Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/134

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Wanting the protection of Britain, we have long acquiesced in their acts of navigation, restrictive of our commerce, which we consider as an ample recompense for such protection ; but as those acts derive their efficacy from that foundation alone, we have rea- son to expect they will be restrained, so as to produce the reasona- ble purposes of Britain, and not injurious to us.

To obtain redress of these grievances, without which the people of America can neither be safe, free, nor happy, they are willing to undergo the great inconvenience that will be derived to them, from stopping all imports whatsoever, from Great Britain, alter the first day of November next, and also to cease exporting any com- modity whatsoever, to the same place, after the tenth day of Au- gust, 1775. “The earnest desire we have to make as quick and full payment as possible, of our debts to Great Britain, and to avoid the heavy injury that would arise to this country, from an earlier adoption of the non-exportation plan, after the people have already applied so much of their labor to the perfecting of the present crop, by which means, they have been prevented from pursuing other methods of clothmg and supporting their families, have ren- dered it necessary to restrain you in this article of non-exportation ; but it is our desire, that you cordially co-operate with our sister colonies in General Congress, in such other just and proper methods as they, or the majority, shall deem necessary for the accomplish- ment of these valuable ends.

The proclamation issued by General Gage, in the government of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, declaring it treason for the inhabitants of that province to assemble themselves to consider of their grievances, and form associations for their common con- duct on the occasion, and requiring the civil magistrates and offi- cers to apprehend all such persons, to be tried for their supposed offences, is the most alarming process that ever appeared in a British government ; that the said General Gage, hath, thereby, as- sumed, and taken upon himself, powers denied by the constitution to our legal sovereign; that he, not having condescended to dis- close by what authority he exercises such extensive and unheard of powers, we are at a loss to determine, whether he intends to justify himself as the representative of the King, or as the Com- mander in Chief of his Majesty’s forces in America. If he con- siders himself as acting in the character of his Majesty’s represen- tative, we would remind him that the statute 25th, Edward the third, has expressed and defined all treasonable offences, and that the legislature of Great Britain hath declared, that no offence shall be construed to be treason, but such as is pointed out by that statute, and that this was done to take out of the hands of tyrannical Kings,