Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-09


at any n;er period Tie history Of The Colonies, ai this
fact taken in connection with the extraordinary claim
rir IN tie Memorable Preamble 10 the act repeating the
stamp duties, that "rarlamen possessed he right t" bind
the Colonies in all whatsoever not only IN rcscc,
all affecting The general welfare cf the empire hut
also IN regard 10 the domestic relations and Internal poly
the Colntr-rruiucrh powerful impression upon the
minds ofrc color IL. AMI impaired peculiar prominence TO
| the princirl. involved IN the controversy
Hence the cuac'cn's ~ The several colonial Legislatures
calculated aud designed 10 restrain aud rcvcn the in
crease Of slaves and the other hand the orders s-rcd
Ivy Ike Crown inslricne the Colonial tovernors not TO
sim perni any legislative enactment rreiudical or III;
rion 10 the African s!aveTrade. unless such enactment
should contain claus: .uspending IL operation until the
royal pleasure should br made known in the premises; or
in other words, until the King should have m opportunity
OF annulins the acts of The colonial Legislatures by he
"inluman Of the Royal negative
Thus the policy of the colonies On The slavery question
had assumed direct ah"soni>in 10 that oi me Bi,h no
vcrnmcn,: aud this ana.1t.>n not only added I" the i'm
portance Of the princiPe Of local seroyernm"ni IN the
Colonies Int produced general concurrence Of opinion
aui action in Respect to the question Of slavery In The pro
cccdn-s Of the Continental Congress- which assembled at
Philadelphia, for The rs: 'imr on tie q! Of September
! l,,+.
On the nth Of October the Congress adopted Ell OF
Rights FOR The Colonies, In hy form Of series Of resolutions
in which, after conce:inS 10 The British Government the
power rc.ula;. commerce. and do such other things
affected the general welfare "f the empire without inter
fernr with the internal ro,y Of the Colonies they declared
THAT they eu:rd free and exclusive power In
their several provincial Legislatures, where their night 81
representation alone he preserved in all cases OF taxa
ton and internal poly Having thus defined tie princ
pie for which they concndng, the Congress proceeded
to adopt the following Peaceful Measures, which they
It'll hoped would b" sufficient 10 Induce compliance with
their i; and reasonable demands These Peaceful Mra
surc' consisted % addresses t" ic King. Ia the Parliament
people Great Britain, together with Assoc
citation of Non Intercourse To he observed and maintained
long their grievances should remain unrcdressed
The second article Of ,h- Association, which adopted
without opposition and signed y" the Delegates from all
! the Colonies, IN these words:
Tha; We will neither import purchase any slave I'm
pored after The nrs day Of December next; after which
| time will wholly discontinue the Savc-rrade and will
neither he concerned in ourselves nor will We hire "r
vessels -e!l commodities manufactures 10 those
VIII, are engaged in it,
mi, l Of Rights together wish these articles o.
ciaon subsequently submitted to and adopted 10y
each OF the thirteen Colonies in their respective Provincial
thus WAS distinctly formed between The coce, and the
nsrpn, country that issue upon which the Declaration oil
Independence was founded and he battles OF he Ee'","-
lion were fought. !, Involved the specific claim on the
par, Of the Counies-dcnir hy ;hc King and PARLIAMENT
To- the exclusive right OF legislation touching all local and
Internal concerns Air.ry iHcHlsi. This being the pria
cir, involved in the contest majority Of The Colon
fused permit their Delegates 10 sign the Declaration Q"
In-pendenc. exccp; upon the distinct condition and c\
press reservation TO each Colony OF TIE exclusive right 10
manage and control it, local concerns and police rrrla
tons without the Intervention OF auy general Congress
( whic, might be established for Tie United Colonies.
Let cite Of these reservations specimen Of all
showing conclsivcly tina, they lighting for the in
alienaic right OF local sefeo' crnEe with The clear ni
dets;andirs that when they a succeeded In throwing OF
the e,po,ism Of IN. ri,ih Parliament, Congressional
despotism tn he substituted for Il
I've, the Delegates OF Maryland, in Convention assem-
hed do declare that the King Of Great Britain has violated
his compact with this people and that they owe no allie
glance him. We have therefore, thought just and
empower Deputies In Congress 10 join with
majority the United Colonies in declaring them free and
independent States In framing such further confederation
such other shall be judged for the
preservation Of their liberties:
"pRovpxn the sole exclusive right Of regulating the
internal poy and government Of this Colony be reserved
; 10 the people thereof
ave have also thought proper to call convention
for the purpose OF establishing government This Colony
mo ambition. .ie.s no desire OF ndspendsnee Induced
Colonies To procure exemption from Parliamentary