On December 7, 1774, in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Journal published an article reporting
That General Gage had … orders to prevent the congress at any rate, and to take those deputed into custody. If these orders were executed, it must either set all America in a flame, or damp the small fire of liberty that existed.
and a letter that praised the resistance
of the worthy FREEMEN of America against those oppressive measures adopted by a tyrannic ministry: success attend your worthy Countrymen–and may the assassins who attempt to invade the smallest part of the American constitution experience the punishment allotted to traitors…May the brave Americans rise superior to all their unmerited oppressions & may they triumph over all their enemies!
On This Day In The Revolution 