Stamp Act of Congress: Declaration of Rights and Grievances
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IN
CONGRESS IN NEW
YORK
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.