Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution

8 Journal of lite Provincial Congress, " 5 ho., P.M., May 25 th ," pages 93, ante.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

of that Currency by the Continental Congress, with specified provisions for the payment of it, was recommended ' -- the original proposition for the emission of those immense amounts of " Continental-bills," which, subsequently and with the help of friendly legislation in the Continental Congress, afforded so favorable an opportunity for repudiation by the United States, " the faith of the Nation " to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Report of the Committee was " fully debated " and considered," by the Provincial Congress, and, by an unanimous vote, it was adopted, with an order transmitting a copy of it to the Delegates of the Colony, in the Continental Congress. 2

A circumstance occurred, within the Provincial Congress, early in its Session, which requires particular notice in this place.

One week after that body had been originally organized, [May 30, 1775] Benjamin Kissam, of the City of New York, " moved in the 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- " timents respecting the terms of such reconciliation ; " I, therefore, move that a Committee be appointed " to prepare 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."