WILLIAMSBURG, May 2.
GREAT and GLORIOUS NEWS to America,
and comfortable news to the PRINTER of
the Virginia Gazette.
An express arrived in town this evening from Mr. Jordan, who came passenger in the Lord Baltimore, Capt. Mitchell, arrived in York river from London, who brings a certain account of the repeal of the abhorred STAMP ACT. The publication of our paper, upon this account, will be later than usual; but the occasion of it, we are almost sure, will plead our excuse. After reading the following, let the cheerful song go round; for Britons, Britons never will be Slaves.
A bill for the better securing the dependency of his Majesty’s dominions in America upon the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain.
WHEREAS several of the Assemblies in his Majesty’s colonies and plantations in America, assuming to themselves powers and prerogatives inconsistent with the constitutional dependency of the said colonies and plantations on the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain, have passed votes and resolutions highly unwarrantable and derogatory to the dignity and legislative authority of these kingdoms: May it therefore please your most Excellent Majesty that it may be declared, and be it declared by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the said colonies and plantations in America have been, are, and of right ought to be, subordinate unto, and dependent upon, the Imperial Crown and Parliament of Great Britain; and that the King’s Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled, had, hath, and of right ought to have, full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America, subjects of the Crown of Great Britain, in all cases whatsoever.
Passed in a Committee of the whole House on Friday the 28th of February, 1766; and ordered to be engrossed, with a clause declaring all votes and resolutions of the Assemblies, derogatory to the just authority of Parliament, null and void.
A bill to repeal an act made in the last session of Parliament, entitled An act for granting and applying certain stamp duties, and other duties, in the British colonies and plantations in America, towards further defraying the expense of defending, protecting, and securing the same; and for amending such parts of the several acts of Parliament, relating to the trade and revenues of the said colonies and plantations, as direct the manner of determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein mentioned.
WHEREAS an act was passed in the last session of Parliament, entitled An act for granting and applying certain stamp duties in the British colonies and plantations in America, towards further defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same; and for amending such parts of the several acts of Parliament, relating to the trade and revenues of the said colonies and plantations, as direct the manner of determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein mentioned: And whereas your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects the Commons of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled, upon the strictest inquiry into the state of your Majesty’s colonies in America, do find that the laying and collecting the several duties and revenues, as by the said act is directed and provided, will be attended with many inconveniences, and may be productive of consequences dangerous to the commercial interests of these kingdoms: And whereas occasion hath thereby been given to raise discontents, and to disquiet the minds of your Majesty’s subjects, we your Majesty’s most faithful Commons, having maturely and deliberately considered of the relief necessary to be given in a matter wherein the trade and commerce of your Majesty’s dominions, and the welfare and prosperity of your people, as well in Great Britain as in America, are essentially concerned, do humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that from and after the first day of May, 1766, the above mentioned act, and the several matters and things therein contained, shall be, and is, and are hereby repealed, and made void, to all intents and purposes whatsoever.
Passed in a Committee of the whole House, on Friday the 28th of February, 1766, and ordered to be engrossed. Read the third time the 4th of March, and passed; 250 for, and 122 against it. Carried to the House of Lords by Secretary Conway, attended by 200 Members, and Rose Fuller, with the Bill of Right. Read the first time in the House of Lords on Wednesday the 5th of March, and determined to be committed on Tuesday the 11th of March.
