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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Resolutions by inhabitants of Chowan County concerning resistance to Parliamentary taxation and the Provincial Congress of North Carolina
Earl, Daniel, d. 1790; Et Al.
August 22, 1774
Volume 09, Pages 1037-1038

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Proceedings of Freeholders in Chowan County, 22nd August, 1774.

At a very respectable and numerous Meeting of the Freeholders of the County of Chowan and Town of Edenton, and other Inhabitants of the said County and Town, at the Court House in Edenton on the 22nd day of August in the year of our Lord 1774 the Revd Mr Daniel Earl in the chair.

We profess and testify our allegiance to his most sacred Majesty King George the third, our most gracious Sovereign whom we will at all times support in the just & legal exercise of the powers vested in him by the British Constitution, for the good of his people to the utmost of our Power.

Resolved, That it is the natural right of mankind to enjoy and possess the property acquired by their labour and industry, until they consent to part from it, that this right is amply secured to every British Subject by the Fundamental Laws and Constitution of Great Britain; and that the Inhabitants of this Province are intitled to all Liberties, Franchises and Privileges of his Majesty's British Subjects.

Resolved, That all Acts of the British Parliament imposing Taxes or Duties, for the purpose of raising a revenue, to be paid by the Inhabitants of this, or any other of His Majestie's Colonies in America, are arbitrary and unjust, tending to create unhappy jealousies between his Majesty's British and American Subjects, and to destroy our natural rights and privileges, confirmed and guaranteed, by Royal Charter to our Ancestors and their Posterity.

Resolved, That the Act for stopping up the Port of Boston is highly unjust, oppressive and unworthy the British Legislature in as much as it must have been obtained from misinformation, and from suggestions, if not altogether groundless, highly exaggerated. That the act for the better regulating the government of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in North America, is an attempt to dissolve a Contract most solemnly entered into by the present Ancestors of the Massachusetts Bay with their Sovereign; a contract wch ought to be held inviolable, without the mutual consent of King and People; That if the King and Parliament continue to exercise this power, none of the Colonies may expect to enjoy their rights and Privileges longer than they approve themselves obsequious to the Dependants on Administration. That the Act for the impartial Administration of justice in the cases of Persons questioned for any Acts done by

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them in their execution of the Laws, or for the suppression of Riots and Tumults in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, puts it in the power of a cruel and despotic Governor, wantonly to sport with the lives of His Majesty's subjects in that Province with impunity.

Resolved, That the above Acts are a dreadful presage of what we have to apprehend from a Legislature which claims a power of making Statutes to bind the Inhabitants of the Colonies in all cases whatsoever.

Resolved, That the most probable means of defeating the baneful purposes intended to be carried into execution under the above Acts is, to promote and encourage the Manufactures of this Country by wearing them ourselves and using them in our families, and to avoid, as much as possible, the purchase of any British or India Wares or Manufactures.

Resolved, That Samuel Johnston, Thomas Oldham, Thomas Jones, Thomas Benbury, Thomas Hunter and Joseph Hewes Esqrs be appointed to represent this County and Town at the meeting of the Delegates from the several Counties in this Province at Newbern the 25th instant to deliberate on the most effectual means of providing against the evils which threaten our Constitution, and to appoint Delegates to represent this Province at a General Congress of Deputies from all the American Colonies at Philadelphia.

Resolved, That we will faithfully observe and endeavor to carry into execution, all Orders and Resolutions entered into by the Delegates, both in the Provincial and General Congress (saving our allegiance to his Majesty).