We his Majesty’s most dutiful subjects, the late representatives of all the freeholders of the province of North Carolina, avowing an invincible attachment and unshaken fidelity to our most gracious sovereign, and protesting against every act that may have the least tendency to disturb the peace and good order of this government, which we are willing, at the risque of our lives and fortunes, to maintain and defend; but, at the same time, being sensibly affected with the hardships, difficulties and discouragements the colonies at present labour under, from sundry taxes and impositions laid on by parliament, for the sole purpose of a revenue, by which our money is taken from us, without our consent, and applied to the support of new created commissioners of customs, and other place-men: And by other acts of parliament, we are deprived of that invaluable privilege of tryal by our peers and the common law, and made subject to the arbitrary and oppressive proceedings of the civil law, justly abhorred by our ancestors, the freemen of England: And finding, that the most dutiful and loyal petition and remonstrances from the colonies for redreis have been rejected with contempt, and dreading the evils which threaten us and our posterity, by reducing us from freedom to a state of slavery; and in order to stimulate our fellow subjects, the merchants and manufactures in Great Britain, to aid us in this our distress, and to shew our readiness to join heartily, which the other colonies, in every legal method which may most probably tend to procure redress, which, we believe will be most effectually promoted, by establishing economy, encouraging American manufactures in general, and of this province in particular; promoting industry, and discouraging all manner of luxury and extravagance: We do therefore, most earnestly, recommend this our association, to the serious attention of all gentlemen, merchants, traders, and other inhabitants of this province, not doubting that they will, very readily and cordially, accede thereto; we therefore, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do solemnly promise and agree, to and with each other, that until the colonies are restored to their former freedom, by a repeal of those oppressive acts, we will most truly adhere to, and abide by the following resolution, to wit,

First, It is unanimously agreed on and Resolved, this Seventh Day of November, 1769, That the Subscriber, as well by their own Example as all other legal Ways and Means in their Power, will promote and encourage Industry and Frugality, and discourage all Manner of Luxury and Extravagance; and will also encourage and promote the Use of North American Manufactures in general, and those of this Province in particular; and such of the Subscribers who shall or may have any such for Sale, will sell and dispose of the same at the Rates as heretofore.

Secondly, That they will not at any Time hereafter, directly or indirectly, import, or cause to be imported, any Manner of Goods, Merchandize, or Manufactures, which are, or shall hereafter be taxed by Act of Parliament for the Purpose of raising a Revenue in America, except Paper, not exceeding Eight Shillings Sterl. per Ream, and except such Articles only as Orders have been already sent for, nor purchase any such after the First Day of January next, of any Person whatsoever, but that they will always consider such Taxation, in every Respect, as an absolute prohibition, and in all Future Orders direct their Correspondents to ship them no Goods whatever, taxed as aforesaid, except as is above excepted.

Thirdly, That the Subscribers will not hereafter, directly or indirectly, import or cause to be imported from Great-Britain, or any Part of Europe, (except such Articles of the Produce and Manufacture of Ireland, as may be immediately and legally brought from thence, and except also all such Goods as Orders have been already sent for) any of the Goods herein after enumerated, to wit, Spirits, wine, cyder, perry, beer, ale, malt, barley, pease, beef, pork, fish, butter, cheese, tallow, candles, oil, fruit, sugar, pickles, confectionary, pewter, hoes, axes, watches, clocks, tables, chairs, looking-glasses, carriages, joiners and cabinet work of all sorts, upholstery of all sorts, trinkets and jewellry, plate and gold, and silver smiths work of all sorts, ribbon and millinary or all sorts, lace of all sorts, India goods of all sorts, (except spices) silks of all sorts, (except sewing silk) cambrick; lawn, muslin, gauze, (except bolting-cloths) callico, or cotton stuffs], of more than two shillings per yard, linnens of more than two shillings per yard, woollens, worsted stuffs of all sorts, of more than one shilling and six pence per yard, broad cloths of all kinds, of more than eight shillings per yard, narrow cloths of all kinds, of more than three shillings per yard, hats, stockings, shoes, and boots, saddles, and all manufactures of leather and skins, of all kinds, until the late Acts of Parliament imposing duties on Tea, Paper, Glass, &c. for the purpose of raising a Revenue in America are repealed; and they will not, after the first day of January next, purchase any of the above enumerated goods of any person whatsoever, unless the above mentioned Acts of Parliament are repealed.

Fourthly, That in all Orders which any of the Subscribers may hereafter send to Great-Britain, they shall and will expressly direct their Correspondents not to ship them any of the before enumerated Goods, until the before mentioned Acts of Parliament are repealed; and if any Goods are Shipped to them contrary to the Tenor of this Agreement, they will refuse to take the same, or make themselves chargeable therewith.

Fifthly, That they will not import any Slaves, or purchase any imported, after the First Day of January next, until the said Acts of Parliament are repealed.  

Sixthly, That they will not import any Wine of any Kind whatsoever, or purchase the same from any Person whatever, after the First Day of January next, (except such Wines as are already ordered) until the Act of Parliament imposing duties thereon, are repealed.

Seventhly, For the better Preservation of the Breed of Sheep, That they will not kill, or suffer to be killed, any lamb that shall be yeaned before the First Day of May in any Year, nor dispose or of such to any Butcher, or other Person, whom they have Reason to expect intends to kill the same.

Eighthly and Lastly, That these Resolves shall be binding on all and each of the Subscribers, who do hereby, each and every Person for himself, upon his Word and Honour, agree, that he will strictly and firmly adhere to, and abide by every Article in this Agreement, from the Time of This signing the same, for and during the Continuance of the before mentioned Acts of Parliament; every Subscriber who shall not strictly and literally adhere to this Agreement, according to the true Intent and Meaning hereof, ought to be treated with the utmost contempt.

The above Resolves were signed by Sixty four of the members of the house of assembly, being all there were then present.