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Fourth, The earnest desire we have not to injure our fellowsubjects in Great-Britain, Ireland, or the West-Indies, induces us to suspend a non-exportation, until the tenth day of September, 1775; at which time, if the said acts and parts of acts of the British parliament herein after mentioned, are not repealed, we will not directly or indirectly, export any merchandize or commodity whatsoever to Great-Britain, Ireland, or the West-Indies, except rice to Europe.

Fifth, Such as are merchants, and use the British and Irish trade, will give orders, as soon as possible, to their factors, agents and correspondents, in Great-Britain and Ireland, not to ship any goods to them, on any pretence whatsoever, as they cannot be received in America; and if any merchant, residing in GreatBritain or Ireland, shall directly or indirectly ship any goods, wares or merchandize, for America, in order to break the said non-importation agreement, or in any manner contravene the same, on such unworthy conduct being well attested, it ought to be made public; and, on the same being so done, we will not, from thenceforth, have any commercial connexion with such merchant.

Sixth, That such as are owners of vessels will give positive orders to their captains, or masters, not to receive on board their vessels any goods prohibited by the said non-importation agreement, on pain of immediate dismission from their service.

Seventh, We will use our utmost endeavours to improve the breed of sheep, and increase their number to the greatest extent; and to that end, we will kill them as seldom as may be, especially those of the most profitable kind; nor will we export any to the West-Indies or elsewhere; and those of us, who are or may become overstocked with, or can conveniently spare any sheep, will dispose of them to our neighbours, especially to the poorer sort, on moderate terms.

Eighth, We will, in our several stations, encourage frugality, œconomy, and industry, and promote agriculture, arts and the manufactures of this country, especially that of wool; and will discountenance and discourage every species of extravagance and dissipation, especially all horse-racing, and all kinds of gaming, cock fighting, exhibitions of shews, plays, and other expensive diversions and entertainments; and on the death of any relation

or friend, none of us, or any of our families will go into any further mourning-dress, than a black crape or ribbon on the arm or hat, for gentlemen, and a black ribbon and necklace for ladies, and we will discontinue the giving of gloves and scarves at funerals.

Ninth, Such as are venders of goods or merchandize will not take advantage of the scarcity of goods, that may be occasioned by this association, but will sell the same at the rates we have been respectively accustomed to do, for twelve months last past. And if any vender of goods or merchandize shall sell such goods on higher terms, or shall, in any manner, or by any device whatsoever, violate or depart from this agreement, no person ought, nor will any of us deal with any such person, or his or her factor or agent, at any time thereafter, for any commodity whatever.

Tenth, In case any merchant, trader, or other person, shall import any goods or merchandize, after the first day of December, and before the first day of February next, the same ought forthwith, at the election of the owner, to be either re-shipped or delivered up to the committee of the country or town, wherein they shall be imported, to be stored at the risque of the importer, until the non-importation agreement shall cease, or be sold under the direction of the committee aforesaid; and in the last-mentioned case, the owner or owners of such goods shall be reimbursed out of the sales, the first cost and charges, the profit, if any, to be applied towards relieving and employing such poor inhabitants of the town of Boston, as are immediate sufferers by the Boston port-bill; and a particular account of all goods so returned, stored, or sold, to be inserted in the public papers; and if any goods or merchandizes shall be imported after the said first day of February, the same ought forthwith to be sent back again, without breaking any of the packages thereof.

Eleventh, That a committee be chosen in every county, city, and town, by those who are qualified to vote for representatives in the legislature, whose business it shall be attentively to observe the conduct of all persons touching this association; and when it shall be made to appear, to the satisfaction of a majority of any such committee, that any person within the limits of their appointment has violated this association, that such majority do

forthwith cause the truth of the case to be published in the gazette; to the end, that all such foes to the rights of BritishAmerica may be publicly known, and universally contemned as the enemies of American liberty; and thenceforth we respectively will break off all dealings with him or her.

Twelfth, That the committee of correspondence, in the respective colonies, do frequently inspect the entries of their customhouses, and inform each other, from time to time, of the true state thereof, and of every other material circumstance that may occur relative to this association.

Thirteenth, That all manufactures of this country be sold at reasonable prices, so that no undue advantage be taken of a future scarcity of goods.

Fourteenth, And we do further agree and resolve, that we will have no trade, commerce, dealings or intercourse whatsoever, with any colony or province, in North-America, which shall not accede to, or which shall hereafter violate this association, but will hold them as unworthy of the rights of freemen, and as inimical to the liberties of their country.

[This association to be adhered to until the acts complained of are repealed.]

No. 45.

Lord North's Conciliatory Resolution

February 27, 1775

LORD NORTH'S unexpected offer of conciliation, in the form of the resolution following, was presented to the House of Commons, in Committee of the Whole, February 20, 1775. Although the proposal was generally unsatisfactory to the friends of the ministry, it was adopted by a vote of 274 to 88. On the 27th the resolution was reported to the House, and agreed to.

REFERENCES. Text in Force's American Archives, Fourth Series, I., 1598. The debates on the resolution are also in ib., 1597-1622. Public opinion in England is best exhibited in the Annual Register (1775). Dartmouth's letter to the governors, March 3, urging acceptance of the proposition, is in Force, op. cit., Fourth Series, II., 27, 28.

That it is the opinion of this Committee, that when the Governour, Council, and Assembly, or General Court, of any of his

Majesty's Provinces or Colonies in America, shall propose to make provision, according to the condition, circumstances, and situation of such Province or Colony, for contributing their proportion to the common defence, (such proportion to be raised under the authcrity of the General Court, or General Assembly, of such Province or Colony, and disposable by Parliament,) and shall engage to make provision also for the support of the Civil Government, and the Administration of Justice, in such Province or Colony, it will be proper, if such proposal shall be approved by his Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament, and for so long as such provision shall be made accordingly, to forbear, in respect of such Province or Colony, to levy any Duty, Tax, or Assessment, or to impose any farther Duty, Tax, or Assessment, except only such Duties as it may be expedient to continue to levy or to impose for the regulation of commerce; the nett produce of the Duties last mentioned to be carried to the account of such Province or Colony respectively.

No. 46. New England Restraining Act

March 30, 1775

THE petition to the King, adopted by the first Continental Congress Oct. 26, 1774, was laid before Parliament Jan. 19, 1775, accompanied by volu minous papers relating to affairs in America. February 1 a provisional bill, presented to the House of Lords by the Earl of Chatham, and designed to settle the difficulties in the colonies while "asserting the supreme legislative authority and superintending power of Great Britain," was rejected. An address to the King, assuring him of support at all hazards in measures to put down rebellion, was agreed to notwithstanding the protest of eighteen members of the Lords, who pronounced the address a virtual declaration of war. February 10, in the Commons, Lord North, asserting that "as the Americans had refused to trade with Great Britain, it was but just that they be not suffered to trade with any other nation," moved for leave to bring in a bill to restrain the trade and commerce of the New England colonies to Great Britain, Ireland, and the West Indies. By a vote of 261 to 85 the motion was carried. The bill was presented on the 17th, had its second reading on the 24th, and March 8 passed without a division. The bill had its second reading in the Lords March 16, and passed that house on the 21st, by a vote of 73 to 21, with an amendment, agreed to by a vote of 52 to 21, including

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina within the scope of the act. Sixteen Lords entered a protest against the bill. The Commons, who already had before them a bill restraining the trade of the southern colonies, rejected the amendment, and the bill passed without it. March 30 the act received the royal assent. The bill to restrain the trade of the other colonies became law in April. Both acts were repealed by an act of December 22, 1775, prohibiting all trade and intercourse with America.

REFERENCES. - Text in Pickering's-Statutes at Large, XXXI., 4-i. The act is cited as 15 Geo. III., c. 10. For the proceedings in Parliament, see the Parliamentary History, XVIII., or Force's American Archives, Fourth Series, I., 1621-1716; cf. also the Annual Register (1775).

An act to restrain the trade and commerce of the provinces of Massachuset's Bay and New Hampshire, and colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and Providence Plantation, in North America, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British islands in the West Indies; and to prohibit such provinces and colonies from carrying on any fishery on the banks of Newfoundland, or other places therein mentioned, under certain conditions and limitations.

[The section begins with a statement of the purport of certain of the acts of trade, and continues:] and whereas, during the continuance of the combinations and disorders, which at this time prevail within the provinces of Massachuset's Bay and New Hampshire, and the colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island, to the obstruction of the commerce of these kingdoms, and other his Majesty's dominions, and in breach and violation of the laws of this realm, it is highly unfit that the inhabitants of the said provinces and colonies should enjoy the same privileges of trade, and the same benefits and advantages to which his Majesty's faithful and obedient subjects are intitled; be it therefore enacted . That from and after .. [July 1, 1775,] . . . and during the continuance of this act, no goods, wares, or merchandises, which are particularly enumerated in, and by the said act made in the twelfth year of king Charles the Second, or any other act, being the growth, product, or manufacture of the provinces of Massachuset's Bay, or New Hampshire, or colonies of Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Providence Plantation, in North America, or any or either of them, are to be brought to some other British colony, or to Great Britain; or any such enumerated goods, wares, or

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