Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-07-18
Tn 1774

fused his commission, yet there arose
great Gissati;sfacticn with the home
government. Washington and Mason
were ire delegates to the House of
Burgesses from Fairfax County,
When Governor DunGncra arrived in
1770 ard the Ra,eigh Tavern at W%l-
,;a,nsburg became the rendezvous fer
the d.saffected. 4 committee of as
sociates was formed and adopted re-
solutions drawn up by George Mason
against the importation of British
goods. In his Diary Washington writes
Frequently CT these meetings and the
discussions held with his friends at
Alexandria. The little town was now
becoming a center of business and
trade, and needed more expansion
which had to be authorized by the
Virginia Assembly. But the governor
crragei by the trend Of affairs dis,
solved the Assembly which was de-:
sI.ined never to meet again. The in
Euence Of Patrick Henry was fe,:
everywhere and Washington, Mason.
and Br2aiEwater were his able sup
porters at Alexandria where great ey-
citcment was brought each day to the
people. a day of prayer was observed
early in Jure 1774, for it became evil
derlt that the British Government was
resolved en- co-erticn and united ac-
ten upon the part cf the colorG*s
seemed The only path to safety. A
meeting cf all free holders was called
fcr the 18Th, July and George Maso.:
YVES asked TO formulate the necessary
At this time there were
but few tclges here, but Fairfax the
devoted friend cf Wa:h..ntgton was ons
If t,llese, amd on le2nnirg of the pro
je.gtcd meeting he wrote Washington
ertrcatirg that no decided step be
taken and council!ed abandonment Of
ali IDEAS cf forcib.e resistance. Wash
inoton I'D not read this letter uni.il
after the meeting and then wrote
Fai,fax mo person present would
have been IN The least disposed tt
aAcpt y,ur sentiments"
On Monday, July 18Th, 1774, that
most memorable day in Alexandria
history. the freeholGers and inhabi
tants Of :he town and the county Of
Fairfax gathered al the ltt.e ccur;
house en- Fairfax street on the mark
Ell square 10 protest aga:ns. the cen
tinuancc CT British tyranny.
George Washington cf Mount Yer.
n'2n, presided, Robert Harrison, a:
secretary, read the resolves prepare,
by George Mason of Gunston, III WHICH
was made to the as
yenrbled muEtitude Of their soiem,
to resist to the utter
lrca. the tyranny of the British gov
ernment. This followed twenty-five
resolutions which were subscribed by
I'll rgeser,: and which are tco lengthy
to be gwen here Yet a few will b
rrc.ad s.s seeming cf peculiar imter.
es. to the present generation, which
nav Learn what rEe&r ancestors 0ls
on tha. July Cay when the war cloud
was hovtr.ng 50 Ggrkly over A!exan
d1-:a.
Resolve No. That the most essen
.:al part cf tine British constitution
is the fundamen entail principle Of tbs
people being go"ened by no laws &c
which they have not given their con-
:,ent by representatives freely choser
Resolve No. That saxation anC
are in their nature in
;eparable.
Resolve. No. That the powers
claimed by the House of Commons ire
mcvcl from impression Of tender
ness arising frCm personal inter-
cou-Se) must if continued establish
The mc.st :ntclerable tyranny ever in
f.!.."ts% en- mankind.
Resolve No Is. That the Eon-!m-
por;aticn agreement be enforced a'nc
that nc advance in prices should be
tolerated. That no one should dea
with any factor who disregards these
reeGleticns.
Resolve No. %. That even if Boston
is forced to submit, we viii net.
These famous Fairfax County Re
solves" with which every schoio! boy
ard girl cf Alexandria should be fam
rl'ar were written by George Mason
cf Gurstcn in Fairfax County, citi-
zen ard voter q. Alexandria where
fer many years he was one Of the
wis trustees. They enbcdy mucA
-Lo- -,.o. -r.o~a fulfv eyp-essed in The