Beschreibung:

Property from the Eric C. Caren Collection(NEW YORK PROVINCIAL CONGRESS)Contemporary clerical copy of the "Report of Committee for preparing Plan of Accommodation between Great Britain & the Colonies," ca. 27 June 1775 2 1/2 pages (12 5/8 x 8 in.; 321 x 202 mm) on a bifolium of laid paper, [New York City], docketed on verso of second leaf [docket used as title above]; light browning, short fold separations — accompanied by: a contemporary manuscript listing of "Delegates in Congress at Philadelphia 1774" (in a different hand from the above report), 2 pages (13 1/8 x 8 1/4 in.; 334 x 218 mm) on a single leaf of laid paper; browned, fold separations, some marginal chips and repairs. The consignor has independently obtained a letter of authenticity from PSA that will accompany the lot. "Britain ought to regulate the Trade of the whole Empire for the general benefit of the whole and not for the Separate Interest of any particular part." Just a year before the Continental Congress declared Independence from Great Britain, there was no consensus among the thirteen Colonies that this was the right step to take. Several Mid-Atlantic states, including New York, advocated a cautious approach towards independence and may even have harbored hopes for an equitable reconciliation with Britain. That conciliatory perspective is reflected in this remarkable document, a contemporary copy of a "Plan of Accommodation between Great Britain and America" adopted by the First New York Provincial Congress, which was convened in New York City on May 22, 1775, with Peter Van Brugh Livingston presiding. The New York plan, was intended as a guide to its delegates to the Continental Congress. While the plan calls for the repeal of unconstitutional laws affecting the colonies and insists on the rights of the colonies to self-taxation and freedom of worship, it also recognizes Great Britain's right to regulate imperial trade and pledges to contribute to the costs of defending the Empire. It is intriguing to think that this very copy may have been sent to one of New York's congressional delegates then meeting in Philadelphia: John Alsop George Clinton, James Duane, William Floyd John Jay, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, Robert R. Livingston Jr., Lewis Morris or Henry Wisner. The full text reads, "Your Committee appointed to prepare a Plan of Accommodation between Great Britain and America do report "That all the Statutes and Parts of Statutes of the British Parliament which are held up for Repeal by the late Continental Congress in the Association dated the twentieth Day of October 1774 and all the Statutes of the British Parliament passed since that Day restraining the Trade and Fishery of Colonies on this Continent ought to be repealed. "That from the Necessity of the Case Britain ought to regulate the Trade of the whole Empire for the general benefit of the whole and not for the Separate Interest of any particular part—& "That from the natural Right of Property the Powers of taxation ought to be confined to the Colony Legislatures respectively. Therefore "That the Monies raised as Duties upon the Regulations of Trade ought to be paid into the respective Colony Treasuries and be subject to the Disposal of their Assemblies. "That in this Colonies whose Representatives in general Assembly are now chosen for a greater Term than three Years such Assemblies for the future ought in their Duration not to exceed that Term. "That the Colonists are ready & willing to support the Civil Government within the respective Colonies and on proper Requisitions to assist in the general Defence of the Empire in as ample Manner as their respective Abilities will admit of. "That if Objections be made that a Resort to Variety of Colony Legislatures for general Aids is inconvenient and that large unappropriated Grants to the Crown from America would endanger the Liberties of the Empire, then "The Colonies are ready and willing to assent to a Continental Congress deputed by th