as our friends, endeavour now, insidiously to draw from us concessions destructive to what we hold far dearer than life? "If I could find example Of thousands that by bare submission had Preserv'd their freedom, I'd not do 't; but since Nor brass, nor stone, nor parchment bears not one ; Our laws, our language, our principles of government, our intermarriages, and other connections, our constant intercourse, and above all our interest, are so many bands which hold us to Great Britain, not to be broken but by tyranny and oppression. Strange that among the late ministry there should not be found a man of common sense and common honesty, to improve and strengthen these natural ties by a mild and just government, instead of weakening and almost dissolving them by partiality and injustice! But I will not open the wounds which have been so lately bound up, and which still require a skilful and a gentle hand to heal them. These are the sentiments of a man who spends most of his time in retirement, and has seldom meddled in public affairs, who enjoys a moderate but independent fortune, and, content with the blessings of a private station, equally disregards the smiles and frowns of the great; who, though not born within the verge of the British Isle, is an Englishman in his principles, a zealous assertor of the Act of Settlement, firmly attached to the present royal family upon the throne, unalienably affected to his Majesty's sacred person and government, in the defence of which he would shed the last drop of his blood; who looks upon Jacobitism as the most absurd infatuation, the wildest chimera that ever entered into the head of man; who adores the wisdom and happiness of the British Constitution; and if he had his election now to make, would prefer it to any that does or ever did exist. I am not singular in this my political creed; these are the general principles of his Majesty's subjects in America ; they are the principles of more than nine-tenths of the people who have been so basely misrepresented to you, and whom you would lately have treated as rebels and outlaws, a people to whom you can never grant too much, because you can hardly give them anything which will not redound to the benefit of the giver. If any person should think it worth his while to animadvert upon what I have written, I shall make no reply. I have neither ability nor inclination to turn author. If the maxims I have asserted and the reflections I have made are in themselves just, they will need no vindication; if they are erroneous, I shall esteem it a favour to have my errors pointed out, and will, in modest silence, kiss the rod that corrects me. I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant, A VIRGINIA PLANTER.' IV. ASSOCIATION AT WILLIAMSBURG—1769. X We, his Majesty's most dutiful subjects, the late representatives of all the freeholders of the colony of Virginia, avowing our inviolable and unshaken fidelity and loyalty to our most gracious sovereign, our affection for all our fellow-subjects of Great Britain, protesting against every act or thing which may have the most distant tendency to interrupt or in anywise disturb his Majesty's peace and the good order of his government in this colony, which we are resolved at the risk of our lives and fortunes to maintain and defend; but at the same time being deeply affected with the grievances and distresses- with which his Majesty's American subjects are oppressed and dreading the evils which threaten the ruin of ourselves and our posterity by reducing us from a free and happy people to a wretched and miserable state of slavery, and having taken into our most serious consideration the present state of the trade of this colony, and of the American commerce in general, observe with anxiety that the debt due to Great Britain for goods imported from thence is very great, and that the means of paying this debt, in the present situation of affairs, are likely to become more and more precarious; that the difficulties under which we now labour are owing to the restrictions, prohibitions, and ill advised regulations in 1 Copy of a letter transmitted to the printer of the Public Ledger in London, June, 1766. several late acts of parliament of Great Britain, in particular the late unconstitutional act imposing duties on tea, paper, glass, etc., for the sole purpose of raising a revenue in America, is injurious to property and destructive to liberty, hath a necessary tendency to prevent the payment of the debt due from this colony to Great Britain, and is of consequence ruinous to trade; that notwithstanding the many earnest applications already made, there is little reason to expect a redress of these grievances: Therefore, in justice to ourselves and our posterity, as well as to the traders of Great Britain concerned in the American commerce, we, the subscribers, have voluntarily and unanimously entered into the following resolutions, in hopes that our example will induce the good people of this colony to be frugal in the use and consumption of British manufactures, and that the merchants and manufacturers of Great Britain may, from motives of interest, friendship, and justice, be engaged to exert themselves to obtain for us a redress of those grievances under which the trade and inhabitants of America at present labor. We do therefore most earnestly recommend this our association to the serious attention of all gentlemen merchants, traders, and other inhabitants of this colony, in hopes that they will very readily and cordially accede thereto. First, It is unanimously agreed on and resolved, this 18th day of May, 1769, that the subscribers, as well by their own. example as all other legal ways and means in their power, will promote and encourage industry and frugality, and discourage all manner of luxury and extravagance. Secondly, That they will not at any time hereafter, directly or indirectly, import, or cause to be imported, any manner of goods, merchandise or manufactures, which are, or shall hereafter be taxed by act of parliament for the purpose of raising a revenue in America (except paper not exceeding eight shillings sterling per ream, and except such articles only as orders have been already sent for), nor purchase any such after the first day of September next, of any person whatsoever, but that they will always consider such taxation in every respect as an absolute prohibition, and in all future orders direct their correspondents to ship them no goods whatever taxed as aforesaid, except as is above excepted. Thirdly, That the subscribers will not hereafter, directly or indirectly, import, or cause to be imported, from Great Britain, or any part of Europe (except such articles of the produce or manufacture of Ireland as may be immediately and legally brought from thence, and except also such goods as orders have been already sent for), any of the goods hereinafter enumerated, viz., spirits, wine, cider, perry, beer, ale, malt, barley, pease, beef, pork, fish, butter, cheese, tallow, candles, oil, fruit, sugar, pickles, confectionary, pewter, hoes, axes, watches, clocks, tables, chairs, looking-glasses, carriages, joiner's and cabinet work of all sorts, upholstery of all sorts, trinkets and jewelry, plate and gold, and silversmith work of all sorts, ribband and millinery of all sorts, lace of all sorts, India goods of all sorts (except spices), silks of all sorts (except sewing silk), cambric, lawn, muslin, gauze (except boltingcloths), calico or cotton stuff of more than two shillings per yard, woolens, worsted stuffs of all sorts of more than one shilling and sixpence per yard, broadcloths of all kinds at more than eight shillings per yard, narrow cloths of all kinds at more than three shillings per yard, hats, stockings (plaid and Irish hose excepted), shoes and boots, saddles, and all manufactures of leather and skins of all kinds, until the late acts of parliament imposing duties on tea, paper, glass, etc., for the purpose of raising a revenue in America are repealed; and that they will not, after the first of September next, purchase any of the above enumerated goods, of any person whatsoever, unless the above mentioned acts of parliament are repealed. Fourthly, That in all orders which any of the subscribers may hereafter send to Great Britain, they shall and will expressly direct their correspondents not to ship them any of the beforeenumerated goods until the before mentioned acts of parliament are repealed; and if any goods are shipped to them, contrary to the tenor of this agreement, they will refuse to take the same, or make themselves chargeable therewith. Fifthly, That they will not import any slaves, or purchase any imported, after the first day of November next, until the said acts are repealed. Sixthly, That they will not import any wines of any kind whatever, or purchase the same from any person whatever, after the first day of September next, except such wines as are already ordered, until the acts of parliament imposing duties thereon are repealed. Seventhly, For the better preservation of the breed of sheep, that they will not kill, or suffer to be killed, any lambs that shall be yeaned before the first day of May, in any year, nor dispose of such to any butcher, or other person whom they may have reason to suspect intends to kill the same. Eighthly and lastly, That these resolves shall be binding on all and each of the subscribers, who do hereby each and every person for himself, upon his word and honor, agree that he will strictly and firmly adhere to and abide by every article in this agreement, from the time of his signing the same, for and during the continuance of the before mentioned acts of parliament, or until a general meeting of the subscribers, after one month's public notice, shall determine otherwise, the second article of this agreement still and forever continuing in full power and force. Peyton Randolph, Robert Carter Nicholas, Richard Bland, Archibald Cary, Richard Henry Lee, Charles Carter, George Washington, Carter Braxton, Severn Eyre, Richard Randolph, Patrick Henry, junr., Peter Johnston, Henry Lee, Nathaniel Terry, Thomas Whiting, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson, junr., James Walker, John Alexander, Champion Travis, George Ball, Thomas Harrison, Thomas Claiborne, John Blair, junr., Thomson Mason, &c., &c., &c.' NON-IMPORTATION RESOLUTIONS. Article of George Mason's left out by the Burgesses. Sixth Resolve. If the measures already entered into should prove ineffectual, and our grievances and oppressions should notwithstanding be continued, then, and in that case, the subscribers will put a stop to their exports to Europe of tar, pitch, turpentine, timber, lumber, and skins and furs of all sorts, and will endeavor to find some other employment for their slaves and other hands than cultivating tobacco, which they will entirely leave off making, and will enter into such regulations as may be necessary with regard to the rents and other tobacco debts. 'Burk's "History of Virginia," vol. iii., p. 345, note. |