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America’s First Constitutions and Declarations of Rights
table rights and liberties; which cannot be legally taken from them, altered or abridged by any power whatever, without their own consent, by
their representatives in their several provincial legislatures.
In the course of our inquiry, we find many infringements and violations of the foregoing rights, which, from an ardent desire that harmony
and mutual intercourse of affection and interest may be restored, we pass
over for the present, and proceed to state such acts and measures as have
been adopted since the last war, which demonstrate a system formed to
enslave America.
Resolved, That the following acts of Parliament are infringements and
violations of the rights of the colonists; and that the repeal of them is essentially necessary, in order to restore harmony between Great Britain
and the American colonies, . . . viz.:
The several Acts of 4 Geo. 3, ch. 15 & ch. 34, 5 Geo. 3, ch. 25; 6 Geo. 3,
ch. 52; 7 Geo. 3, ch. 41 & 46; 8 Geo. 3, ch. 22; which impose duties for the
purpose of raising a revenue in America, extend the powers of the admiralty courts beyond their ancient limits, deprive the American subject
of trial by jury, authorize the judges’ certificate to indemnify the prosecutor from damages that he might otherwise be liable to, requiring oppressive security from a claimant of ships and goods seized before he
shall be allowed to defend his property; and are subversive of American
rights.
Also the 12 Geo. 3, ch. 24, entitled ‘‘An act for the better preserving his
Majesty’s dockyards, magazines, ships, ammunition, and stores,’’ which
declares a new offense in America, and deprives the American subject of
a constitutional trial by jury of the vicinage, by authorizing the trial of
any person charged with the committing any offense described in the
said act, out of the realm, to be indicted and tried for the same in any
shire or county within the realm.
Also the three acts passed in the last session of parliament, for stopping the port and blocking up the harbour of Boston, for altering the
charter & government of the Massachusetts-bay, and that which is entitled ‘‘An Act for the better administration of Justice,’’ &c.
Also the act passed the same session for establishing the Roman Catholic Religion in the province of Quebec, abolishing the equitable system
of English laws, and erecting a tyranny there, to the great danger, from