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Show [28] [29] putes fubfifling between Great-Britain and thefe colonies, people, by the mortifying difplay of their comparative and that this be made a part of the petition to the king. " RnsoLVED unanimoufly, That the militia of NewYork be armed and trained, and in confiant readinefs to act at a moment's warningr ; and that a number of men he immediately embodied and kept in that city, and fo difpofed of to give protection to the inhabitants, in cafe any in- fult ihould be offered by the troops that may land there, and to prevent any attempts that may be made to gain ptiiletiion of the City, and interrupt its intercourfe With the country. " RESOLVED unanimoufly, That it be recommended to the provincial convention at New-York, to perfevcre the more vigoroufly in preparing for their defence, as it is very uncertain whether the earnet't endeavours of the Congrefs, to accommodate the unhappy differences between Great- Britain and the colonies, by conciliatory mcafures, will be fuccefsful." N0 country perhaps in the world was ever in a more delicate lituation than America at this period. Informed and difcerning minds faw the molt miferable fervitude on the one hand ; and on the other, that they mutt he {trip- ped of property, and fuffer an ignominious death, without fuch a coincidence of circumflances as nothing but Pro- vidence could accomplifh. They faw one of the mod powerful nations upon earth, whole fleets covered the ocean-«whole flag had waved in triumph thro' the four quarters of the globe, ready to dart all her thunders againft them, at the fame time, America was without (hips, without arms, without clothes, without money, without officers, without difcipline, without a fingle fortification, a very confideiable faction ready to join her enemies, expofed thro' an immenfe frontier t0 the irruptions of favage tribes, whofe luf'c of blood was daily fiimulatcd by all the arts which an unfecling inhuman policy could dictate; while a herd of flaves were urged by the infidious offer of freedom, to plunge an aflhflin's dagger in the ho- foin of domeftic fecurity. In this crilis, however, it was determined to rifk every thing, rather than tamely weaknefs. On the 6th ot July, 1775, the Congrefs pu, blithed the following declaration : " IF it was potfible for men, who exereife their reafon, to believe, that the Divine Author of our exiftence intended a part of the human race to hold an abfolute pro- perty in, and an unbounded power over others, marked out by his infinite goodnefs and wifdom, as the objects of a legal domination never rightfully retittible, however fevere and oppreflive, the inhabitants of thefe colonies might at leaft require from the parliament of Great-Britain fome evidence, that this dreadful authority over them has been granted to that body. But a reverence for our great Creator, principles of humanity, and the dictates of com- mon fenfe, mufi convince all thofe who refledt upon the fubjec‘t, that government was inflituted to promote the welfare of mankind, and ought to be adminiilered for the attainment of that end. The legiflature of Great-Britain, however, fiimulated by an inordinate paffion for a power not only unjuftifiable, but which they know to be petu-~ liarly reprobated by the very conflitution of that kingdom, and defperate of fuceefs in any mode of contefl', where regard {hould be had to truth, law, or right, have at length, deferting thofe, attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic purpofe of enllaving thefe colonies by violence, and have thereby rendered it neceffary for us to clofe with their lalt appeal from reafon to arms. Yet, however blinded that affembly may be, by their intemperatc rage for unlimited domination, {0 to flight juf'tice and the Opi- nion of mankind, we efleem ourfelves bound by obliga- tions of refpeét to the reft of the world, to make known the juflice of our caufe. " OUR forefathers, inhabitants of the ifland of Great- Britain, left their native land to feek on thefe [hores a refidence for civil and religious freedom. At the expence of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes, without the leaft charge to the country from which they removcd, by unceafing labour and an unconquerable fpirit, they effeéted fettlements in the diftant and inhofpitable wilds of fubmit to the yoke; but, at the fame time, it was ne- America, then filled with numerous and warlike nations ccflary to avoid as much as poffible giving an alarm to the people, of barbarians. Societies or governments, vetted with [)tcfu. tee |