Browsing: Diary of John Adams, Volume 2

1. On this day Congress adopted, in principle, a nonexportation agreement, to go into effect on 10 Sept. 1775. ( JCC , 1:51–52). On the same day JA introduced a series of resolves in support of Massachusetts' resistance to royal authority. Among them was one calling for an immediate cessation of exports if “Hostilities should be further pursued against that Province.” These resolves are not mentioned in the Journal, but some of their language was incorporated in similar resolves adopted on 7 and 8 Oct. (same, p. 57–58). The MS of JA's motion, endorsed, apparently in the hand of Charles Thomson, “J. Adams' Motion Sept. 30th,” is in the Adams Papers under that date. The text is printed in JA, Works , 2:391, note, which, however, omits some important matter that is canceled in the MS but will be printed in Series III of the present work.