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Show :78 Examination ofDr. Franklin hforc tlw [Az D.T.] unjuft, that a body of men, in which they have no rcprelentatives, fliould make a merit to itfclt‘ of giving and granting what 18 not His own, others wharfoever, whom they have not impo w- but theirs; and deprive them of a right they elteem of the utmoft value and importance, as it is the fecurity of all their other rights. 0» You fiiy they do not object to the right of parliament, in laying duties on goods to be Q; But is not the pof't-oflice, which they have Houfi'ofCommom-z‘n 1766. 279 ered for that purpofe. paid on their importation; now, is there any kind of difference between a duty on the im- long received, a tax as well as a regulation P portation of goods, and an excife on their con- fl. No; the money paid for the poi'tage of a letter is not of the nature ofa tax; it is merely _a quantum merm't for a. fervice done ; no perfon lS jz'tlizplz'on ? 7 choofe to receive the fervice. A man may [1111, as before the act, {end his letter by a fervant, a A. Yes; a very material one: an excife, for the reafons I have juft mentioned, they think you can have no right to lay within their country. But nae/21a is yours; you maintain, by your fleets, the fafety of navigation in it, and keep it clear of fpecial meiTenger, or, a friend; if he thinks 1t pirates; you may have therefore a natural and cheaper and fafer. equitable right to fome to]! or duty on merchandizes carried through that part of your dominions, compellable to pay the money, if he does not . Q, But do they not confider the regulations of the poft-oflice, by the aét of laf't year, as a tax P towards defraying the expence you are at, in {hips to maintain the fafety of that carriage. A. By the regulations of 121?: year the rate of portage was generally abated near thirty per cent. through all America; they certainly cannot con- .2, Does this reafoning hold in the cafe of a duty laid on the produce of their lands exported ? fider fuch abatement (is a tax. And would they not then object to {uch a duty? .4. Ifit tended to make the produce (‘0 much 12, If an excife was laid by parliament, which they might likewife avoidpaying, by not confuming the articles excifed; would they then dearer abroad as to lelTen the demand for it, to'be filre they would object to fuch a duty; Not to your right of laying it; but they would complain ofit not objeét to it? . . A. They would certainly object to it, as an as a burthen, and petition you to lighten it. excite is unconheéted with any fervice done, and is merely an aid; which they think ought to be a duty of that kind ? afked‘of them, and granted by them, it they-are to pay it; and can be granted for them by 110 others Q, Is notithe duty paid on the tobacco exported, A. That, I think, is only on tobacco carried mart-wife from one colony to another, and ap- 2 ~. g propriated |