year 1765 the question respecting American taxation was revived with redoubled warmth and vigor. The indulgence of the Minifter in deferring the impofition of the ftamp duties till the prefent year had not produced any advances towards an accommodation. The difference of principle occafioned by the agitation of this new and dangerous question, was in fact far too great to admit of any amicable compromife. Numerous petitions or memorials were tranfinitted from the different Colonies, none of them exprefsly admitting, but the majority on the contrary pofitively denying, the right of the British Legiflature to impofe any tax for the purpose of raifing a Colonial revenue, at the difpofal of the British Parliament, and payable into the British Exchequer.

On the part of the Colonists it was urged, that the claim of England was not only abfolutely novel, but diametrically oppofite to the spirit and letter of the English conftitution, which has efta- ́ blifhed as a fundamental axiom-that taxation is infeparably attached to representation-that as the Colonies were not, and from local and political obftacles could not,, be reprefented in the British Parliament, it would be of the very effence of tyranny to attempt to exercife an authority over them, which from its very nature must lead to grofs and inevitable abufe. For when Great Britain was in full poffeffion of the power now contended for,

could

Could it poffibly be imagined, when a fum of money for the fupply of the exigencies of Government was wanting, that the British Parliament would not rather choofe to vote, that it fhould be paid by the Colonists, than by themselves and their conftituents?

In reply to the argument which stated as highly reasonable that America fhould contribute her proportion to the general expence of the empire, it was faid, "that America had never been deficient in contributing, at the conftitutional requifition of the Crown, in her own Affemblies, to the utmost of her ability, towards the expences of the wars in which conjointly with England fhe had been involved that, in the courfe of the laft memorable conteft, large fums had been repeatedly voted by Parliament, as an indemnification to the Colonies for exertions which were allowed to be difproportionate to their means and refources *-that the

proper

In the month of February 1756, the fum of 115,000l. was voted by Parliament, as a free gift and reward to the Colonies of New England, New York, and Jersey, for their past services; and as an encouragement to continue to exert themselves with vigor; May 1757, 50,000l. was in like manner voted to the Carolinas; and in 1758, 41,000l. to the Maffachusetts and Connecticut. April 1759, 200,000l. was voted as a compensation to the respective Colonies in North America-March 1760, 200,000l.1761, 200,000.-1762, 133,000l.-1763, 133,000l.-in® all, one million seventy-two thoufand pounds. Exclufive, however, of

thefe

proper compenfation to Britain for the expence of rearing and protecting her Colonies was the monopoly of their trade, the abfolute direction and regulation of which was univerfally acknowledged to be inherent in the British Legislature." It was however clearly intimated, that a specific fum in lieu of all other claims might be obtained from the Colonies, if accepted as a voluntary offering, not as a revenue extorted by a tyrannical and lawlefs force, which left them no merit in giving, and which might ultimately leave them nothing to give.

The argument or pretext which appeared to excite most indignation in the breaft of the Americans and of their advocates, was that which affected to deem them already reprefented; and as being, if not actually, yet virtually included in the general fyftem of reprefentation, in the fame manner as that very large proportion of the inhabitants of the British ifland who have no votes in the election of Members or Representatives in the British Parliament. "The very effence of repre

thefe indemnifications, and of the extraordinary fupplies granted in the different Colonial Affemblies, a debt of above two millions and a half had been incurred by America during the war; and this debt was far from being as yet liquidated. But it might be inferred from the conduct of the prefent Miniftry, that the moft trivial revenue extorted from America was deemed preferable to the largest fums freely and voluntarily granted.

fentation,"

fentation," faid America, "confifts in this-that the reprefentative is himself placed in a fituation analogous to thofe whom he reprefents, fo that he shall be himself bound by the laws which he is entrufted to enact, and liable to the taxes which he is authorifed to impofe. This is precifely the cafe with regard to the national representation of Britain. Those who do, and those who do not elect, together with the elected body themselves, are, in respect to this grand and indifpenfable requifite, upon a perfect equality-that the laws mnade and the taxes impofed extend alike to all. Where then in this cafe is the danger of oppreffion, or where the inducement to opprefs? But in the cafe of American taxation, these mock reprefentatives actually relieve themselves in the very fame proportion that they burden those whom they falfely and ridiculously pretend to reprefent. Where then in this cafe is the fecurity against oppreffion? or where is the man fo weak and prejudiced as not to see the irrefiftible tendency of this fyftem to oppreffion, however honeft and upright candor would reprefent the intentions of thofe by whom, it fhould be originally established ?

It is painful to reflect how little influence thefe clear and irrefragable reafonings had in an Affembly fo intelligent and dignified as that of the Par liament of Great Britain. Jealous in the highest degree, in common with all other bodies of men

in

in whom power is vefted, of the flightest violation of their authority, they unanimously concurred, however divided on other points, in not fuffering the memorials which queftioned their jurifdiction to be read in the Houfe of Commons. The Minifter indeed propofed, that the Colonial Agents might be indulged in being heard at the bar of the House by counfel, contrary to the ufual parliamentary practice, against the tax, in behalf of their respective Colonies; but this was refused as derogatory to the honor of the Colonies, who would not on this occafion petition, but protest: and the STAMP ACT, after paffing through the ufual forms, and confiding in the fupport of great and decifive majorities, received at length the royal

affent.

The oppofition to this famous act, though weak in refpect to numbers, was nevertheless unusually ardent and animated. General Conway, with the magnanimous firmnefs of an ABDIEL, fingly protested against the right; and Colonel Barré, a fpeaker of great eminence in the Houfe, in reply to the reflections of Mr. Charles Townfhend on the pretended ingratitude of the Americans, whom. he ftyled “children planted by our care, and nourished by our indulgence," broke out into a moft eloquent and indignant exclamation" They planted by your care!" faid he, "No-your op- · preffions planted them in America-they fled from