The Select Committee taking into Consideration

the usurpations and violences attempted and committed

by the King and Parliament of Britain against America,

and the further Measures to be taken for frustrating the same,

and for the better defence of this province reported as follows, to wit,

It appears to your Committee that pursuant to the Plan

concerted by the British Ministry for subjugating America,

the King and Parliament of Great Britain have usurped a Power

over the Persons and Properties of the People

unlimited and uncontrouled and disregarding

their humble Petitions for Peace, Liberty and safety,

have made divers Legislative Acts,

denouncing War Famine and every Species of Calamity

daily employed in destroying the People

and committing the most horrid devastations on the Country.

That Governors in different Colonies have declared Protection to Slaves

who should imbrue their Hands in the Blood of their Masters.

That the Ships belonging to America are declared prizes of War

and many of them have been violently seized and confiscated

in consequence of which multitudes of the people have been destroyed

or from easy Circumstances reduced to the most Lamentable distress.

And whereas the moderation hitherto manifested by the United Colonies

and their sincere desire to be reconciled

to the mother Country on Constitutional Principles,

have procured no mitigation of the aforesaid Wrongs and usurpations

and no hopes remain of obtaining redress

by those Means alone which have been hitherto tried,

Your Committee are of Opinion

that the house should enter into the following Resolve,

to wit

Resolved that the delegates for this Colony in the Continental Congress

be impowered to concur with the other delegates of the other Colonies

in declaring Independency,

and forming foreign Alliances, resolving to this Colony the Sole,

and Exclusive right of forming a Constitution and Laws for this Colony,

and of appointing delegates from time to time

(under the direction of a general Representation thereof)

to meet the delegates of the other Colonies

for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out.