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At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the County of Princess Anne, on due notice given by one of the late Representatives, held at the Court House of the said county, on Wednesday, the 27th day of July, 1774, they, after choosing
Came to the following Resolutions, viz:
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that it is an absolute right inherent in every British American subject, to have and enjoy such freedoms and privileges as belong to the free people of England; and that he cannot be taxed but by his own consent, or Representative.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that every attempt to impose taxes by any other authority, is a tyrannical exertion of power, and a violation of the constitutional and just rights and liberties of the subject; and that the Acts for blocking up the harbour of Boston; for altering the chartered Constitution of the Massachusetts Bay; and for the suppression of riots and tumults, are cruel and oppressive invasions of the natural rights of the people of the said Province, as men, and of their constitutional rights as English subjects.
Resolved, That the town of Boston and Province of Massachusetts Bay, are now suffering in the common cause of America, as the said Acts would lay a foundation for the utter destruction of the rights and liberties of the subjects of British America.
Resolved, That our Burgesses be hereby instructed to use their utmost endeavours at the ensuing Congress at Williamsburg, to procure a general Association for stopping all importation from, and exportation to, Great Britain, except such articles as shall be there agreed upon, as the most effectual means to obtain redress; the non-importation and non-exportation to take place on such future day
Resolved, That our Burgesses be instructed to vote against every motion or proposal for clogging the usual imports from, and exports to, the West Indies.
Resolved, That our Burgesses be instructed to oppose the importation of slaves and convicts, as injurious to this Colony, by preventing the population of it by freemen and useful manufacturers.
Resolved, That it be recommended to our Burgesses to vote for the encouragement of raising sheep, hemp, flax, and cotton.
Resolved, That our Burgesses be hereby instructed to endeavour to procure a general Association against trading and dealing with every Colony, Province, County, or Town, that shall refuse to come into the general plan which may be adopted by the several Colonies and Provinces on the Continent.
Resolved, That our Burgesses be hereby instructed to use their utmost endeavours that subscriptions be opened in the several counties of this Colony, for the relief of the cruelly oppressed and distressed inhabitants of the town of Boston.
Resolved, That our Burgesses do meet the first day of August, in Williamsburg, to consult upon the most proper means for carrying these or any other Resolves which may be judged more expedient, into execution.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the general plan adopted at the ensuing Congress, ought to be strictly adhered to by the whole Colony; and that this meeting will faithfully adopt such measures as may be then agreed upon.
Resolved, That the above Resolutions be printed, for the perusal of the freeholders and inhabitants of this County.
THOMAS ABBOTT, Clerk.
Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the County of Princess Anne
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as may be agreed on by the general Congress of Deputies from the several Colonies.