"Whenever we have departed from the forms of the constitution, our own safety and self-preservation have dictated the expedient; and if in any instances we have assumed powers which the laws invest in the sovereign or his representatives, it has been only in defence of our persons, properties, and those rights which God and the constitution have made unalienably ours. As soon as the cause of our fears and apprehensions are removed, with joy will we return these powers to their regular channels; and such institutions formed from mere necessity, shall end with that necessity which created them. "These expressions flow from an affection, bordering upon devotion, to the succession of the house of Hanover, as by law established, from subjects who view it as a monument that does honor to human nature; a monument capable of teaching kings how glorious it is to reign over a free people.-These are the heartfelt effusions of men ever ready to spend their blood and treasure, when constitutionally called upon, in support of that succession of his majesty King George the third, his crown and dignity, and who fervently wish to transmit his reign to future ages as the æra of common happiness to his people. Could these our sentiments reach the throne, surely our sovereign would forbid the horrors of war and desolation to intrude into this once peaceful and happy land, and would stop that deluge of human blood which now threatens to overflow this colony; blood too precious to be shed but in a common cause, against the common enemy of Great Britain and her sons. "This declaration we hold forth as a testimony of loyalty to our sovereign, and affection to our parent state, and as a sincere earnest of our present and future intentions. ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF GOVERNOR JOSIAH MARTIN, TO THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA, OCTOBER 3, 1780. The following ROYAL PROCLAMATION was communicated at the same time, and published as a curiosity: NORTH CAROLINA. By his excellency Josiah Martin, his majesty's captain general and governor in chief of the said province, etc., etc., etc. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas the king, ever anxious for the welfare and happiness of all his people, and sensible to the representations which have been constantly made to him of the steady and unshaken loyalty, and of the inviolable fidelity and attachment of his faithful subjects in this province to his person and government, and confiding entirely in their repeated assurances to his majesty of their own uttermost exertions in co-operation with his arms whenever they should be directed to their support. And whereas his majesty, moved by these considerations, by every the most tender and paternal feeling of concern and regard for the sufferings and misery of his faithful people, under the intolerable yoke of arbitrary power, which his majesty, with indignation, sees imposed by the tyranny of the rebel congress upon his freeborn subjects, hath been pleased to send an army to their aid and relief-I have, therefore, thought it proper, by this proclamation, to inform his majesty's loyal and faithful subjects in this province, of this great proof and instance of his majesty's gracious attention to them, and at the same time to advertise them that the royal army, under the command of lieut. gen. "We hope, thereby, to remove those impres-earl Cornwallis, is thus far advanced to their sions which have been made by the representation of weak and wicked men to the prejudice of this colony, who thereby intended that the rectitude of our designs might be brought into distrust, and sedition, anarchy, and confusion, spread through this loyal province. "We have discharged a duty which we owe to the world, to ourselves, and posterity; and may the Almighty God give success to the means we make use of, so far as they are aimed to produce just, lawful, and good purposes, and the salvation and happiness of the whole British empire." support, leaving it to themselves to compute its power and superiority from the great, signal, and complete victory which it obtained when in force very inferior to its present strength, over the rebel army on the 16th of August. And whereas, while his majesty, on the one hand, holds forth grace and mercy to his deluded subjects who shall immediately, and with good faith, return to their duty, to which they have been invited, in vain by every reason and argument, and by every consideration of interest, of freedom, and happiness, he is determined, on the other, to employ, in the most vigorous and effectual manner, the force of his arms, and the united strength of his faithful people, to restore and maintain to them that genuine liberty, peace, and prosperity, which they formerly enjoyed in such full security, under the mild government and protection of Great Britain, and to compel the disobedient to submission to the laws, and to a participation of those blessings of a free constitution, which, through ignorance, infatuation, delusion, blindness, and fraud, they have been hitherto led to resist, notwithstanding his majesty's most gracious and merciful endeavors to reclaim them. Having thus signified to the king's loyal and faithful subjects the arrival and progress of his majesty's army to their aid and support, which they have so long and eagerly wished for, it becomes my duty to remind them that the time is now arrived in which they are to evince the sincerity of their professions of loyalty and attachment to his majesty's person and government; they are to consider themselves in this hour most seriously and solemnly called upon by every duty of the subject to the sovereign, and by every tie and consideration of family, liberty, and property, of present and future welfare and interest, with heart and hand, to join and unite their strength with that of his majesty's forces, in order to deliver themselves from that intolerable yoke of slavery and arbitrary power, (which the tyranny of the rebel congress, lost to every sense of truth and virtue, is evidently aiming to rivet upon them, by calling in the aid of the two Roman Catholic powers of France and Spain, whose policy and incessant labor it has been for ages to subvert the civil and religious liberties of mankind) and to restore themselves to that state of perfect freedom which is acknowledged thoughout the world to be found only in the envied rights and condition of British subjects. And whereas I have the entire confidence, that it is the wish, inclination, and ardent desire of his majesty's faithful and loyal subjects in this province, to employ their strength on this great occasion for the redemption of every thing that can be dear to men, in the way that is likely most effectually and certainly to accomplish the great objects of peace and happiness which they have in view: I do hereby exhort and invite all the young and ablebodied men to testify the reality of their loyalty and spirit, by enlisting in the provincial corps, which are forthwith to be raised and put under my command, as his majesty's governor of the province, hereby informing and assuring them that they are and will be required to serve only during the rebellion, and within the provinces of North and South Carolina and Virginia, under officers of their own recommendation; that each man will receive the bounty of three guineas at the time of enlisting, and all the pay, clothing, appointments, allowances, and encouragements of soldiers of his majesty's army; and will be entitled, at the end of the rebellion, when they are to be discharged, to free grants of land. And I have such full assurance that his majesty's loyal and faithful subjects of this province will so clearly see the propriety and necessity of forming their strength upon this plan, which experience hath proved can alone render it, useful and effectual, to the speedy suppression of the tyranny which has for years past deprived them of every blessing, right, and enjoyment of life, that I am confident their honest zeal will lead them to contend and vie with each other in filling the respective battalions in which they shall choose to enlist, from a just sense of the merit and applause that will be due to such as are soonest completed. Given under my hand, and the great seal of the said province at head quarters, in Charlottetown, this third day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, and in the twentieth year of his majesty's reign. By his excellency's command: RIGDON BRICE, P. Sec'y. Jo. MARTIN. God save the king! ACTION SOUTH CAROLINA. OF THE INHABITANTS OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, TO RESIST THE STAMP ACT. FROM DRAYTON MEMOIRS, 1775. Among other extracts made from this work, and published in the Charleston Courier, we have selected the following: channel, was not sufficiently authentic, to place the lieutenant governor under the obligation of enforcing it. "The stamps soon reached Charleston, and were deposited at Fort Johnson. The people finding the lieutenant governor and crown officers determined to circulate them, resolved to counteract all their movements, and obtain possession of the stamp paper. "About one hundred and fifty volunteers The proceedings at Charleston to resist the were soon organized and armed for the puroperations of the stamp-act are very interest-pose; and two nights after, boats being proing. The commons house of assembly, having been assured of the stamp-act from Great Britain, endeavored to prevent it from being enforced by denying it official promulgation. This furnishes additional evidence that the colonists resorted to the chances of war, after having in- | effectually tried every mode of redress. But fate, for wise purposes, had rendered remonstrance, argument, and even entreaty, unavailing. Encouraged by this weakness, and by the public opinion which was hostile to the act, the members of assembly deliberated in what manner they might most embarrass and elude its operations. And, as the best mode they could devise, they addressed the lieutenant governor on the occasion, requesting to be informed whether the stamp-act, said to have been passed in parliament, had been transmitted to him, and if it had through what channel; and whether he had received it from a secretary of state, the lords of trade, or from any other authentic source? These were questions of a singular nature-however, his honor, from a desire to soften as much as possible the fermentations which existed, answered, he had received it from Thomas Boone, the governor of the province. The assembly replied, that, while Mr. Boone was out of the bounds of his government they could not consider him in any other light than as a private gentleman; and the act being received through such a vided at Lamboll's bridge, on the west end of South Bay, they formed and marched towards that place for embarkation. From thence, they proceeded in boats across Ashley river, and landed after twelve o'clock at night, on James Island, between Style's plantation and the fort. They then proceeded towards the fort, and halting at a small distance from it, a reconnoitering party was sent forward. This party proceeded to the draw-bridge unnoticed, or challenged by sentries; and finding it down, through the omission of the garrison, they immediately returned and reported the same. "The whole body of volunteers then advanced upon the fort; and arriving at the bridge, they crossed it without oppositionpressed through the inner gate, which was not secured, and immediately possessed themselves of the fort. Only one soldier was found awake; and before he could give the alarm, the remainder of the garrison was secured except Lloyd, its commander, who had not slept there that night. The garrison was then placed under a guard-the bridge was drawn up-and a search commenced for the obnoxious stamped paper. This, to the great joy of the volunteers, was at length found in one of the rooms of the barracks, and a guard was placed over it. Preparations were then made for maintaining the fort against any attack which might be made upon it by the sloop-of-war, when day light should arrive ; and for this purpose, the cannon on the platform were loaded with ball and grape shot, matches were provided, and a number of men were stationed at each gun; and a flag, showing a blue field, with three white crescents, which the volunteers had brought with them for the purpose, was hoisted on the flag staff of the fort." ADDRESS OF THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS TO LORD CHARLESTON, June 21, 1775. Ordered-That the hon. William Henry Drayton, the hon. Bernard Elliot, colonel Charles Pinckney, col. James Parsons, col. Isaac Motte, col. Stephen Bull, col. William Moultrie, major Owen Roberts, captain Thomas Savage, captain John Huger, Miles Brewton, Thomas Ferguson, and Gabriel Capers, esquires, be a deputation to present his excellency the governor, the address of this congress. To his excellency the right honorable lord William Campbell, governor and commander in chief over the province aforesaid, majesty has been led into measures, which, if persisted in, must inevitably have involved America in all the calamities of a civil war, and rend the British empire. We only desire the secure enjoyment of our invaluable rights, and we wish for nothing more ardently, than a speedy reconciliation with our mother country, upon constitutional principles. Conscious of the justice of our cause, and the integrity of our views, we readily profess our loyal attachment to our sovereign, his crown, and dignity; and, trusting the event to Providence, we prefer death to slavery. These things, we have thought it our duty to declare, that your excellency, and through you, our august sovereign—our fellow subjects—and the whole world - -may clearly understand, that our taking up arms, is the result of dire necessity, and in compliance with the first law of The humble address and declaration of the nature. provincial congress. May it please your excellency—We, his majesty's loyal subjects, the representatives of the people of this colony, in congress assembled, beg leave to disclose to your excellency, the true cause of our present proceedings; not only that upon your arrival among us, you may receive no unfavorable impression of our conduct, but that we may stand justified to the world. When the ordinary modes of application for redress of grievances, and the usual means of defence against arbitrary impositions have failed, mankind generally have had recourse to those that are extraordinary. Hence, the origin of the continental congress—and hence the present representation of the people in this colony. We entreat and trust, that your excellency will make such a representation of the state of this colony, and of our true motives, as to assure his majesty, that in the midst of all our complicated distresses, he has no subjects in his wide dominions, who more sincerely desire to testify their loyalty and affection, or who would be more willing to devote their lives and fortunes to his real service. By order of the provincial congress, at Charleston, June 20, 1775. HENRY LAURENS, President. RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. port in the English Channel, lost to all sense It is unnecessary to enumerate the grievances of America; they have been so often represented, that your excellency cannot be a stranger to them.—Let it, therefore, suffice to say, that the hands of his majesty's ministers, having long lain heavy, now press with intolerable weight. We declare, that no love of innovation -no desire of altering the constitution of government-no lust of independence has had the least influence upon our councils: but, alarmed and roused by a long succession of arbitrary proceedings, by wicked administrations-impressed with the greatest apprehension of in-kind: to testify our just resentment to so base stigated insurrections-and deeply affected by the commencement of hostilities by the British troops against this continent,-solely for the preservation and defence of our lives, liberties, and properties, we have been impelled to associate and take up arms. We sincerely deplore those slanderous informations and wicked councils, by which his and cruel a conduct in the inhabitants of Poole, it is hereby resolved, That this colony will not use or employ any shipping belonging to that port, or owned by any inhabitant there, or carry on any transactions, or hold any communication with that people. in this colony, except the sick, those above 60, | until the latter receives an ample recognition and those under 21 years of age, ought, forthwith to return to this colony. FORMED FOR RESISTANCE TO THE AGGRES SIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN, JUNE, 1775. The actual commencement of hostilities of her rights, and full satisfaction for the blood that has or may be shed. The inhabitants of this vast continent would give up all their seacoast towns, retire into the interior country, and contentedly subsist on the bare necessaries of life, rather than submit to the implicit subjugation of a British parliament. But don't apprehend they will suffer this distress like docile animals. No: depend, they will protect their property to the last extremity, and although they have hitherto acted only on the defensive, believe me, unless there is an evident prospect of accommodation this winter, hostilities will commence on their part, by and with the assistance of a foreign power, and with a spirit that will alarm all Europe. And then farewell to Great Britain." RESOLUTIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF SOUTH against this continent, by the British troops, in the bloody scene on the 19th of April last, near Boston; the increase of arbitrary impositions, from a wicked and despotic ministry, and the dread of instigated insurrections in the colonies, are causes sufficient to drive an oppressed people to the use of arms:-We, therefore, the subscribers, inhabitants of South Carolina, holding ourselves bound, by that most sacred of all obligations, the duty of good citizens towards an injured country, and thoroughly convinced, that, under our present distressed circumstances, we shall be justified before God and man, in resisting force by force, do unite From the Journal of the Provincial congress ourselves under every tie of religion and honor, and associate as a band in her defence, against every foe; hereby solemnly engaging that whenever our continental and provincial councils shall decree it necessary, we will go forth, and be ready to sacrifice our lives, and fortunes, to secure her freedom and safety. This obligation to continue in full force until a reconciliation shall take place between Great Britain and America, upon constitutional principles; an event which we most ardently desire. And we will hold all those persons inimical to the liberties of the colonies, who shall refuse to subscribe to this association. Subscribed by every member present, and certified by HENRY LAURENS, President. June, 1775. LETTER of South Carolina. IN CONGRESS, Feb. 8, 1776. Resolved, That Mr. President do signify the approbation of this congress, and present their thanks to the hon. Henry Middleton, and John Rutledge, esqrs. now present in congress, and to the other delegates of this colony at Philadelphia, for their important services in the American congress. Mr. President accordingly addressed himself to the hon. Mr. Middleton, and Mr. Rutledge, as follows: Gentlemen-When the hand of tyranny, armed in hostile manner, was extended from Great Britain to spoil America of whatever she held most valuable, it was for the most important purposes, that the good people of this colony delegated you to represent them in the continental congress, at Philadelphia. It became your business to ascertain the rights of America, to point out her violated franchises, FROM CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, to make humble representation to the king for AUGUST 5, 1775. redress, and he, being deaf to the cries of his American subjects, to appeal to the King of The determination of the people to resist the kings, for the recovery of the rights of an infant aggression of Great Britain. 'Be assured, peace will never be firmly established between Great Britain and America, people, by the majesty of Heaven formed for future empire. In this most important business you engaged,. |