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'to ItALL reAsonabli^ AMERICANS, on' The subject of OUR J^OLITICAL GONI^OSIONS f ^^ (■: i » fi il if ■ * f IN WHICH '^. The necessArx CONSEQUENCE^ Violently oppofing the Kin 0*8 Troopsi AND O^ f • - • •* A General NON-IMPORTATION ARE F* A 1 R L Y STATED, Am I tttrtfin becMhe y«mr Enaaj* beeaiift I tell y- •-. ^-.i'l' ZZmCGk YJ0K.aIJlU ■•c .IMADli-lSMA 3aaA;:ocA3^ .IJi^ K O 'ic- -T O.g.tH J ^ ■sk:|| ■«-tJf-t> ; Si/QIcU ^-J-M/D ,JA&lTlJO.g '« H ^'-I iJ-W' --Y I (^ 106 ••^i ♦ T J tv 1.,,.. .«.»., Mi.*. T «=t/T» -nftrV' c rqr^D.;( •>r ^■Qf fl-i: A 'Plftt:rATi!G^IMI-KO' /- j/.^ a:M'HD /- »»•»■ •-* y^ A •r'-^W^v.^*- ^ | i|g| j i | p n WllMW»M»»»^Vi*«wt;- Priendsy Cauntrymenyand Fellm-^^jif^sf^^ ^^. y^^UR^^iviV goycrnipncnt (fay^ an excfiknt riuavA^jJ EiJgJiih.Write?) is h^pily placed be- •f i - [\^ twc^ ^be> ^wo ^^t^?m^ ofdejpvfic powr it B^pfipnkrUcmfigitfif^s: : ki^.wi^ljifcompofedof (ujch a duemixtuif^ gf ;fie feve?rrt' AoiVp&fyr^ps cf gp^ ver45imcnij, thofe of ane» of a. few^ ?ir>4pf many, as tp re^in as facras polT^le the advantage;^, -an^. to ex- clude the mconvcnieiw^ips, pi^cMlii^r tpe^chi an4»»he parts are fo nicely: ;c6mbined mk adji^ft^d,; thattht ftveral powers co-opfnate and naoyje , or peace,, health, and ne- YerTfailing plenty— enjoying the benefits of an equir table and free conftitution — fecured by the protec- tion and patronage of the grtateft- maritime power ia the world— and contributing, in but a fmall propor- tion^ to tlie fupport of the ncceffary public expences. A 2 Under A ■ < 4 ) Under thcfe advantages, the colonies have hither- to flouriflied beyond example. They have become populous, both by natural increaie) and the yearly innux of foreigners, the fure indications of a happy country^ and chey have become rich, by pra6ticitig« at their eafe, the peaceful arts of agriculture and commerce. And w^re they to purfue the fame path which has brought them thus far, there is no doubt but they would go on to flourifh and profper in the iiBone proportion, till, in procefs of time, they would cxite either the admiration or envy of the whole hu- man ra^c. The advice therefore of Moses to a peo- ple highly favoured of Heaven, is juftly applicable to them *, and nothing could be wanting to their hap- pinels, but hearts to follow it^ ** Only take heed to, *' ^hfiffi %^ ^9 ^^ ^^P ^^y ^0^^ diligently, left *' thou forget the things which thine eyes have fcen, ^< and left they depart from thipe heart, all the days !^« of thy life." But a far different profpe&,at this time,prefents it- ielf to view. The darknefs of a rifing tempeft is be- ginning to overipread our land. The thunder roars at a distance, and appears to be fwiftly approaching. It is high time therefore to awaken the thoughtlei^ to a fenfe of their danger, and to thinl; of providing ibr our common fafety. ' ^ ^^^ ■ *^ - - ^^-l- • ^- There is, there can be, but one way to prevent the ^in that threatens us. Our own miicondu^t has brought it fbrwar«ii ; and our immediate reformation muft^Kop it pro^refs. He muft be blind, that is not convinced of this; and he n^ft be infatuated, that will purfue the road, which evidently terminates in, darknefs and deftrudtion. a-. •».. ■a • ftf^** f(,\ Whether ( 5 ) t e 0, ' Whether the Britilh Parliament has been right pr wrong in its late proceedings^ towards the Colonies-, our behaviour has been fuch as every government muft and will think intolerable. It the fupremc power of any kingdom or ftate, through want of dtie information t>r attention, ihould adopt meafures that are wrong or oppreffivc, thefubjeds may complain and remonftr^te againft them in a rdpe6lful manner ^ but they are bound, by the laws of Heaven and Earth, not to behave undiitifuUy, much more not to behave infolently and rebelliouily. The bands of fo^iety would be diflblved, the harmony of the world con- founded, and the order of nature fubverted, if re- vcrence, refpeft, and obedience, might be reefed to thofc whom the conftitution has veiled with the higK- ^ft authority. The ill confequences of open di&c- fpeft to government are fo great, that no mifcondu^ of the adminiilration can juftify or excufe it. The guilt of it isfo aggravated, that Chriilians arerequir> ed, under the heaviell penalty to avoid it, and to be fuhjeSf to the higher powers^ of whatever character, for confcienie's Jake. No tyrant was ever more defpotic and cruel, than Nero^ and no Court ever more cor- rupted than his j and yet to the government of this cruel and defpotic tyrant, and his corrupt miniftry, peaceable fubmiflion was enjoined by an ApoftlCv who had a due regard for the rights and liberties of mankind. To difturb or threaten an eftablilhcd gd- vernment, by popular infurreftions and tumults, has always been conndered and treated, in every age and nation of the world, as an unpardonable crime: and were we the fubjefts of the Grand Turky it is as cer- tain that we ought not to encourage fuch praftices, as that St. Paul and St. Peter, who condemned them, were infpired men. ' But .mmjM^^J^haiM. F.t (( 6 ) - 5^t my c|cfign is not to cojifidcr, how far, the con- i]idi of the[C(j49aies is, or is not, qoi\fc{rfn^i\\c to the rujes- 31^ pr^cepls of the Qhriftiin if^igioq v. l?^V how fiV it; is JO be conden^pecj pf* ; jififl;,ifiq4 )^y the piBxiaif of lJ9«iiji4. policy an4.prudefic)e.; p;^r tcnv foral inter^O: jitick fafety are cunfidjetatjioi^ ?yj>ifbt ^arll FwiU regard,, how jiwch foey^rjijiiey, i^]^iiii^i or de^ fpifcthp pWigati^fijifxf .rcligiq^V jhii^i^j; oj^i/lfv v-nn* ,ii -TheiVQiOf ofPDfTip]aint,,jtq[WOf^, js npv -heard jhro^gh -every corner of ^i^rljaptj^v ^Oi unit^^'iip^,-- ^|{ be^grc ¥f€ proceed^ it con^cirnj^, ijis |p :bef;^f IJ i^ ./pf(n?4 both' as to our real d^ngef , afi4 4^:%ps- fprdpef:itjoi?ietal^?ri - ,:i - ;; ! ;;i.7 ::>;- r •J ilWff^ . the: j^^erjcans adyqlly i|i , a ftate of ippprefP j§Q|}«; i% V'^'^^ rlhP^^ their wifdofn and. pru4?fice, to^ ^r|pmit^ith; patience , to their prefent conditiotj, rather .fha« .t<> proypk€ the power that Qppre^^8,t^«?m^ '^withoijt fortie fair profped of o^Jtaihipg relief. One degree, of i^iftr^fs,. in coplVflWnce.of the W^l^t of • iHe^arpower, is. a grit v^ance ) x^ degrees of 4iftrefs areprgpputjon^bjiy a greater evilj but bad a*, it is,, hamuli be. an J<^ot or a m^inan, who >yoMld not ,prefer them totwflnty. But ; it appears to mt that,, of air people ;uhder heaveny the.King's fobje^s in Ainerica, have hitfierto hadlltekaft ground tpjf com- -plaint i afid that the preftnt cenfnfion of th^, Colo- nies has beeri occafioned by rhifmforn?atiops and falfe alarmst. If none of our legal rights have been, invad- ed, no injury has been done, us -,/ if we have npt been Injured, we have no room for complaint,; . and we ^can never be juftilied in rrefcntifig that, which it would be pnrcafonabk to complain of^^. : j6 ji.* .• c. U:H ' ' My r irHBaiaMMiiitnTTm-r { 7 ) • My Friends y Cvuntrymen, and Fetldw Suhje&s i fuffer, ft)r a fcTi^ .minutes, art Am«irican, ot^ wl» few often glbried in the title, who loves his country as much, and hai as great a regard for its honour; a*. any of you, to reafon and expoftulate w^Ith you, ii^ plaitt lingua^, on -a fubjift now of the higheft im- portance, both toyad no right ta •• lay the duty.** But I fujpofc we are, moft of us, but indifierent judges of the rights of Parliament j or however, thie Parliament rtiuft a6t according to their own judgment, and not according to ours, if it be difi^rcnt from theirs. They aflcrt, and believe^ that they have the right irt queftion -, and" we have never proved that they have not. Nay, we ourfelves have always believed and allowed that they hdve it, till the prcfent occalion. I might add, that we have always allowed that they had a right to regulate not only the trade, but all concerns of the Colonies jlbch a power they h^ive always exercifed, and we have fubmitted to their afts. Thus, for inftance, we hare paid a duty on wine and mdifles, in obedicnce^^ to Parliament, and without proteftations or remohftran- ces \ andj for the fame reafons, we are as much ob- liged As to the argument that, " If Parliament has a " right to take from us one penny, without our con- " fcnt, it has a right to ftrip us of our whole pro- perty ;" altho' fo great a man as Mr. Locke was the father of it, it appears to me to be weak and fophif- tical. A right to do what is reafonable, implies not a right to do what is unreafonable. A father may- have a right over his fon, lb far as to fend him on an errand, or upon any reafonable fervicv^ without hay- ing fuch an abfolute authority as can oblige him to throw himfelf down a precipice, or to hang himfelf. In like manner, cafes may happen, in which it; would > . \ ' ( 10 ) be reafonable for Parliament to take from us fome fmall matter, though we were unwilling to part with it; but the cafe can hard 'y be fuppofcd, m which it would be reafcnable to take from u» every thing, unlefs we fhouid haye forfeited it. Every fociety has a right to make a moderate ufe of its power over its own members, but not to abufe it. There can be no right to do what is unqueftionably wrong. But you will fay, it is wrong to tax us at all, with- out our confent. But the duty on tea, which has oc- calioned all our confufions, is not fuch a tax *, for unlefs you confent to the tax, you are not to pay the duty. You may refufe it, if you pleaie, without in- curring any penalty, or confiderable inconvenience. As to fuch taxes as arife from the general regulation of American commerce, they muft be impoied with- out our formal confent, if they areimpofed at all. For if all the Colonies muft be confulted, and all muft agree, before fuch a regulation can take place; it is eafy to fbrefce, that nothing of this kind can be efta- blifhed, as nothing can be propofed, in which aH the Colonics, having each its peculiar views and interefts, would be likely to agree. Therefore Great Britain muft either impofe fuch duties upon our imports and exports, as may be thought proper for the good of the whole community, without our confent, or ftie muft not attempt to regulate our trade ; and if fhe is not to iupcrintend and regulate our trade, Ihe had better relinguifh at once her claim of authority over her colonies ; after wh'ch they canftot expert to en- joy her protedion. But you further objed, that " ifwcareto be bound by laws to which we have never confented, we have not the rights of Englilhmen." In anfwcr to cc u 1 ( II ) it. bly oc- for the t in- to this, let me remind you, firft of all, that it never was, nor can it be, the right of Engliihmen to he ex- empted from the authority of an Englifh or Britiih Parliament. It is not a proper conient to the laws enaded by the Britifh Parliament,, but the being bound by thoi&XvHs^ that diftinguiihes a Britifh: fub- jedt from a foreigner. So long as a man refides .with- m any dominions, he is a fubjed' of it, and isoblig- ed to fubmit to its laws, as far as they concern him, whether he approves of them or not. There .are many people in England, who are natives of the country,^ that do not confdnt to adlsof Parliament that are paiied, unlefs by a bare fi^iot^ of the law \ which can make a, nominal confent, but not a real one. This is always the cafe of the Minority, where there is adiviiion, whofe votes are over-ruled by the major part; for the law ncceflarily pafTes, . not only with- out, but contrary to, their confent.. Befides, there arc millions of people refiding in England, who have no votes in eledtions, and are ne- ver confulted about the expediency of laws. I hope thefe are all Englifhmen, although they give no other confent to adts of Parliament, to which they are bound to, fubmit, than what is implied in their freely refiding within the jurifdidion and protedion of Parliament. In this fenfe, the Americans, by fixing themfelves, and continuing to relide, within the Bri- tifh dominions^ confent to be governed by tlie Britifh laws. When the Goloniils &fl fettled on Englilh American ground, they well knew that. the authority of Parliament was not to be fufpendedor withdrawn, in their favour ; and they knew too, that they had no power of fending reprefentatives to Parliament of their own choofing. On thefe terms they willingly fettled here J and they have always enjoyed ev^.y / ., . B 2 . advantage ( 12 ) I'' '« ri |if advantage which they originally expeded to receive, and which was contraded for in their ftipulation with the Crown, and they can have no juft reafon to complain on this account. Yet notwithftanding all this, they have been lately told by their agents, who had it from the beft authority, that if they chofe to fend over perfons to reprefent them in Parliament, they (hould be admitted to feats in the Houfe. In my opinion, they have done wifely in not accepting of the offer ; biit after refufing it, they have fiirely no reafon to complain, that they have no reprefentativcs in the Parliament that muft govern them. * It has been frequently aflerted, in juftification of your claim, that, ^* as the charters granted by the *' Crown, have allowed a legiflative authority to the *' feveral Colonies, the inhabitants are to be bound by no laws, but what are made by their refpeftivc provincial legiflatures, to which they confent by reprefentation." With regard to this dodrine, I beg leave only to aflc a few queftions. Can you be made to believe, that it was ever the intention of the Crown, to eftablilh by charter a power of legiflation, inany of the Colonies, that is fovereign, independent, and incontrolable by the fupreme authority of the nation ? Can you imagine, that in any inftance, more than a fubordinate right of jurifdi<5tion was meant, for the internal regulation of the diftri^t mentioned in the charter ; or conceive that fuch a grant can place you beyond the reach of parliamentary autho- rity ? Would not the arguments that perhaps have deceived you, prove as ftror:gly, that the charter of the city of Albany, granting a power to make laws for its internal regulation, provided they are not con- trary to the laws of the Province, places the inhabi- tants of that city beyond the reach of laws made by theaffembly of -Afe-r•■■■■.•- But let us now ftippofe, that we have been really injured by this a6fc; and that our paying the duty would be dangerous to our conllitutional liberties. On y \ ( 14 ) I jl On this fuppofition, which the Americans in general feem to have adopted as the true ftate of the cafe, the great queftion is,- — Pf^hat method the colonies ought in mfdem to purfue^ in order to get rid of the duty ? Different meafures have been already taken, in the different colonies, to avoid the operation of the a6b. In South-Carolinay the obnoxious tea was landed -, but the inhabitants formed a refohition, to which they have the virtue punctually to adhere, not to fpur- chafe it. Happy would it have been for the colo- hies, if this meafure had been univerfalLy taken ! In that cafe, we fliould (till have enjoyed tranquility, uninterrupted by feditious alarms-, and the black, cloud, charged with ftorm and thunder,, that nowi darkens our land, would not have collected. In molt of the other colonies, the tea was not fuffered to enter their ports-, but it was fent back unhurt. This indeed, in all its circumftances, muft be confidered as a kind of infult upon government; but yet it was fuch a fpecies of miftjehaviour, as, in all probability, the nation would ha/e overlooked, and many of the friends of America would have thought worthy of commendation. But, as the evil genius of the colonies would have it, the tea that was fent to Bojion^ was neither ftored, nor fent back, but outrageoufly deftroyed by the hands of violence. _s... Whatever may ht thought of configning, or fending back the tea, there are but few people fa abandoned to all fentiments of fitnefs, propriety, and juftice, as to think the deftrudion of it excufe- able-, and the government at home, as all govern- ments would in the like cafe, thought it unfuffera- ble. — It was foon determined, to inflidt an exemplary punifhment upon the town that was guilty of fuch ": . Ihameful ( 15 ) ^ (hameful and flagrant injuftice-, and an a fevere, that it might bear Ibme proportion to ihe guilt; and ipeedy, that it might prevent the like mifchief in other inftances. Many, I know, who a-4mlt that Bofton ought to have been puniflied, yet exclaim loudly againft the punifliment decreed by Parliament, as being too fevere in its manner; And if any other punifliment had been inflicted, many of them, I dare fay, would have exclaimed flill. For when people are once difaffeded towards an adminillration, whether with or without juftreafon, they will always find fome pretence for blaming any meafure that can be taken by it. f , ^»c^l! rtt ^; nfcta IfnrJ! f f: •■"'. • ^. \ vtr'll> ^;fAsto the feverity of the puhiihment inqueftion, it was no more than fliutting up a port, till facif- fa^ion fliould be made for a flagrant injury and infult, of which it had been guilty. While this re- fl:raint was laid, a free ufe of all the neighbouring ports was allowed ; fo that no people but the inha- bitants of the town of Boften were intended to be puniflied by this adl ; and a fufficjent time was in- dulged them to remove all their veflTels out of their harbour, that they might be ufefully employed dur- ing the refl:raint of their port. And as foon as compcnfation fliould be made for the injury don^, and a proper' acknowledgment of the offence com- mitted, every appearance fliews that government intended to be fatisfied, and to remove the punifli- ment. For provifion was made, that, on fuch an event, the King might immediately fufpend the ope- ration of the a6l, without waiting for the meeting, or the formal proceedings of the Parliament, which might require time. Surely none, who have as high '# r( 17 ) ^ feo(e of public ig^ilt, as of privati^< can fibkik this puniHunent tooicvere for the erunc, c^fi^rt<^ unider aiU its aggravations. For, do peopk aam/tti- ^idod tptlieuie^.of any advantage, wW& ths/ wan- tonly abwife to tJic injury of others. '; An outcry is alio madie, tth^*- '^ the piintflin^R(t)f *^ ths Bofionians inas hafty and precipiC8iit> oranridg *^ no alternative « and not fufiering the pariy i:iQ be *^ heard.** It is ^eely confeiTed that^ m common cdes, none Ought to be punilhed vrithoyt « ffqgjular trial and cotnviaton. But here the Cafe was jUftf om- mon and extraordinary. The moft d&ntial h^^ of government were audacioufly invaded — ^the crmpe was notorious and unqueftionable — a regular trial muft have been the wDckof time<-*and while this would be depending, it wasitcagined the evil would fpreaj. 9oth the letter and fpirit of the law hdd been op0n^ infulted and defied, by the people inBoflon} and, in fuch a cafe, the ftms of the law, in bringing them back to a Ibnle of their duty, when it wffs apprehended that the delay of puniAiment would be dangerous to the Community, were thought to, be difpenfible. Such confiderationS indeed will d^ authorife a judge, or any court of juftice, to^r^ ceed iti this compendious manner •, but when a cai^ comes before the whole legiflativc body^ ttv^y ha>?^ always the power to diipenle with the ordiiiiury forms, and to do what is conceited to be moft conducive to the public fafety. For, to ufc the words of tlip juftly celebrated Dr. Blackstoke, " The bane idea " of a ftate, without a power, fomewhere vefted, to •' alter every part of its Jaws, is thi height of poli- tical abfurdity." It is moreover objedbed, that ^* fuch a mode of puniihment ijivoLves the imiQCcnt in the fame cala«> . ^ C ^ *'mity i M . '*jl^". i..'. i ^( 18 ) • ^.ittity with the giiUty.'* In anfwcr to which, it is fufficiem to obferve, that this inconvenience muft ^waiys attend aU punilhments inBidled on a people, whether by God or man, and necelTarily arifes from the condition of the world. Tliere is no . body 6f people fo bad, but many mnoccnt per- ; fotB kre intermixed with them. At the very worft; ^ theiie is always a number of innocent children, who "^ are connected with, and dependent upon, the proper delinquents. The confequencc of 'hich is, that 410 people, ahd coinmooly ho individv J, can pofii" -bly be puniflied, without hurting fome innocent "perfons. The objeftion therefore, if it has any • weight, will hold good againft all public, and moft -private punifliments, of what kind foever. In the • toWn of Bqfitm there are many innocent, worthy and ^refpedtable perfons (many more than is commonly ^ innigined) who are as free from the public guilt, and hold it in ^as much abomination, as any men within •his Majefty*s dominions. For their fake, more efpe- .'Cially, thofe who have the -greateft regard for the hor nour-of government, with that the punifhment could 'have been avoided. But as this was politically im- poflible, they muft bear their own fhare, with pru- ^nce and patience, as ^dl as they can, — -enjoying <^ conicioufhefs of their own innocence,— -maintaining their integrity, "in the midft of a crooked and per? "** verfe generation" — and looking forward to that time, which I hope is not diftant, when they may «xpe61; toi>e drftinguilhed with fuch favours as the public can give. j . -ri r; The refohes ©f the above-mentioned rouMw/V/^^x alfo exprefs, their brethren in Bofton^ meaning the x)fFenders againft government, are to be confidcred ^* as fufifering in the common caufe of American "liberty.-. .i.iT' BBH ( ^9 ) ** liberty.** But I hope the iuettticufnifs of thcir^b^^r hifiviour, is not avowed to be any^parcof thefyftemc of AmerUan liberty, and I Ihould be- extremely forryj to find) that the common cauft of tbe^ glomes '. requires, fuch defences as theirs. It a caving enthufiait^ ia ' order to promote the cauie o£ American liberty^ j (houldtakeit in his head ix> aflaffinate bis Princeyv! and afterwards (hould be punilhed.fbr hi&'tceafoa^^ he might with eq-ual propriety,, be condderedas fuf>- fering in the caufc of American liberty.. But, in : that cafe, I believe no fober Americans would think ) themfely^s bound to abet the alTaffinatbn ; and for the fame reafons, we are under na obligations to abet^ the deftrudtive violence of the people in Bofton^ or i to endeavour to Ikrecn it from public jufttce. So i far as they meant well, they ought to be commended 5 : but fo far as they did wrongs, they ought to be .con- . dcmned. And we both expofe ourfelves, and injure 1 1 our caufe, by appearing to countenance their lawlefs^ - and unwarrantable proceedings.. The fame rejohes 2M0 condemn, aiopprejhe and ■ dan^^rous^ the other ^i^ for altering the adminiflraeioa of juftice. in the Majfacbufctts-Bay.', and it has been^ . ufed as an inftrument, in the hands of our populat^v i incendiaries, for farther enflaming the minds or the - Americans againft the King and his Miniders. But . it deferves notice, that the alteration made by the ' ad, is rather an imaginary than a real evil. Fo>* it ■'■ introduces into that province a regulation, which is i' far from being inconfiftent with the happinefs of the -^ people; as it only reduces them to a form of pro-c ceedings, under which the. inhabitants of New-Tork^^ and New-Jerfey have been as happy as any people in ^ America, Indeed it abridges them of fame privi-j" kges that had been granted by charter^ But^iio pri- . • - C 2 . viltges- (. 20 ) vUe^ ife * ei^tiiled by thd aA^i but fucli as h^-- beoDi-'abuftd and forfeited over and over, and fuch as ' probably would continue tb be abufed; to theereat ii^ury and difturbance of that province, as weU as ta the diihobour and xcproach of the nation* It is^ thp opinion of' the beft friends to tho rights of man« kitid^ that ohactierst Tffiiy be forfeited; and, it is a > pipofiofjthe nniklnefs; not of the rigour, of the admin kftratfon^ that the M/i^riw/f^/i charter, after' fo:niaD9^ abufes alid provocations^) has not been to^ taUyi.vaedtfid^ rather than abridged; r.Vf >''• f-^ '? Btddfis the : two kft^nicntioned adsv there is 8' third, for kttWtv^ the^ gei/ernmeitt of Quehet^ which : has been as fucce^f^lly applied to the fame noble puiJpofc^ of enraging the Annericiihs againft tho me^oes^of govdrhmdit; and m^ar© lies and mifre- • prefcotadons concerning this adk have been circulated, : thanione would think malice and falfehood could iavfiitttb. Id is pofitivelyaflerted,. and generally be- * lieved, on the evidence; of pofitive affertions, that \ b]^ this a€k;.theJRQpifh; religion is i^i^^/j^^, through^ outu the vaft extent of country now iubjcft to the ^ government of .^^Atfr; and that the- Proteftant re- * lig on is there obliged to ikulk ia corners, not daring ;j tajift up its head.. Whereas, if; we have recouric . to: tht words. of ithe ;aift, we lliall iec^ that the Popifh reKg;ion^.is ^ more than tohtatti ^'x^va that domi- ; nion; which wis one -of. the conditions on which « the couiltry furrendered itfelf to the crown of Great f i Britain } and thait atproper foundasionis laid for thei eftabliihment of the Prdteftant religion; which is ; meaait to takeplacc* : Tithes, which are the property > ofj the! tolerated Ron^ithurch lin ali vthc panihes,^ are indeed ordered : to ber paid, asi fdrmerly, to the » miAiJter.of the pariikv bulthe very moment a man i .j^v.. declares ( 21 > IS h^' ic\\ as ' ercat ttU as . It is<: marv* c is a I )f the after en to* r. s is a which noble ft the mifre- Lilated, could ly be. I, that roughs to the mt re- daring, icouric Popifh domi- which ■ Great- for the lich is :operty anihes, to the :amari iedares « declares' himfclf a Proteftantj he is freed, by the aft, from the obligation to pay tithes to the Popiih in- cumbent. In that cafe, it is provided, that " his ** Majcfty, his heirs or fuccefTors, may make fuch provifion out of the accuftonied duts and *' riflhts, for the encouragement of the Pniefiajit " religion^ and for the maintenance of a Proteftant *' ckrgym^m thcfaid province, as b( or they fiall^ ^'^^ from time to time^ think necejfa y and expedient.'* It is true, the Papifts in Canada might have had a tole- ration Icfs generous than is granted them, without the Parliament's allowing to the clergy their tithes, or to the parifhcs their churches. But fuch a tolera- tion, although it might have fulfilled the letter of the articles of the treaty, would not have anfwcrcd their expedations, n6r have left upon their minds faivourable impri^flions of the Britilh juftice and honour. If we had taken from them their churches, or ftripped the clergy of their tithes, v/Iiich might have been done with equal propriety, it would pro- bably have cncreafed the numoer of his Majefty's difaffefted Ainerican fubjefts ; which appears to be too great without them. And as to trials by juries^ they are affirmed to be excluded by the aft •, but tlie alfertion is groundlefs and falfe. Juries are no more excluded from Canada^ than they are excluded from the other American colonies. They have never been ellablifhed by aft of Parliament in any of the colo- nies, excepting the late aft for the regulation of the Majfacbufetts-Bay, They owe their being- in America to afts of our provincial Affemblies, confirmed at home ; and the provincial legiflature of Canada may introduce them as foon as they pleafc, and it is ex- pefted th3(t they will, as foon as the inhabitants de- :v, .. fire ( « ) fifc them, or the (late of the country will admit of them.* I have taken this notice of the three lad a6ls re- lating «"o the colonies, in order to ihew, that in them- fdves tuey are not of To alarming a nature as !.<«s been reprcfented, and that they wear not that tre- mendous afpeifb which our wild imaginations have given them. Two of them were meant as punifh- ments for crimes againfl the flate, and to make ex- amples of thofe who were confidered as the greateft offenders, and from whofe republican fpirit a general mifchief was api- rchended. The defign of the other a(ft was to fecure to a new colony the religious tole- ration it had a right to demand, and otherwife to cafe . the minds of a numerous body of people, whofe behaviour towards government had been decent and unexceptionable fince they owed it allegiance, and who were likely to prove his Majeft^'s moft loyal and fmtbful fuhjeSls in his American dommions. Notwithilanding all that has been fuggcfted, and in fpite of all that can bcfaid, I am aware bur poli- tical incendiaries will go on in their own way, and ftill contend, that thefe afts are tyrannical and arbi- trary, and threaten the deftrudion of American liberty. But if we would recoiled ourfelves, and attend a moment to the condudt and charafters of thefe men, we fhould be convinced that no reprefen- ' ; ;: ' ' . ' . -• - . - ^ - \- . tations ■ - ; — ■.--■■.,,, \- ■ I . ; : . , ■ - • •• 1 ' ■ ■ ■ • Sec this point clearecl up, hi a candid and fatisfaftoiy man- ner, in a pamphlet entitled, The Jvftite and Policy »f the Ail of Parliaments for making more effettual Frovijion for the Gtivera- pient of ^ehecy which has been lately reprinted by Mr. Gaine, See alfo adetcne of the general policy of this adl, in A Letter (faid to be lurote by Lord Lyittltoa) to the Earl of Chatham, re- printed LyMr. KiviNtiroM. ,:U of < 23 ) tations of theirs are worthy of regard. For, in all their motions, they difcover themklvcs to be under the iindue influence of prejudice and paflion. Thro* this dark and mifty medium every object appears to them under a violent diftortion -, and as thus diftorted, they muft afcribe it to others. No wonder then, that they put the very worft conftrudlions upon, and aiTign the very worft motives for, all the proceed- ings of the Britilh Parliament. However, let us now fuppofe the truth and reality of the fadls as ftated by them ; yet the inferences they intend, will by no means follow. Suppofing Popery were actually eftablijhcd in Canada^ on the requeft of the inhabitants •, would it follow, that it was defigned alfo to eftablifh it in the other colonies, where the inhabitants are averfe to it ? Can any man, in his fenfes, believe this to be the defign of Parlia- ment? Again: fuppoGng the punilhment inflifted on the Boftonians to be arbitrary and fevere-, yet thofe who are free from their guilt, and mean not to contrad it, have no reafon to fear the like punilh- ment. " For rulers are not a terror to good works, ** but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid or *' the power ? Do that which is good, and thou **• fnalt have praife of the fame : for. he is the mini- *» fter of God to thee for good. But if thou do *' that which ii evil, be afraid ; for he beareth not •* thef>yordin vain; for he is the minifter of God, •' a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth "evil." So far as we arc innocent, we are fafe; but if we undertake to juftify cr abet the crimes of others, we fliare in their guilt; and particularly, if we are fomcnters of the fedition that rages in Bojlon^ ifft mui^ take the confequence. ::■ • .' ■' ' - -l' But fi ''I;! II : 1^1 ?i: But th« Boftonians, you fay, are over-f unified, it that b'! the cafe, they are entitled to our pity, and to our influence in obtaining a mitigation of their pu- Rifhment. But this can be no rcalbn, for our put- ing ourfelves in the fame predicanient with them, for making ourfclves partners in their guilt, or for bringing upon ourfelves a fimilar puniHiraent. We mutl be tools to think of doing this; and if they defire us to do it, their modefty is like that of / (( five and mighty re@ons of America**,^ .,^.^. i^n^^r. Yet whatever '//«»tc rheir own antimonarchical principles; and thofe principles nave been handed down by an uninterrupted fuccelfion, from father to fon, and from generation to generation, to the prefent cay. Although many of their defcendants have acquired liberal fentiments, and have renounced the bigotry and prejudices of their well-meaning fore- fathers, whether relating to matters of religion or government; yet this is by no means the cafe v/ith regard to the body of the people. I'hey ftill retain an hereditary averlion to the frame of the Englilh Conftitution, and to the controll of monnrchv ; and this averfion has been from time to time, occafionally animated and intlamed by a fet of Pulpit' Jncevdiaries, for which thit part of the country has been ever famous. By thefe and other inflruments they have been pre- ^ ared whenever the word is given, to declare and exert thcm- felves at all hazards for an independent government of their own modelling. The confufions of the prefent time have been thought to afford a favorable opportunity, for putting their de/ign in exe- cution. TheColonies nreciifcontented,and it has been Imagined that they might all be perfuaded to encourage the attempt. On this prelumption, the decree has gone forth to erc5l the Republic \ the Rubicon has been paiTed, and there can be no thoughts of retreating. They have drawn the fword, with an aim to plunge it inu> the bowels of our ancient and venerable Conftitution; and henceforward the fcabbard muft become ulelefs. The cry now is: We ha-js no part in David, neither hai'e ive inheritance in the /on of ] ESSE : Every matt to his tent y O Israel. ■ Giey's anjkver to NeaL. » '^orcejter lledting m have CTOR. om au- th, that .. they he pub- thought r, inf^ead : original Dufly en- rinciples; 1 term p ted ;neration, :'d liberal udices of matters of cafe with lereditary d to the I time to f Pulpit" seen ever )een pre- rt them- heir own ought to in exe- magined ipt. On Republic ; lughts of ro plunge litution ; The cry iheritame i t . ( 31 ) they have done as bad *. For the Select Men and the Committee of Correspondence have pro- claimed die King's troops to be public enemies, and declared to Mr. Scot that he deserved immediate DEATH, for felling warlike Jlores to them; and the people actually did affemble to put this fentence in execution^ but Mr. Scot was fo fortunate as to make his efcape. And bcfides this the King's General and Governor farther complains of their continual ads of hoftility. " Orders, lays he, are given to prevent all " fupplies for Englifh troops: Straw purchafed for *' their ufe is daily burnt, veflels with bricks funk, " carts with wood overturned, and thus even the " King's property is deftroyed in every manner in " which it can be effeded." And he juftly obferves that all this is '* not the effed of ralh tumult, but of " evident fyftcm." Now thefe rebellious Republicans, thefc hair- brained fanaticks, as mad and diftraded as the Anabaptists ^/Munster, are the people whom the American Colonies wifh to lupport! It lecms to be a mark o^ judicial infatuation inflided on us by the righteous judgment of Almighty God, that we of tlic other Colonies can think of elpourmgy«f/f> acaufe, and of rifquing every thing that is dear, againji fuch inexprejfible odds — in fupport of a fchcme which all of us, but a few Prefbyterians and Independents, in our hours of reflexion, if we have any, muH defpife and abhor. ' ~ The hopes of all moderate and conlidcrate perfons among us, whofe numbers I believe are not fmall, were long fixed upon the general Ammcan Congrefs. They imagined it to be the burmcfi and defign of • this > \ * See Mr, (Gaj.ne's Mcrmrx cf O£lol:c;- ix '{ 32 ) H», ihls grand Committee of Committees, to find out fomc way confiftent with our claims for obtaining the reftoration of our common tranquillity, and a happy reconciliation of Great-Britain to her Colonies. The known charafter of /ome Gentlemen appointed as Delegates, and the fuppofed c\\2iX2i^tr of meft of the others, led us to expedt from them all that we wanted-, and to believe that the united wifdom of the Americans would fhinc in full fplendor at the Congrefs^ and that the prudence and policy of the COunfels there taken would be fuch, as would have done honour to an Aflembly of the greatefl- fages of" antiquity. But — the poor Americans are doomed to difappointment. The firft difcovery of the fenti- ments of the Congrefs was fhocking. Every thing Was "kept fecret for fome weeks, and we flattered ourfelves with hoping for the beft. But when the news arrived at Philadelphia^ that the people of Suffolk had openly revolted from their al- legiance to the Ki7ig and his governments in a fudden tranfport of joy, the veil of the Congrefs was drawn back, and a myllery revealed that filled the minds of many with furpri^e and aftonifhment; the myllery was, that the Gentlemen of the Congrefs^ in whom we confided as the faithful guardians of the fafet)\ as well as rights of America, were difpofed to enter into a league ofFenfive and defenfive, with its 'Ui'crji enemies the New-England and other Prefby terian Republicans. This fadt is notorious to the world ; it can neither be denied nor palliated •, for they haftily and eagerly publiined, (and it was the firll thing that they ^/^publifli) their cordial approbation of the Suffolk Refolves for eredling an IndepeiJent Go- vernment in New-England \ and recommended to the Americans the fupport of thofe meafures with united efforts. 'ii .( 33 ) ^oris» From that time every moderate man ajnong us has defpaired of feeing any good produced by the ' Congre/s; and from that time every thing that was bad has been growing worfe. ,. '■' '*'^ Ex illo fluere, ac rero fublapfa referri fpes danauhl. Friendsy Countrymen and Felkw-Suhjeils f let me entreat you to roufe up at laft from your flumber, and to open your eyes to the danger 'that iurrounds you — the danger of your being hurrie^ iiiito^a ftate of rebellion before you are aware of it, and of fuf- fering all that refentment which a mighty nation can difcharge upon a defencelefs people. "Whethi*:r Great-Britain did right or not, in irtipofing the duty on tea, and whether we pay it or not, are mattefs of trifling confequence: But whether we (hall bring down upon our own heads the full weight of her vengeance, and undergo all the horrors of a civjl war, or not, are matters of dreadful importanceto us. If you perfift in the fteps which many of you have taken-, and efpecially it you go on to encourage the New-England fanaticks to attack the King's troops, whenever they can meet them ; the time cannot be diftant, in which both you and they will be lejgally proclaimed Rebels and Traitors — they as principals, and you as their abettors. You may ftiU profefs yourfelves to be his Af^'^'i moft dutiful and loyal fubje£lSy as you did in your late Resolves, and as the leaders in the grand rebellion of 1641 did, in their meflfages to the King immediately after the battle of Edge-Hilly where they had fought againft him inperfon; but this will not flcreen you frorn vengeance. No: Havoc will be the cry; and /;&« dogs of war will be let loofe to tear out your vitals. Theh, if not before then, the Damon of difcord will rife to diftra<5l you. Brother muft fight againft E brother. I. ( 34 ) 'i)rotlier, and friend againft tliC friend of his bofom. !.|n Ihort, the country that is now " fair as Eden** will become a field of blood, ovcrfpread with defo- lation and flaughter. I tremble, and my blood retires . to my hc^rt at the profpedt of fuch 'amazing anguifn and miierv. The fun and the moon begin already Ito be darkened and the ftars to withdraw their Ihin- .ing. (!) all-pitying rieaven ! Prefcrvcmc! Preferve jiny friends! Preferve my country ! r* . , / J If we are now upon the brink of a horrid civil •yrar, aad there be no hopes of relief from the wif- dom, prudence and good temper of the Con^refs^ there can be but one day of fafety left-, which is, that wc .\all endeavor to fee with our own eyes, and makeufe of our own underftandings, and refume the liberty of thinking, and Ipeaking, and adling for ourfelves. JLet us then like men of fenfe, fir down calmly and .count the coft, in the firft place, before we under- take to finifh die work propofedto us. Let us con- fider, before we proceed farther and get more deeply .cmbarrafled, whether we are able to go through with our enterprize againft Great-Britain^ or not: And, I am perfuaded, it will foon appear to be impOlTible. * What then remains to be done ? Our bleflTed Savior, for our inftruftion, fuppofes a cafe, in which th^ in- equality of ftrengiii was not comparable with ours, .and tells us how common ienfe would determine. *' What King, fays he, going to make war againft " another King,fitteth not down firft, and confulteth *' whether he be able with ten thoufand to meet him ".that cometh againft him with twenty thoufand? " Or elfe, while the other is a great way off, he fend- eth an ambafiage, and defircth conditions of peace *.*" ^ Here C( .*.Hi • Luke xiv. 31, 32. ( 3? )- »t .* »» ll«^rc one Independent (late is fiippofed to be at war with another; but, upon convidlion of the Aiperior power of its antagonift, inftcad of rufhing on to dc- llru6lion, it propofcs a treaty of accomodation, uponu fuch conditions as the fituation of ^airs would acfinit qf, and asj5>f^; . • If thofe who have been moft adlive among us, in raifmg feditious. tumults, and in filling the country with diftraftion, will not be perfuaded, by the fore- going confiderations,. to recede, it is hoped that others will ; and it would be no frnall point gained, in favor of the Colonies, if thofe who are friends to order and government, and enemies to the riots and M. > E a^-i . .^ - difturbanccs m ( 36 ) difturtances of abufive mohs, would aflumc the cour- age openly to declare their fentiments. All thofc who are ftill loyal to their fovcreign, ihould do the lame. His Majefty's good fubjcdts of the town of Mye *, to their lafltng honour, have fet the example. Not only their names, but their numbers, are very refpedlable; and, were thc^xample to be followed, through all the towns and diftiidls of our feveral Colonies, I doubt not but it would appear, to the confufion of fome among us, that, in every province, there are more than feven tboufand men who have not bowed the knee^ and who will not bow it, to the Baal of independency. And I now congratulate all fuch on the pleafure of finding, from the information of Gentlemen of unqueftionable veracity, that the Re- Jolves from Georgia were far from exprefling the fenfe of the inhabitants of that grateful and loyal Province ; but that they were framed only by a company of hot- headed fellows, met together in a tavern •\, • I will only obferve farther on this fubjefV, that all who have the courage now to declare themlelves friends to Government, will undoubtedly think them- ^Ives bound in honour, intereft and confcicnce, to refort to the King's Standard^ when it comes to be creded in our different Colonies, fliould that melan- cholly event happen i and thefe, of themfelves, will compofe a body, which, in a good caufe, will be for- midable tb its oppofers. . But many thoufands of others, and indeed the greater part of thofe who ihall not have rendered their cafes defperare, when they fee the danger thus nearly approachino;, ?'.nd the ftorm ready to burll, will be glad to fly for ihelter ...i too * See Mr. Rivington's Gazetteer o£ October 13. t RiviNCTON's Gaxcffetr, utfup: ; ( 37 ) too to the Royal ftahdard, if human nature continues the lame that it ever has been j and they will be zealous to Jignalizc themfelves in the King's fervice, in order to render unqueflionablc that loyalty which was formerly fufpicious. It is morally certain that, in the day of trial, a large majority of the Ameri- cans will heartily unite with the King's troops, in re- ducing America to order. Our violent republicans A^ill then find themfelves deferted by thoufands and thoufands in whom they now confide; and inexpref- fibly dreadful muft be their difappointment. " O ! " that they were wife^ that they underjlood this, that '* they would cot0der their latter end !" I Ihall fay no more on the fuppofed cafe of our waging ^yAR acaittst the King, and entering into a STATE OF REBELLION; the thoughts Of whtch, all" fober men, and all confcientious men, and all who' prefer the good of their country to the gratification* of their own dbftinate humors, muft reject with horror/ But another fcheme is propofed, at firft view lefs fhocking, which alfo appears to be recommended by the Congrefs^ and which many at prefent are inclined to adopt; I mean, a general non-importation agreement throughout the Colonies. Againft a propoial of this nature I have two objections to offer: Namely, that it will greatly diftrefs a country which I love ; and that it will not anfwer the pin-pofe. In order (N. B.) to get rid of a duty of three pence a pound on tea^ it is propofed to ftop all importation from Great 'Britain, and even from the JVeft-India TJlands, till the a<5t impofmg it Ihall be repealed. But a remedy of this kind is ten thoufand time's worfe than the difeafe. * It is, for the wifdom of it, like cutting off an arm, in order to get rid of a fmall fore in one of the fingers. •''- ''-^^x^^'J-'t^^ ^' '- h -u^: On ( 3^ ) On a late trial of non- importation fr^m- Great- Britain only, as foon as the ftores of Englilh goods began to be exhiufted, every family among us ex- perienced fuch inconvcnienc. { 39 ) from Great-Britain and the H^efi- Indies y they will not be fuflfered to import from any other quarter — nor, even the fait that is ncccffary to cure their winter's provifions, or to fcafon their porridge: And befides this, that' an stbfolutc non-exportation will be ordered, and hot a fingle veflel fuffered to go out of our harb- ours. Such an order, we know, can efFcftually be execiited, with the greateft cafe. It is but command- ing the feveral Cuftom-Houfes to grant no clear- ances ; and then every veffcl that offered to fail, would be a lawful feizure. A few of the King's frigates would be fufficient to do the bufinefs, for all the Co- lonies an the Continent. Two or thr^ -^f them fta- tioned at the Capes of Firgin^a, v^buldcou.mand every veflel belonging to the Pons, and to the fine iravig- able rivers, of Virginia and Maryland. As many fta- tioned at the; Capes of Delaware^ T/ould fecure Ptnn^ Jyhania and IVeJi-Jerfey — and fo of the reft. Now a total ftagnatibn of all foreign commerce, would at once place us in a glorious and blelled ftate. In the firft place, all that live by this commerce would be thrown out of employ. Our failors would be turned alhore; our (hips would rot in our harbours ; and jur eftates, which confift of wharfs or ware- houfes, would become as worthlefs, as thofe of the fame nature are at prcfent in the town of Bojion, Our Jhip -builder Sy and their attendants, their yk;/i>j, carmm i^c. with all that are employed in the bufinefs of corduge and rigging, muft be immediately difchargcd. The numerousbody o{ pilots and boatmen muft be turned adrift. Nor would it fare much better with our Jhop-keepers and merchants^ whofe families are fupported by the profits arifing from their refpcctivc X)ccupations. The expenfive bufmefs of all om- iron- •rvorksmy},^ (lop -, and the many thoufands v/hich they j;rovidr. i (( 40 ) provide for, muft, unprincipled as thofe wretches commonly are, be let looje upon the country,- to get their living as the);' pan. • ^-^ ..,;^ ^,.;,^ Now all thefe clafleji of J people, and m'aiji^v otjiers which J, hav^ not ^numerated, muft asve a JiippoVt, and but few oi; them will; be able" to fuppoi^jt tKeirj- felvfs> an4 if their poverty, is not relieved to tlieir fatisfadion, they will foon learn to carve for them- le^ve^. Tiiere are but few parifbes and countii.es ^mong us, which have not complained of the burthen ^cf .their own poor. But what will they fay, wfen the burthen comes to be encreafoi an hundred-fold, ais it neccffarily muft, when a general non-importation ^nci no|i-exportation take place ; and all their wanted refources fail them at the fame time. The want of the money, of which we have been lately drained, in order to pairiper the Bofton fanaticks, will then be lev^rely felt : Nor can we expert any return of afllft- ance in our diftrefs from that Province, as their fufFerings will be much greater than ours. ^ In the P-ovince of the Maffaclmfetis Bay^ there Is a large number of populous Tea-port towns, whicji have no other fupport than their fifhery. The town of Gkucefler has three hundred fchooners employed in that fervice, with a proportionable number of hands. In the town of Marbkbeud there are fuppofed to be near four ihoufand men, an J many of them with, flimilies, that know of no other means of fubfil^ence than the cod-filhery. I might mention Plyiiouth^ Salem ^ Beverly and a number of other towns, that arc nearly in the fame fituation. Now, when all thefe fifnermen are turned adiore, and their veflMs become ufelefs i they muft, with their unprovided families, difperfe themfelves amongft the inhabitants, and while the country affords any thing to eat, they will not ftarve. . . . But ^ * \ ^ " * i ( 41 ) . But to return to thefe Colonies. I have mentioned the diftrefs that muft immediately overwhelm many orders of people, on a general ilagnation of com- merce; but have faid nothing of our Farmers, or tliofe tha»: live by the cultivation of their lands. — Thefe may think themfelves a kindof/>nw7(f^^iper- fons, and imagine that fuch a revolution of affairs will affcdtthem but little ; yet a very fliort experience will |)cn their ejres, and convince them of the con- trary. It is their farms, as all other refources will fail, that muft fupport all the abovementioned thou- fands of diftrefled people. Who muft furniih them with food? None can do it, but, the Farmers. Who muft fupply them with cloathing ? the Far- mers. Who muft fheltcr many of them in their houfes? The Farmers. And can they expcdl pay for .'■! I !>? Alas! thofe poor creatures will have noth.j^ 10 make payment with. And if they are employed as labourers, they are all unacquainted with the bufinefs ; and their labour will turn to but little account. Indeed, were the markets abroad open, the farmer might fomewhat increafe the quan- tity of his beef, his wheat and other produce, by their means, fo that his bargain would be lefs into- lerable. But the foreign confumption, on which hie is now growing rich, will entirely ceale; and there "wiU be no demand for his beef, and his wheat and Other jwifikiee All that he raifes muft pcrifli on his hands, cxttpi i. it he expends in his own family, an«l on the y^i. ji c will be prcffing >ipon him. When alfpeopk htc thus diftrefled ; when every mind is uncafy and difcontented : i|p will be natural ^or thenito fall to reproaching one Another, with be- iag the authors of this gener^ calamity. This will bi? produftiytatctcrhal quaggh, and riots, sind dif- ." ! F ' turbances, '■■: i 'V 1I ' { 42 ) turbances, and a£ts of violence, amongft ourfelycs y and then our mifcry will be compleat. Yet after all, were it likely that thefe political ago- * nics and convulfions would produce a repeal of tlic • act in difpute, it would be Jome alleviation of our ' misfortunes to confider, that wefhould gain by them^ Three pence a pSund^ on all the tea we Ihould h-avC" occafion to purcHafe. But m.^ fecond objedioii againft"' a general non-importation agreement is, that it will" nor anfwcr the purpofe. ,, ; '^ " ' ^ ^ ,^ x/'.^\. * ^ , \ f--^ After what has been faid an^ifoiJeliy theColbnics^' ' ' ageneral nay be required, for a hundred years to come, excepting ftaves and heading for their ^um "Puncheons, Thefe fhe has often received frorii ^Haml'urgbjfrorti whence Ihe might receive them again. But there wjjl .be no occafion ^r fending fo far. Ca- .n0^ cs^n ^odIv J^er, and all the o^r iflands, with ?f ^^1 / 1 F 2 thefe. ( 44 ) '! 1 thefc articles, as well as with flour, in any quantity that may he ordered •, to fay nothing of Georgia and the two Floridas, which abound in common lumber, at the fervice of the IVindwar/i^ Leezvard, and Caribbee Hands. So that after the firft year, new channels may be opened, ' plans formed, and correfpondences i'ettled, in fuch a manner, that the Weft-Indies may be nearly as well fupplied without our afl'iftance, as they now are with it ; and with fome articles, perhaps better. But fuppofing the contrary; yet what fhouldwe gain by this curious bargain? Why, the ill-will and refentmeiit of all the Weft-Indians. For fome years paft,. they haye cultivated a peculiar fricndfhip with the North- American Colonics, and propofed to them- felves much happinefs from aclofer alliance. " They have fent hither their children, in large numbers, for their education; and many of them have brought over their families, and liberally fpent the incomes of their eftates among us. But when th^yfind that, we can foingcniou fly contrive fchemes to diflrrefs them without benefiting ourfelvcs; as they are generally not wanting in fpirit, they will be apt to refent fuch ill ufage, by withdrawing their fons and their families from among as' and perhaps by breaking off all further connexion with us in the wray of commerce. From what has been faid,it will naturally be con- cluded, that by a general non-importation agreement we fliall carry on a very unequal warfare with Great Britain-, which will much (boner compel us to yield, thai! her to comply. The want of her Nor//- Ame- rican trade may hurt her, but it will not reduce her to extremity; and, if I may judge from my own feel- ings, nothing but the utmoft extremity will inducie her. "X k ( 45 ) her, where (he bdkfves flic has right of her fide, anel where her honour is deeply at ftake, to give up the point in difpute. At the time of our former non-importation, the cafe was materially different. The Stamp-aSi was iQ contrary to all our ideas of American rights, and lb much was offered againft the policy of the aft, both here and at home, that there was no dilHculty in re- pealing it. Afterwards when we exclaimed againft the duties imtwfed upon paper, glafs, &c. and agreed not to import tue fevcral articles loaded with duties } our views were comparatively moderate, and we had a large body of friends in England to fupport us. And were the propofition now only not to import, or to confume, the tea that is charged with the duty; the cafe would be the fame that it was then — we Ihould have the fame friends that we then had-^and the duf;y would probably be removed, on the fame principle that thofe duties then were. But our con- duct now is fo wild and diftradted — our tumults and diforders are carri^ to fo unreafonablc and unwar- rantable a length — nay, fuch a fpirit of rebellion has broke forth among us, and fuch a determined enmity \^ againft the fupremacy of Great Britain now predomi- hates in the Colonies, that we have hardly a (ingle friend remaining in England. Even the Manufaftu- rers join with all other orders of people, in condem- ning our extravagance •, and, which is (till more, the Writers and Spakers againft the King's miniftry allow that it is mexcufable. It appears, therefore, that nothing will be likely to procure a repeal of the ^ea-a£fy or the removal of any other grievance of the like kind, but, the refto- ration of peace and order amongft our(clv^ — a can- did acknowledgment of our politic;|i errors and of- toces ( 46 ) fences — a forinal allowance of the rightful lupremacy in general, of Great Britain^ over the Amencan Co- lonics — a declaration of our averfion to a (Vate of in- .dependency, yvich a (u/ref^f^ondi^jg i^haviour — a refped- tful xerponftrance '>i. t! ^ iMbjsdt of taxation — an af- .furance of our • Min^ ?fs to contribute, in fome equitabL proportion, towards defraying the public expences — and the propofal of a rtafonable phin for a general American conilitution. This, it is hum- .bly conceived, was to have been the bufinefs of the CojjgreJ),; 2it^d if they had aded upon thcfe principles, and with fuch views, not only the prefent, but all iijture generations, would call them blcj[jedA^:r\ ^-.i ; ^j ^t; Notwithilanding all unfavorj^ble fymptoms and .appearancesy I would not prefuiae to form a final judgment of tht Cofigrefs^ till th^ir whole plan of .proccedirgs fliall be known. It is pofiible, that all .that has been wrong may be redtincd in the end j and .^hat moderate and wife meafures, tending to rcflore :the tranquility, the happinefs, the honour and fafety .of the Colonics, may at laid be concerted. Should .this appear, in the general rcfult of their councils, the ti^enibers will be entitled to the grateful ref|X(St .of evijry /Vtnerican, and the miftakes made in the vformef part of tlieir proceedings ought never to be .mentioned, to tfieir difadvantage. Bur, on the other .hand, flipuld it appear, that they mean to encourage v^ts of Ipftility againft Great Britain, ortofupport »the m^men^ of jyfi^-jE«^^?»^ in their fcheme of an Independent Republic : in that cafe, 1 afErm,;that the ■ Original J2pntra^i between them and xhtmjl r&fpe^ahle ipart of .tlieir conftituents . will be dlffhhed — tlv/ we .ihall be; at full liberty to confult cur own fafety, in the manner w^ fhall think moft conducive to that end — .and l&at wc .inaU owe them i^q greater refpeft and ,^iTik ' ^ obedience. (' 47 )■ obedience, tlian they themfclves pay to th6 tiritiTlH^ Parliament. The foregoing confideratlons are addrefled — not' to thofe obftinate, hot-headed Zealots, who are at' the bottom of all our confufions v for ara-uments' would be as much walled upon them, as upon men' that are intoxicated with liquor — but to all reafonahle' Americans, to thofe who are ftill in the exercifc of their imderllaridin^s, and whole minds are open to convic-' tion.' People of this characler, it is prefumcd, will fee the neceffity of giving up the prefent fyftem of American politics, as cflentiully wrong anddeftruc- tive; and of entering unanimoully upon moderate and conciliating meafures, as they regard the reftora-^ tion of peace and tranquility in this, heretofore, hap- py country. The great obje<5t in view, (hould be a general American Conftitutton, on a free and generous Plan,- worthy of Gr^«/ Britain to give, and' of the colonies to receive. This is now become neceflary to the mutual intercft and honour, both of the. Parent Kingdom and its American offspring. Such an eftablifhment is only to be obtained by decent, can- did and refpeftful application i and not by compiiU, fion or tiireatening. To think of fucceeding by rorce of arms, or by ftarving the nation into compliance, is a proof of fhamcful ignorance, pride and ftupidi- ty. All fuch projects muft operate ten times more forceibly againftourfclves, than againft Great Britain^ They are, at beft, but Penny wife, and Pound fooUJh-y and therefojre inconfiftent with every maxim of foun4 wifdom and genuine Patriotifm. All violent oppofition to lawful authority partakes of the n ature of rebellion. -, and a rebellion of the Co- lonics, whether it fhbuld prove fuccefsful or unfuc- s r««v'!^ ( 48 ) cefsful, would necefTarily terminate in ruin and de- Itruftion. We aie now in the utnwft danger of be- ing hurried, before we are fenfible of it, into this defperate and dreadful (late || , when mod of us think that we have grievances to complain of,, in conle- quencc of the exercife of unconftitutional power j and when many are practicing every wicked art to ieduce us from our allegiance. It therefore highly concerns us to be upon our guard, at fuch a criti- cal feafon as this. A fmall degree of refledbion would convince us, that the grievances in queftion, fuppofing them to be real, are, at moft, no more than a juft ground for decent: remonftrance, but not a fufiicient i«aibn for forcible refinance. Thefe two things - 1 # •'■ • ^Kk tr' n*\0 II Among the various denominations of Americans, molt men would be lUrtled and fhocked at the propofal of entering into an open rtbtlUen', but feditious principles, that dire£Uy lead to, and.mtiA finally bring on, a rebellion, have been gradually^ ihftilled into many of them, without alarming their apprehen- fions, under the cover affair and fpecious pretences. Wrong principles are naturally productive of wrong condudl ; and one wrong ftcp prepares the way to another, and that to another, rill at laft there can be no retreating. Nemo reptntefit ^ttrpiffmuSf i: /. No one arrives at a grofi and tAormcus pitch of wickednefs at once, is an old ard juft obfer- vation ; and it is particularly true with regard to rebellion. The grand Engliih rebellion, in the laft century, was a remarkable proof of it. In the firft place, men gave way to unfavourable lufpicions concerning the King and his Minifters, and thus loft the reverence that is due to the regal authori^y . They then be- gan to take pleafurein blackenitig the King's charadl^r, and in- giving an invidious turn to all his actions. From lY $ they pro- ceeded to eaiailing againfthim; and, at laft, they took up arms, deluded with the pretence of liberty and property, and religious rights. And when they had onCe taken up arms agamft their Sovereign, they found it neceffary to deftroy him, for their own fecurity. This foon brought on a general de- ^rufiion of liberty and property, and the ruin of the nation, as well as of themfelves. Such is the common progrefs, and the cfFe£l, of rebellions in general. ( 49 ) things are widely and eflentially different j arJifwe miflake oii£ tor the other, theconfequcnce mny Le fatal. It ha$ been fully (hewn, that a rcbcllir ) rod of opprfffion, all thofe, whofe principles or ftntimonts w«rf dificicnt horn their own. Their inveterate enmity to the Church cf England, has polluted the annals of the Britifh hjftory. Their intolerance in Englcnd^ towards the members of the Church, when the foveieign power was ufurped by them, is recorded in charadlers cf bleed ; and the fame fpirit was dreadfully trium- phant in Nt'iv-Englandi frcm the firft fettlepient of the coun- try, till the mild difpolition of Parliamentary power intcrpofcd to reftrain it. In 1629, they banifticd and tranlpcrred evbn feme of the original patentees ol Ne*- the fake of their religions principles, when they have it in th'^r power. Ycii then, whp are members cf the Church of Engmiidi mnft renounce your principles relating both to rieKgion a^:^ govem- went, or you can expeft no quarter under the adihinii^tibh of fuch intemperate zealots. You muft ceafe to be ChoVch2i'ci^> § This tppeart from a valuable tieok writfen.bjr fi c«>ta.Y9my> author ^r* MojiTON, and entitled, t^cw^EngUnd't Mmanah .-,.,:, , , ' 5« ) Or Fjccome vl£lims of their Intolerance. Indeed it maflt be con. fc/Tad, and t am forry to fay, that many of you appear already to have renounced one half of your principles ; or you could not jtroceed, %a you do^ in dired oppofitlon to the cHabliihcd rules and doctrines of the Church. Th? principles offubmif- iion and obedience to lawful authority, arc as infeparable from n/oMJf rinu'iHe mtmherdi the Church of Engl?-»d, as any reli- gious j^rinciples whatever. This Church has always been famed fuid refpeded for its loyalty^ and its regard to order and government. Its annals have been never Itained with the kiflory of plots ^'nd confpiracics, treafons and rebellions. Its members are inftru^ed in their duty to government, by Three Homilits on OhtditHctt and fix againft Reliellion, which are Co many (landing ieflons to fecure their fidelity. They are alfo taugnt to pray in the Xiltany, that the Almighty would prcferve them, ** Irom all fcdition, privy confpiracy and rebellion." And more than one folenin ofHce is provided, for the annual commemoration of former deliverances from the power of thofe, whether Papifts .or Proteflants^ ** who turn religion into rebel- *' lion, ana faith inrcfadion." But ifyou regard none of thefp things, you arc untoward, ut>dutifdli and degenerate fons of tke Church ; f nd (he will be afhamed to own you for her children. .. ..,^,. . Howeveri even thofe of you who are but half-pHncipled in 4hc doflr'ncsof the Church, will.be looked ip)n w^ith an evil eye, ur ' the intended rspttblic j and they muft give up the other ni ■jf their principles, before they can be fecure againft harm or molellation. The Church of England his always been the great obftade in the way of thofe republican faniticks ; and when once they Ate eftablilhed, no appearance of a Church> •man will efcape their refentment, or be tolerated among; them. Nor will it fare better with the P'riendf, or people called fakers ; however peaceable ijj their difpofition, or however ufe- -ful n^embers of fociety. Whit they formerly ('u(fered in New- En^and under the fame fort of men that mult and will govern this country, if it (hould be withdrawn from the juri(diAion iCif the BritKh parliament, is too well known, and can never be forgotten. You, my refpefted friends, have experienced the -genuine ^irit and temper of their authority ; and you can never ir/i(^ to have your necks again encumbered with that Prefiytt' rian yoke of bondage, which neither you nor your fiithers were able to bear. On the pther hand, you have the fenfe to (ee, a ad the gratitude to confefs, that you have bee^i happy un- der the relief and protcftion afforded yoo by the King and Par- liament, in common with other good fubje^. You will there- fore ( 52 ) • fore remember (to ufe your own exprefiive language) " tha;, a» under divine Providence, you are indebted to the King and his ropl anceftors, for tlic continued favour of enjoying your religious liberties^ you are under deep obligations (on t%ii oc- cfifion) to manifeil y )ur loyalty and fidelity ; and to difcou- rage every attempt wiiich may be made by any, to excite dif- aiteftion, ordifrefpeft to him." The Baptijls have never had fair quarter allowed them by the demagogues of Nevo -England , and they are perpetually complaining, from year to year, of the a£ls of oppreffinn and violence with which they are harafTed by them. Now if the people of Nevj-England have been thus intolerant, towards thofe that differed from them only with regard to the cafe of baptifm, while they pofTcffcd an authority that was fubordi- nate to the Britifh Parliament ; what cruelty, towards ail that diffent from thom, may be expedled, fhould they be' armed with abfolute and incontrolable power ? As to the Germans and Dutchy to whofe induflry and good behaviour the Colonies arc greatly indebted ; if they fhould be- come fubjeA to the jurifdi^ion abovementioned, they will be confidered as perfons, not only of a different religion, but of different nations ?nd languages, from whom they nave fuch an averfion, that they have never admitted them to fettle vaNeio- England'y and confequently all the Colonifts who are of z foreign growth or extraftion, muft expcft to meet with a double portioA of rancour and feverity from their new mader^. Nor can the moderate part of the Prejhyterians^ and Congrega- lionalifis fhemfelvef, havc, any profpeft of continuing free fiom znoleflation under their government. Nothing can be more odious to bigots, than generofity and candour; or more intole* r able in the opinion of the fVrious, than moderation and meekr- nefs. This aflertion might be fupported by the hiflory of all ages and nations ; but we need Q0C go far for a confirmation of it. For among the Prefbyteriartt^^nd Indep'^ndents in thp Co- Icnies, when the meek and the moderate, t e candid and gene- rous have been brought before the tribunals of the bigotted and furious, as has frequently happened ; they have been treated with as much unrelenting rancour and roughnefs, as if they had been Mahometans and heathens. So that there is no chance or pro- bability, Sf the latter Ihouid come to the pofleffion of defpcii-'. power, which is the aim of the revolution they j.iopofe; that their difpenfations towards ihs former, would be lefs cruel than %hey commonly have been. In ( 53 ) In a word : no order or denrminatlon of men amongft as wOvld tenjoy liberty or fafety, if fttbjed^:^s the tithes^ and all the taxes they were ufcd ** to pay, under the government of his moft Chriftian Majefty," Granted, as ttrthefree exercife of their reiigiut. The obliga- ■lion ofpzying the tithes to the priefis^ nuill depend est the King^t p'leafnre. T. ' Art, XXVIII. " The Chapter, Priefts, Curates, and Mif- " fionarics, fliall continue witn an intire liberty., their exercife ** and fundion of their 9$^^^ ^^ ^^ paiifiies of the towns arid " countries." - / -- •. , - ^ Gkanteo. ■' .._ ' # «( «< 4€ U at « EXTRACT frm the TREATY of PARIS. jifrt. IV, So far as relates to the matter ih queiliQA. «< JFJ[ls Britannic Majefty oniiu &de, jogrees to grant the liberty of the catholic rrhgipa to the khabitaatsof Cd»«Chvuth o£ Roniet " fuhjsS to the King's fupremacjf declared and eftablilhed by ail " 9Si made in the firilyear of the reign of Qneeu £Iiza^eth, oVet " all the ^lominions ahd countries which didh did, or thereafter *' jhonld bflon», to the Imperial Crown of this realm ; and that ** Aie clerjgy of the faid Church fkdy hold, jeceive and enjoy, " dteir accUl^omed dues and rights, luith refpeSlto fuch pe'rfins " mIj^ as:lhalljpir<)fefs the laid religion. •* PrcweUd nevertheli/st that it ihaft be lawful for his Majeily, ** Ids heiw and fucceiTors, -to make.fuch prOviiton oat of the reil ** i)f the faid accuflomed dues and rights, for the ehcou/agement of .Ec6L^EsiAsticA|. ** J.^^ifj^i^^'^^i within and for the faid province of ^uehec, and " appointinE from time to time, the judges ai^d officers thereqiQ •* as his IVtajefly, his heirs and fticcefibrs, Ihall think neceflaxy *• and proper for the circUmilances pt the faid province." Thus we fee in what manner the toleration df the Pppilh rc;- ligion wafe fecured to the Canadians by treaty ; and the aft qf Parliament alloWi them no more than, the.frei exerci/e tftheif religion^ lAjithout being molejha^ it the public ufe of it, aild thj^t tmire iiherty in religious tnatt'r.i. for which they had (Upulatc4. Indeed the parochial (Jle , are permitted to enjoy thq^ tithes, by wh'ch they had i^L'cn always fuppo ted. This was |>ropO(ed in the treaty ; butt in was neither granted, hor reje^led. •( ib and ( ss ) by the Britifh Gcr.eral, who left it to depend upon the King's pleafurc. After thirteen years experience of the dutiful, peace* able and good behaviour of his Canadian fubje£ls, and at a time when his other American fubjefts were become turbulent, licen- tious, and refraftory, the King, to whofe goodnefs the matter had been referred, thought proper, with the approbation and confent of Parliament, to comply with ihe reafonable expeAa- tions and requefts of the Canadians, in allowing the clergy to enjoy their wonted fupport, under certain reilridlicns and limita^ tions. But this indulgence by no means converts the iUpulated toleration into an eftablifhment, as the Gentlemen of the Con- l^refs are pleafed to aflerr. Tit&es in Canada are ihepreperty of the Rcmifh church; permitting a tolerated church to enjoy its own property, is far ihort of the idea cf an eftablilhment.- If the city of Nsw-Yc«k ihould be conquered by the Papifis from FraKce^ or the IftdejltttiF- ^nts from New- Engl. ind, (which I believe in my confcience would be much the worft event of the. two) apd at tlic time of its furrender, the corporation ^rTf-ini^Chttrch (honld contrad for t\icfree exerci/e of their religien, &c. the confirmation of this liberty, with apermiflion ftill to enjo^ theeflat^ that belongs to them, (upon which foine people have long ca^ an envious and wilhful eye) would not amount io what is consionlyunderftood by % religious eftablifhment. An eftablifhed religion, is a reli- gion which the civi^ authority engages, not only' to proteA, but to fuppcrt ; and a religion that is not provided for by the civil authority, but which is left to proxnde for itfelf, or to fabfift on the proviilon it has already made, can benbiboiie than a tole- rated religion. Now the Popifh religion in Canada the Gcvcmmcnt is tin- der no engagement to provide for ; it is only allowed to enjoy fucb pro.viiions as it has made for itfelf, in a general way ; anrf when this proportion is curt:uled, whenever a Papift cmbrac s the Picteftant religion ; and the various relig:ous orders and communities are entirely difpofiefTed of their refpe£Uve efiefls* But it evidently appears from the a£t, that it istheobjeAof Go- vernment to make provifion, as fafi as the ftate of the country will admit of it, ** iox the encouragement of the Frctejicnt religitn, ** 2jid for the maintenance and Juf port of a Protejiant Clergy.** '■' From what has been offered, the inference is clear, that the Popifh religion is only tolerated in Canada i and that it is meant toeilablifh theProteftant religion in that cokny. If, after all, men will confound the meaning of words, and make nodifUndion between toleration and eftahlijhment, they degrade themfelves in- to the rank of quibblers and praters^ ami it is lofs of time to dif- j> ate with them. . . ,. •# 4 '•? ( II .) y* f. ...^ . 'f > .,| ■ The Readier is |«;fircd to cortcQ: with his Pen the '?;d-J;i^i;i:-^.-^rV following Ei^ata. * j; >r. Jin^ t^ (or cmJ^, Tc^d can, ' I^ *l p. 14 I. ^8 for «ws^i««!|, '^^d tonjhing, ff^l P* ^3 1* ^ for i^^^r r«ad deftubt, ^ i ; ;^ . i \u^^ |. 34 5- " for ^ «f ^ •«y > . . p. .46 1. I4r for wottteap read 'wontta.. ::!*- *^S ' v*- ;--.^-' ., .".-.. 4.^. ■-.:? -r^ ■ ■-■ * -J '■• ■ ;■ • ,•*.■ '^ •f ■m 10 •;r.;^rji^t*is«|-!?JR|i'H '* , J «' i.v**f^i.?» -l.-f. ■i-» ,. • - n 1