8 Assembly Proceedings, September 23-28, 1765.

U. H. J.
Liber No. 36
Sept. 26

to the other Governments to acquaint them with the Instructions,
this day Voted to be sent to the Agent of this Province directing
him to use his Endeavours to obtain a Repeal of the Sugar Act and
to exert himself to prevent a Stamp Act or any other Impositions
and Taxes upon this and the other American Provinces and that the
said Committee in the Name and behalf of this House desire the
several Assemblys on this Continent to Join with them in the same

Measures.
Att.^r R: Cotton Clk: House Represent.^s

To the Honourable the Speaker of the House of Burgesses of the
Province of Maryland.
Sir

The House of Representatives of his Majestys Province of the
Massachusetts Bay at the Session of the General Assembly in May
last being informed of the late Act of Parliament relating to the
Sugar Trade with the Foreign Colonies and the Resolutions of the
House of Commons relating to the Stamp Duties and other Taxes
proposed to be laid on the British Colonies were humbly of Opinion
that these Measures have a Tendency to deprive the Colonists of some
of their most essential Rights as British Subjects and as Men Par-

p. 205

ticularly the Right of Assessing their own Taxes, and being free
from any Impositions but such as they Consent to by themselves or
Representatives.
Our Agent informs us that in a Conference he had with M.^r
Greenville on these Subjects he was told that the Ministry were
desirous of Consulting the Ease the Quiet and Goodwill of the
Colonies. Such Expressions induce us to hope that there is nothing
punitive in these Measures and that humble Dutiful Remonstrations
may yet have their Effect, But if while these things are thus Publickly
handled no Claim is made no Remonstrance is preferred on the part
of the Colonies Such Silence must be interpreted a Tacit Cession of
their Rights and an humble Acquiescence under all their Burdens.
The House have Wrote fully upon this Subject to the Agent of this
Province and directed him to remonstrate against these Measures to
endeavour a Repeal of said Act and if Possible to prevent the Impo-
sition of any further Duties and Taxes on the Colonies for this
purpose they were desirous of the United Assistance of the Several
Colonies in a Petition against such formidable Attacks on what they
Conceive to be the Inseparable Rights of British Subjects and that
the Agents of the Several Colonies might be directed by the Repre-
sentatives of the People on the Continent of North America to Unite
in the most Serious Remonstrance against Measures so distructive
of the Liberty the Commerce and Property of the Colonists, and
in their Tendency so pernicious to the real Interest of Great
Britain. The House have done us the Honour to appoint as a
Committee in the Recess of the General Court to inform the several