It soon became clear that the members of the Congress were opposed to any hasty action. 很快就可以看出大陆议会反对任何草率行动，

　　They were not willing to begin war with Great Britain. 他们不愿意与大不列颠开战，

　　Instead of so doing they adopted a Declaration of Rights and formed the American Association. 为了避免开战他们通过《主权宣言》并组建美洲人协会。

　　The Declaration of Rights was of slight importance. 这个《主权宣言》并不重要，

　　But the Association was of great importance, as the colonies joining it agreed to buy no more British goods. 但美洲人协会非常重要，因为加入这个协会的殖民地一致同意不再购买不列颠的货物，

　　This policy was to be carried out by the Committees of Correspondence. 这个政策将通过通信委员会执行。

　　Any colony refusing to join the Association should be looked upon as hostile "to the liberties of this country," and treated as an enemy. 任何拒绝加入这个协会的殖民地将被视为敌视"这个地区的自由"，并将被视为敌人。

　　The American Association was the real beginning of the American Union. 美洲人协会是美联邦的真正开始。

　　129. The Association carried out, 1774~75. 129．美洲人协会正常运行（1774~1775年）

　　It was soon evident that Congress in forming the Association had done precisely what the people wished to have done. 不久就可以看出大陆议会在组织美洲人协会方面完全按照人民的意愿行事，

　　For instance, in Virginia committees were chosen in every county. 例如，弗吉尼亚的委员会从所有的县挑选委员。

　　They examined the merchants' books. 这些委员检查商人的账面，

　　They summoned before them persons suspected of disobeying "the laws of Congress." 并将那些疑似不服从"大陆会议法律"的人清查出来；

　　Military companies were formed in every county and carried out the orders of the committees. 每一个县都组建军事大队，执行委员会的命令，

　　The ordinary courts were entirely disregarded. 地方法院完全被放到一边。

　　In fact, the royal government had come to an end in the Old Dominion. 实际上，王室政府的古老统治已经结束。

　　130. More Punishment for Massachusetts, 1774~75. 130．对马萨诸塞的进一步惩罚（1774~1775年）

　　George III and his ministers refused to see that the colonies were practically united. 乔治三世和他的大臣们拒绝接受殖民地成为一个联邦这一现实，

　　On the contrary, they determined to punish the people of Massachusetts still further. 他们决定进一步惩罚马萨诸塞人。

　　Parliament passed acts forbidding the Massachusetts fishermen to catch fish and forbidding the Massachusetts traders to trade with the people of Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and all foreign countries. 议会通过法案禁止马萨诸塞渔民捕鱼，禁止马萨诸塞商人与来自弗吉尼亚、宾夕法尼亚、南卡罗莱纳和其他外部地区的商人贸易。

　　The Massachusetts colonists were rebels, they should be treated as rebels. General Gage was given more soldiers and ordered to crush the rebellion. 马萨诸塞殖民地居民是反叛者，他们应该被当作反叛者，王室和大臣们给盖奇将军增兵，并命令他去彻底平定这场叛乱。