right to tax is illogical (66), for—[Read (66-68) to find reasons. Reason A is implied in the questions in (66)]. III. [Express (70) in the form of sentence used in II, just above, "To refuse," etc. Read (71-74) for reasons.] IV. [Express (75) in the form of sentence used in II. Reason A (last sentence of 75). Reason B (76).] V. Such satisfaction would be in accordance with four great constitutional precedents (77-78), for -[Phrase A, B, C, D, (79-87), and E (88), with reasons, if any are given, under each]. C. SATISFACTION OF THE AMERICAN COMPLAINT IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT GRANTING REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT (89 AND 90), FOR, I. Parliament would give satisfaction (in part) by ceasing to impose taxes and declaring the competency of colonial grants (91), and recording its belief in the following resolutions (92-93). A. That the colonies are not represented in Parliament (93). B. That the colonies have been grieved by taxes (94-95), for, 1, It is a grievance to be hurt in one's privileges, irrespective of the money involved (96). [Supply 2, 3, etc., from the rest of paragraph (96).] [C (97), D (98), D 1 (99), E (100), E 1 (100-105), F (106-108).] II. Parliament would give satisfaction (in part) also by repealing the Acts named in the Resolution (109), for, A. The Boston Port Bill is unjust (110) for- III. [Read (114-118). Express the thought in the form of sentence used in I and II, just above.] IV. The argument that the grievance of taxation extends to all legislation cannot stand (118), for-[Read to (121), finding reasons]. V. [Express (122) in the form of sentence used in IV, just above.] VI. The foregoing plan of satisfying the American complaint is better than Lord North's (123). for-[Read (124-132), drawing off the reasons]. VII. [Express (133) in the form of IV, just above. Find reasons.] CONCLUSION I. The real ties that bind the colonies to the Empire are not laws, but ties of loyalty and affection (137-138). II. [Find in paragraph (139) a single sentence that expresses the thought.] III. Burke therefore moves the following resolution [as given in (140-155)]. NOTES [1] Sir The Speaker of the House of Commons. austerity of the Chair. The severe impartiality of the speaker. my motion. At the end of the speech. grand penal bill. Lord North's bill (proposed Feb. 10, 1775) entitled "An Act to restrain the Commerce of the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, and Colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and Providence Plantation, in North America, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Islands in the West Indies, and to prohibit such Provinces and Colonies from carrying on any Fishery on the Banks of Newfoundland, and other places therein mentioned, under certain conditions and limitations." By this bill thousands of New England fishermen were to be reduced to beggary, is to be returned to us. The Lords wanted the bill amended so that it should apply to other American colonies besides those of New England mixture of coercion and restraint. A contemptuous name for the Grand Penal Bill. incongruous with conciliation. Burke cannot mean that coercion is incongruous with restraint. ¶ [2] blown about. Ephesians iv, 14. In this and adjacent lines Burke refers to the rapid changes of opinion in and out of Parliament as to the best way to deal with the col onies. Parliament passed the Stamp Act one year and repealed it the next. ¶ [3] At that period. The repeal of the Stamp Act The vote stood 275 for the repeal, 161 against. T[4] Everything administered as remedy. The Tea-Tax, Boston Port Bill, Massachusetts Colony Bill, Transporta tion Bill, and Quebec Act. her present situation. The colonies were preparing for war. Lexington was fought within a month. 1 [5] a worthy member. Mr. Rose Fuller. A year before, Burke had delivered his speech on American Taxation on a motion by Mr. Fulier to repeal the tax on tea. American committee. The whole House of Commons sitting as a committee on American affairs. A "committee of the whole" chooses its own chairman-some member, not the speaker. our former methods. The methods of "the opposition," (the minority party or parties) which had been confined to criticism of measures proposed by the ministry (chosen from the majority party). platform. Plan. [6] seat of authority. Here means the government ministry. disreputably. Ill-timed propositions discredit the maker of them. [7] paper government. Merely on paper, theoretical, incapable of being put into operation because not practical. A reference perhaps to the scheme of government which the philosopher Locke drew up for Carolina. separated from the execution. A plan which is not to be executed by the one who drafted it. my caution. My disinclination to bring forward a plan. laid hold on. 1 Timothy vi, 19. Hebrews vi, 18. ¶ [8] natural. Arising from ability. adventitious. Arising from rank, title, wealth, or other external circumstance. [9] discord fomented from principle. Burke refers to the principle underlying Lord North's project (see note on 10) to weaken the colonies by dividing them into two classes. juridical. Purely legal and technical, without reference to equity and justice. Compare ¶ 66. shadowy boundaries. Limits of power in regard to the right to tax. The Tories held that the right to tax the colonies was implied in Parliament's general right of legislation The radical Whigs held to the contrary. The Whigs of Burke's type waived the question of legal right and declared that it was inexpedient to tax the colonies, whether Parliament had the legal right, or not. unsuspecting confidence. Italicized because used by the Congress at Philadelphia in 1774 to express the state of feeling in the colonies after the repeal of the Stamp Act. ¶ [10] the project. February 20, 1775, Lord North brought in resolutions, entitled "Propositions for Conciliating the Differences with America," which were agreed to by the House February 27, as follows: "That when the governor, council, or assembly, or general court, of any of his Majesty's provinces or colonies in America, shall propose to make provision, according to the condition, circumstances, and situation of such province or colony, for contributing their proportion to the common defense (such proportion to be raised under the authority of the general court or general assembly of such province or cotony, and disposable by Parliament), and shall engage to make provision also for the support of the civil government and the administration of justice, in such province or colony, it will be proper, if such proposal shall be approved by his Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament, and for so long as such provision shall be made accordingly, to forbear, in respect of such province or colony, to levy any duty, tax, or assessment, or to impose any further duty, tax, or assessment, except such duties as it may be expedient to continue to levy or impose, for regulation of commerce; the net produce of the duties last mentioned to be carried to the account of such province or colony respectively." noble lord Lord North, a Knight of the Garter, wore the badge of that order, a blue ribbon. colony agents The colonies not having direct representation in Parliament engaged agents to watch legislation and otherwise look after colony interests there. Franklin was once such an agent for Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Georgia, and Burke himself was agent for New York for a short time. [11] registry. In the House journals. resolution. Lord North's project. The advantage lay in the use of the word conciliating" in the title of Lord North's resolutions. |