Resolutions Adopted Unanimously

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Monday, July 10, 1775.

The following Resolves were unanimously entered into.

Whereas, by the unrelenting fury of a despotick Ministry, with a view to enforce the most oppressive Acts of a venal and corrupted Parliament, an army of mercenaries, under an unfeeling commander, has actually begum civil war in America: and whereas, the apparent iniquity and cruelty of these destructive measures have, however, had this good effect, to unite men of all ranks in the common cause: and whereas, to consult on means of safety, and method of obtaining redress, the good people of this Province of Georgia have thought proper to appoint a Provincial Congress, the Delegates met at the said Congress, now assembled from every part of the Province, besides adopting the Resolutions of the late Continental Congress, find it prudent to enter into such other Resolutions as may best express their own sense and the sense of their constituents, on the present unhappy situation of things, and therefore thought fit and necessary to resolve as follows, viz:

Resolved, That we were born free have all the feelings of men, and are entitled to all the natural rights of mankind.

Resolved, That by birth or incorporation we are all Britons, and whatever Britons pay claim as their birthrights is also ours.

Resolved, That in the British Empire, to which we belong, the Constitution is superiour to every man or set of men whatever, and that it is a crime of the deepest dye, in any instance, to impair or take it away, or deprive the meanest subject of its benefits.

Resolved, That that part of the American Continent which we inhabit was originally granted by the Crown,

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Resolved, That those who would now subject all America, or this Province, to dependancy on the Crown and Parliament, are guilty of a very dangerous innovation, which in time will appear as injurious to the Crown as it is inconsistent with the liberty of the American subject.

Resolved, That by the law of nature, and the British Constitution, no man can legally be deprived of his property without his consent, given by himself or his representatives.

Resolved, That the Acts of the British Parliament for raising a perpetual revenue on the Americans, by laying a tax on them without their consent, and contrary to their protestations, are diametrically opposite to every idea of property, to the spirit of the Constitution, and at one stroke deprive this vast Continent of all liberty and property, and as such, must be detested by every well-wisher to Great Britain and America.

Resolved, That the subsequent laws, made with a view to enforce these Acts, viz: The Boston Port Bill; the alteration of their Charter; the Act to carry beyond sea for trial; and (what refines upon every species of cruelty) the Fishery Bill; are of such a complexion that we can say nothing about them for want of words to express our abhorrence and detestation.

Resolved, That the loyalty, patience, and prudence of the inhabitants of New-England, under their unparalleled pressures, having been construed into a timidity and a dread of Regular Troops, a civil war, in support of acts extremely oppressive in themselves, hath actually been begun, and that there is too much reason to believe that plans have been in agitation big with every thing horrible to other Provinces; plans as rash, barbarous, and destructive, as the cause which they were intended to serve.

Resolved, That in these times of extreme danger, our Assembly not being permitted to sit, we must either have been a people without all thought or counsel, or have assembled as we now are in Provincial Congress, to consult upon measures which, under God, may prove the means of a perpetual union with the Mother Country, and tend to the honour, freedom, and safety of both.

Resolved, That the Province bears all true allegiance to our own rightful Sovereign, King George the Third, and always will, and ought to bear it, agreeable to the Constitution of Great Britain, by virtue of which only the King is now our Sovereign, and which equally binds Majesty and Subjects.

Resolved, That we are truly, sensible how much our safety and happiness depend on a constitutional connection with Great Britain; and that nothing but the being deprived of the privileges and natural rights of Britons could ever make the thought of a separation otherwise than intolerable.

Resolved, That in case His Majesty, or his successors, shall, at any time hereafter, make any requisition to the good people of this Province, by his representative, it will be just and right that such sums should be granted as the nature of the service may require, and the ability and situation of this Province will admit of.

Resolved, That this Province join with all the Provinces in America, now met by Delegates in Continental Congress, and that John Houstoun and Archibald Bullock, Esquires, the Rev˙ Dr˙ Zubly, Lyman Hall, and Noble Wimberly Jones, Esquires, be the Delegates from this Province, and that any three constitute a quorum for that purpose.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed, whose duty it shall be to see that the Resolutions of the Continental and Provincial. Congresses be duly observed, and that every person who shall act in opposition thereto, have his name transmitted to the Continental Congress, and his misdeeds be published in every American paper.

Resolved, That with all such persons, except the indispensable duties that we owe all mankind, (bad men and enemies are not excepted,) we will have no dealings nor connection; and we extend this our Resolution also to all such persons or corporations in Great Britain who have shown themselves enemies to America.

Resolved, That we will do what in us lies to preserve and promote the peace and good order of this Province;

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Resolved, That in such calamitous times as the present every possible indulgence ought to be given to honest debtors; that it would be ungenerous, unless there appear intention of fraud, in any gentleman of the law to sue without previous notice; and any person so sued may apply to the Committee, and should it appear to them that the creditor is in no danger of losing his money, or can be properly secured, they shall interpose their friendly offices to persuade him to drop the prosecution; and every prosecutor that shall appear to take advantage of the confusion of the times to distress his debtor, ought to be publickly pointed out and held in abhorrence.

Resolved, That notwithstanding, in a late bill for restraining the trade of several Provinces in America, this Province is excepted, we declare that we look upon this exception rather as an insult than a favour; as being meant to break the union of the Provinces, and as being grounded on the supposition that the inhabitants of such excepted Province can be base enough to turn the oppression of America into a mean advantage.