fituation of our affairs, is occafioned by a ruinous fyftem of colony adminiftration adopted by the British miniftry about the year 1762, evidently calculated for inflaving these colonies, and with them, the British empire. In profecution of which fyftem, various acts of parliament have been paffed for raising a revenue in America, for depriving the American fubjects, ia many inftances, of the conftitutional trial by jury, expofing their lives to danger, by directing a new and illegal trial beyond the feas, for crimes alledged to have been committed in America: And in profecution of the fame fyftem, feveral late cruel, and oppreffive tive to the freedom of American legiflat ion. All and each of which, the aforefaid deputies in behalf of themfelves, and their conftituents, do claim, demand, and infift on, as their indubitable rights and liberties; which cannot be legally taken from them, altered or abridged by any power whatever, without their own confent, by their reprefentatives in their feveral provincial legislatures. In the course of our inquiry, we find many infringements and vio lations of the foregoing rights; which, from an ardent defire that harmony and mutual intercourfe of affection and intereft may be reftored, we pafs over for the present, and proceed to ftate fuch acts and meatures as have been adopted fince the laft war, which demonftrate a fyftem formed to enflave America. Refolved, N. C. D. That the following acts of parliament are infringements and violations of the rights of the colonifts; and that the repeal of them is effentially neceffary, in order to reftore harmony between Great Britain and the American colonies, viz. The feveral acts of 4, George III. ch. 15. and ch. 34-------5, Geo. III. acts ch. 25.---6, Geo. III. ch. 52.----7, Geo. III. ch. 41 and ch. 46.--8, Geo III. ch. 22. which impofe duties for the purpose of railing a revenue in America, extend the powers of the admiralty courts beyond their ancient limits, deprive the American fubject of trial by jury, authorife the judges certificate to indemnify the profecutor from damages, that he might otherwise be liable to, requiring oppreflive fecurity from a claimant of fhips and goods feized, before he fhall be allowed to defend his property, and are fubverfive of American rights. Alfo, 12 Geo. III. ch. 24. intituled" An act for the better fecuring "his majesty's dock-yards, maga"zines, fhips, ammunition and "ftores." Which declares a new offence in America, and deprives the American fubject of a conftitutional trial by jury of the vicinage, by authorising the trial of any perfon charged with the committing of any offence defcribed in the faid act out of the realm, to be indicted and tried for the fame in any fire or county within the realm. Alfo the three acts paffed in the laft feffion of parliament, for ftopping the port and blocking up the harbour of Bofton, for altering the charter acts have been paffed refpecting the town of Boston and the Massachusett's-Bay, and alfo an act for extending the province of Quebec, fo as to border on the western frontiers of thefe colonies, eftablishing an arbitrary government therein, and difcouraging the fettlement of British subjects in that wide extended country; thus by the influence of civil principles and ancient prejudices, to difpofe the inhabitants to act with hoftility against the free proteftant colonies, whenever a wicked miniftry fhall chufe fo to direct them. To obtain redress of these grievances, which threaten deftruction to the lives, liberty, and property of charter and government of Maffachufett's-Bay, and that which is intituled, "An act for the better administration of justice, &c." Alfo the act paffed in the fame fellion for eftabiifhing the Roman catholic religion in the province of Quebec, abolishing the equitable fyftem of English laws, and erecting a tyranny there, to the great dan ger, from fo total a diffimiliarity of of religion, law, and government to the neighbouring, British colonies, by the affiftance of whole blood and treasure the faid country was conquered from France. Alfo the act paffed in the fame feffion for the better providing fuitable quarters for officers and foldiers in his majefly's fervice in North America. Alfo, that the keeping a ftanding anny in feveral of these colonies, in the time of peace, with out the confent of the legiflature of that colony in which fuch army is kept, is againft law. The Congrefs, from time to time, paffed the following Refolves: Refolved, That this Congrefs do approve of the opposition made by the inhabitants of the Maflachufett's-Eay, to the execution of the his the late acts of parliament; and if the fame shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force, in fuch cafe, all America ought to fupport them in their oppofition. Refolved, That it is the opinion of this body, that the removal of the people of Boston into the coun try, would be, not only extremely difficult in the execution, but fo important in its confequences, as to require the utmoft deliberation before it is adopted. But in cafe the provincial meeting of that colony fhall judge it abfolutely neceffary, it is the opinion of this Congrefs, that all America ought to contribute towards recompenfing them for the injury they may there by fuftain; and it will be recommended accordingly. Refolved, That this Congrefs do recommend to the inhabitants of the colony of the Mallachufett'sBay, to fubmit to a fufpenfion of the adminiftration of juftice, where it cannot be procured in a legal and peaceable manner, under the rules of the charter, and the laws founded thereon, until the effects of our application for a repeal of the acts by which their charter rights are infringed, is known. Refolved his majefty's fubjects in North-America, we were of opinion, that a non-importation, non-confumption, and non-exportation agreement, faithfully adhered, to will prove the most speedy, effectual, and peaceable measure: And therefore we do, for ourselves and the inhabitants of the feveral colonies, whom we reprefent, firmly agree and affociate under the facred ties of virtue, honour, and love of our country as follows, First, That from and after the first day of December hext, we will not import into British America, 2 B Refolved unanimously, That every perfon or perfons whomfoever, who fhall take, accept, or act under any commiffion or authority, in any wife derived from the act passed in the last feffion of parliament, changing the form of government, and violating the charter of the province of Maffachufett'sBay, ought to be held in deteftation and abhorrence by all good men, and confidered as the wicked tools of that defpotifin, which is preparing to deffroy thofe rights, which God, nature, and compact hath given to America. Refolved unanimously, That the people of Bofton and the Maffachufett's-Bay, be. advised. ftill to conduct themselves peaceably to wards his excellency General Gage, and his majefty's troops now ftationed in the town of Bofton, as far as can poffibly confift with their immediate fafety and the fecurity of the town; avoiding and difcountenancing every violation of his majefty's property, or any infult to his troops; and that they peaceably and firmly perfevere in the line in which they are now conducting themselves on the defenfive. Refolved, That the feizing, or attempting to feize, any perfon in from America, in order to tranfport fuch perfon beyond the fea, for trial of offences committed within the body of a county in America, being against law, will justify, and ought to meet with refiftance and reprisal. Saturday, October 22. Refolved, As the opinion of the Congrefs, that it will be neceffary that a Congrefs: fhould be held on the toth day of May next, unless thé redrefs, of grievances, which we have defired, be obtained before that time. And we recommend that the fame be held at the city of Philadelphia, and that all the colonies in North America chufe deputies as foon as poffible to attend fuch Congrefs. Tuesday, October 25. Refolved, That the Congrefs in their own names, and in behalf of all thofe whom they reprefent, do prefent their grateful acknowledgements to thofe truely noble, honourable, and patriotic advocatès of civil and religious liberty; who have fo generoufly and pow erfully, though unfuccessfully, efpoufed and defended the caufe of America, both in and out of parliament. from Great Britain or Ireland, any goods, wares or merchandize whatfoever, or from any other place any fuch goods, wares or merchandize, as fhall have been exported from Great Britain or Ireland; nor will we, after that day, import any Eaft India tea from any part of the world; nor any molaffes, fyrups, paneles, coffee or piemento, from the British plantations, or from Dominica; nor wines from Maderia, or the Western Islands; nor foreign indigo. Second, That we will neither import, nor purchase any flave imported, after the first day of December next; after which time, we will wholly difcontinue the flave trade, and will neither be concerned in it ourfelves, nor will we hire our veffels, nor fell our commodities or manufactures to thofe who are concerned in it. # Third, As a non-confumption agreement, ftrictly adhered to, will be an effectual fecurity for the obfervation of the non-importation, we, as above, folemnly agree and affociate, that, from this day, we will not purchase or use any tea imported on account of the Eaft India company, or any on which a duty hath been or fhall be paid; and from and after the first day of March next, we will not purchase or use any Eaft India tea whatever, nor will we, nor fhall any perfon for or under us, purchase or use, any of thofe goods, wares or merchandize, we have agreed not to import, which we fhall know or have caufe to fufpect, were imported after the first day of December, except fuch as come under the rules and directions of the tenth article hereafter mentioned. Fourth, The earneft defire we have, not to injure our fellow-fubje&s in Great Britain, Ireland, or the Weft-Indies, induces us to fufpend a non-exportation, until the tenth day of September 1775; at which time, if the faid acts and parts of acts of the British parliament, liament, herein after mentioned, are not repealed, we will not, directly or indirectly, export any merchandize or commodity whatfoever to Great Britain, Ireland, or the Weft-Indies, except rice to Europe. Fifth, Such as are merchants, and use the British and Irish trade, will give orders, as foon as poffible, to their factors, agents, and correfpondents, in Great Britain and Ireland, not to ship any goods to them, on any pretence whatsoever, as they cannot be received in America; and if any merchant, refiding in Great Britain or Ireland, fhall directly or indirectly fhip any goods, wares, or merchandize, for America, in order to break the faid non-importation agreement, or in any manner contravene the fame, on fuch unworthy conduct being well attefted, it ought to be made public; and, on the fame being fo done, we will not from thenceforth have any commercial connection with fuch merchant. Sixth, That fuch as are owners of veffels will give pofitive orders to their captains or masters, not to receive on board their veffels any goods prohibited by the faid non-importation agreement, on pain of immediate difmiffion from their fervice, Seventh, We will ufe our utmost endeavours to improve the breed of Sheep and increase their number to the greatest extent, and to that end, we will kill them as fparingly as may be, efpecially thofe of the most profitable kind; nor will we export any to the WeftIndies or elsewhere; and thofe of us who are or may become over-stocked with, or can conveniently fpare any fheep, will difpofe of them to our neighbours, efpecially to the poorer fort, on moderate terms. Eighth, That we will in our feveral ftations encourage frugality, œconomy, and induftry; and promote agriculture, arts and the manufactures of this country, efpecially that of wool; and will difcountenance and difcourage |
