212 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



by divine Providence, surrender succeeding generations to a condition of 

 wretchedness, from which no human efforts, in all probability, will be 

 sufficient to extricate them ; the experience of all states mournfully de- 

 monstrating to us, that when arbitrary power has been established over 

 them, even the wisest and bravest nations, that ever flourished, have, in 

 a few years, degenerated into abject and wretched vassals. 



So alarming are the measures already taken for laying the foundations 

 of a despotic authority of Great Britain over us, and with such artful 

 and incessant vigilance is the plan prosecuted, that unless the present 

 generation can interrupt the work, while it is going forward, can it be 

 imagined, that our children, debilitated by our imprudence and supine - 

 ness, will be able to overthrow it, when completed? Populous and power- 

 ful as these Colonies may grow, they will still find arbitrary domination 

 not only strengthening with their strength, but exceeding, in the swift- 

 ness of its progression, as it ever has done, all the artless advantages, 

 that can accrue to the governed. These advance with a regularity, which 

 the divine author of our existence has impressed on the laudable pursuits 

 of his creatures : But despotism, unchecked and unbounded by any laws — 

 never satisfied with what has been done, while any thing remains to be 

 done for the accomplishment of its purposes — confiding, and capable of 

 confiding, only in the annihilation of all opposition — holds its course with 

 such unabating and destructive rapidity, that the world has become its 

 prey, and at this day. Great Britain and her dominions excepted, there is 

 scarce a spot on the globe inhabited by civilized nations, where the ves- 

 tiges of freedom are to be observed. 



To us therefore it appears, at this alarming period, our duty to God, 

 to our country, to ourselves, and to our posterity, to exert our utmost 

 ability, in promoting and establishing harmony between Great Britain 

 and these Colonies, on a constitutional foundation. 



For attaining this great and desirable end, we request you to appoint 

 a proper number of persons to attend a Congress of Deputies from the 

 several Colonies, appointed, or to be appointed, by the Representatives 

 of the people of the Colonies respectively in assembly, or convention, or 

 by Delegates chosen by the counties generally in the respective colonies 

 and met in Provincial Committee, at such time and place as shall be 

 generally agreed on : and that the Deputies from this province may be 

 induced and encouraged to concur in such measures, as may be devised 

 for the common welfare, we think it proper, particularly to inform, how 

 far, we apprehend, they will be supported in their conduct by their con- 

 stituents. 



The assumed parliamentary power of internal legislation, and the 

 power of regulating trade, as of late exercised, and designed to be e-xer- 

 cised, we are thoroughly convinced, will prove unfailing and plentiful 



