“whereas, since the close of the last war, the british parliament, claiming a power of right to bind the people of america, by statute in all cases whatsoever, hath, in some acts expressly imposed taxes on them, and in others, under various pretences, but in fact for the purpose of raising a revenue, hath imposed rates and duties payable in these colonies, established a board of commissioners with unconstitutional powers, and extended the jurisdiction of courts of admiralty, not only for collecting the said duties, but for the trial of causes merely arising within the body of a county. . ”
this excerpt stating the unconstitutionality of british revenue taxes on the american colonies in 1774 is a quotation from the