On the 26th of March 1776 Congress published a full preface to the Declaration of Independence, setting forth the contempt with which the petitions, remonstrances and appeals for relief had been treated--portraying in lively colors the constitutional and chartered rights of the American people and the manner they were trampled under foot and steeped in blood by British hirelings. The same document authorised the colonies to fit out vessels of war to meet the mistress of the seas on her own element. Mr. Harrison was chairman of a committee to select and have fortified one or more ports for the protection of these vessels and such prizes as they might take. In May he was made chairman of the committee on the Canada expedition. After consulting Generals Washington, Gates and Mifflin, he laid a plan of operations before Congress which was adopted. On the 26th of the same month he was made chairman of a committee of fourteen to confer with the general officers of the army relative to the plan of operations for the ensuing campaign. When matured he laid it before Congress and during its consideration was chairman of the committee of the whole. With slight amendments the report was adopted. On the 15th of June he was made chairman of the Board of War and continued in that important station until he retired from Congress. In his discharge of its duties Judge Peters remarks of him--"He was chairman when I entered upon the duties assigned me in the War Department. This gave me an opportunity of observing his firmness, good sense and usefulness in deliberation and in critical situations and much use indeed was required of these qualities when everything around was lowering and terrific."