On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress issued a public resolution seeking support for the people of Boston and Charlestown suffering because of the closure of the Port of Boston
we hold ourselves obliged, in Justice, to contribute to their Support; while they, under such a Weight of Oppression, are supporting our Rights and Privileges.
It is therefore Resolved, That it be recommended to our Constituents, the Inhabitants of the other Towns, Districts, and Parishes, within this Province, that they further contribute liberally to alleviate the Burden of those Persons, who are the more immediate Objects of ministerial Resentment, and are suffering in the common Cause of their Country; seriously considering how much the Liberty, and consequently the Happiness, of ourselves and Posterity depend, under GOD, on the Firmness and Resolution of those worthy Patriots.
Source: https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.03704300/
Also on that day in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Royal Governor William Franklin wrote to Lord Dartmouth in London that
there seems at present little Reason to doubt but that the Terms of the Association will be generally carried into Execution, even by those who dislike Parts of it. But few have the Courage to declare their Disapprobation publickly, as they well know, they are in Danger of becoming Objects of public Resentment, from which it is not in the Power of Government here to protect them. Indeed the Officers of Government in all the Colonies (except Boston) have but little or no Protection for themselves.
And on that day in London, Arthur Lee wrote to his brother Richard Henry Lee in Virginia that after the King’s recent Speech in Parliament
that no one can remain in doubt that arms are to be used to divest us of our Liberties. You will see by the Paper our Brother incloses that the Lords have promisd their support. Yesterday the Commons did the same on a division of 254 to 60. The new Parlaiment is therefore engaged to maintain this sanguinary System, to which the King in readg his Speech marked his hearty assent, to the astonishment of his Hearers, by giving a studied emphasis to those words which were severe against America.
You have now the whole before you. If your Non-importation & Non-exportation Agreement be not immediately executed & religiously observed, Arms or Submission must decide the Controversy. The prohibition of exporting Arms & Ammunition from here ought to teach you a great deal. I need not mention how deplorable how despicable his situation must be, who talks high of resistance & yet makes no preparation. He who talks of drawing the Sword should not only have it to draw, but see that it be sharp. I woud recommend to you the example of Cromwell who had a Troop of his own neibours, tried & personally attachd to him, at the head of which he was always enabled to make a decisive impression.
The present intention of the Ministry is to declare all Meetings & associations in America illegal & treasonable ー to guard the Coast agst all traffic & communication with Holland France & Spain ー to corrupt New York ー and to employ a military force, chiefly from Canada, if necessary. Having their designs before you, your attention I trust will be bent to defeat them with that earnestness which the greatest question in the world demands.
On This Day In The Revolution 