Page:Journal of the First Congress of the American Colonies (1765).djvu/24

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Ringgold, Esqrs. a committee appointed to join the several committees from the several colonies in America, at New-York.

GENTLEMEN: You are to repair immediately to the city of New-York, in the province oi`New-York, and there join with the committees from the houses of representatives of the other colonies, in a general and united, loyal and humble representation to his majesty and the British parlia-` ment, of the circumstances and condition of the British colonies and plantations, and to pray relief from the burthens and restraints lately laid on their trade and commerce; and especially from the taxes imposed by an act of the last session of parliament, granting and applying certain stamp duties and other duties in the British colonies and plantations of America, whereby they are deprived, in some instances, of that invaluable privilege of Englishmen and British subjects-trials by juries; that you take care that such representation shall humbly and decently, but expressly contain an assertion of the rights of the colonies to be exempt from all and every taxation and imposition upon their persons and properties to which they do not consent in a legislative Way, either by themselves or their representatives, by them freely chosen and appointed.

Signed by order of the house.

Ronnnr Lnovn, Speaker.

From the Province of South Carolina.-Thomas Lynch, Christopher Gadsden, and John Rutledge, Esqrs., who produced this appointment:

Thursday, 25 July, 1765.-The house, (according to order), took into consideration the letter from the speaker of the house of representatives of the — of Massa-