The Massachusetts Spy

TUES.
CHARLESTOWN, October 2.

The common cause of America last August 23.
basely and traitorously deserted has been most
merchants, traders, and others, of the city of New-York of
at a time when the eyes of all the colonies were fixed.
particularly upon them; when their virtue, to resist
every temptation; and to defeat every attempt of a
prevailing faction, was relied on; and when our affairs
began to wear a more pleasing aspect, and promise suc-
cess, from an inflexible perseverance in the measures of
Non-Importation; it has had no other effect upon this
province than to excite astonishment and indignation,
and to attach us (if possible) more firmly to the cause
than ever. In consequence whereof, there was yester-
day, at Liberty Tree, the most respectable general meet-
ing of the inhabitants we ever had, when John Huger,
Esq; was unanimously chosen chairman: And the meet-
ing being continued, by adjournment to this day, the
following RESOLUTIONS
were entered into,
unanimously, except the IVth, to which there was only a single
negative.
I. That the Resolutions entered into by the inhabitants
of the colonies, against the importation of goods from
Great-Britain, are safe, peaceable, and constitutional;
and if persisted in, we have the strongest reason to believe
that
would be productive of every salutary purpose,
designed
by them; and therefore ought to be considered, as an
irresistible barrier against every assault upon our Liberties.
II. That the breach of the agreement for Non-Im-
portation of goods from Great-Britain, by the merchants
and traders of New-York, is a scandalous revolt from
the common cause of freedom.---By which proceeding,
they have attempted to weaken our union, and sully the
character of America; vilified their own reputations,
and given the strongest temptations in their power, to our
unfeeling enemies, to prosecute their malicious design of
enslaving our country.
III. That should the present ministerial plot, against
our common Liberty, be accomplished, or should this
bait, thrown out by New-York, give encouragement for
a more extensive plan, to destroy every constitutional
right; whatever fatality may happen, in consequence
thereof, ought to be chargeable (principally) to this de-
fection of a prevailing party in that city.
IV. That, in order to declare to the world our dete-
V.
station of the late abominable measure, entered into by
that prevailing party, we will break off all commercial
intercourse and dealing with New-York, until they pro-
perly atone for their treacherous separation from their
countrymen, by returning to their former agreement,
and re-shipping the goods imported contrary thereto, to
the places from whence they came.
Provided that, ex-
cept in cases where goods have been ordered, which can-
not be countermanded, every inhabitant of this province
who has effects at New-York, may have liberty to re-
move them from thence, in specie, or bills of exchange
only.
That the resolutions entered into by this province,
against the colonies of Rhode-Island and Georgia, on
the 27th of June last, shall not extend to vessels which
were at least one half owned in this province at that time,
so far as to prevent their entering our ports in ballast, to
load with the commodities of this country, for any other
V.
ports not excepted to by our resolutions.
VI. That all European and East-India goods, here-
but imported
from any place whatever, shall not be used,
---tely re-shipped to the places from whence
they were imported.
The most material business
being over,
the warmest
thanks, with repeated claps
of
applause,
were return-
ed to the general committee,
for their
indefatigable
zeal and attention, in the discharge of their important
trust, and also to the Chairman of the present General
Meeting.
After which the Meeting was dissolved.
No
business was ever transacted by any numerous body, with
greater regularity and solemnity.