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taken, according to the Proportion and Value of five

Shillings and six Pence the Ounce in Silver; and that all

the Forfeitures and Penalties hereby inflicted, and which

shall be incurred in the said Colonies and Plantations,

shall and may be prosecuted, sued for, and recovered, in

any Court of Record, or in any Court of Admiralty, in the

respective Colony or Plantation where the Offense shall

be committed, or in any Court of Vice Admiralty

appointed or to be appointed, and which shall have Juris-

diction within such Colony, Plantation, or Place, (which

Courts of Admiralty or Vice Admiralty are hereby respec-

tively authorized and required to proceed, hear, and

determine the same) at the Election of the Informer or

Prosecutor; and that from and after the Twenty-ninth Day

of September, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five,

in all Cases, where any Suit or Prosecution shall be com-

menced and determined for any Penalty or Forfeiture

inflicted by this Act, or by the said Act made in the fourth

Year of his present Majesty’s Reign, or by any other Act of

Parliament relating to the Trade or Revenues of the said

Colonies or Plantations, in any Court of Admiralty in the

respective Colony or Plantation where the Offense shall

be committed, either Party, who shall think himself

aggrieved by such Determination, may appeal from such

Determination, to any Court of Vice Admiralty, appointed

or to be appointed, and which shall have Jurisdiction

within such Colony, Plantation, or Place, (which Court of

Vice Admiralty is hereby authorized and required to pro-

ceed, hear, and determine such Appeal) any Law, Custom,

or Usage, to the contrary notwithstanding; and the For-

feitures and Penalties hereby inflicted, which shall be

incurred in any other Part of his Majesty’s Dominions,

shall and may be prosecuted, sued for, and recovered,

with full Costs of Suit, in any Court of Record within the

Kingdom, Territory, or Place, where the Offense shall be

committed, in such and the same Manner as any Debt or

Damage, to the Amount of such Forfeiture or Penalty, can

or may be sued for and recovered.

LVIII. And it is hereby further enacted, That all the

Forfeitures and Penalties hereby inflicted shall be divided,

paid, and applied, as follows; (that is to say) one third Part

of all such Forfeitures and Penalties recovered in the said

Colonies and Plantations, shall be paid into the Hands of

one of the Chief Distributors of stamped Vellum, Parch-

ment, and Paper, residing in the Colony or Plantation

wherein the Offender shall be convicted, for the Use of his

Majesty, his Heirs, and Successors; one third Part of the

Penalties and Forfeitures, so recovered, to the Governor

or Commander in Chief of such Colony or Plantation; and

the other third Part thereof, to the Person who shall

inform or sue for the same; and that one moiety of all such

Penalties and Forfeitures recovered in any other Part of

his Majesty’s Dominions, shall be to the Use of his Majesty,

his Heirs, and Successors, and the other Moiety thereof, to

the Person who shall inform or sue for the same.

LIX. And be it further enacted by the Authority afore-

said, That all the Offenses which are by this Act made

Felony, and shall be committed within any Part of his

Majesty’s Dominions, shall and may be heard, tried, and

determined, before any Court of Law within the respective

Kingdom, Territory, Colony, or Plantation, where the

Offense shall be committed, in such and the same Manner

as all other Felonies can or may be heard, tried, and deter-

mined, in such Court.

LX. And be it further enacted by the Authority afore-

said, That all the present Governors or Commanders in

Chief of any British Colony or Plantation, shall, before the

said first Day of November, one thousand seven hundred

and sixty-five, and all who hereafter shall be made Gover-

nors or Commanders in Chief of the said Colonies or Plan-

tations, or any of them, before their Entrance into their

Government, shall take a solemn Oath to do their utmost,

that all and every the Clauses contained in this present

Act, be punctually and bona fide observed, according to

the true Intent and Meaning thereof, so far as appertains

unto the said Governors or Commanders in Chief respec-

tively, under the like Penalties, Forfeitures, and Disabili-

ties, either for neglecting to take the said Oath, or for

wittingly neglecting to do their Duty accordingly, as are

mentioned and expressed in an Act made in the seventh

and eighth Year of the Reign of King William the Third,

intituled, An Act for preventing Frauds, and regulating

Abuses, in the Plantation Trade; and the said Oath hereby

required to be taken, shall be administered by such Person

or Persons as hath or have been, or shall be, appointed to

administer the Oath required to be taken by the said Act

made in the seventh and eighth Year of the Reign of King

William the Third.

LXI. And be it further enacted by the Authority afore-

said, That all Records, Writs, Pleadings, and other Pro-

ceedings in all Courts whatsoever, and all Deeds,

Instruments, and Writings whatsoever, hereby charged,

shall be ingrossed and written in such Manner as they have

been usually accustomed to be ingrossed and written, or

are now ingrossed and written within the said Colonies and

Plantations.

LXII. And it is hereby further enacted, That if any

Person or Persons shall be sued or prosecuted, either in

Great Britain or America, for any thing done in pur-

suance of this Act, such Person and Persons shall and may

plead the General Issue, and give this Act and the Special

Matter in Evidence; and if it shall appear so to have been

done, the Jury shall find for the Defendant or Defen-

dants: And if the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs shall become non-

suited, or discontinue his or their Action after the

Defendant or Defendants shall have appeared, or if Judg-

242 ERA 3: Revolution and New Nation

ment shall be given upon any Verdict or Demurrer

against the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs, the Defendant or

Defendants shall recover Treble Costs, and have the like

Remedy for the same, as Defendants have in other Cases

by Law.

Source:

Danby Pickering, ed. Statutes at Large. Vol. 10. Cambridge,

Mass. J. Bentham, 1762–1807. pp. 18–31.

Declarations of Rights and Grievances

(Resolutions of the

Stamp Act Congress), 1765

Petition issued on October 19, 1765, by the Stamp Act

Congress in New York City, condemning the Stamp Act of

1765 and assuring the American colonies that “no taxes ever

have been or can be constitutionally imposed on them, except

by their respective legislatures.” Twenty-eight delegates from

nine colonies congregated at the meeting, which had been

initiated by the Massachusetts legislature and influenced by

Patrick Henry’s Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions. The petition,

which contained 14 resolutions and which was probably

drafted by John Dickinson (a Pennsylvania delegate), protested

that the colonists’ individual rights and liberties as recognized

subjects of the British Crown were being violated. It also

denounced the increased powers of the nonjury vice admiralty

courts, which were trying violators of recent British trade reg-

ulations. Probably more effective than even the declaration

and the failure to pay the tax was a boycott of British goods

conducted in many of the colonies. At that time, the American

colonies purchased approximately one-quarter of British ex-

ports, and half of British shipping was engaged in American

colonial commerce. The British government repealed the act

on March 18, 1766, replacing it that same day with the

Declaratory Act of 1766, which asserted Parliament’s author-

ity to legislate for the colonies.

________________________

_______________________

The members of this Congress, sincerely devoted with the

warmest sentiments of affection and duty to His Majesty’s

person and Government, inviolably attached to the present

happy establishment of the Protestant succession, and with

minds deeply impressed by a sense of the present and

impending misfortunes of the British colonies on this con-

tinent; having considered as maturely as time will permit

the circumstances of the said colonies, esteem it our in-

dispensable duty to make the following declarations of

our humble opinion respecting the most essential

rights and liberties of the colonists, and of the grievances

under which they labour, by reason of several late Acts of

Parliament.

I. That His Majesty’s subjects in these colonies owe

the same allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain that is

owing from his subjects born within the realm, and all due

subordination to that august body the Parliament of Great

Britain.

II. That His Majesty’s liege subjects in these colonies

are intitled to all the inherent rights and liberties of his

natural born subjects within the kingdom of Great

Britain.

III. That it is inseparably essential to the freedom of a

people, and the undoubted right of Englishmen, that no

taxes be imposed on them but with their own consent,

given personally or by their representatives.

IV. That the people of these colonies are not, and from

their local circumstances cannot be, represented in the

House of Commons in Great Britain.

V. That the only representatives of the people of these

colonies are persons chosen therein by themselves, and

that no taxes ever have been, or can be constitutionally

imposed on them, but by their respective legislatures.

VI. That all supplies to the Crown being free gifts of

the people, it is unreasonable and inconsistent with the

principles and spirit of the British Constitution, for the

people of Great Britain to grant to His Majesty the prop-

erty of the colonists.

VII. That trial by jury is the inherent and invaluable

right of every British subject in these colonies.

VIII. That the late Act of Parliament, entitled An Act

for granting and applying certain stamp duties, and other

duties, in the British colonies and plantations in America,

etc., by imposing taxes on the inhabitants of these colonies;

and the said Act, and several other Acts, by extending the

jurisdiction of the courts of Admiralty beyond its ancient

limits, have a manifest tendency to subvert the rights and

liberties of the colonists.

IX. That the duties imposed by several late Acts of

Parliament, from the peculiar circumstances of these

colonies, will be extremely burthensome and grievous; and

from the scarcity of specie, the payment of them absolutely

impracticable.

X. That as the profits of the trade of these colonies

ultimately center in Great Britain, to pay for the manufac-

tures which they are obliged to take from thence, they

eventually contribute very largely to all supplies granted

there to the Crown.

XI. That the restrictions imposed by several late Acts

of Parliament on the trade of these colonies will render

them unable to purchase the manufactures of Great

Britain.

XII. That the increase, prosperity, and happiness of

these colonies depend on the full and free enjoyments of

their rights and liberties, and an intercourse with Great

Britain mutually affectionate and advantageous.

Events Leading Up to the American Revolution 243

XIII. That it is the right of the British subjects in these

colonies to petition the King or either House of Parlia-

ment.

Lastly, That it is the indispensable duty of these

colonies to the best of sovereigns, to the mother country,

and to themselves, to endeavour by a loyal and dutiful

address to His Majesty, and humble applications to both

Houses of Parliament, to procure the repeal of the Act for

granting and applying certain stamp duties, of all clauses of

any other Acts of Parliament, whereby the jurisdiction of

the Admiralty is extended as aforesaid, and of the other

late Acts for the restriction of American commerce.

Source:

Henry Steele Commager, ed. Documents of American History.

New York: F.S. Crofts & Co., 1934.

Townshend Acts, 1767

Several acts sponsored by Britain’s Chancellor of the Exche-

quer (or treasury department) Charles Townshend and passed

by the British Parliament in an effort to exercise greater royal

authority over the American colonies and to levy new taxes.

The acts, sometimes called the American Import Duties Acts,

levied import taxes on glass, lead, paint, tea, and paper sent

into the colonies. The Townshend Acts were viewed as undue

interference in colonial affairs and caused deep resentment

and widespread resistance. The colonists, influenced by the

writings of John Dickinson, Samuel Adams, and others,

protested against the taxes. Boston merchants once again boy-

cotted British goods. In 1768 the Massachusetts Assembly was

dissolved for sending a circular letter to other colonies about

their common plight. British troops were then sent in to

enforce laws and to try to keep the peace. Conflicts resulted,

leading to the Boston Massacre. The boycott affected trade,

and in 1770 most of the acts were repealed, temporarily avert-

ing a major British-American colonial crisis, but retention of

the tea tax culminated in the Boston Tea Party.

________________________

_______________________

An act for granting certain duties in the British colonies

and plantations in America; for allowing a drawback of the

duties of customs upon the exportation, from this kingdom,

of coffee and cocoa nuts of the produce of the said colonies

or plantations; for discontinuing the drawbacks payable on

china earthen ware exported to America; and for more

effectually preventing the clandestine running of goods in

the said colonies and plantations.

Whereas it is expedient that a revenue should be

raised, in your Majesty’s dominions in America, for making

a more certain and adequate provision for defraying the

charge of the administration of justice, and the support of

civil government, in such provinces where it shall be found

necessary; and towards further defraying the expenses of

defending, protecting, and securing, the said dominions;

we, your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the com-

mons of Great Britain, in parliament assembled, have

therefore resolved to give and grant unto your Majesty the

several rates and duties herein after mentioned; and do

most humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be enacted,

and be it enacted by the King’s most excellent majesty, by

and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and

temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assem-

bled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after

the twentieth day of November, one thousand seven hun-

dred and sixty seven, there shall be raised, levied, col-

lected, and paid, unto his Majesty, his heirs, and

successors, for and upon the respective goods herein after

mentioned, which shall be imported from Great Britain

into any colony or plantation in America which now is, or

hereafter may be, under the dominion of his Majesty, his

heirs, or successors, the several rates and duties following;

that is to say,

For every hundred weight avoirdupois of crown, plate,

flint, and white glass, four shillings and eight pence.

For every hundred weight avoirdupois of green glass,

one shilling and two peace.

For every hundred weight avoirdupois of red lead, two

shillings.

For every hundred weight avoirdupois of white lead,

two shillings.

For every hundred weight avoirdupois of painters col-

ors, two shillings.

For every pound weight avoirdupois of tea, three

pence.

For every ream of paper, usually called or known by

the name of Atlas Fine, twelve shillings.

For every ream of paper called Atlas Ordinary, six

shillings.

For every ream of paper called Bastard, or Double

Copy, one shilling and six pence.

For every single ream of blue paper for sugar bakers,

ten pence halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Blue Royal, one

shilling and six pence.

For every bundle of brown paper containing forty

quires, not made in Great Britain, six pence.

For every ream of paper called Brown Cap, not made

in Great Britain, nine pence.

For every ream of paper called Brown Large Cap,

made in Great Britain, four pence halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Small Ordinary

Brown, made in Great Britain, three pence.

244 ERA 3: Revolution and New Nation

For every bundle, containing forty quires, of paper

called Whited Brown, made in Great Britain, four pence

halfpenny.

For every ream of cartridge paper, one shilling and

one penny halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Chancery Double, one

shilling and six pence.

For every ream of paper called Genoa Crown Fine,

one shilling and one penny halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Genoa Crown Second,

nine pence.

For every ream of paper called German Crown, nine

pence.

For every ream of paper called Fine Printing Crown,

nine pence.

For every ream of paper called Second Ordinary

Printing Crown, six pence three farthings.

For every ream of paper called Crown Fine, made in

Great Britain, nine pence.

For every ream of paper called Crown Second, made

in Great Britain, six pence three farthings.

For every ream of paper called Demy Fine, not made

in Great Britain, three shillings.

For every ream of paper called Demy Second, not

made in Great Britain, one shilling and four pence half-

penny.

For every ream of paper called Demy Fine, made in

Great Britain, one shilling and one penny halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Demy Second, made in

Great Britain, nine pence.

For every ream of paper called Demy Printing, one

shilling the three pence.

For every ream of paper called Genoa Demy Fine, one

shilling and six pence.

For every ream of paper called Genoa Demy Second,

one shilling and one penny halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called German Demy, one

shilling and one penny halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Elephant Fine, six

shillings.

For every ream of paper called Elephant Ordinary,

two shillings and five pence farthing.

For every ream of paper called Genoa Fools Cap Fine,

one shilling and one penny halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Genoa Fools Cap Sec-

ond, nine pence.

For every ream of paper called German Fools Cap,

nine pence.

For every ream of paper called Fine Printing Fools

Cap, nine pence.

For every ream of paper called Second Ordinary

Printing Fools Cap, six pence three farthings.

For every ream of any other paper called Fools Cap

Fine, not made in Great Britain, one shilling and ten

pence halfpenny.

For every ream of any other paper called Fools Cap

Fine Second, not made in Great Britain, one shilling and

six pence.

For every ream of paper called Fools Cap Fine, made

in Great Britain, nine pence.

For every ream of paper called Fools Cap Second,

made in Great Britain, six pence three farthings.

For every ream of paper called Imperial Fine, twelve

shillings.

For every ream of paper called Second Writing Impe-

rial, eight shillings and three pence.

For every ream of paper called German Lombard,

nine pence.

For every ream of paper called Medium Fine, four

shillings and six pence.

For every ream of paper called Genoa Medium, one

shilling and ten pence halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Second Writing

Medium, three shillings.

For every ream of painted paper, not made in Great

Britain, six shillings.

For every ream of paper called Fine Large Post, one

shilling and ten pence halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Small Post, one shilling

and one penny halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Fine Genoa Pot, six

pence three farthings.

For every ream of paper called Second Genoa Pot, six

pence three farthings.

For every ream of paper called Superfine Pot, not

made in Great Britain, one shilling and six pence.

For every ream of other paper called Second Fine Pot,

not made in Great Britain, one shilling and one penny

halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Ordinary Pot, not

made in Great Britain, six pence three farthings.

For every ream of paper called Fine Pot, made in

Great Britain, nine pence.

For every ream of paper called Second Pot, made in

Great Britain, four pence halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Super Royal Fine, nine

shillings.

For every ream of paper called Royal Fine, six shillings.

For every ream of paper called Fine Holland Royal,

two shillings and five pence farthing.

For every ream of paper called Fine Holland Second,

one shilling and six pence.

For every ream of paper called Second Fine Holland

Royal, one shilling and six pence.

Events Leading Up to the American Revolution 245

For every ream of paper called Ordinary Royal, nine

pence.

For every ream of paper called Genoa Royal, two

shillings and five pence farthing.

For every ream of paper called Second Writing Royal,

four shillings and one penny halfpenny.

For every ream of paper called Second Writing Super

Royal, six shillings.

For every hundred weight avoirdupois of paste-

boards, mill-boards, and scale-boards, not made in Great

Britain, three shillings and nine pence.

For every hundred weight avoirdupois of paste-

boards, mill-boards, and scale-boards, made in Great

Britain, two shillings and three pence.

And for and upon all paper which shall be printed,

painted, or stained, in Great Britain, to serve for hangings

or other uses, three farthings for every yard square, over

and above the duties payable for such paper by this act,

if the same had not been printed, painted, or stained;

and after those rates respectively for any greater or less

quantity.

II. And it is hereby further enacted by the authority

aforesaid, That all other paper (not being particularly rated

and charged in this act) shall pay the several and respective

duties that are charged, by this act, upon such paper as is

nearest above in size and goodness to such unrated paper.

III. And be it declared and enacted by the authority

aforesaid, That a ream of paper, chargeable by this act,

shall be understood to conflict of twenty quires, and each

quire of twenty four sheets.

IV. And it is hereby further enacted by the authority

aforesaid, That the said rates and duties, charged by this

act upon goods imported into any British American colony

or plantation, shall be deemed, and are hereby declared to

be, sterling money of Great Britain; and shall be collected,

recovered, and paid, to the amount of the value which

such nominal sums bear in Great Britain; and that such

moneys may be received and taken, according to the pro-

portion and value of five shillings and six pence the ounce

in silver; and shall be raised, levied, collected, paid, and

recovered, in the same manner and form, and by such

rules, ways, and means, and under such penalties and for-

feitures, as any other duties, now payable to his Majesty

upon goods imported into the said colonies or plantations,

may be raised, levied, collected, paid, and recovered, by

any act or acts or parliament now in force, as fully and

effectually, to all intents and purposes, as if the several

clauses, powers, directions, penalties, and forfeitures,

relating thereto, were particularly repeated, and again

enacted, in the body of this present act: and that all the

moneys that shall arise by the said duties (except the nec-

essary charges of raising, collecting, levying, recovering,

answering, paying, and accounting for the same) shall be

applied, in the first place, in such manner as is herein after

mentioned, in making a more certain and adequate provi-

sion for the charge of the administration of justice, and the

support of civil government, in such of the said colonies

and plantations where it shall be found necessary; and that

the residue of such duties shall be paid into the receipt of

his Majesty’s exchequer, and shall be entered separate and

apart from all other moneys paid or payable to his Majesty,

his heirs, or successors; and shall be there reserved, to be

from time to time disposed of by parliament towards

defraying the necessary expenses of defending, protecting,

and securing, the British colonies and plantations in

America.

V. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,

That his Majesty and his successors shall be, and are

hereby, empowered, from time to time, by any warrant or

warrants under his or their royal sign manual or sign man-

uals, countersigned by the high treasurer, or any three or

more of the commissioners of the treasury for the time

being, to cause such moneys to be applied, out of the pro-

duce of the duties granted by this act, as his Majesty, or his

successors, shall think proper or necessary, for defraying

the charges of the administration of justice, and the sup-

port of the civil government, within all or any of the said

colonies or plantations.

VI. And whereas the allowing a drawback of all the

duties of customs upon exportation, from this kingdom, of

coffee and cocoa nuts, the growth of the British dominions

in America, may be a means of encouraging the growth of

coffee and cocoa in the said dominions; be it therefore

enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the

said twentieth day of November, one thousand seven hun-

dred and sixty seven, upon the exportation of any coffee or

cocoa nuts, of the growth or produce of any British colony

or plantation in America, from this kingdom as merchan-

dise, the whole duties of customs, payable upon the impor-

tation of such coffee or cocoa nuts, shall be drawn back

and repaid; in such manner, and under such rules, regula-

tions, penalties, and forfeitures, as any drawback or

allowance, payable out of the duties of customs upon the

exportation of such coffee or cocoa nuts, was, could, or

might be paid, before the passing of this act; any law, cus-

tom, or usage, to the contrary notwithstanding.

VII. And it is hereby further enacted by the authority

aforesaid, That no drawback shall be allowed for any china

earthen ware fold, after the paffing of this act, at the sale

of the united company of merchants of England trading to

the East Indies, which shall be entered for exportation

from Great Britain to any part of America; any law, cus-

tom, or usage, to the contrary notwithstanding.

VIII. And it is hereby further enacted by the Author-

ity aforesaid, That if any china earthen ware- fold, after the

paffing of this act, at the sale of the said united company,

246 ERA 3: Revolution and New Nation

shall be entered for exportation to any part of America as

china earthen ware that had been fold at the sale of the

said company before that time; or, if any china earthen

ware shall be entered for exportation to any parts beyond

the seas, other than to some part of America, in order to

obtain any drawback thereon, and the said china earthen

ware shall nevertheless be carried to any part of America,

and landed there, contrary to the true intent and meaning

of this act; that then, in each and every such case, the

drawback shall be forfeited; and the merchant or other

person making such entry, and the master or person taking

the charge of the ship or vessel on board which the said

goods shall be loaden for exportation, shall forfeit double

the amount of the drawback paid, or to be paid, for the

same, and also treble the value of the said goods; one moi-

ety to and for the use of his Majesty, his heirs, and succes-

sors; and the other moiety to such officer of the customs as

shall sue for the same; to be prosecuted, sued for, and

recovered, in such manner and form, and by the same

rules and regulations, as other penalties inflicted for

offenses against the laws relating to the customs may be

prosecuted, sued for, and recovered, by any act or acts of

parliament now in force.

IX. And, for the more effectual preventing the clandes-

tine running of goods in the British dominions in America,

be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That form

and after the said twentieth day of November, one thou-

sand seven hundred and fifty seven, the master or other

person having or taking the charge or command of every

ship or vessel arriving in any British colony or plantation in

America shall, before he proceeds with his vessel to the

place of unloading, come directly to the custom house for

the port or district where he arrives, and make a just and

true entry, upon oath, before the collector and comp-

troller, or other principal officer of the customs there, of

the burthen, contents, and lading, of such ship or vessel,

with the particular marks, numbers, qualities, and con-

tents, of every parcel of goods therein laden, to the best of

his knowledge; also where and in what port she took in her

lading; of what country built; how manned; who was mas-

ter during the voyage, and who are owners thereof; and

whether any, and what goods, during the course of such

voyage, had or had not been discharged out of such ship or

vessel, and where: and the master or other person having

or taking the charge or command of every ship or vessel,

going out from any British colony or plantation in America,

before he shall take in, or suffer to be taken into or laden

on board any such ship or vessel, any goods, wares, or mer-

chandises, to be exported, shall, in like manner, enter and

report outwards such ship or vessel, with her name and

burthen, of what country built, and how manned, with the

names of the master and owners thereof, and to what port

or place he intends to pass or fail: and before he shall

depart with such ship or vessel out of any such colony or

plantation, he shall also bring and deliver unto the collec-

tor and comptroller, or other principal officer of the cus-

toms at the port or place where he shall lade, a content in

writing, under his hand, of the name of every merchant, or

other person who shall have laden, or put on board any

such ship or vessel, any goods or merchandise, together

with the marks and numbers of such goods or merchan-

dise: and such master or person having or taking the

charge or command of every such ship or vessel, either

coming into, or going out of, any British colony or planta-

tion as aforesaid, whether such ship or vessel shall be laden

or in ballast, or otherwise, shall likewise publicly, in the

open custom house, to the best of his knowledge, answer

upon oath to such questions as shall be demanded of him

by the collector and comptroller, or other principal officer

of the customs for such port or place, concerning such ship

or vessel, and the destination of her voyage, or concerning

any goods or merchandise that shall or may be laden on

board her, upon forfeiture of one hundred pounds sterling

money of Great Britain. for each and every default or

neglect; to be sued for, prosecuted, recovered, and

divided, in the same manner and form, by the same rules

and regulations in all respects, as other pecuniary penal-

ties, for offenses against the laws relating to the customs or

trade of his Majesty’s colonies in America, may, by any act

or acts of parliament now in force, be prosecuted, sued for,

recovered, and divided.

X. And whereas by an act of parliament made in the

fourteenth year of the reign of King Charles the Second,

intituled, An act for preventing frauds, and regulating

abuses, in his Majesty’s customs, and several other acts

now in force, it is lawful for any officer of his Majesty’s cus-

toms, authorized by writ of assistance under the seal of his

Majesty’s court of exchequer, to take a constable, headbor-

ough, or other public officer inhabiting near unto the

place, and in the day-time to enter and go into any house,

shop, cellar, warehouse, or room or other place, and, in

case of resistance, to break open doors, thefts, trunks, and

other package there, to seize, and from thence to bring, any

kind of goods or merchandize whatsoever prohibited or

uncustomed, and to put and secure the same in his

Majesty’s shore-house next to the place where such seizure

shall be made: and whereas by an act made in the seventh

and eighth years of the reign of King William the Third,

intituled, An act for preventing frauds, and regulating

abuses, in the plantation trade, it is, amongst other things,

enacted, that the officers for collecting and managing his

Majesty’s revenue, and inspecting the plantation trade, in

America, shall have the same powers and authorities to

enter houses or warehouses, to search for and seize goods

prohibited to be imported or exported into or out of any of

the said plantations, or for which any duties are payable,

Events Leading Up to the American Revolution 247

or ought to have been paid; and that the like assistance

shall be given to the said officers in the execution of their

office, as, by the said recited act of the fourteenth year of

King Charles the Second, is provided for the officers in

England: but, no authority being expressly given by the

said act, made in the seventh and eighth years of the reign

of King William the Third, to any particular court to grant

such writs of assistance for the officers of the customs in the

said plantation, it is doubted whether such officers can

legally enter houses and other places on land, to search for

and seize goods, in the manner directed by the said recited

acts: To obviate which doubts for the future, and in order

to carry the intention of the said recited acts into effectual

execution, be it enacted , and it is hereby enacted by the

authority aforesaid, That from and after the said twentieth

day of November, one thousand seven hundred and sixty

seven, such writs of assistance, to authorize and impower

the officers of his Majesty’s customs to enter and go into

any house, warehouse, shop, cellar, or other place, in the

British colonies or plantations in America , to search for

and seize prohibited or uncustomed goods, in the manner

directed by the said recited acts, shall and may be granted

by the said superior or supreme court of justice having

jurisdiction within such colony or plantation respectively.

XI. And be it further enacted by the authority afore-

said, That if any action or suit shall be commenced, either

in Great Britain or America, against any person or persons

for any thing done in pursuance of this act, the defendant

or defendants in such action or suit may plead the general

issue, and give this act, and the special matter, in evidence

at any trial to be had thereupon; and that the same was

done in pursuance and by the authority of this act: and if it

shall appear so to have been done, the jury shall find for

the defendant or defendants: and if the plaintiff shall be

nonsuited, or discontinue his action after the defendant or

defendants shall have appeared, or if judgment shall be

given upon any verdict or demurrer against the plaintiff;

the defendant or defendants shall recover treble costs, and

have the like remedy for the same as defendants have in

other cases by law.

Source:

Danby. Pickering, ed. The Statutes at Large. Cambridge, Mass. J.

Bentham, 1762–1807, pp. 505–512.

Boston Non-Importation Agreement, 1768

Agreement entered into by the city of Boston on August 1,

1768, to completely withhold any imports from Great Britain

and to stop the purchasing of products, such as tea, paper, or

glass imported from Britain by any American colony. Because

of the heavy taxes and restrictions laid on trade by the Town-

shend Revenue Act, Boston merchants agreed in March 1768

to refuse to import any merchandise from Britain if merchants

from Philadelphia and New York would do the same. This

nonimportation league did not come into being, however,

leaving Boston to put forth its own agreement independently.

A few weeks after this decision was made, merchants of New

York and other New England towns soon followed suit. These

agreements, as well as several others similar to this one, cut

down imports from Britain by more than 50 percent.

________________________

_______________________

Agreement Entered into by the Inhabitants

of Boston

The merchants and traders in the town of Boston having

taken into consideration the deplorable situation of the

trade, and the many difficulties it at present labours under

on account of the scarcity of money, which is daily increas-

ing for want of the other remittances to discharge our

debts in Great Britain, and the large sums collected by the

officers of the customs for duties on goods imported; the

heavy taxes levied to discharge the debts contracted by the

government in the late war; the embarrassments and

restrictions laid on trade by several late acts of parliament;

together with the bad success of our cod fishery, by which

our principal sources of remittance are like to be greatly

diminished, and we thereby rendered unable to pay the

debts we owe the merchants in Great Britain, and to con-

tinue the importation of goods from thence;

We, the subscribers, in order to relieve the trade

under those discouragements, to promote industry, frugal-

ity, and economy, and to discourage luxury, and every kind

of extravagance, do promise and engage to and with each

other as follows:

First, That we will not send for or import from Great

Britain, either upon our own account, or upon commis-

sion, this fall, any other goods than what are already

ordered for the fall supply.

Secondly, That we will not send for or import any kind

of goods or merchandize from Great Britain, either on our

own account, or on commissions, or any otherwise, from

the 1st of January 1769, to the 1st of January 1770, except

salt, coals, fish-hooks and lines, hemp, and duck bar lead

and shot, wool-cards and card-wire.

Thirdly, That we will not purchase of any factor, or

others, any kind of goods imported from Great Britain,

from January 1769, to January 1770.

Fourthly, That we will not import, on our own

account, or on commissions or purchase of any who shall

import from any other colony in America, from January

1769, to January 1770, any tea, glass, paper, or other goods

commonly imported from Great Britain.

Fifthly, That we will not, from and after the 1st of Jan-

uary 1769, import into this province any tea, paper, glass,

248 ERA 3: Revolution and New Nation

or painters colours, until the act imposing duties on those

articles shall be repealed.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands,

this first day of August, 1768.

Source:

Henry Steele Commager, ed. Documents of American History.

New York: F.S. Crofts & Co., 1934.

Massachusetts Circular Letter, 1768

Document written by American patriot Samuel Adams and

approved by the Massachusetts House of Representatives in

1768 in response to the Townshend Acts, passed by the British

Parliament in the previous year, which imposed duties on

selected colonial imports. The letter informed the assemblies

of the other 12 colonies that the Massachusetts General Court

(assembly) was denouncing the Townshend Acts on the

grounds that they represented taxation without representation

and urged a united colonial protest. The British government

used the threat of dissolution in an attempt to prevent other

legislatures from endorsing the letter and did eventually dis-

solve the assemblies of Massachusetts, Virginia, and other sup-

porting colonies, thus heightening the tension between the

colonies and the British Crown. This letter presaged Adams’s

role in establishing the Massachusetts Committees of Corre-

spondence in 1772 to communicate their resistence to British

encroachments on what they considered their rights as

English. By the end of 1773, Massachusetts had some 80

towns with committees, and Virginia had opened the way for

intercolonial committees of correspondence by setting one up

in the House of Burgesses.

________________________

_______________________

The House of Representatives of this province have taken

into their serious consideration the great difficulties that

must accrue to themselves and their constituents by the

operation of several Acts of Parliament, imposing duties

and taxes on the American colonies.

As it is a subject in which every colony is deeply inter-

ested, they have no reason to doubt but your house is

deeply impressed with its importance, and that such con-

stitutional measures will be come into as are proper. It

seems to be necessary that all possible care should be

taken that the representatives of the several assemblies,

upon so delicate a point, should harmonize with each

other. The House, therefore, hope that this letter will be

candidly considered in no other light than as expressing a

disposition freely to communicate their mind to a sister

colony, upon a common concern, in the same manner as

they would be glad to receive the sentiments of your or any

other house of assembly on the continent.

The House have humbly represented to the ministry

their own sentiments, that his Majesty’s high court of Par-

liament is the supreme legislative power over the whole

empire; that in all free states the constitution is fixed, and

as the supreme legislative derives its power and authority

from the constitution, it cannot overleap the bounds of it

without destroying its own foundation; that the constitu-

tion ascertains and limits both sovereignty and allegiance,

and, therefore, his Majesty’s American subjects, who

acknowledge themselves bound by the ties of allegiance,

have an equitable claim to the full enjoyment of the funda-

mental rules of the British constitution; that it is an essen-

tial, unalterable right in nature, engrafted into the British

constitution, as a fundamental law, and ever held sacred

and irrevocable by the subjects within the realm, that what

a man has honestly acquired is absolutely his own, which

he may freely give, but cannot be taken from him without

his consent; that the American subjects may, therefore,

exclusive of any consideration of charter rights, with a

decent firmness, adapted to the character of free men and

subjects, assert this natural and constitutional right.

It is, moreover, their humble opinion, which they

express with the greatest deference to the wisdom of the

Parliament, that the Acts made there, imposing duties on

the people of this province, with the sole and express pur-

pose of raising a revenue, are infringements of their natu-

ral and constitutional rights; because, as they are not

represented in the British Parliament, his Majesty’s com-

mons in Britain, by those Acts, grant their property with-

out their consent.

This House further are of opinion that their con-

stituents, considering their local circumstances, cannot, by

any possibility, be represented in the Parliament; and that

it will forever be impracticable, that they should be equally

represented there, and consequently, not at all; being sep-

arated by an ocean of a thousand leagues. That his

Majesty’s royal predecessors, for this reason, were gra-

ciously pleased to form a subordinate legislature here, that

their subjects might enjoy the unalienable right of a repre-

sentation; also, that considering the utter impracticability

of their ever being fully and equally represented in Parlia-

ment, and the great expense that must unavoidably attend

even a partial representation there, this House think that a

taxation of their constituents, even without their consent,

grievous as it is, would be preferable to any representation

that could be admitted for them there.

Upon these principles, and also considering that were

the right in Parliament ever so clear, yet, for obvious rea-

sons, it would be beyond the rules of equity that their con-

stituents should be taxed on the manufactures of Great

Britain here, in addition to the duties they pay for them in

England, and other advantages arising to Great Britain,

from the Acts of trade, this House have preferred a hum-

Events Leading Up to the American Revolution 249

ble, dutiful, and loyal petition, to our most gracious

sovereign, and made such representations to his Majesty’s

ministers, as they apprehended would tend to obtain

redress.

They have also submitted to consideration, whether

any people can be said to enjoy any degree of freedom if

the Crown, in addition to its undoubted authority of con-

stituting a governor, should appoint him such a stipend as

it may judge proper, without the consent of the people,

and at their expense; and whether, while the judges of the

land, and other civil officers, hold not their commissions

during good behaviour, their having salaries appointed for

them by the Crown, independent of the people, hath not

a tendency to subvert the principles of equity, and endan-

ger the happiness and security of the subject. In addition

to these measures, the House have written a letter to their

agent which he is directed to lay before the ministry;

wherein they take notice of the hardships of the Act for

preventing mutiny and desertion, which requires the

governor and council to provide enumerated articles

for the king’s marching troops, and the people to pay

the expenses; and also, the commission of the gentle-

men appointed commissioners of the customs, to reside in

America, which authorizes them to make as many

appointments as they think fit, and to pay the appointees

what sum they please, for whose malconduct they are not

accountable; from whence it may happen that officers of

the Crown may be multiplied to such a degree as to

become dangerous to the liberty of the people, by virtue

of a commission, which does not appear to this House

to derive any such advantages to trade as many have

supposed.

These are the sentiments and proceedings of this

House; and as they have too much reason to believe that

the enemies of the colonies have represented them to his

Majesty’s ministers, and to the Parliament, as factious, dis-

loyal, and having a disposition to make themselves inde-

pendent of the mother country, they have taken occasion,

in the most humble terms, to assure his Majesty, and his

ministers, that, with regard to the people of this province,

and, as they doubt not, of all the colonies, the charge is

unjust. The House is fully satisfied that your assembly is

too generous and liberal in sentiment to believe that this

letter proceeds from an ambition of taking the lead, or dic-

tating to the other assemblies. They freely submit their

opinions to the judgment of others; and shall take it kind in

your house to point out to them anything further that may

be thought necessary.

This House cannot conclude, without expressing their

firm confidence in the king, our common head and father,

that the united and dutiful supplications of his distressed

American subjects will meet with his royal and favourable

acceptance.

Source:

Merrill Jensen, ed. American Colonial Documents to 1776, vol. 9

of English Historical Documents, ed. David C. Douglas.

London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1955.

The Regulators of North Carolina,

Petition, 1769

While the eastern seaboard and tidewater communities of the

colonies became more settled and peaceful, frontier problems

such as relations with Indians and land policies persisted.

Colonial assemblies were weighted toward the east as well,

leaving frontier communities feeling unrepresented. Especially

in the South, backcountry farmers differed from their tidewa-

ter leaders, most of whom held slaves and belonged to dis-

senting religious sects. The opposition in North and South

Carolina organized into “regulators,” who disrupted the courts

and refused to pay rents and taxes. An army of North Carolina

Regulators was defeated in May 1771 as they attempted to

storm the governor’s home. Six of 15 captured Regulators were

hanged. After independence, a number of Regulators either

left the state or became Loyalists, rather than support tidewa-

ter patriots.

This petition, sent to the North Carolina assembly, Octo-

ber 9, 1769, covers the grievances of the “inhabitants of Anson

County” in the western part of the colony.

________________________

_______________________

Petition dated 9 October 1769.

“Mr. Speaker and Gen’t of the Assembly.

Humbly Showeth:

That the Province in General labour under general

grievances, and the western part thereof under particular

ones; which we not only see, but very sensibly feel, being

crouch’d beneath our sufferings and not withstanding our

sacred privileges, have too long yielded ourselves slaves to

remorseless oppression.

Permit us to conceive it to be our inviolable right to

make known our grievances, and to petition for redress as

appears in the Bill of Rights pass’d in the reign of King

Charles the first, as well as the Act of Settlement of the

Crown of the Revolution. We therefore beg leave at the

Act of the Settlement of the Crown of the Revolution. We

therefore beg leave to lay before you a specimen thereof

that your compassionate endeavors may tend to the relief

of your injured Constituents, whose distressed condition

call aloud for aid. The alarming cries of the oppressed

possibly may reach your ears; but without your zeal how

they shall ascend the throne—how relentless is the breast

without sympathy, the heart that cannot bleed on a view

250 ERA 3: Revolution and New Nation

of our calamity; to see tenderness removed, cruelty step-

ping in; and all our liberties and privileges invaded and

abridg’d (by as it were) domestickes; who are conscious of

their guilt and void of remorse. O how darling! how

relentless whilst impending Judgements loudly threaten

and gaze upon them, with every emblem of merited

destruction. A few of the many grievances are as follows,

(viz’t)

1. That the poor inhabitants in general are much

oppress’d by reason of the disproportionate Taxes, and

those of the western Counties in particular; as they are

geneally in mean circumstances.

2. That no method is prescribed by law for the pay-

ment of the taxes of the Western Counties in produce (in

lieu of a currency) as in other Counties within this

Province to the Peoples great oppression.

3. That Lawyers, Clerks, and other petitioners;

in place of being obsequious Servants for the Country’s

use, are become a nuisance, as the business of the people

is often transacted without the least degree of fairness,

the intention of the law evaded, exorbitant fees extorted,

and the sufferers left to mourn under their oppressions.

4. That an Attorney should have it in his power, either

for the sake of ease or interest, or to gratify their malevo-

lence and spite, or commence suits to what courts he

pleases, however inconvenient it may be to the Defen-

dants; is a very great oppression.

5. That all unlawful fees taken in Indictment, where

the Defendant is acquited by his Country (however cus-

tomary it may be) is an oppression.

6. That Lawyers, Clerks, and others, extorting more

fees than is intended by law, is also an oppression.

7. That the violation of the King’s Instructions to his

Delegates, their artfulness in concealing the same from

him; and the great injury the People thereby sustains: is a

manifest oppression.

And for remedy whereof, we take the freedom to rec-

ommend the following mode of redress, not doubting

audience and acceptance which will not only tend to our

relief, but command prayers at a duty from your humble

Petitioners.

1. That at all elections each suffrage be given by Ticket

& Ballot.

2. That the mode of Taxation be altered, and each per-

son pay in proportion to the proffits arising from his

Estate.

3. That no future tax be laid in Money, until a currency

is made.

4. That there may be established a Western as well as

a Northern and Southern District, and a Treasurer for the

same.

5. That when a currency is made it may be let out by

a loan office (on land security) and not be called in by a tax.

6. That all debts above 60s (shillings) and under 10

pounds be tried and determined without lawyers, by a

jury of six freeholders, impaneled by a Justice, and that

their verdict be enter’d by the said Justice, and be a final

judgement.

7. That the Chief Justice have no perquisites, but a

Salary only.

8. That Clerks be restricted in respect to fees, costs,

and other things within the course of their office.

9. That Lawyers be effectively Barr’d from exacting

and extorting fees.

10. That all doubts may be removed in respect to the

payment of fees and costs on Indictments whereas the

Defendant is not found guilty by the jury, and therefore

acquited.

11. That the Assembly make known the Remonstrance

to the King, the conduct of the cruel and oppressive

Receiver of the Quit Rents, for omitting the customary

easie and effectual method of collecting by distress, and

pursuing the expensive mode of commencing suits in the

most distant Courts.

12. That the Assembly in like manner make known

that the Governor and Council do frequently grant lands to

as many as they think proper without regard to Head

Rights, notwithstanding the contrariety of his Majesties

instructions, by which means immence sums has been col-

lected, and numerous Patents granted, for much of the

most fertile lands in this Province, that is yet uninhabited

and cultivated, environed by great numbers of poor people

who are necessitated to toil in the cultivation of bad Lands

whereon they hardly can subsist, who are thereby deprived

of His Majesties liberality and Bounty nor is there the least

regard paid to the cultivation clause in said Patent men-

tioned, as many of the said Council as well as their friends

and favorites enjoy large quantities of Lands under the

above-mentioned circumstances.

13. That the Assembly communicates in like manner

the Violation of His Majesties Instructions respecting the

Land Office by the Governor and Council, and of their

own rules, customs and orders. If it be sufficiently proved,

that after they had granted Warrants for some Tracts of

Land, and that the same was in due time suvey’d and

returned and the Patent fees timely paid into the said

office; and that if a private Council was called to avoid

spectators, and peremptory orders made that Patents

should not be granted; and Warrants by their orders arbi-

trarily to have been issued in the names of other Persons

for the same Lands, and if when intreated by a solicitor

they refus’d to render so much as a reason for their so

doing, or to refund any part of the money paid by them

extorted.

14. That some method may be pointed out that every

Improvement on Lands in any of the Proprietors part

Events Leading Up to the American Revolution 251