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Show (33) a few factions men; that the majority of the people would take the fide of government, as foon as they faw a force among them capable of fupporting them ; that, at worl't, the Colonies in general w0u1d never make a common caufe With this province; and that, the ilfuc would prove, in a few‘ months, order, tranquility and fubunffion. Every one of thefe apprehenfions was faliified by the event that followed. Can it be pofiible to think with patience of the policy that has brought us into thefe circuml'tances .' Did ever Heaven. punilh the vices of a people more feverely by darkening their coun'fels? How great would be our happinefs could we now recal former times, and return to the policy of the lal't reigns? ---~But thofe times are gone-l, will, hetnever, beg leave for a few moments to look back to them; and tocompare the ground we have left with that on which we find onrfelves. When the bills I have mentioned came to be carried into execution, the whole Province was thrown into confufion. This mull be done with deep regret; but it forms a necell‘ary Their courts ofjullice were {but up, and all government was part of my prefent defign. dilfolved. Fhe commander in chief found it neceflary to fortify hin..elfin BOSTON; and the other Colonies immediately refolved to make a common caufe with this Colony. which they might derive from trading with foreign nationVs, confented to fend only to us whatever it was for our interelt 80 llrangely milinforrned were our minillers, that this was all a furprize upon them. In thofe times our Colonies, foregoing every advantage to receive from them; and to receive only from us whatever it They took fright, therefore; and was for our interelt to lend to them. They gave up tliepower once more made an effort to retreat; but indeed the mall: of making fumptuary laws, and eXpofed themftlves to all the unaracious one that can well be imagined. evils of an‘ inereafing and walleful luxury, becaufe we were benefitted by vending among them the materials of it. The A propofal was {cut to the Colonies, called Conciliaior'y ; and the fubl'tance of which was, that if any of them would raife fuch form as ihould be demanded of them by taxing themfelves, the Farliament would forbear to tax them. It will be fearcel believed, hereafter, that fuch a propofal could be thought conciliatory. It was only telling them; " if you will tax iron with which Providence had bltffed their country, they " youtfelves BY OUR ORDER, we will fave ourfelves the trou- were required by laws, in which they acquiefced, to tranfport hither, that our people might be maintained by working it for them into nails, ploughS, axes, 55c. And, in feveralinllunces, even one Colony was not allowed to fupply any neighbouring Colonies with commodities which could be conveyed to them " bio of taxing you." from hence.--But they yielded much farther. They confented They received the propofal as an infult; and rejected it with difdain. " ' At the time this conceflion was tranfmitted to A'merz'ca, legillature. open hof'rilities were not begun. In the {word our n-iinillers among us and under our influence, they gave us a negative on thought they had {till a refource which would immediately all their laws. By allowing an appeal to us in their civil difputes, they gave us likewile the ultimate determination of all fettle all difputes. They confidered the people of New-Eng- land as nothing but a mob, who would'be foon routed and forced into obedience. It was even believed, "that a few" thoufands of our army might march through all fi'marim, and make all quiet where-ever they went. ‘ Under this convitf'tion our miniliers did not dread urging the Pro'vince‘of [lid/nebu- fittr-Brzy into rebellion, by ordering the army to feize their fibres, and to take up fume of their leading men. The attempt was made. The people fled immediately to arms, and repelled the attack. A conliderable part of the flower of the Britifh army has been deflroyed. ‘ Some of our bell; Generafs, and the bravell ofour troops, are now dilgracefully and miferably imprifoned at Bg/folz. A horrid civil war is commenced ,--and the Empire is difiraé'tcd and convulfed. ' Can that we {liould have the appointment of oneibranch of their By recognizing as their King, a King: refident civil caules among them.-~ln lbort. They allowed us every power we could delire, except that of taxing them, and inter- fering in their internal legillations: And they had admitted precedents, which, even in thefe inllances, gave us no incon- liderable authority over them. By purchaling our goods they paid our taxes: and, by allowing us to regulate their trade in any manner we thought moi} for our advantage, they enriched our merchants, and helped us to hear our growing hurdem. They fought out battles with us. They gloried in their re- lation to us. All their gains centered among us; and 'h'j'! always fpoke of this country and looked to it as their l'it)lli(. |