20 
proceedings, on the experience of their 
mifehief, which we originally gave from 
a fure forefght of their unhappy and 
inevitable tendency. 
We deplore, along with your majefty, 
the diftractions and diforders which pre- 
vail in your empire. But we are con- 
rinced, that the diforders of the people, 
in the prefent time, are owing to the 
ufual and natural caufe of fuch diforders 
at ‘all times—the mifconduét of govern- 
ment ; that they are owing to plans laid 
in error, purfued with obftinaey, and 
conduéted without wifdom. We cannot 
attribute fo much to the power of faction 
at the expence of human nature, as to 
fuppofe, that a combination of men, Few 
in nuinber, not confiderable in rank, of 
no natural hereditary dependencies, of 
talents, which, however refpetable, ap- 
pear to be no way uncommonly impofing, 
thould, by the efforts of their policy alone, 
be able to bring the people of your Ame- 
rican dominions into the difpofition which 
has produced the prefent troubles. We 
cannot conceive, that, without fome pow- 
erful concurring caufe, any management 
fhould prevail on fome millions of people 
difperfed over a whole continent, in 
thirteen provinces, not only unconneéted, 
but in many particulars of religion, man- 
ners, government, and local intereft, to- 
tally different and adverfe, voluntarily to 
fubmit themfelves to a fufpenfion of all 
the profits of indufiry, and all the com- 
forts of civil life, added to all the evils of 
an unequal war, carried on with circum- 
ftances of the greateft alperity and ri- 
gour. This, fire, could never have hap- 
pened but from a general fenfe of fome 
grievance, fo radical in its nature, and fo 
fpreading in its effects, as to poifon all 
the ordinary fatisfaétions of life, to diflo- 
cate the frame of fociety, and to convert 
into fear and hatred that habitual reve- 
rence ever paid by mankind to an ancient 
and venerable government. 
That grievance is as fimple in its na- 
ture, and as level to the moft ordinary 
underftanding, as it is powerful in affeét- 
ing the moft languid paflions. It is an 
attempt made to difpofe of the whole 
property of a whole people, without 
their confent. 
Your majefty’s Englith fubjeéts in the 
colonies. poffeffing the ordinary faculties 
of mankind, know, that to live under 
fuch a plan of government is not to live 
in a ftate of freedom. Your Englith 
fubjeéts in the colonies, fympathifing 
with the ancient feelings of your fub- 
jects here, cannot live under a govern- 
Interefting State Paper, relative to 
[Joly 
ment which does not eftablifh that free= 
dom as its bafis. 
This fcheme being therefore fet up in 
direét oppofition to the rooted and inve-- 
terate prejudices of a whole people, has 
produced the effeéts which ever muft re- 
fult from fuch a collifien of power and 
opinion. For we beg leave, with all 
duty and humility, to reprefent to your 
majefty (what we are perfuaded has been 
induftrioufly concealed from you) that it 
is not the opinion only of a very great 
number, or even of the majority, but 
the univerfal fente of the whole body of 
people in thofe provinces, that fuch a 
practice is f{ubverfive of all their rights. 
This fenfe has been declared by the una- 
nimeus voice cf all their affemblies ; each 
affembly alfo perfeéily unanimous within 
itfelf: it has been declared as fully by 
the actual voice of the people without 
thefe affemblies, as by the conftruétive 
voice within them ; as well by thofe who 
addreffed, as by thofe who remonftrated ; 
and it is as much the avowed fenfe of 
thofe who have rifked their all rather 
than take up armis againft your majefty’s 
forces, as of thofe who have run the 
fame rifk to oppofe them. The only 
difference among them is, not on the 
grievance, but on the mode of redrefs ; 
and we are forry to fay, that they who 
have conceived hopes from the placabi- 
lity of thofe minifiers that influence the 
public councils of this kingdom, difap- 
pear in the multitude who conceive that 
paffive compliance only confirms and em- 
boldens oppretfion. 
The fenfe of a whole people, moft 
gracious Sovereign, never ought to be 
contemned by wife and beneficent rulers, 
whatever may be the abftraét claims, or 
even rights of the fupremé power. We 
have been too early inftruéted, and toe 
long habituated to believe, that the only 
firm feat of all authority, is in the minds, 
affections, and interefts of the people, ta 
charge our fentiments for the convenience 
of a temporary arrangement of ftate. It 
is not confiftent with equity or wifdom, 
to fet at defiance the general feelings of 
great communities, and all the orders 
which compofe ehem. Much power is 
tolerated, and paffes unqueftioned, where 
much is yielded to opinion. All is  dif- 
puted, where every thing ts enforced. 
This is the tenet we hold on the duty 
and policy of conforming to the preju- 
dices of a whcle people, cven where the 
foundation of fuch prejudices may be falfe 
or difputabie. But, permit us to lay at 
your Majefty’s feet our deliberate judg- 
ment 
