On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress
RESOLVED, That no Obedience being due to the Act of Parliament for altering the Charter of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, nor to a Governor or Lieutenant Governor, who will not observe the Directions of, but endeavour to subvert, that Charter, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are to be considered as absent, and these Offices vacant : And as there is no Council there, and the Inconveniences arising from the Suspension of the Powers of Government are intolerable, especially at a Time when General Gage hath actually levied War, and is carrying on Hostilities against his Majesty’s peaceable and loyal Subjects of that Colony ; that in Order to conform as near as may be to the spirit and substance of the Charter, it be recommended to the Provincial Congress to write Letters to the Inhabitants of the several Places which are intitled to Representation in Assembly, requesting them to chuse such Representatives ; and that the Assembly when chosen should elect Counsellors, which Assembly and Council should exercise the Powers of Government, untill a Governor of his Majesty’s Appointment will consent to govern the Colony according to its Charter.
In effect, the Continental Congress formally recognized the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, rather than Royal Governor Gage, as the legitimate government of Massachusetts.
On This Day In The Revolution 