center in Great Britain, support the artificers, the manufactories, and navigation of the nation, and with them the British landholders too. Great Britain had ALL before, and therefore can have no more from the colonies; but the minister, in the pursuit of a "well digested, consistent, wise and salutary plan of colonization "and government, a plan founded upon the principles of policy, "commerce and finances," chooses to demolish at one blow, all their privileges, as they have understood them, that he may raise in America, a part of what was before paid in Great Britain. But if the execution of it, instead of improving the advantages already possessed, confirming the blessings already enjoyed, and promoting the public welfare, should happen to distress the trade, reduce the navigation, impoverish the manufacturers, and diminish the value of lands in Great Britain; should it drive the British mechanics and manufacturers to America, by depriving them of their best customers at home, and force the colonies upon manufactures, they are disabled from purchasing, other topics of eulogy must be discovered by his ingenious encomiasts, than his wisdom or his political atchievements. Upon such an event, an American will have very little reason to exclaim, O! me infelicem, qui nunc demum intelligo O! unhappy I, who now at length am sensible How the things I had despised were of advantage to me, approved. THE right of exemption from all taxes without their consent, the colonies claim as British subjects. They derive this right from the common law, which their charters have declared and confirmed, and they conceive that when stripped of this right, whether by prerogative or by any other power, they are at the same time deprived of every privilege distinguishing free-men from slaves. On the other hand, they acknowledge themselves to be sub ordinate to the mother country, and that the authority vested in the supreme council of the nation, may be justly exercised to support and preserve that subordination, GREAT and just encomiums have been bestowed upon the constitution of England, and their representative is deservedly the favourite of the inhabitants in Britain. But it is not because the supreme council is called parliament, that they boast of their constitution of government; for there is no particular magical influence from the combination of the letters which form the word; it is because they have a share in that council, that they appoint the members who constitute one branch of it, whose duty and interest it is to consult their benefit, and to assert their rights, and who are vested with an authority, to prevent any measures taking effect dangerous to their liberties, or injurious to their properties. BUT the inhabitants in the colonies have no share in this great council. None of the members of it are, or can be of their appointment, or in any respect dependent upon them. There is no immediate connection, on the contrary, there may be an opposition of interest; how puerile then is the declaration, "what "will become of the colonies birthright, and the glorious securities "which their forefathers handed down to them, if the authority "of the British parliament to impose taxes upon them should be "given up? To deny the authority of the British legislature, is "to surrender all claim to a share in its councils; and if this "were the tenor of their charters, a grant more insidious or replete "with mischief could not be imagined, a forfeiture of their rights "would be couched under the appearance of privilege, &c." (To be Continued.) LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. [Executive Archives.] [AN ECHO OF APRIL 19, 1861.] To His Excellency Bradford Phila. Feb. 20th, 1865. Governor of the State of Maryland. Your Excellency will remember that on the 19th. April 1861, the attack was made by a mob on the Millitary in the City of Baltimore, now there is a number of Officers of the 26th. Regt. P. V. under the Command of Col. Wm. F. Small with the said Regiment who where injured and lost clothing Uniforms &c, and as the Honorable Legislature of your State has made an appropriation for the Massachusetts Regt. the said Officers or at least some of them of the 26th. P. V. desires that they may receive compensation. One Capt who was wounded in the head and thumb was under a Phisician hands for a long time before he was able to do any thing. the amount his claim is about a thousand dollars, Col. Small's claim about three hundred, I have not heard the amount the others claim, but I dont think it will be verry large, And we must be carefull that no imposition be practiced in the estimation of damages should your Legislature mak an appropriation for their relief. Your Excellency if you think proper will please lay the matter before the Honerable Legislature of Maryland, and inform me of the result Most truly Your humble servant Jonathan Eggleton late Captain in the 67th P. V. P. S. Enclosed I send copies of Certificates from Col Small and Doctor Taylor which Capt. Kiefer requested to be sent to you. J. E. Philad. May 19, 1862 I certify upon honour that the wounds referred to in the annexed certificate of Dr. Taylor, were received by Capt. Jacob Kiefer, commanding Comp. B. of the second Regiment of Washington Guard at Baltimore Md on the 19th of April 1861 in the engagement between the mob of that city and a portion of the Washington Brigade of this city then under my command. I also certify that I was proceeding at that time from Philadelphia to Washington, under orders of the secretair of war, the Hon. Simon Cameren to be mustered into servise at Washinton for the defense of the Capitol. Wm. F. Small Col. 26th Regt. Pa Vol. this is a true copie. late Brig. Gen. Comd. Washington Brigade. This is to certify that Capt. Jacob Kiefer was attended by me from April 20 to June 1 1861. He was wounded in the scalp and had his right thumb nearly severed at the joint which will always remain stiff in consequence besides several contusion on the body. Wm. S. Taylor M. D. May 19th 1862 this is a true copie. [ROGER B. TANEY TO DANIEL MURRAY, ESQ.] Dear Murray: Frederick, March 21, 1818. I have lately heard that a petition has been forwarded to the Executive to reappoint Benjamin Jones a Magistrate for this County. It is not necessary to tell you how readily men put their names to a petition when they do not feel the responsibility of the measure proposed to be adopted. In this instance some very worthy men, who are decided federalists and my personal friends have, as I am told, signed the petition. But you may rest assured that the removal of Jones was proper and that his reappointment would produce nothing but evil. You will please communicate this letter to the Council and accept Dear Murray, the best wishes of Your friend R. B. Taney. [LT. COLONEL JOHN JONES TO GOVERNOR LEVIN WINDER.] Dorchester County, June 21st, 1813. Dr Sir, I wrote you some time in May last Informing your Excellency of a number of Vacants wanting to be filled up in the 48th Reg which still remain so, perhaps my letter never got to hand. I now take the liberty to transmit you a list of those removed and those to Commission. In Cap' George Lake's Company in the place of Labil Pearson resigned to be Commissiond Washington Lake Lieut., William Andrews Insign. Cap' David Follin's Comp', in place of Uriah Dean Lieut. Dead to be Commissiond Jno. McNamara Lieut., Wm. Robertson Insign. Capt Denwood Meekins resigned, in his place a Commission for John Travers Cap' also for said Company commissions for Charles Travers Lieut., Jno Travers 2nd Insign. Cap' Tylor's Company, in place of Lieut Thomas Wallace resigned George Griffith Lieut to be Commissioned. Cap William Colston's Company, in place of Insign James Busick resigned Noah Richardson to be Commissioned. In place of Surgeon Dorsey Wyvill Doct' James B. Sullivan to be commissioned-also a commission for Doct' Harrison Dixon as Surgeon's Mate. I wish the above to come on as soon as convenient. I am your Excellency's most obt Svt. Jno. Jones Lieut. Coln 48th rgt. |