Instructions from the Freeholders of Cumberland County, Virginia

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To JOHN MAYO and WILLIAM FLEMING, Gentlemen, their Delegates, MARCH, 1775.

We, the Freeholders of Cumberland County, having elected you to represent us in a Provincial Convention, to be held in the Town of Richmond, on Monday, the 20th of this instant, and being convinced that the safety and happiness of British America, depend on the unanimity, firmness, and joint efforts of all the Colonies, we expect you will, on your parts, let your measures be as much for the common safety as the peculiar interests of this Colony will permit, and that you, in particular, comply with the recommendation of the Continental Congress, in appointing Delegates to meet in the City of Philadelphia, in May next.

The means of Constitutional legislation in this Colony being now interrupted, and entirely precarious, and being convinced that some rule is necessary for speedily putting the Colony in a state of defence, we, in an especial manner, recommend this matter to your consideration in Convention; and you may depend that any general tax, by that body imposed, for such purposes, will be cheerfully submitted to, and paid by the inhabitants of this County.

We desire that you will consider the Bostonians as suffering in the common cause, and cheerfully join in their support to the utmost of your power.

That you will direct the Deputies to Congress, on the

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part of this Colony, to use their best endeavours to establish a trade between the Colonies; and to procure a quantity of Gun-powder, and a number of Cotton and Wool Cards from the Northward, or elsewhere.

We desire further, that you will not depart from the Association formed by the Continental Congress in September last, but will strictly adhere to it in every particular.

Instructions from the Freeholders of Cumberland County, Virginia, to John Mayo and William Fleming, Their Delegates in the Assembly. [1775-03] Virginia, Cumberland County Freeholders. [S4-V2-p0003] [Document Details][Complete Volume]