108 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

Yet we can venture to assert, that the people ig general of this colony
will be spirited and steady in their support of their rights as English
subjects, and will not tamely submit to the yoke of oppression—“But,
if by the iron hand of power,” they are at last crushed, it is their fixed
resolution either to fall with the same dignity and spirit you so justly

mention or transmit to their posterity, entire, the inestimable blessing
of our free constitution.

The disinterested and public-spirited behaviour of the merchants and

other inhabitants of your colony justly merits the applause of every

lover of liberty on the continent. The people of any colony who have

not virtue enough to follow so glorious examples must be lost to every
sense of freedom and consequently deserve to be slaves. We are,
With great truth, gentlemen,

Your affectionate countrymen,

CORNELIUS HARNETT, Chairman.
Signed by order of the General Committee.

WILMINGTON, CAPE FrEar, July 5, 1770.

II. Resolved, That we will strictly and inviolably adhere to the Non-
Importation Agreement entered into on the 30th day of September last
until the grievances therein mentioned are redressed.

III. Resolved, That we will not on any pretense whatever, have any
dealings or connexion with the inhabitants of the colony of Rhode
Island, who contrary to their solemn and voluntary contract have vio-

lated their faith pledged to the other colonies and thereby shamefully
deserted the common cause of American liberty; and if any of their.

vessels or merchants shall arrive in Cape Fear River with intention to
trade, we will to the utmost of our power, by all legal ways and means,
prevent any person buying from, or selling to them, any goods or com-
modities whatever, unless they give full satisfaction to the colonies for
their base and’ unworthy conduct.

IV. Resolved, That the merchants of Newport, Rhode Island, and all
others on the continent of North America, who will not comply with
the Non-Importation Agreement, are declared enemies to their country,
and ought to be treated in the most contemptuous manner.

V. Resolved, That we will not purchase any kind of goods or mer-
chandise whatever, from any merchants or other person who shall im-
port or purchase goods for sale contrary to the spirit and intention of
the said Agreement, unless such goods be immediately re-shipped to

the place they were imported from or stored under the inspection and
direction of the committee.

VI. Resolved, That the members of the committee for the several
counties in the Wilmington district, and particularly those for the
towns of Wilmington and Brunswick, do carefully inspect all importa-
tions of goods, and if any shall be imported contrary to the true intent
and meaning of the said Non-Importation Agreement, that they give
public notice thereof in the Cape Fear Mercury, with the names of such
importers or purchasers.

VII. Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be immediately trans-

mitted to all the trading towns in this colony. The Committee of the

' Resistance Before the Revolution 109

Sons of Liberty upon Cape Fear, appointed for the town of Wilmington
to inspect into all goods imported, take this opportunity to inform the
public that Mr. Arthur Benning, of Duplin County, hath imported in
the sloop Lancashire Witch from Virginia a small assortment of goods,
several articles of which are not allowed by the Non-Importation Agree-
ment. But it appears at the same time to the committee those goods
were expected to arrive before the ist. of January last, having been
ordered by Mr. Benning some time in July last. His correspondent
sent them to Virginia, where they have lain a considerable time since.

We have the pleasure to inform the public, that Richard Quince, Esq,.,
a member of the General Committee and who may with great propriety
be deemed a principal merchant, hath joined heartily in the Non-Impor-
tation Agreement. It will, no doubt, be looked upon as a very great
misfortune to this country that some merchants and others seem re-
solved not to follow so disinterested an example, but, on the contrary,
are daily purchasing wines and many other articles contrary to the
said Agreement. Should those gentlemen still persist in a practice so
destructive in its tendencies to the liberties of the people of this colony,
they must not be surprised if hereafter the names of the importers and
purchasers should be published in the Cape Fear Mercury, This Is in-
tended to serve as a friendly admonition, and, it is hoped, will be

received as such and have its due effect.

 

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