1765.

CHAP. II. Henry, and seconded by Mr, Johnson, were agreed to; one of which asserts the exclusive right of that Assembly to lay taxes and impositions on the inhabitants of that colony; and that every attempt to vest such a power elsewhere" is illegal, unconstitutional, and unjust, and has a manifest tendency to destroy British as well as American freedom."

On the passing of these resolutions the Governor dissolved the Assembly, and writs for new elections were issued. But so entirely did the people take part with the opposition to the scheme of taxation proposed by Ministers, that, in almost every instance, the members who had voted in favour of the resolutions were re-elected, while those who had voted against them were generally excluded in favour of candidates who entertained popular opinions.

The

privileges and immunities that have at any time been held, enjoyed, and possessed by the people of Great Britain.

Resolved, That by the two royal charters granted by King James the First, the colonies aforesaid are declared entitled to all privileges of faithful, liege, and naturalborn subjects, to all intents and purposes as if they had been abiding and born within the realm of England.

Resolved, That His Majesty's most liege people of this his most antient colony have enjoyed the right of being thus governed by their own Assembly, in the article of taxes and internal police, and that the same have never been forfeited, nor any other way yielded up, but have been constantly recognised by the King and people of Great Britain.

Resolved, therefore, That the General Assembly of this colony, together with His Majesty, or his substitute, have, in their representative capacity, the only exclusive right and power to lay taxes and impositions upon the inhabitants of this colony;

5

The Legislatures of several other colonies passed resolutions similar to those of Virginia; and the House of Representatives of Massachussetts, contemplating a still more solemn and effectual expression of the general sentiment, recommended a Congress of Deputies from all the Colonial Assemblies, to meet at New York the first Tuesday in October, to consult together on the present circumstances of the colonies, and the difficulties to which they are and must be reduced by the operation of the acts of parliament for levying taxes on them. Circular letters, signed by the Speaker, communicating this recommendation, were addressed to the several Speakers of the respective Provincial Assemblies; and wherever they were in session the recommendation was acted on. New Hampshire alone, although joinng in the general opposition, declined sending members to the Congress; and the Legislatures of Virginia and North Carolina were not in session.

colony; and that every attempt to vest such a power in any person or persons whatsoever, other than the General Assembly aforesaid, is illegal, unconstitutional, and unjust, and has a manifest tendency to destroy British as well as American freedom.

Such were the resolutions as agreed to by that part of the Assembly which was most timid.-The following resolutions were also introduced by Mr. Henry, and passed the Committee, but were not agreed to in the House.

Resolved, That His Majesty's liege people, the inhabitants of this colony, are not bound to yield obedience to any law or ordinance whatsoever, designed to impose any taxation whatsoever upon them, other than the laws and ordinances of the General Assembly aforesaid.

Resolved, That any person who shall, by speaking or writing, maintain that any person or persons, other than the General Assembly of this colony, have any right or power to lay any taxation whatsoever on the people here, shall be deemed an enemy to His Majesty's colony.

In

CHAP.IL

1765.

CHAP. II.

1765.

Congress as

York.

In the mean time the papers teemed with the most animating exhortations to the people, to unite in the defence of their liberty and property; and the stamp officers*, almost every where, were compelled to resign.

At the time appointed the Commissioners from the Assemblies semble at New of Massachussetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties on the Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina, assembled at New York; and Timothy Ruggles, Esq. of Massachussetts, having been chosen their Chairman, they proceeded on the important objects for which they had been convened. The first measure of the Congress was a declaration† of the rights and grievances of the colonists. This

* They were generally gentlemen of influence in the several provinces, who were.recommended by the colonial agents;-so little did they expect the serious opposition made in America to this measure. Mr. Gordon says that Dr. Franklin advised Mr. Ingersoll to accept the appointment which was offered him, and added at the same time, "Go home, and tell your countrymen to get children as fast as they can;" plainly alluding to their supposed present inability to resist the power of Britain.

+ The members of this Congress, sincerely devoted with the warmest sentiments of affection and duty to His Majesty's person and government, inviolably attached to the present happy establishment of the protestant succession, and with minds deeply impressed by a sense of the present and impending misfortunes of the British colonies on this continent, having considered, as maturely as time will permit, the circumstances of the said colonies, esteem it our indispensable duty to make the following declarations of our humble opinion respecting the most essential rights and liberties of the colonists, and of the grievances under which they labour by reason of several late acts of parliament,

I. That

1765.

This paper asserts them to be entitled to all the rights and liber- CHAP. II. ties of natural-born subjects within the kingdom of Great Britain; among the most essential of which are, the exclusive power to tax themselves, and the privilege of a trial by jury.

The grievance most complained of was, the act granting certain stamp duties and other duties in the British colonies, the direct tendency of which, they said, by taxing the colonists

without

I. That His Majesty's subjects in these colonies owe the same allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain that is owing from his subjects born within the realm, and all due subordination to that august body, the Parliament of Great Britain.

II. That His Majesty's liege subjects in these colonies are entitled to all the inherent rights and liberties of his natural-born subjects within the kingdom of Great Britain.

III. That it is inseparably essential to the freedom of a people, and the undoubted right of Englishmen, that no taxes be imposed on them but with their own consent, given personally or by their representatives.

IV. That the people of these colonies are not, and, from their local circumstances, cannot be, represented in the House of Commons of Great Britain.

V. That the only representatives of these colonies are persons chosen therein by themselves; and that no taxes ever have been, or can be, constitutionally imposed upon them but by their respective legislatures.

VI. That, all supplies to the Crown being free gifts from the people, it is unreasonable, and inconsistent with the principles and spirit of the British constitution, for the people of Great Britain to grant to His Majesty the property of the colonists.

VII. That trial by jury is the inherent and invaluable right of every British subject in these colonies.

VIII. That the late act of parliament entitled, " An Act for granting and applying certain Stamp Duties and other Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America, &c." by imposing taxes on the inhabitants of these colonies; and the said act, and several other acts, by extending the jurisdiction of the Courts of Admiralty

VOL. II.

CHAP. II.

1765.

without their consent, and by extending the jurisdiction of courts of admiralty, was to subvert their rights and liberties.

A petition to the King was also agreed on, together with a memorial to each House of Parliament.

These papers were drawn with temper and firmness; they express unequivocally the attachment of the colonists to the mother country, and assert the rights they claim in the style of conviction.

miralty beyond its antient limits, have a manifest tendency to subvert the rights and liberties of the colonists.

IX. That the duties imposed by several late acts of parliament, from the peculiar circumstances of these colonies, will be extremely burthensome and grievous, and, from the scarcity of specie, the payment of them absolutely impracticable.

X. That as the profits of the trade of these colonies ultimately centre in Great Britain, to pay for the manufactures which they are obliged to take from thence, they eventually contribute very largely to all supplies granted to the Crown.

XI. That the restrictions imposed by several late acts of parliament on the trade of these colonies will render them unable to purchase the manufactures of Great Britain.

XII. That the increase, prosperity, and happiness of these colonies depend on the full and free enjoyment of their rights and liberties, and an intercourse with Great Britain mutually affectionate and advantageous.

XIII. That it is the right of the British subjects in these colonies to petition the King or either House of Parliament.

XIV. That it is the indispensable duty of these colonies to the best of Sovereigns, to the mother country, and to themselves, to endeavour, by a loyal and dutifu] address to His Majesty, and humble applications to both Houses of Parliament, to procure the repeal of the act for granting and applying certain stamp duties, of all clauses of any other acts of parliament whereby the jurisdiction of the Admiralty is extended as aforesaid, and of the other late acts for the restriction of American commerce.