And therefore we declare and resolve: In the First place, we most expressly declare, recognize, and acknowledge His Majesty King George the Third, to be the lawful and rightful King of Great Britain, and all other of his dominions and countries; and that it is our indispensable duty, as being part of His Majesty's Dominions, always to bear faithful and true allegiance to His Majesty, and him to defend to the utmost of our power, against all attempts upon his person, crown, and dignity. NOTE FOR PRESERVATION.-Soon after the ratification of the treaty of Paris, by which Great Britain acquired Nova Scotia, Canada, the Isle of Cape Breton, and other islands in the gulf and river St. Lawrence, the ministry announced their intention of quartering troops in America, at the expense of the colonies. They also avowed their determination of raising the revenue, necessary for that purpose, by a duty on foreign sugar, molasses, and stamped paper. The act of Parliament, imposing the duty on the two first mentioned articles, was passed in 1764, and, though it caused general uneasiness and suspicion, yet the people peaceably submitted; but the act laying a duty on stamped paper, and making it essential to the validity of all legal and mercantile transactions, passed in the early part of the year 1765, was considered a violation of the British constitution, and an encroachment on British liberty. The right, claimed by Parliament, to tax the colonies without their consent, or even representation, more than the amount demanded, called forth a spontaneous burst of popular indignation. Several of the colonial legislatures animadverted with great severity upon the acts of Parliament, and passed spirited resolutions, asserting th rights of the colonies, and denying the constitutional power of Parliament to tax them without their consent. The legislature of Massachusetts proposed a Congress of deputies from each colony to deliberate upon the subject, and adopt the proper measures to procure the repeal of the act. On the first Tuesday in October, 1765, twenty-eight deputies from the colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the counties of Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina, met in the city of New York. The legislatures of Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia, were prevented from sending deputies by their governors. This Congress, after recapitulating the grievances complained of, resolved to petition the King and Parliament for their redress. They also recommended to the several colonies to appoint special agents for the same purpose. In the mean time combinations were formed in several of the colonies for resisting the execution of the law, by compelling the officers, appointed by the crown for the sale of stamped paper, to resign their offices. In the month of August, the effigy of Andrew Oliver, Esq., who had been appointed stampmaster for the colony of Massachusetts, was found hanging on a tree, ever since known by the name of "liberty tree," standing on one of the principal streets in Boston. The following night, a small building, which Mr. Oliver had erected for an office, was pulled down; the windows of his dwelling house 2d. That the cause of Boston is the common cause of all the North American colonies. 3d. That the preservation of the lives, liberties, and properties of the subjects in North America, depends (under God) on a strict union of all the colonies throughout the continent. 4th. That we earnestly wish for, and will promote all in our power, a General Congress of Commissioners from all the colonies on this continent, to be convened with all possible speed. broken in, and a part of his furniture destroyed. The next day, he announced his determination of having no agency in the execution of the stamp act. The same month, Jared Ingersoll, Esq., who had received the appointment of stamp-master in Connecticut, was burnt in effigy at New Haven; but notwithstanding this modest hint to resign his office, he signified his determination to discharge its duties. This annunciation, instead of allaying the indignation of the populace, aroused it to a still higher degree, and prompted them to secure person, and convey him to Hartford for farther proceedings. The following account of their proceedings is copied from the Connecticut Courant of Sept. 23d, 1765, and does not differ materially from the relation given by Mr. Ingersoll, and published in the Connecticut Gazette of the 27th of the same month, (viz.): his "Last Wednesday afternoon, a large company of able bodied men, came to town (Hartford) on horseback from the eastern part of this government, and informed those who were willing to join them, that they were on their way to New Haven, to demand the stamp-master of this colony to resign his office; that a number of their companions were gone on the lower roads, and that they had all agreed to rendezvous at Branford, the next day, (Thursday) and that they should tarry in town that night; they then dispersed to different parts of the town for lodging. In the evening advice was received, that Mr. Ingersoll was on the road to this place; that he would be in town the next day, and that he intended to apply to the Assembly for protection; and it being conjectured that he might come to town in the night to shun the mob, (who he had heard were on their way to pay him a visit) it was agreed that a watch should patrol the streets all night, to prevent his coming in unnoticed; but they made no discoveries. "On Thursday morning, the whole body, including a considerable number from this town, (Hartford) set off on their intended expedition, and in about an hour, met Mr. Ingersoll at the lower end of Wethersfield, and let him know their business. He at first refused to comply, but it was insisted upon, that he should resign his office of stamp-master, so disagreeable to his countrymen. After many proposals, he delivered the resignation, mentioned below, which he read himself in the hearing of the whole company; he was then desired to pronounce the words liberty and property, three times, which he having done, the whole body gave three huzzas. Mr. Ingersoll then went to a tavern and dined with several of the company; after dinner the company told Mr. Ingersoll, as he was bound to Hartford, they would escort him there; which they did, to the number of about five hundred persons on horseback. After they arrived in town, Mr. Ingersoll again read his resignation in public, when three huzzas more were 5th. That it is our hearty desire said General Congress should, among other of their determinations, resolve to stop all imports and exports to and from Great Britain, and otherwise discontinue trade as they shall see fit. That a General Congress should be annually held on this continent, and in that case point out the method for best effecting so noble a design on which the future happiness of the colonies greatly depends. 6th. That we will religiously abide by the resolves of the General Congress of the united North American colonies. 7th. That the resolves of the General Assembly of this colony, at their session in May last, be recorded at large in the Town Book. 8th. That Richard Law, Esq., Col. Gurdon Saltonstall, Mr. Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., Maj. Samuel Holden Parsons, and Capt. Guy Richards, be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to correspond with the committees of correspondence in this or any other colony in North America; and they are hereby directed to given; when the whole company immediately dispersed without making the least disturbance." The following is a copy of Mr. Ingersoll's resignation. "WETHERSFIELD, Sept. 19th, 1765. "I do hereby promise, that I will never receive any stampt papers, which may arrive from Europe, in consequence of any act lately passed in the Parliament of Great Britain, nor officiate in any manner as stamp-master, or distributor of stamps within the colony of Connecticut, either directly or indirectly; and I do hereby notify all the inhabitants of his majesty's colony of Connecticut (notwithstanding the said office, or trust has been committed to me) not to apply to me, ever hereafter, for any such stamped paper, hereby declaring that I do decline said office, and execute these presents of my own free will and accord, without any equivocation, or mental reservation. "In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand, "J. INGERSOLL." "An aged gentleman, of Wethersfield, who was an eye witness, and distinctly remembers the transaction, represents it as being peculiarly pompous and imposing. He says Mr. Ingersoll was a middle aged man, dressed in the full costume of the time-brown coat, buckskin breeches, long boots, bob-tailed wig, and three cornered hat; that he mounted a stage, which had been prepared for his accommodation, and addressed the multitude with great ease and fluency, and that when he gave up his commission, he threw up his hat and commission, both of which he held in his hand; they cheered him with great enthusiasm. There were several other out-breakings of indignant feeling in other parts of the colony, but none worthy of particular notice. transmit a copy of these resolves to the committee of correspondence in Boston; and that any three of the above said committee be a quorum. A true copy of record, examined by GURDON SALTONSTALL, Recorder. NOTE.-The following song shews the spirit of the Americans, previous to the war. COMPOSED BY A SON OF LIBERTY. [Written Feb. 13th, 1770.] That seat of science, Athens, and earth's great mistress, Rome— Proud Albion bow'd to Cæsar, and num'rous lords before- We led fair Freedom hither, and lo! the desert smil'd! A Paradise of pleasure was open in the wild : Your harvest, bold Americans-no power shall snatch away!— Torn from a world of tyrants, beneath this western sky We formed a new Dominion-a land of liberty: The world shall own their masters here-then hasten on the day- God bless this maiden climate! and through her vast domain, Lift up your heads my heroes! and swear with proud disdain, Some future day shall crown us the masters of the main, At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Windham, legally warned and held in Windham, June 23d, 1774. Nathaniel Wales, Jr., Esq., Moderator. This meeting being impressed with a deep sense of the present alarming aspects of Divine Providence over the British colonies in North America, arising from the present depressed situation and condition of the capital of a neighboring province, in having their harbor and port blocked up by ships-of-war, in hostile array, to the terror of the people, totally and actually obstructing all commerce by sea into or from said port, thereby forcibly preventing the due performance of all private maritime contracts, rendering useless their whole navigation, stores, and wharves, built and erected at a vast expense by the inhabitants; principle which threatens ruin and destruction both to the liberties and properties of every subject throughout the British empire. And being further alarmed by a bill late depending before the Parliament of Great Britain, for regulating the government of the Massachusetts Bay, too long to be here recited, though replete with arbitrary, threatening resolutions, threatening destruction to all corporations in Great Britain, and all chartered rights in America. In view of these, as well as many other impending dangers and calamities, and from a firm belief and persuasion that there is a supreme, almighty, infinitely good and merciful Being, who sits at the helm of universal nature, by whom kings reign, and princes decree justice, and who has the hearts of all princes and potentates of the earth in his hands, and under his almighty control; and however faulty the instruments and procurers of those calamities may be, yet, considering our sins and impieties, they are just as coming from the hand of God, and are to be averted by humiliation, deep repentance, and reformation. We therefore sincerely wish and hope a day may be set apart for solemn fasting and prayer, as recommended by our late General Assembly; and beg further to intimate to our brethren in the several towns in this colony, to render the observation of that day more agreeable to the divine direction, (viz: to undo the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free, to distribute to the necessities of the distressed,) that on that day we be united in opening our hearts in contributing to the relief of the injured and oppressed indigent inhabitants of the town of Boston, es |