OCR Text |
Show l 4 ) (5) things, Imean,as {hall now be taken for granted. In mentioning which, my aim will be to eitprels, in brief, what I take to be the general fenfe of thefe colonies, rather than to explain my own. For it is on fuch commonly-received opinions, that my exhortations and cautions will be grounded ; leaving the particular difcuflion of them to others, who are better qualified for it, and to whom it more properly belongs. And if I fhould be miliaken in any of thefe particulars, it is hoped candor will exeufe it; feeingthefe are matters out of the way of my profeflion. In purfuance ofthis plan, it (hall now be taken for granted, that as we were free-born, never made flaves by the right of eonquell in war, if there be indeed any fuch right, nor fold as flaves in any open lawful market, for money , {0 we have a natural right to our own, till we have freely confented to part with it, either in perfon, or by thofe whom WE have appointed to repre-a fent, and to aé‘t for us. It {hall be taken for granted, that this natural right is declared, affirmed and {ecured to us, as We are Britifh fubjet‘ls, by Magna (Jharta; all afts contrary to which, are laid to be zfflyfizc‘i‘e null and void: And, that this natural, multitu- tional right has been Further confirmed to molt of the plantations by particular fiibfequent royal charters, taken in their obvious fenfe ; the legan lity and authority of which charters was never once denied by either Heufe of Parliament; but inpiicitly at lealt aeknowiedged, ever {inee they Were f05€ftéiitflfif7 qrarted till very lately, I?-on II. It is taken for granted alfo, that the right of trial by juries, is a conliitutional one with ref». peét to all Britifh {ubjeé‘ts in general, particular- ly to the colonilis ; and that the plantations 1n which civil government has been ellablrfhed, have all along, till of late, been in the uninter- rupted enjoyment of both the rights aforefard, which are of the utmoft importance, being ef- fential to liberty. , It fliall, therefore, be taken for granted, that the colonies had great reafon to petition and remonltrate againft a late aft of Parliamentgas being an infraction of thefe rights, and {endlng didiret‘tly to reduce us to a llate of flavery. _ It is, moreover, taken for granted, whatever becomes of this queftion about rz'gbtr, that an act of that fort was very hard, and jul'tly grievous, not to fay Opprefiivc ; as the colonies are poor, as molt of them were originally fettled at the {ole and great expence of‘ the adventurers ; the expence of their money, their toil, their blood ; as they have expended a great deal from time to time in their wars with their French and Savage neighbours, and in the {upport of his Majefty's government here; as they have, moreover, been ever ready to grant fuch aids of men and money to the crown, for the common caufe, as they were able to give ; by which means a great load of debt {till lies on feveral of them; and as Great Britain has drawn val} emolument From them in the way of commerce, over and above all that fhe has ever expended For them, {:ithcr in peace or war: So that {he is, beyond all |