Letter to the Committee of Westchester

v3:1322

Thereupon, a draught of a Letter to the Committee of Westchester was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, November 3, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We received a letter of the 1st instant, from a Sub-Committee of your County, relative to the conduct of the people of Rye; and the Congress have directed me to recommend to your Committee, to make an immediate and strict inquiry into the matters to which the letter refers, and to take the examinations, on oath, of the witnesses; and if you find satisfactory reasons to suppose the persons threatened to be in danger, that you take the proper means to protect them. Perhaps the binding over to the peace such persons as may be strongly suspected of a design to injure the persons or estates of those gentlemen, may be a useful expedient. If any thing afterwards shall be thought necessary to be done for their further protection, the Committee will attend to it. If you should find the County unable to give the necessary protection, you will transmit the examinations to us, that the Congress may take such order therein as may be proper.The Committee may rest assured that this Congress will support the friends of liberty to the utmost of their power.

We are, Sir, your humble servants.

To Gilbert Drake, Esq˙, Chairman of the Committee of Westchester County.

Mr˙ Melancton Smith moved, and was seconded, that that part of the Letter to the Committee of Westchester which refers them to the Civil Magistrate be struck out.

By consent of the Congress, the question was put by rising, and carried in the negative — Dr˙ Graham, Mr˙ Thomas, Mr˙ Sears, and Mr˙ Melancton Smith, dissenting.

Therefore, Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and transmitted.