The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

494 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [APPENDiX.
what merchants and venders of goods and merchandise have taken
such oath, that the respective committees should grant a certificate
thereof to every such person who shall take the same.
"17. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that during
our present difficulties and distress, no slaves ought to be imported
into any of the British colonies on this continent; and we take this
opportunity of declaring our most earnest wishes to see an entire stop
for ever put to such a wicked, cruel, and unnatural trade.
" 18. Resolved, That no kind of lumber should be exported from
this colony to the West Indies, until America be restored to her constitutional rights and liberties, if the other colonies will accede to a
like resolution; and that it be recommended to the general Congress
to appoint as early a day as possible for stopping such export.
"19. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, if American grievances be not redressed before the 1st day of November,
1775, that all exports of produce from the several colonies to Great
Britain should cease; and to carry the said resolution more effectually into execution, that.we will not plant or cultivate any tobacco,
after the crop now growing; provided the same measure shall be
adopted by the other colonies on this continent, -as well those who
have heretofore made tobacco, as those who have not; And it is our
opinion also,, if the Congress of deputies from the several colonies
shall adopt the measure of non-exportation to Great Britain, as the
people will be thereby disabled from paying their debts, that no judgments should be rendered by the courts in the said colonies for any
debt, after information of the said measure's being determined upon.
"20. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting that a
solemn covenant and association should be entered into by the inhabitants of all the colonies upon oath, that they will not, after the
times which shall be respectively agreed on at the general Congress,
export any manner of lumber to the West Indies, nor any of their
produce to Great Britain, or sell or dispose of the same to any person
who shall not have entered into the said covenant and association;
and also that they will not import or receive any goods or merchandise which shall be shipped from Great Britain after the 1st day of
September next, other than the before enumerated articles, nor buy
or purchase any goods, except as before excepted, of any person
whatsoever, who shall not have taken the oath herein before'recommended to be taken by the merchants and venders of goods, nor buy
or purchase any slaves hereafter imported into any part of this continent until a free exportation and importation be again resolved on
by a majority of the representatives or deputies of the colonies. And