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Contempo-
rary Printed
Pamphlet
Md.Hist.Soc.
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Government, inviolably attached to the present happy Establishment
of the Protestant Succession, and with Minds deeply impressed by a
Sense of the present and impending Misfortunes of the British
Colonies on this Continent; having considered as maturely as Time
will permit, the Circumstances of the said Colonies, esteem it our
indispensable Duty, to make the following Declarations of our humble
Opinion, respecting the most Essential Rights and Liberties of the
Colonists, and of the Grievances under which they labour by Reason
of several late Acts of Parliament.
I. That his Majesty's Subjects in these Colonies, owe the same
Allegiance to the Crown of Great-Britain, that is owing from his
Subjects born within the Realm, and all due Subordination to that
August Body the Parliament of Great-Britain.
II. That his Majesty's Liege Subjects in these Colonies, are
entitled to all the inherent Rights and Liberties of his Natural born
Subjects, within the Kingdom of Great-Britain.
II. That it is inseparably essential to the Freedom of a People,
and the undoubted Right of Englishmen, that no Taxes be im-
posed on them, but with their own Consent, given personally, or
by their Representatives.
IV. That the People of these Colonies are not, and from their
local Circumstances cannot be, Represented in the House of Com-
mons in Great-Britain.
V. That the only Representatives of the People of these Colonies,
are Persons chosen therein by themselves, and that no Taxes ever
have been, or can be Constitutionally imposed on them, but by their
respective Legislature.
VI. That all Supplies to the Crown, being free Gifts of the People,
it is unreasonable and inconsistent with the Principles and Spirit of
the British Constitution, for the People of Great-Britain, to grant
to his Majesty the Property of the Colonists.
VII. That Trial by Jury, is the inherent and invaluable Right of
every British Subject in these Colonies.
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p. 16
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VIII. That the late Act of Parliament, entitled, An Act for grant-
ing and applying certain Stamp Duties, and other Duties, in the
British Colonies and Plantations in America, &c. by imposing Taxes
on the Inhabitants of these Colonies, and the said Act, and several
other Acts, by extending the Jurisdiction of the Courts of Ad-
miralty beyond its ancient Limits, have a manifest Tendency to
subvert the Rights and Liberties of the Colonists.
IX. That the Duties imposed by several late Acts of Parliament,
from the peculiar Circumstances of these Colonies, will be ex-
tremely Burthensome and Grievous; and from the scarcity of Specie,
the Payment of them absolutely impracticable.
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