Virginia Gazette (Rind), 25 May 1769
Introduction and summary.[1]
Letter Text
Page 1
TUESDAY, the 16th of May, 9th
- George III. 1769.
THE order of the day being read for the House to resolve itself into a committee of the whole House, to consider of the present state of the colony;
Ordered, That the statute made in the twenty sixth year of the reign of King Henry the Eight, intituled, "An act whereby offense be made high treason, and taking away all sanctuaries for all manner of high treasons"; also one other statute made in the thirty fifth year of the same King's reign, intituled, "An act for the trial of treasons committed out of the King's dominions"; and also one other statute made in the first and second years of the reign of King Phillip an Queen Mary, chapter the tenth, be referred to the said committee. The the House resolved itself to the said Committee. Mr. Speaker left the chair. Mr. Blair too the chair of the committee. Mr. Speaker resumed the chair. Mr. Blair reported from the Committee, that they had come to several resolutions, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's 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 convened according to the ancient 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 the redress of grievances; and that it is lawful and expedient to procure the concurrence his other Majesty's colonies, in dutiful addresses, praying the Royal interposition in favour of the violated rights of America.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of the Committee, That all trials for treason, misprison of treason, or for any felony or crime whatsoever, committed and done in this 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 proceeding; 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 tried, is highly derogatory of the rights of British subjects; as thereby the inestimable privilege of being tried by a jury from the vicinage, as well as the liberty of summoning and producing on such trial, will be taken away from the party accused.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, That an humble, dutiful, and loyal address be presented to his Majesty, to assure him of our inviolable attachment to his sacred person and government; and to beseech his Royal interposition as the father of all his people, however, remote from the seat of his empire, to quiet the minds of his loyal subjects of this colony, and to avert from them dangers and miseries which will ensue, from seizing and carrying beyond sea any persons residing in America, suspected of any crime whatsoever be tried in any other manner than by the ancient and long established course of proceeding.
The said resolutions being severally read a second time, —
Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said resolutions.
Mr. Blair also acquainted the House, that he was directed by the Committee to move, that they may have leave to sit again.
Resolved, That this House tomorrow will tomorrow, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the present state of the colony.
Ordered. That the Speaker of the House do transmit, without delay, to the Speakers of the several Houses of Assembly, on this continent, a copy of the resolutions now agreed to by this House, requesting their concurrence therein.
A true copy, extracted from the journal of the House of Burgesses.
GEORGE WYTHE, C. H. B.
By the HOUSE of BURGESSES. WEDNESDAY, the 17th of May, 9th
- GEORGE III. 1769.
ORDERED, That the resolutions of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, and also the address of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in Parliament assembled, to his Majesty, transmitted to the Committee of Correspondence by the Agent for this colony, in his letters of the 16th of December, and 18th of February last, be printed in the VIRGINIA GAZETTE.
- GEORGE WYTHE. C.H.B.
Resolved, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled,, THAT the votes resolutions and proceedings of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts-Bay, in the months of January and February last, respecting several late acts of Parliament, so far as the said votes, and resolutions, and proceedings do import a denial of, or draw into question, the power of his Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in Parliament assembled, to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America, subjects of the Crown of Great-Britain, in all cafes whatsoever, are illegal, unconstitutional, and derogatory of the rights of the Crown and Parliament of Great-Britain.
ORDERED, That the resolutions of the Lords spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, and also the address of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in Parliament assembled, to his Majesty, transmitted to the Committee of Correspondence by the Agent for this colony, in his letters of the 16th of ""December"", and 18th of February last, be printed in the VIRGINIA GAZETTE.
GEORGE WYTHE, C. H. B.
See also
References
- ↑ Please footnote sources.
