First Continental Congress: October 7, 1774

The delegates express “common cause” with Boston.  John Adams writes to Abigail Adams that the events in Boston have had a huge impact on the Pennsylvania elections and to the detriment of Joseph Galloway.  Let the maxim be “In Times of Peace, prepare for War.”

Link to date-related documents.

Journals of the Continental Congress [Edited]

The delegates considered “the letter from the committee of correspondence in Boston.”  They passed a Resolution expressing a “common cause” with Boston and opposing the 1) “oppressive acts of parliament, calculated to deprive us of our most sacred rights and privileges” and 2) the provocative actions of the leaders of the British forces around Boston.

Thomas Lynch, Samuel Adams, Edmund Pendleton, are selected to be a committee to “prepare a letter agreeable to the foregoing resolution.”

John Adams to Abigail Adams

I wish I could write to you, a Dozen Letters every day. But the Business before me, is so arduous and takes up my Time so entirely, that I cannot write often. I had the Characters and Tempers, the Principles and Views of fifty Gentlemen total Strangers to me to study, and the Trade, Policy, and whole Interest of a Dozen Provinces, to learn when I came here. I have Multitudes of Pamphlets, News Papers, and private Letters to read. I have numberless Plans of Policy, and many Arguments to consider. I have many Visits to make and receive–much Ceremony to endure, which cannot be avoided, which you know I hate.

There is a great Spirit in the Congress. But our People must be peaceable. Let them exercise every day in the Week, if they Will, the more the better. Let them furnish themselves with Artillery, Arms and Ammunition. Let them follow the Maxim, which you say they have adopted “In Times of Peace, prepare for War.” But let them avoid War, if possible, if possible I say.

We have fine Opportunities here to serve Boston and Massachusetts, by acquainting the whole Continent with the true State of them. Our Residence here greatly serves the Cause. The Spirit and Principles of Liberty, here, are greatly cherished, by our Presence and Conversation.  The Elections of the last Week in this City, prove this…. This is considered here as a most complete and decisive Victory in favor of the American Cause. And it [is] said it will change the Balance in the Legislature here against Mr. Galloway who has been supposed to sit on the Skirts of the American Advocates.

Edited with commentary by Gordon Lloyd.