Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 1
John Adams' Proposed Resolutions
[September 30, 1774] (1)
Resolved That the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, and the Town of Boston are now Suffering and Struggling in the common Cause of American Freedom and therefore that it is the indispensible Duty of all the Colonies, to Support them by every necessary Means, and to the last Extremity.(2)
Whereas Hostilities have been already been commenced against the Province of Massachusetts-Bay and through them against all the Colonies, and whereas this congress have already advised the People of that Province by no Means to Submit to the late Act of Parliament for altering their Government,
Resolved that in Case Hostilities should be further pursued against that Province, and Submission be attempted to be compelled by Force of Arms, that as soon as Intelligence of this shall be communicated to the several Colonies, they ought immediately to cease all Exportations of Goods Wares & Merchandise to Great Britain, Ireland and the West Indies.(3)
Resolved, That, in Case any Person or Persons, Should be arrested, in the Massachusetts Bay, or any other Colony, by General Gage or any other Person, in order to be sent to Great Britain to be there tryed for any Crime whatsoever, committed in America, under Pretence of Authority of the Statute of Henry the Eighth or that of the present Reign, that this ought to be considered, as a Declaration of War and a Commencement of Hostilities against all the Colonies and that Reprisals ought to be made in all the Colonies, and held as Hostages for the Security of the Person or Persons so arrested, and all Exportations of Merchandise to Great Britain Ireland and the West Indies ought immediately to cease.
(Whereas the Debts and Taxes, the Luxury and Venality prevalent in Great Britain prove too clearly that Americans have can have little well grounded Hope of Defence, Protection or Security from anything but their own wisdom, Valour, Frugality and Industry, in Times to come,
Resolved that it be recommended to all the Colonies, to establish by Provincial Laws, where it can be done, a regular well furnished, and disciplined Militia, and where it cannot be done by Law, by voluntary Associations, and private Agreements.
Resolved that it be recommended to all the Colonies, to encourage Arts Manufactures and Agriculture, by all Means in their Power, and for this End to establish in each Colony a distinct Society.)
MS (MHi). In the hand of John Adams and endorsed by Charles Thomson: "J. Adams' Motion Sept. 30th."
1 These resolutions were drafted in the midst of a continuing debate on nonexportation. Although they were not endorsed at this time, key elements appeared in later instructions and resolutions adopted by Congress. JCC, 1:52; and Adams, Diary (Butterfield), 2:144n.
2 Phrases from this resolve were used in Congress' instructions to the committee to prepare a letter to General Cage on October 7. JCC, 1:57.
3 Parts of this paragraph were included in the October 8 resolve of Congress on American opposition to the use of British force in Massachusetts. JCC, 1:58.
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