OCR Text |
Show e94. Examination qur. Franklin be are tlrc A [Az D.T.] I think there are three, but ‘I believe only‘ one at preterit employed. I inppole they Will all he fet to work, if the interruption of the tl'IlClt' continues. P . . _ : 9. Are there any yu/fing-mz/[r there L ~ . A. A oreat many. 0 Did3 you never hear that a great quantity or JOKE/{7232‘ were contrae‘ted for, tor the army,_ dpurmg ~[the war, and manufaé‘tured in Philadelphia. A. I have heard {0. Q, If the Stamp-A63; fllOUlCl be repealed, would not the Americans think they could oblige the para liament to repeal every external tax-law now in force P ' A. It is hard to anlvver quefhons ofwhat people at fueh a diflanee will think. _ . Q. But what do you imagine they will think were the motives of repealing the aét P" A. I fuppofe they will think that .lt Was re- pealed from a conviétion of its lilCXpCd‘lCDCYi and they will rely upon it, that while the fame inexpedieney liibfifts, you will never attempt to make fueh another. ' . . P .Q. What do you mean by its mexpedrency . ? A. I mean its inexpedieney on {everal accounts . the poverty and inability of thofe who were to pay. the tax ; the general difeontent it has oecafioned 5 and the impraétieability of enforcmg it. ‘ _ 23 If the aét {hould be repealed, and the legl- flature {hould fhew its refentment to the o'ppofers of the Stamp~Aét, would the'colonies acquiercc 111 1104/: nga/mmm 7'12 I766. 285' in the authority of the legiflat ure? \Vhat is your opinion they would do P A. Idon't doubt at all, that if the legiflature repeal the Stamp-Aét, the colo nies will aequiefee in the authority. Q But if the legiflature {hould think fit to af- eertain its right to lay taxes, by any aét laying a {mal l tax, contrary to their opinion; would they fubmit to pay the tax P A. The proceedings of the people in America have been confidered too much toge ther. The proceedings of the afl'emblies have been very differe nt from thofe of the mobs; and thould be dillinguifhed, as having no conn eé'tion with each other. The q/émé/z'rr have only peaceabl y refolved what they take to be their rights : they have taken no meafures for oppofition by force, they have not built a fort, raifed a man, 1or prov ided a grain of ammunition, in order to ‘fueh oppo fition. The ring-leaders of riots they think ought to be punifh ed; they would punifh them themfelv es, if they could. Every fober, feniible man would wifh to fee rioters punifhed, as orherwife peaceable people have no iEeurity of perfon or ef'cate.---But as to an internal tax, how {mall foev er, laid by the legiflature here on the people there, while they have no repr'eleiitatives in this legi flature, I think it will never be {ubmitted to : they will oppole it to the lath-They do not conf ider it as at all neeeflary for you to raife money on the m by your'taxes; beeaufe they are, and alWays have 1 ‘ been, |