Henry was elected to the House of Burgesses (the legislative body of the Virginia colony) in 1765. The same year, he proposed the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions. The freshman representative waited for an opportunity when the mostly conservative members of the House were away (24% constituted a quorum). He succeeded, through debate and persuasion, in getting his proposal passed. It was possibly the most anti-British American political action to that point. The proposals were based on principles that were well-established British rights, such as the right to be taxed by one's own representatives. They also asserted that colonial assemblies had the exclusive right to impose taxes on the colonies and could not assign that right. The imputation of treason is due to his inflammatory words, "Caesar had his Brutus; Charles the First his Cromwell; and George the Third—" [Cries of "Treason! Treason!"] "George the Third may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it.”