Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress
On June 6, 1765, the Massachusetts House of Representatives, on the
motion of James Otis, resolved to propose an intercolonial meeting to
resist the Stamp Act. On June 8 it sent a circular letter to the assemblies
of the other
colonies
inviting them to meet at New York the following
October "to consider of a general and united, dutiful, loyal and humble
representation of their condition to His Majesty and the Parliament; and to
implore relief." The resolutions of the Stamp
Act Congress were the chief accomplishment of the Congress.
The principle issue that divided the twenty-seven delegates was wether to
modify the rebelious tone of their denial of Parliament's authority to tax;
this could be done by acknowledging explicitly what authority Parliament did
have over the colonies. In the end this proved to be impossible because the more
radical delegates were afraid of conceding too much. The extent of the
concession they were willing to make is registered in the rather vague wording
of the first resolution.
