[July 18, 1774]
At a general Meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of
Fairfax on Monday the 18th day of July 1774, at the Court House, George
Washington Esquire Chairman, and Robert Harrison Gent. Clerk of the said
Meeting —
1. Resolved that this Colony and Dominion of Virginia can not be
considered as a conquered Country; and if it was, that the present Inhabitants
are the Descendants not of the Conquered, but of the Conquerors.
That the same was not setled at the national Expence of England, but at
the private Expence of the Adventurers, our Ancestors, by solemn Compact with,
and under the Auspices and Protection of the British Crown; upon which we are
in every Respect as dependant, as the People of Great Britain, and in the same
Manner subject to all his Majesty's just, legal, and constitutional
Prerogatives. That our Ancestors, when they left their native Land, and setled
in America, brought with them (even if the same had not been confirmed by
Charters) the Civil-Constitution and Form of Government of the Country they
came from; and were by the Laws of Nature and Nations, entitiled to all it's
Privileges, Immunities and Advantages; which have descended to us their
Posterity, and ought of Right to be as fully enjoyed, as if we had still
continued within the Realm of England.
2. Resolved that the most important and valuable Part of the
British Constitution, upon which it's very Existence depends, is the
fundamental Principle of the People's being governed by no Laws, to which they
have not given their Consent, by Representatives freely chosen by themselves;
who are affected by the Laws they enact equally with their Constituents; to
whom they are accountable, and whose Burthens they share; in which consists the
Safety and Happiness of the Community: for if this Part of the Constitution was
taken away, or materially altered, the Government must degenerate either into
an absolute and despotic Monarchy, or a tyrannical Aristocracy, and the Freedom
of the People be annihilated.
3. Resolved therefore, as the Inhabitants of the american
Colonies are not, and from their Situation can not be represented in the
British Parliament, that the legislative Power here can of Right be exercised
only by (our) own Provincial Assemblys or Parliaments, subject to the Assent or
Negative of the British Crown, to be declared within some proper limited Time.
But as it was thought just and reasonable that the People of Great Britain
shou'd reap Advantages from these Colonies adequate to the Protection they
afforded them, the British Parliament have claimed and exercised the Power of
regulating our Trade and Commerce, so as to restrain our importing from foreign
Countrys, such Articles as they cou'd furnish us with, of their own Growth or
Manufacture, or exporting to foreign Countrys such Articles and Portions of our
Produce, as Great Britain stood in Need of, for her own Consumption or
Manufactures. Such a Power directed with Wisdom and Moderation, seems necessary
for the general Good of that great Body-politic of which we are a Part; altho'
in some Degree repugnant to the Principles of the Constitution. Under this Idea
our Ancestors submitted to it: the Experience of more than a Century, during
the government of his Majesty's Royal Predecessors, hath proved it's Utility,
and the reciprocal Benefits flowing from it produced mutual uninterrupted
Harmony and Good-Will, between the Inhabitants of Great Britain and her
Colonies; who during that long Period, always considered themselves as one and
the same People: and tho' such a Power is capable of Abuse, and in some
Instances hath been stretched beyond the original Design and Institution. Yet
to avoid Strife and Contention with our fellow-Subjects, and strongly impressed
with the Experience of mutual Benefits, we always Chearfully acquiesced in it,
while the entire Regulation of our internal Policy, and giving and granting our
own Money were preserved to our own provincial Legislatures.
4. Resolved that it is the Duty of these Colonies, on all
Emergencies, to contribute, in Proportion to their Abilities, Situation and
Circumstances, to the necessary Charge of supporting and defending the British
Empire, of which they are Part; that while we are treated upon an equal Footing
with our fellow Subjects, the Motives of Self-Interest and Preservation will be
a sufficient Obligation; as was evident thro' the Course of the last War; and
that no Argument can be fairly applyed to the British Parliament's taxing us,
upon a Presumption that we shou'd refuse a just and reasonable Contribution,
but will equally operate in Justification of the Executive-Power taxing the
People of England, upon a Supposition of their Representatives refusing to
grant the necessary Supplies.
5. Resolved that the Claim lately assumed and exercised by the
British Parliament, of making all such Laws as they think fit, to govern the
People of these Colonies, and to extort from us our Money with out our Consent,
is not only diametrically contrary to the first Principles of the Constitution,
and the original Compacts by which we are dependant upon the British Crown and
Government; but is totally incompatible with the Privileges of a free People,
and the natural Rights of Mankind; will render our own Legislatures merely
nominal and nugatory, and is calculated to reduce us from a State of Freedom
and Happiness to Slavery and Misery.
6. Resolved that Taxation and Representation are in their Nature
inseperable; that the Right of withholding, or of giving and granting their own
Money is the only effectual Security to a free People, against the
Incroachments of Despotism and Tyranny; and that whenever they yield the One,
they must quickly fall a Prey to the other.
7. Resolved that the Powers over the People of America now
claimed by the British House of Commons, in whose Election we have no Share, on
whose Determinations we can have no Influence, whose Information mush be always
defective and often false, who in many Instances may have a seperate, and in
some an opposite Interest to ours, and who are removed from those Impressions
of tenderness and compassion arising from personal intercourse and Connections,
which soften the Rigours of the most despotic Governments, must if continued,
establish the most grievous and intollerable Species of Tyranny and Oppression,
that ever was inflicted upon Mankind.
8. Resolved that it is our greatest Wish and Inclination, as well
as Interest, to continue our Connection with, and Dependance upon the British
Government; but tho' we are it's Subjects, we will use every Means which Heaven
hath given us to prevent our becoming it's Slaves.
9. Resolved that there is a premeditated Design and System,
formed and pursued by the British Ministry, to introduce an arbitrary
Government into his Majesty's American Dominions; to which End they are
artfully prejudicing our Sovereign, and inflaming the Minds of our
fellow-Subjects in Great Britain, by propagating the most malevolent
Falsehoods; particularly that there is an Intention in the American Colonies to
set up for independant States; endeavouring at the same Time, by various Acts
of Violence and Oppression, by sudden and repeated Dissolutions of our
Assemblies, whenever they presume to examine the Illegality of ministerial
Mandates, or deliberate on the violated Rights of their Constituents, and by
breaking in upon the American Charters, to reduce us to a State of Desperation,
and dissolve the original Compacts by which our Ancestors bound themselves and
their Posterity to remain dependant upon the British Crown: which Measures,
unless effectually counteracted, will end in the Ruin both of Great Britain and
her Colonies.
10. Resolved that the several Acts of Parliament for raising a
Revenue upon the People of America without their Consent, the creating new and
dangerous Jurisdictions here, the taking away our Trials by Jurys, the ordering
Persons upon Criminal Accusations, to be tried in another Country than that in
which the Fact is charged to have been committed, the Act inflicting
ministerial Vengeance upon the Town of Boston, and the two Bills lately brought
into Parliament for abrogating the Charter of the Province of Massachusetts
Bay, and for the Protection and Encouragement of Murderers in the said
Province, are Part of the above mentioned iniquitous System. That the
Inhabitants of the Town of Boston are now suffering in the common Cause of all
British America, and are justly entitled to it's Support and Assistance; and
therefore that a Subscription ought imediatly to be opened, and proper Persons
appointed, in every County of this Colony to purchase Provisions, and consign
them to some Gentleman of Character in Boston, to be distributed among the
poorer Sort of People there.
11. Resolved that we will cordially join with our Friends and
Brethren of this and the other Colonies, in such Measures as shall be judged
most effectual for procuring Redress of our Grievances, and that upon obtaining
such Redress if the Destruction of the Tea at Boston be regarded as an Invasion
of private Property, we shall be willing to contribute towards paying the East
India Company the Value: but as we consider the said Company as the Tools and
Instrument of Oppression in the Hands of Government and the Cause of our
present Distress, it is the Opinion of this Meeting that the People of these
Colonies shou'd forbear all further Dealings with them, by refusing to purchase
their Merchandize, until that Peace Safety and Good-order, which they have
disturbed, be perfectly restored. And that all Tea now in this Colony, or which
shall be imported into it shiped before the first Day of September next, shou'd
be deposited in some Store-house to be appointed by the respective Committees
of each County, until a sufficient Sum of Money be raised by Subscription to
reimburse the Owners the Value, and then to be publickly burn'd and destroyed;
and if the same is not paid for and destroyed as aforesaid, that it remain in
the Custody of the said Committees, at the Risque of the Owners, until the Act
of Parliament imposing a Duty upon Tea for raising a Revenue in America be
repealed; and imediatly afterwards be delivered unto the several Proprietors
thereof, their Agents or Attorneys.
12. Resolved that Nothing will so much contribute to defeat the
pernicious Designs of the common Enemies of Great Britain and her Colonies as a
firm Union of the latter; who ought to regard every Act of Violence or
Oppression inflicted upon any one of them, as aimed at all; and to effect this
desireable Purpose, that a Congress shou'd be appointed, to consist of Deputies
from all the Colonies, to concert a general and uniform Plan for the Defence
and Preservation of our common Rights, and continueing the Connection and
Dependance of the said Colonies upon Great Britain under a just, lenient,
permanent, and constitutional Form of Government.
13. Resolved that our most sincere and cordial Thanks be given to
the Patrons and Friends of Liberty in Great Britain, for their spirited and
patriotick Conduct in Support of our constitutional Rights and Privledges, and
their generous Efforts to prevent the present Distress and Calamity of
America.
14. Resolved that every little jarring Interest and Dispute,
which has ever happened between these Colonies, shou'd be buried in eternal
Oblivion; that all Manner of Luxury and Extravagance ought imediatly to be laid
aside, as totally inconsistent with the threatening and gloomy Prospect before
us; that it is the indispensable Duty of all the Gentlemen and Men of Fortune
to set Examples of Temperance, Fortitude, Frugality and Industry; and give
every Encouragement in their Power, particulary by Subscriptions and Premiums,
to the Improvement of Arts and Manufactures in America; that great Care and
Attention shou'd be had to the Cultivation of Flax, Cotton, and other Materials
for Manufactures; and we recommend it to such of the Inhabitants who have large
Stocks of Sheep, to sell to their Neighbors at a moderate Price, as the most
certain Means of speedily increasing our Breed of Sheep, and Quantity of
Wool.
15. Resolved that until American Grievances be redressed, by
Restoration of our just Rights and Privileges, no Goods or Merchandize
whatsoever ought to be imported into this Colony, which shall be shiped from
Great Britain or Ireland after the first Day of September next, except Linnens
not exceeding fifteen Pence [per] yard, (German Oznabrigs) coarse woolen Cloth,
not exceeding two Shillings sterling [per] Yard, Nails Wire, and Wire-Cards,
Needles & Pins, Paper, Salt Petre, and Medicines; which [three Articles
only] may be imported until the first Day of September, one thousand seven
hundred and seventy six; and if any Goods or Merchandize, othe[r] than those
hereby excepted, shou'd be ship'd from Great Britain, {or Ireland} after the
time aforesaid, to this Colony, that the same, immediately upon their Arrival,
shou'd either be sent back again, by the Owners their Agents or Attorn[ey]s, or
stored and deposited in some Ware-house, to be appointed by the Committee for
each respective County, and there kept, at the Risque and Charge of the Owners,
to be delivered to them, when a free Importation of Goods hither shall again
take Place. And that the Merchants and Venders of Goods and Merchandize within
this Colony ought not to take Advantage of our present Distress b[u]t continue
to sell the Goods and Merchandize which they now have, or which may be shiped
to them before the first Day of September next, at the same Rates and Prices
they have been accustomed to do, within one Year last past; and if any Person
shall sell such Goods on any other Terms than above expressed, that no
Inhabitant of this Colony shou'd at any time, for ever thereafter, deal with
him, his Agent, Factor, or Store keepers for any Commodity whatsoever.
16. Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Meeting, that the
Merchants and Venders of Goods and Merchandize within this Colony shou'd take
an Oath, not to sell or dispose of any Goods or Merchandize whatsoever, which
may be shiped from Great Britain {or Ireland} after the first Day of September
next as afoes, except the (three) Articles before excepted, and that they will,
upon Receipt of such prohibited Goods, either send the same back again by the
first Opportunity, or deliver them to the Committees in the respective Countys,
to be deposited in some Warehouse, at the Risque and Charge of the Owners,
until they, their Agents or Factors be permitted to take them away by the said
Committees: the Names of those who refuse to take such Oath to be advertized by
the respective Committees in the Countys wherein they reside. And to the End
that the Inhabitants of this Colony may know what Merchants, and Venders of
Goods and Merchandize have taken such Oath, that the respective Committees
shou'd grant a Certificate thereof to every such Person who shall take the
same.
17. Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Meeting, that during
our present Difficulties and Distress, no Slaves ought to be imported into any
of the British Colonies on this Continent; and we take this Opportunity of
declaring our most earnest Wishes to see an entire Stop for ever put to such a
wicked cruel and unnatural Trade.
18. Resolved that no kind of Lumber shou'd be exported from this
Colony to the West Indies, until America be restored to her constitutional
Rights and Liberties if the other Colonies will accede to a like Resolution;
and that it be recommended to the general Congress to appoint as early a Day as
possible for stopping such Export.
19. Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Meeting, if American
Grievances be not redressed before the first Day of November one thousand seven
hundred and seventy five, that all Exports of Produce from the several Colonies
to Great Britain {or Ireland} shou'd cease; and to carry the said Resolution
more effectually into Execution, that we will not plant or cultivate any
Tobacco, after the Crop now growing; provided the same Measure shall be adopted
by the other Colonies on this Continent, as well those who have heretofore made
Tobacco, as those who have n[o]t. And it is our Opinion also, if the Congress
of Deputies from the several Colonies shall adopt the Measure of
Non-exportation to Great Britain, as the People will be thereby disabled from
paying their Debts, that no Judgements shou'd be rendered by the Courts in the
said Colonies for any Debt, after Information of the said Measure's being
determined upon.
20. Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Meeting that a solemn
Covenant and Association shou'd be entered into by the Inhabitants of all the
Colonies upon Oath, that they will not, after the Times which shall be
respectively agreed on at the general Congress, export any Manner of Lumber to
the West Indies, nor any of their Produce to Great Britain {or Ireland}, or
sell or dispose of the same to any Person who shall not have entered into the
said Covenant and Association; and also that they will no import or receive any
Goods or Merchandize which shall be ship'd from Great Britain {or Ireland}
after the first Day of September next, other than the before enumerated
Articles, nor buy or purchase any Goods, except as before excepted, of any
Person whatsoever, who shall not have taken the Oath herein before recommended
to be taken by the Merchants and Venders of Goods nor buy or purchase any
Slaves hereafter imported into any Part of this Continent until a free
Exportation and Importation be again resolved on by a Majority of the
Representatives or Deputies of the Colonies. And that the respective Committees
of the Countys, in each Colony so soon as the Covenant and Association becomes
general, publish by Advertisements in their several Counties {and Gazettes of
their Colonies}, a List of the Names of those (if any such there be) who will
not accede thereto; that such Traitors to their Country may be publickly known
and detested.
21. Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Meeting, that this
and the other associating Colonies shou'd break off all Trade, Intercourse, and
Dealings, with that Colony Province or Town which shall decline or refuse to
agree to the Plan which shall be adopted by the general Congress.
22. Resolved that shou'd the Town of Boston be forced to submit
to the late cruel and oppressive Measures of Government, that we shall not hold
the same to be binding upon us, but will, notwithstanding, religiously
maintain, and inviolably adhere to such Measures as shall be concerted by the
general Congress, for the preservation of our Lives, Liberties and
Fortunes.
23. Resolved that it be recommended to the Deputies of the
general Congress to draw up and transmit an humble and dutiful Petition and
Remonstrance to his Majesty, asserting with decent Firmness our just and
constitutional Rights and Privileg[es,] lamenting the fatal Necessity of being
compelled to enter into Measur[es] disgusting to his Majesty and his
Parliament, or injurious to our fellow Subjects in Great Britain; declaring, in
the strongest Terms, ou[r] Duty and Affection to his Majesty's Person, Family
[an]d Government, and our Desire to continue our Dependance upon Great
Bri[tai]n; and most humbly conjuring and besecching his Majesty, not to reduce
his faithful Subjects of America to a State of desperation, and to reflect,
that from our Sovereign there can be but one Appeal. And it is the Opinion of
this Meeting, that after such Petition and Remonstrance shall have been
presented to his Majesty, the same shou'd be printed in the public Papers, in
all the principal Towns in Great Britain.
24. Resolved that George Washington Esquire, and George
Broadwater Gent. lately elected our Representatives to serve in the general
Assembly, be appointed to attend the Convention at Williamsburg on the first
Day of August next, and present these Resolves, as the Sense of the People of
this County, upon the Measures proper to be taken in the present alarming and
dangerous Situation of America.
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