rather from want of information than want of virtue or publick spirit; to explain to them the origin, nature, and extent of the present controversy; to acquaint them with the fate of the numerous Petitions presented to His Majesty, as well by Assemblies as by Congresses, for reconciliation and redress of grievances: and that the last from this Congress, humbly requesting the single favour of being heard, like all the others, has proved unsuccessful; to unfold to them the various arts of Administration to ensnare and enslave us, and the manner in which we have been cruelly driven to defend, by arms, those very rights, liberties and estates, which we and our forefathers had so long enjoyed unmolested in the reigns of His present Majesty's predecessors. And it is hereby recommended to all Conventions and Assemblies in these Colonies, liberally to distribute among the people, the proceedings of this and the former Congress, the late speeches of the great patriots in both Houses of Parliament relative to American grievances, and such other pamphlets and papers as tend to elucidate the merits of the American cause, the Congress being fully persuaded, that the more our right to the enjoyment of our ancient liberties and privileges is examined, the more just and necessary our present opposition to Ministerial tyranny will appear.

And, with respect to all such unworthy Americans, as, regardless of their duty to their Creator, their country and their posterity, have taken part with our oppressors, and, influenced by the hope or possession of ignominious rewards, strive to recommend themselves to the bounty of Administration, by misrepresenting and traducing the conduct and principles of the friends of American liberty, and opposing every measure formed for its preservation and security:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the different Assemblies, Conventions, and Committees or Councils of Safety in the United Colonies, by the most speedy and effectual measures, to frustrate the mischievous machinations, and restrain the wicked practices of these men: And it is the opinion of this Congress, that they ought to be disarmed, and the more dangerous among them, either kept in safe custody, or bound with sufficient sureties to their good behaviour.

And in order that the said Assemblies, Conventions, Committees, or Councils of Safety, may be enabled with greater ease and facility to carry this Resolution into execution,

Resolved, That they be authorized to call to their aid whatever Continental Troops, stationed in or near their respective Colonies, may be conveniently spared from their more immediate duty; and the Commanding Officers of such Troops are hereby directed to afford the said Assemblies, Conventions, Committees, or Councils of Safety, all such assistance in executing this Resolution as they may require, and winch, consistent with the good of the service, may be supplied.

Resolved, That all detachments of Continental Troops, which may be ordered on the business in the foregoing Resolution mentioned, be, while so employed, under the direction and control of the Assemblies, Conventions, Committees, or Councils of Safety, aforesaid.

Resolved, That it be recommended to all the United Colonies to aid each other, on request from their respective Assemblies, Conventions, Committees, or Councils of Safety and County Committees, on every emergency, and to cultivate, cherish, and increase the present happy and necessary union, by a continual interchange of mutual good offices.

And whereas, the execrable barbarity with which this unhappy war has been conducted on the part of our enemies, (such as burning our defenceless towns and villages, exposing their inhabitants, without regard to sex or age, to all the miseries which loss of property, the rigour of the season, and inhuman devastation, can inflict, exciting domestick insurrections and murders, bribing the Savages to desolate our frontiers, and casting such of us as the fortune of war has put in their power, into jails, there to languish in irons and in want; compelling the inhabitants of Boston, in violation of the treaty, to remain confined within the town, exposed to the insolence of the soldiery, and other enormities, at the mention of which decency and humanity will ever blush) may justly provoke the inhabitants of these Colonies to retaliate:

Resolved, That it be recommended to them to continue mindful that humanity ought to distinguish the brave; that cruelty should find no admission among a free people; and to take care that no page in the annals of America be stained by a recital of any action which justice or Christianity may condemn; and to rest assured, that whenever retaliation may be necessary, or tend to their security, this Congress will undertake the disagreeable task.

Resolved, That the Assemblies, Conventions, or Committees, or Councils of Safety, be requested forthwith to transmit to this Congress copies of all the Petitions, Memorials, and Remonstrances, which have been, by the respective Colonies, presented to the Throne, or either House of Parliament, since the year 1762; and that they, also, inform the Congress whether any, and what, answers were given to them.

Resolved, That Mr. Bartleti be appointed one of the Committee of Claims, in the room of Mr. Langdon, and Mr. Samuel Adams, in the room of Mr. Cushing, who have leave of absence.

Adjourned to ten o'clock, to-morrow.

Wednesday, January 3, 1776

A Letter from General Washington, dated the 25th of December, enclosing a Letter from General Howe, and accompanied with sundry papers, was laid before Congress, and read.

The Committee of Safety having recommended sundry gentlemen for Field-Officers of the four Battalions ordered to be raised in Pennsylvania, the Congress proceeded to the election; and Arthur St. Clair, Esquire, was elected Colonel of the Second Battalion; John Shea, Esquire, Colonel of the Third Battalion; Anthony Wayne, Esquire, Colonel of the Fourth Battalion; Robert Magau, Esquire, Colonel of the Fifth Battalion.

The Congress, taking into consideration the Report of the Secret Committee, thereupon came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That the following Goods and Stores ought to be imported, as soon as possible, for the use of the United Colonies, viz: 60,000 striped Blankets; 120,000 yards of 6-4 Broadcloths, the colours to be brown and blue, from 3s. to 6s. sterling, per yard; 10,000 yards of ditto, different colours, for facings, at 4s.; 3,000 pieces of Duffils, or some such Cloth; 100 M. sorted Needles; 50 M. ditto, none very fine; 10 M. ditto, for Sailcloth; 3,000 pieces of Raven's Duck; 3,000 pieces of Ticklenburghs; 1,500 pieces of Osnaburghs; 1,000 pieces of Vittrey; 4,000 pieces of Hamburgh Dowlas; 20,000 stand, of Arms; 300 tons of Lead; 1,000,000 Flints; 1,500 boxes of Tin, and Iron Wire, properly sorted for it; Medicines, Surgeons' Instruments, Lint, and Bandages, in the whole, to the amount of 2,000 Pounds, sterling; 500 sheets of Copper, of different sorts.

Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empowered and directed to pursue the most effectual measures for importing the above articles.

Resolved, That the further consideration of this Report be postponed.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due to Captain Edward Motte, for expenses, &c., in conducting the Prisoners taken at St. John's, from Kingston, in the Province of New- York, to Lancaster, in the Province of Pennsylvania, a balance of 367.7 Dollars.

That there is due to Robert Erwin, Wagon master, for carnage of Clothing and Medicine to Dobb's Ferry and to Cambridge 222.6 Dollars.

Ordered, That the above be paid.

The Committee on the state of New- York brought in a further Report, which, being taken into consideration, was agreed to, as follows:

Whereas, a majority of the inhabitants of Queen's County, in the Colony of New-York, being incapable of resolving to live and die freemen, and being more disposed to quit their liberties than part with the little proportion of their property necessary to defend them, have deserted the American cause, by refusing to send Deputies, as usual, to the Convention of that Colony; and avowing, by a publick Declaration, an unmanly design of remaining inactive spectators of the present contest, vainly flattering them-