Finally, the colonies were to be taxed directly by parliament, through the medium of stamped paper, whose use was to be obligatory in all mercantile transactions, and even for marriage licenses. And as a means for compelling acquiescence in the new regulations a standing army of ten thousand men Avas to be sent over and quartered on the Americans, who were required to pay toward its maintenance some £100,000 annually, or one-third of the entire cost. There was a pretense that the purpose of the troops was to afford protection to the colonists, but no one was deceived by it. Early in the year 1765 the Stamp Act was introduced in parliament, and on the 22d of March it received the signature of the king.
The time appointed for its taking effect was the 1st of November. As soon as the news of its passage reached America, measures were set on foot for offering as effective an opposition as possible to its enforcement. Communications on the subject were exchanged by the various colonial assemblies; ami it was decided to hold a general congress of the colonies to discuss the matter and to take steps for united action. This body came together on October 7 in the assembly chamber of the city hall in New York, twenty-eight delegates being in attendance, representing nine of the thirteen colonies.
EVENTS The delegates from New ston, Philip Livingston, Strong resolutions were the house of lords, and
FROM
York were John Cruger, Robert E. LivingWilliam Bayard, and Leonard Lispenard. adopted, as well as petitions to the king, the house of commons, for the repeal of