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To the Gentlemen of Provincial Congress of Virginia
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Williamsburgh, Virginia, March 17, 1775.
The addresses presented to their Lieutenant-Governour by the Council and eleven polluted Members of the Assembly of New-York, are, to every sensible thinking American, of infinetly a more alarming nature than the threats of the Minister, the brutum fulmen of the King' s speech, (if that can properly be termed the King' s speech which the Minister has publickly avowed to be his own composition
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or the echoing back this speech by a hireling majority of the Peers to their paymaster; for as long as a spirit of union subsists through this Continent, and as long as the people at home have reason to think that this spirit does subsist, these threats of the Minister (although vibrated from the sounding-board of the Throne) and the echoing it back by a hired chorus of Peers, must cast more ridicule upon those by whom they are uttered, than give terrour to those at whom they are levelled. But the suspicion or report of any defection amongst ourselves, is a matter of most serious concern; it behooves you, therefore, gentlemen; it behooves every Provincial Congress of the Continent, to consider immediately of some effectual means to prevent the mischievous consequences intended by these abandoned and senseless men. Have we then formed a General Association of our Provinces? Have we pledged ourselves to each other, to our posterity, to mankind? Have we made so great (temporary at least) sacrifices in Commerce? Have we solemnly engaged to make still greater sacrifices in the glorious cause of Liberty? Have we confounded our enemies by a strain of virtue scarcely credible in these modern ages, and with a spirit of harmony that has surpassed, the most sanguine expectation? Have we acted this noble part? And shall the Council and eleven contemptible Assemblymen of New-York attempt to render all we have done abortive? Contemptible in all respects — in numbers, in understanding, in knowledge, and in principles! For what other tendency can their addresses to their Lieutenant-Governour possibly have but to counteract the Resolves of the Congress, and render everything ye have done abortive? These compositions of pusillanimity, abject servility, and disgusting folly; amount simply to this: That the utmost exertions of this United Continent (consisting of half a million of fighting men) can have no effect; that all the resistance (civil or military) which they can make, must be in vain; but that redress alone must be sought, and can be expected from the magnanimity of the British Nation, and the known goodness and virtue of the King. Gracious Heaven! grant us patience for to be told that we are to expect any thing from the magnanimity of a people who, for twelve years successively, have suffered themselves to be insulted, disgraced, trampled upon, plundered, and butchered with impunity! Or to be told that we are to look up to the goodness and virtue of a King who, for the same number of years, has been influenced to make incessant war upon the property, rights, privileges, laws, honour, and integrity of his people, in every part of the Empire, is enough to drive moderation
itself into violence.
But, continue these admirable Senators, what opens still a surer prospect of redress is, that His Excellency Governour Tryon is now near the Throne. So it seems that what the petitions, supplications, and remonstrances of the whole Colonies; of, the City of London,; of the great commercial Towns of the leading Counties of England; what the voice of policy, reason, justice, and humanity, could not effect, Colonel Tryon' s being in England will accomplish. I know not whether this Colonel Tryon is a man of so extraordinary talents, eloquence, and influence, as to work these mighty miracle' s. I never understood that he was; but I am sure, if he has common sense, and any manly feelings, he cannot help being somewhat disgusted at this ill-timed, impertinent flattery, and that he must conceive the greatest contempt for the parasites who, regardless of the most important concerns, to their Country and humanity, and at the very crisis which is to determine whether themselves and their posterity are to be freemen or slaves, could step out of their way to offer up incense to an unimportant individual. It may be said, this is all declamation; it maybe so, but it is a declamation which an honest zeal in the publick cause has forced me into. It is now time, gentlemen, to devise some means of putting a stop to this cancer before it spreads to any dangerous degree. You, gentlemen of Virginia, and your neighbours of Maryland have, perhaps, these means in your hands.
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I would propose, then, that after a spirited manifesto, expressing your abhorrence of the CouncilIf his proposals or hints be weak and absurd, they will naturally be laughed at; but if his intentions be honest, the consciousness of having acted from motives of rectitude, and the love of his Country, will sufficiently compensate for any ridicule which his scheme can incur. I would therefore, wish, that what I offer should rather be understood as hints than advice. If these hints are attended to, I shall reap no personal glory; if they are despised, I shall be no personal sufferer, as my name will probably never be known; for I have too great confidence in the integrity of the printer to apprehend he will insinuate, even the most remotely, his conjectures of the author. But to proceed with my proposals, or hints, in which latter light I am most desirous they should be considered: I could wish to the above-mentioned manifesto was subjoined the warmest letter of thanks to the virtuous ten of the Assembly of New-York, for their endeavours to stem the profligacy and wickedness of the majority, and for the noblepart they have acted as true Americans and excellent citizens; that another address, not less warm, should be presented to the gentlemen and people of New -York at large, expressing your opinion of their honesty and publick spirit, and lamenting their peculiar circumstances, which, to those who are strangers to these circumstances, may inculcate a belief that they alone are exceptions to the character of patriotism, which the Americans are now indisputably entitled to. But above all, I could wish that it were recommended, to every Province of the Continent, more particularly to their immediate neighbours of Pennsylvania, the Jerseys, and Connecticut, not to suffer one of this depraved undecimvirate to set his foot on their territories, until he invokes the forgiveness of his Country, and solemnly engages that his future life shall be employed in making compensation for his present conduct, of so obviously a mischievous tendency.
P˙S˙ The epithets prostitute, profligate, &c˙, which I have so freely made use of, may probably appear illiberal; but when we consider the mischievous consequences which the conduct of these Council and Assemblymen of New-York are fraught with, it must be allowed that no language can furbish, opprobrious terms adequate to their delinquency. I am far indeed from apprehending that their weight and influence are sufficient to shake the virtue of the Continent, or occasion any defection. I do not believe that an individual (much less a set of men) will be found who will be stupid and wicked enough to tread in their steps, the infamous *** of Philadelphia, and a small perverse drivelling knot, of Quakers, who form his Senate and Court, excepted. This worthy lately fixed his residence at New- York, with the professed intention of working
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with some congenial spirits in that City towards the ruin of the whole fabrick which the Congress had been raising. Indeed, it is most probable that he was the principal compiler, if not the dictator, of these wretched addresses. The style and sentiments are certainly his; the same mist, fog, and darkness, which overcast all his productions, envelop these addresses; and the same narrow, crooked politicks, low cunning, malignancy, and treachery, discoverable through the mist, fog, and obscurity of all his works and actions, betray themselves in these addresses. It may now be asked, as I have represented the character, weight, and credit of these eleven Assemblymen, of the majority of the Council of New- York, and their Philadelphia coadjutor, or more properly dictator, in so despicable a light, wherefore I should sound the alarm? What mischiefs can possibly result from the utmost such men can do? I answer, that although they can neither occasion any defection, nor present the least prospect of success to the enemies of America and liberty, they can do very considerable mischief. They can procrastinate the issue; they can (and most probably will) prolong the inconveniences which we must, more or less, feel during the contest. There is nothing more certain than, that the Ministry have proceeded to the enormous lengths they have done upon the presumption that the attacks upon Boston would not have been taken up by the other Provinces, as the cause of the whole.Notes
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