108 Assembly Proceedings, November 17-December 20, 1769.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 54
Dec. 19

In Obedience to the Order, I now, Sir, enclose you a Copy of those
Resolutions, and am persuaded that the Importance of the Subject
will be sufficient to engage the immediate Attention of your re-
spectable House, and the Circumstances of America evince the Pro-
priety of their Conduct.

His Excellency the Governor thought fit on the 17.^th to Dissolve
the Assembly. However discouraging this Reprehension may be, yet
we hope that our Loyalty, and Affection to his Majesty, our Regard
to the true Interest of our Mother Country, and our Inclinations to
terminate this unhappy Dispute, will be made manifest, and will, in
the End, dispose our gracious Sovereign to interpose in our Favour,
and to procure to his injured People the Redress they most humbly
ask for.
I am, with the greatest Respect
Your most obed.^t Serv^t
Peyton Randolph
And the Resolves therein as follow:
Tuesday the 16.^th of May, 9.^th George 3.^d 1769.
M.^r Blair reported from the Committee of the whole House, to
whom it was referred to consider of the present State of the Colony,
that they had come to several Resolutions, which he read in his Place,
and afterwards delivered in at the Clerks Table, where the same were
read, and are as followeth, viz.
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, that the sole
Right of imposing Taxes on the Inhabitants of this his Majesty's
Colony and Dominion of Virginia, is now, and ever hath been legally
and constitutionally vested in the House of Burgesses, lawfully con-
vened, according to the antient and established Practice, with the
Consent of the Council, and of his Majesty the King of Great Britain,
or his Governor, for the Time being.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee that it is the
undoubted Privilege of the Inhabitants of this Colony to Petition
their Sovereign for Redress of Grievances; and that it is lawful and
expedient to procure the Concurrence of his Majesty's other Colonies,

p. 53

in dutiful Addresses, praying the Royal Interposition in Favour of
the violated Rights of America.
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, that all Trials
for Treason, Misprision of Treason, or for any Felony or Crime
whatever, committed and done in his Majesty's said Colony and
Dominion, by any Person or Persons residing therein, ought of Right
to be had and conducted in and before his Majesty's Courts held
within the said Colony, according to the fixed and known Course of
Proceedings; and that the seizing any Person or Persons residing
in this Colony, suspected of any Crime whatsoever, committed therein,
and sending such Person or Persons to Places beyond the Sea to be