59
former -yearn of peaoe, -when the atfeetionsnnd inoe:~es&'o£Grsu1h»t|ta
And America were one.
But, sir, -iQ on the contrary, we are to plunge deeper into this tu ot blood.; if we are to sacrifice the means and materials of revenue for um just distinctions about the modes of raising it; if the' laurels we can gain, and the dignity of Parliament we are to establish, can be purchased only by the misories of-our tbllowsuhjeots, whose losses are our own; if the event is precarious, and the cause alien to the spirit sndhumality of Englishmen; if the injury is certain, and the object of success unsubstantial and insecure, how little soever the influence my poor opinion and arguments can have on this House, Ishall at least frée my conscience by having explicitly condemned all such impolitic, unjust, inadequate, inj|dicious measures, and by giving to this motion my most hearty oonouh, lfence and support.”
IV.
Tus members of this primordial Congress were, without exception, men of great distinction in the several provinces which they then repr¢»ented. Many of' thrm-f-such cs James Otis, Timothy Ruggles, Cmslr Rodney, Thomas McKean, the Livings tons and Rut ledges-were among the earliest and most zealous originators ot" our first struggles for independence; and several on this roll of patriots, were also pnrticipatnrl in the high honor of inscribing their names upon the sacred scroll which proclaimed our country tn be one of the independent nations of the earth. Among these were the following distinguished names:
PHUAP LlvxNos'roN was one of the illustrious hand of patriots who were the signers nf our Declaration of lndependenco. His services to his native nity |.ndState were devoted and unremitted. For many years in suooccasion he served as alderman in the city of New-York, and memhér of the colonial Assembly; in both of' vhich borlies he was greatly distinguished for his talents and industry in discharging the duties of chain mln of several of the most important committees. He was not onlyt leading member in the “ Stamp Act Congress, -of 1785, " but of the first Congress at Philadelphia, in,1774, and the three subsequent Congresoen at the same place; and in J une, 1778, he died, during the l8HlDl ofthil body at York, Pennsylvania, universally esteemed and regretted. (For the particulars of his useful and valuablo life, see | most intonaliq
