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Refolved, 6. That they are entitled to the benefit of fuch of the English Statutes as exifted at the time of their colonization, and which they have, by experience, refpectively found to be applicable to their feveral local and other circumftances.

Refolved, n. c. 7. That thefe, his Majefty'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. 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. 9. That the keeping a standing army in thefe Colonies, in times of peace, without the confent of the legiflature of that colony in which fuch army is kept, is against law.

Refolved, n. c. 10. It is indifpenfibly neceffary to good government, and rendered effential by the English Conftitution, that the constituent branches of the legiflature be independent of each other that, therefore, the exercife of legiflative power, in feveral Colonies, by a Council appointed during pleasure by the Crown, is unconftitutional, dange rous, and deftructive to the freedom of American legiflation.

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 legiflatures.

Refolved, n. c. 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 reftore harmony be

tween

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tween Great Britain and the American colonies,. viz.

34.

The several Acts of 4 Geo. III. ch. 15. and ch. -5 Geo. III. 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 raifing 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 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.

Alfo 12 Geo. III. ch. 24. intituled, " An Act for the better fecuring his Majefty's dock-yards, magazines, fhips, ammunition, and ftores;" which declares a new offence in America, and deprives the American fubjects of a conftitutional trial by Jury of the vicinage,by authorifing the trial of any perfon charged with the committing any offence defcribed in the faid Act out of the reaim, to be indicted and tried for the fame in any fhire or county within the tealm.

Alfo the three Acts paffed in the laft Seffion of Parliament, for ftopping the port and blocking up the harbour of Boston, for altering the charter and government of Maffachufett's-Bay, and that which is intituled," An Act for the better adminiftration of justice, &c."

Alfo the Act paffed in the fame Seffion for eflablishing the Roman Catholic religion in the Pro- * vince of Quebec, abolishing the equitable fyftem of English laws, and erecting a tyranny there, to the great danger, from so total a diffimilarity of religion, law, and government, of the neighbouring British Colonies, by the affiftance of whofe blood

and

and treasure the faid country was conquered from France.

Alfo the Act paffed in the fame Seffion for the better providing fuitable quarters for officers and foldiers in his Majefty's fervice in North-America.

Refolved, That this Congress do approve of the oppofition made by the inhabitants of the Maffachufett's-bay to the execution of the faid late Acts of Parliament; and if the fame fhall be attempted to be carried into execution by force, in fuch case, all America ought to fupport them in their oppofition.

Refolved, That the removal of the people of Boston into the country, 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 thereby fuftain.

Refolved, That this Congrefs do recommend to the inhabitants of Maffachufett's-bay, to submit 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 charterrights are infringed, is known.

Refolved unanimoufly, That every perfon who fhall take, accept, or act under any commiffion or authority, in any wife derived from the act paffed in the laft Seffion of Parliament, changing the formi of Government, and violating the charter of the Province of Maffachufett's-Bay, ought to be held in deteftation, and confidered as the wicked tool of that defpotifm which is preparing to destroy those rights which God, nature, and compact, hath given to America.

Refolved

Resolved unanimourly, That the people of Bofton and the Maffachufett's-bay, be advised still to conduct themselves peaceably towards 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 discountenancing 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 themfelves on the defenfive.

Refolved, That the feizing, or attempting to feize, any person 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 against law, will justify, and ought to meet with refiftance and reprifal.

A copy of a letter to General Gage was brought into Congrefs, and, agreeable to order, figned by the Prefident, and is as follows:

"Sir,

Philadelphia, O. 10, 1774

"The inhabitants of the town of Bofton have informed us, the Reprefentatives of his Majefty's faithful fubjects in all the Colonies from NovaScotia to Georgia, that the fortifications erecting within that town, the frequent invafions of private property, and the repeated infults they receive from the foldiery, hath given them great reason to fufpect a plan is formed very destructive to them, and tending to overthrow the liberties of America.

"Your Excellency cannot be a ftranger to the fentiments of America with refpect to the late Acts of Parliament, under the execution of which those unhappy people are oppreffed; the approbation univerfally expreffed of their conduct, and the determined refolution of the Colonies, for the prefer vation of their Common Rights, to unite in their

oppo

oppofition to thofe Acts. In confequence of thefse fentiments, they have appointed us the guardians of their rights and liberties, and we are under the deepest concern, that, whilft we are pursuing every dutiful and peaceable measure to procure a cordial and effectual reconciliation between Great Britain and the Colonies, yourExcellency fhould proceed in a manner that bears fo hoftile an appearance, and which even thofe oppreffive Acts do not warrant. We entreat your Excellency to confider, what tendency this conduct must have to irritate and force a people, however well difpofed to peaceable meafures, into hoftilities, which may prevent the endeavours of this Congrefs to reftore a good understanding with a Parent State, and may involve us in the horrors of a civil war.

"In order therefore to quiet the minds, and remove the reasonable jealoufies of the people, that they may not be driven to a ftate of defperation, being fully perfuaded of their pacific difpofition towards the King's troops, could they be affured of their own fafety; we hope, Sir, you will difcontinue the fortifications in and about Bofton, prevent any further invafions of private property, reftrain the irregularities of the foldiers, and give orders that the communications between the town and country may be open, unmolefted, and free.

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Signed, by order and in behalf of the General Congrefs,

PEYTON RANDOLPH, Prefident."

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