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Show [ 25 ] Succefi‘es ofit benelicial. If the Expences attending the military Operations in America, are jui'tly to without doubt, precifely afcertained, or eafily may be charged to the fole Defence of the Colonies, " the commercial Interefts of Great-Britain, are and no Part of it to the Security of Greer-Britain, or to the Views of extending her Dominions by preferred to every other Confideration, and it is Conquellt, if all the SuccelTes of the War have been atchieved by the national Arms of Great- Britain ALONE, without any Affifizance, or C0 ope- ration of the Plantations, ltill ought not the Claim againf't the Colonies in Equity, to be mitigated upon Reflection or the Advantages derived from Them, and of their Contribution to the national Revenue for a long Courfe of Years, during which, their Protection put the BMW) Nation to very little, if any particular Expence? If moreover, Great-Britain hath an equitable Claim to the Contribution of the Colonies, it be, at a Time " when the real, the fubf'tantial, f0 well known, that the Trade whence it's greatelt Wealth is derived, and upon which it's maritime Power is principally founded, depends upon a wife and proper Ufe of the Colonies," which implies, at lealt, fuch an Underf'tanding of their Circuml‘tances, as mutt render it extremely eafy, to form a reafonable Ellimate of their com‘ parative Wealth, and the Extent of their Abilities. The Proportion of each Colony, being {0 eafily altertainable at this Period of unwmmm Knowledge of their Afl‘iill‘s, why has the Courfe obferved by former Minilters, when Supplies have been expeeted from America, been neglected by the prefim‘? Why was there not the ufual Requilition communicated to the Provincial AITemblies, in- ought to be proportioned to their Circumfiances, and They might, furely, be indulged with dif~ charging it in the moft eafy, and fatisfaétory Man~ ner to 'l‘heml'elves. If Ways and Means convenient, and conciliating would produce their Con- {lead of exacting an uncertain and unequal Sum from each Colony, by a Law abruptly palied without any previous Default of thole who are affected tribution, . 3 well as oppreliive and difgulting EX- Genius, cancelling their Charters, infringing the moit valuable Rights and Privileges of Brz'ti/ia Sub- by it 3-l {hall not call it a Law repugnant to their aétions, it is neither confillent with Humanity or Policy, to purine the latter-A Power may even jeéts, derogatory from the Faith and Honour of exiit without an aclual Exercife of it, and it indi- Government, unjult and cruel in it's Principles, rigorous and opprellive in the Means provided for cates as little good Scnle as good Nature to exer~ die it, only that the Subieéts of it may feel the it's Execution, and as pernicious in it's Confe- Bod that Rules Them. Moderation may be obierved, and Equity maintained, at the fame Time that Superiority is aiierted, and Authority vindicated, whatever the Apprehenhons of Pufillanimay, or the Infolence of Uliirpation may fuggefi. quences to the Mother Country, as injurious to the Colonies in it's immediate Operation, but I may call it a rigorous and fevere Law. It is in vain to attempt a Palliation of this ulelefs Severity, (tilelels I mean to the Purpole of raifing 21 Revenue) by fallacioufly pretending that, as all the Colonies were to be taxed, and the Authority of each is limited, the lnterpofition of the Parliament became necefl'ary; fiuce nothing can be lcfs difputa E able; . YVhat is the annual Sum expected from the C0- ‘cnieswwhat Proportion from each--how far do tht :.r Abilities extend? Thefe Matters have been without |