OCR Text |
Show (I2) (13) dental. But does any one doubt, whether form: for. ward man might not have been found, who would on oc- another on the {auction of thefe two different law, which ought in every {late to be conl‘tantly blended cafion have furnilhed reafons better or worfe to ma1n~ tain the right of making them. But how much more prudent was our conduct? Ii peace and harmony. are then fo beneficial and defirable between Great-Britain order and confulion be made to llrike and clalh againfl: each other. Whenever that {ball happen, let us be and Ireland, and the meafures producmg or infuring them good, upright and wife; why do thefe things fo alter their nature, when they are applied to Ame- and united, and which can never Without its utter dif- afibred, that we are running upon a rock, whereon ' We cannot but make lhipwreck. I have hitherto on the lawof nature and the common rica ? . The prefent accurfed quefiion between us and 0111; colonies, how long was it unknown or unthought of. rights of humanity confidered the claim of the Americans, nor to be here in England taxed by us, againlt their own will and confent. It refls firmly on that foundation ; but I don't mean to fay that it rel'cs on Who heard of it from the firll rife of thefe fettlements, that only. until a few years ago ; that a fatal attempt forced it remain another on which it would neverthelefs {land into notice and importance? But it is now already letting at work fleets and armies ;. it threatens the confufion and perhaps the dellruétion of both countries and but too probable of one of them ; although God only knows whether the calamity will, fall on that fure and unlhaken; I mean that of the fpecial confli - tution of Great Britain, which does herein molt juftly Could this be removed, there would yet and wifely coincide with the general confiitution of humanity,and require that the property of no man living under its proteé‘tion, {hould without his confent of the two, which many men may now imagine and by himfelfor reprefentative,be taken from him, or ac- believe to be the molt in danger. . This point is not alone ; there are other quellions cording to the language of the times, that repref entation lhould go along with taxation. But this argument has particularly been in the of the fame fort, concerning which no man now dif- turbs himfelf; but which flirted and flarted by new demands or any other means,might in like manner band againf't one another Great Britain and its colonies. Princes and Rates never do better, than when their claims are not fathomed, nor ifl may ufe the expreffion. the bottom of them not over curioufly founded and examined. The terms of municipal laws ufually favour the Sovereign, they are often framed or drawn by his creatures and dependents ; the law of nature is more commonly in fupport of the people and the pub- hands of the firll men of our times. They have let it in its full light, and their authority has recom mended it to the attention of their country. It is well known and Well underflood,and I am perfuaded that it is un~ anfwerable. But Ibear more refpec't to both their: perfons and to the public, than to go over it again much toits difadvantage. I will therefore begleaveon {0. ly toailumethis realbn, and tojoin itto my former; when the right of the Americans will Fraud on this double foundation, of the general law of nature and of the lic; it is the production of him who fees with an equal particular conflitution of Great Britain. CYC, Prince and fubjeét, high and low, European and However it has been laid, that the‘ Ameri cans are in our Parliaments virtually reprefented. American. God forbid, that two fuch parts of the Britifh empire, as the mether country and her colopies lhould in our times divide and contend againft one i i anothcl' H How that fhould be when they are not really lo, I {hall leave to be explained by thofe who advanceit. But God for- bid, |