Statewide-Brunswick-Newhanover County NcArchives History .....N.C.  Reacts To Stamp Act - Part II November 27, 1765
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carolyn Shank Carolynshank@msn.com August 10, 2008, 1:55 pm

From the Wilmington NORTH CAROLINA GAZETTE  Nov. 27, 1764 
   Monday, the 18th inst., about 50 Gentlemen of Brunswick, New Hanover and 
Bladen Counties, waited on Governor at his Seat near Brunswick, on his 
Circular Letter to them for that purpose; when his Excellency was pleased to 
communicate his Sentiments to them relative to the Stamp Act, to the following 
purport: -- He began by assuring them he would, with Pleasure exert his 
Interest and Infuence in England, in endeavoring to promote the Prosperity of 
this Colony by every means in his Power, consistent with his Duty, if he could 
at the same Time contribute to the Service of his Majesty's faithful Subjects 
of this Province.
   He mentioned, and with moderation, censured the conduct of some of the 
Colinies, where Officers of the Crown had been insluted, their Houses pulled 
down, their Furniture and Effects destroyed, and his Majesty's property 
invaded by burning the Stampt (sic) Paper, sent from England and expressed his 
hopes that no Violence of that Sort might be attempted , in Case the stamps 
should at any Time arrive here, representing the Danger of such Proceeding, 
and the disagreeable consewuench which might attend them.
   -- The pariamentary Right of Taxation, he said, he would by no Means at 
that Time enter into the Discussion of, but hoped that none in this Province 
were desirous of destroying the Dependance on the Mother Country, and 
therefore, strongly urged the Prudence of not opposing the Legislature of 
Great Britian. -- He took Notice of the impossibility of the Stamp Act 
operating in all its Parts in this Province, where the whole cash of the 
Country would scarcely pay a single year of the Tax; and declared his 
Intention of representing at Home our circumstances in such a manner, that we 
might reasonably expect, whether the Act was repealed or not, a favourable 
Indulgence and Exemption of this Colony, unless his Endeavors were frustrated 
by the Conduct of the People.
   -- He enforced his Observation by expatiating on the advantage which we 
should receive on a Submission to the Act, by carrying on an extensive 
commerce, while our Rival Colonies on the Continent, by their refusal of the 
Stamps, had entirely obstructed their own Trade: And as a further Inducement 
to the Reception of the small Stamps, his Excellence generously offered to pay 
himself the whole Duty arising on any Instruments executed of Stampt Paper, on 
which he should have any Perquisite or Fee; such as Warrants and Patents for 
Land; Testimonials; Injuctions in Chancery; Licenses for Marriages; Letters of 
Administration and Testamentary, with four wine Licenses for each of the Towns 
of Edenton, Newbern, Wilmington, Salisbury and Halifax; two for Brunswick and 
Cross Creek; and for Bath and Tarborough, one License each.
   On these Proposals, the Gentlemen, after retiring to consider them, waited 
on his Excellency the next moring with the following ADDRESS:
   Sir,
   The Gentlemen to whom your Excellency was pleased to communicate your 
Sentiments, yesterday, relating to the Stamp Act unanimously beg leave to 
return their most hearty Thanks and acknowledgments for the obliging manner in 
which your Excellency express your Desire of rendering this Province all the 
important Services in your Power.
   As your Excellency's know Sincerity leaves no Room to suspect you would 
make any Professions, without an Intention of performing them; and as your 
Family, Fortune and Interest in England, will always give considerable Weight 
to your Remonstances, we cannot but applaud the happy Distinction of this 
Province, which has a Governor fortitudious of promoting, and so well 
qualified to prosecute, its advantage and Prosperity.
   The alarming Tendency of the Stamp Act, which for some months past, has 
excited the attention of America, has given us an Opportunity for considering 
its fatal influence with that Deliberation, which the Importance of Subject 
requires; and we cannot on this occasion suppress discovering to your 
Excellency, that every view of this Act, confirms us in our Opinion that it is 
destructive of those Liberties, which, as British Subjects, we have a right to 
enjoy  in common with Great Britain.
   To our Sovreign we owe, and shall always be ready to testify by our 
conduct, every Act of Loyalty and Obedience consistent with the Rights of a 
free People, and we most sincerely pray, that the British Throne may never 
want Heirs of the present illustrious House of Hanover, to secure that Happy 
Constitution: But the Extension of the Stamp Act, by a melancholy Passage of 
America being deprived of all, or most of the British Privileges, naturally 
suggests to us, that the Submission to any Part of so oppressive and (as we 
think) to unconstitutional appempts, is opening a direct Inlet for Slavery, 
which all Mankind will endeavor to avoid.
   For these Reasons, it is with great Pain we are obliged to dissent from 
what your Excellency has been pleased to mention, of your paying the Stamp 
Duties on the Instruments enumerated in the Proposal; nor can we assed to the 
Payment of the smaller Stamps: an admission of Part, would put it out of our 
power to refuse, with any Propriety, a Submission to the whole; and as we can 
never content to be so deprived of the invaluable Privilege of a Trial by 
Jury, which is one Part of that Act, we think it more consistent, as well as 
securer Conduct, to prevent, to the utmost of our Power, the Operation of it.
   -- At the same Time, we assure your Excellency, that we will, upon every 
Occasion, avoid and prevent, as far as our Influence extends, any Insult or 
Injury to any of the Officers of the Crown; but must confess, that the Officer 
or Distributor of the Stamps, is so detested by the People, in general, that 
don't think either the Person or Property of such an officer, could by any 
means be secured from the Resentment of the Country...

Additional Comments:
(This article has been shortened for submission.)  

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/statewide/history/other/ncreacts173gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/

File size: 6.6 Kb