 | Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia. |  |
No. VI.
The following address and resolutions of the patriots of the Northern
Neck of Virginia, in the year 1765, immediately after the passage of the
Stamp Act, properly belongs to the article on Washington parish, Westmoreland.
It was drawn up by Richard Henry Lee, whose name is first on the
list. It is said to have been the first public association in the land for the
resistance to that act.
Roused by danger, and alarmed at attempts, foreign and domestic, to
reduce the people of this country to a state of abject and detestable slavery,
by destroying that free and happy constitution of government under which
they have hitherto lived,—We, who subscribe this paper, have associated,
and do bind ourselves to each other, to God, and to our country, by the
firmest ties that religion and virtue can frame, most sacredly and punctually
to stand by, and with our lives and fortunes to support, maintain, and
defend each other in the observance and execution of these following
articles.
First.—We declare all due allegiance and obedience to our lawful
Sovereign, George the Third, King of Great Britain. And we determine
to the utmost of our power to preserve the laws, the peace and good order
of this colony, as far as is consistent with the preservation of our constitutional
rights and liberty.
Secondly.—As we know it to be the birthright privilege of every British
subject, (and of the people of Virginia as being such,) founded on reason,
law, and compact, that he cannot be legally tried, but by his peers, and
that he cannot be taxed, but by the consent of a Parliament, in which he
is represented by persons chosen by the people, and who themselves pay
a part of the tax they impose on others. If therefore any person or persons
shall attempt, by any action or proceeding, to deprive this colony of
those fundamental rights, we will immediately regard him or them as the
most dangerous enemy of the community; and we will go to any extremity,
not only to prevent the success of such attempts, but to stigmatize
and punish the offender.
Thirdly.—As the Stamp Act does absolutely direct the property of the
people to be taken from them without their consent expressed by their
representatives, and as in many cases it deprives the British American
subject of his right to trial by jury; we do determine, at every hazard,
and, paying no regard to danger or to death, we will exert every faculty
to prevent the execution of the said Stamp Act in any instance whatsoever
within this colony. And every abandoned wretch, who shall be so lost to
virtue and public good, as wickedly to contribute to the introduction or
fixture of the Stamp Act in this colony, by using stamp paper, or by any
other means, we will, with the utmost expedition, convince all such profligates
purposes.
Fourthly.—That the last article may most surely and effectually be
executed, we engage to each other, that whenever it shall be known to
any of this association, that any person is so conducting himself as to
favour the introduction of the Stamp Act, that immediate notice shall be
given to as many of the association as possible; and that every individual
so informed shall, with expedition, repair to a place of meeting to be
appointed as near the scene of action as may be.
Fifthly.—Each associator shall do his true endeavour to obtain as many
signers to this association as he possibly can.
Sixthly.—If any attempt shall be made on the liberty or property of
any associator for any action or thing done in consequence of this agrreement,
we do most solemnly bind ourselves by the sacred engagements
above entered into, at the utmost risk of our lives and fortunes, to restore
such associate to his liberty, and to protect him in the enjoyment of his
property.
In testimony of the good faith with which we resolve to execute this
association, we have this 27th day of February, 1766, in Virginia, put our
hands and seals hereto.
Richard Henry Lee
Will. Robinson
Lewis Willis
Thos. Lud. Lee
Samuel Washington
Charles Washington
Moore Fauntleroy
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Thomas Jones
Rodham Kenner
Spencer M. Ball
Richard Mitchell
Joseph Murdock
Richd. Parker
Spence Monroe
John Watts
Robt. Lovell
John Blagge
Charles Weeks
Willm Booth
Geo. Turberville
Alvin Moxley
Wm. Flood
John Ballantine, Junr.
William Lee
William Sydnor
John Monroe
William Cocke
Willm. Grayson
Wm. Brockenbrough
Saml. Selden
Richd. Lee
Daniel Tibbs
Francis Thornton, Junr.
Peter Rust
John Lee, Jr.
Francis Waring
John Upshaw
Meriwether Smith
Thos. Roane
Jas. Edmondson
Jas. Webb, Junr.
John Edmondson
Jas. Banks
Smith Young
Laur. Washington
W. Roane
Rich. Hodges
Jas. Upshaw
Jas. Booker
Thos. Chilton
Richard Buckner
Jos. Pierce
Will. Chilton
John Williams
John Blackwell
Winder S. Kenner
Wm. Bronaugh
Wm. Peirce
John Berryman
John Dickson
John Broone
Edwd. Sanford
Charles Chilton
Edwd. Sanford
Daniel McCarty
Jer. Rush
Edwd. Ransdell
Townshend Dade
John Ashton
W. Brent
Francis Foushee
John Smith, Jour.
Wm. Ball
Thos. Barnes
Jos. Blackwell
Reuben Meriwether
Edw. Mountjoy
Wm. J. Mountjoy
Thos. Mountjoy
John Mountjoy
Gilbt. Campbell
Jos. Lane
A. Montague
Rich'd Jeffries
John Suggett
John S. Woodcock
Robt. Wormeley Carter
John Beale, Junr.
John Newton
Will. Beale, Junr.
Chs. Mortimer
John Edmondson, Jr.
Charles Beale
Peter Grant
Thompson Mason
Jona. Beckwith
Jas. Samford
John Belfield
W. Smith
John Augt. Washington
Thos. Belfield
Edgcomb Suggett
Henry Francks
John Bland, Junr.
Jas. Emerson
Thos. Logan
Jo. Milliken
Ebenezer Fisher
Hancock Eustace
John Richards
Thos. Jett
Thos. Douglas
Max. Robinson
John Orr.
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