CHAP. II.] WEST INDIES. 61 
to the crown of Great Britain, in that instant it 
imbibes the spirit of the constitution, it is natura¬ 
lized; it is assimilated to the government, it is go¬ 
vernable and to be governed by, and under all those 
powers with which the governing power of king, 
lords, and commons, is invested by the constitution ; 
but it is not governable, neither is to be govern¬ 
ed, by any powers, which the governing power of 
king, lords, and commons, does not possess from 
the constitution: as for example, it cannot be go¬ 
verned on the principles of slavery; because, the 
governing power of king, lords, and commons, is 
appointed by the constitution to govern on the 
principles of liberty.” Surely, it is a proposition ab¬ 
surd and monstrous on the very face of it, to say, 
that a limited monarch, in a free state, may govern 
any part of the dominions of such a state in an 
arbitrary and tyrannical manner. A body of sub¬ 
jects so governed, would, if sufficiently numerous, 
be fit instruments to enslave the rest! 
The intelligent reader will admit the vast import¬ 
ance of this question, both to the present age and 
to posterity; and perceive, how greatly the dear¬ 
est interests of men, who, in the contingencies of 
war shall hereafter fall under the British dominion, 
may possibly be concerned in its discussion. To 
such readers no apology will be necessary, for the 
detail which I have thought it my duty to give on 
a subject of such constitutional magnitude.-—I now 
return to transactions with the colony. 
