fications, and personal interest, Hale would not suffer from a comparison with Andre. Yet strange as it may seem, the fate of Andre, even in America, has been universally lamented, and his memory universally respected; whilst it is scarcely known that there was ever such a man as Nathan Hale. Andre has had a monument erected to his memory by his country, and the most DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New England, in America, holden at Hartford, in said Colony, by special order of the Governor, on the 14th day of June, A. D. 1776. Whereas the King and Parliament of Great Britain, by many acts of said Parliament have claimed and attempted to exercise powers incompatible with, and subversive of the ancient, just, and constitutional rights of this and the rest of the English colonies in America, and have refused to listen to the many and frequent, humble, decent, and dutiful petitions for redress of grievances and restoration of such their rights and liberties, and turning from them with neglect and contempt to support such claims, after a series of accumulated wrong and injury, have proceeded to invade said colonies with fleets and armies, to destroy our towns, shed the blood of our countrymen, and involve us in the calamities incident to war; and are endeavoring to reduce us to an abject surrender of our natural and stipulated rights, and subject our property to the most precarious dependence on their arbitrary will and pleasure, and our persons to slavery, and at length have declared us out of the king's protection, have engaged foreign mercenaries against us, and are evidently and strenuously seeking our ruin and destruction. These and many other transactions, too well known to need enumeration; the painful experience and effects of which we have suffered and feel, make it evident, beyond the possibility of a doubt, that we have nothing to hope from the justice, humanity or temperate councils of the British King or his Parliament, and that all hopes of a reconciliation, upon just and equal terms are delusory and vain. In this state of extreme danger, when no alternative is left us but absolute and indefinite submission to such claims as must terminate in the extreme of misery and wretchedness, or a total separation from the King of Great Britain, and renunciation of all connection with that nation, and a successful resistance to that force which is intended to effect our destruction. Appealing to that God, who knows the secrets of all hearts, for the sincerity of former declarations of our desire to preserve our ancient and constitutional relation to that nation, and protesting solemnly against their oppression and injustice, which have driven us from them, and compelled us to use such means as God in his providence hath put in our power, for our necessary defence and preservation Resolved unanimously by this Assembly, that the delegates of this colony in General Congress, be, and they are hereby instructed to propose to that respectable body, to declare the United American Colonies, free and independent States, absolved from all allegiance to the King of Great Britain, and to give the assent of this colony to such Declaration, when they shall judge it expedient distinguished honors and rewards conferred upon his family; but what has our country done for the memory of Hale? No stone, however humble, has been erected to it; no memorial has rescued it from oblivion; and no inscription has preserved his ashes from insult, (until within a few years past, when Congress appropriated $1,000 to erect a monument to his memory.) Such is and best, and to whatever measures may be thought proper and necessary by the Congress, for forming foreign alliances, or any plan of operations for necessary and mutual defence: and also that they move and promote, as fast as may be convenient, a regular and permanent plan of union and confederation of the colonies for the security and preservation of their just rights and liberties, and for mutual defence and security-saving that the administration of Government and the power ought to be left and remain to the respective Colonial Legislatures; and that such plan be submitted to the respective Legislatures for their previous consideration and assent. At the session of the General Assembly of Connecticut, held in October, 1776, the Assembly passed the following Bill declaring this Colony an Independent State, &c., to wit: Whereas George the Third, King of Great Britain, hath unjustly levied war against this and the other United States of America, declared them out of his protection, and abdicated the government of this State-whereby the good people of this State are absolved from their allegiance and subjection to the Crown of Great Britain. And whereas the representatives of the said United States in General Congress assembled, have published and declared that these United States are and of right ought to be free and independent States, and that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown. Resolved by this Assembly, That they approve of the Declaration of Independence, published by said Congress, and that this colony is and of right ought to be a free and independent State, and the inhabitants thereof are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and all political connection between them and the King of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved, and, Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the form of civil government in this State shall continue to be as established by Charter received from Charles the Second, King of England, so far as an adherence to the same will be consistent with an absolute independence of this State on the Crown of Great Britain; and that all officers civil and military heretofore appointed by this State continue in the execution of their several offices, and the laws of this State shall continue in force until otherwise ordered; and that for the future all writs and processes in law or equity shall issue in the name of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut; and that in all summonses, attachments' the influence of books, and the evil tendency of importing them, that while Nathan Hale, an American, an ardent revolutionary patriot, and who offered his life as a sacrifice to our liberties. is wholly unknown,-the life, character, and fate of Andre are familiar to almost every individual, however humble his situation, or limited his intelligence." [Pease and Niles' Gazetter of Con necticut and Rhode Island.] Thus while fond virtue wish'd in vain to save, To friends unchanging, and sincere to heaven. DWIGHT. and other processes before any Assistant or Justice of the Peace, the words "one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace" be omitted, and that instead thereof be inserted "Justice of the Peace:" and that no writ or process shall have or bear any date save the year of our Lord Christ only-any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding; and the act in alteration of an act prescribing forms of writs, processes, &c., be repealed, and the same is hereby repealed. January 7, 1777. Recording of the Declaration of Indepencence by the United States, on the Records of Connecticut, by order of the General Assembly. Baltimore, January 31st, 1777. Gentlemen-As there is not a more distinguished event in the history of America, than the Declaration of her Independence-nor any that in all proba. bility will so much excite the attention of future ages: it is highly proper, that the memory of that transaction, together with the causes that gave rise to it, should be preserved in the most careful manner that can be devised. I am therefore commanded by Congress to transmit you the enclosed copy of the Act of Independence, with the list of the several members of Congress subscribed thereto-and to request that you will cause the same to be put upon Record, that it may henceforth form a part of the archieves of your State, and remain a lasting testimony of your approbation of that necessary and important measure. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, your most obedient and humble servant, JOHN HANCOCK, President. There were five sessions of the General Assembly, in 1776; three of which were special sessions. The delegation elected to meet at Hartford, in May, 1776, were not inferior to their predecessors in energy and patriotism. At this (May) session, the most vigorous measures were adopted for the defence of the colony, and the common country. By special Act, the Governor was Honorable General Assembly of Connecticut, Resolved by this Assembly, That the Declaration of the United Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, made by their delegates in General Congress assembled, at Philadelphia, on the fourth day of July, 1776, declaring said Colonies to be Free and Independent States, be recorded at length in the Records of this Assembly, that the memory thereof may be preserved to posterity. Upon the articles of confederation proposed by Congress, and acted upon by the General Assembly of Connecticut, January and February, 1778; the following Resolution was introduced and discussed, viz.: Resolved, That all the articles of confederation proposed by Congress, for the consideration of the Legislatures of the respective States, (except the eighth article touching the manner of defraying public expences,) are approved of by this State. And as to said eighth article, it is the opinion of this State that the proportion of the numbers of inhabitants of every age, sex, and quality, except Indians, not paying taxes in each State, would be a much more equitable and practicable rule for taxation than the rule of valuation therein proposed wherefore the delegates from this State are hereby directed to propose in the Congress of the United States, an amendment to said article, for the purpose and effect aforesaid. But in case said amendment should not be adopted, as this State are fully sensible of the great importance, necessity and advantage of a firm and speedy union, in order to obtain that desirable end, are willing to meet our sister States upon the middle ground, betwixt said two extremes. The delegates of this State, therefore, are further directed ultimately to propose a middle rule of taxation as contained in the following amendment, to come in next after the word Treasury, in the 6th line of said article, viz.: "which shall be supplied by each State, in proportion to its wealth and ability, "which shall be ascertained by two criterions, the one by the number of inhab "itants of every age, sex, and quality, except Indians, not paying taxes in each "State, a true account of which, distinguishing the whole inhabitants shall be "taken within one year after the ratification of these articles, and forever after "on every fifth year, and transmitted to the United States in Congress assem. "bled: the other criterion, to judge of the wealth and ability of each State "shall be the value of all land within each State, granted to or surveyed for made a naval officer of the colony, and was authorized to appoint subordinate officers in each of the following ports, viz: New London, New Haven, Middletown, and Norwalk. A maritime jurisdiction was also given to the County Courts. By another Act, all the troops of horse in the colony were formed into five regiments of light-horse. Large detachments of militia were 66 any person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon, shall "be estimated according to such mode as the United States, in Congress assem. "bled, shall from time to time direct and appoint. And if by the application "of the two criterions there appears a difference in the relative wealth and "ability of the States, a medium shall be struck by the United States in Con. "gress assembled-and the proportion of money to be paid by each State, shall "be settled by that medium. The taxes, &c. &c." And upon either of the aforesaid amendments being agreed on, the delegates of this Stato are hereby authorized and directed, fully and amply to confirm and ratify said confederation, together with any such alterations or amend. ments in any other article or articles as shall be finally agreed on by a majority of the States, in Congress assembled, which they shall think just and reasonable. In the Lower House. On report of the committee of conference, the further consideration of this Bill is referred to the next session of this Assembly. Test, In the Lower House. BENJAMIN PAYNE, Clerk. The foregoing Bill being read and discussed is ordered to be recommitted to the same committee that brought it in. William Pitkin and Samuel Huntington, Esq'rs., are appointed to confer with such gentlemen as the Lower House shall appoint, on the differing votes of the Houses on this Bill. Test, In the Lower House. GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary. Capt. Halsey, Col. Porter, and Mr. Mumford, are appointed a committee of conference on the differing votes of the Houses, on this Bill, &c. Test, BENJAMIN PAYNE, Clerk. |