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Show ( 20 ) ( 21 ) laws refpeéting America, which pafled in the fiituents may, in fome very extraordinary con; lafl: feflion of the laft parliament. And as feptcnnial parliaments are found to be the juncture of opinions and circumftances, be «root from whence all our political grievances had aflEfitcd an entire independency on, or ra-' fpring, they were alfo bound to endeavour ther an abfo'iute fovereignty over their confli-~ the reiteration of our ancient Privileges in refpeét to the duration of parliaments. tuents, this might be a fufficient reafon for wrong, yet at a time when the reprefentatives many worthy men, as a far lelTer evil, to fuba mit to an indefinite obligation of obedience. Surely, my friends and fellow citizens, this is a conduét which, at fuch a crifis of Power is regarded by all men as the great- our affairs, was laudable and neceffary ; and cit of temporal advantages. The fupport a conduct which, if all the electors of Great- given to Power, therefore, is an obligation; Britain had followed, we flaould not now and, confequcntly, the proteétion given by have been at the eve of a civil war with America ; nor fuch an interruption given to our commerce, as threatens the immediate ruin of thoufands of families. Surely, in inch :1 fiate of our affairs, no benefit and enlightened man could have re- governors to fubjeéts, a pofitive duty. The fubjeét can only be bound to obedience on the confiderations of public good; but the Sovereign, on thefe confiderations, and a thoufand others equally binding, is tied to the exact obfervance of the laws of that confiitution under which he holds his power. fufed binding himfelf to fuch endeavours; and though the obeying every mandate of confiituents The affertion that " the Americans, tho' " neither adequately or inadequately repre" fentcd, B 3 |