fieldston american reader volume i – fall 2007 - Ethical Culture ...

constitutionally imposed on them, but by their respectivelegislatures.VI. That all supplies to the Crown being free gifts to thepeople, it is unreasonable andinconsistent with the principles and spirit of the BritishConstitution, for the people of Great Britain to grant HisMajesty the property of the colonists.VII. That trial by jury is the inherent and invaluable rightof every British subject in theseColonies.VIII. That the late Act of Parliament entitled An Act forgranting and applying certain stampduties, and other duties in the British colonies andplantations in America, etc., byimposing taxes onthe inhabitants of these colonies; and the said Act, and severalotherActs, by extending the jurisdiction of the courts ofAdmiralty beyond its ancient limits, have amanifest tendency to subvert the rights and liberties of thecolonists...XI. That the restrictions imposed by several late Acts ofParliament on the trade of thesecolonies will render them unable to purchase themanufactures of Great Britain.XII. That the increase, prosperity, and happiness of thesecolonies depend on the full and freeEnjoyments of their rights and liberties, and anintercourse with Great Britain mutuallyaffectionate and advantageous.XIII. That it is the right of the British subjects in thesecolonies to petition the King or eitherHouse of Parliament.Lastly, That it is the indispensable duty of these colonies to thebest of sovereigns, to themother country, and to themselves, to endeavor by a loyal anddutiful address to His Majesty, and humble applications toboth Houses of Parliament, to procure the repeal of the Actfor granting and applying certain stamp duties, of all clauses ofany other Acts of Parliament, whereby the jurisdiction of theAdmiralty is extended as aforesaid, and of the other late Actsfor the restriction of American commerce.Declaratory ActAn act for the better securing the dependency of his Majesty’sdominions in America upon the crown and parliament ofGreat Britain.WHEREAS several of the houses of representatives in hisMajesty’s colonies and plantations; and have of late, againstlaw, claimed themselves, or to the general assemblies of thesame, the sole and exclusive right of imposing duties and taxesupon his Majesty’s subjects in the said colonies and plantations;and have in pursuance of such claim, passed certain votes,resolutions, and orders, derogatory to the legislative authorityof parliament, and inconsistent with the dependency of the saidcolonies and plantations upon the crown of Great Britain…beit declared…that the said colonies and plantations in Americahave been, are, and of right out to be, subordinate unto, anddependent upon the imperial crown and parliament of GreatBritain; and that the King’s majesty, by and with the adviceand consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commonsof Great Britain, in parliament assembled, had, hath, and ofright ought to have, full power and authority to make laws andstatutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies andpeople of America, subjects of the crown of Great Britain, inall cases whatsoever.II. And be it further declared…. That all resolutions, votes,orders, and proceedings, in any of the said colonies or plantations,whereby the power and authority of the parliament of GreatBritain, to make laws and statutes as aforesaid, is denied, ordrawn into questions, are hereby declared to be, utterly nulland void to all intents and purposes whatsoever.98 fieldston american reader volume i – fall 2007