WEST INDIES, 
CHAP. II.] 
191 
Considering therefore the further discussion of 
this point as superfluous, I come to the conclusion 
which necessarily results from the premises, and it 
appears to me to be clear and uncontrovertible, 
that the royal proclamations and charters which 
guaranteed and confirmed to the first planters, emi¬ 
grating to America and the West Indies, all the li¬ 
berties, franchises, and immunities of free deni¬ 
zens remaining within the kingdom, were, and 
were meant to be, declaratory only of ancient 
rights; not creative of new privileges . They were 
nothing more than royal recognitions, expressive 
of a reciprocal relation between the sovereign and 
his subjects, notwithstanding their removal, con¬ 
veying the consent of the king, as head and repre- 
that our princes have thereby a title to absolute dominion; which, if 
it were true (as by history it appears otherwise) and that William had 
a right to make war on this island, yet his dominion by conquest 
could reach no farther than to the Saxons and Britons, that were then 
inhabitants of this country. The Normans that came with him, and 
helped to conquer, and all descended from them, are freemen, and no 
subjects by conquest; let that give what dominion it will.” 
So far Mr. Locke—His friend and correspondent Mr. Mollyneux, 
of Dublin, in his Treatise of the case of Ireland’s being bound by 
English acts of parliament, repeats the same argument, and illustrates 
it as follows. “ Supposing (he observes) that Hen. II. had aright to 
invade Ireland, and that he had been opposed therein by the inhabi¬ 
tants, it was only the ancient race of the Irish that Could suffer by tbx3 
subjugation ; the English and Britons, that came over and conquered 
with him, retained all the freedoms and immunities of free born sub¬ 
jects; they, and their descendants, could not in reason lose these fos. 
being successful and victorious; for so, the state of both conquerors 
and conquered shall be equally slavish.” 
