
From New Hampshire, Matthew Thornton:

A letter to the people of New Hampshire, June 2, 1775:
The Horrors and Distresses of a civil war, which, till of late, we only had in contemplation, we now find ourselves obliged to realize. Painful beyond expression have been those scenes of Blood and Devastation which the barbarous cruelty of British troops have placed before our eyes. Duty to God, to ourselves, to Posterity, enforced by the cries of slaughtered Innocents, have urged us to take up Arms in our Defence. Such a day as this was never before known, either to us or to our Fathers.
You will give us leave therefore—in whom you have reposed special confidence—as your representative body, to suggest a few things which call for the serious attention of everyone who has the true interest of America at heart.
We would therefore recommend to the Colony at large to cultivate that Christian Union, Harmony and tender affection which is the only foundation upon which our invaluable privileges can rest with any security, or our public measures be pursued with the least prospect of success…
In a word, we seriously and earnestly recommend the practice of that pure and undefiled religion which embalmed the memory of our pious ancestors, as that alone upon which we can build a solid hope and confidence in the Divine protection and favour, without whose blessing all the measures of safety we have or can propose will end in our shame and disappointment.”
Previous Installments: Josiah Bartlett, George Walton, Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, Samuel Chase, Thomas Stone,William Paca, Thomas Heyward, Junior, Arthur Middleton, Thomas Lynch, Jr., Edward Rutledge, Robert Morris, George Ross, James Wilson, George Tyler, George Clymer, Caesar Rodney, George Read, Benjamin Rush, Thomas McKean, James Smith.