[INLINE]
Fairfax County Resolves
(July 18, 1774)
At a general Meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County
of Fairfax on Monday the 18th day of July 1774, at the Court House,
George Washington Esquire Chairman, and robert Harrison Gent. Clerk of
the said Meeting--
1. Resolved that this Colony and Dominion of Virginia can not be
considered as a conquered Country; and if it was, that the present
Inhabitants are the Descendants not of the Conquered, but of the
Conquerors.
That the same was not setled at the national Expence of England, but
at the private Expence of the Adventurers, our Ancestors, by solemn
Compact with, and under the Auspices and Protection of the British
Crown; upon which we are in every Respect as dependant, as the People
of Great Britain, andine same Manner subject to all his Majesty's
just, legal, and constitutional Prerogatives. That our Ancestors, when
they left their native Land, and setled in America, brought with them
(even if the same had not been confirmed by Charters) the Civil-
Constitution and Form of Government of the Country they came from; and
were by the Laws of Nature and Nations, entitled to all it's
Privileges, Immunities and Advantages; which have descended to us
their Posterity, and ought of Right to be as fully enjoyed, as if we
had still continued within the Realm of England.
2. Resolved that the most important and valuable Part of the British
Constitution, upon which it's very Existence depends, is the
fundamental Principle of the People's being governed by no Laws, to
which they have not given their Consent, by Representatives freely
chosen by themselves; who are affected by the Laws they enact equally
with their Constituents; to whom they are accountable, and whose
Burthens they share; in which consists the Safety and Happiness of the
Community: for if this Part of the Constitution was taken away, or
materially altered, the Government must degenerate either into an
absolute and despotic Monarchy, or a tyrannical Aristocracy, and the
Freedom of the People be annihilated.
3. Resolved therefore, as the Inhabitants of the american Colonies are
not, and from their situation can not be represented in the British
Parliament, that the legislative Power here can of Right be exercised
only by {our} own Provincial Assemblys or Parliaments, subject to the
Assent or Negative of the British Crown, to be declared within some
proper limited Time. But as it was thought just and reasonable that
the People of Great Britain shou'd reap Advantages from these Colonies
adequate to the Protection they afforded them, the British Parliament
have claimed and exercised the Power of regulating our Trade and
Commerce, so as to restrain our importing from foreign Countrys, such
Articles as they cou'd furnish us with, of their own Growth or
Manufacture, or exporting to foreign Countrys such Articles and
Portions of our Produce, as Great Britain stood in Need of, for her
won Consumption or Manufactures. Such a Power directed with Wisdom and
Moderation, seems necessary for the general Good of that great
Body-politic of which we are a Part; altho' in some Degree repugnant
to the Principles of the Constitution. Under this Idea our Ancestors
submitted to it: the Experience of more than a Century, during the
government of the reciprocal Benefits flowing from it produced mutual
uninterrupted Harmony and Good- Will, between the Inhabitants of Great
Britain and her Colonies; who during that long Period, always
considered themselves as one and same People: and tho' such a Power is
capable of Abuse, and in some Instances hath been stretched beyond the
ornal Design and Institution. Yet to avoid Strife and Contention
with our fellow-Subjects, and strongly impressed with the Experience
of mutual Benefits, we always Chearfully acquiesced in it, while the
entire Regulation of our internal Policy, and giving and granting our
own Money were preserved to our own provincial Legislatures.
4. Resolved that it is the Duty of these Colonies, on all Emergencies,
to contribute, in Proportion to their Abilities, Situation and
Circumstances, to the necessary Charge of supporting and defending the
British Empire, of which they are Part; that while we are treated upon
an equal Footing with our fellow Subjects, the Motives of
Self-Interest and Preservation will be a sufficient Obligation; as was
evident thro' the Course of the last War; and that no Argument can be
fairly apl to the British Parliament's taxing us, upon a
Presumption that we shou'd refuse a just and reasonable Contribution,
but will equally operate in Justification of the Executive-Power
taxing the People of England, upon a Supposition of their
Representatives refusing to grant the necessary Supplies.
5. Resolved that the Claim lately assumed and exercised by the British
Parliament, of making all such Laws as they think fit, to govern the
People of these Colonies, and to extort from us our Money with out our
Consent, is not only diametrically contrary to the first Principles of
the Constitution, and the original Compacts by which we are dependant
upon the British Crown and Government; but is totally incompatible
with the Privileges of a free People, and the natural Rights of
Mankind; will render our own Legislatures merely nominal and nugatory,
and is calculated to reduce us from a State of Freedom and Happiness
to Slavery and Misery.
6. Resolved that Taxation and Representation are in their Nature
inseperable; that the Right of withholding, or of giving and granting
their own Money is the only effectual Security to a free People,
against the Incroachments of Despotism and Tyranny; and that whenever
they yield the One, they must quickly fall a Prey to the other.
7. Resolved that the Powers over the People of America now claimed by
the British House of Commons, in whose Election we have no Share, on
whose Determinations we can have no Influence, whose Information mush
be always defective and often false, who in many Instances may have a
seperate, and in some an opposite Interest to ours, and who are
removed from those Impressions of tenderness and compassion arising
from personal intercourse and Connections, which soften the Rigours of
the most despotic Governments, must if continued, establish the most
grievous and intollerable Species of Tyranny and Oppression, that ever
was inflicted upon Mankind.
8. Resolved that it is our greatest Wish and Inclination, as well as
Interest, to continue our Connection with, and Dependance upon the
British Government; but tho' we are it's Subjects, we will use every
Means which Heaven hath given us to prevent our becoming it's Slaves.
9. Resolved that there is a premeditated Design and System, formed and
pursued by the British Ministry, to introduce an arbitrary Government
into his Majesty's American Diminions; to which End they are artfully
prejudicing our Sovereign, and inflaming the Minds of our
fellow-Subjects in Great Britain, by propagating the most malevolent
Falsehoods; particularly that there is an Intention in the American
Colonies to set up for independant States; endeavouring at the same
Time, by various Acts of Violence and Oppression, by sudden and
repeaedssolutions of our Assemblies, whenever they presume to
examine the Illegality of ministerial Mandates, or deliberate on the
violated Rights of their Constituents, and by breaking in upon the
American Charters, to reduce us to a State of Desperation, and
dissolve the original Compacts by which our Ancestors bound themselves
and their Posterity to remain dependant upon the British Crown: which
Measures, unless effectually counteracted, will end in the Ruin both
of Great Britain and her Colonies.
10. Resolved that the several Acts of Parliament for raising a Revenue
upon the People of America without their Consent, the creating new and
dangerous Jurisdictions here, the taking away our Trials by Jurys, the
ordering Persons upon Criminal Accusations, to be tried in another
Country than that in which the Fact is charged to have been committed,
the Act inflicting ministerial Vengeance upon the Town of Boston, and
the two Bills lately brought into Parliament for abrogating the
Charter of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and for the Protection
and Encouragement of Murderers in the said Province, are Part of the
above mentioned iniquitous System. That the Inhabitants of the Town of
Boston are now suffering in the common Cause of all British America,
and are justly entitled to it's Support and Assistance; and therefore
that a Subscription ought imediatly to be opened, and proper Persons
appointed, in every County of this Colony to purchase Provisions, and
consign them to some Gentleman of Character in Boston, to be
distributed among the poorer Sort of People there.
11. Resolved that we will cordially join with our Friends and Brethren
of this and the other Colonies, in such Measures as shall be judged
most effectual for procuring Redress of our Grievances, and that upon
obtaining such Redress if the Destruction of the Tea at Boston be
regarded as an Invasion of private Property, we shall be willing to
contribute towards paying the East India Company the Value: but as we
consider the said Company as the Tools and Instrument of Oppression in
the Hands of Government and the Cause of our present Distress, it is
the Opinion of this Meeting that the People of these Colonies ho
forbear all further Dealings with them, by refusing to purchase their
Merchandize, until that Peace Safety and Good- order, which they have
disturbed, be perfectly restored. And that all Tea now in this Colony,
or which shall be imported into it shiped before the first Day of
September next, shou'd be deposited in some Store-house to be
appointed by the respective Committees of each County, until a
sufficient Sum of Money be raised by Subscription to reimburse the
Owners the Value, and then to be publickly burn'd and destroyed; and
if the same is not paid for and destroyed as aforesaid, that it remain
in the Custody of the said Committees, at the Risque of the Owners,
until the Act of Parliament imposing a Duty upon Tea for raising a
Revenue in America be repealed; and imediatly afterwards be delivered
unto the several Proprietors thereof, their Agents or Attorneys.
12. Resolved that Nothing will so much contribute to defeat the
pernicious Designs of the common Enemies of Great Britain and her
Colonies as a firm Union of the latter; who ought to regard every Act
of Violence or Oppression inflicted upon any one of them, as aimed at
all; and to effect this desireable Purpose, that a Congress shou'd be
appointed, to consist of Deputies from all the Colonies, to concert a
general and uniform Plan for the Defence and Preservation of our
common Rights, and continueing the Connection and Dependance of the
said Colonies upon Great Britain under a just, lenient, permanent, and
constitutional Form of Government.
13. Resolved that our most sincere and cordial Thanks be given to the
Patrons and Friends of Liberty in Great Britain, for their spirited
and patriotick Conduct in Support of our constitutional Rights and
Privledges, and their generous Efforts to prevent the present Distress
and Calamity of America.
14. Resolved that every little jarring Interest and Dispute, which has
ever happened between these Colonies, shou'd be buried in eternal
Oblivion; that all Manner of Luxury and Extravagance ought imediatly
to be laid aside, as totally inconsistent with the threatening and
gloomy Prospect before us; that it is the indispensable Duty of all
the Gentlemen and Men of Fortune to set Examples of Temperance,
Fortitude, Frugality and Industry; and give every Encouragement in
their Power, partiuly by Subscriptions and Premiums, to the
Improvement of Arts and Manufactures in America; that great Care and
Attention shou'd be had to the Cultivation of Flax, Cotton, and other
Materials for Manufactures; and we recommend it to such of the
Inhabitants who have large Stocks of Sheep, to sell to their Neighbors
at a moderate Price, as the most certain Means of speedily increasing
our Breed of Sheep, and Quantity of Wool.
15. Resolved that until American Grievances be redressed, by
Restoration of our just Rights and Privileges, no Goods or Merchandize
whatsoever ought to be imported into this Colony, which shall be
shiped from Great Britain or Ireland after the first Day of September
next, except Linnens not exceeding fifteen Pence {per} yard, coarse
woolen Cloth, not exceeding two Shillings sterling {per} Yard, Nails
Wire, and Wire-Cards, Needles & Pins, Paper, Salt Petre, and
Medecines; which may {which three Articles only may} be imported until
the first Day of September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy
six; and if any Goods or Merchandize, othe[r] than those hereby
excepted, shou'd be ship'd from Great Britain, {or Ireland} after the
time aforesaid, to this Colony, that the same, immediately upon their
Arrival, shou'd either be sent back again, by the Owners their Agents
or Attorn[ey]s, or stored and deposited in some Ware- house, to be
appointed by the Committee for each respective County, and there kept,
at the Risque and Charge of the Owners, to be delivered to them, when
a free Importation of Goods hither shall again take Place. And that
the Merchants and Venders of Goods and Merchandize within this Colony
ought not to take Advantage of our present Distress b[u]t continue to
sell the Goods and Merchandize which they now have, or wicay be
shiped to them before the first Day of September next, at the same
Rates and Prices they have been accustomed to do, within one Year last
past; and if any Person shall sell such Goods on any other Terms than
above expressed, that no Inhabitant of this Colony shou'd at any time,
for ever thereafter, deal with him, his Agent, Factor, or Store
keepers for any Commodity whatsoever.
16. Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Meeting, that the
Merchants and Venders of Goods and Merchandize within this Colony
shou'd take an Oath, not to sell or dispose of any Goods or
Merchandize whatsoever, which may be shiped from Great Britain {or
Ireland} after the first Day of September next as afoes, except
the {three} Articles before excepted, and that they will, upon Receipt
of such prohibited Goods, either send the same back again by the first
Opportunity, or deliver them to the Committees in the respective
Countys, to be deposited in some Warehouse, at the Risque and Charge
of the Owners, until they, their Agents or Factors be permitted to
take them away by the said Committees: the Names of those who refuse
to take such Oath to be advertized by the respective Committees in the
Countys wherein they reside., And to the End that the Inhabitants of
this Colony may know what Merchants, and Venders of Goods and
Merchandize have taken such Oath, that the respective Committees
shou'd grant a Certificate thereof to every such Person who shall take
the same.
17. Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Meeting, that during our
present Difficulties and Distress, no Slaves ought to be imported into
any of the British Colonies on this Continent; and we take this
Opportunity of declaring our most earnest Wishes to see an entire Stop
for ever put to such a wicked cruel and unnatural Trade.
18. Resolved that no kind of Lumber shou'd be exported from this
Colony to the West Indies, until America be restored to her
constitutional Rights and Liberties if the other Colonies will accede
to a like Resolution; and that it be recommended to the general
Congress to appoint as early a Day as possible for stopping such
Export.
19. Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Meeting, if American
Grievances be not redressed before the first Day of November one
thousand seven hundred and seventy five, that all Exports of Produce
from the several Colonies to Great Britain {or Ireland} shou'd cease;
and to carry the said Resolution more effectually into Execution, that
we will not plant or cultivate any Tobacco, after the Crop now
growing; provided the same Measure shall be adopted by the other
Colonies on this Continent, as well those who have heretofore made
Tobacco, as those who have n[o]t. And it is our Opinion also, if the
Congress of Deputies from the several Colonies shall adopt the Measure
of Non- exportation to Great Britain, as the People will be thereby
ised from paying their Debts, that no Judgements shou'd be
rendered by the Courts in the said Colonies for any Debt, after
Information of the said Measure's being determined upon.
20. Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Meeting that a solemn
Covenant and Association shou'd be entered into by the Inhabitants of
all the Colonies upon Oath, that they will not, after the Times which
shall be respectively agreed on at the general Congress, export any
Manner of Lumber to the West Indies, nor any of their Produce to Great
Britain {or Ireland}, or sell or dispose of the same to any Person who
shall not have entered into the said Covenant and Association; and
also that they will no import or receive any Goods or Merchandize
which shall be ship'd from Great Britain {or Ireland} after the first
Day of September next, other than the before enumerated Articles, nor
buy or purchase any Goods, except as before excepted, of any Person
whatsoever, who shall not have taken the Oath herein before
recommended to be taken by the Merchants and Venders of Goods nor buy
or purchase any Slaves hereafter imported into any Part of this
Continent until a free Exportation and Importation be again resolved
on by a Majority of the Representatives or Deputies of the Colonies.
And that the respective Committees of the Countys, in each Colony so
soon as the Covenant and Association becomes general, publich by
Advertisements in their several Counties {and Gazettes of their
Colonies}, a List of the Names of those (if any such there be) who
will not accede thereto; that such Traitors to their Country may be
publickly known and detested.
21. Resolved that it is the Opinion of this Meeting, that this and the
other associating Colonies shou'd break off all Trade, Intercourse,
and Dealings, with that Colony Province or Town which shall decline or
refuse to agree to the Plan which shall be adopted by the general
Congress.
22. Resolved that shou'd the Town of Boston be forced to submit to the
late cruel and oppressive Measures of Government, that we shall not
hold the same to be binding upon us, but will, notwithstanding ,
be concerted by the general Congress, for the preservation of ourshall
Lives Liberties and Fortunes.
23. Resolved that it be recommended to the Deputies of the general
Congress to draw up and transmit an humble and dutiful Petition and
Remonstrance to his Majesty, asserting with decent Firmness our just
and constitutional Rights and Privileg[es,] lamenting the fatal
Necessity of being compelled to enter into Measur[es] disgusting to
his Majesty and his Parliament, or injurious to our fellow Subjects in
Great Britain; declaring, in the strongest Terms, ou[r] Duty and
Affection to his Majesty's Person, Family [an]d Government, and our
Desire to continue our Dependance upon Great Bri[tai]n; and most
humbly conjuring and besecching his Majesty, not to reduce his
faithful Subjects of America to a State of desperation, and to
reflect, that from our Sovereign there can be but one Appeal. And it
is the Opinion of this Meeting, that after such Petition and
Remonstrance shall have been presented to his Majesty, the same shou'd
be printed in the public Papers, in all the principal Towns in Great
Britain.
24. Resolved that George Washington Esquire, and George Broadwater
Gent. lately elected our Representatives to serve in the general
Assembly, be appointed to attend the Convention at Williamsburg on the
first Day of August next, and present these Resolves, as the Sense of
the People of this County, upon the Measures proper to be taken in the
present alarming and dangerous Situation of America.
