1. That the first adventurers, settlers of this his Majesty’s Colony and Dominion of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, brought with them and transmitted to their Posterity, and all other his Majesty’s Subjects, since inhabating in this his Majesty’s Colony, all the Privileges and Immunities that have at any time been held, enjoyed and possessed by the People of Great Britain
2. That by a charter, granted by King Charles the Second, in the 15th year of his Reign, the Colony aforesaid is declared intitled to all Privileges and Immunities of natural born Subjects, to all Intents and Purposes, as if they had been abiding and born within the Realm of England.
3. That his majesty’s liege people of this Colony have enjoyed the Right of being governed by their own Assembly in the Article of Taxes and internal Police; and that the same have never been forfeited or any other Way yielded up, but have been constantly recognized by the King & People of Great Britain.
4. That therefore the General Assembly of this Colony have in their Representative Capacity, the only exclusive Right to lay Taxes and Imposts upon the Inhabitants of this Colony: and that Every Attempt to vest such Power in any Person or Persons whatever other than the General Assembly aforesaid is unconstitutional, and hath a manifest Tendency to destroy the Liberties of the People of this Colony.
5. That his Majesty’s liege People the Inhabitants of this Colony are not bound to yield Obedience to any Law or Ordinance designed to impose any internal Taxation whatsoever upon them other than the Laws or Ordinances of the General Assembly, aforesaid.
6. That all the officers in this colony appointed by the authority thereof be and they are hereby directed to proceed in the execution of their respective offices in the same manner as usual: and that this assembly will indemnify and save harmless all the said officers on account of their conduct agreable to this Resolution.
