July 26-Benjamin Franklin appointed first Postmaster Gen eral. Aug. 30—General Schuyler embarks on Lake Champlain, for an expedition against Canada. He leaves the command with General Montgomery. Early in September General Arnold starts with eleven hundred men to Canada by Maine. Sept. 24-Ethan Allen is taken prisoner, near Montreal. 66 22-Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, died. He was the first President of Congress. Nov. 3-Montgomery captures St. Johns, Canada. " 13-Montreal surrendered to the Americans under Mont gomery. “20—$3,000,000 more in bills of credit issued by Congress, payable in eight years. Dec. 7-Lord Dunmore, British Governor of Virginia, defeated near Norfolk, Virginia. "13-A navy of thirteen vessels created by Congress. Letters of marque and reprisal granted. “21--The British Parliament pass a bill declaring all American vessels and goods, and those of all persons trading with them, a lawful prize, and authorizing the impressment of American sailors into the royal navy, where they might be required to fight against their own cause and friends. "31-General Montgomery and Colonel Arnold make an unsuccessful attack on Quebec. Montgomery is killed, Arnold wounded, and four hundred men killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. Arnold withdrew, but kept Quebec blockaded through the winter. 1776. Jan. 1-Lord Dunmore, Royal Governor of Virginia, ravages the coast and burns Norfolk, but is obliged to fly to Bermuda. Jan. 20-Georgia prepares to join the other twelve colonies. Feb. 4-McIntosh, with an American force, destroys several vessels loading for England, near Savannah, Georgia. "17-Four millions more of paper money isssued by Congress. March 4-Washington fortifies Dorchester Heights, overlooking Boston, which renders it untenable by the British. "10-The inhabitants and merchants of Boston plundered of their lighter property by the British army. "17-The British embark for Halifax, and Washington occupies the town. ❝18—Sir Archibald Campbell sails into Boston, and his whole force of seventeen hundred men are taken pris oners. "23-Congress declares all British vessels a lawful prize. April 26-Washington removes his army to New York. May 3-Sir Peter Parker, with ten ships of war and seven regiments, joins the force from Boston under General Clinton, at Cape Fear. "15-Congress declared that all authority under the British crown ought to be totally suppressed and government conducted by colonial representatives alone. This was only an expression of their sense of the danger to their interests and liberties of allowing British agents to act. June 7-Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, moved the Declaration of Independence. 8-American army in Canada, under General Sullivan, make an unsuccessful attack on the enemy. They are pressed by superior numbers, and retreat in good order, though with a loss of one thousand mcn prisoners, out of Canada, losing all their conquests. "11--Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert R. Livingston a committee to prepare the Declaration of Independence. Jun. 28-British fleet attack Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan's Island, near Charleston, South Carolina, but were defeated with loss of two hundred men, one vessel, and death of Lord Campbell, the ex-royal Governor. July 4-Declaration of Independence by the Congress at Philadelphia. CHAPTER V. FORMATION OF THE ORIGINAL UNION. "The Boston Tea Party" provoked the English Parliament into passing "The Boston Port Bill," closing that city to commerce. This act led to immediate measures for assembling delegates, representing twelve colonies in North America (Georgia, only, was not represented), for the purpose of consultation on the measures required for the protection of colonial rights. This body, called "The Continental Congress,” assembled in Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. It drew up a "Declaration of Colonial Rights;" and, for the purpose of enforcing them, agreed to accept as a basis of common action fourteen articles, known as "The American Association." This was the origin of the American Union. Though it did not assume organic political power, and its ordinances were only advisory in form, it was better obeyed than most governments. Arrangements were made for another Congress in May following. Its day of meeting was hastened by the battle of Lexington, and it immediately proceeded to assume the powers of a General Government, at the request of some of the provincial Legislatures, and with the tacit consent of all. It received its authority from its representative character; from the imperious necessity of a head to organize and direct; and from the voluntary obedience rendered to its mandates. It performed all the functions of a government until all prospect of reconciliation with Great Britain was lost, when, June 11, 1776, a committee was appointed to prepare "A Declaration of Independence." This was adopted and signed July 4, 1776. On the 12th of July, a committee of one from each State reported on the terms of confederation, and the powers of Congress; but differences of opinion, and the pressure of military affairs prevented action on it. On the 9th of September, 1776, The name "United Colonies of America" was discarded for that of "United States of America." Georgia had appointed delegates on the 4th of July, so that there were "Thirteen United States." On Saturday, November 15, 1777, "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union of the United States of America" were agreed to in Congress, and sent to the States for approval. Eight of the State Legislatures had ratified these articles on the 9th of July, 1778; one ratified July 21st; one July 24th; one November 26th, of this year; one February 22d, 1779; and the last, March 1, 1781. This document was little more than a digest of the powers before assumed by Congress, and tacitly acknowledged by the States from the commencement of the war. This, now legal, bond had existed before as a free, though unspoken, submission to the dictates of prudence and patriotism. |