Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
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they are entitled to a free and exclusive power of legislation in their several provincial legislatures, where their right of representation can alone
be preserved, in all cases of taxation and internal polity, subject only to
the negative of their sovereign, in such manner as has been heretofore
used and accustomed. But, from the necessity of the case, and a regard to
the mutual interest of both countries, we cheerfully consent to the operation of such acts of the British parliament, as are bona fide restrained to
the regulation of our external commerce, for the purpose of securing the
commercial advantages of the whole empire to the mother country, and
the commercial benefits of its respective members excluding every idea
of taxation, internal or external, for raising a revenue on the subjects in
America without their consent.
5. That the respective colonies are entitled to the common law of England, and more especially to the great and inestimable privilege of being
tried by their peers of the vicinage, according to the course of that law.
6. That they are entitled to the benefit of such of the English statutes,
as existed at the time of their colonization; and which they have, by experience, respectively found to be applicable to their several local and
other circumstances.
7. That these, his majesty’s colonies, are likewise entitled to all the immunities and privileges granted and confirmed to them by royal charters, or secured by their several codes of provincial laws.
8. That they have a right peaceably to assemble, consider of their
grievances, and petition the King; and that all prosecutions, prohibitory
proclamations, and commitments for the same, are illegal.
9. That the keeping a Standing army in these colonies, in times of
peace, without the consent of the legislature of that colony in which such
army is kept, is against law.
10. It is indispensably necessary to good government, and rendered
essential by the English constitution, that the constituent branches of the
legislature be independent of each other; that, therefore, the exercise of
legislative power in several colonies, by a council appointed during pleasure, by the crown, is unconstitutional, dangerous, and destructive to the
freedom of American legislation.
All and each of which the aforesaid deputies, in behalf of themselves,
and their constituents, do claim, demand, and insist on, as their indubi-