The Articles of Association
October 20, 1774
We, his majesty's most loyal subjects, the delegates of the several
colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut,
New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties of
Newcastle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, deputed to represent them in a
continental Congress, held in the city of Philadelphia, on the 5th day
of September, 1774, avowing our allegiance to his majesty, our affection
and regard for our fellow-subjects in Great-Britain and elsewhere,
affected with the deepest anxiety, and most alarming apprehensions, at
those grievances and distresses, with which his Majesty's American
subjects are oppressed; and having taken under our most serious
deliberation, the state of the whole continent, find, that the present
unhappy situation of our affairs is occasioned by a ruinous system of
colony administration, adopted by the British ministry about the year
1763, evidently calculated for enslaving these colonies, and, with them,
the British Empire. In prosecution of which system, various acts of
parliament have been passed, for raising a revenue in America, for
depriving the American subjects, in many instances, of the
constitutional trial by jury, exposing their lives to danger, by
directing a new and illegal trial beyond the seas, for crimes alleged to
have been committed in America: And in prosecution of the same system,
several late, cruel, and oppressive acts have been passed, respecting
the town of Boston and the Massachusetts-Bay, and also an act for
extending the province of Quebec, so as to border on the western
frontiers of these colonies, establishing an arbitrary government
therein, and discouraging the settlement of British subjects in that
wide extended country; thus, by the influence of civil principles and
ancient prejudices, to dispose the inhabitants to act with hostility
against the free Protestant colonies, whenever a wicked ministry shall
chuse so to direct them.
To obtain redress of these grievances, which threaten destruction to the
lives liberty, and property of his majesty's subjects, in North-America,
we are of opinion, that a non-importation, non-consumption, and
non-exportation agreement, faithfully adhered to, will prove the most
speedy, effectual, and peaceable measure: And, therefore, we do, for
ourselves, and the inhabitants of the several colonies, whom we
represent, firmly agree and associate, under the sacred ties of virtue,
honour and love of our country, as follows:
1. That from and after the first day of December next, we will not
import, into British America, from Great-Britain or Ireland, any goods,
wares, or merchandise whatsoever, or from any other place, any such
goods, wares, or merchandise, as shall have been exported from
Great-Britain or Ireland; nor will we, after that day, import any
East-India tea from any part of the world; nor any molasses, syrups,
paneles, coffee, or pimento, from the British plantations or from
Dominica; nor wines from Madeira, or the Western Islands; nor foreign
indigo.
2. We will neither import nor purchase, any slave imported after the
first day of December next; after which time, we will wholly discontinue
the slave trade, and will neither be concerned in it ourselves, nor will
we hire our vessels, nor sell our commodities or manufactures to those
who are concerned in it.
3. As a non-consumption agreement, strictly adhered to, will be an
effectual security for the observation of the non-importation, we, as
above, solemnly agree and associate, that from this day, we will not
purchase or use any tea, imported on account of the East-India company,
or any on which a duty bath been or shall be paid; and from and after
the first day of March next, we will not purchase or use any East-India
tea whatever; nor will we, nor shall any person for or under us,
purchase or use any of those goods, wares, or merchandise, we have
agreed not to import, which we shall know, or have cause to suspect,
were imported after the first day of December, except such as come under
the rules and directions of the tenth article hereafter mentioned.
4. The earnest desire we have not to injure our fellow-subjects in
Great-Britain, Ireland, or the West-Indies, induces us to suspend a
non-exportation, until the tenth day of September, 1775; at which time,
if the said acts and parts of acts of the British parliament herein
after mentioned, ate not repealed, we will not directly or indirectly,
export any merchandise or commodity whatsoever to Great-Britain,
Ireland, or the West-Indies, except rice to Europe.
5. Such as are merchants, and use the British and Irish trade, will give
orders, as soon as possible, to their factors, agents and
correspondents, in Great-Britain and Ireland, not to ship any goods to
them, on any pretence whatsoever, as they cannot be received in America;
and if any merchant, residing in Great-Britain or Ireland, shall
directly or indirectly ship any goods, wares or merchandize, for
America, in order to break the said non-importation agreement, or in any
manner contravene the same, on such unworthy conduct being well
attested, it ought to be made public; and, on the same being so done, we
will not, from thenceforth, have any commercial connexion with such
merchant.
6. That such as are owners of vessels will give positive orders to their
captains, or masters, not to receive on board their vessels any goods
prohibited by the said non-importation agreement, on pain of immediate
dismission from their service.
7. We will use our utmost endeavours to improve the breed of sheep, and
increase their number to the greatest extent; and to that end, we will
kill them as seldom as may be, especially those of the most profitable
kind; nor will we export any to the West-Indies or elsewhere; and those
of us, who are or may become overstocked with, or can conveniently spare
any sheep, will dispose of them to our neighbours, especially to the
poorer sort, on moderate terms.
8. We will, in our several stations, encourage frugality, economy, and
industry, and promote agriculture, arts and the manufactures of this
country, especially that of wool; and will discountenance and discourage
every species of extravagance and dissipation, especially all
horse-racing, and all kinds of games, cock fighting, exhibitions of
shews, plays, and other expensive diversions and entertainments; and on
the death of any relation or friend, none of us, or any of our families
will go into any further mourning-dress, than a black crepe or ribbon on
the arm or hat, for gentlemen, and a black ribbon and necklace for
ladies, and we will discontinue the giving of gloves and scarves at
funerals.
9. Such as are venders of goods or merchandize will not take advantage
of the scarcity of goods, that may be occasioned by this association,
but will sell the same at the rates we have been respectively accustomed
to do, for twelve months last past. -And if any vender of goods or
merchandise shall sell such goods on higher terms, or shall, in any
manner, or by any device whatsoever, violate or depart from this
agreement, no person ought, nor will any of us deal with any such
person, or his or her factor or agent, at any time thereafter, for any
commodity whatever.
10. In case any merchant, trader, or other person, shall import any
goods or merchandize, after the first day of December, and before the
first day of February next, the same ought forthwith, at the election of
the owner, to be either re-shipped or delivered up to the committee of
the country or town, wherein they shall be imported, to be stored at the
risque of the importer, until the non-importation agreement shall cease,
or be sold under the direction of the committee aforesaid; and in the
last-mentioned case, the owner or owners of such goods shall be
reimbursed out of the sales, the first cost and charges, the profit, if
any, to be applied towards relieving and employing such poor inhabitants
of the town of Boston, as are immediate sufferers by the Boston
port-bill; and a particular account of all goods so returned, stored, or
sold, to be inserted in the public papers; and if any goods or
merchandizes shall be imported after the said first day of February, the
same ought forthwith to be sent back again, without breaking any of the
packages thereof.
11. That a committee be chosen in every county, city, and town, by those
who are qualified to vote for representatives in the legislature, whose
business it shall be attentively to observe the conduct of all persons
touching this association; and when it shall be made to appear, to the
satisfaction of a majority of any such committee, that any person within
the limits of their appointment has violated this association, that such
majority do forthwith cause the truth of the case to be published in the
gazette; to the end, that all such foes to the rights of British-America
may be publicly known, and universally contemned as the enemies of
American liberty; and thenceforth we respectively will break off all
dealings with him or her.
12. That the committee of correspondence, in the respective colonies, do
frequently inspect the entries of their customhouses, and inform each
other, from time to time, of the true state thereof, and of every other
material circumstance that may occur relative to this association.
13. That all manufactures of this country be sold at reasonable prices,
so- that no undue advantage be taken of a future scarcity of goods.
14. And we do further agree and resolve that we will have no trade,
commerce, dealings or intercourse whatsoever, with any colony or
province, in North-America, which shall not accede to, or which shall
hereafter violate this association, but will hold them as unworthy of
the rights of freemen, and as inimical to the liberties of their
country.
And we do solemnly bind ourselves and our constituents, under the ties
aforesaid, to adhere to this association, until such parts of the
several acts of parliament passed since the close of the last war, as
impose or continue duties on tea, wine, molasses, syrups paneles,
coffee, sugar, pimento, indigo, foreign paper, glass, and painters'
colours, imported into America, and extend the powers of the admiralty
courts beyond their ancient limits, deprive the American subject of
trial by jury, authorize the judge's certificate to indemnify the
prosecutor from damages, that he might otherwise be liable to from a
trial by his peers, require oppressive security from a claimant of ships
or goods seized, before he shall be allowed to defend his property, are
repealed.-And until that part of the act of the 12 G. 3. ch. 24,
entitled "An act for the better securing his majesty's dock-yards
magazines, ships, ammunition, and stores," by which any persons charged
with committing any of the offenses therein described, in America, may
be tried in any shire or county within the realm, is repealed-and until
the four acts, passed the last session of parliament, viz. that for
stopping the port and blocking up the harbour of Boston-that for
altering the charter and government of the Massachusetts-Bay-and that
which is entitled "An act for the better administration of justice,
&c."-and that "for extending the limits of Quebec, &c." are repealed.
And we recommend it to the provincial conventions, and to the committees
in the respective colonies, to establish such farther regulations as
they may think proper, for carrying into execution this association.
The foregoing association being determined upon by the Congress, was
ordered to be subscribed by the several members thereof; and thereupon,
we have hereunto set our respective names accordingly.
IN CONGRESS, PHILADELPHIA, October 20, 1774.
PEYTON RANDOLPH, President.
New Hampshire
Jno. Sullivan
Nathel. Folsom
Massachusetts Bay
Thomas Cushing
Saml. Adams
John Adams
Robt.Treat Paine
Rhode Island
Step. Hopkins
Sam: Ward
Connecticut
Elipht Dyer
Roger Sherman
Silas Deane
New York
Isaac Low
John Alsop
John Jay
Jas. Duane
Phil. Livingston
Wm. Floyd
Henry Wisner
S: Boerum
New Jersey
J. Kinsey
Wil: Livingston
Stepn. Crane
Richd. Smith
John De Hart
Pennsylvania
Jos. Galloway
John Dickinson
Cha Humphreys
Thomas Mifflin
E. Biddle
John Morton
Geo: Ross
The Lower Counties New Castle
Cæsar Rodney
Tho. M: Kean
Geo: Read
Maryland
Mat Tilghman
Ths. Johnson Junr.
Wm. Paca
Samuel Chase
Source:
Journals of the Continental Congress 1774-1779
Edited from the original records in the Library of Congress
by Worthington Chauncey Ford; Chief, Division of Manuscripts.
Washington, DC : Government Printing Office, 1905.
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 