The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-18


declared that any one using or causing to
bo used these "detestable stamps"
should be deemed IAN enemy to his coun,
Try and by the Sons Of Liberty treated
accordingly" -, !,
The original resolves appeared IN the
Newport Mercury Of June 24th, and were
copied into the Boston papers OF July ISL
They are as follows:
Whereas, Hle Honorable House of
Commons in England have OF late Drawn
into question how far the General Assem-
bly, Of this colony hath power to enact
laws for laying Of taxes and imposing
duties payable by the people Of TINS, ms
Majesty's most ancient colohy, LOT seI,
future times, the House of BurBesSes OF
this present General Assembly have come
TO the Following resolves:
Resolved, That the first adventurers.
settlers OF this. his Ma5estys coiohy , ann
common OF Virginia. brought with them
and transmitted to their posterity, ana
All other MS Majestys subjects, since m n,
habiting in this, his Mnjesty's colony, al
the privileges and lmmunltlcs that nave
at any time been held. enjoyed and pos
scssed by the people of Great Britain
"Resolved, That by two royal charters.
granted by King James the FIRST inc
colony aforesaid are declared ana a. en- u,
natural-born subjects. to all intents ana
purposes as If they had been abiding and
born within the realm of England.
iReSOlSeQ, Inat MS .dJeStS > llSSc peo-
pie OF. this, his ancient colony, have en-
ioyed the right of being thus governed by
their own Assembly IN the article OF taxes axes
and Internal police, and that the salhe
way yielded up, but have been constantly
recognized by the king and people Oh
Great Britain.
Resolved. therefore That the General
Majesty or his substitutes, nave in their
representative capacity. the only exclusive
right and power to lay taxes and I'M
posts upon the Inhabitants Of this colony;
and that every attempt to vest sucn power
In any otherg person or persons whatever
than the General Assembly aforesaid. Is
Illegal. unconstitutional and unjust, and
has a manifest tendency to destroy British
as we'll as american linerty.
"Resolved, That His Majesty's liege
people, the inhabitants Of this colony,
are not bound to yield obedience to any
law or ordinance whatever designed 70
Them other than the laws or ordinances
of the General Assembly aforesaid.
Resolved. That any person who shall,
by speaking or writing, assert or main
than the General Assembly of this col
ony. have any right or power to Impose
or lay any taxation on the people here.
shall be deemed an enemy to HIS Majes-
TVS colony"
Intense Excitement.
The publication Of these resolutions Gre
atcd widespread and Intense excite
ment. The first public disturbances oc-
Cured in Massachusetts. They began in
the city OF Boston, August H. 1765. On the
morning of the 14th an efiigy Of Oliver,
stamp distributor for the colony. was
found hanging on the limb OF an old elm
near the entrance to- the city, ever after
known as Liberty Tree" A crowd col
lected n riot began, with cries Of LIB
erty property and no stamps!' which
was not Quoted until Oliver had resigned
his office. These uprlsings continued. and
took place in the other colonies as well.
And before November every stamp d!strib-
utor had been forced to resign md all
the stamps landed had been destroyed.
The assemblies that met in the fall fol-
lowed Virginia's lead and adopted prac-
| tically her resolutions. The Congress pro-
| posed by Massa chusetts, and scarcely no.
| liced by her sister colonies. was now at
| tended by delegates, who took the bold
ground Of the Virginia resolutions. and
| the same high ground was taken In the
addresses they sent to King and Parlia-
| ment.
In England the merchants Of London
were violently opposed to the stamp act,
as IT was inJuring their trade with Amer
| lea. whilst Pitt. In the House of Com
mons. most powerfully urged its repeal.
and Lord Camden did the same In the
| House of Lords.
The repeal was finally passed and was
signed by the King March IS, 176s. 1t