|
Patrick Henry's Resolutions against
the Stamp Act, May 29-30, 1765
On May 29-30, 1765,
Henry came into the House of Burgesses with seven Resolutions
against the Stamp Act. The fifth passed only by a narrow vote.
Although the House formally adopted only five of Henry's resolutions
(and rescinded the fifth the next morning) - all seven were
published in newspapers throughout the colonies and in England
and Scotland. Henry's resolutions expressed America's resistance
to authority of Parliament, the basic constitutional issue
of the American Revolution. For this reason, Jefferson later
described Henry as "the man who gave the first impulse to
the ball of revolution." Patrick Henry also recognized the
importance of his achievement by enclosing a copy of his Stamp
Act Resolutions with his last will and testament.
Resolved, That the first Adventurers and Settlers
of this his Majesties Colony and Dominion brought with them
and transmitted to their Posterity and all other his Majesties
Subjects since inhabiting in his Majestie's said Colony all
the Priviledges, Franchises and Immunities that have at any
Time been held, enjoyed, and possessed by the People of Great
Britain.
Resolved, That by two royal Charters granted by King James
the first the Colonists aforesaid are declared intituled to
all the Priviledges, Liberties and Immunities of Denizens
and natural born Subjects to all Intents and Purposes as if
they had been abiding and born within the Realm of England.
Resolved, That the Taxation of the People by themselves or
by Persons chosen by themselves to represent them who can
only know what Taxes the People are able to bear and the easiest
Mode of raising them and are equally affected by such Taxes
Themselves is the distinguishing Characteristick of British
Freedom and without which the ancient Constitution cannot
subsist.
Resolved, That his Majestie's liege People of this most ancient
Colony have uninterruptedly enjoyed the Right of being thus
governed by their own assembly in the Article of the Taxes
and internal Police and that the same hath never been forfeited
or any other Way given up but hath been constantly recognized
by the Kings and People of Great Britain.
Resolved, Therefore that the General Assembly of this Colony
have the only and sole exclusive Right and Power to lay Taxes
and Impositions upon the Inhabitants of this Colony and that
every Attempt to vest such Power in any Person or Persons
whatsoever other than the General Assembly aforesaid has a
manifest Tendency to destroy British as well as American Freedom.
The House of Burgesses adopted Henry's five resolutions (above)
and then rescinded its adoption of the fifth. Henry sixth
and seventh resolutions (below) were published in colonial
newspapers even though the Burgesses had neither debated nor
endorsed them.
Resolved, That his Majestie's liege people, the inhabitants
of this Colony, are not bound to yield obedience to any Law
or Ordinance whatever, designed to imposed any Taxation whatsoever
upon them, other than the Laws or Ordinances of the General
Assembly aforesaid.
Resolved, That any person who shall, by speaking or writing,
assert or maintain that any person or persons other than the
General Assembly of this Colony, have any Right or Power to
impose or lay any Taxation on the People here, shall be deemed
an enemy to his Majestie's Colony.
|
