Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-11-10
THE YANKEE BOYS OFI774.
Protest against Acts of Parli-
ameut.

a IL L. ktlt N Is Ia - ~ y vi i . Hs
Protest against Acts of Parli-
ament.
AT meeting of the Committees
from "a number OF Towns in the
County of Cumberland and Province
of N. Y. [Vt.] held at the County Hall
in Westminster VI. on the 10Th ard
2Olh Days Of October, l774, TO con-
slider a Letter very lately received
from Mr.. Isaac Low, Chairman Of
the Committee of Correspondence
at New York, dated 3lst May, 1774,
and to consult Oh measures proper 10
be taken at this important Day
Present 8 delegates from 2 Towns,
Col. John Hasseltine chosen Chair
man.
After having read Mr.. Chairman
Lows Letter, and the act Of the
British Parliament in levying Duty
or Tax on Tea for the Purpose of
raising Revenue in America,-the
Boston Port Bill, so called, and .di-
vers other late Acts of the British
Parliament, -sundry debates being
had thereon, Voted, That John Grout,l
ESQ.,, Mr.. Joshua Webb, Doct. Paul
Spooner, Edward Harris, and MAJOR
William Williams, be a Committee
10 take into consideration the afore-
said Letter and divers aforesaid Acts,
and report to this MeeiIng,-who re-
ported as follows -
This County being in its infant
State, contending with the hardships
of subduing Wilderness, converting
il into fruitful fields, being situated
here in corner, at a considerable
remove from the Populous civilized
parts of the Countries, conceive they
by their own experience in small
degree feel the sufierings of their An
cestors, the first Planters in America,
who endured hunger, cold, and other
disiresses, until they by their arduous
industry found suitable relief from
their bountiful Fields and at their
own Expenses and as the People of
this County were chiefly born in some
one or the other OF the New England
Provinces, and conceive them to be
at least as loyal TO the King as any
subject he can boast of, Itheyl are
surprised 10 find by the late Acts of
Parliament that all America are de-
prived of that great Right Of calling
that their own which they 10y their In
dustry have honestly acquired; are
surprised to find a Power arise in
Britain which with IMMUNITY say they
have a Right to bind the Colonies in
all cases whatsoever, and Attempt 10
Exercise that Authority by taking at
their pleasure the property of the
Kings American Subjects without
their consent. Especially since some
OF the former Kings OF Great Britain
by their Charters granted to their
Subjects in New England, their Heirs
and Assigns, and all Others which
should settle within certain boundaries
divided into Colonies, all the Liberties
and Privileges of Natural iree-born
subjects of EDgl Yet notwith-
standing this, that such Power should
arise under the mere inspection OF
the King, unrebuked, to claim all
American Property, and actually to
take as much as they please, in d.
rect breach OF the solemn Compact
between former King, which on his
part aud his successors, he made with
the first Planters Of these Colonies
and others that after should be born
among them, or Join them, or on the
sea when going ihilher; and we
don't conceive those whose rights are
as aforesaid solemnly declared, are
more sacred In respect OF the securl-
ty Of their Property then the Rights
of this and other Colonies, whose
Rights are only Natural as british
Subjects for he that has nothing
lha, he can call his own but what
another has power at pleasure law
fully to take away from bun, is, IN
the fuIles, sense Of the word, slave,
Slave TO him who has such Power;
and as no part o. British America
stipulated 10 settle as slaues,1 the
Privileges of British Subjects
is their Privilege; and ioAoerer en-
deapors to deprive them Of these
Privileges is gully Of 1Feaso" a.
gainst the american as ioeH as the
British Constitution therefore Re-
solved
LIST. That as true and loyal Sub
Iecis of our gracious Sovereign, king
George the Third OF Great Britain.
&c, we will spend our lives aud
Treasure in his service.
I'd. That, as we will defend our
King while he reisns over US his
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