...consideration of the report from the committee of the whole, which being read, was agreed to as follows: Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective...government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs have been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall, in the opinion of the representatives...

...934-36. 38. Compare with the original wording of the congressional resolves. May 10, 1 776, JCC 4 : 342: "That it be recommended to the respective assemblies...government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs have been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall, in the opinion of the representatives...

...to form state governments, offered the following : "Resolved, That it be recommended to the several assemblies and conventions of the United Colonies,...government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs hath hitherto been established, to adopt such a government as shall, in the opinions of the representatives...

...powers of government exerted, under the authority of the people of the colonies ... for the defence of their lives, liberties and properties, against...hostile invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies."6 When Morris stood for reelection from Westchester County, the props were in place for the...

...the crown of Great Britain, and it is necessary that the exercise of every kind of authority under the said crown should be totally suppressed, and all...invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies..." At that James Duane of New York sprang to his feet protesting that "Congress has no right to pass such...

...respectable. On 10 May Congress adopted a resolution which John Adams had introduced some days earlier. It "recommended to the respective assemblies and conventions...government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs have been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall, in the opinion of the representatives...

...independent of the crown. The shape in which this proposition was adopted on the roth was a recommendation to the respective assemblies and conventions of the...government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs had been yet established, to adopt such government as might in their opinion best conduce to the safety...

...colonies, for the preservation of internal peace, virtue, and good order, as well as for the defence of their lives, liberties, and properties against...depredations of their enemies: therefore, resolved," etc. This blow struck home. The next day the active members of the popular party in Philadelphia were...