from
History of Providence County, Rhode Island
Edited by Richard M. Bayles.
In two volumes, illustrated. Vol. I.
New York: W. W. Preston & Co., 1891.
pp. 171 - 191. (part 2)
"The instructions then proceeded to deny that the colonies were represented
in parliament by British members; and to declare that the refusal of that
body to hear petitions against the stamp act, the enlargement of the
admiralty jurisdiction and the burdening of trade, were great grievances to
the people here, and directly against their rights as subjects. The
enlargement of the powers of the court of admiralty was declared to be in
equal proportion a diminishing of their own natural rights. The deputies
of the town in general assembly were then recommended to use their utmost
endeavors to procure the appointment of commissioners by the assembly to
meet with the commissioners of the other colonies at New York in October
following, to unite in a petition to the king for relief from the stamp act
and other grievances. They were also to use their efforts toward
postponing the introduction of the stamp act until the colonies could be
heard in self-defense; and to procure the assertion by general assembly of
the following facts in argument of their cause: I. That the first
settlers of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations were English subjects
and brought with them to this country and transmitted to posterity all
their rights as such, and all such rights and privileges had descended to
the petitioners. II. That by the charter of Charles the Second it was
declared and granted that the heirs and successors of those to whom it was
granted should have and enjoy all the liberties and immunities of free and
natural subjects the same as though they were born within the realm of
England. III. That this colony had heretofore enjoyed the liberty of
controlling its own matters of taxes and internal police, and had never in
any way forfeited or yielded up that right. IV. That the right to lay
taxes upon the inhabitants of this colony lay in the general assembly, and
any attempt to vest such right in any other person or persons was
unconstitutional, and its tendency would manifestly be to destroy British
as well as American liberty. V. That the inhabitants of this colony were
not bound to yield obedience to any law or ordinance designed to impose
internal taxation of any kind upon them other than by authority of the
general assembly. The deputies were further urged to advocate the passage
of an act declaring that the courts of common law only, and not any court
of admiralty rightfully have jurisdiction in all cases growing out of
levying or collecting any internal taxes or in any way relating to that
subject, and that all such cases should proceed as it relating to that
subject, and that all such cases should proceed as it had been customary
for them to proceed in the past, and that no decree of any court of
admiralty in such manners should be executed in this colony."
continued in part 3.