Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1906-09-21
OPPOSED THE STAMP ACT.
Norfolk Patriots Made First Declaration
OF Rights Against Great Britain

Norfolk Patriots Made First Declaration
OF Rights Against Great Britain
Few, but the most intelligent stu
dents of American history know the
fact, yet it is true, that the citizens OF
Norfolk denied the right of Great Brit
ain to tax the colonies without repre-
sentation more than two months be-
sore the promulgation of the celebrated
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independ-
ence and nearly five months before
representa- YES of the thirteen colonies
met in Philadelphia and formally err
nounced the authority of Great Brit
ain.
As far back as March -, l776, num-
Der of Norfolk patriots assembled I'M
der the name of "Sons of Liberty
and announced in resolutions of bold
and certain terms their dete rmined cp-
position to any encroachment of Brit
ish authority on their right to govern
themselves uader the British Crown.
Thus the city that is today attract
ing the attention of the world through
its connection with the jamestown
Exposition, to be held on the shores of
Hampton Roads, a few miles away,
was the first locality in this hemis-
phere to assert the right Of self-govern-
ment.
The resolutions drawn up by this as
sembly declared that there should be
no taxation without representation,
but expressly affirmed their wish to be
subjects to the English rule. The docu-
ment read as follows:
Having taken into ons'deration
the evident tendency of that oppressive
and unconstitutiona a ct of Parlia-
ment commonly called the stamp act,
and being DESTROYS that orr sentiments
should be known to posterity and re-
collecting that we aare part Of the
colony who first in general assembly
openly expressed their detestatien ito
the said act (which is PREGNANT with
ruin, and productive of the most per-
nicious copsequences) and unwilling
to rivet the shackles of slavery and OPP
preston on ourselves and millions yet
unborn, have unanimously come to
the following resolutions:
l. Resolved, That we acknowledge
our lord and sovereign, King George
III. to be our rightful and lawful king
and that we will at all times to the ut
most of our power and ability support
and defend his most sacred person,
crown and dignity; and will always
be ready when constitutlonally called
upon to assist his Majesty with our
lives and fortunes; and to defend his
Just rights and prerogatlves.
80. Resolved, That we will by all
lawful wayf and means which divine
providence has put into our hands, de
feud ourselve, in the full enjoyment
of and preserve inViolate to posterity
these inestimable privileges of our own
choosing and of being tried by none
but Jury of our peers. AND that if we
quietly submit to the execution of the
said stamp act all onr claims to civil
liberty will be lost and we and our
subjects in America, are deprived of
the invaluable privileges afore men
toned.
IS. Resolved, That committee be
appointed who Saall i'll such manner
as they think proper, go npon neces-
sary business and make public the
above resolutions, and that they CORE
spond as they shall see occasion with
the associated Sons of, and friends to
Liberty in the otner British colonies
of America"
AS a result of the adoption of these
resolutions, Lard Duumore, who COM
manded the British fleet Off Norfolk,
made demonstration before the city,
by firing several shots from his frigate,
the "Liverpool, and two sloops-of-war
which accompanied her.