The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

WILLIAMSBURG. MAY 11.

Resolves of the House of Burgesses, passed the 16th May, 1769: Resolved Nemine Contradicente,

THAT the sole Right of imposing Taxes on the Inhabitants of this his Majesty's Colony and Dominion of Virginia, is now, and ever hath been, legally and constitutionally vested in the House of Burgesses, lawfully convened according to the ancient and established Practice, with the Consent of the Council, and of his Majesty, the King of Great-Britain, or his Governor for the Time being.

Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, That it is the undoubted Privilege of the Inhabitants of this Colony, to petition their Sovereign for Redress of Grievances; and that it is lawful and expedient to procure the Concurrence of his Majesty's other Colonies, in dutiful Addresses praying the Royal Interposition in Favour of the violated Rights of America.

Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, That all Trials for Treason, Misprision of Treason, or for any Felony or Crime whatsoever, committed and done in this his Majesty's said Colony and Dominion, by any Person or Persons residing therein, ought of Right to be had, and conducted in and before his Majesty's Courts, held within his said Colony, according to the fixed and known Course of Proceeding; and that the seizing any Person or Persons residing in this Colony, suspected of any Crime whatsoever, committed therein, and sending such Person or Persons to Places beyond the Sea to be tried, is highly derogatory of the Rights of British Subjects, as thereby the inestimable Privilege of being tried by a Jury from the Vicinage, as well as the Liberty of summoning and producing Witnesses on such Trial, will be taken away from the Party accused.

Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, That an humble, dutiful, and loyal Address, be presented to his Majesty, to assure him of our inviolable Attachment to his sacred Person and Government; and to beseech his Royal Interposition, as the Father of all his People, however remote from the Seat of his Empire, to quiet the Minds of his loyal Subjects of this Colony, and to avert from them those Dangers and Miseries which will ensue, from the seizing and carrying beyond Sea any person residing in America, suspected of any Crime whatsoever, to be tried in any other Manner than by the ancient and long established Course of Proceeding.

The following Order is likewise in their Journal of that Date.

Ordered, That the Speaker of this House do transmit, without Delay, to the Speakers of the several Houses of Assembly on this Continent, a Copy of the Resolutions now agreed to by this House, requesting their Concurrence therein.

Wednesday, May 17. Yesterday at 12 o'Clock, his Excellency the Governor went to the Capitol, and having sent a Message by Mr. Walthoe to the Hon. the Speaker and House of Burgesses, commanding their immediate Attendance in the Council Chamber, which, they instantly obeyed, he spoke to them as follows:

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses,

I have heard of your Resolves, 'and augur ill of their Effects. You have made it my Duty to dissolve you, and you are dissolved accordingly.

Wednesday, May 17. The late Representatives of the People then judging it necessary that some Measures should be taken in their distressed Situation, for preserving the true and essential Interests of the Colony, resolved upon a Meeting for that very salutary Purpose, and therefore immediately, with the greatest Order and Decorum, repaired to the House of Mr. Anthony Hay in this City, where being assembled, it was first proposed, for the more decent and regular Discussion of such Matters as might be taken into Consideration, that a Moderator should be appointed, and on the Question being put, Peyton Randolph, Esq; late Speaker of the House of Burgesses, was unanimously elected.

The true State of the Colony being then opened and fully explained, and it being proposed that a regular Association should be formed, a Committee was appointed to prepare the necessary and most proper Regulations, for that Purpose, and they were ordered to make their Report, to the General Meeting the next Day at 10 o'Clock:

Report was accordingly made, and unanimously agreed to, that they will not on any Consideration import any more Goods from England, until the late oppressive Acts shall be repealed; some small Articles excepted.

Previous to these Resolves, there appeared to be the greatest Harmony between Lord Botetourt, their Governor, and the Assembly, and very polite Addresses passed between them; but on the aforesaid Resolves being agreed to, they were suddenly dissolved.