|
Copies of Letters and Papers from the Earl of Dartmouth to the Different Governors of Provinces; Brought Over from Falmouth in the Swallow Packet, and Seized in the Post Office of Charlestown, Part 1 [Original MSS.] (CIRCULAR PRIVATE.) His Honor the Lieutenant Governor of South, Carolina, Charlestown. Whitehall, March 3d, 1775. Sir:It is fit that I should acquaint you, that the Resolution of the House of Commons which accompanies my separate dispatch, passed in the Committee by a majority of two hundred and seventy-four to eighty-eight; and was received and agreed to by the House, without a division. And indeed, the great majorities which have appeared in both Houses, upon every question that has been proposed for maintaining the supremacy of parliament, is such an evidence of the general sense of the nation upon that subject, as must show how little ground there has been for those assurances, which have been artfully held out to the Americans of support here, in the dangerous conduct they have adopted; and convince them that there neither can, nor will be any the least relaxation, from those measures, which that conduct has made indispensably necessary, for reducing the Colonies to the constitutional authority of parliament. I am, sir, your most obt. humble servt. DARTMOUTH Resolved, That when the Governor, 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 authority 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 a 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 to such Province or Colony, to levy any 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 net produce of the duties last mentioned, to be carried to the account of such Province or Colony respectively. (From Documentary History of the American Revolution, by Gibbes, Volume 1, pp. 91-92) Doc ID: Gibbes, v. 1, p. 091 Date: 3/03/1775 |
Last modified: 7/8/03/CLN.
URL: http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/displays/RevWar/archives-online/Gibbes__v__1__p__091.html