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May 29-30, 1765
Although celebrated for his "Liberty
or Death" speech at St. John's Church in Richmond on March
23, 1775, Patrick Henry probably regarded his Stamp Act Resolutions
as a greater contribution to American independence. In the
Parson's Cause of 1763, Henry's address to the jury had foreshadowed
his emergence as a popular defender of the rights of colonial
Americans. Two years later, by his vigorous opposition to
the Stamp Act, Henry had extended his influence beyond Virginia
as a powerful voice against Britain's attempt to impose taxation
on the American colonies. Attacking the Stamp Act in the heated
debates of the House of Burgesses in 1765, Henry hurled defiance
at Parliament. Timid souls blanched as he compared George
III to Julius Caesar and Charles I, but Henry responded that
the king might "profit by their example."
Patrick Henry had written seven resolutions, each more radical
than the next. He introduced five resolutions during the debate
in the House of Burgesses. The fifth was adopted by a margin
of only one vote. The next day, under pressure from governor
and the Council, the House rescinded Henry's fifth resolution
and had it erased from the official journal. Virginia's royal
governor, Francis Fauquier, even prevented the publication
of the four resolutions in the Virginia Gazette. Despite the
attempt to suppress news of the legislature's denunciation
of the Stamp Act, within a few weeks versions of all seven
of Henry's resolutions were published in other colonies. As
printed in Maryland, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and other
colonies, Henry's resolves articulated the principles of American
rejection of Parliamentary authority. As a result, Henry's
contemporaries in recognized him as "the man who gave the
first impulse to the ball of revolution." The importance that
Henry attached to his Stamp Act Resolutions is evident from
the message he left for posterity along with his last will
and testament: "The alarm spread throughout America with astonishing
quickness, and . . . the great point of resistance to British
taxation was universally established in the colonies," Henry
wrote. "This brought on the war which finally separated the
two countries and gave independence to ours."
One: Patrick Henry's Resolutions
Against the Stamp Act
From the Journals of the House of Burgesses
Resolved, That the first Adventurers
and Settlers of this his Majesties Colony and Dominion of
Virginia brought with them, and transmitted to their Posterity,
and all other his Majesty's Subjects since inhabiting in this
his Majesty's said Colony, all the Liberties, 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 entitled to
all the Liberties, Priviledges, and Immunities of Denizens
and natural Subjects, 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, or the easiest
Mode of raising them, and must themselves be affected by every
Tax laid on the People, is the only Security against a burdensome
Taxation, and the distinguishing Characteristick of British
Freedom, without which the ancient Constitution cannot exist.
Resolved, That his Majesty's liege People of this most ancient
and loyal Colony have without interruption enjoyed the inestimable
Right of being governed by such Laws, respecting their internal
Polity and Taxation, as are derived from their own Consent,
with the Approbation of their Sovereign, or his Substitute;
and that the same hath never been forfeited or yielded up,
but hath been constantly recognized by the Kings and People
of Great Britain.
Two: Patrick Henry's Resolutions
Against the Stamp Act
Printed in the Newport Mercury (Rhode Island), June 24, 1765
and reprinted in Boston and New York newspapers.
Resolved, That the first Adventurers,
Settlers of this his Majesty's Colony and Dominion of Virginia,
brought with them and transmitted to their Posterity, and
all other his Majesty's Subjects since inhabiting in this
his Majesty's said Colony, all the Priviledges 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 and intitled
to all the Priviledges and Immunities of natural born Subjects,
to all Intents and Purposes, as if they had been abiding and
born within the Realm of England.
Resolved, That his Majesty's liege People of this his antient
Colony have enjoy'd the Right of being thus govern'd, by their
own Assembly, in the Article of Taxes and internal Police;
and that the same have never been forfeited, or any other
Way given up, but have been constantly recogniz'd by the King
and People of Britain.
Resolved, therefore, That the General Assembly of this Colony,
together with his Majesty or his Substitutes, have, in their
Representative Capacity, the only exclusive Right and Power
to lay Taxes and Imposts upon the Inhabitants of this Colony:
And that every Attempt to vest such Power in any other Person
or Persons whatever, than the General Assembly aforesaid,
is illegal, unconstitutional and unjust, and have a manifest
Tendency to destroy British as well as American Liberty.
Resolved, That his Majesty's liege People, the Inhabitants
of this Colony, are not bound to yield Obedience to any Law
or Ordinance whatever, designed to impose 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 this his Majesty's Colony.
Three: Patrick Henry's Resolutions
Against the Stamp Act
Printed in the Maryland Gazette, July 4, 1765
That the first Adventurers and Settlers
of this his Majesty's Colony and Dominion of Virginia, brought
with them, and transmitted to their Posterity, and all other
his Majesty's Subjects since inhabiting in this his Majesty's
said Colony, all the Liberties, Priviledges, Franchises, and
Immunities, that have at any Time been held, enjoyed, and
possessed, by the People of Great Britain.
That by Two Royal Charters, granted by King James the First,
the Colonies aforesaid are Declared Entitled, to all the Liberties,
Priviledges and Immunities, of Denizens and Natural Subjects
(to all Intents and Purposes) as if they had been Abiding
and Born within the Realm of England.
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, or the easiest Method
of Raising them, and must themselves be affected by every
Tax laid upon the People, is the only Security against a Burthensome
Taxation; and the Distinguishing Characteristic of British
Freedom; and, without which, the antient Constitution cannot
exist.
That his Majesty's liege People of this his most Ancient and
Loyal Colony, have [enjoyed], without Interruption, the inestimable
Right of being governed by such Laws respecting their internal
Polity and Taxation, as are derived from their own consent,
with the Approbation of the Sovereign, or his Substitute;
which Right hath never been Forfeited, or Yielded up, but
hath been constantly recognized by the Kings and People of
Great Britain.
Resolved, therefore, That the General Assembly of this Colony,
with the Consent of his Majesty, or his Substitute, HAVE the
Sole Right and Authority to lay Taxes and Impositions upon
It's Inhabitants: And, That every Attempt to vest such Authority
in any other Person or Persons whatsoever, has a Manifest
Tendency to Destroy AMERICAN FREEDOM.
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, with such Consent as aforesaid, have
any Right or Authority to lay or impose any Tax whatever on
the Inhabitants thereof, shall be Deemed, AN ENEMY TO THIS
HIS MAJESTY'S COLONY.
Four: Patrick Henry's Resolutions
Against the Stamp Act
From Henry's manuscript owned by the Colonial Williamsburg
Foundation, Inc.
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 this his Majestie's
said Colony all the Priviledges, Franchise 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 their 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.
Patrick Henry's final thoughts
about the Stamp Act
Written on the back of Henry's copy of the Stamp Act Resolutions
was a message to posterity (as printed by William Wirt Henry
from the manuscript then in his possession).
The within resolutions passed the
House of Burgesses in May, 1765. They formed the first opposition
to the Stamp Act and the scheme of taxing America by the British
Parliament. All the colonies, either through fear, or want
of opportunity to form an opposition, or from influence of
some kind or other, had remained silent. I had been for the
first time elected a Burgess a few days before, was young,
inexperienced, unacquainted with the forms of the House, and
the members that composed it. Finding the men of weight averse
to opposition, and the commencement of the tax at hand, and
that no person was likely to step forth, I determined to venture,
and alone, unadvised, and unassisted, on a blank leaf of an
old law-book, wrote the within. Upon offering them to the
House violent debates ensued. Many threats were uttered, and
much abuse cast on me by the party for submission. After a
long and warm contest the resolutions passed by a very small
majority, perhaps of one or two only. The alarm spread throughout
America with astonishing quickness, and the Ministerial party
were overwhelmed. The great point of resistance to British
taxation was universally established in the colonies. This
brought on the war which finally separated the two countries
and gave independence to ours. Whether this will prove a blessing
or a curse, will depend upon the use our people make of the
blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us. If they
are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary
character, they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can
exalt them as a nation. Reader! whoever thou art, remember
this; and in thy sphere practise virtue thyself, and encourage
it in others.
- P. HENRY
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