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 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 in
Great-Britain.
V. That the only representatives of the people of these colonies, are
persons chosen therein by themselves, and that no taxes ever have been,
or can be constitutionally imposed on them, but by their respective
legislatures.
VI. That all supplies to the Crown, being free gifts of 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, etc., 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 center
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 there 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.
Lastly, 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 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.
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