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Subject: [GM-L] History of the Town of Concord - Rev. War - Ch. VI - Part 6 - p. 85
Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2002 18:36:02 EDT
Subject: Chapter VI - Part 6 - p.85 American Revolution
Source: History of the Town of Concord, Mass. by Lemuel
Shattuck 1835.
Part 6
Concord, Mass.
American Revolution
p.85
"12. That every people have an absolute right of meeting
together to consult upon common grievances, and to peti-
tion, remonstrate, and use every legal method for their
removal.
"13. That the act which prohibits these constitutional
meetings cuts away the scaffolding of English freedom,
and reduces us to a most abject state of vassalage and
slavery.
"14. That it is our opinion these late acts, if quietly
submitted to, will annihilate the last vestiges of lib-
erty in this province, and, therefore, we must be justi-
fied by God and the world in never submitting to them.
"15. That it is the opinion of this body, that the pres-
ent act, respecting the government of the province, is an
artful, deep-laid plan of oppression and despotism, that
it requires great skill and wisdom to counteract it. This
wisdom we have endeavoured to collect from the united
sentiments of the county. And although we are grieved
that we are obliged to mention anything, that may be
attended with such very important consequences as may now
ensue, yet a sense of our duty as men, as freemen, as
Christian freemen, united in the firmest bonds, obliges
us to resolve that every civil officer now in commission
in this province, and acting in conformity to the late
act of Parliament, is not an officer agreeable to this
charter, therefore unconstitutional, and ought to be
opposed in the manner hereafter recommended.
"16. That we will obey all such civil officers now in
commission, whose commissions were issued before the
first day of July, 1744, and support them in the execu-
tion of their offices according to the manner usual, be-
fore the late attempt to alter the constitution of this
province: nay, even although the Governor should attempt
to revoke their commissions. But that if any of said
officers shall accept a commission under the present plan
of arbitrary government, or, in any way or manner what-
ever, assist the Governor or administration in the assault
now making on our rights and liberties, we will consider
them as having forfeited their commissions and yield them
no obedience.
p.86
"17. That whereas the Honorable Samuel Danforth and
Joseph Lee, Esquires, two of the judges of the Inferior
Court of Common Pleas for this county, have accepted
commissions under the new act by being sworn members of
his Majesty's Council, appointed by said act: we there-
fore look upon them utterly incapable of holding any
office whatsoever. And wheras a venire on the late act
of Parliament was issued from the Court of Sessions,
signed by the clerk, we think they come under a preced-
ing resolve of acting in conformity to the new act: we
therefore resolve that a submission to courts thus act-
ing and under these disqualifications, is a submission
to the act itself, and of consequence, as we are resolved
never to submit one iota to the act, we will not submit
to courts thus constituted, and thus acting in conformity
to said act.
"18. That as, in consequence of the former resolve, all
business at the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and
Court of General Sessions of the Peace next to be holden
at Concord must cease, to prevent the many inconveniences
that may arise therefrom; we resolve that all actions,
writs, suits etc., brought to said court, ought to re-
main in the same condition as at present (unless settled
by consent of parties), till we know the result of a
provincial and continental congress. And we resolve that
if the court shall sit in defiance to the voice of the
county, and default actions, and issue executions accord-
ingly, no office ought to serve such process. And we are
also determined to support all constables, jurors and other
officers who from these contitutional principles shall
refuse obedience to courts which we have resolved and
founded on the destruction of our charter.
p.87
"19. That it is the opinion of this body of delegates,
that a provincial congress is absolutely necessary in
our present unhappy situation.
"These sentiments which we are obliged to express, as
these acts are intended immediately to take place. We
must now either oppose them, or tamely give up all we
have been struggling for.
"It is this that has forced us so soon on these very
important resolves. However, we do it with humble de-
ference to the provincial and continental congress, by
whose resolutions we are determined to abide; and to
whom, and the world, we cheerfully appeal for the up-
rightness of our conduct. On the whole, these are 'great
and profound questions.' We are grieved to find ourselves
reduced to the necessity of entering into the discussion
of them. But we deprecate a state of slavery. Our fathers
left a fair inheritance to us, purchased by a waste of
blood and treasure. This we are resolved to transmit
equally fair to our children after us. And if in support
of our rights we are called to encounter even death, we
are yet undaunted, sensible that he can never die too
soon, who lays down his life in support of the laws and
liberties of his country."
To be continued Ch. VI - Part 7 - p.87
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
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