A DECLARATION of the DELEGATES deputed by the several counties and corporations in the colony and dominion of Virginia to represent them in General Convention, setting forth the cause of their meeting, and the necessity of immediately putting the country into a posture of defence, for the better protection of their lives, liberties, and properties. The advantages resulting from the wisest institutions, and the price of all sublunary enjoyments, are best to be estimated from their loss or diminution. By this accurate scale, we are taught to weigh the many blessings derived to this once happy country from our excellent constitution. So long as this was maintained on its original principles, and remained inviolate, all was well with us; everything flowed in a proper, peaceful channel; all were quiet, and at ease. But, how great the change! how dreadful the reverse! The times were, and these not very distant, when the representatives of the people, with much pleasure, met their governors in General Assembly. In these assemblies the greatest harmony prevailed, till a fatal change of ministerial systems took place. A causeless, hasty dissolution drove the representative body to the unhappy dilemma of either sacrificing the most essential interests of their constituents, or of meeting in General Convention, to assert and preserve them. The unlucky incidents here alluded to are of publick notoriety, and need not a particular enumeration. Repeated prorogations of our Assembly, when the country was in the greatest distress, rendered a Convention, in the month of March last, absolutely necessary. The delegates of the people, then met in full Convention, the most numerous Assembly that had ever been known in this Colony, taking a view of our unhappy situation, considering the country exposed to the most eminent dangers, as well from invasions as insurrections, knowing its then defenceless state, and seeing no prospect that opportunity would be given them in General Assembly to provide and guard against such extensive evils, judged it their indispensable duty to put the country into a posture of defence. They recommended a due attention to the militia law; but, considering this inadequate to the purpose, they farther advised the raising one or more volunteer companies, in each county. In all their transactions, however, a proper regard and respect was paid to government. In a short time afterwards, a most extraordinary manœuvre was exerted by the Governor to render this country still more defenceless, by removing our small stock of gunpowder from the public magazine, and stripping of their locks a great number of public arms. It is very remarkable that this was done at a time when he acknowledged to have received information that an insurrection was apprebended in a neighboring county. This, together with his Lordship's threats of emancipating our slaves, and reducing to ashes the principal city in this colony, added to the many alarming accounts received from the northern colonies, could not but excite jealousies, and awaken the fears of the people. The country, by these means, being thrown into a ferment, and there being little ground of hope that the Assembly would be called, it was thought advisable that a General Convention should be speedily held, to take under their consideration the state of the colony. The governor, however, on receipt of despatches from England, was pleased to issue his proclamation for convening.the General Assembly. The design of calling a Convention was then laid aside, in hopes that matters might, in another place, be settled and adjusted in the usual mode. The proceedings of the House of Burgesses, the governor's conduct towards them, his with drawing from the seat of his government, and taking up his residence on board one of his Majesty's ships of war, the many obstructions given by his lordship to the business of the Assembly, and his determined resolution to render abortive those very measures he had recommended, are faithfully and impartially submitted to the publick, in a pamphlet published by order of the House of Burgesses. The two other branches of our Legislature, his majesty's Council and the Burgesses, finding that his lordship had resisted their joint and most earnest entreaties, and that he was resolved not to return to the duties of his station, adjourned themselves to the month of October next. The governor still continuing on board the man of war, if his former conduct, his repeated and horrible threats, his at least connivance at the detention of some our slaves on board the same ship, and a too well grounded report of his having solicited troops to be sent among us, some of which are now arrived, could have left a doubt of his hostile intentions towards this country, the hurrying his most amiable lady and his children across the Atlantic, under a frivolous and groundless pretence of their being in danger amongst a people by whom they are universally esteemed and respected, holds out to us an irrefragable proof of his fixed determination to do this unhappy country every injury in his power. Under these embarrassments, seeing an unusual resort of ships of war and other armed vessels in our harbours, knowing the threats of one of their commanders, in short, when exposed to such accumulated dangers, what could be expected of this country? That we should sit supinely down, and suffer the views and machinations of an arbitrary relentless ministry to be carried into execution, without opposition or controul? The justice due to this community, every motive to public virtue, conspire in forbidding it. We therefore, deputed for this important purpose, have met in General Convention, and taken into our most serious consideration the state of the colony. Since our assembling, we have received authentic intelligence of the remorseless fury with which general Gage and his coadjutors are endeavoring to spread fire, famine, and the most horrid desolation, throughout a sister colony; of their insidious and cruel attempts to stir up the barbarous savages against the inhabitants on the frontiers of the different colonies. We have seen a declaration of the Continental Congress, which proves the necessity of an immediate preparation for our security, by putting this whole country into a full state of defence, both against invasions and insurrections. In the present untoward and distressful situation of our affairs, and the better to preserve the peace and good order of the community, we are farther driven to the very disagreeable necessity of supplying the present want of government, by appointing proper guardians of the rights and liberties of our country. But, lest our views and designs should be misrepresented or misunderstood, we again and for all, publicly and solemnly declare, before God and the world, that we do bear faith and true allegiance to his majesty George the third, our only lawful and rightful king; that we will, so long as it may be in our power, defend him and his government, as founded on the laws and well known principles of the Constitution; that we will, to the utmost of our power, preserve peace and good order throughout the country, and endeavour, by every honorable means, to promote a restoration of that friendship and amity which so long and happily subsisted between our fellow subjects in Great Britain and the inhabitants of America; that as, on the one hand, we are determined to defend our lives and properties, and maintain our just rights and privileges, at every, even the extremest hazard, so, on the other, it is our fixed and unalterable resolution to disband such forces as may be raised in this colony whenever our dangers are removed, and America is restored to that former state of tranquility and happiness, the interruption of which is so much deplored by us and every friend to either country. It remains a bounden duty on us to commit our cause to the justice of that Supreme Being who ruleth and ordereth all human events with unerring wisdom, most humbly beseeching him to take this colony, and the whole continent, under his fatherly and divine protection, and that he will be graciously pleased to soften the hearts of those who meditate evil against our land, and inspire them with the purest sentiments of justice, moderation, and brotherly affection. (A Copy) RO. C. NICHOLAS, President, pro tempore. JOHN TAZEWELL, Clerk of CONVENTION OF DECEMBER 1, 1775. The convention met at the town of Richmond on December 1, 1775, and on the same day adjourned to meet in the city of Williamsburg on the following Monday, where the remainder of the session was held. The House of Burgesses, when it adjourned on the 24th of June, 1775, adjourned to meet on Thursday, October 12th, following. The Journal of the House of Burgesses contains the following: "THURSDAY THE 12TH OF OCTOBER; 15 GEO. III. 1775. "The House met according to the Adjournment; but no more than thirty seven Members appearing, which was not a sufficient number to proceed to Business. The House adjourned till the first Thursday in March next.” The delegates to the last former convention having been elected to serve one year from May 1, 1775, there was no election of delegates to this convention. However, for reasons which are not explained, there is a marked difference in the list of delegates named in the journals of July 1, 1775, and that of December 1, 1775. For this reason the list of delegates for this convention as found in the Journal will be inserted below. Edmund Pendleton was elected President and John Tazewell Clerk. DELEGATES. MET DECEMBER 1, 1775. ADJOURNED JANUARY 20, 1776. For Albemarle, John Walker and Charles Lewis, Efquires. Amherft, William Cabell, jun. and Jofeph Cabell, Efquires. Botetourt, Andrew Lewis and John Bowyer, Efquires. Berkeley, Robert Rutherford and William Drew, Efquires. Charles City, William Acrill and Benjamin Harrifon, jun. Efquires. Chefterfield, Archibald Cary and Benjamin Watkins, Efquires. Dinwiddie, John Bannifter and John Ruffin, Efquires. Dunmore, Jonathan Clarke and Peter Muhlenburg, Efquires. Fauquier, James Scott, Efquire. Frederick, Rev. Charles M. Thrufton. Fincaftle, George Rootes.2 Gloucefter, Thomas Whiting, Efquire. Goochland, John Woodfon and Thomas M. Randolph, Efquires. King William, Carter Braxton and William Aylett, Efquires. Northampton, Michael Chriftian, Efquire. Northumberland, Peter P. Thornton and Rodham Kenner, Efquires. Pittfylvania, Peter Perkins and Benjamin Lankford, Efquires. Prince William, Henry Lee and Thomas Blackburn, Efquires. Surry, Allen Cocke and Nicholas Faulcon, jun. Efquires. Suffex, David Mafon and Henry Gee, Efquires. 2Journal of Convention leaves delegates for Fincastle blank, but the Colonial Register, compiled by William G. and Mary Newton Stanard, says that George Rootes represented Fincastle. In place of Francis Lightfoot Lee. |