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the Assemblies 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

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* 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 impres sed 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 rea son of several late acts of parliament.

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 enti tled 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.

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the colonists. This paper asserts them to be entitled to all the rights and liberties of natural born subjects within

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 beyond its ancient 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.

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 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, toge+: ther 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.

In addition to these measures, Congress recom

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 dutiful address to his majesty, and hum-, ble 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,

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mended to the several colonies to appoint special agents, who should unite their utmost endeavours in soliciting redress of grievances; and having directed their clerk to make out a copy of their proceedings for each colony, they adjourned.

To interest the people of England against the measures of administration, associations were form-: * ed in every part of the continent, for the encouragement of domestic manufactures, and against the use of those imported from Great Britain. To increase their quantity of wool, they determined to kill no lambs, and to use all the means in their power to multiply their flocks of sheep. As a security against the use of stamps, proceedings in the courts of justice were suspended, and it was earnestly recommended to settle all controversies by arbitration. While this determined and systematic opposition was made by the thinking part of the community, there were some riotous and disorderly meetings, especially in the large towns, which threatened seri-` ous consequences. Many houses were destroyed, much property injured, and several persons highly respectable in character and station grossly abused. These violences received no countenance from the leading members of society; but it was extremely difficult to stimulate the mass of the people to that rigorous and persevering opposition which was deemed essential to the preservation of American liberty, and yet to restrain all those excesses which disgrace and often defeat the wisest measures. In Connecti

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cut and New York originated an association of persons, styling themselves the "Sons of Liberty," who bound themselves, among other things, to march to any part of the continent, at their own expense, to support the British constitution in America; by which was expressly stated to be understood, the prevention of any attempt which might any where be made to carry the stamp act into operation. A corresponding committee of these "Sons of Liberty" was established, who addressed letters to certain conspicuous characters throughout the colonies, and contributed very materially to increase the spirit of opposition, and perhaps the turbulence with which it was in some places attended.

While these transactions were taking place in America, causes entirely unconnected with the affairs of the colonies produced a total revolution in the British cabinet. The Grenville party was succeeded by an administration unfriendly to a further prosecution of the plan for taxing the colonies without their consent. General Conway, now one of the principal secretaries of state, addressed a circular letter to the respective Governors of the colonies, in which he disapproved, in mild terms, the violent measures which had been adopted in America, and recommended to them, while they maintained the dignity of the Crown and of Parliament, to observe a temperate and conciliatory conduct towards the colonists, and endeavour by all persuasive means to restore the public peace. Parliament

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