to trade there, we derived considerable emoluments from our intercourse with them.

UPON what reasons this conduct is founded, is not easy to determine. Sure no one considers Florida in the same light with these colonies, and thinks that no vessels should be permitted to trade there, but British shipping. This would be to apply the acts of navigation to purposes directly opposite to the spirit of them. They were intended to preserve an intercourse between the mother country and her colonies, and thus to cultivate a mutual affection; to promote the interests of both, by an exchange of their most valuable productions for her manufactures; thereby to increase the shipping of both; and thus render them capable of affording aid to each other. Which of these purposes is answered by prohibiting a commerce, that can be no other way carried on? That is, by forbidding the Spaniards to bring their wealth for us to Florida, which is an unhealthy sand-bank, held by a garrison, at a great expence of money, and a greater of lives, that cannot for ages, if ever it will, yield a single advantage to Great-Britain, but that she refuses to enjoy.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

IN

PENNSYLVANI A,

SEPTEMBER 11, 1765.

THE house resumed the consideration of their resolution of yesterday, to appoint a committee of three or more of their members, to attend a general congress of committees from the several assemblies on this continent, to be held at New-York, on the first of October next, and after some time spent therein,

Resolved,

That Mr. Speaker, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Bryan, and Mr. Morton, be, and they are hereby nominated and appointed to attend that service."

THE

ROUGH DRAFT

O F THE

Resolves of the first Congress,

HELD AT NEW-YORK, IN THE YEAR 1763.

WE, the Deputies from the colonies of

Massachusetts Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, and South-Carolina, in general congress assembled, DECLARE,

1. THAT his majesty's subjects in these colonies, owe the same allegiance to the crown of Great Britain, that is due from his subjects born within the realm.

2. THAT all acts of parliament, not inconsistent with the principles of freedom, are obligatory on the colonists.

3. THAT his majesty's liege subjects in these. colonies, are as free as his subjects in Great Britain.

4. THAT it is inseparably essential to the freedom of a people, that no taxes be laid upon them, but with their own consent given personally, or by their representatives.

5. THAT the people of these colonies are not, and from local circumstances cannot be represented in the house of commons in Great Britain.

6. THAT the only representatives of the people of these colonies, are the persons chosen therein by themselves for that purpose.

7. THAT no taxes can be constitutionally impos. ed on the people of these colonies, but by their grants made in person or by their representatives.

8. THAT the power of granting supplies to the crown in Great Britain belonging solely to the commons, and consequently all such grants being only gifts of the people to the crown, it therefore involves an inconsistency with the principle and spirit of the British constitution, and with reason, for the commons of Great Britain to undertake to give to his majesty, according to the terms of the