On this day 250 years ago the people of the town of Chestertown, Maryland assembled in a mass meeting and adopted the Chestertown Resolves. These Resolves were modeled on resolutions passed by towns in Massachusetts and other colonies. The Chestertown Resolves declared:
that no duty or taxes can constitutionally be [imposed] on us, but by our own consent given personally, or by our own representatives.
that the act of the British parliament . . . subjecting the colonies to a duty on tea, for the purpose of raising revenue in America, is unconstitutional, oppressive and calculated to enslave the Americas.
that whoever shall import, or in any way aid or assist in importing, or introducing from any part of Great Britain, or any other place whatsoever, into this town or country, any tea subject to the payment of a duty imposed by the aforesaid act of Parliament: or whoever shall willingly and knowingly sell, buy or consume, in any way assist with the sale, purchase or consumption of any tea imported as aforesaid subject to a duty, he or they, shall be stigmatized as enemies to the liberties of America.
that we will not only steadily adhere to the foregoing resolves, but will endeavor to excite our worthy neighbors to a like patriotic conduct, and to whoever, amongst, shall refuse his concurrence, or after complying, shall desert the cause, and knowingly deviate from the true spirit and meaning of these our resolutions, we will mark him out [as] inimical to the liberties of America, and unworthy member of the community, [and] a person not deserving our notice [or] regard.
that the foregoing resolves be printed, that our brothers in this and other colonies may [know] our sentiments as therein contained.
The Maryland Gazette published the Chestertown Resolves a few days latter and added that “The above resolves were entered into upon a discovery of a late importation of dutiable tea, (in the brigantine Geddes, of this port) for some of the neighbouring counties. Further measures are in contemplation, in consequence of a late and very alarming act of parliament.”
The Chestertown Resolves were signed by several prominent citizens of Chestertown including Thomas Ringgold V, Thomas Smyth III, William Carmichael, and James Nicholson. They would all go on to serve in leading roles for the Patriots during the Revolution, but ironically, Nicholson was the owner of the cargo in the Geddes including the “dutiable tea” that supposedly was dumped in the harbor in the Chestertown Tea Party a few days later.
Sources: https://kentcountyhistory.org/history/;
On This Day In The Revolution 