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Show l 26 ] able, than that each Colony hath a competent Authority to raife it's Proportion, and conibquently nothing is more evident, than that all the Colonies mignt raile the whole. 9* The Affertion that the Colonies would have paid no Regard to any Requifitions, is ralh and unauthorized, and had the Event attunlly happened, the Trouble and Lois of Time to the Minflters in making the Experiment, would not have been confiderable or detrimental to the Nation, and after it's Failure, an Aft of Parliament might itill have been made to compel the Contribution, if the Power which hath been CXt'i'CilECl is defenlible upon the Principles of the [ 27 ] been entertained with Refpeé‘t, and productive of all the Effects that could reafonably have been expefted from Them. A petty American AlTembly would not, in Anfwer to flash Requifitions, have impertinently recommended the Reduction of ex« orbitant Salaries, the Abatement of extravagant, and the Abolition of illegal Perquifites, the EXtinftion of ufelefs Places, or the dilbanding of undeferving, or ill deferving Penlioners, as a more proper and beneficial Method of relieving the public Burthens, than a new and heavy Impofition upon uleful and indul'trious Subjects. Briiif/J Confiz'tniz'on. purfired, becaule the Minifiers did not know what to demand, who have made To many Regulations in regard to the Colonies, " founded upon Know~ " ledge, formed with Judgment, and executed " with Vigour." Had the Requifitions been communicated, I make no doubt but They would have 3‘ It is afi‘erted in the Pamphlet entitled, 9725 Claim oft/1e Calmn'n, E3}. that Illagv/amz' availing herfelf of the Protefti on of [Wyn/"a and Penn/rhvania, contributed notln'ng to the common Defence. This Writer from a View of fome Map of Nortb dmzrica imagined, it {hould leem, that Virginia and Pennfilrvania Have great Things been promifed for the Eafe of the People of England, and hath a Meafure been fallen upon, that, by putting the Accomplifliment of them at a Dif'tance, and keeping Expectation alive, it may contribute to the Prolongation of a Power, which, in the Interim, will find fulficient Opportunities to gratify the Views of Minilterial Avarice or Ambition? If a Sum had been liquidated, and a precife Demand made, it might perhaps have been lhewn, if proportioned to the Circumf'tances of the C010nies, to be of no real Confequence to the Nation ; were fettled to as to encompafs Mary/and; but the Truth is, that and, if above their Circumfiances, that it would, the Frontiers of Maryland were as much expofed, as thofc of the with the Oppreflion of the Plantations, prove rui- next Colonies, and the Fact is moreover falfe, forI have been well informed that A'ld'j'lflfld contributed near 50,000 /. and incurred belides a confiderable Expence, which is now a Debt _upon the public jenrnal of that Colony, by putting her Militia into actual Service; and that an unhappy Dil‘tute, attendedwitha very heavy provincial Charge, on fomeTopick of Privilegeuvas the . real Caufe, why the Grants ofMagi/and were not mOre liberal. After all, there have been Inl‘tances, I (peak not ofmore modern Times, in which the Pafimony ofthe Parliamenthath been complained if, and the NOtion of Privilege carried to a great Length by'i'l'lfi' Home of Commons; but thefe have not been thought folio Reaions for {tripping their Confiituentsot' their Rights. been nous to the Briti/b Manufactures; but, whilfi Mat».- ters are thus vague, and indeterminate, any Attempt to thew that the Stamp Duties will be inadequate to the promifed Relief, dilirefs the Colonies, and conlbquently beggar the Britzfli Manufacturers, may be obviated by laying, that " the Act is in the N39 " ture of an Experiment: if inadequate, other ". Methods may be luperadded; if inconvenient, " it may be repealed, as lbon as dilboveredf' and E 2 Hints 2A A". < -:-.v.‘: 2 A Meafure fo extreme, could hardly be at once |