OCR Text |
Show l4] is": here, let us fuppefa either that they eftablifhed independent governments which afterwards became fubjeét by agree- nicn , or that a, Conditional fuhjeélion was interwovrn in their frante ;---flill the exil‘rence of the contra'ft remains unimpeached , or even on a fuppolition that they had aé'tu- ally bargained for unconditional fubmiffion, {till that bargain would have been from its very nature void as to them; or if not to them, at lealt to their ofl‘fpring; and of confe- qua-nee from the principle of all free focieties, the contracot will fill] refult. \nd it being (vident that the two coun- .5 M, (2:14" go in the treatment of thefe colonies. E}? a ftatute made in the fourth year of the prelt‘nt reign, a time of Profiila'fld peat/'3, alleging: " the expediency of new provi‘ ftons and regulations for extending the commerce bt tween Great-Britain and his maicftv's dominions in flmericrz, and the net‘fiflz‘ty ofra/fiug a I'c-{mzic‘inthe faid dominions for de~ fraying:r the expences of (/rfirzdmg, protecting, and fecuring tries net only had not, but really could not have (on free the fame," the common; of Great-Britain undertook to grow and grant to his mujcrly many rates and duties, to be paid in thele colonies. To enforce the obfervance of this ad'r, it prcfcribes a great number of fevcre penalties and forfei- principles) any political connection but thro' the prince-~- tures ; and in two feetions makes a remarkable dill‘ino‘rion fo that right exercifed in the revolution of England de- rnonflrated fince, and generally admitted, muft necefliirily draw with it the right to independence, which is above ilated. between the fubjeéts in Grmz‘JJritain and thofe in interim. By the one the penalties and forfeiturcs incurred there are tribe recovered in any of the king's courts of record at \Veflminlter, or in the court of exchequer in Scotland ;, Paevrocs to the all war a few afis were paffed in England infringingT on the liberties of America 3 and but a few for the two bellowing reafons, lit. Becaufe Ame- and by the other, the penalties and forfeitures incurred here are to be recovered in any court of record, or in any court of admiralty, or vice admiralty, at the eleéiion of the informer or proleeritor. rica was at that time an objecft of very little nationa l attention. zilly. llecaufe the po'ffemons of the French enabled them to gin: fuch ellicitual aid in cafe of rupture , inflice of Great-Britain, were learcely allowed ful'hcient that it was inn‘rudcnt to tempt us too far. i ime to receive and confide-r this ac? before another, well Thefe acts however were. obeyed, becaufe the reftraints were of no great conli-quence; and becaufe we were too fenfible of our weakneli-t to be fully lisniible of our rinhts, or at lezzlt to vindica . te them. But i during the courfeoof the war, the n. v» ight and magnitude of America became vifzble , and at the peace, this great object was (or at leaft feemed to be) infcparablv annexed to the crown of Britain. On the other hand, we had felt our own force, and were relieved from a mighnour whofe views at that time cramp ed our growth and reprellcd our eflorts. The confequenc e of this cniznge was inllantly perceived. Great-Brit ain claimed revenue and dominion. VVC refu ed the one, and difputed the other. THE hiflory which Congrcfs gave in their addrefs to America ot October 1774, will on this cccaf ion (leferve our ferrous attention. It is as follows : " Soon after th conelufion of the late war, there commenced a memorable change THE inhabitants of thcf: colonies, confiding in the known by the name of the [lamp acct, and puffed in the fifth year of this reign, engrolftd their whole attention. By this llatute the Britilh parliament exercifed in the melt explicit manner a power of taxing us, and extendin: the jurifdiition of courts of admiralty and vice admiralty 1n the colonies to matters arifing within the bod" of a county, and diree'ted the numerous penalties and forfcitures thereby inflicted to be recovered in the faid courts. IN the fame year a tax was impofed upon us by an aé't eftablifhing feveral new fees in the cultoms. In the next year the {lamp at): was repealed, not becaufe it was fanneed in an erroneous principle, but as the repealing aét recrtcs, becaufe the " continuance thereof would be attended with " many inconvenieneies, and might be n‘oduetive of con" fequences greatly detrimental to the commercial interefl "" of Great-Britain." 1N |