Provincial Congresses
.
Governor Gage summoned a meeting of the Massachusetts Assembly at
Salem, under the provisions of the new and obnoxious act of Parliament.
Perceiving the increasing boldness of the people under the stimulus of the proceedings of the Continental Congress, he countermanded the summons.
The members denied his right to do so. They met at
Salem, ninety in number, on the appointed day, Oct. 5, 1774; waited two days for the governor, who did not appear; and then organized themselves into a Provincial Congress, with John Hancock as president and
Benjamin Lincoln, secretary.
They adjourned to
Concord, where, on the 11th, 260 members took their seats.
There they adjourned to
Cambridge, when they sent a message to the governor, telling him that, for the want of a legal assembly, they had formed a provisional convention.
They complained of unlawful acts of Parliament, expressed their loyalty to the
King, and protested against the fortifying of
Boston Neck by the governor.
Gage denounced them.
This act increased their zeal.
They appointed a committee of safety, to whom they delegated large powers.
They were authorized to call out the militia of the province, and perform other acts of sovereignty.
Another committee was authorized to procure ammunition and military stores, for which purpose more than $60,000 were appropriated.
A receiver-
general, Henry Gardiner, was appointed, into whose hands the constables and taxcollectors were directed to pay all moneys received by them.
They made provision for arming the province, and appointed
Jeremiah Preble,
Artemas Ward, and
Seth Pomeroy general officers of the militia.
They also authorized the enrolment of 12,000 minute-men, and, assuming both legislative and executive powers, received the allegiance of the people generally.
So passed away royal rule in
Massachusetts, and the sovereignty of the people was established in the form of the Provincial Congress.
Gage issued a proclamation denouncing their proceedings, to which no attention was paid.
The Provincial Congress of
New Hampshire assembled at
Exeter, on May 17, 1775, when ninety-eight counties, towns, parishes, and boroughs were represented by deputies.
Matthew Thornton was chosen president, and
Eleazar Thompson secretary.
They established a post-office at
Portsmouth, provided for procuring arms, recommended the establishment of home manufactures, commissioned
Brigadier-General Folsom first commander, and provided for the issue of bills of credit.
On May 2, 1775, the provincial committee of correspondence of
New Jersey directed the chairman to summon a Provincial Congress of deputies to meet in
Trenton, on the 23d of that month.
Thirteen counties were represented—namely,
Bergen,
Essex,
Middlesex,
Morris,
Somerset,
Sussex,
Monmouth, Hunterdon,
Burlington,
Gloucester,
Cumberland,
Salem, and
Cape May.
Hendrick Fisher was chosen president;
Johathan D. Sargent secretary; and
William Paterson and
Frederick Frelinghuysen assistants.
The Provincial Assembly had been called (May 15) by
Governor Franklin to consider North's conciliatory proposition.
They
[
327]
declined to approve it, or to take any decisive step in the matter, except with the consent of the Continental Congress, then in session.
They adjourned a few days afterwards, and never met again.
Royal authority was at an end in
New Jersey.
The Provincial Congress adopted measures for organizing the militia and issuing $50,000 in bills of credit for the payment of extraordinary expenses.
On the recommendation of the committee of sixty of the
city of New York, delegates chosen in a majority of the counties of the province met at the
Exchange in New York, May 22, 1775.
They adjourned to the next day, in order to have a more complete representation, when delegates appeared from the following counties: New York,
Albany,
Dutchess,
Ulster,
Orange,
Westchester,
Kings,
Suffolk, and
Richmond.
The Congress was organized by the appointment of
Peter Van Brugh Livingston, president;
Volkert P. Douw,
vice-president;
John McKesson and
Robert Benson, secretaries; and
Thomas Petit, door-keeper.
They forwarded to the Continental Congress a financial scheme, devised by
Gouverneur Morris, for the defence of the colonies by the issue of a Continental paper currency, substantially the same as that afterwards adopted.
They also took measures for enlisting four regiments for the defence of the province, and for erecting fortifications, recommended by the Continental Congress, at the head of
York Island and in the
Hudson Highlands.
The Provincial Congress agreed to furnish provisions for the garrison at
Ticonderoga.
There was a strong Tory element in the
Congress, which caused much effort towards conciliation, and a plan was agreed to, in spite of the warm opposition of leading Sons of Liberty.
It contemplated a repeal of all obnoxious acts of Parliament, but acknowledged the right of the mothercountry to regulate trade, and the duty of the colonists to contribute to the common charges by grants to be made by the colonial assemblies, or by a general congress, specially called for that purpose.
But this plan met with little favor, and in time the Provincial Congress of New York became more thoroughly patriotic.
It showed hesitation, however, in several important emergencies, especially in the matter of declaring the independence of the colonies.
It ceased to exist in the summer of 1777, when a State government was organized.
On Aug. 21, 1775, a Provincial Congress, consisting of 184 deputies, assembled at
Hillsboro, N. C. They first declared their determination to protect the Regulators, who were liable to punishment; declared
Governor Martin's proclamation to have a tendency to stir up tumult and insurrection in the province dangerous to the
King's government, and directed it to be publicly burned by the common hangman.
They provided for raising troops; authorized the raising, in addition to a regular force, of ten battalions, to be called minute-men, and they authorized the emission of bills of credit to the amount of $150,000.
