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Show [I4] i 15 l tiné'cion, in which I think every afiembly on the continent, and every member in every affembly, have been unanimous. (L What then could occafion converfations on that fubjeél: before that time. A. There was in 1754. a propofition made (I think it came from hence) that in cafe of a war, which was then apprehended, the governors of the Colonies fliould meet, and order the levying of troops, building offorts, and taking every other necelTai'y meafure for the general defence; and {hould draw on the treafury here for the fums expended, which were afterwards to be raifed in the Colonies by a general tax, to be laid on them by act of parliament. This occafioned a good deal of converfation on the fubjeét, and the general opinion was, that the parliament neither would nor could lay any tax on us, till we were duly repi‘eiented in parliament, becaufe it was not juf't, nor agreeable to the nature of an Englifh conititution. (L. Don't you know there was a time in New-York, when it was under con- iideration to make an application to parliament to lay taxes on that Colony, upon a deficiency arifing from the aflbmbly's refuting or neglecting to raife the nee-cf:- iary fupplies for the fupport of the c1v1l government 5' A. I never heard of it. Q There was {uch an application un- der confideration in New-York; and do you apprehend they could fuppofe the right of parliament to lay a tax in America was only local, and confined to the cafe of a deficiency in a particular Colony, by a refufal of its aflembly to raife the needfary fupplies P A. They could not fuppofe fuch a cafe, as that the alTembly would not raife the necelTary fupplies to fupport its own go- vernment. An afiembly that would refufe it muft want common fenfe, which cannot be fuppofed. I think there was never any fuch cafe at New-York, and that it muft be a mifreprefentation, or the fact mutt be mifunderftood. I know there have been fome attempts, by minillerial inflruétions from hence, to oblige the af- fembiies to fettle permanent lalaries on governors, which they wifely rethfed to do; but I believe no aficinbly of NewYork, or any other Colony, ever refuted duly to fupport government by proper allowances, from time to time, to public officers. Q; But in cafe a governor, acting infiruc‘tion, {liould call on an aflEmny by to raile the neceflary fupplies, and the allem- hly fhould refute to do it, do you not think A. I |