Lynch moved that it should be fixed on as their place of meeting without further inquiry. Mr. Duane objected to adopting this resolution until they had at least viewed the State House; as it had been offered by the Speaker, it was but respectful to him to inquire whether, it was not equally convenient as the Hall, and if it were, it ought to be preferred as it was a Provincial, instead of a private, house. The resolution, however, was carried to hold their meetings in Carpenters' Hall. This little incident displays the superiority, both in sagacity and habitual propriety of perception of, the

1070 MEMOIR OF THE

New York gentleman of that day over the impulsive southerner, and even over a well bred Bostonian ; for although Mr. Adams notices the debate, he seems insensible to the influence which dictated opposition to the resolution of Mr. Lynch.

The members organized at once, voted that their body should be styled " the Congress ;" their presiding officer "the President ;" and their clerk "the Secretary of the Congress ;" and after some debate as to rules, adjourned to the next day. On the 6th September arose the debate as to the manner of voting and what weight each Colony should have in the determination. Patrick Henry of Virginia, argued that by the oppression of Parliament all government was dissolved and that we were reduced toa state of nature--that there was no longer any such distinction as colonies--that he conceived himself not a Virginian but an American--that one of the greatest mischiefs to society was an unequal representation--that there might be, and probably would be further occasions for a Congress, and thatit was time to form sucha system as would give each colony a just weight in its deliberations in proportion to its opulence and numbers. of inhabitants, its exports and imports.