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.

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 the 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.

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.

There were two other resolves which apparently were defeated during
debate while the house was in committee. The record is not clear. In
one sense it makes no difference. All seven were printed and circulated
in the other colonies and in London as if they were the official
actions of the Virginia House of Burgesses. They read:

Whereas, the honorable house of Commons in England have of late
drawn into question how far the general assembly of this colony
hath power to enact laws for laying of taxes and imposing duties,
payable by the people of this, his majesty's most ancient colony:
for settling and ascertaining the same to all future times, the
house of burgesses of this present general assembly have come to
the following resolves:

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,

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.[16]

[16] Ibid., 15-18; resolves 6 and 7 are cited in Mead