Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHAP. V. 1774. They endeavour to obviate the jealoufies and prejudices which might arife from the difference of their religious principles, by inftancing the cafe of the Swifs cantons, whofe union is compofed of Catholic and Proteftant ftates; who live in the utmost concord and peace with each other, and have been thereby enabled to defeat all attempts against their liberties. This inftance, though perhaps the most appofite that could have been brought for the purpose, would not, however, have borne the test of much examination.

Addrefs

to the

They declare, that they do not require them to commence acts of hoftility against the government of their common fovereign; that they only invite them to confult their own glory and welfare, and not to fuffer themfelves to be inveigled or intimi dated by infamous minifters fo far, as to become the inftruments of their cruelty and defpotifm. They conclude by informing them, that the congrefs had, with univerfal pleasure, and by a unanimous vote, refolved, that they should confider the violation of their rights, by the act for altering the government of that province, as a violation of their own; and that they fhould be invited to accede to their confederation, which had no other objects than the perfect fecurity of the natural and civil rights of all the constituent members, according to their respective circumstances, and the preservation of a happy and lafting connection with Great-Britain, on the falutary and constitutional principles before mentioned.

In the addrefs to the colonies they inform them, that as in duty and justice bound, they have deliColonies. berately, difpaffionately, and impartially examined and confidered all the measures that led to the prefent disturbances; the exertions of both the legiflative and executive powers of Great Britain, on the one hand, and the conduct of the colonies on

the

the other. That upon the whole, they find them- 1774. felves reduced to the difagreeable alternative, of being filent and betraying the innocent, or of fpeaking out and cenfuring thofe they with to revere. In making their choice of thefe diftreffing difficulties, they prefer the courfe dictated by honesty, and a regard to the welfare of their country.

After ftating and examining the feveral laws that were paffed, and the measures pursued with respect to America, from the year 1764, to the prefent period, (1774), they enquire into the motives for the particular hoftility carried on against the town of Boston, and province of Maffachufett's Bay, though the behaviour of the people in other colonies, had been in equal oppofition to the power affumed by parliament, and yet no ftep whatever had been taken against any of them by government. This they reprefent as an artful fyftematic line of conduct, concealing among others the following defigns 1ft, That it was expected, that the province of Maffachufett's would be irritated into fome violent action, that might difplease the rest of the continent, or that might induce the people of England to approve the meditated vengeance of an imprudent and exafperated miniftry. If the unexampled pacific temper of the province fhould difappoint that part of the plan, it was in that cafe hoped, that the other colonies would be fo far intimidated, as to defert their brethren, fuffering in a common caufe, and that thus difunited, all might be eafily fubdued.

After examining the Quebec act, and pretending to affign the motives on which it was founded, they fay, that from this detail of facts, as well as from authentic intelligence, it is clear, beyond a doubt, that a refolution is formed, and now is carrying into execution, to extinguish the freedom of the colonies, by fubje&ting them to a defpotic government.

They

1774.

They then proceed to state the importance of the truft which was repofed in them, and the manner in which they have discharged it. Upon this occafion, they fay, that tho' the ftate of the colonies would certainly justify other measures than those which they have advised; yet they have, for weighty reafons, given the preference to those which they have adopted. These reasons are, that it is confiftent with the character which the colonies have always fustained, to perform, even in the midst of the unnatural diftreffes and imminent dangers that furround them, every act of loyalty; and therefore they were induced to offer once more to his Majefty the petitions of his faithful and oppreffed fubjects in America.-Then from a fenfe of their tender affection for the people of the kingdom from which they derive their original, they could not forbear to regulate their fteps by an expectation of receiving full conviction that the colonists are equally dear to them. That they ardently wish the focial band between that body and the colonies may never be diffolved; and that it cannot, until the minds of the former fhall become indifputably hoftile, or their inattention fhall permit those who are thus hoftile to perfift in profecuting, with the powers of the realm, the deftructive meafures already operating against the colonists; and, in either cafe, fhall reduce the latter to fuch a fituation, that they fhall be compelled to renounce every guard but that of felf-prefervation. That, notwithstanding the vehemence with which affairs have been impelled, they have not yet reached that fatal point; that they do not incline to accelerate their motion, already alarmingly rapid; and they have chofen a method of oppofition that does not preclude a hearty reconciliation with their fellow citizens on the other fide of the Atlantic.

That, they deeply deplore the urgent neceffity that preffes them to an immediate interruption of

com

commerce, which may prove injurious to their fel- 1774. low-fubjects in England; but truft they will acquit them of any unkind intentions, by reflecting that they fubject themselves to fimilar inconveniencies; that they are driven by the hands of violence into unexperienced and unexpected public convulfions; and that they are contending for freedom, so often contended for by their ancestors.

They conclude by obferving, that the people of England will foon have an opportunity of declaring their fentiments concerning their caufe. "That in "their piety, generofity, and good fenfe, they re"pofe high confidence; and cannot, upon a re"view of past events, be perfuaded that they, the "defenders of true religion, and the affertors of "the rights of mankind, will take part against their "affectionate Proteftant brethren in the colonies, "in favour of their open and our own fecret ene"mies, whofe intrigues, for feveral years paft, have "been wholly exercifed in fapping the foundation ❝of all civil and religious liberty."'

[ocr errors]

Thefe public acts being paffed, the delegates put The Conan end to their feffion, on the 52d day from the grefs opening of the congrefs.

Without examining the truth of their allegations, or pretending to form any opinion upon a fubject, on which the firft names in this country have differed fo widely, it must be acknowledged, that the petition and addreffes from the congrefs have been executed with uncommon energy, addrefs, and ability; and that confidered abftractedly, with refpect to vigour of mind, ftrength of fentiment, and the language, at least of patriotifm, they would not have difgraced any affembly that ever existed.

[blocks in formation]

breaks up

Oct. 26th

1774.

State of

affairs

CHAP. VI.

State of Affairs at the opening of the new parliament, with fome account of the two Fishery Bills paffed in this session.

HILST matters of this magnitude were

W tranfacting in America, an unexampled

fupinenefs, with regard to public affairs, prevailed among the great body of the people. Even the previous great commercial and manufacturing bodies, who must be the first to feel, and the last to lament any finifter events in the colonies, and who are generally remarkable for a quick forefight and provident fagacity in whatever regards their intereft, feemed now to be funk in the fame careleffnefs and inattention with the reft of the people.

to the diffolution of Parlia

ment.

Several caufes concurred to produce this apparent indifference. The colony contefts were no longer new. From the year 1765, they had, with but few, and thofe fhort intermiffions, engaged the attention of parliament. Most of the topics on the fubject were exhausted, and the vehement paffions which accompanied them had fubfided. The non-importation agreement, (by divifions within the colonies, which, if not caufed, were much forwarded by the conceffions with regard to feveral of the taxes laid in 1767) had broken up, before it had produced any ferious confequences. Most people therefore flattered themselves, that as things had appeared so very frequently at the verge of a rupture, without actually arriving at it, that now, as formerly, fome means would be found for accommodating this difpute. At worst it was conceived, that the Americans would themselves grow tired. And as an opinion was circulated with fome induftry and fuccefs, that a countenance of refolution, if perfevered in for fome time, would certainly put an end to the conteft, which (it was faid) had been nourished wholly

« PreviousContinue »