a p p e ndix c
Declaration and Resolves of the
First Continental Congress
October 14, 1774
Whereas, since the close of the last war, the British parliament, claiming
a power of right to bind the people of America by statute in all cases
whatsoever, hath, in some acts expressly imposed taxes on them, and in
others, under various pretenses, but in fact for the purpose of raising a
revenue, hath imposed rates and duties payable in these colonies, established a board of commissioners with unconstitutional powers, and extended the jurisdiction of courts of Admiralty not only for collecting the
said duties, but for the trial of causes merely arising within the body of a
county.
And whereas, in consequence of other statutes, judges who before
held only estates at will in their offices, have been made dependent on
the Crown alone for their salaries, and standing armies kept in times of
peace. And it has lately been resolved in Parliament, that by force of a
statute made in the thirty-fifth year of the reign of King Henry the Eighth,
colonists may be transported to England, and tried there upon accusations
for treasons and misprisions, or concealments of treasons committed in
the colonies; and by a late statute, such trials have been directed in cases
therein mentioned:
And whereas, in the last session of Parliament, three statutes were
made . . . [the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the
Administration of Justice Act], and another statute was then made [the
Quebec Act] . . . All which statutes are impolitic, unjust, and cruel, as well
as unconstitutional, and most dangerous and destructive of American
rights.
And whereas, Assemblies have been frequently dissolved, contrary
to the rights of the people, when they attempted to deliberate on griev171