and to the injury of
the industrious poor, declaring "that all encouragement should be given
to the poor of every nation by every generous American." The third,
animadverted upon the ministerial mandates which prevented colonial
assemblies from passing such laws as the general exigencies of the
provinces required, an especial grievance, as they affirmed, "in this
young colony, where our internal police is not yet well settled." The
fourth condemned the practice of making colonial officers dependent for
salaries on Great Britain, "thus making them independent of the people,
who should support them according to their usefulness and behavior." The
fifth resolution declares "our disapprobation and abhorrence of the
unnatural practice of slavery in America," and their purpose to urge
"the manumission of our slaves in this colony, upon the most safe and
equitable footing for the masters and themselves." And, lastly, they
thereby chose delegates to represent the parish in a provincial
congress, and instruct them to urge the appointment of two delegates to
the Continental Congress, to be held in Philadelphia, in May.

Appended to these resolutions were the following articles of agreement
or association:

"Being persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liberties of
America depend, under God, on the firm union of the inhabitants in
its vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety,
and convinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and
confusion which attend the dissolution of the powers of government,
we, the freemen, freeholders, and inhabitants of the province of
Georgia, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry
to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scene now
acting in the Massachusetts Bay, do, in the most solemn manner,
resolve never to become slaves; and do associate, under all the ties
of religion, honor and love of country, to adopt and endeavor to
carry into execution, whatever may be recommended by the Continental
Congress, or resolved upon by our Provincial Convention that shall be
appointed, for the purpose of preserving our Constitution, and
opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive acts
of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great
Britain and America, on constitutional principles, which we most
ardently desire, can be obtained; and that we will in all things