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THE¡¡USE¡¡AND¡¡ABUSE¡¡OF¡¡ARBITRARY¡¡POWER£»¡¡¡¡Including¡¡Tracts¡¡from¡¡Burke£»¡¡0tis¡¡and¡¡Wilkes¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡Charles¡¡K¡£¡¡Edmunds£»¡¡Ph¡£D¡£
It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡honor¡¡of¡¡England¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡deposited¡¡in¡¡the¡¡virgin¡¡soil¡¡of¡¡her¡¡colonies¡¡the¡¡germ¡¡of¡¡freedom¡£¡¡¡¡Nearly¡¡all¡¡at¡¡their¡¡foundation£»¡¡or¡¡shortly¡¡after£»¡¡received¡¡charters¡¡which¡¡conferred¡¡the¡¡franchises¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡country¡¡on¡¡the¡¡colonists¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡charters¡¡were¡¡neither¡¡a¡¡vain¡¡show¡¡nor¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡letter£»¡¡but¡¡really¡¡did¡¡establish¡¡and¡¡allow¡¡powerful¡¡institutions¡¡which¡¡impelled¡¡the¡¡colonists¡¡to¡¡defend¡¡their¡¡liberty£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡control¡¡the¡¡power¡¡by¡¡participating¡¡in¡¡it¡¡as¡¡constituted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grant¡¡of¡¡supplies£»¡¡the¡¡election¡¡of¡¡public¡¡councils£»¡¡trial¡¡by¡¡jury£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡assembling¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡the¡¡general¡¡affairs¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡us¡¡of¡¡to¡day¡¡these¡¡appear¡¡as¡¡common¡sense¡¡or¡¡logically¡¡necessary¡¡rights£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡must¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡in¡¡those¡¡early¡¡days¡¡of¡¡colonization¡¡they¡¡were¡¡distinct¡¡privileges¡¡accorded¡¡in¡¡power¡¡to¡¡the¡¡colonists¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡it¡¡is¡¡in¡¡these¡¡very¡¡privileges¡¡that¡¡we¡¡behold¡¡the¡¡germinating¡¡principle¡¡which¡¡was¡¡ultimately¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡to¡¡life¡¡the¡¡new¡¡republic¡¡then¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡unborn¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡as¡¡Thomas¡¡Jefferson¡¡afterward¡¡wrote£»¡¡¡¨where¡¡every¡¡man¡¡is¡¡a¡¡sharer¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡his¡¡town¡republic£»¡¡and¡¡feels¡¡that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡a¡¡participator¡¡in¡¡the¡¡government¡¡of¡¡affairs£»¡¡not¡¡merely¡¡at¡¡an¡¡election¡¡one¡¡day¡¡in¡¡the¡¡year£»¡¡but¡¡every¡¡day£»¡¡when¡¡there¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡be¡¡a¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡State¡¡who¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡a¡¡member¡¡of¡¡some¡¡one¡¡of¡¡its¡¡councils£»¡¡great¡¡or¡¡small£»¡¡he¡¡will¡¡let¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡be¡¡torn¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡body¡¡sooner¡¡than¡¡allow¡¡his¡¡power¡¡to¡¡be¡¡wrested¡¡from¡¡him¡¡by¡¡a¡¡Caesar¡¡or¡¡a¡¡Bonaparte¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡powerfully¡¡did¡¡we¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡energy¡¡of¡¡this¡¡organization¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡the¡¡embargo£¡¡¨
Notwithstanding¡¡the¡¡widely¡¡different¡¡origin¡¡of¡¡the¡¡various¡¡colonists£»¡¡the¡¡circumstances¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡placed¡¡were¡¡so¡¡similar£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡same¡¡general¡¡form¡¡of¡¡personal¡¡character¡¡must¡¡inevitably¡¡have¡¡developed¡¡itself£»¡¡and¡¡produced¡¡a¡¡growing¡¡consciousness¡¡of¡¡power¡¡and¡¡impatience¡¡of¡¡foreign¡¡imposition¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡proximate¡¡independence¡¡of¡¡America¡¡need¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡certainty£»¡¡however£»¡¡had¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡English¡¡statesmen¡¡not¡¡been¡¡blinded¡¡to¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡principles¡¡urged¡¡by¡¡such¡¡men¡¡as¡¡Otis¡¡in¡¡America¡¡and¡¡Burke¡¡in¡¡England¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡causes¡¡which¡¡were¡¡to¡¡produce¡¡a¡¡final¡¡rupture¡¡were£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sure£»¡¡already¡¡at¡¡work¡¡£¨their¡¡full¡¡operation¡¡being¡¡delayed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡lack¡¡of¡¡union¡¡among¡¡the¡¡different¡¡provinces£©£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡a¡¡warm¡¡hereditary¡¡attachment¡¡to¡¡the¡¡parent¡¡country£»¡¡under¡¡whose¡¡wings¡¡the¡¡provinces¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡up£»¡¡by¡¡whose¡¡arms¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡shielded£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡whose¡¡commerce£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡jealous¡¡restrictions£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡enriched¡£
Indeed¡¡life¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Colonies¡¡was¡¡so¡¡closely¡¡related¡¡to¡¡that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡country¡¡that¡¡in¡¡a¡¡very¡¡marked¡¡degree£»¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Colonies¡¡is¡¡only¡¡the¡¡more¡¡practical¡¡and¡¡laborious¡¡development¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡liberty¡¡flourishing¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡conditions¡¡of¡¡life¡¡in¡¡the¡¡new¡¡country¡¡under¡¡the¡¡standard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡and¡¡traditions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡country¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡eminent¡¡philosophical¡¡historian£»¡¡M¡£¡¡Guizat£»¡¡has¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡considered¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡England¡¡herself¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡The¡¡resemblance¡¡is¡¡the¡¡more¡¡striking¡¡when¡¡we¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡American¡¡Colonies¡¡and¡¡the¡¡more¡¡important¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡founded¡¡or¡¡increased¡¡the¡¡most¡¡rapidly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡epoch¡¡when¡¡England¡¡was¡¡preparing¡¡to¡¡sustain£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡part¡¡already¡¡sustaining£»¡¡those¡¡fierce¡¡conflicts¡¡against¡¡the¡¡pretensions¡¡of¡¡absolute¡¡power¡¡which¡¡were¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡for¡¡her¡¡the¡¡honor¡¡of¡¡giving¡¡to¡¡the¡¡world¡¡the¡¡first¡¡example¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡nation¡¡free¡¡and¡¡well¡¡governed¡£
How¡¡similarly¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡affairs¡¡appeared£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡were¡¡not¡¡blinded¡¡by¡¡self¡interest£»¡¡on¡¡both¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Atlantic£»¡¡is¡¡shown¡¡by¡¡the¡¡following¡¡extracts¡¡from¡¡Burke¡¡and¡¡Otis¡£
In¡¡1770¡¡Burke¡¡thus¡¡described¡¡the¡¡social¡¡and¡¡political¡¡conditions¡¡both¡¡at¡¡home¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Colonies£º¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡the¡¡government¡¡is¡¡at¡¡once¡¡dreaded¡¡and¡¡contemned£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡are¡¡despoiled¡¡of¡¡all¡¡their¡¡respected¡¡and¡¡salutary¡¡terrors£»¡¡that¡¡their¡¡inaction¡¡is¡¡a¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡ridicule¡¡and¡¡their¡¡enforcement¡¡of¡¡abhorrence£»¡¡that¡¡rank£»¡¡and¡¡office£»¡¡and¡¡title£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡solemn¡¡plausibilities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡have¡¡lost¡¡their¡¡reverence¡¡and¡¡effect£»¡¡that¡¡our¡¡foreign¡¡politics¡¡are¡¡as¡¡much¡¡deranged¡¡as¡¡our¡¡domestic¡¡economy£»¡¡that¡¡our¡¡dependencies¡¡are¡¡slackened¡¡in¡¡their¡¡affection¡¡and¡¡loosened¡¡from¡¡their¡¡obedience£»¡¡that¡¡we¡¡know¡¡neither¡¡how¡¡to¡¡yield¡¡nor¡¡how¡¡to¡¡enforce£»¡¡that¡¡hardly¡¡anything¡¡above¡¡or¡¡below£»¡¡abroad¡¡or¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡is¡¡sound¡¡and¡¡entire£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡disconnection¡¡and¡¡confusion£»¡¡in¡¡office£»¡¡in¡¡parties£»¡¡in¡¡families£»¡¡in¡¡parliament£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡nation£»¡¡prevail¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡disorders¡¡of¡¡any¡¡former¡¡time£»¡¡these¡¡are¡¡facts¡¡universally¡¡admitted¡¡and¡¡lamented¡£¡¨
When¡¡in¡¡1768¡¡troops¡¡were¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡Boston¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡a¡¡repetition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡disturbances¡¡which¡¡had¡¡resulted¡¡from¡¡the¡¡arbitrary¡¡and¡¡insulting¡¡manner¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡commissioners¡¡of¡¡customs¡¡exercised¡¡their¡¡office£»¡¡Otis¡¡was¡¡chosen¡¡moderator¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡meeting¡¡held¡¡in¡¡protest£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡reported¡¡to¡¡have¡¡declared¡¡¡¨That¡¡in¡¡case¡¡Great¡¡Britain¡¡was¡¡not¡¡disposed¡¡to¡¡redress¡¡their¡¡grievances¡¡after¡¡proper¡¡applications£»¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡gird¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡to¡¡the¡¡thigh£»¡¡and¡¡shoulder¡¡the¡¡musket¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Another¡¡account¡¡presents¡¡a¡¡somewhat¡¡more¡¡temperate¡¡tone£»¡¡representing¡¡Otis¡¡as¡¡¡¨strongly¡¡recommending¡¡peace¡¡and¡¡good¡¡order£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡grievances¡¡the¡¡people¡¡labored¡¡under¡¡might¡¡in¡¡time¡¡be¡¡removed£»¡¡if¡¡not£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡were¡¡called¡¡on¡¡to¡¡defend¡¡our¡¡liberties¡¡and¡¡privileges£»¡¡he¡¡hoped¡¡and¡¡believed¡¡we¡¡should£»¡¡one¡¡and¡¡all£»¡¡resist¡¡even¡¡unto¡¡blood£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡he¡¡prayed¡¡Almighty¡¡God¡¡it¡¡might¡¡never¡¡so¡¡happen¡£¡¨
The¡¡change¡¡from¡¡favorable¡¡conditions¡¡both¡¡in¡¡England¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Colonies¡¡to¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡unrest¡¡depicted¡¡by¡¡these¡¡passages¡¡from¡¡Burke¡¡and¡¡Otis£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡about¡¡by¡¡the¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡use¡¡strong¡¡measures£»¡¡enforced¡¡with¡¡no¡¡just¡¡regard¡¡for¡¡the¡¡welfare¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡English¡¡Ministry¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡realize¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡of¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡importance¡¡not¡¡to¡¡make¡¡mistakes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡strong¡¡measures£»¡¡that¡¡firmness¡¡is¡¡a¡¡virtue¡¡only¡¡when¡¡it¡¡accompanies¡¡the¡¡most¡¡perfect¡¡wisdom¡£¡¡¡¡Their¡¡course¡¡of¡¡political¡¡conduct£»¡¡combined¡¡with¡¡the¡¡establishment¡¡of¡¡a¡¡system¡¡of¡¡favoritism¡¡both¡¡at¡¡home¡¡and¡¡abroad¡¡like¡¡that¡¡adopted¡¡by¡¡Henry¡¡the¡¡Third¡¡of¡¡France£»¡¡produced¡¡results¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡kind¡¡as¡¡the¡¡latter¡£
Members¡¡of¡¡parliament¡¡for¡¡the¡¡most¡¡part¡¡were¡¡practically¡¡convinced¡¡that¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡depend¡¡on¡¡the¡¡affection¡¡or¡¡opinion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡for¡¡their¡¡political¡¡being£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡themselves¡¡over£»¡¡with¡¡scarcely¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡reserve£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡court¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡thus¡¡developed¡¡both¡¡a¡¡ministry¡¡and¡¡parliament¡¡unconnected¡¡with¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡have¡¡the¡¡deplorable¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡the¡¡executive¡¡and¡¡legislative¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡a¡¡government¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡exist¡¡apart¡¡from¡¡their¡¡true¡¡foundationthe¡¡opinion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡signally¡¡such¡¡attempts¡¡have¡¡always¡¡failed¡¡is¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡historical¡¡record¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡steadfast¡¡belief¡¡that¡¡they¡¡always¡¡will¡¡so¡¡fail¡¡constitutes¡¡the¡¡great¡¡force¡¡of¡¡public¡¡opinion¡¡to¡day¡£
Had¡¡the¡¡English¡¡Ministry¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Colonial¡¡Governors£»¡¡in¡¡particular¡¡Governor¡¡Bernard¡¡of¡¡Massachusetts£»¡¡recognized¡¡certain¡¡cardinal¡¡principles¡¡of¡¡individual¡¡and¡¡national¡¡liberty£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡so¡¡strongly¡¡advocated¡¡by¡¡Burke¡¡and¡¡Otis£»¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡events¡¡in¡¡their¡¡dealing¡¡with¡¡the¡¡colonists¡¡would¡¡in¡¡all¡¡probability¡¡have¡¡been¡¡greatly¡¡different¡¡from¡¡that¡¡actually¡¡developed¡£¡¡¡¡Burke¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡reputation£»¡¡the¡¡most¡¡precious¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡every¡¡individual£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡opinion£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡support¡¡of¡¡the¡¡state£»¡¡depend¡¡entirely¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡can¡¡never¡¡be¡¡considered¡¡as¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡of¡¡little¡¡consequence¡¡either¡¡to¡¡individuals¡¡or¡¡to¡¡governments¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡that¡¡nations¡¡are¡¡governed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡same¡¡methods£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡same¡¡principles£»¡¡by¡¡which¡¡an¡¡individual¡¡without¡¡authority¡¡is¡¡often¡¡able¡¡to¡¡govern¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡his¡¡equals¡¡or¡¡even¡¡his¡¡superiors£»¡¡namely£»¡¡by¡¡a¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡their¡¡temper£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡a¡¡judicious¡¡management¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡when¡¡public¡¡affairs¡¡are¡¡steadily¡¡and¡¡quietly¡¡conducted£»¡¡not¡¡when¡¡government¡¡descends¡¡to¡¡a¡¡continued¡¡scuffle¡¡between¡¡the¡¡magistrate¡¡and¡¡the¡¡multitude£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡sometimes¡¡the¡¡one¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡the¡¡other¡¡is¡¡uppermost£»¡¡each¡¡alternately¡¡yielding¡¡and¡¡prevailing¡¡in¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡contemptible¡¡victories¡¡and¡¡scandalous¡¡submissions¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡temper¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡amongst¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡presides¡¡ought£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡first¡¡study¡¡of¡¡a¡¡statesman¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡this¡¡temper¡¡it¡¡is¡¡by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡attain£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡has¡¡not¡¡an¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡being¡¡ignorant¡¡of¡¡what¡¡it¡¡is¡¡his¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡learn¡£¡¨
Of¡¡course¡¡it¡¡will¡¡not¡¡do¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡the¡¡people¡¡are¡¡never¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wrong¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡frequently¡¡been¡¡so£»¡¡both¡¡in¡¡other¡¡countries¡¡and¡¡in¡¡England£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡all¡¡disputes¡¡between¡¡them¡¡and¡¡their¡¡rulers£»¡¡the¡¡presumption¡¡is¡¡at¡¡least¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡par¡¡in¡¡favor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡History¡¡justifies¡¡us¡¡in¡¡going¡¡even¡¡further£»¡¡for¡¡when¡¡popular¡¡discontents¡¡have¡¡been¡¡very¡¡prevalent¡¡something¡¡has¡¡generally¡¡been¡¡found¡¡amiss¡¡in¡¡the¡¡constitution£»¡¡or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡conduct¡¡of¡¡the¡¡government¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡Burke¡¡declares£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡people¡¡have¡¡no¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡disorder¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡they¡¡do¡¡wrong£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡their¡¡error£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡their¡¡crime¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡with¡¡the¡¡governing¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡state¡¡it¡¡is¡¡far¡¡otherwise¡£¡¡They¡¡certainly¡¡may¡¡act¡¡ill¡¡by¡¡design£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡by¡¡mistake¡£¡¡¡¡*¡¡*¡¡*¡¡If¡¡this¡¡presumption¡¡in¡¡favor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡subjects¡¡against¡¡the¡¡trustees¡¡of¡¡power¡¡be¡¡not¡¡the¡¡more¡¡probable£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡more¡¡comfortable¡¡speculation£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡more¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡change¡¡an¡¡administration¡¡than¡¡to¡¡reform¡¡a¡¡people¡£¡¨
Very¡¡much¡¡the¡¡same¡¡ideas¡¡are¡¡presented¡¡by¡¡Otis¡¡in¡¡his¡¡article¡¡on¡¡the¡¡¡¨Rights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Colonists£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡bearing¡¡on¡¡this¡¡present¡¡topic¡¡will¡¡be¡¡given¡¡for¡¡comparison¡¡with¡¡Burke's¡¡treatment¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡pamphlet¡¡is¡¡divided¡¡into¡¡four¡¡parts£»¡¡treating¡¡respectively¡¡of¡¡the¡¡origin¡¡of¡¡government£»¡¡of¡¡colonies¡¡in¡¡general£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡rights¡¡of¡¡colonists£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡political¡¡and¡¡civil¡¡rights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡British¡¡colonists¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡writer¡¡maintains£»¡¡that¡¡government¡¡is¡¡founded¡¡not¡¡as¡¡some¡¡had¡¡supposed¡¡on¡¡compact£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡Paley¡¡afterwards¡¡affirmed£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡will¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡will£»¡¡the¡¡supreme¡¡power¡¡is¡¡placed¡¡¡¨originally¡¡and¡¡ultimately¡¡in¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡never¡¡did£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡freely£»¡¡nor¡¡can¡¡they¡¡rightfully£»¡¡make¡¡an¡¡absolute£»¡¡unlimited¡¡renunciation¡¡of¡¡this¡¡divine¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡ever¡¡in¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡given¡¡in¡¡trust£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡a¡¡condition¡¡the¡¡performance¡¡of¡¡which¡¡no¡¡mortal¡¡can¡¡dispense¡¡with£»¡¡namely£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡person¡¡or¡¡persons£»¡¡on¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡sovereignty¡¡is¡¡conferred¡¡by¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡shall¡¡incessantly¡¡consult¡¡their¡¡good¡£¡¡¡¡Tyranny¡¡of¡¡all¡¡kinds¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡abhorred£»¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡be¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡one£»¡¡or¡¡of¡¡the¡¡few£»¡¡or¡¡of¡¡the¡¡many¡£
The¡¡colonies¡¡were¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡unwilling¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡revenue¡¡to¡¡the¡¡home¡¡government£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡payment¡¡was¡¡just¡¡and¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡so¡¡far¡¡from¡¡refusing¡¡to¡¡grant¡¡money¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Assembly¡¡of¡¡Pennsylvania¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡the¡¡following¡¡effect£º¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡they¡¡always¡¡had£»¡¡so¡¡they¡¡always¡¡should¡¡think¡¡it¡¡their¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡grant¡¡aid¡¡to¡¡the¡¡crown£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡their¡¡abilities£»¡¡whenever¡¡required¡¡of¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡constitutional¡¡manner¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡This¡¡resolution¡¡was¡¡presented¡¡by¡¡Franklin£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡a¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Pennsylvania¡¡Assembly£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Prime¡¡Minister¡¡of¡¡England£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grenville£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡introduced¡¡the¡¡Stamp¡¡Act¡¡into¡¡Parliament¡£¡¡¡¡Other¡¡colonies¡¡made¡¡similar¡¡resolutions£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡Grenville¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Stamp¡¡Ac