To the Honorable James Warren Esqr & Isaac Lothrop Esqr.
Gentlemen
As we have this day Chose you to represent us in the Great & Generall Court of this Colony & as Matters of the Greatest Importance must necessarily come before you in the Course of this year we your Constituents (haveing an undoubted Right) do Instruct and in the most Solemn Manner Charge you, that you use all your Influence that you exert Every power in you Vested in Defence of the Rights, the Liberty’s and Property’s of the American Colonies in Generall & of this Colony in Particular in opposition to the impious effort of the proud the Imperious & worse than Savage Court of Great Brittain which Seems to be lost to Every Sense of Justice & determined to deluge all America in Blood & carnage, unless we by a tame unmanly Submission will put ourselves in their power to be Controlled by them as they please in all Cases Whatsoever.
We Your Constituents resenting such Insolent & Notoriously unjust demands of the Brittish Parliament & of their Tyrannic King do Instruct you.
1st That you without Hesitation be ready to declare for Independence on Great Brittain in whom no Confidence Can be Placed Provided the Honourable the Continental Congress shall think that measure necessary and we for our parts do assure you that we will stand by the Determination of the Continentall Congress in this Important & as we think Very Necessary measure at the Risque of our lives & fortunes.
[351.] 2dly We wish you to use your Influence that Such a form of Government may be adopted as may appear most Salutary & which may bid Fairest to Ensure a permanent harmony to the Colonys & the weal, happiness & Prosperity of America to the latest Posterity. In Particular we Recommend it to you to use your Influence that Executive & Legislative officers in the Government do not meet in one & the Same Person.
Plimouth May 20th 1776 John Torrey
Theophilus Cotton
William Watson
Then a vote was Called to know if the town will accept Sd report, it Passed in the affirmative Unanimously.
[{"insert":"\tTo the Honorable James Warren Esqr & Isaac Lothrop Esqr.\n\nGentlemen\n\n\tAs we have this day Chose you to represent us in the Great & Generall Court of this Colony & as Matters of the Greatest Importance must necessarily come before you in the Course of this year we your Constituents (haveing an undoubted Right) do Instruct and in the most Solemn Manner Charge you, that you use all your Influence that you exert Every power in you Vested in Defence of the Rights, the Liberty’s and Property’s of the American Colonies in Generall & of this Colony in Particular in opposition to the impious effort of the proud the Imperious & worse than Savage Court of Great Brittain which Seems to be lost to Every Sense of Justice & determined to deluge all America in Blood & carnage, unless we by a tame unmanly Submission will put ourselves in their power to be Controlled by them as they please in all Cases Whatsoever.\n\n\tWe Your Constituents resenting such Insolent & Notoriously unjust demands of the Brittish Parliament & of their Tyrannic King do Instruct you.\n\n\t1st That you without Hesitation be ready to declare for Independence on Great Brittain in whom no Confidence Can be Placed Provided the Honourable the Continental Congress shall think that measure necessary and we for our parts do assure you that we will stand by the Determination of the Continentall Congress in this Important & as we think Very Necessary measure at the Risque of our lives & fortunes.\n\n[351.] 2dly We wish you to use your Influence that Such a form of Government may be adopted as may appear most Salutary & which may bid Fairest to Ensure a permanent harmony to the Colonys & the weal, happiness & Prosperity of America to the latest Posterity. In Particular we Recommend it to you to use your Influence that Executive & Legislative officers in the Government do not meet in one & the Same Person.\n\nPlimouth May 20th 1776\t\t\t\t\tJohn Torrey\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTheophilus Cotton\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWilliam Watson\n\n\tThen a vote was Called to know if the town will accept Sd report, it Passed in the affirmative Unanimously.\n"}]
