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not have been, in Mr. Greenville’s opinion, sufficiently declarative of its supremacy, nor sufficiently depressive of American freedom.
Therefore it is, that in this memorable act we find it expresly “provided,” that money shall be levied upon us without our consent, for purposes, that render it, if possible, more dreadful than the Stamp-Act.
That act, alarming as it was, declared, the money thereby to be raised, should be applied “towards defraying the expences of defending, protecting and securing the British colonies and plantations in America:” And it is evident from the whole act, that by the word “British,” were intended colonies and plantations settled by British people, and not generally, those subject to the British crown. That act therefore seemed to have something gentle and kind in its intention, and to aim only at our own welfare: But the act now objected to, imposes duties upon the British colonies, “to defray the expences of defending, protecting and securing his Majesty’s dominions in America.”
What a change of words! What an incomputable addition to the expences intended by the Stamp-Act! “His Majesty’s dominions” comprehend not only the British colonies, but also the conquered provinces of Canada and Florida, and the British garrisons of Nova-Scotia; for these do not deserve the name of colonies.
What justice is there in making us pay for “defending, protecting and securing” these places? What benefit can we, or have we ever derived from them? None of them was conquered for us; nor will “be defended, protected or secured” for us.
In fact, however advantageous the subduing or keeping any of these countries may be to Great-Britain, the acquisition is greatly injurious to these colonies. Our chief property consists in lands. These would have been of much greater value, if such prodigious additions had not been made to the British territories on this continent. The natural increase of our own people, if confined within the colonies, would have raised the value still higher and higher every fifteen or twenty years: Besides, we should have lived more compactly together, and have been therefore more able to resist any enemy. But now the inhabitants will be thinly scattered over an immense region, as those who want settlements, will chuse to make new ones, rather than pay great prices for old ones.
These are the consequences to the colonies, of the hearty assistance they gave to Great-Britain in the late war----a war undertaken solely for own benefit. The objects of it were, the securing to herself the rich tracts of land on the back of these colonies, with the Indian trade; and Nova-Scotia, with the fishery. These, and much more, has that kingdom gained; but the inferior animals, that hunted with the lion, have been amply rewarded for all the sweat and blood their loyalty cost them, by the honor of having sweated and bled in such company.
