rone; or, in
other words, to obtain independence. They averred their allegiance to
King George, declared that they sincerely approved of a constitutional
connexion with their mother country, and even professed a willingness to
submit to reasonable regulations and restrictions on their commerce--but
this was only a preamble to sentiments teeming with rebellion and
hostility to the king whom they professed to obey, and the country with
which they asserted they still wished to be connected. In this section
of their instructions the Virginians instructed their deputies at
congress to cooperate cordially with Massachusets Bay and the other
colonies; declared that the proclamation issued by General Gage
was alarming, and illegal, and such as would justify resistance and
reprisals if attempted to be carried into effect; agreed to send speedy
and liberal relief to the Bostonians, and to abide by such alterations
in their present articles as congress might recommend and the delegates
of Virginia assent to; and bound themselves not to export any tobacco
after the 10th of August, and in lieu of its cultivation to encourage
manufactures; to deal with no merchants who raised the price of articles
during the present crisis, and to require the county committees to
publish the name of those who would not conform to their regulations.
The convention finished by choosing the delegates who were to represent
them in congress.

This congress met, as appointed, at Philadelphia, on the 4th of
September. On their meeting, all the provinces from Massachusets to
South Carolina, with the single exception of North Carolina, were found
to be represented, and even delegates from that province arrived on a
later day. The delegates met on the following day at Carpenters'-hall,
chose Payton Randolph president, and organised themselves into a
deliberate assembly. At the commencement, although there were several
delegates from some of the provinces, it was agreed that each state
should have only one distinct vote. They then proceeded to business.
At first they agreed upon a declaration of rights to which they were
entitled, they said, by the laws of nature, the principles of the
British constitution, and their several charters. Their next step was
to concoct a non-importation, non-consumption, and non-exportation
association, which was not to be infringed by any American citizen.
This was followed by a series of solemn addresses; one to the king,
expres