HISTORY OF VERMONT. 469 



set up what forms of governments they pleased, 

 consistent with their patent and charter, by 

 which they had engaged their future allegiance 

 to the king of England.* Whether these prin- 

 ciples were, or were not in conformity to the 

 principles of the English laws or monarchy, 

 they were certainly founded on the law of na- 

 ture ; and were therefore of an earlier origin, 

 and of a more sacred authority than any English 

 law ever could be, which considers birth not 

 only as a local, but as a perpetual and unaliena- 

 ble cause of civil sub|ection. 



In opposition to every sentiment of this kind, 

 the English kings believed that every child born 

 in their dominions, or derived from any of their 

 subjects, belonged to them ; and that his very 

 birth implied an obligation to constant, perpetual 

 and unalienable allegiance. In conformity to 

 their principles, they soon discovered that they 

 meant to regard or disannul their patents as they 

 pleased ; to alter or set aside their charters ; to 

 frame, destroy, or alter the colonial governments 

 as they chose ; and with the concurrence of 

 their parliaments, *' to bind them in all cases 

 whatsoever." It is not possible to form any 

 idea of the most absolute, despotic, tyrannical 

 power, that can carry its claims beyond this. 



The colonies, though holding very, different 

 political principles, were not in a state to con- 

 tend with their sovereigns. Surrounded with 

 enemies and involved in wars, both the English 

 and French colonies looked to their kings for 

 assistance ; and while the one met with this 

 kind of help, it became necessary for the other 



* Hatchinson's iiist. Massachusetts, Vol, I, p.ajl, 

 ^OL. I. K 3 



