Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/394

 connected us with the mother country, and hereby absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British Crown, and abjure all political connection, contract, or association with that nation, who have wantonly trampled on our rights and liberties, and inhumanly shed the blood of American Patriots at Lexington.

"Resolved,3d. That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people; are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign and self-governing association, under the control of no power, other than that of our God, and the general government of the Congress;—to the maintenance of which independence, we solemnly pledge to each other, our mutual co-operation, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred honor.

"Resolved, 4th. That, as we acknowledge the existence and control of no law, nor legal office, civil or military, within this county, we do hereby ordain and adopt, as a rule of life, all, each, and every of our former laws; wherein, nevertheless, the crown of Great Britain never can be considered as holding rights, privileges, immunities, or authority therein.

"Resolved, 5th. That it is further decreed that all, each, and every military officer in this county is hereby retained in his former command and authority, he acting conformably to these regulations. And that every member present of this delegation shall henceforth be a civil officer, viz.: a Justice of the Peace, in the character of a committeeman, to issue process, hear and determine all matters of controversy, according to said adopted laws and to preserve peace, union, and harmony in said county; and to use every exertion to spread the love of country and fire of freedom throughout America, until a general organized government be established in this province."

After the taking of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, both Allen and Arnold had strenuously urged upon Congress the desirableness of advancing into Canada, where the British force was very small, and of seizing upon the important strongholds of that country. This measure was at first looked upon with disapprobation, as stepping out of the line of resistance marked out for the present struggle, and commencing a war of aggression. But, as the designs of the British to reduce the colonies to obedience, by an increased display of force, became apparent, the contest assumed another character, and Congress was willing to adopt the project of an attack upon Canada as a measure of self-defence, which was fully sanctioned by Washington himself, who regarded it as "being of the utmost consequence to the interests and liberties of America." Two expeditions were accordingly organized and dispatched, one by the way of Lake Champlain, under General Schuyler, the other by the way of the River Kennebeck, under the command of Arnold. General Lee, with twelve hundred volunteers from Connecticut, was also directed to repair to New York, and with the aid of the inhabitants, fortify the city, and the Highlands on the Hudson River.

In pursuance of the plan of guarding the northern frontier by taking Canada,