In Provincial Congress,
Cambridge, October 26, 1774.
Whereas in Consequence of the
present unhappy Disputes between Great-Britain and the Colonies, a formidable Body of Troops with warlike Preparations of every Sort are already arrived at, and others destined for the Metropolis of this Province, and the expressed Design of their being sent is to execute Acts of the British Parliament, utterly subversive of the Constitution of the Province: And whereas his Excellency General Gage has attempted by his Troops to disperse the Inhabitants of Salem, whilst assembled to consult Measures for preserving their Freedom; and to subjugate the Province to arbitrary Government;--And proceeding to still more unjustifiable and alarming Lengths has Fortified against the Country the Capital of the Province, and thus greatly endangered the Lives, Liberties and Properties of its oppressed Citizens;--invaded private Property unlawfully seizing and retaining large Quantities of Ammunition in the Arsenal at Boston and sundry Pieces of Ordnance in the same Town--committed to the Custody of his Troops the Arms, Ammunition, Ordnance and Warlike Stores of all Sorts, provided at the Public Expence for the Use of the Province, and by all possible Means endeavoured to place the Province entirely in a defenceless State--at the same Time having neglected and altogether disregarded Assurances from this Congress, of the pacific Dispositions of the Inhabitants of the Province, and Intreaties that he would cease from Measures which tended to prevent a Restoration of Harmony between Great-Britain and the Colonies:
Wherefore it is the Opinion of this Congress--That notwithstanding nothing but Slavery ought more to be deprecated than Hostilities with Great Britain--notwithstanding the Province has not the most distant Design of attacking, annoying or molesting his Majesty's Troops aforesaid, but on the other Hand will consider and treat every Attempt of the Kind as well as all Measures tending to prevent a Reconciliation between Britain and the Colonies as the highest Degree of Enmity to the Province--Nevertheless there is great Reason from the Considerations aforesaid, to be apprehensive of the most fatal Consequences; and that the Province may be in some Degree provided against the same, and under full Persuasion that the Measures expressed in the following Resolves are perfectly consistent with such Resolves of the Continental Congress as have been communicated to us,
It is Resolved, and hereby Recommended to the several Companies of Militia in this Province, who have not already chosen and appointed Officers, that they meet forthwith, and elect Officers to Command their respective Companies; and that the Officers so chosen assemble as soon as may be; and where the said Officers shall judge the Limits of the Regiments too extensive, that they divide them, and settle and determine their Limits, and of the present proceed to elect Field Officers to Command the respective Regiments so formed; and that the Field Officers so elected, forthwith endeavour to enlist one Quarter at the least of the Number of the respective Companies, and form them into Companies of fifty Privates at the least, who shall equip and hold themselves in Readiness to march at the shortest Notice; and that each and every Company so formed, choose a Captain and two Lieutenants to command them on any necessary and emergent Service: And that the said Captain and Subalterns so elected, form the said Companies into Battalions, to consist of nine Companies each; and that the Captains and Subalterns of each Battalion so formed proceed to elect Field Officers to command same. And this Congress doth most earnestly recommend that all the aforesaid Elections be proceeded in and made with due Deliberation and generous Regard to the public Service.
Also Resolved, That as the Security of the Lives, Liberties and Properties of the Inhabitants of this Province depends under Providence on their Knowledge and Skill in the Art Military, and in their being properly and effectually armed and equipt, if any of said Inhabitants are not provided with Arms and Ammunition according to Law, they immediately provide themselves therewith; and that they use their utmost Diligence to perfect themselves in Military Skill; and that if any Town or District within the Province is not provided with the full Town Stock of Arms and Ammunition according to Law, the Selectmen of such Town or District take effectual Care without Delay to provide the same.
A true Extract from the Minutes.
Benjamin Lincoln, Sec'ry.
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