History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I

One week after that body had been oi iginally organized, [jl/'f// -50, 1775] Benjamin Kissam, of the City of New York, " moved in tiie words following, " to wit : ' Forasmuch as a reconciliation between " Great Britain and these Colonies, on constitutional " principles, is essential to the well-being of both " countries, and will prevent the horrors of a Civil " War, in which this Continent is now about to be " involved, it is, therefore, the indispensable duty " of this Congress, to communicate to the Delegates " of this Colony, in Continental Congress, their sen- " timeuts respecting the terms of such reconciliation; " I, therefore, move that a Committee be appointed

to i)repare and state the terms on which such re- " conciliation may be tendered to Great Britain, con- " sistent with the just Liberties and Freedom of the " subject, in America, to the intent that the same, " when approved by this Congress, may be laid before " the said Delegates, as our sense, on this important " subject, to be humbly submitted to their considera- " tion."

A (piestion of such great importance and so distasteful to many of tlie Deputies, was reasonably discussed with much warmth ; and it is very evident that, had the vote been taken, at that time, the motion would have been ado[)ted by the Provincial Congress. It was evidently approved liy a majority of the Counties ; but, if the vote could be posti)oned, changes might be effected, by fair means or by foul -- there were astute and e.xi)ericnced politicians within and around that I'rovincial Congress -- and three of the Counties who were opposed to the motion resorted to the tenth Rule of the Congress,^ not resorted to, on any other occasion, during the entire