know what taxes the people are able to
bear, and the easiest mode of raising them, and are equally
affected by such taxes themselves, is the distinguishing
characteristic of British freedom, and without which the
ancient constitution cannot subsist.

"4. _Resolved_, That his majesty's liege people of this most
ancient colony have uninterruptedly enjoyed the right of
being thus governed by their own Assembly in the article of
their taxes and internal police, and that the same hath
never been forfeited, or any other way given up, but hath
been constantly recognized by the kings and people of Great
Britain.

"5. _Resolved_, therefore, That the General Assembly of this
colony have the only and sole exclusive right and power to
lay taxes and impositions upon the inhabitants of this
colony; and that every attempt to vest such power in any
person or persons whatsoever, other than the General
Assembly aforesaid, has a manifest tendency to destroy
British as well as American freedom.

"6. _Resolved_, That his majesty's liege people, the
inhabitants of this colony, are not bound to yield obedience
to any law or ordinance whatever, designed to impose any
taxation whatsoever upon them, other than the laws or
ordinances of the General Assembly aforesaid.

"7. _Resolved_, That any person who shall, by speaking or
writing, assert or maintain that any person or persons,
other than the General Assembly of this colony, have any
right or power to impose or lay any taxation on the people
here, shall be deemed an enemy to his majesty's colony."[66]

No reader will find it hard to accept Jefferson's statement that the
debate on these resolutions was "most bloody." "They were opposed by
Randolph, Bland, Pendleton, Nicholas, Wythe, and all the old members,
whose influence in the House had till then been unbroken."[67] There
was every reason, whether of public policy or of private feeling, why
the old party leaders in the House should now bestir themselves, and
combine, and put forth all their powers in debate, to check, and if
possible to rout and extinguish, this self-conceited but most
dangerous young man. "Many threats were uttered, and much abuse cast
on me," said Patrick himself, long afterward. Logic, learning,
eloquence, denunciation, derision, intimidation, were poured from all
sides of th