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19
oktober 1765
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.
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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.
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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.
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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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That the people
of these colonies are not, and from their local circumstances
cannot be, represented in the House of Commons in Great-Britain.
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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.
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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.
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That trial by
jury is the inherent and invaluable right of every British
subject in these colonies.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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