1797:] 
ment on the real merits of that principle, 
the violation of which is the known 
ground and origin of thefe troubles. We 
affure your Majefty, that, on our parts, 
we fhould think ourfelyes unworthy of 
life, which we only value for the means 
of {pending it in honour and virtue, if” 
we ever iuvmitted to taxes, to.which we 
did not confent, either directly, or by a 
reprefentation fatisfactory to the body 
of the people. And we add, fire, that 
if fortune, inftead of bleffing us with a 
fituation where we may have daily accefs 
to the propitious prefence of a gracious 
prince, had fixed us in fettlements on 
the remoteft part of the globe, we mutt 
carry thefe fentiments with us, as part of 
our being ; perfuaded, that the diftance 
of ficuation would only render this privi- 
leve the more necefiary, in the difpofal 
of property. Abufes of fubordinate 
authority increafe, and all means of 
redrefs leffen, as the diftance of rhe fub- 
jet removes him from the feat of the 
fupreme power. What, in thofe circum- 
fiances, can fave him from the laft ex- 
tremes of indignity and opprethon, but 
fomething left in his own hands, which 
may enable him to conciliate the favour, 
‘and control the exceffes of government? 
When no means are pofieifed of power 
to awe, or to oblige, the itrongeft ties 
which conneét mankind in every relation, 
fociai and civil, and which teach them 
mutually to ref{peét each other, are 
broken. Independency, frcm that mo- 
mnent, virtually exifls. Its formal decla- 
ration will quickly follow. Such mutt 
be our feelings for ourfelves. We are 
not in poffeffion of another rule for our 
brethren. When the late attempt, 
practically to annihilate that privilege 
was made, great diforders and tumults 
very unhappily and very naturally arofe 
from it. In this ftate of things, we 
were of opinion, that fatistaétion ought 
inftantly to be given, or thar at leaft the 
punithment of the diforder, ought to be 
attended with the redreis of the griey- 
ance. Becaufe, whenever a dilorder 
arifes from, and is direétly conneéted 
with a grievance, to confine ourfelves to 
the punifhment of the diforder, is to 
declare avainft the reafon and juftice of 
the complaint. 
The methods then recommended and 
followed, as infallible means of reftoring 
eace and order, we could not confider as 
at all adapted to thefe purpofes. On the 
contrary, we looked upon them to be, 
what they have proved to be, the caufe of 
inflaming difcontents into difobedience, 
i \ 
To the Secoffion of Oppofitions 
af 
and refiftance into revolt. The great 
inftruments in that unfortunate . plan, 
were the three fallowing: 1ft, The in- 
fringement of the charter of Maffachu- 
fet’s Bay, in many of its moft effential 
points, upon a fuggeftion of. abufe, 
without citationy evidence, or hearing. 
z. The eftablifhment of a military force 
not accountable to the ordinary criminal] 
tribunal in the country, in which they 
refide. 3. The putting that ftop (alfo 
without hearing) to the commerce of a 
great maritime city, during the pleafure 
of the crown. We could not conceive, 
when diforders had arifen from the com- 
plaine of one violated right, that to 
violate every other, was the proper means 
of quieting exafperated minds. Recourfe 
was had to force, and we faw a force fent 
out, enough to menace liberty, but net 
to awerefiftance ; tending to bring odium 
on the civil power, and contempt on the 
military ; at once to provoke and encou- 
rage refiftance. This mode of proceed. 
ing, by harth laws and feeble armies, 
could not be defended on the principle of 
mercy and forbearance. For mercy, as 
we conceive, confifis not in the weaknefs 
of the means, but in the benignity of the 
ends. We apprehend, that mild mea- 
fures may be powerfully enforced ; and 
that aéts of extreme rigour and injuftice 
may be attended with as much feeblene{s 
in the execution, as. feverity in the for- 
mation. 
In confequence of thefe ‘terrors, 
which, falling upon fome, threatened) all, 
the colonies made a common caufe with 
the fufferers, and proceeded, on their 
parts, to acts of refiftance. Again we be- 
fought your majefty’s minifters-to enter- 
tain fome diftrutt of the operation of 
coercive meafures, and to profic of their 
experience. This experience, had no 
effeé&t; the modes of legiflative rigour 
were conitrued not to have been errone- 
ous in their policy, but too limited in 
their extent; new feverities were adopt- 
ed; the fifheries of your people in Ame- 
rica followed their charters, and their 
mutual combination to defend their com- 
mon rights brought on prohibition of 
their mutual commercial intercourfe. No 
diftinétions of perfons or merits. was ob- 
ferved: the peaceable and the mutinous, 
friends and foes were alike involved, as 
if the rigour of the law had a tendency 
te recommend the authority of the legif> 
lator. If there had been no difobedi- 
ence, thefe fevere laws could not have 
been propofed as neceflary ; difobedi- - 
ence prevailing, it was evident, beyond 
a doubr, 


