ties of Newcastle, Kent, and Suffex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, deputed to represent them in a continental Congrefs, held in the city of Philadelphia, on the fifth day of September, 1774, avowing our allegiance to his majefty, our affection and regard for our fellowfubjects in Great Britain and elsewhere, affected with the deepest anxiety, and moft alarming apprehenfions at thofe grievances and diftreffes, with which his majefty's American fubjects are oppreffed, and having taken under our most serious deliberation, the ftate of the whole continent, find, that the prefent unhappy fituation

of legiflation in their feveral provincial legiflatures, where their right of reprefentation can alone be preferved, in all cafes of taxation and internal polity, fubject only to the negative of their fovereign, in fuch manner as has been heretofore accuftomed: But from the neceffity of the cafe, and a regard to the mutual interefts of both countries, we chearfully confent to the operation of fuch acts of the British parliament as are bona fide, reftrained to the regulation of our external commerce, for the purpofe of fecuring the commercial advantages of the whole empire to the mother country, and the commercial benefits of its refpective members, excluding every idea of taxation internal or external, for - railing a revenue on the fubjects in America without their confent.

Refolved, N. C. D. 5. That the refpective colonies are entitled to the common law of England, and more especially to the great and jueftimable priviledge of being tried by their peers in the vicinage, according to the course of that law.

Refolved, 6. That they are en titled to the benefit of fuch of the English ftatutes. as exifted at the time of their colonization; and

which they have, by experience, respectively found to be applicable to their feveral local and other circumftances.

Refolved, N.C.D.7. That thefe his majelty's colonies, are likewife entitled to all the immunities and privileges granted and confirmed to them by royal charters, or fecured by their feveral codes of provincial laws,

Refolved, N. C. D. 8. That they have a right peaceably to affemble, confider of their grievances, and petition the king; and that all profecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the fame, are illegal.

Refolved, N. C, D. 9. That the keeping a standing army in these colonies, in times of peace, without the confent of the legislature of that colony in which fuch army is kept, is against law.

Refolved, N. C. D. 10. It is indifpenfibly neceffary to good government, and rendered effential by the English conftitution, that the conflituent branches of the legiflature be independent of each other; that, therefore, the exercise of legiflative power in feveral colonies, by a council appointed, during pleafure, by the crown, is uncontitutional, dangerous, and deftrue

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 thefe colonies, and with them, the British empire. In profecution of which fyftem, various acts of parliament have been paffed for raifing a revenue in America, for depriving the American fubjects, in 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 legiflation.

All and each of which, the aforefaid deputies in behalf of themfelves, and their confituents, 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 legiflatures.

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 intercourse of affection and intereft may be reftored, we pafs over for the present, and proceed to ftate fuch acts and meafures as have been adopted fince the last war, which demonstrate 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 colonists; and that the repeal of them is effentially neceffary, in order to restore harmony between Great Britain and the American colonies, viz.

The several acts of 4 George III. ch. 15. and ch. 345 Geo. II.

acts

ch. 25.-6 Geo. III. ch. 52.-7 Geo. III, ch: 4t and ch. 46.-8 Geo, III. ch. 22. which impofe duties for the purpose of railing a revenue iu 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 profecuter from damages, that he might otherwife be liable to, requiring oppreffive fecurity from a claimant of fhips and goods feized, before he fhall be allowed to defend his property, and are fubverfive of American rights.

ed

Alfo, 12 Geo. III. ch. 24. intitul

An act for the better fecuring "his majesty's dock yards, maga"zines, thips, 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 authorifing 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 fhire 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 Bofton and the Maffachufett's-Bay, and also an act for extending the province of Quebec, fo as to border on the western frontiers of thefe colonies, establishing an arbitrary government therein, and discouraging the fettlement of British fubjects in that wide extended country; thus by the influence of civil principles and ancient prejudices to difpofe the inhabitants to act with hostility against the free proteftant colonies, whenever a wicked miniftry fhall chufe fo to direct them.

To obtain redrefs of thefe grievances, which threaten destruction to the lives, liberty, and property of

charter and government of Maffachusetts-Bay, and that which is intituled, "An act for the better ad"ministration of justice, &c."

Alfo the act paffed in the fame feffion for establishing the Roman catholic religion in the province of Quebec, abolishing the equitable fyftem of English laws, and erecting a tyranny there, to the great danger, from fo total a diffimularity of religion, law and government to the neighbouring British colonies, by the afliftance of whofe blood and treafure the faid country was conquered from France.

lfo the act palled in the fame feffion for the better providing initable quarters for officers and foldiers in his majefty's fervice in North America.

Alfo, that the keeping a standing army in feveral of thefe, colonies, in time of peace, without the confent of the legislature of the colony in which fuch army is kept, is against law.

The Congress, from time to time, paffed the following Kefolves: Refolved, That this congrefs do approve of the oppofition made by the inhabitants of the Maffachufett's-Bay, to the execution of the

his

latè acts of parliament; and if the fame fhall 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 Bolton into the country, would be, not only extremely difficult in the execution, but to 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 Congress do recommend to the inhabitants of the colony of the Maffachusett'sBay, to fubmit to a fufpenfion of the administration of justice, 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.

Refolted,

his majesty'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 next, we will not import into British America, from Bbb

Refolved unanimously, That every perfon or perfons whomfoever, who fhall take, accept, or act under any cominition or authority, in any wife derived from the act paffed in the laft feffion of parliament, changing the form of government, and violating the charter of the province of Maffachufett's Bay, ought to be held in deteftation and abltorrence by all good men, and considered as the wicked tools of that defpotifm, which is preparing to destroy 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 themfelves peaceably towards his excellency General Gage, and his majefty's troops now ftationed in the town of Bofton, as far as can poflibly confift with their immediate fafety and the fecurity of the town; avoiding and difcountenancing every violation of his majesty's property, or any infult to his troops; and that they peaceably and firmly perfevere in the line in which they are now conducting theinfelves on the defenfive.

Refolved, That the feizing, or attempting to feize, any perion in

America, in order to transport fuch perfon beyond the fea, for trial of offences committed within the body of a county in America, being againft law, will justify, and ought to meet with refiftance and reprifal.

Saturday, October 22.

Refolved, As the opinion of the congrefs, that it will be neceffary, that a congress should be held on the 10th day of May next, unless the redress of grievances, which we have defired, be obtained before; that time. And we recominend that the fame be held at the city of Philadelphia, and that all the colonies in North America chufe de-' puties as foon as poflible, to attend fuch congress.

Tuesday, Oftober 25. Refolved, That the congrefs in their own names, and in behalf of! all those whom they represent, do prefent their grateful acknowledgeto thofe truely noble, ments honourable, and patriotic advo cates of civil and religious liberty; who have fo generoully and powunfuccefsfully, erfully, though efpoufed and defended the caufe of America, both in and our 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 firft 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 ufe 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 purchafe or ufe any of Eaft India tea nor will will we fhall any perfon for or under us, purchase or use, any of those 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.

nor

Fourth, The earneft defire we have, not to injure our fellow fubjects 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 par

liament,