N THE CUSTODY OP TME

BOSTON PUBLI-C LIBRARY.





D D R E S S



OF T H E



TWELVE UNITED COLONIES



O F



R T H-A M E R I C



BY THEIR



REPRESENT ATIVES



CONGRESS,



To THE* PEOPLE OF



IRELAND.



PHILADELPHIA:
PRIKTEB T W. AND T. BRADFORD, 1775,






To the PEOPLE of IRELAND.

From the Delegates appointed by the

United Colo^cs of l^^a-infyTiirt, Maf-

fachufti.s- Bay, Rko^- 'fiand and Provi-

dence PL -i fixations, Co , ru'licut, New York,

New-7er/ey, Per,,. , ^^lia, The Lower

Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Vir-

ginia, North^Carolina and South -Carolina,

in General Congrefs at Philadelphia,

the loth of TW&y, *775

/

FRIENDS and FELLOW SUBJECTS,

AS the important conteft into which we have
bten driven, is now become intereiling to
every European ftaie, and particularly afFedsthe
members ot ihe Britidi Empire, we think it our



duty to addrefs you on the fir je6t. We are
firous, as is natural to injured innocence, of pof-
feffjng the good opinion ot the virtuous and hu-
maneWe are peculiarly defirous cf furnilhing
you with a true ttate of our motives and objafts ;
the better to enable you to judge of our conduct
with accuracy, and determine the merits of the
controreny with impartiality and precifion.



A 2 HOW2T?,



C 3

HOWEV-R incredible it may appear, that, a
this enlightned period, the ieadvrs of a nation,
which in every age has facrificed hecatombs of
her braved patriots on the altar of liberty, fhoulc}
prefume gravely to aflert and by force or arms at-
tempt to eftablifh an arbitrary fway over the lives,
liberties, and property of their iellow fubje&s in
America; it is nevcrthelefs a moft deplorable and
indifputable truth.

I

THESE colonies have, from the time of their
firft fettlement, for near two centuries, peaceably
enjoyed thofe very rights of which the Miniftry
have for ten years paft endeavoured by fraud and
by violence to deprive them. At ihe conciufion
of the laft war the genius of England and the
fpirit of wifdom, as it offended at the ungrateful
treatment of iheir ions, withdrew from the Bri-
tifh counfels and lefr chat nation a pr j y to a race
pt miniflers, with whom ancient Englsn 1 honeiiy
and bpnevolence difdained to dwell. From that
period, jealoufy, diicontent, opprtffion and dif-
cord have raged among all his Majelty* fubjeft?}
and filled every part of his dominions with diitrcf^
and complaint,

NOT content with our purchafing of Br'rain at
her own price, cloathing ar.d a thoufand other
articles uftd by near three million of people on
this vaft Continent ; not iaiisficd with the amaz-
ing profits arifingfrom the monopoly of our trade,
without giving us eicher time to brtathe after a long
though glorious war, or the lead credit tor the
blood and treafure we have expended m it j - Not-
withftanding the zeal we ha<V manifefteu tor the
fervice of our Sovereign, and the warmeit attach*

mcnc



' E 3 J

nient to the conftitutlon of Britain and the people
of England, a black and h-.-.rrid dt-fign was K>rm-
ed, to convert us from ireemen in:o fbves, t.om
ii.to vafials, and from friends into ene-



TAXES, for the firft rime flnce we landed on
the American fnores, were, without our content,
iinpofed upon us ; an unconstitutional edicl; to
compel us to fur -(h neccfiaries for a (landing ar-
iny, that we wiflv a :o fee difbinded, was ifiued - y
and the Irgiflaturt o- New-Yoik fufpended for re-
fuilng to comply with it Our antient and inefti-
imble right of trial by jury v/as, in many inftances,
abuiiihed; ana the common law of the land made
to give place to Admiralty jurifdidions. Jurg-^s
were rendered, by the tenure of their com-
rn'iTions, entirely dependent on the will of a
Minifter, Nc* crimes were arbitrarily created ;
and new courts, unknown to theconftitution, in-
liituted, Vvicked and infidows Governors have
been fet over us -, and dutifyl petitions for the
removal of even the notoriouQy infamous Gover-
nor JjJittMnfont ^ere branded with the opprobious
appe!L.^' ; i ';; ; fcai-dalous and defamatory. Hardy
an mprs have been made uEder colour of parli-
amentary authority to feize Americans, and carry
them to Great '3riia ; n to be tried for offences com-
muted in tht Col ,-nics Anc ent charters have no
longer remained iacied that of che Maffachu-
fetts-Bay was violated j and their form of govern-
ment cflr:!-'i- : v mutilated and transformed On
pretence . r uniihing a violation of fome private
property, committed ova fevvdiiguiied individuals,
jhe populous and flourilhing town, of Button was fur-

rounded



C 4 3

rounded by fleets and armies ; its trade deftroyed*,
its port blocked up , and thirty thoufand citizens
fabjected to ail the miferies attending ib fudden a
cpnvuluon in their commercial metropolis; and
: . remove every obftacle to the rigorous executi-

< -

on of this fyftem of oppreffion, an aft of Parlia-
ment was pa(Ted evidently calculated to indemnify
ihofe, who might, in the profecution of it, even
embrue their hands in the blood of the inha-
bitants.

THO' p relied by fuch an accumulation of un-?
defer ved injuries, America dill remembered her
duty to her fov-ereign - A Congrefs, confiding
of Deputies from Twelve United Colonies af-
fcmbled. They in the rnoft refpectful terms laid
their grievances at the foot of the throne ; and
implored his Majefty*s interpofition in their be-
half They aiio agreed to fufpend all trauc with

* ^D f

Great-Britain, Ireland and the Weft-Indies ; hope-
ing, by this peaceable mode of oppofition, to
obtain that jufiice from the Britifh Mmiftry which
] id been ib long foliated in vain- And here per-
nit us to alTure you, that it was with the utmoiire-
'. ; fiance we could prevail upon ourfelves, to ceafe
our commercial connexion with your iiland - -Tour
Parliament had done us no wronp- Ton had ever

o

been friendly to the rights of mankind >, and we
acknowledge with pleafure and with gratitude,
thatjrow ration has produced patriots, who have
nobly diftingui flied themfelyes in the caufe of hu-
manity and America. On the other hand, we

*

\verc not ignorant that the labor and manufactures
of Ireland, l ; ke thofe of the filk-woi m, were of
little moment toherfclf; but ferved only to give

^ CD

luxury



[ 5 ]

luxury to thofe, who neither toil nor fpin We.
perceived, that if we continued our commerce
with ypu, our agreement not to import from Bri-
tain would befomtlffs ; and were therefore com-
pelled to adopt a mealure, to which nothing but
ttbfolute neceffity could have reconciled us - -lc
gave us however, fome confolaiion to reflect, than
mould it oacafion much diftrefs, the fertile regions

' C?

of America would afford you a fate aflylum rroiri
poverty, and in time from oppreffion aiib an af-
fy ] um, in which many thousands of your country-
men, have found hofpitality, peace and affluent. ;
and become united to us by all the ties of con-
fanguinity, mutual intereft and affection Nor
did the Congrefs flop here Flattered by a pleaf-
ing expectation, that the juftice and humanity
which had fo long characterized the Englilh nati-
on, would on proper application afford us relief;
they repreiented their grievancies in an affeition-
ate addrefs to their brethren in Britain, and in-
treated their aid and interpofition in behalf of thefe
colonies.

THE more fully to evince their refpect for their
Sovereign, the unhappy people of Bofton were re-
quefted by the Congrefs to fubmit with patience
to their fate; and all America united in a refolu-
tion to abftaki from every fpecies of violence-
During this period that devoted town fuffered un-
fpeakably. Its inhabitants were infulted and their
propertv violated~-Still relying on the clemency
and juftice of his Majefty and the nation, they per-
mitted a few regiments to take poffeffion of their
town ; to furround it with fortifications; and to
cut off all intercourfe between them and their
friends in the country,

WITH



W<TH anxious expectation did *" America wzii
the event of their petition AH America lauicius
its fareTheir Prince was deaf to their com-
plaints : And vain were all attempts to imprcls him
with a icnfe oi the iufferings of his American 1, b-
jecrs; of the cruelty of their?*/ Mafte-i, and of
the wy />/:;$ whi^h impended over his tioroN
rions. initcad 01 directions for a candid erquny
into our grievances, infult was added roopp.eifion, ^
and our long forbearance rewarded with the im-|
putation of "cowardice. Our trade with foreign
ftates was prohibited ; ana an act cf Parliament
pafTed to prevent our even fifbing on our own
coalb Our peaceable -ViTVmi lies tor the pun- fe
ef confclting the common farety, were declared
feditiousj and our afftrting the very r'mhis whicti
placed the Crown of Great-Britain on the heads of
the three fucceflive Princes of the Houfe of Han-
over, ftiled rebellion Orders were given to re-
enforce the troops in America The wild and bar-
barous favages of the wildernefs have been folicited
by gifts to take up the hatchet againft us j and in-
liig-ited to deludge our fettlements with the blood
of innocent and defcncelefs women and children
The whole country was moreover alantied w^:h the
expected horrors of domeftic irifurre&onsr -^Re-
finements in parental cruelty, at which the genius
o^ Britain mud blufh! Refinements which admit
not of being even recited without horror, or prac-
tifed without infamy ! We ihould be hippy, were
thefe dark machination:, the mere fuggeftions of
fufpicion -We are lorry to declare, that we are
poffefled of the mofl authentic and indubitable evi-
dence of their reality.

THE



t y J

THE Mmiftry, bent on pulling down the pil-
lars of the conititution, endeavoured to ere6t the
ilandard of drfpotifm in America -, and if fuccefs-
ful, Britain and Ireland may ftiudder at the con-
fequences !

THREE of their moil experienced Generals are
ient to wage war with their fellow fubie&s ; and

C3 -

America is amazed to find the name ot Howe in the
catalogue of her enemies She loved his brother.

o

DESPAIRING of driving the Colonies to refift-
ance by any other means, than adlual hoftility, a
detachment of the army at Bcfton marched into
the country in all the array of war ; and un-
provoked, tired upon, and killed feveral of the in-
habitants -The neighbouring farmers fuddenly
affcmbled, and repelled the attack - From this, all
communication between the town and country was
intercepted The citizens petitioned the General
for permiflion to leave the town, and he promifed
on furrendering their arms, to permit them to de-
part with their other effects They accordingly
furreitdered their arms, and the General violated
his faith -Under various pretences, paffports were
delayed and denied ; and many thoufands of the
inhabitants are at this day confined in the town in
the utmoft wretchednefs and want- -The lame, the
blind and the fick, have indeed been turned out
into the neighbouring fields , and fame, eluding
the vigilance of the fentries have efcaped from the

^ - j.

town, by fwiming to the adjacent fhores.

THE war having thus began on the part of Ge-
neral Gage's troops, the country armed and embo-

B died.



r

died. There-enforcements from Ireland foon
ter arrived ; a vigorous aiUv k -.as then nade upon
the provincials-. -In 'their maich, the troops u;r-
rounded the town of Charleftpwn, Lting of

about tour hundred houfes, then recc aban-

doned to ef:ape the fury of a relentlefs foi-J '. y.
Having plundered the houfes, they let fa - . ;oihe
town, and reduced it to a!hes I'o this wii.r.'Jii
wade of property, unkown to civilized rutior.s,
they were prompted, the better to < onceal their
approach under cover of the fmoak. A Ihocking
mixture of cowardice and cruelty, which ihen firlt
tarnimed the luftre of the Britiih arms, wh.n ; 'rn-
ed at a brother's bread ! - -But blefled be God,, u;cy
were reft rained from committing farther rav^ges s
by the lofs of a very confiderable part of their -r-
my, including many of their mod experienced of-
ficers - The lofs of the inhabitants was inconfitier-
able a

COMPELLED therefore to behold thoufands of
our Countrymen imprifoned, and men, women
and children involved in promifcuous and unmerit-
ed mifery- -\Vhcn we find all faith at n end, and
facred treaties turned into tricks of ftate When
we perceive our friends and kinfmen maffacred,
our habitations plundred, our houfes in ilames,
a id their once happy inhabitants fed only by the
hand of charity- Who can blame us for endea-
vouring to reftrain the progrcfs of defolation? Who
can cenfure our repding the attacks of iuch a bar-
barous bund ? Who, in iuch circumftances, would
not obey the great, the univerial, the divine law
of iclf-prefcrvation ?

THOUQB



C"l
9 J

THOUGH vilified r.s wanring fptrit, we are deter-
mined to behave like men Though infulted and
abuf.d, we wilh for reconciliationsThough oe-
farred as feditious, we are ready to cbey the laws
- -And thjvjgh charged with rebellion, will cheer-
fully bleeu in defence of our Sovereign in a righte-
ous caufe What more can we lay, what more can
We o^er ?

BUT we forbear to trouble you with a tedious
detail of the various and fruitleis offers and appli-
cations v e have repeatedly made, not for penfions,
for wealth, or for honors, but for the humble boon
of being permitted to poffefs the fruits of honed
induflry, and to enjoy that degree of Liberty, to
v. hich God and the Conllitution have given us an
.doubted right.

BLESSED with an indifToluble union with a varie-
ty ot internal refources, and with a firm reliance
on thejuftice of the fuprcme difpofir of all human
events, we have no cloubt of rifing fuperior to ail
the machinations of evil and abandoned Minifrers.
We already anticipate the golden period, when
liberty, with all the gentle arts of peace and huma-
nity, {hall cftablifh her mild dominion in this
weftern world , and erect eternal monuments to
the memory of thofe virtuous patriots and mar-
tyrs, who (hall have fought and bled and fuftered
in her caufe.

ACCEPT our molt grateful acknowledgments for

i . *-

the friendly difpofiticn you have always (hewn to-
wards us We know that you are not without
your grievances We fympathize with you in

B 2 your



I >d j



"ifl-rcfs n:vj arepleaf.d to'find t : :^r the c"
ii 'd iid,niniftr. k -

tion to dilpcLf-L- to I '. " t - - f

n.'lnillfrial funfh: the tender ir- : es of

! I tova * - -

^

In the ri ' > n ~ . -

! hive fed, and gr its

dc.l ' . - -V, r e h ' e the ; i ru a : . ; -.jf
therm. s be forgotitn ; ar. ( od

o:-. n . . us fell

fro in :i:e BruiTh ke may be >n de-

feated iJ.Jt Id 1 . : . ro c: i, -

v,c (lioul Idious co . :, we I

be unwordv eftry frum which \ve dcrr-'e

our defcent, flicnild we fubmit v/ith folded arms

to military burchery and depredation, to p;rr.cifv

.e lordly Ambition, or fate the avarice of a Brrti h

Miniftry. ' In defence of our perfbns and pro^ir-

ties, under actual viol , we have i n up

armsWhen that violence (hall be rei J, ar .1

>ftilities ceafe on thepart of ihe -e.iTors, they

tail ceafe on our part alfr> - - For the atthieve-

cnt of this happy event, v*e coruSde ir: the gcod

fices of our fellow fubj eels beyond the Atir.;mc.

htir friendly difpofition we do not yet defpon i ;

as they muft be, that they have no'.hing

more to :! from the U:re common enemy,

than i;. . le favour of bcinr> lad i



By Order of tbe ^ongrefs^



\rK r> r

J v . -. . -.j L /C/if

c.i July 2%, 1775.