Report of the Committee

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Die Mercurij, 10 ho˙, A˙ M˙, the 8th March, 1775.

Mr˙ Kissam, from the Committee appointed to prepare a set of Resolutions to be entered on the Journals, pursuant to Colonel P˙ Livingston' s motion of the 31st day of January last, reported that they had prepared sundry Resolutions accordingly; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered them in at the table, where the same were again read; and thereupon, it was

Ordered, That the said Resolutions be referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Whole House, and that the House resolve itself into a Committee thereupon immediately.

The House then accordingly resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House upon the said Resolutions. After some time spent therein, Mr˙ Speaker resumed the Chair, and Colonel Seaman reported, that he was directed by the Committee to report to the House, that they had gone through the said Resolutions, and made some amendments thereto; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered them, as amended, in at the table, where the same were again read, and are as follow, viz:

1st, Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the people of this Colony owe the same faith and allegiance to his most gracious Majesty, King George the Third, that are due to him from his subjects in Great Britain.

2d. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that his Majesty' s subjects in this Colony owe obedience to all Acts of Parliament calculated for the general weal of the whole Empire, and the due regulation of the Trade and Commerce thereof, and not inconsistent with the essential rights and liberties of Englishmen, to which they are equally entitled with their fellow-subjects in Great Britain.

3d. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that it is essential to freedom, and the undoubted right of Englishmen, that no Taxes be imposed on them but with their consent, given personally, or by their Representatives in General Assembly.

4th. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the Acts of Parliament, raising a Revenue in America, especially to provide for the support of the Civil Government and administration of justice in the Colonies — extending the jurisdiction of the Courts of Admiralty beyond their ancient limits — authorizing the Judge' s Certificate to indemnify the prosecutor from damages he would otherwise be liable to, giving them a concurrent jurisdiction of causes heretofore cognizable only in the Courts of Common Law, and by that means depriving the American subject of his trial by a Jury, are destructive to freedom, and subversive of the rights and liberties of the Colonies.

5th. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that a trial by a Jury of the vicinage, in all capital cases, is the grand security of freedom, and the birthright of Englishmen; and therefore, that the seizing any person or persons residing in this Colony, suspected of Treasons, misprisions of Treason, or any other offences, and sending such person or persons out of the same to be tried, is dangerous

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Colonel Seaman then also reported, that when they came to the second Resolution, Colonel Woodhull moved, that between the word "thereof" and the word "and," the following words be inserted, to wit: "excluding every idea of Taxation, internal or external, for the purpose of raising a Revenue on the subjects in America, without their consent."

That Mr˙ De Lancey then moved that the previous question be first put, whether the question upon Colonel Woodhull' s motion be now put? And debates arising thereon, and the said previous question being accordingly put, it was carried in the negative, (that is to say, that the question upon Colonel Woodhull' s motion be now put,) in manner following, viz:

For the Negative.

Mr˙ Wilkins,
Mr˙ Kissam,
Mr˙ Billopp,
Mr˙ Brush,
Colonel Wells,
Mr˙ Speaker,
Mr˙ Jauncey,
Mr˙ De Lancey,
Mr˙ Nicoll,
Mr˙ Walton,
Mr˙ Coe,
Mr˙ Gale,
Colonel Philips,
Colonel Seaman, Chairman.

For the Affirmative.

Colonel P˙ Livingston,
Mr˙ Clinton,
Mr˙ De Witt,
Colonel Woodhull,
Captain Seaman,
Mr˙ Boerum,
Mr˙ Ten Eyck,
Mr˙ Van Kleeck,
Colonel Ten Broeck,
Mr˙ Brinckerhoff,
Colonel Schuyler,
Mr˙ Van Cortlandt,
Mr˙ Thomas.

That on reading the third Resolution, a motion was made by Mr˙ Clinton, in the words following, viz:

Mr˙ Chairman: I move that the following words be inserted in the third Resolution, between the words "Taxes" and "be," to wit: "of any kind or nature, or under any denomination whatever." And debates arising upon the same, and the question being put thereon, it was carried in the negative, in manner following, viz:

For the Negative.

Mr˙ Wilkins,
Mr˙ Kissam,
Mr˙ Billopp,
Mr˙ Brush,
Colonel Wells,
Mr˙ Speaker,
Mr˙ Jauncey,
Mr˙ Walton,
Mr˙ De Lancey,
Mr˙ Nicoll,
Mr˙ Coe,
Mr˙ Gale,
Colonel Philips,
Mr˙ Ten Eyck.

For the Affirmative.

Colonel P˙ Livingston,
Mr˙ Clinton,
Mr˙ De Witt,
Colonel Woodhull,
Captain Seaman,
Mr˙ Boerum,
Mr˙ Van Kleeck,
Colonel Ten Broeck,
Mr˙ Brinckerhoff,
Colonel Schuyler,
Mr˙ Van Cortlandt,
Mr˙ Thomas.

Which Report he read in his place, and afterwards delivered the Bill in at the table, where the same, with the aforesaid Resolutions, were severally read a second time. On the question whether the House agree to the same? debates arose, the House divided, and it passed in the affirmative, in manner following, viz:

For the Affirmative.

Mr˙ Wilkins,
Mr˙ Kissam,
Mr˙ Billopp,
Mr˙ Brush,
Colonel Wells,
Mr˙ Jauncey,
Mr˙ Van Kleeck,
Mr˙ Walton,
Mr˙ De Lancey,
Mr˙ Nicoll,
Mr˙ Gale,
Colonel Philips,
Colonel Seaman,
Mr˙ Ten Eyck.

For the Negative.

Mr˙ Coe,
Mr˙ Livingston,
Mr˙ Clinton,
Mr˙ De Witt,
Colonel Woodhull,
Captain Seaman,
Mr˙ Boerum,
Colonel Ten Broeck,
Mr˙ Brinckerhoff,
Colonel Schuyler,
Mr˙ Van Cortlandt,
Mr˙ Thomas.

Resolved therefore, That this House doth agree with the Committee, in their said Report and Resolutions.