Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants

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At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the County of Culpepper, in Virginia, assembled on due notice, at the Court House of the said County, on Thursday, the 7th of July, 1774, to consider of the most effectual method to preserve the rights and liberties of America:

HENRY PENDLETON, Esq˙, Moderator.

Resolved, That we will, whenever we are called upon for that purpose, maintain and defend his Majesty' s right and title to the Crown of Great Britain, and all other

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Resolved, That the right to impose taxes or duties, to be paid by the inhabitants of this Colony for any purpose whatsoever, is peculiar and essential to the General Assembly, in whom the Legislative authority is vested.

Resolved, That every attempt to impose taxes or duties by any other authority is an arbitrary exertion of power, and an infringement of the constitutional and just rights and liberties of the Colony, and that we will at all times, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, oppose any Act imposing such taxes or duties, unless we are legally represented; and that the Act of the British Parliament imposing a duty on tea to be paid by the inhabitants of the Colonies upon importation, is evidently designed to fix on the Americans those chains forged for them by a corrupt Ministry.

Resolved, That the late cruel and unjust Acts of Parliament, to be executed by force upon our sister Colony of the Massachusetts Bay and town of Boston, is a convincing proof of the unjust and corrupt influence obtained by the British Ministry in Parliament, and a fixed determination to deprive the Colonies of their constitutional and just rights and liberties.

Resolved, That the town of Boston is now suffering in the common cause of the American Colonies.

Resolved, That an Association between all the American Colonies not to import from Great Britain, or buy any goods or commodities whatsoever, except negroes, cloaths, salt, saltpetre, powder, lead, nails, and paper, ought to be entered into, and by no means dissolved, until the rights and liberties of the Colonies are restored to them, and the tyrannical Acts of Parliament against Boston are repealed.

Resolved, That it is our opinion that no friend to the rights and liberties of America ought to purchase any goods whatsoever, which shall be imported from Great Britain, after a General Association shall be agreed on, except such as are before excepted.

Resolved, That every kind of luxury, dissipation, and extravagance, ought to be banished from amongst us.

Resolved, That the raising sheep, hemp, flax, and cotton, ought to be encouraged; likewise all kinds of manufactures, by subscriptions, or any other proper means.

Resolved, That the importing slaves and convict servants, is injurious to this Colony, as it obstructs the population of it with freemen and useful manufacturers, and that we will not buy any such slave or convict servant hereafter to be imported.

Resolved, That every county in this Colony ought to appoint Deputies to meet upon the first day of August, in the City of Williamsburg, then and there to consult upon the most proper means for carrying these or any other resolutions which shall be judged more expedient for obtaining peace and tranquillity in America into execution.

Resolved, That Henry Pendleton, and Henry Field, Junior, Esquires, be appointed upon the part of the freeholders and inhabitants of this county, to meet and consult with such Deputies as shall be appointed by the other counties.

Resolved, That the Clerk transmit these Resolves to the press, and request the Printer to publish them without delay. By order of the Meeting,

JOHN JAMESON, Clerk.