PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTION OF THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION, MAY 15, 1776,
INSTRUCTING THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS TO "
PROPOSE TO THAT RESPECTABLE
BODY TO DECLARE THE UNITED COLONIES FREE AND
INDEPENDENT STATES"
Forasmuch as all the endeavours of the United Colonies, by the most decent
representations and
petitions to the King
and Parliament of Great Britain, to restore peace and security to America
under the
British Government, and
a reunion with that people upon just and liberal terms, instead of a redress
of
grievances, have produced,
from an imperious and vindictive Administration, increased insult,
oppression, and a vigorous
attempt to effect our total destruction:-By a late act all these Colonies
are
declared to be in rebellion,
and out of the protection of the British Crown, our properties subjected
to
confiscation, our people,
when captivated, compelled to join in the murder and plunder of their relations
and countermen, and all
former rapine and oppression of Americans declared legal and just; fleets
and
armies are raised, and
the aid of foreign troops engaged to assist these destructive purposes;
the King's
representative in this
Colony bath not only withheld all the powers of Government from operating
for
our safety, but, having
retired on board an armed ship, is carrying on a piratical and savage war
against us,
tempting our slaves by
every artifice to resort to him, and training and employing them against
their
masters. In this state
of extreme danger, we have no alternative left but an abject submission
to the will
of those overbearing
tyrants, or a total separation from the Crown and Government of Great Britain,
uniting and exerting
the strength of all America for defence, and forming alliances with foreign
Powers
for commerce and aid
in war:-Wherefore, appealing to the Searcher of hearts for the sincerity
of former
declarations expressing
our desire to preserve the connection with that nation, and that we are
driven
from that inclination
by their wicked councils, and the eternal law of self-preservation:
Resolved, unanimously, That the Delegates appointed to represent this Colony
in General
Congress be instructed
to propose to that respectable body to declare the United Colonies free
and
independent States, absolved
from all allegiance to, or dependence upon, the Crown or Parliament of
Great Britain; and that
they give the assent of this Colony to such declaration, and to whatever
measures
may be thought proper
and necessary by the Congress for forming foreign alliances, and a
Confederation of the
Colonies, at such time and in the manner as to them shall seem best: Provided,
That the power of forming
Government for, and the regulations of the internal concerns of each Colony,
be left to the respective
Colonial Legislatures.
Resolved, unanimously, That a Committee be appointed to prepare a Declaration
of Rights, and
such a plan of Government
as will be most likely to maintain peace and order in this Colony, and
secure
substantial and equal
liberty to the people.
And a Committee was appointed of the following gentlemen: Mr. Archibald
Cary, Mr. Meriwether
Smith, Mr. Mercer, Mr.
Henry Lee, Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Henry, Mr. Dandridge, Mr. Edmund Randolph,
Mr. Gilmer, Mr. Bland,
Mr. Digges, Mr. Carrington, Mr. Thomas Ludwell Lee, Mr. Cabell, Mr. Jones,
Mr. Blair, Mr. Fleming,
Mr. Tazewell, Mr. Richard Cary, Mr. Bullitt, Mr. Watts, Mr. Banister, Mr.
Page,
Mr. Starke, Mr. David
Mason, Mr. Adams, Mr. Read, and Mr. Thomas Lewis.
Source: Government Printing Office, 1927.
House Document No. 398.
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