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For the three Counties NEW-CASTLE, KENT, and SUSSEX, on DELAWARE. August 1, 1774, A. M. The Representatives of the Freemen of the Government of the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, met at New-Castle, in pursuance of circular letters from the Speaker of the House, who was requested to forward the same to the several Members of Assembly, by the Committees of Correspondence for the several counties aforesaid, chosen and appointed for that among other purposes, by the Freeholders and Freemen of the said Counties respectively: and having chosen a Chairman, and read the Resolves of the three respective Counties, and sundry Letters from the Committees of Correspondence along the Continent, they unanimously entered into the following Resolution, viz: We, the Representatives aforesaid, by virtue of the power delegated to us, as aforesaid, taking into our most serious consideration the several Acts of the British Parliament for restraining Manufactures in his Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in North America,—for taking away the property of the Colonists without their participation or consent,—for the introduction of the arbitrary powers of excise unto the customs here,—for the making all revenue excises liable without jury, and under the decision of a single dependent Judge,—for the trial, in England, of persons accused of capital crimes, committed in the Colonies, —for the shutting up the Port of Boston,—for new-modelling the Government of the Massachusetts Bay, and the operation of the same on the property, liberty, and lives of the Colonists; and also considering that the most eligible mode of determining upon the premises, and of endeavouring to procure relief and redress of our grievances, would have been by us assembled in a legislative capacity, but that as the House had adjourned to the 30th day of September next, and it is not to be expected that his Honour the Governour would call us, by writs of summons, on this occasion, having refused to do the like in his other Province of Pennsylvania; the next most proper method of answering the expectations and desires of our constituents, and of contributing our aid to the general cause of America, is to appoint Commissioners or Deputies in behalf of the people of this Government, to meet and act with those appointed by the other Provinces in General Congress; and we do, therefore, unanimously nominate and appoint Cœsar Rodney, Thomas M'Kean, and George Read, Esquires, or any two of them, Deputies on the part and behalf of this Government in a general Continental Congress, proposed to be held at the City of Philadelphia, on the first Monday in September next, or at any other time or place that may be generally agreed on, then and there to consult and advise with the Deputies from the other Colonies, and to determine upon all such prudent and lawful measures as may be judged most expedient for the Colonies immediately and unitedly to adopt, in order to obtain relief for an oppressed people, and the redress of our general grievances. Signed by order of the Convention, CÆSAR RODNEY, Chairman. FOR MARYLAND. At a Meeting of the Committees appointed by the several Counties of the Province of Maryland, at the City of Annapolis, the 22d day of June, 1774, and continued by adjournment, from day to day, till the 25th of the same month: Matthew Tilghman, Esquire, in the Chair, John Bucket, Clerk: Resolved, That Matthew Tilghman, Thomas Johnson, Jun., Robert Goldsborough, William Paca, and Samuel Chase, Esquires, or any two or more of them, be Deputies for this Province, to attend a General Congress of Deputies from the Colonies, at such time and place as may be agreed on, to effect one general plan of conduct, operating on the commercial connection of the Colonies with the mother country, for the relief of Boston, and preservation of American liberty. FOR VIRGINIA. MONDAY, first of AUGUST, in the year of our Lord 1774. At a General Meeting of Delegates from the different Counties in this Colony, convened in the City of Williams-burgh, to take under their consideration the present critical and alarming situation of the Continent of North America, Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esq., in the Chair, It was unanimously Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that it will be highly conducive to the security and happiness of the British Empire, that a General Congress of Deputies, from all the Colonies, assemble as quickly as the nature of their situations will admit, to consider of the most proper and effectual manner of so operating on the commercial connection of the Colonies with the mother country as to procure redress for the much injured Province of Massachusetts Bay, to secure British America from the ravage and ruin of arbitrary taxes, and speedily as possible to procure the return of that harmony and union so beneficial to the whole Empire, and so ardently desired by all British America. Friday, August 5, 1774. The meeting proceeded to the choice of Delegates to represent this Colony in General Congress, when the Honourable Peyton Randolph, Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Richard Bland, Benjamin Harrison, and Edmund Pendleton, Esquires, were appointed for that purpose. FOR SOUTH CAROLINA. In the Commons House of Assembly, Tuesday, the 2dday of August, 1774. Colonel Powell acquainted the House, that during the recess of this House, viz: on the sixth, seventh, and eighth days of July last, at a General Meeting of the Inhabitants of this Colony, they having under consideration the Acts of Parliament lately passed with regard to the Port of Boston and Colony of Massachusetts Bay, as well as other American Grievances, had nominated and appointed the Honourable Henry Middleton, John Rutledge, Thomas Lynch, Christopher Gadsden, and Edward Rutledge, Esquires, Deputies on the part and behalf of this Colony, to meet the Deputies of the other Colonies of North America in General Congress, the first Monday in September next, at Philadelphia, or at any other time and place that may be generally agreed on, there to consider the Acts lately passed, and Bills depending in Parliament, with regard to the Port of Boston and Colony of Massachusetts Bay, which Acts and Bills in the precedent and consequences affect the whole Continent of America—also the grievances under which America labours, by reason of the several Acts of Parliament that impose taxes or duties for raising a revenue, and lay unnecessary restraints and burdens on trade; and of the Statutes, Parliamentary Acts, and Royal Instructions, which make an invidious distinction between his Majesty's subjects in Great Britain and America, with full power and authority to concert, agree to, and effectually prosecute such legal measures as in the opinion of the said Deputies, and of the Deputies so to be assembled, shall be most likely obtain a repeal of the said Acts, and a redress of those grievances: and thereupon moved that this House do resolve to recognise, ratify, and confirm the said appointment of the Deputies for the purposes aforesaid. THOMAS FARR, Jun., Clerk. Tuesday, September 6, 1774, ten o'clock, A. M. The Congress met according to adjournment.
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