THE HALIFAX RESOLUTION
The Select Committee taking into Consideration
the usurpations and
violences attempted and committed by the King and Parliament of Britain
against America, and the further Measures to be taken for frustrating
the same, and for the better defence of this province reported as
follows, to wit,
It appears to your Committee that pursuant to
the Plan concerted by
the British Ministry for subjugating America, the King and Parliament
of Great Britain have usurped a Power over the Persons and Properties
of the People unlimited and uncontrouled; and disregarding their humble
Petitions for Peace, Liberty and safety, have made divers Legislative
Acts, denouncing War Famine and every Species of Calamity against the
Continent in General. That British Fleets and Armies have been and
still are daily employed in destroying the People and committing the
most horrid devastations on the Country. That Governors in different
Colonies have declared Protection to Slaves who should imbrue their
Hands in the Blood of their Masters. That the Ships belonging to
America are declared prizes of War and many of them have been violently
seized and confiscated in consequence of which multitudes of the people
have been destroyed or from easy Circumstances reduced to the most
Lamentable distress.
And whereas the moderation hitherto manifested
by the United
Colonies and their sincere desire to be reconciled to the mother
Country on Constitutional Principles, have procured no mitigation of
the aforesaid Wrongs and usurpations, and no hopes remain of obtaining
redress by those Means alone which have been hitherto tried, Your
Committee are of Opinion that the house should enter into the following
Resolve to wit,
Resolved that the delegates for this Colony in
the Continental
Congress be impowered to concur with the delegates of the other
Colonies in declaring Independency, and forming foreign Alliances,
reserving to this Colony the Sole, and Exclusive right of forming a
Constitution and Laws for this Colony, and of appointing delegates from
time to time (under the direction of a general Representation thereof)
to meet the delegates of the other Colonies for such purposes as shall
be hereafter pointed out.
