Sunday, August 21, 2011

Robert Nicholas Carter 1715 - 1780



Robert Nicholas Carter was a representative of James City serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was appointed as Judge of the High Court of Chancery and Court of Appeals. As a member of the Committees of Correspondence, he attended all major conventions. Furthermore, Robert Carter served as President Pro-tem of the Continental Congress in 1775.


The Port of Boston was closed by the British Navy in retaliation for the rebellious act of the Sons of Liberty - throwing tea into Boston Harbor in protest of arbitrary taxation.


The surrounding colonies were sympathetic with the colony of Massachusetts and responded with action.


Robert Carter, Treasurer of the Virginia House of Burgesses proposed a day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer on May 24, 1773. The proposal was approved with little opposition.




This House, being deeply impressed with apprehension of the great dangers to be derived to British America from the hostile invasion of the city of Boston in our Sister Colony of Massachusetts Bay, whose commerce and harbor are, on the first day of June next, to be stopped by an armed force, deem it highly necessary that the said first day of June be set apart, by the members of this House, as a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, devoutly to implore the Divine interposition, for averting the heavy calamity which threatens destruction to our civil rights and the evils of civil war,


to give us one heart and mind firmly opposed, by all just and proper means, every injury to American rights;


and that the minds of His Majesty and his Parliament, may be inspired from above with wisdom, moderation and justice, to remove from the loyal people of America all cause of danger from a continued pursuit of measures pregnant with their ruin."

No comments: