-Henry
burgess from Charlotte County, and an unknown French traveler who stood
with Jefferson at the house chamber doors. Jefferson and Carrington did
not record their thoughts until a half-century later, during which the
sequence of events became blurred by time. The Frenchman, who stood
with Jefferson at the house chamber doors, missed the subtleties of the
language and parliamentary procedure. One thing is clear--men who heard
Patrick Henry never forgot the impression he made on them.

Governor Fauquier suggested that many burgesses were not satisfied with
the remonstrance against the Stamp Act in December. Although he
described the remonstrance as "very warm and indecent", he told the
Board of Trade the original version was much more inflammatory and its
language was "mollified" so that the Assembly could convey its
opposition to the Stamp Tax without giving the "least offense" to crown
and parliament. Fauquier also observed that economic uncertainties had
made Virginians "uneasy, peevish, and ready to murmur at every
Occurrence." Henry suggests that he drew up the Resolves when he found
no one else was willing to do so after hearing of the actual passage of
the Tax Act. Whatever the reason, Henry and his associates were ready
to abandon the niceties of formal address and constitutional subtleties
and to give "offense", especially in view of parliament's refusal to
hear the remonstrance.

Only 39 of the 119 elected burgesses were sitting on May 29, 1765 when
Patrick Henry introduced and George Johnston seconded seven resolutions
for consideration by the house. The first five stated:

Resolved, That the first Adventurers and Settlers of this his
Majesty's Colony and Dominion brought with them and transmitted to
their Posterity and all other his Majesty's Subjects since
inhabiting in this his Majesty's said Colony, all the Privileges,
Franchises and Immunities that have at any time been held, enjoyed,
and possessed by the people of Great Britain.

Resolved, That by two royal Charters granted by King James first
the Colonists aforesaid are declared intituled to all the
Privileges, Liberties, and Immunities of Denizens and natural-born
Subjects, to all Intents and Purposes as if they had been abiding
and born within the Realm of England.

Resolved, That the Taxation of the People by themselves or by
Persons chosen by themselves to represent them, who can only know