Resolutions of the New York Convention Approving the Declaration of Independence, 9 July 1776

Resolutions of the New York Convention Approving the Declaration of Independence

In Convention of the Representatives of the State of New-York
White Plains, July 9, 17761

Resolved, unanimously, That the reasons assigned by the Continental Congress for declaring the United Colonies free and independent States are cogent and conclusive; and that while we lament the cruel necessity which has rendered that measure unavoidable, we approve the same, and will, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, join with the other Colonies in supporting it.

Resolved, That a copy of the said Declaration and the aforegoing Resolution be sent to the chairman of the committee of the county of Westchester, with orders to publish the same, with beat of drum, at this place on Thursday next; and to give directions that it be published with all convenient speed in the several districts within the said county; and that copies thereof be forthwith transmitted to the other county committees within the State of New-York, with orders to cause the same to be published in the several districts of their respective Counties.

Resolved, That five hundred copies of the Declaration of Independence, with the two last-mentioned resolutions of this Congress for approving and proclaiming the same, be published in handbills and sent to all the county committees in this State.2

Resolved, That the Delegates of this State in Continental Congress be and they are hereby authorized to consent and adopt all such measures as they may deem conducive to the happiness and welfare of the United States of America.

Printed: JPC description begins Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of Safety and Council of Safety of the State of New-York (2 vols.; Albany, N.Y., 1842) description ends , 1: 518. A copy of this text was enclosed in New York Convention to the President of Congress, 10 July, below.

1. After the Declaration of Independence was read to the newly elected provincial congress convened at White Plains on 9 July 1776, it was referred to a committee chaired by JJ and including Abraham Yates, John Sloss Hobart, Abraham Brasher, and William Smith. The committee reported the above resolutions during the afternoon session, at which they were unanimously adopted. Regarding this text, William Jay commented (WJ description begins William Jay, ed., The Life of John Jay: With Selections from His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers (2 vols.; New York, 1833) description ends , 1: 45): “Thus, although Mr. Jay was, by his recall from Congress, deprived of the honour of affixing his signature to the Declaration of Independence, he had the satisfaction of drafting the pledge given by his native state to support it; and this pledge, in his own handwriting, is preserved among the records of New York.”

2. See Early Am. Imprints description begins Early American Imprints, series 1: Evans, 1639–1800 [microform; digital collection], edited by American Antiquarian Society, published by Readex, a division of Newsbank, Inc. Accessed: Columbia University, New York, N.Y., 2006–8, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/ description ends , no. 15158.

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Source Project: Jay Papers
Title: Resolutions of the New York Convention Approving the Declaration of Independence, 9 July 1776
Author: New York Convention
Date: 9 July 1776

Reference

Cite as: “Resolutions of the New York Convention Approving the Declaration of Independence, 9 July 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-01-02-0163. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 1, 1760–1779, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2010, pp. 266–267.]