Letter from the Georgia Delegates to the Continental Congress

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Savannah, Georgia, April 6, 1775.

SIR: The unworthy part which the Province of Georgia has acted in the great and general contest, leaves room to expect little less than the censure, or even indignation of every virtuous man in America. Although, on the one hand, we feel the justice of such a consequence with respect to the Province in general; yet, on the other, we claim an exemption from it in favour of some individuals who wished a better conduct. Permit us, therefore, in behalf, of ourselves and many others our fellow-citizens, warmly attached to the cause, to lay before the respectable body over which you preside a few facts, which we trust will not only acquit us of supineness, but also render our conduct to be approved by all candid and dispassionate men.

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At the time the late Congress did this Province the honour to transmit to it an Extract from their Proceedings, enclosed in a friendly letter from the Honourable Mr. Middleton, the sense and disposition of the people in general seemed to fluctuate between liberty and conveniency. In order to bring on a determination respecting the measures recommended, a few well-affected persons in Savannah, by publick advertisement in the Gazette, requested a meeting of all the Parishes and Districts, by Delegates or Representatives in Provincial Congress. On the day appointed for this meeting, with concern they found that only five out of twelve Parishes to which they had particularly wrote, had nominated and sent down Delegates; and even some of these five had laid their Representatives under injunctions as to the form of an Association.

Under these circumstances those who met saw themselves a good deal embarrassed; however, one expedient seemed still to present itself. The House of Assembly was then sitting, and it was hoped there would be no doubt of a majority in favour of American freedom. The plan, therefore, was to go through with what business they could in Provincial Congress, and then, with a short address, present the same to the House of Assembly, who, it was hoped, would, by vote, in a few minutes, and before prerogative should interfere, make it the act of the whole Province.

Accordingly the Congress framed and agreed to such an Association, and did such other business as appeared practicable with the people, and had the whole just ready to be presented, when the Governour, either treacherously informed, or shrewdly suspecting the step, put an end to the session.

What, then, could the Congress do? On the one hand truth forbid them to call their proceedings the voice of the Province, there being but five out of twelve Parishes concerned; and on the other, they wanted strength sufficient to enforce them on the principle of necessity, to which all ought for a time to submit. They found the inhabitants of Savannah not likely soon to give matters a favourable turn. The importers were mostly against any interruption, and the consumers very much divided. There were some of the latter virtuously for the measures; others strenuously against them; but more who called themselves neutrals than either.

Thus situated, there appeared nothing before us but the alternative of either immediately commencing a civil war among ourselves, or else, of patiently waiting the measures to be recommended by the General Congress. Among a powerful people, provided with men, money, and conveniences, and by whose conduct others were to be regulated, the former would certainly be the resolution that would suggest itself to every man removed from the condition of a coward; but in a small community like that of Savannah, (whose members are mostly in their first advance towards wealth and independence, destitute of even the necessaries of life within themselves, and from whose junction or silence, so little would be added or lost to the general cause,) the latter presented itself as the most eligible plan, and was adopted by the people. Party disputes and animosities have occasionally prevailed, which show that the spirit of freedom is not extinguished, but only restrained for a time till an opportunity shall offer for calling it forth.

The Congress convened at Savannah did us the honour of choosing us Delegates to meet your respectable body at Philadelphia, on the tenth of next month. We were sensible of the honour and weight of the appointment, and would gladly have rendered our Country any services our poor abilities would have admitted of; but alas, with what face could we have appeared for a Province whose inhabitants had refused to sacrifice the most trifling advantages to the publick cause, and in whose behalf we did not think we could safely pledge ourselves for the execution of any one measure whatsoever.

We do not mean to insinuate that those who appointed us would prove apostates, or desert their opinion; but that the tide of opposition was great; that all the strength and virtue of these our friends might be insufficient for the purpose. We very early saw the difficulties that would here occur, and therefore repeatedly and constantly requested the people to proceed to the choice of other Delegates in our stead; but this they refused to do.

We beg, sir, you will view our reasons for not attending

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in "a liberal point of light. Be pleased to make the most favourable representation of them to the honourable the Members of the Congress. We believe we may take upon us to say, notwithstanding all that has past, there are still men In Georgia who, when an occasion shall require, will be ready to evince a steady, religious, and manly attachment to the liberties of America. To the consolation of these, they find themselves in the neighbourhood of a Province whose virtue and magnanimity must and will do lasting honour to the cause, and in whose fate they seemed disposed freely to involve their own.

We have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient, and very humble servants,

NOBLE WIMBERLY JONES,

ARCHIBALD BULLOCK,

JOHN HOUSTOUN.

To the President of the Continental Congress.

Letter from the Georgia Delegates to the President of the Continental Congress, explaining the reasons why they think it inexpedient for them to attend. [1775-04-06] Jones, Noble Wimberly; Bullock, Archibald; Houstoun, John. [S4-V2-p0279] [Document Details][Complete Volume]