Document J Source: First Continental Congress, Declaration of Colonial Rights and Grievances (October 11, 1774) That the inhabitants of the English Colonies in North America, by the immutable laws of nature, the principles of the English consti- tutions, and the several charters or compacts, have the following rights. Resolved, 1. That they are entitled to life, liberty, and property, and they have never ceded to any sovereign power whatever, a right to dispose of either without their consent. Resolved, 2. That our ancestors, who first settled these colonies, were, at the time of their emigration from the mother-country, entitled to all the rights, liberties, and immunities of free and natural-born subjects, within the realm of England... Resolved, 5. That the respective colonies are entitled to the common law of England... Resolved, 6. That they are entitled to the benefit of such of the English statutes as existed at the time of their colonization... Resolved, 8. That they have a right peaceably to assemble, con- sider of their grievances, and petition the king; and that all pros- ecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the same are illegal. Resolved, 9. That the keeping a standing army in these colonies, in times of peace, without the consent of the legislature of that colony, in which such army is kept, is against law.

Document J Source: First Continental Congress, Declaration of Colonial Rights and Grievances (October 11, 1774) That the inhabitants of the English Colonies in North America, by the immutable laws of nature, the principles of the English consti- tutions, and the several charters or compacts, have the following rights. Resolved, 1. That they are entitled to life, liberty, and property, and they have never ceded to any sovereign power whatever, a right to dispose of either without their consent. Resolved, 2. That our ancestors, who first settled these colonies, were, at the time of their emigration from the mother-country, entitled to all the rights, liberties, and immunities of free and natural-born subjects, within the realm of England... Resolved, 5. That the respective colonies are entitled to the common law of England... Resolved, 6. That they are entitled to the benefit of such of the English statutes as existed at the time of their colonization... Resolved, 8. That they have a right peaceably to assemble, con- sider of their grievances, and petition the king; and that all pros- ecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the same are illegal. Resolved, 9. That the keeping a standing army in these colonies, in times of peace, without the consent of the legislature of that colony, in which such army is kept, is against law.