Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-08-15 00:00:00, page 7

At a ver, full meetfig of Dele,lies from the different coun
ties in the colon, and dominion of Virginia, begun in P/ihi
amjburoNthe firft day of August, in the,ear of our Lord
1774, and continued by several adjournments to Saturday
toe 6th of the fdd month, the following afaiatien was
unanimous resolved upon and agreed to.
^ ^ ^ ^^^E his Majesty's dutiful and loyal fubjeds,
4 ^^ \ the delegates of the freeholders, of Virgi-
C^ W nia, deputed to reprefeat them at a gene
^A '/s' tai meeting in the city of Williamsburg,
;^^^ ' avowing our inviolable and unshaken fide
4^^ v^F ]i t y, an d attachment to our most gracious
Sovereign, our regard and affection for all our friends and
fellow-fubjeds in Great-Britain and elsewhere, protecting
egainft every ad or thing, which may have the most diflant
tendency to interrupt, or in any wife disturb his Majesty s
peace, and the good order of government, within this his
ancient colony, which we are resolved to maintain and de
fend, at the rifque of our lives and fortunes, but at the
fame time affected with the deepest anxiety, and most
alarming apprehensions, of those grievances and diftrefles
by which his Majesty's American fubjeds are oppressed,
and having taken under our most serious deliberation, the
frate of the whole continent, find that the present unhappy
Situation of our affairs is chiefly occasioned by certain ill
advifed regulations, as well of our trade as internal poli
cy, introduced by several unconstitutional ads of the Bri
tish Parl ament, and, at length, attempted to be enforced
by the hand of power ; solely influenced by these import
ant and weighty considerations, we think it an indifpenfi
ble duty, which we owe to our country, ourselves, and lat
est posterity, to guard against such dangerous and exten
sive mifehiefs, by every just and proper means.
If, by the measures adopted, some unhappy consequen
ces and incon veniencies should be derived to our fellow
fubjeds, whom we with not to injure in the smallest degree,
we hope and flatter ourselves, that they will impute them to
their real cause—the hard necessity to which we aredriven.
That the good people of this colony may, on so trying
an occasion, continue fteadfaftly directed to their most es
sential interests, in hopes that they will be influenced and
Simulated by our example to the greatest industry, the
ftrideft (economy, and frugality, and the exertion of eve
ry public virtue, persuaded that the merchants, manufac
turers, and other inhabitants of Great Britain, and, above
all, that the British Parliament will be convinced how
much the true interest of that kingdom must depend on the
restoration and continuance of that mutual friendihip and
cordiality, which so happily subsisted between us, we have
unanimously, and, with one voice, entered into the follow
ing resolutions and afTociation, which we do oblige ourselves
by those sacred ties of honour and love to our country,
ftridly to observe; and farther declare, before God and
the world, that we will religiously adhere to and keep the
fame inviolate, in every particular, until redrefsof all such
American grievances, as may be defined and fetled at the
general congress of delegates from the different colonies,
fli all be fully obtained, or until this afTociation (hall be ab
rogated or altered by a general meeting of the deputies of
this colony, to be convened, as is herein after directed.
And we do, with the greatest earnestness, recommend this
our afTociation, to all gentlemen, merchants, traders, and
other inhabitants of this colony, hoping that they will
chearfully and cordially accede thereto.
I ft. We do hereby resolve and declare that we will not
cither directly or indirectly, after the firft day of Novem
ber next, import from Great-Britain, any goods, wares,
or merchandizes, whatever, (medicines excepted) nor
will we, afrer that day, import any British maufadures,
either from the Weft-Indies, or any other place, nor any
article whatever, which we shall know, or have reason to
believe, was brought into such countries from Great-Bri
tain, nor will we purchase any such articles, so imported,
of any person or persons whatsoever, except such as are
now in the country, or such as may arrive on or before the
said firft day of November, in consequence of orders alrea
dy given, and which cannot now be countermanded in time.
2dly. We will neither ourselves import, nor purchase
any Gave, or slaves, imported by any person, after the firft
day of November next, either from Africa, the Welt-In
dies, or any other place.
gdly. Considering the article of tea as the detestable in
strument which laid the foundation of the present fufferings
of our distressed friends in the town of Bollon, we view it
with horror, and therefore resolve that we will not, from
this day, either import tea of any kind whatever, nor will
we use or fuffer, even such of it as is now at hand, to be
used in any of our families.
4thly. ifthe inhabitants of the town of Boston, or any
other colony, should, by violence or dire necessity, be com
pelled to pay the East-India company for destroying any
tea, which they have lately by their agents, unjustly at
tempted to force into the colonies, we will not, directly or
indirectly, import or purchase any British East-India com
modity whatever, till the company, or some other person,
on their behalf, shall refund and fully restore to theowners
allfuch sum or sums of money as may be so extorted.
„hly. We do resolve, that unless American grievances
are redressed before the 10th day of August, 177 g, we
will not, after that day, directly or indirectly, export to
bacco or any other article whatever, to Great-Britain;
nor will we fell any such articles as we think can be ex
ported to Great-Britain with a profped of gain, to any
person or persons whatever, with adefign of putting itinto
his or their power to export the fame to Great-Britain,
either on our own, his, or their account. And that this
resolution may be the more effectually carried into execu
tion, we do hereby recommend it to theinhabitants of this
colony, to refrain from the cultivation of tobacco as much
as conveniently may be, and in lieu thereof, that they
will, as we refolveto do, apply their attention and industry,
to the cultivation of all such articles, as may form a pro
per bafrs for manufactures of all forts, which we will en
deavour to encourage throughout this colony to the utmost
of our abilities.
6thly. We will endeavour to improve our breed of
sheep, and increase their number to the utmost extent, and
to this end, we will be as sparing as we conveniently can
in killing of sheep, Specially those of the most profitabel
POSTS CKI P T £X TR Ato the Pennsylvania Packet. No. 147.
kind, and if we should at any time be overstocked, or can
conveniently spare any, we will dispose of them to our
neighbours, elpecially die poorer fort of people, upon
moderate terms.
ythly. Resolved, that the merchants and others venders
of goods and merchandizes within this colony, ought not
to take advantage of the scarcity of goods that may be
occasioned by this afTociation, but that they ought to fell
the fame, at the rates they have been accustomed to for
twelve months pad, and if they shall fell any such goods
on higher terms, or shall in any manner, or by any device
whatever, violate or depart from this resolution, we will
not, and are of opinion that no inhabitant of this colony
ought, at any time thereafter, to deal with any such per
sons, their fadors, or agents, for any commodity whate
ver; and it is recommended to the deputies of the several
counties, that committees be chosen in each county, by
by such persons as accede to this afTociation, to take ef
fedual care that these resolves be properly observed, and
for corresponding occasionally with the general Committee
of Correspondence in the city of Williamsburg. Provi
ded, that if exchange should rife, such advance may be
made in the prices of goods as shall be approved by the
Committee of each county.
Bthly. In order the better to distinguish such worthy
merchants and traders, who are well-wilhers to this colo
ny, from those who may attempt, through motives of felf
intereft to obftrud our views, we do hereby resolve, that
we will not after the firflday ofNovember next, deal with
any merchant or trader, who will not sign this afTociation,
nor until he hath obtained a certificate of his having done
so from the county Committee, or any three members
thereof. And if any merchant, trader, or other person,
shall import any goods or merchandize after the firft day
of November, contrary to this afTociation, we give it as
our opinion, that such goods and merchandize should be
either forthwith re-shipped, or delivered up to the county
Committee, to be stored at the rifle of the importer, unless
such importer shall give a proper assurance to the said
Committee, that such goods or merchandizes shall not be
fold within this colony during the continuance of this as
sociation: and if such importer shall refufe to comply with
one or the other .of these terms, upon application and due
caution given to him or her, by the said Committee, or
any three members thereof, such Committee is required
to publilh the truth of the case in the Gazettes, and in
the county where he or she resides, and we will thereafter
confider such person or persons as inimical to this country,
and break off every connexion and all dealings with them,
nthly. Resolved, that if any person or persons shall ex
port tobacco, or any other commodity, to Great-Britain,
afrer the loth day of August, 1775, contrary to this as
sociation, we shall hold ourselves obliged to confider such
person or persons as inimical to the community, and as an
approver of American grievances; and give it as our opini
on, that the public should be advertised of his conduct, as
in the Bth article is desired.
lothly. Being fully persuaded that the united wisdom
ofthe General Congress may improve these our endeavours
to preserve the rights and liberties in British America,
we decline enlarging at present, but do hereby resolve
that we will conform to, and Itridly observe, all such
alterations or additions, assented to by the Delegates for
this colony, as they may judgeit necessary to adopt, after
the fame shall be published and made known to us.
l ithly. Resolved, that we think ourselves called upon
by every principle of humanity and brotherly affedion, to
extend the utmost and speediest relief to our distressed
fellow-fubjeds in the town of Boston, and therefore most
earnestly recommend it to all the inhabitants of this colo
ny, to make such liberal contributions as they can afford;
to be collected and remitted to Boston, in such manner
as may bell answer so defn able a purpose.
I2thly, and lastly. Resolved, that the moderator of
this meeting, and, in case of his death, Robert Carter
Nicholas, Esquire, be empowered, on any future occasi
on, that may in his opinion require it, to convenethe se
veral Delegates of this colony, at such time and place as
he may judge proper; and, in case ofthe death or ab'ence
of any Delegate, it is recommended that another be cho
sen in his place.
Person Randolph, Ro. C. Nicholas, Richard Bland, Rich
ard Henry Lee, George Wafkington, Benjamin Harrison, Ed
mund Pendleton, Patrick Henry, Junior, South, Simpson,
Isaac Smith, J. Walker, Thomas Jesse fan, John Tabb, John
Winn, Wiliam Cabell, Joseph Cabell, Frederick Macklin,
Henry Tazewell, Henry Be l, R. Rutherford, Willaim dcrill,
P. Carrington, James Speed, Archibald Cary, B. Watkins,
Henry Pendleton, Henry Field, Junior. William Fleming,
John Mayo, Robert Bolling, John Banifler, Francis Slaugh
ter, Henry King, IVorUch Weft-wood, James Edmenfon, IF.
Roane, Meriwether Smith, Charles Broadwater, Thomas
MarJhall, James Scoff, junior. Jjaac Zane, George Rootes,
Thomas Whiting, Lewis Burwell, 'Thomas M. Randolph,
John Woodfin, Nathaniel Terry, Micajah Watkins, J. Syme,
Richard Adams, Shmuel Du Val, William Norwell, John S.
Wids, John Day, Richard Hardy, Joseph Jones, William
Fitzhugh, George Brooke, George Lyne, Carter Braxton, Wil
liam Aylett, James Selden, Charles Carter, Francis Peyton.
Thomas Walker, Thomas Pettus, Edmund Berkeley, James
Montague, Robert Burton, Bennet Coode, Lemuel Riddick,
Benjamin Baker, Burwell Basset, B. Dandridge, Thomas
Newton, Jun. James Holt, Adiel Milby, John Bowdoin, Pe
ter Presley Thornton, Rodham Kenner, Thomas Barbour, Wil
liam Bibb, John Morton, Peter Poythrefs, William Rokinfon,
Chriflopker Wright, Henry Lee, T. Blackburn,Robert IVorme
ley Carter, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Edwin Gray, Henry Taylor,
George Stubblefe d, Mann Page, jun. John Alexander, C.
Carter, Allen Cocke, Nicholas Faulcon, jun. David Majon,
Michael Blow, William Harwood, William Langhorne, Rich
ard Lee, Dudley Digges, Thomas Nelfonpn. Champion Tra
vie, Joseph Hutchings, J. Mercer.
Infractions for the Deputies appointelto meet in Gene
ral Congress on the part ofthe Colony of Virginia.
THE unhappy disputes between Great-Britain and her
American colonies, which began about the third
year ofthe reign of his present Majesty, and since, conti
nually increasing, have proceeded to lengths so dangerous
and alarming as to excite just appreheufions in the minds
of his Majesty's faithful fubjeds of this colony that they
are in danger of being deprived of their natural, ancient,
constitutional, and chartered rights, have compelled them
to take the fame into their most serious considerations and
being deprived of their usual and accustomed mode of
making known their grievances, have oppointed us their
representatives to confider what is proper to be done in
this dangerous crisis of American affairs. It being our
opinion that the united wisdom of North-America should
be colleded in a general congress of all the colonies, we
have appointed the Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esquire,
Richard Henry Lee, George' Washington, Patrick Henry,
Richard Bland, Benjamin Harrison, and Edmund Pendle
ton, Esquires, Deputies to represent this colony in the
said congress, to be held at Philadelphia on the firft Mon
day in September next.
And that they may be the better informed of our sen
timents, touching the condu& we wish them to observe
on this important accafion, we desire they will express, in
the firft place, our faith and true allegiance to his Majes
ty King George the Third, our lawful and rightful So
vereign ; and that we are determined, with our lives and
fortunes, to support him in the legal exercise of all his
just rights and prerogatives ; And however misrepresent
ed, we sincerely approve of a constitutional connexion with
Great-Britain, and wish moll ardently a return of that
intercourse of affection and commercial connexion that
formerly united both countries, which can only be af
fe&ed by a removal of those causes of difeontent which
have of late unhappily divided us.
It cannot admit of a doubt but that Brtifh fubje&s in
America are entitled to the fame rights and privileges as
their fellow lubjeds possess in Britain ; and therefore, that
the power assumed by the British Parliament to bind Ame
rica by their statutes, in all cases whatsoever, is unconsti
tutional, and the source of these unhappy differences.
The end of government would be defeated by the Bri
tifli Parliament exercising a power over the lives, the pro
perty, and the liberty of the American fubjed ; who are
not, and from their local circumstances, cannot, be there
represented. Of this nature we confider the several acts
of Parliament for railing a revenue in Americ, for extend
ing the jurifdidion of the courts of Admiralty, for seizing
American fubjeds and transporting them to Britain to be
tried for crimes committed in America, and the several
late oppressive a&s refpediog the town of Boston, and pro
vince of the Massachusetts-Bay.
The original constitution of the American colonies pos
sessing their aflemblies with the sole right of directing their
internal polity, it is absolutely deftrudive of the end of
their institution that their legislatures should be suspended,
or prevented, by hasty dissolutions, from exercising their
legislative powers.
Wanting the prote&ion of Britain, we have long acqui
efeed in their ads of navigation reftri&ive of our commerce,
which we confider as an ample recompence for such pro
tedion; but as those a&s derive their efficacy from that
foundation alone, we have reason to exped lthey will be
teftrained so as to produce the reasonable purposes of Bri
tain, without being injurious to us.
To obtain a redress of those grievances, without which
the people of America can neither be fafe, free, nor hap
py, they are willing to undergo the great inconvenience
that will be derived to them from flopping all imports
whatsoever from Great Britain after the firft day of No
vember next, and also to cease exporting any commodity
whatsoever to the fame place after the 10th day of Au
gust 1775. The earned desire we have to make as quick
and full payment as possible of our debts to Great-Britain,
and to avoid the heavy injury that would arise to this
country from an earlier adoption of the non-exportatiore
plan, after the people have already applied so much of
their labour to the perfecting of the present crop, by which
means they have been prevented from pursuing other me
thods of clothing and supporting their families, have ren
dered it necessary to retrain you in this article of non-ex
portation ; but it is our desire that you cordially co-ope
rate with our filler colonies in general congress in such
other ju.fl and proper methods as they, or the majority,
shall deem necessary for the accomplilhment of these valu
able ends.
The proclamation issued by General Gage, in the go
vernment of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, de
claring it treason for the inhabitants of that province to
assemble themselves to confider of their grievances and
form associations for their common condud on the occa
sion, and requiring the civil Majiftrates and officers to ap
prehend all such persons to be tried for their supposed of
fences, is the most alarming process that ever appeared in
a British government; that the said General Gage hath
thereby afTumed and taken upon himfelf powers denied by
the constitution to our legal Sovereign; that he, not hav
ing condefeended to disclose by what authority he exerci
ses such extensive and unheard of powers, we are at a loss
to determine whether he intends to juftify himfelf as the
representative of the King, or as the commander in chief
of his Majesty's forces in North America. If he confi
ders himfelf as anting in the character of his Majesty's re
presentative, we would remind him that the statute
25th Edward 111. has expressed and defined all treasona
ble offences, and that the legislature of Great-Britain hath
declared that no offence shall be construed to be treason
but such as is pointed out by that statute, and that this
was done to take out of the hands of tyrannical Kings, and
of weak and wicked minifers, that deadly weapon which
conftruftive treason had furnifhed them with, and which
had drawn the blood of the best and honestest men in the
kingdom and that the King of Great-Britain hath no rift
by his proclamation to fubjed his people to imprifonwent,
pains, and penalties.
That if the said General Gage conceives he is empow
ered to ad in this manner, as the commader in chief of his
Majesty's forces in America, this odious and illegal procla
mation must be considered as a plain and full declaration
that this despotic Viceroy will be bound by no Law, nor re
gard the constitutional rights of his Majesty's fubjeds,
whenever they interfere with the plan he has formed for op
pressing the good people of the Massachusetts-Bay, and
therefore, that the executing, or attempting to execute, such
Proclamation, will justify Resistance and Reprisal.