The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-04

sovereign. but, on the contrary. shall
ever glory in being the loyal subjects of
a Protestant prince. descended from such
illstrious progenitors, SO long as we
can enjoy the free exercise OF our reli-
gion as Protestants and our liberties and
properties as British subjects.
But If no pacifick measures shall be
proposed or adopted by Great Britain,
and our enemies will attempt to dragon
us out of these inestimable privileges,
which we are entitled to as subjects.
snd to reduce us to a state OF slavery,
we declare that we are deliberately and
resolutely determined never TO surren-
der them to any power upon eartn, pue
at the expense Of our lives.
These are our real. though unpollshed
sentiments, of liberty and loyalty, and In
them we are resolved to live and die.
We are. gentlemen, with the most per-
feet esteem and regard, your most ope'
dent servants.
1T should be added here that the resi-
dences of these fifteen distinguished gem
tlemen were not given in connection with
their signatures, but have been procured
by The Times Dispatch, as representing
the modern names of the localities Of
their homes)
BoTEToURT RESOLUTIONS.
The response OF the "Freeholders anu
Inhabitants OF the county of Botetourt
appears to have followed the action OF
the county of Fincastle q few weeks
later but 1t not only fails to name the
locality Of the Courthouse at winch
the meeting was held but names no date
of the action so taken, and no names OF
those participating in the meeting. IL
is, therefore, far less interesting thah
the action Of the county OF FL cas We.
which really blazed the way 1or the
colonial "Declaration Of Independence
~ PHILADELPHIA, less than six months
later, by boldly attaching the sigma
lures of the brave and able men VINO tnen
and there fearlessly proclaimed 10 Inc
British crown the ultimatum OF virginia
The Botetourt resolutions are as lol-
lows: so,,,
Richard Bland, Edmund Pendleton.
Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry,
George Washington and BENJAMIN
Harrison, delegates from Virginia to
| the late General Congress-:
BoTEToURT ADDRESS.
The address Of the freeholders ana IN
habitant Of the county Of Botetourt:
we. the freeholders and inhabitant OF
the county OF Botetourt; assembled at
| the courthouse, taking into our consid-
Grafton the unhappy disputes which at
present subsist between Great Britain
and American, and being greatly alarmed
at the dangerous and unconstitutional
measures adopted by administration. with
respect to tho colonies, beg leave now to
address you as the guardians OF our
rights and privileges.
Please, therefore. to accept our most
sincere and grateful acknowledgements
for your steady and patriotic conduct In
the support Of American liberty. at the
late General Congress.
And we assure you that, although tne
alarming situation of our frontiers, Tor
sometime past. hath prevented our Co
operating with our fellow-subtects IN
their laudable efforts to obtain redress OF
our common grievances, we have adopted
for that purpose. and shall most cneef-
fully abide by your resolutions,
As YOU have so fully and clearly ascer-
tnined the rights and liberties OF Amer
lean subjects, we have nothing to add
on that head We are happy to find our
sentiments entirely correspond with
yours because in these sentiments we are
determined to live and die. We are too
sensible Of the inestimable privileges en-
joyed By the subjects under the British
Constitution even to wish for change
while the free enjoyments nf those bless
ings can be secured to us; but on the con-
trary, can Justly boast OF our loyalty and
affection to our most gracious sovereign,
and OF our readiness in rlsking our lives,
whenever 1t has been found necessary,
for the defense OF MS person Y tlo sov-
eminent.
But should wicked and tyrannical
ministry, under the sanction of a. venal
and corrupt Parliament persist In acts
Of injustice and violence towards u.s. they
only must be answerable for the conse-
quences. Liberty is so strongly impressed
on our hearts that we cannot think OF
parting with It but with our lives.
Our duty to God. our country, our
selves and our posterity all forbid it.
We, therefore. stand prepared Tor every
contingency.