Patrick Henry's Stamp Act Resolves, 30 May 1765

Recto of Patrick Henry's "Stamp Act Resolves," 29-30 May, 1765. Image from Colonial Williamsburg, Rockefeller Library Special Collections, "Principles of Freedom: The Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution."

Among Patrick Henry's personal effects found after his death was his personal copy of the Virginia House of Burgesses Stamp Act resolves from May, 1765. Was this manuscript, endorsed by Henry himself on the reverse, a copy made by George Wythe?

In 1764-65, Wythe was on a committee appointed by the Burgesses to draft "remonstrances" to be sent to King George III, the British House of Lords, and the House of Commons, regarding the impending taxation of paper products, the "Stamp Act." Additionally, Wythe would become the Clerk of the House of Burgesses in 1768, so his skills as a copyist were known and valued.

William Wirt, in his 1817 biography of Patrick Henry, says "After his death, there was found among his papers one sealed, and thus endorsed: 'Inclosed are the resolutions of the Virginia assembly in 1765, concerning the stamp act. Let my executors open this paper.' Within was found the following copy of the resolutions, in Mr. Henry's hand-writing."

However, John Pendleton Kennedy, State Librarian of Virginia, editing the Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia, in 1907, states "The famous transcript of these Resolutions, (frontispiece) while not in the handwriting of Mr Henry, is endorsed on the back of the paper by him...".

Arguments for Wythe's transcription

Although there are similarities, Henry's handwriting on the reverse of the document vastly differs from the handwriting on the obverse, in the Resolves.

Arguments against Wythe

The document contains five ampersands standing in for the word "and." While the full word "and" is also used (14 times), Wythe was not a great employer of the ampersand.

Comparison with Wythe's handwriting

Comparison of handwriting samples:

1765 Stamp Act Resolves	George Wythe	Patrick Henry
Detail of Patrick Henry's "Stamp Act Resolves," May 30, 1765. Colonial Williamsburg.	Detail from Land Title Opinion, 15 December 1773. George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence. 1697-1799.	File:PatrickHenryToRichardCaswell30January1786.jpg Detail from a Patrick Henry letter to Richard Caswell, January 30, 1786. Original at the Raab Collection.
Detail of Patrick Henry's "Stamp Act Resolves," May 30, 1765. Colonial Williamsburg.	Detail from "Additional Instructions to the Commissioners to France" in Wythe's hand, October 16, 1776. Image from Fold3.	X
Detail of Patrick Henry's "Stamp Act Resolves," May 30, 1765. Colonial Williamsburg.	Detail from Land Title Opinion, 15 December 1773. George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence. 1697-1799.	X
Detail of Patrick Henry's "Stamp Act Resolves," May 30, 1765. Colonial Williamsburg.	X	Detail of Patrick Henry to Benjamin Harrison, November 18, 1783. Original from Nate D. Sanders, Inc.
Detail of Patrick Henry's "Stamp Act Resolves," May 30, 1765. Colonial Williamsburg.	Detail of Wythe's handwriting, from the Report of the Committee for Indian Affairs, November 4, 1776. Papers of the Continental Congress.	X
X	X	X

Manuscript text, 29-30 May, 1765

Page 1

Resolved

That the first Adventurers and Settlers of this his Majesties Colony and Dominion brought with them and transmitted to their Posterity and all other his Majestie's Subjects since inhabiting in this his Majestie's said Colony all the Priviledges, Franchises & Immunities that have at any Time been held, enjoyed, & possessed by the People of Great Britain.

Resolved
That by the two royal Charters granted by King James the first the Colonists aforesaid are declared intituled to all the Priviledges, Liberties & Immunities of Denizens and natural born Subjects to all Intents and Purposes as if they had been abiding and born within the Realm of England.

Resolved
That the Taxation of the People by themselves or by Persons chosen by themselves to represent them who can only know what Taxes the People are able to bear and the easiest Mode of raising them and are equally affected by such Taxes themselves is the distinguishing Characteristick of British Freedom and without which the ancient Constitution cannot subsist.

Resolved
That his Majestie's liege People of this most ancient Colony have uninteruptedly enjoyed the Right of being thus governed by their own assembly in the Article of their Taxes and internal Police and that the same hath never been forfeited or any other Way given up but hath been constantly recognized by the Kings of People of Great Britain.

Resolved
Therefore that the General Assembly of this Colony have the only and sole exclusive Right & Power to lay Taxes & Impositions upon the Inhabitants of this Colony and that every Attempt to vest such Power in any Person or Persons whatsoever other than the General Assembly aforesaid has a manifest Tendency to destroy British as well as American Freedom.

Page 2

Verso of Patrick Henry's "Stamp Act Resolves," 29-30 May, 1765. Image from Colonial Williamsburg, Rockefeller Library Special Collections, "Principles of Freedom: The Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution."

The within resolutions passed the house of burgesses in May, 1765. They formed the first opposition to the stamp act, and the scheme of taxing America by the British parliament. All the colonies, either through fear, or want of opportunity to form an opposition, or from influence of some kind or other, had remained silent. I had been for the first time elected a burgess, a few days before was young, inexperienced, unacquainted with the forms of the house, and the members that composed it. Finding the men of weight averse to opposition, and the commencement of the tax at hand, and that no person was likely to step forth, I determined to venture, and alone, unadvised, and unassisted, on a blank leaf of an old law-book wrote the within. Upon offering them to the house, violent debates ensued. Many threats were uttered, and much abuse cast on me, by the party for submission. After a long and warm contest, the resolutions passed by a very small majority, perhaps of one or two only. The alarm spread throughout America with astonishing quickness, and the ministerial party were overwhelmed. The great point of resistance to British taxation was universally established in the colonies. This brought on the war, which finally separated the two countries, and gave independence to ours. Whether this will prove a blessing or a curse will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us. If they are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation.

Reader! whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere, practise virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.

P. HENRY.

See also

• Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry

External links

• Colonial Williamsburg, "Committees of Correspondence"
• Colonial Williamsburg, "Principles of Freedom: The Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution"
• Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library, 30 May 1765 Patrick Henry's Stamp Act Resolves CWF Rockefeller Library Special Collections. SCMS 1958.4
• Encyclopedia Virginia, "Virginia Resolves on the Stamp Act (1765)"
• Virginia Resolves at Wikipedia