Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-07-10
STAMP ACT RESOLUTIONS.

Burgesses in 1865, and which almos
may be said to have initiated the reyolu
tionary struggle.
Within the last few weeks copy o
these resolutions, with memorandum
on the back, III the hand writing o
Patrick Henry, WIS deposited i'll th'
State Library. An exact reproduc
ton of the copy and of the memoran
dunn, which is fast becoming illegible
is now given
Resolved, That the first adventures
and settlers of this, His Majesties, colony
and dominion, brought with them anC
transmitted to their posterity and al
other His Majesties subjects since in
habitating in this, His Majcsties sale
colony, all the privileges, franchises, ans
immunites that have at any time beei
held, enjoyed and possessed by the
people of Great Britain.
Resolved, That by two royal charter:
granted by King James l., the colonist'
aforesaid are declared entitled to all
tine privileges, liberties, and immunities
of denizens and natural born subjects tC
all intents and purposes, as if they had
been abiding and born within the realm
Of England:
Resolved, That His Majes ties Ee5C
people OF this most ancient co lOny have
unintcrrup;ediy enjoyed the right Of
being thus governed by their own as
sembly in the article Of their taxes and
internal police and that The same hath
never been forfeited or any other way
given up. but hath been constantly re-
cogn.zcd by the Kings and people of
Great Britain,
Resolved, Therefore, that the General
Assembly Of this colony have the only
and sole exclusive right and power to
lay taxes and impositions upon the in
habitanIS Of this colony, and that every
attempt 10 vest such power in any per-
son or persons whatsoever, other than
the General Assembly aforesaid, has a
manilest tendency TO destroy British as
well as American freedom.
The memorandum on the back of the
resolutions read as follows:
'rThe within resolutions passed the
House of Burgesses in May, 1865. They
formed the first opposition to the stamp
act of the scheme of taxing America by
the British Parliament. All the colonies,
either through fear or want of opportu-
nifty to form an opposition, or from iniiu-
ence of some kind or other, had remained
silent. had been for the first time elect
ed a Burgess a few days before, was
young, inexperienced, unacquainted
with the forms of the House and the
members that composedit. Finding the
men of weight averse to opposition and
the commencement of the tax at hand,
and that no person WAS likely to step
forth, | determined to venture, and
alone. unadyised and unassisted on a
blank leaf of an old law book wrote the
within. Upon offering them in the
House violent debate ensued. Many
threats were uttered and mnch abuse
cast on me by the party for submission.
After a long and warm contest the reso-
lutions passed by very small majority,
perhaps Of one or two only. The alarm
spread throughout America with aston
ishing ouickness, and tie m nisterial party
were overwhelmed. The great point oi
resistance 20 British taxation was uni
versally established in the colonies.
This brought on the war, which finally
separated the two countries and gave In
dependence to ours. Whether this will
prove blessing or a curse will depend
upon the use our people make OF the
blessings which gracious God hath be
slowed on rs. If they are wise they
will be great and happy. If they art
of contrary character, they will b'
miserable. Righteousness alone can ex
alt them as a nation.
"Reader, whoever thou art, remembe
this; and in thy sphere practice yirtu
tbvself and encourage it in Others.
"P. Henry"
II was once claimed that John Elem
ING of 'cMaiden's Adventure, " Cumber
land county, was the author of the reso
lutions. as appears from statemen
made by Edmund Randolph in his his
tory ofVirginia, which is to be printe'
for the first time in the July number o
the Virginia Magazine OF History ant
Biography. A note to that publication
tells what is known of Fleming.
It has also been claimed that the reso
lutions were prepared by George John
ston member Of the House OF Burgesse
for Fairfax county from 1853 to l76t
Mr. r. Walton Moore, of that county
furnishes such data as exists resPectln
Mr. Johnston's career and his con
nection with the resolutions. He wa
a native of Scotland, having bee
born in Hayden, but spent mos
of his life in Virginia, where h
died in December (not in the summer
has been asserted) of 1866. de 1--we
between Alexandria and Mt. Nerno
and married Sarah, the daughter OF Ma
lot Dennis Mccarthy, of WestmorelanC
He was very prominent lawyer an
had an extensive practice in the Norti
ern Neck and Piedmont sections. In tn
ancient minute books of the Count