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Show Sect. VII. 432 ACTs RELATING To THE CoLONIES. 433 Part1". faction for a time to take the lead, what then? \Vhy opinions will be propagated; refolutions will be pafi‘ed, which are unwarrantable ; and which, if carried into execution, would be dangerous. This has been the cafe in New England; this has been the cafe in London. But to opine or refolve is one thing; to aét in confequence ofthofe refolutions, or opinions, is another. refuted, or neglected, to pay the tax. The gentleman applied to a court ofjuitice for redrcfs againfi the officers. The court juf< tified the officers, and the gentleman paid the expenccs of the fuit. \Vhat [hock did government receive from thence .9 The people of Mafiaehufet's have declared the counfellors, or aflifiants, ap- pointed in conformity to the 216?; before us, to be no council.-They have affem- The citizens of London, for infiance, rea wed, and forced the new counfellors, as folved in fome of their public meetings, that the lai't parliament was 720 parliament 2" --nay, they went a fiep farther, they declared as much in an addrefs to the throne. What effeét did this declaration produce? The parliament fat as ufualfi‘pafl'ed its acts ‘ as ufual, and was obeyed as ufual. One many of them as they could get at, to en- gage themfelves by oath to throw up, what the infurgcnts called an illegal oi"fice.---" See here," it may be laid, " the " dangerous effects of public meetings." But the public meetings were prohibited by this very act, previoully to the election gentleman went farther ;--he refufed to' of thefe very counfellors. pay‘ a tax impofed by that parliamenti What was the confequence E The officers appointed to colleét the tax, feized his goods for non-payment, as they would have feized mine, or any other perfons, who from any other caufe or motive. had refufed, " True," it will be anfwcred, " but the act was not " enforced; the public meetings afl'em- " bled notwithflanding.' And why was it not enforced?-" Becaufe government was too weak to enforce it." F f Here then was |