portion of their property, without their consent given by their
representatives in Parliament. This has ever been considered as the
chief pillar of the constitution. Without this support no man can be
said to have the least shadow of liberty, since they can have no
property in that which another can by right take from them when he
pleases, without their consent."

After referring to the antiquity and grounds of their rights as British
subjects, and to the fact of their not being represented in Parliament,
of the impracticability of being so, and "the oppressive Stamp Act,
confessedly imposing internal taxes, and the late Acts of Parliament
giving and granting certain duties in the British colonies, mainly
tending to the same end," the Virginia House of Burgesses proceed as
follows:

"The Act suspending the legislative power of New York, they consider as
still more alarming to the colonists, though it has that single province
in view. If the Parliament can compel them to furnish a single article
to the troops sent over, they may by the same rule oblige them to
furnish clothes, arms, and every other necessary, even the pay of the
officers and soldiers--a doctrine replete with every mischief, and
utterly subversive of all that is dear and valuable. For what advantage
can the people of the colonies derive from their right of choosing their
own representatives, if those representatives, when chosen, were not
permitted to exercise their own judgments--were under a necessity (on
pain of being deprived of their legislative authority) of enforcing the
mandates of the British Parliament?

"They trust they have expressed themselves with a firmness that becomes
freemen pleading for essential rights, and with a decency that will take
off every imputation of faction or disloyalty. They repose entire
confidence in his Majesty, who is ever attentive to the complaints of
his subjects, and is ever ready to relieve their distress; and they are
not without hopes that the colonies, united in a decent and regular
opposition, may prevail on the new House of Commons to put a stop to
measures so directly repugnant to the interests both of the mother
country and her colonies."

The day after these proceedings by the House of Burgesses, the Governor
of Virginia dissolved them.

The House of Representatives of New Jersey, after gratefully
acknowledging the receipt of the Massachusetts circular, observe:

"The freedom with which the House o