treasons in the colony of
Massachusetts Bay, in order to be tried in England; and we are equally
alarmed at the late Act empowering his Majesty to send persons guilty of
offences in one colony to be tried in another, or within the realm of
England....

"We must also complain of the Act of the 7th of George the Third,
chapter 59th, requiring the Legislature of this colony to make provision
for the expense of supplying troops quartered amongst us, with the
necessaries prescribed by that law; and holding up by another Act a
suspension of our legislative powers till we should have complied, as it
would have included all the effects of a tax, and implied a distrust of
our readiness to contribute to the public service.

"Nor in claiming these essential rights do we entertain the most distant
desire of independence of the parent kingdom. We acknowledge the
Parliament of Great Britain necessarily entitled to a supreme direction
and government over the whole empire, for a wise, powerful, and lasting
preservation of the great bond of union and safety among all the
branches; their authority to regulate the trade of the colonies, so as
to make it subservient to the interest of the mother country, and to
prevent its being injurious to the other parts of his Majesty's
dominions....

"Interested as we must consider ourselves in whatever may affect our
sister colonies, we cannot help feeling for the distresses of our
brethren in the Massachusetts Bay, from the operation of the several
Acts of Parliament passed relative to that province, and of earnestly
remonstrating in their behalf. At the same time, we also must express
our disapprobation of the violent measures that have been pursued in
some of the colonies, which can only tend to increase our misfortunes
and to prevent our obtaining redress.

"We claim but a restoration of those rights which we enjoyed by general
consent before the close of the last war; we desire no more than a
continuation of that ancient government to which we are entitled by the
principles of the British Constitution, and by which alone can be
secured to us the rights of Englishmen. Attached by every tie of
interest and regard to the British nation, and accustomed to behold with
reverence and respect its excellent form of government, we harbour not
an idea of diminishing the power and grandeur of the mother country, or
lessening the lustre and dignity of Parliament. Our object is the
happiness which we are