OCR Text |
Show l 60 ] [ 6‘ ] latures were fometimes found perhaps performing the very fame funétions, they did not very grofsly or fyfiematically clafh. In all likelyhood this arofe from mere negleé't ; pof- fibly from the natural operation of things, which, left to themfelves, generally fall into their proper order. But whatever was the arifing from claims, which pride would permit neither party to abandon, by reforting as nearly caufe, it is certain, that a regular revenue by and the r'irf'r breach being of very fhort continuance, the Colonies fell back exactly into their antient flare. The Congrefs has cred an expreflion With regard to this pacificatiozi which appears to me truly fignificant. After the repeal of the Stamp Act, " the Colonies fell," the authority of Parliament for the fupport of civil and military efiablifhments, feems not to- have been thought of until the Colonies were too proud to fubmit, too firong to be forced, too enlightened not to fee all the confequences which muf't arife from fuch a fyf'tem. If ever this fcheme of taxation was to be pufhed again& the inclinations of the people, it was evident, that difcuflions mull arife, which would let Ioofe all the elements that compofed this double conflitution; would thew how much each of their members had departed from its original principles 5 and would difcover contradié'ticns i 1 each legiflature, as well to its own firf't principles, as to its relation to the other, very difficult if not abfolutely impofiible to be reconciled. Therefore at the firlt fatal opening of this as poffible, to the old fuccefsful courfe. A mere repeal of the obnoxious tax. with a declaration of the legiflative authority of this kingdom, was then fully fulficient to procure peace to [mt/afin'rs. Man is a creature of habit; x r i l I lays this ali‘embly, " into their antient {late of " ury'igflbec‘iing confidence in ibaMot/Mr Country." This uiifulpeéting confidence IS the true center of gravity amongfi mankind, about which all the parts are at refi. It is this unfitfliefliflg c072fldmce that removes all difficulties, and recon- ciles all the contradictions which occur in the complexity of all antient puzzled political eflablifhments. Happy are the rulers which have the fecret of preferving it! The whole empire has reafon to remember with eternal gratitude, the wifdom and temper of that man and his excellent allociates, who, to recover this confidence, formed the plan .of pacification in 1766. That plan, being burlt contefi, the wifefl courfe feemed to be to put an end as [con as poflible to the immediate upon the nature of man, and the circumilances caufes of the difpute ; and to quiet a difcuflion, and habits of the two countries, and not on not eafily fettled upon clear principles, and arifing any vilionary'1pcculations, perfectly anfwered its E f i l |