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Show [ 62 1 t 63 ] its end, as long as it was thought proper to ad: here to it. Without giving a rude [hook to authority produCed not a fingle murmur. the dignity (well or ill underlined) of this this undefined power has become odious fince Parliament, it gave perfect content to our dependencies. Had it not been for the mediatorial fpirit and talents of that great man, between luch clalhing pretenfions and paliions, we fhould then have rulhed headlong (I know If that time, and full of horror to the Colonies, it is becaufe the ua/zgflbz'ciom cargfidmce is loft; and the parental affection, in the bofom of Whofe boundlefs authority they repofed their privileges, is become eltranged and hollile. what I lay) into the calamities of that civil war, in which, by departing from his fyiiem, we are It will be aiked, if fuch was then my opinion at length involved ; and we ihould have been precipitated into that war, at a time, when cir- of the mode of pacification, how I came to be the very perfon who moved, not only for a re- cumfiances both at home and abroad were far, very far, more unfavourable unto us than they peal of all the late coercive flatutes, but for were at the breaking out of the prefent troubles, II had the happinefs of giving my firfl: votes in Parliament for that pacification. I was. one ofthofe almofi unanimous members, who, in the neceliary concefiions of Parliament, would as much as poliible have preferved its authority, and reipeéted its honour. I could not at once tear from my heart prejudices which were mutilating, by a pofitive law, the entirenefs of the legiflative power ofParliament, and cutting ofir from it the whole right of taxation? I anfwer, becaufe a different Rate of things re- quires a different conduEt. When the difpute had gone to the 121?: extremities (which no man laboured more to prevent than I did) the conceflions which had fatisfied in the beginning, could fatisfy no longer; the violation of tacit faith required explicit fecurity. The fame dear to me, and which bore a refemblance to cauie, which has introduced all formal com- virtues. Iliad then, and Ihave flill, my partia~ lities. What Parliament gave up I wiflied to pacts and covenants among men made it ne- be given, as of grace, and favour, and affec- ceflary: Imean, habits of ibrenefs, jealoufy, and diftrufi. I parted with it, as with a limb : tion, and not as a rei'citution offiolen goods. High dignity relented as it was foothed ; and would have parted with more, if more had an act of benignity from old acknowledged been necefiary. greatnel‘s had its full effect on our dependencies, Our unlimited declaration of legiflarive lefs, hopelefs, unnatural civil war. authority but as with a limb to fave the body; and I Any thing rather than a fruitThis mode of yielding would, it is faid, give way to independency, Without a war. lam perfuaded 7 |