The Augusta Resolves
AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
The Augusta Resolves
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In retaliation for the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament responded by passing five punitive laws in 1774. Known as the Coercive Acts, also referred to as the Insufferable Acts or Intolerable Acts, these measures aimed to punish Massachusetts colonists for their defiance in the Tea Party protest, stripping them from self-governance.
Seeking to quell resistance to British authority, the British Parliament instead awakened a sleeping giant. The implications of their laws reverberated throughout America’s western frontier. The Coercive Acts became the impetus that led to the development of the Revolutionary War. (read more)
Broadside Copy of the Augusta Resolves from the Clerk of the Court’s Office in Augusta County, Virginia. The Resolves’ six authors — Alexander Balmain, Sampson Mathews, Alexander M’Clenachan, Michael Bowyer, William Lewis (son of one of Virginia’s first settlers John Lewis), and George Mathews — met in Staunton on Feb. 22, 1775. Reflecting the western settlement’s independent spirit, the resolves made it clear that the writers were making a commitment to risk “life and fortune” to retain natural rights. If necessary, they would join with the colonies to secure those rights. They contained a commitment to bolster the militias as well.
Proceedings Of A Meeting of Freeholders of Augusta County, Va.,
Held at Staunton, on the 22nd February, 1775.
After due notice given to the Freeholders of Augusta county, to meet in Staunton for the purpose of electing Delegates to represent them in Colony Convention, at the town of Richmond, on the 20th day of March, the Freeholders of said County thought proper to refer the choice of their Delegates to the judgment of the Committee, who, thus authorized by the general voice of the people, met at the Court House on the 22d February, and unanimously chose Mr. Thomas Lewis and Capt. Samuel McDowell, to represent them in the ensuing Convention.
Instructions were then ordered to be drawn up by Rev. Alexander Balmain, Mr. Sampson Matthews, Capt. Alexander McClannahan, Mr. Michael Bowyer, Mr. William Lewis and Capt. George Matthews, or any three of them, and delivered to the Delegates thus chosen; which are as follows:
To Mr. Thomas Lewis and Captain Samuel McDowell The Committee of Augusta County, pursuant to the trust reposed in them by the Freeholders of the same have chosen you to represent them in a Colony Convention proposed to be held in Richmond on the 20th of March, instant. They desire that you may consider the people of Augusta County, as impressed with just sentiments of loyalty and allegiance to his Majesty King George, whose title to the Imperial Crown of Great Britain rests on no other foundation than the liberty and whose glory is inseparable from the happiness of all his subjects. We have also a respect for the Parent State, which respect is founded on religion, on law, and the genuine principles of the Constitution. On these principles do we earnestly desire to see harmony and a good understanding restored between Great Britain and America.
Many of us and our forefathers left their native land and explored this once savage wilderness, to enjoy the free exercise of the rights of conscience and of human nature. These rights we are fully resolved, with our lives and fortunes, inviolably to preserve; nor will we surrender such inestimable blessings, the purchase of toil and danger, to any Ministry, to any Parliament, or anybody of men upon earth, by whom we are not represented, and in whose decisions, therefore, we have no voice.
We desire you to tender, in the most respectful terms, our grateful acknowledgments to the late worthy Delegates of this Colony, for their wise, spirited and patriotick exertions in the General Congress, and to assure them, that we will uniformly and religiously adhere to their Resolutions
prudently and generously formed for their country’s good. Fully convinced that the safety and happiness of America depend, next to the blessing of Almighty God, on the unanimity and wisdom of her councils, we doubt not you will, on your parts, comply with the recommendation of the late Continental Congress, by appointing Delegates from this Colony to meet in Philadelphia on the 10th of May next, unless American Grievances be redressed before that time; and as we are determined to maintain unimpaired that Liberty which is the gift of Heaven
to the subjects of Britain’s Empire, we will most cordially join our countrymen in measures as may be deemed wise and necessary to secure and perpetuate the ancient, just and legal rights of this Colony and all British America.
As the state of this Colony greatly demands that Manufactures should be encouraged by every possible means, we desire you to use your endeavors that Bounties may be proposed by the Convention for the making of Salt, Steel, Wool-Cards, Paper and Gunpowder; and that in the meantime, a supply of Ammunition be provided for the Militia of this colony. We entirely agree in opinion with the gentlemen of Fairfax County, that a well- regulated Militia is the natural strength and stable security of a free Government, and therefore wish it might be recommended by the Convention to the officer and men of each County in Virginia, to make themselves masters of the military exercise, published by order of his Majesty in the year 1764.
Placing our ultimate trust in the Supreme Disposer of every event, without whose gracious interposition the wisest schemes may fail of success, we desire you to move the Convention that some day, which may appear to them most convenient, be set apart for imploring the blessing of Almighty God on such plans as human wisdom and integrity may think necessary to adopt for preserving America happy, virtuous and free.
To the Honourable Peyton Randolph, Esq., President, Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Richard Bland, Benjamin Harrison, and Edmund Pendleton, Esq’re, Delegates rom this Colony to the General Congress.
Gentlemen: We have it in command from the Freeholders of Augusta County, by their Committee, held on the 22d February, to present you with the grateful acknowledgments of thanks, for the prudent, virtuous and noble exertions of the faculties with which Heaven has endowed you in the cause of Liberty, and of everything that men ought to hold sound, at the late General Congress; a conduct so nobly interesting, that it must command the tribute of applause, not only from this, but succeeding ages. May that sacred flame that has illuminated your minds and influenced your conduct, in projecting and concurring in so many salutary determinations for the preservation of American Liberty, ever continue to direct your conduct, to the latest period of your lives. May the bright example be firmly transcribed in the hearts, and reduced into practice by every Virginian, by every American. May our hearts be open to receive and our arms strong to defend that liberty and freedom the gift of Heaven, now banishing from its last retreat in Europe. Here let it be hospitably entertained in every breast; here let it take deep root and flourish in everlasting bloom; that under its benign influence, the virtuously free may enjoy secure repose, and stand forth the scurge and terror of tyranny and tyrants of every order and denomination, will time shall be more.
Be pleased, gentlemen, to accept their grateful sense of your important services, and of their ardent prayers for the best interest of this once happy country, and vouchsafe, gentlemen, to accept of the same from your most humble servants,
Thomas Lewis
Sam’l McDowell} Delegates.
To Thomas Lewis and Samuel McDowell, Esquire.
Gentlemen. Be pleased to transmit to the respectable Freeholders of the County of Augusta our sincere thanks for their affectionate address, approving our conduct in the late Continental Congress. It gives us the greatest pleasure to find that our honest endeavors to serve our country on this arduous and important occasion have met their approbation, a reward fully adequate to our warmest wishes; and the assurances from the brave and spirited people of Augusta, that their hearts and hands shall be devoted to the support of the measures adopted or hereafter to be taken, by the Congress, for the preservation of American Liberty, give us the highest satisfaction, and must afford pleasure to every friend to the just rights of mankind.
We cannot conclude without acknowledgments to you, gentlemen, for the polite manner in which you have communicated to us the sentiments of your worthy constituents; and are their and your obedient humble servants,
Peyton Randolph, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Harrison,
Richard Henry Lee, Richard Bland, Edmund Pendleton,
George Washington
