|
|
C. J.2
|
Whereas his Majesty's most faithful subjects in these
Colonies are reduced to a dangerous and critical situation, by
the attempts of the British Ministry, to carry into execution by
force of arms several unconstitutional and oppressive Acts of
the British Parliament for laying taxes in America, to enforce
the collection of these Taxes, and for altering and changing
the constitution and internal police of some of these Colonies,
in violation of the natural and civil rights of the Colonies.
And whereas hostilities have been actually commenced in
the Massachusetts Bay, by the British troops under the com-
mand of General Gage, and the lives of a number of the
inhabitants of that Colony destroyed: The Town of Boston
not only having been long occupied as a Garrisoned Town, in
an Enemys Country, but the inhabitants thereof treated with a
severity and cruelty not to be justified even towards declared
enemies. And whereas large reinforcements have been
ordered, and are soon expected, for the declared purpose of
compelling these Colonies to submit to the operation of the
said Acts, which hath rendered it necessary and an indis-
pensable duty, for the express purpose of securing and defend-
ing these Colonies, and preserving them in Safety against all
attempts to carry the said Acts into execution. That an armed
force be raised sufficient to defeat such hostile designs, and
preserve and defend, the lives, liberties and immunities of the
Colonists, for the due regulating and well ordering of which —
Resolved, That the following Rules and Orders be attended
to and observed by such forces as are or may hereafter be
raised for the purpose aforesaid.
Article 1: That every Officer who shall be retained, and
every Soldier who shall serve in the Continental Army, shall
at the time of his acceptance of his commission or inlistment,
subscribe these rules and regulations, and that the Officers
and Soldiers already of that Army, shall also as soon as may
be, subscribe the same, from the time of which subscription
every Officer and Soldier shall be bound by these regulations.
But if any of the Officers or Soldiers, now of the said Army
do not subscribe these rules and regulations, then they may be
retained in the said Army, subject to the rules and regulations
under which they entered into the service, or be discharged
from the Service at the option of the Commander in Chief.
Art. 2. It is earnestly recommended to all Officers and
Soldiers diligently to attend divine Service; and all Officers
and Soldiers who shall behave indecently or irreverently at
any place of divine worship, shall if Commissioned Officers,
be brought before a Court Martial, there to be publickly and
severely reprimanded by the President; if non-commissioned
Officers or Soldiers, every person so offending, shall for his
|
|
