<P> The Virginia Resolves were a series of resolutions passed by the Virginia House of Burgesses in response to the Stamp Act of 1765 . The Stamp Act had been passed by the British Parliament to help pay off some of its debt from its various wars, including the French and Indian War fought in part to protect the American colonies . </P> <P> The resolves claimed that in accordance with long established British law, Virginia was subject to taxation only by a parliamentary assembly to which Virginians themselves elected representatives . Since no colonial representatives were elected to the Parliament the only assembly legally allowed to raise taxes would be the Virginia General Assembly . </P> <P> On May 29, 1765, Patrick Henry made one of his famous speeches before the Virginia House of Burgesses to encourage the passage of the resolutions . Henry said "Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I his Cromwell, and George III...(Henry was interrupted by cries from the opposition)... may profit by their example . If this be treason, make the most of it ." When Patrick Henry paused after the vibrant portion of the speech, Speaker John Robinson stood and shouted, "Treason! Treason!". Patrick Henry at this point issued a semi-apology . </P> <P> Peyton Randolph later told his young cousin Thomas Jefferson who was standing in the doorways of the House quite frequently . "By God, I would have given 500 guineas for a single vote". </P>

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