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But perhaps the principles of reason and justice, and the Constitution, will not prevail: experience suggests to us the doubt. If they should not, we must resort to arguments drawn from a very different source. We, therefore, in the name of the People of these United Colonies, and by authority, according to the purest maxims of representation, derived from them, declare, that whatever punishment shall be inflicted upon any persons in the power of our enemies, for favouring, aiding, or abetting the cause of American liberty, shall be retaliated in the same kind and the same degree upon those in our power, who have favoured, aided, or abetted, or shall favour, aid, or abet, the system of ministerial oppression. The essential difference between our cause and that of our enemies might justify a severer punishment; the law of retaliation will unquestionably warrant one equally severe. We mean not, however, by this declaration, to occasion or to multiply punishments; our sole view is to prevent them. In this unhappy and unnatural controversy, in which Britons fight against Britons and the descendants of Britons, let the calamities immediately incident to a civil war suffice. We hope additions will not, from wantonness, be made to them on one side; we shall regret the necessity, if laid under the necessity, of making them on the other. Ordered, That the above be published. A Petition and Memorial from Colonel J. Bull was presented to Congress and read. Resolved, That the same be taken into consideration on Friday next. On motion made, Resolved, That Lieutenant Jocelyn Feltham have leave to join the officers of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, and reside with them, in the places destined for their reception. On motion made, Resolved, That Major Preston and the Officer with him remain in Philadelphia until further orders from this Congress. Ordered, That the President inform Major Preston of the foregoing Resolution. A Letter from General Washington, dated 28th November, being received, was read. Resolved, That the same be taken into consideration to-morrow morning. The several matters to this day referred being postponed, Adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow. Thursday, December 7, 1775. The Congress took into consideration the General’s Letter received yesterday. During their deliberation, advice being received that the Women and Children taken at St. John’s were arrived, with their baggage, On motion, Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committee of Safety of this Colony, to have them removed to the places assigned them, in the cheapest manner, at the expense of the Continent. On motion, Resolved, That Mr. George Cuppaidge, Lieutenant of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, be permitted to go to New-York for a week, upon his parole, that he will neither speak nor write to any person upon any political subject, or give any intelligence whatsoever upon such topicks, and will return at the end of the week. The Congress then resumed the consideration of the General’s Letter. During debate, an express arrived, with a Letter from Lord Stirling, dated Amboy, 6th December, which was read, containing an account that Colonel Arnold has taken possession of Quebeck. The Congress then resumed the consideration of the General’s Letter. On motion: Whereas doubts may arise respecting the true intent and construction of a certain Resolution of this Congress, passed the 4th day of November last, empowering the General, in case the necessity of the service should require it, to call forth the Minute-Men and Militia of the New-England Colonies, Resolved, That the said Resolution shall not extend or be construed to authorize the General to call forth the said Minute-Men or Militia, without having applied to and obtained the consent of those officers in whom the executive powers of Government in those Colonies may be vested. Resolved, That the President write Letters to the Council of Massachusetts-Bay, the Convention of New-Hampshire, and the Governours of Rhode-Island and Connecticut, acquainting them with the present state of the Army, and enclosing copies of the Resolutions of this Congress relative to the General’s being empowered to call forth the Militia of those Governments on any emergency, and requesting those Colonies to exert themselves in defence of our common liberties, by affording the General all the aid in their power, and comply with his request for the assistance of the Militia, whenever he may find it necessary to apply for it. A Letter from General Schuyler of the 22d of November, enclosing a copy of a Letter from General Montgomery dated the 17th November, and one from Col. Arnold of the 14th, being received, were read. The several matters to this day referred being postponed, Adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow. Friday, December 8, 1775. The Committee to whom the Petition of Capt. Jenkins was referred brought in their Report, which was read. The Committee to whom the Letter From the Committee of Inspection of the County of Frederick, in the Colony of Maryland, relative to Allan Cameron, John Smith, and John Connolly, with the papers enclosed, was referred, brought in their Report, which being taken into consideration, On motion made, Resolved, That the said Allan Cameron, John Smith, and John Connolly, be confined in prison in Philadelphia until the further order of Congress, at the Continental expense. Ordered, That the President transmit a copy of the above Resolution to the Committee of Inspection of Frederick, and desire them, in pursuance of the above Resolution, to send the Prisoners, under guard, to Philadelphia. On motion made, Resolved, That the Petition of Jonathan Hudson be referred to a Committee of three. The members chosen: Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Penn, and Mr. R. Morris. The Congress taking into consideration the Letters from Lord Stirling, Resolved, That Mr. Thomas Lowry be appointed to supply the New-Jersey Battalions with the Rations and other necessaries allowed the Soldiers, at 7 3/4 Pence (31-360 of a Dollar) per Ration. On motion, Resolved, That Mr. Crane be directed to give Mr. Lowry proper orders for securing, for the use of the Jersey Battalions, the Blankets in the Barracks in that Colony. Resolved, That each Company of the two Battalions raised in New-Jersey, not already ordered to the Fort on Hudson’s River, in the Highlands, in the Colony of New-York, be ordered, and they are hereby ordered, to march, as soon as they can be furnished with barrack necessaries and arms, to the City of New-York, and remain till further order; and that four of the Companies ordered to the Fort in the Highlands be likewise stationed in the City of New-York, till barracks can be fitted up for them in that Fort. On motion, Resolved, That a Surgeon be allowed to each Regiment. That the Pay of a Regimental Surgeon be twenty-five Dollars per month. William Barnet, Jun., unanimously elected Surgeon to Lord Stirling’s, or the First or Eastern Battalion raised in New-Jersey. On motion, Resolved, That a Standing Committee, to consist of one member from each Colony, be appointed, to take into consideration the applications of the several persons applying to be Officers in the American Army, to examine into their qualifications, and report to Congress. The members are:
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