2 On the present State of the Cotton Colonies. 
Colonies are well known to be esta- 
blishments remote from the seat of em- 
pire, that have been originally founded 
by the nation to which they are attached, 
as by some others, from which the pos- 
session has been obtained by conquest or 
by cession. 
The colonies, owing their existence to 
the possessing power, must be consider- 
ed integral parts of the empire; for in 
quitting their native shores, neither the 
first adventurers nor their successors re- 
linquished their birth-right: they merely 
transferred their habitations; being still 
subject to the laws of that country which 
gave them bith: they could not have 
sacrificed any privileges, because no 
crime was imputed by law; they suffer- 
ed the penalties of every crime conmit- 
ted abroad, and succeeded to estates and 
honours in the same way as if at home. 
In short, they remained within the pale 
of their country’s laws, except in those 
instances in which local ciicumstances 
rendered it impossible. The reguiations 
of each province of a state are adapted 
to some peculiarities which do not exist 
elsewhere: yet the aggregate of these 
provinces constitute the empire. 
It cannot be urged that a temporary 
relinquishment of privilege may take 
place ; for it involves the gross absurdity 
of surrendering a power to be resumed 
at pleasure, while no specific contract to 
that effect was ever made. The very 
act of surrendering the advantages of 
any society, disqualifies a man for the 
functions of a citizen. Wis political ex- 
istence having ceased, he cannot per- 
form political acts. The whole commu- 
nity alone can enable him to resume his 
rank among them: the mora! difficulty 
in this case is very analozous to the phy- 
sical impossibility of a dead man’s re- 
turning to life by his own act. 
No laws, however, have ever been en- 
acted to distrancbise the British colonists 
of their birth-rights: they are in the same 
situation with their countrymen on the 
high seas; alike removed from the im- 
mediate superintendance of the govern- 
ment, but equally entitled to protec- 
tion. 
‘The application of this doctrine to the 
original colonies, or these which owe 
their existence to the state in actual 
possession, 18 unquestionable. It is 
worthy of enquiry, how far they extend 
to captured colonies. This may be also 
determined on broad principles, depen- 
dent on tkdse already set forth. In such 
* 
[ Aug. 1, 
colonies as have formed no engagements, 
the arrangement depends on the option _ 
of the conquerors, regulated however 
‘by the eternal principles of justice. In 
those that have capitulated on the ex- 
press condition of enjoying the priviliges 
‘of their conquerors, the case becomes 
one of right, not of choice: those whe 
surrender on such terms are entitled to 
all the advantages and immunities of 
their fellow colonists. 
The analogical arguments in favour of 
this side of the question, may be found 
in the history of every state in Europe. 
Our own country furnishes some striking 
examples. The very essence of every 
political compact, is the reciprocity of 
advantage conferred and received by each 
part of the united body. Iris therefore 
required only under ordinary circum- 
stances, that each should govern and 
defend itself; when critical emergencies 
arise, ail must concur in contributing 
succour, and each must contribute in 
the best and most efficient manner that 
its means permit. In Great Britain and 
Ireland, the manufacturing towns are 
the fruitful resources of the recruiting 
service ; the sea-ports man our navy: 
yet it cannot be contended that these 
places alone defend the empire. ‘The 
other parts do their duty by paying 
taxes, and promoting other objects of 
national importance, which indirectly 
conduce to the saine point. The appli« 
cation of this position is sufficiently ob- 
vious. 
It is worthy of recollection, that there 
is no political compact.in which the dif 
ferent members contribute in the same 
way, or in the same proportion. ‘This is 
very remarkable in the well-known in- 
stance of the States of Holland, where 
Guelderland, the first of the provinces in 
point of rank, paid 5 per cent. of the 
whole taxes, and Holland, the second, 
58 per cent, 
lous; but it confirms the general position, 
that each part of the empire furnishes 
the state with means, in proportion to 
its ability. It will hereafter be shewn 
that the West Indies do more than their 
duty in this respect; which authorises 
them to expect and to enjoy protection 
in ordinary cases, aud favour, when their 
interests are opposed to those of foreign 
ers. 
YVbe political considerations which 
have been alluded to are so numerous, 
that it will be sufficient to mention a few 
of the most striking. The West India 
3 colonies 
This is certainly anoma- . 
