OCR Text |
Show [49] i 48 .l certainly; the frontier parts, Q If the Ramp-act {hould be repealed, which have been ravaged by the enemy, Would it induce the affemblies of‘America to acknowledge the rights of parliament to tax them, and would they erale their refolutions P A. No, never. A. No, are greatly difabled by that means, and. therefore, in fuch cafes, are ufually fan' voured in our tax-laws. Q Can we, at this diftance, be com»; petent judges of what favours "are necef- fary? A. The parliament have fuppofed it, by claiming a right to make tax-laws for America? I think it impollible. Q Would the repeal of the Ramp-act be any difcouragement of your manufac- tures? Will the people that have begurr to manufacture decline it P A. Yes, I think they will; efpecially if, at the fame time, the trade is opened again, fo that remittances can be eafily made. I have known feveral infiances that make it probable. In the war before laf'r, tobacco being low, and making little remittance, the people of Virginia went generally into family manufactures. Af- terwards, when tobacco bore a better price, they returned to the ufe of Britifh manufaé‘rures. So fulling-mills were ver much difufed in the laf'r war in Pennfyl- vania, becaufe bills Were then plenty, and remittances could eafily be made to Britain for Englifh cloth and other goods. Q If Q Is there no means of obliging them to erafe thofe relolutions ? A. None that I know of; they will never do it, unlefs compelled by force of arms. Q. Is there a power on earth that can force them to erafe them ? A. No power, how great foever, can force men to change their opinions. Q Do they confider the pof't-ofi‘ice as . a tax, or as a regulation P A. Not as a tax, but as a regulation and conveniency; every afiembly‘ encouraged it, and fupported it. 1n its infancy, by grants of money, which they would not otherwife have done; and the pe0ple have always paid the poll-age. . Q When did you receive the mf‘rruc- tions you mentioned ? . A. I brought them Wlth me, when I came to England, about 15 months fince. . When did you communicate that inf'cruétion to the minifter ? . A. Soon after my arrival, while the flamping of America was under confidera- tion, and before the bill was brought in. H Q Would |