XVI Dr. Kirkland’s Discourse in Commemoration of 
What a large space have they filled! What labours, cares, 
solicitudes, services, awaited their days and nights! What exer- 
cise of ability, what resources of mind and heart, what wearing 
application and high excitement, belonged to their whole course, 
and especially to the more active scenes of their lives ! 
In what estimation do we hold the principles, doctrines, and 
opinions, relating to our rights and duties, which these lights and 
guides have proposed! — the doctrine of natural rights maintained 
in the act of separation, our common nature, the right of every 
man to the liberty not incompatible with the liberty of another, a 
government of and for the people, and liable to be changed at 
their will! 
The argument upon conventional and chartered rights was 
very concisely stated. ‘ You must be taxed by Parliament,’ said 
the parent. We replied, ‘Let us tax ourselves, like other English- 
men.’ ‘But you donot know how much we want.’ ‘ Nor you how 
much we can pay.’ ‘ We have expended money in your behalf.’ 
‘Was this for yourselves, or for us? If for us, we pay you in our 
industry ; you turn our commerce into the channels you please.’ 
Still they reply, ‘ We want money and obedience.’ ‘ And we, we 
want our rights.’ 
What report have fifty years made of the value of such 
principles? For us they have proved safe and beneficial, with 
all our mistakes and passions. Our experiment has been long 
enough to be cited, though our extraordinary progress may bring 
new dangers or trials. But what have these principles done for 
others? What did they do for France, when they changed a 
civilized government, first to a sanguinary democracy, and then 
to a military despotism? We never asserted that such principles 
should be held or acted upon without knowledge, and prudence, 
