appointed a Committee on the part of this Province, for the purposes aforesaid, any three of whom to be a quorum, to meet such Committees or Delegates, from the other Colonies as have been or may be appointed, either by their respective Houses of Burgesses, or Representatives, or by Convention, or by the Committees of Correspondence appointed by the respective Houses of Assembly, in the City of Philadelphia, or any other place that shall be judged most suitable by the Committee, on the 1st day of September next; and that the Speaker of the House be directed, in a letter to the Speakers of the Houses of Burgesses or Representatives in the several Colonies, to inform them of the substance of these Resolves

Attested:

SAMUEL ADAMS, Clerk.

FOR RHODE-ISLAND.

By the Honourable Joseph Wanton, Esquire, Governour, Captain-General, and Commander-in-chief of, and over the English Colony of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America.

To the Honourable STEPHEN HOPKINS, Esquire, and the Honourable SAMUEL WARD, Esquire, Greeting:

Whereas the General Assembly of the Colony aforesaid, have nominated and appointed you, the said Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward, to represent the people of this Colony in a General Congress of Representatives from this and the other Colonies, at such time and place as should be agreed upon by the major part of the Committees appoint ed, or to be appointed by the Colonies in general; I do therefore hereby authorize, empower, and commissionate you, the said Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward, to re pair to the City of Philadelphia, it being the place agreed on by the major part of the Colonies, and there, in behalf of this Colony, to meet and join with the Commissioners or Delegates from the other Colonies, in consulting upon proper measures to obtain a repeal of the several Acts of the British Parliament for levying Taxes upon his Majesty's subjects in America, without their consent, and particularly an Act lately passed for blocking up the Port