OCR Text |
Show 60 THE RIGHTS or BRITAIN AND CLAIMS OF AMERICA. 61 the twentieth of February, the following Propofitions were introduced to a Committee great majority, plainly marked the ground of the whole Honfe, by the Chancellor of for a negotiation, and an equitable agree-- This Refolution, which was carried by a the Exchequer: " That it is the opinion ment with the Colonies. " of this Committee, that when the Go- " vernor, Council, and Aflembly, or Go- comprehenfive, and explicit. It was moderate, It named the or General Aflembly of {uch Province or Colony, and difpofable by Parliament; and {hail engage to make provifion alto for the fupport of the Civil Government, and the adminifiration of juflice in fuch Province or Colony ; it will be proper, if perfons from whom the propoi'lls mutt come, and thole to whom they were to he made. The end and purpol'e oi" the contribution were explained. The appropriation ot the expec'ted revenue was fpecitied, and precluded every {ufpicion of its being; mit~ applied. Though the Offer was conditional, it was plainly conclnfive, as long as the Americans themfelves {hOUltl adhere to the agreement. They had it in their power to tax themfelves, the great point for which they profelTerl to contend; and the only right referved by the Legitlazure was to determine the (LUANTUM of the l‘upply; and " fuch propc-fal {hall be approved by his Ma- they alone can determine it, as being the " neral Court of his Majetly's Provinces or " Colonies {hall propofe to make provition "according to their refpeclive conditions, " circumfiances, and fituations, for contri- " buting their proportion to the common 4‘ defence; fuch proportion to be railed un- " der the authorities of the General Court, " t‘ " "‘ " " " jetty in Parliament, and for to long as l {opreme power, who are the {ole judges of what is necetlary to fopport the State. The " luch provifion {hall be made accordingly, " to fcrbear in refpeé't of fuch Province, or Propofition, <‘ Colony, to levy any duties, tax, or afltfil 6‘ ment, or to impofe any further duty, tax, the Americans, as to the claims of the ~‘ or 2flchment, except only fuch duties as h'lother-Country. " it may be eXpedient to impofe for the re- mull have accepted the propohll, had what they held forth to the Public formed the " gularion of co amerce; the nett produce " of the duties laf‘r mentioned, to be carried ‘F to the account of fuel] Province, Colony, 54‘ or Plantation rtfpcftively.'i II‘ »I5 M3 upon the whole, was AT LEAST as favourable to the pretentious of The former, therefore, real principles of their oppofition. |