They drew up a "Declaration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonists." In this paper they declared that the colonists, as subjects of the British king, had the same rights as British subjects living in Britain, and were free from taxes except those to which they had given their consent.

They claimed for themselves the right of trial by jury--which might be denied under the Stamp Act.
But the most important thing about the congress was the fact that nine colonies had put aside their local jealousies and had joined in holding it.
[Sidenote: Benjamin Franklin.] [Sidenote: Examined by the House of Commons.] 112.

Franklin's Examination .-- Born in Boston, Benjamin Franklin ran away from home and settled at Philadelphia.

By great exertion and wonderful shrewdness he rose from poverty to be one of the most important men in the city and colony.

He was a printer, a newspaper editor, a writer, and a student of science.