late you may lament the loss of that freedom, which we exhort you, while still in your power, to preserve. On the other hand, should you prove unsuccessful; should that connexion, which we most ardently wish to maintain, be dissolved; should your ministers exhaust your treasures and waste the blood of your countrymen in vain attempts on our liberty; do they not deliver you, weak and defenceless, to your natural enemies? Since then your liberty must be the price of your victories; your ruin, of your defeat: What blind fatality can urge you to a pursuit destructive of all that Britons hold dear? If you have no regard to the connexion that has for ages subsisted between us; if you have forgot the wounds we have received fighting by your side for the extension of the empire; if our commerce is not an object below your consideration; if justice and humanity have lost their influence on your hearts; still motives are not wanting to excite your indignation at the measures now pursued; your wealth, your honor, your liberty are at stake. Notwithstanding the distress to which we are reduced, we sometimes forget our own afflictions, to anticipate and sympathize in yours. We grieve that rash and inconsiderate councils should precipitate the destruction of an empire, which has been the envy and admiration of ages, and call God to witness! that we would part with our property, endanger our lives, and sacrifice every thing but liberty, to redeem you from ruin. A cloud hangs over your heads and ours; ere this reaches you, it may probably burst upon us; let us then (before the remembrance of former kindness is obliterated) once more repeat those appellations which are ever grateful in our ears; let us entreat heaven to avert our ruin, and the destruction that threatens our friends, brethren and countrymen, on the other side of the Atlantic. Ordered, That the above address be immediately printed, and sent by Mr. Penn to England. The letter to the lord mayor, aldermen and livery of London, being again read and debated, was agreed to as follows: MY LORD, Permit the delegates of the people of twelve ancient colonies, to pay your lordship, and the very respectable body of which you are head, the just tribute of gratitude and thanks, for the virtuous and unsolicited resentment you have shewn to the violated rights of a free people. The city of London, my lord, having in all ages, approved itself the patron of liberty, and the support of just government, against lawless tyranny and oppression, cannot fail to make us deeply sensible of the powerful aid, our cause must receive from such advocates. A cause, my lord, worthy the support of the first city in the world, as it involves the fate of a great continent, and threatens to shake the foundations of a flourishing, and, until lately, a happy empire. North-America, my lord, wishes most ardently for a lasting connexion with Great-Britain on terms of just and equal liberty; less than which generous minds will not offer, nor brave and free ones be willing to receive. A cruel war has at length been opened against us, and whilst we prepare to defend ourselves like the descendants of Britons, we still hope that the mediation of wise and good citizens, will at length prevail over despotism, and restore harmony and peace, on permanent principles, to an oppressed and divided empire. We have the honor to be, my lord, Ordered, That the above letter be transcribed, then signed by the president. The committee appointed to prepare a letter to Mr. Penn and the colony agents, reported a draught, which was read and approved as follows: GENTLEMEN, The perseverance of the British ministry in their unjust and cruel system of colony administration, has occasioned the meeting of another Congress. We have again appealed to the justice of our sovereign for protection against the destruction which his ministers meditate for his American subjects. This petition to his majesty you will please, gentlemen, to present to the king with all convenient expedition, after which we desire it may be given to the public. We likewise send you our second application to the equity and interest of our fellow-subjects in Great-Britain, and also a declaration setting forth the causes of our taking up arms: Both which we wish may be immediately put to press, and communicated as universally as possible. The Congress entertain the highest sense of the wise and worthy interposition of the lord mayor and livery of London, in favour of injured America. They have expressed this, their sense, in a letter to his lordship and the livery, which we desire may be presented in the manner most agreeable to that respectable body. You will oblige us, gentlemen, by given the most early information to the Congress, and to the speakers of our respective assemblies, of your proceeding in this business, and such further intelligence as you may judge to be of importance to America in this great contest. We are, with great regard, gentlemen, &c. Ordered, That the above be fairly transcribed, and then signed by the president, and by him sent under cover, together with the petition to the king, and address to the inhabitants of Great-Britain, and the letter to the lord mayor, &c. to Richard Penn, esq. and that the president request Mr. Penn, in behalf of the Congress, to join with the colony agents in presenting the petition to the king. Adjourned till Monday at nine o'clock. MONDAY, July 10, 1775. Met according to adjournment. Information being given, that there was a gentleman in town well acquainted with the state and disposition of the Indians, a motion was made for introducing him, and he was accordingly introduced and examined. The committee appointed to devise ways and means for putting the militia in a proper state for the defence of America, brought in their report, which was read, and after debate referred for further consideration. Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock. TUESDAY, July 11, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The report of the committee on Indian affairs was taken up and read, and, after some debate, the same was deferred till to-morrow. On information that there were two companies of riflemen raised in Lancaster instead of one, Resolved, That both be taken into the continental service. "An address of deputies from the different parishes of the islands of Bermuda," to the Congress, was presented and 'read. Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock. WEDNESDAY, July 12, 1775. Met according to adjournment. A gentleman from the province of Quebec was introduced and examined. Letters from governor Cooke and general Ward were read. The Congress then resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on Indian affairs, and the same being gone through was agreed to as follows: = That the securing and preserving the friendship of the Indian nations, appears to be a subject of the utmost moment to these colonies. That there is too much reason to apprehend that administration will spare no pains to excite the several nations of Indians to take up arms against these colonies; and it becomes us to be very active and vigilant in exerting every prudent means to strengthen and confirm the friendly disposition towards these colonies, which has long prevailed among the northern tribes, and which has been lately manifested by some of those to the southward. As the Indians depend on the colonists for arms, ammunition, and clothing, which are become necessary to their subsistence, that commissioners be appointed by this Congress, to superintend Indian affairs in behalf of these colonies. That there be three departments of Indians, the northern, middle and southern. The northern to extend so far south as to include the whole of the Indians known by the name of the Six Nations, and all the Indians northward of those nations. The southern department to extend so far north as to include the Cherokees, and all the Indians that may be to the southward of them. The middle to contain the Indian nations that lie between the other two departments. That five commissioners be appointed for the southern department. That for each of the other two departments, there be appointed three commissioners. That the commissioners have power to treat with the Indians in their respective departments, in the name, and on behalf of the United Colonies, in order to preserve peace and friendship with the said Indians, and to prevent their taking any part in the present commotions. That the commissioners for the southern department, receive from the continental treasury the sum of ten thousand dollars; the commissioners for the middle and northern department, the sum of six thousand six hundred and sixty-six and two-thirds, for each of their respective departments, for defraying the expense of treaties and presents to the Indians. That the commissioners respectively have power to take to their assistance gentlemen of influence among the Indians, in whom they can confide, and to appoint agents, residing near or among the Indians, to watch the conduct of the superintendents and their emisaries. That in case the commissioners for the respective districts, or any one of them in either district, shall have satisfactory proof, that the king's superintendents, their deputies or agents, or any other person whatsoever, are active in stirring up or inciting the Indians or any of them, to become inimical to the American colonies, such commissioner or commissioners, ought to cause such superintendents or other offender, to be seized and kept in safe custody until order shall be taken therein by a majority of the commissioners of the districts where such seizure is made, or by the Continental Congress, or a committee of said Congress, to whom such seizure, with the causes of it, shall, as soon as possible after, be made known. That the commissioners shall exhibit fair accounts of the expenditure of all moneys by them respectively to be received for the purposes aforesaid, to every succeeding Continental Congress, or committee of Congress, together with a general state of Indian affairs, in their several departments; in order that the colonies may be informed from time to time, of every such matter as may concern them to know and avail themselves of, for the benefit of the common cause. That as there is a seminary for the instruction of Indian youth, which has been established under the care of doctor Wheelock, on Connecticut river; and as there are nine or ten Indian youths at that school, chiefly from the tribes residing in Quebec; and as for want of a proper fund, there is danger that VOL. I. 15 these youths may be sent back to their friends, which will probably excite jealousy and distrust, and be attended with bad consequences, the commissioners for Indian affairs in the northern department, be authorized to receive out of the continental treasury, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, to be applied by them for the support of said Indian youths. On motion made, Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to devise ways and means to protect the trade of these colonies. The following were chosen: Mr. Jay, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Gadsden, Mr. Deane, and Mr. Lee. Adjourned till to-morrow at eight o'clock. THURSDAY, July 13, 1775. Met according to adjournment. The committee appointed to prepare proper talks to the Indians, reported the same, which was agreed to as follows: A Speech to the Six Confederate Nations, Mohawks, Oneidas, Tuscaroras, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senekas, from the Twelve United Colonies, convened in Council at Philadelphia. BROTHERS, SACHEMS, AND WARRIORS, We, the delegates from the twelve United Provinces, viz. New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, now sitting in general Congress at Philadelphia, send this talk to you our brothers. We are sixty-five in number, chosen and appointed by the people throughout all these provinces and colonies, to meet and sit together in one great council, to consult together for the common good of the land, and speak and act for them. Brothers, in our consultation we have judged it proper and necessary to send you this talk, as we are upon the same island, that you may be informed of the reasons of this great council, the situation of our civil constitution, and our disposition towards you our Indian brothers of the Six Nations and their allies. (Three Strings, or a small Belt.) Brothers anD FRIENDS, NOW ATTEND, When our fathers crossed the great water and came over to this land, the king of England gave them a talk: assuring them that they and their children should be his children, and that if they would leave their native country and make settlements, and live here, and buy, and sell, and trade with their brethren beyond the water, they should still keep hold of the same covenant chain and enjoy peace.-And it was covenanted, that the fields, houses, goods and possesions which our fathers should acquire, should remain to them as their own, and be their children's forever, and at their sole disposal. Trusting that this covenant should never be broken, our fathers came a great distance beyond the great water, laid out their money here, built houses, cleared fields, raised crops, and through their own labour and industry grew tall and strong. They have bought, sold and traded with England according to agreement, sending to them such things as they wanted, and taking in exchange such things as were wanted here. The king of England and his people kept the way open for more than one hundred years, and by our trade became richer, and by a union with us, greater and stronger than the other kings and people who live beyond the water. All this time they lived in great friendship with us, and we with them; for we are brothers-one blood. Whenever they were struck, we instantly felt as though the blow had been given to us their enemies were our enemies. Whenever they went to war, we sent our men to stand by their side and fight for them, and our money to help them and make them strong. They thanked us for our love, and sent us good talks, and renewed their promise to be one people forever. Brothers and FRIENDS, OPEN A KIND EAR! We will now tell you of the quarrel betwixt the counsellors of king George and the inhabitants and colonies of America. Many of his counsellors are proud and wicked men.-They persuade the king to break the covenant chain, and not to send us any more good talks. A considerable number have prevailed upon him to enter into a new covenant against us, and have torn asunder and cast behind their backs the good old covenant which their ancestors and ours entered into, and took strong hold of. They now tell us they will slip their hand into our pocket without asking, as though it were their own; and at their pleasure they will take from us our charters or written civil constitution, which we love as our lives-also our plantations, our houses and goods whenever they please, without asking our leave. That our vessels may go to this island in the sea, but to this or that particular island we shall not trade any more. And in case of our non-compliance with these new orders, they shut up our harbours. Brothers, this is our present situation-thus have many of the king's coun sellors and servants dealt with us.-If we submit, or comply with their demands, you can easily perceive to what state we will be reduced. If our people la bour on the field, they will not know who shall enjoy the crop.If they hunt in the woods, it will be uncertain who shall taste of the meat or have the skins.If they build houses, they will not know whether they may sit round the fire, with their wives and children. They cannot be sure whether they shall be permitted to eat, drink, and wear the fruits of their own labour and industry. BROTHERS AND FRIENDS OF THE SIX NATIONS, ATTEND, We upon this island have often spoke and intreated the king and his servants the counsellors, that peace and harmony might still continue between us-that we cannot part with or lose our hold of the old covenant chain which united our fathers and theirs-that we want to brighten this chain-and keep the way open as our fathers did; that we want to live with them as brothers, labour, trade, travel abroad, eat and drink in peace. We have often asked them to love us and live in such friendship with us as their fathers did with ours. We told them again that we judged we were exceedingly injured, that they might as well kill us, as take away our property and the necessaries of life.— We have asked why they treat us thus? What has become of our repeated addresses and supplications to them? Who hath shut the ears of the king to the cries of his children in America? No soft answer-no pleasant voice from beyond the water has yet sounded in our ears. Brothers, thus stands the matter betwixt old England and America. You Indians know how things are proportioned in a family-between the father and the son-the child carries a little pack-England we regard as the father-this island may be compared to the son. The father has a numerous family-both at home and upon this island.—He appoints a great number of servants to assist him in the government of his, family. In process of time, some of his servants grow proud and ill-naturedthey were displeased to see the boy so alert and walk so nimbly with his pack. They tell the father, and advise him to enlarge the child's pack-they prevailthe pack is increased-the child takes it up again-as he thought it might be the father's pleasure-speaks but few words-those very small-for he was loth to offend the father. Those proud and wicked servants finding they had prevailed, laughed to see the boy sweat and stagger under his increased load. By and by, they apply to the father to double the boy's pack, because they heard him complain--and without any reason said they-he is a cross child-correct |