Protocols of Liberty: Chapter Illustration: Virginia Reacts to the Boston Port Act, 24 May

Virginia Reacts to the Boston Port Act, 24 May – 1 June 1774

LINKS: Crisis Temporality -- Boston (March 1770) -- Boston (Nov 1772) -- Boston (Spring 1773) -- Williamsburg (May 1774) --"Join or Die"-- London (1765-1783)

Because the Virginia House of Burgesses was convened when the news of the Boston Port Bill arrived in Williamsburg, that news initiated a hectic week of consulation, deliberation and communication. The events described in the chart on the right demonstrate several aspects of the response of the Virginia Whigs. Since all Virginia Whigs were united in their soliticitude for Boston, their first act was to pass a law designating the day upon which the bill was to take effect in Boston as a day of "fasting, humiliation, and prayer." This was the single most effective way to draw the King's subjects throughout the many counties of Virginia to fix their attention upon the political emergency. Other features of the Virginia response are noteworthy: first, it was difficult to win approval for an immediate boycott of imports from and exports to Great Britain. Secondly, when letters arrived from Whig committees or assemblies in Boston, Philadelphia and Annapolis, the Virginia Burgesses and their Committee of Correspondence acted to enhance the scope and intensity of their political initiatives.

By the end of the week, the Viriginia Whigs had set a course that would culminate in an August convention of Virginia representatives who would form an Association committeed to stopping all trade with Britain and select 7 delegates to the Continental Congress.

Tue, 24 May: The Virginia House of Burgesses Designate 1 June 1774 a Day of Prayer. In response to news of the Boston Port Bill, the Burgesses take note of “the hostile invasion of the city of Boston, in our Sister Colony of Massachusetts bay, whose commerce and harbor are to be stopped by an Armed force, deem it highly necessary that the said first day of June be set apart, by the members of this House, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, devoutly to implore the divine interposition, for averting the heavy calamity which threatens destruction to our civil rights, and the evils of civil war.”
Thur, 26 May: Dissolution of the Burgesses. Governor Dunmore summons the House to the Council Chamber, and waving the resolution of the House in his hand, declares it to be “conceived in such terms as reflect highly upon his Majesty and the Parliament of Great Britain; which makes it necessary for me to dissolve you; and you are dissolved accordingly.”
Fri, 27 May: A rump group of 89 of the 122 Burgesses meets to form an Association in the Apollo Room of Raleigh Tavern. It advises “on the expediency of appointing deputies from the several colonies of British America, to meet in general congress, as such a place annually as shall be though most convenient.”
Sat, 28 May: Eight members of the Virginia Committee of Correspondence meet to compose letters which transmit the broadside of the Association to all the other colonies.
Sun-Mon, 29-30 May: After receiving an express letter from the Annapolis committee of correspondence, which includes the letters from the committees of Philadelphia and Boston, Chairman Peyton Randolph convenes the 25 Burgesses remaining in the town at his Williamsburg mansion. They write and sign a letter to the other Burgesses urging them to collect “the sense of their respective counties” and to meet in Williamsburg on 1st of August 1774 to consider the advisability of suspending imports from as well as exports to Great Britain.
Tue, 31 May: Virginia Committee of Correspondence transmits copies of letters from the north to committees to the south (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia); in writing to committees to the north, it acknowledge receipt of their letters, and wishes “it had been in our power to have done any thing more decisive, at present.”
Wed, 1 June: Observation of a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer