256 Ch. 20. 1775 MINISTERIAL PROPOSITION. the broad English principle of self-taxation; and it is plain that if such a claim were admissible at all, it must be conceded absolutely and without qualification. Their liability to contribute towards the cost of national defences had not been denied by the provincials, up to the time of the Declaration of Independance. But still following parliamentary analogy, they claimed the exclusive right of determining the amount of such contribution, and the ways and means by which it should be raised. Lord North's proposal left the question substantially unaltered. The obnoxious right of taxation was retained, the exercise of it being only postponed until the colony should have refused or neglected to make such a provision as parliament might approve. The claim of parliament to exclusive taxation in matters relating to commerce, which the colonies had in the first instance conceded, but had afterwards questioned, was expressly reserved. The only real concession offered was the secondary one, that the tax when levied should be carried to a separate account, and not be paid into the English exchequer. It is worthy of remark, that even this measure, though wholly inadequate to the exigency which had arisen, was recommended to the favour of the House by one of the ministers who took part in the debate, on the ground that it was no new proposition, but was the same which Grenville had made to the colonies the year before he introduced the Stamp Act. Such, however, was the COERCIVE MEASURES POPULAR. 257 Ch.20. 1775 resolutions. temper of the House, that a proposal which none of The real policy of parliament was not to be found in these various overtures towards a reconciliation with the colonies. Measures of retaliation and coercion were far more agreeable to the temper of the English people and the Government. While Lord North could, with difficulty, induce the House of Commons, where his authority was all but supreme, to make some small advances towards the colonists, a bill which he introduced for restraining their trade, and a vote for increasing the forces both by sea and land, met with a ready assent. 258 Ch. 20. 1775 the colonies. DEBATES IN CONGRESS. The Americans, on their side, were not wanting in professions and demonstrations not less hollow Proceedings of and delusive than those projects of reconciliation with which the British parliament had been amused. After having promulgated addresses of an inflammatory character to the people of Great Britain, Ireland, Canada and Jamaica; after having levied war against their Sovereign, and shed the blood of his soldiers, the Congress thought it worth while to approach the Throne with a petition, couched in language of temperate and dutiful remonstrance. This proceeding was promoted by a party which had been opposed to extreme measures of redress, and still clung to the hope of maintaining the connection with the parent state. During the autumn of 1775, Congress was agitated with many anxious debates on this momentous subject. The democratic designs of the New England provinces had proved highly distasteful to the other colonies; and the determined energy of the republican leaders prevailed only by narrow majorities. The distress occasioned by the non-importation agreements, aggravated as it would be by the retaliating measure recently passed by the British parliament; the difficulty of keeping the army together, and of furnishing it with ammunition, together with the expectation of powerful reinforcements to the royal cause-all these grave considerations shook the firmness of many a patriot. Even such men as Patrick Henry of PETITION PRESENTED BY MR. PENN. Virginia, and John Hancock of Massachusetts, wavered. The suggestion of resorting to foreign aid was, at first, repelled with horror and alarm; but it soon became apparent that this idea, however repugnant to those who still retained some feeling for the land of their fathers, must be seriously entertained. 259 Ch.20. 1775 Congress. The petition to which reference has been made, Petition of was drawn up by Mr. Dickenson, the celebrated author of the Farmer's Letters, and the leader of the moderate party in congress. It was presented by Mr. Penn, a gentleman whose honorable descent, great estate, and high character entitled his mission to the highest respect and consideration; but the document of which he was the bearer, proceeding as it did from a body which had already assumed the functions of sovereign power, could not properly be received; and an intimation to that effect was therefore made by the Secretary of State. The Lords, however, who had advocated a soothing policy towards the colonists, unwilling that an overture which had been made in good faith should appear to be met by a contemptuous rejection, called Mr. Penn to the bar, and invited him to explain the objects One of the delegates from Georgia said: "There are persons in America who wish to break off from Great Britain; a proposal has been made to apply to France and Spain. I must consult my constituents on this point. I apprehend the man who should propose it, would be torn to pieces, like De Witt."Debates of Congress, ADAMS's Diary, 6th October, 1775. 260 Ch.20. 1775 Duke of Richmond's resolution. DEBATE ON THE PETITION. and wishes of his constituents. Penn accordingly declared, in firm but decent language, that the Congress, enjoying the full confidence of the associated colonies, were determined to resist by force the recent legislation of parliament, and the imposition of taxes without consent of the local representatives. He believed that his countrymen were still willing, if measures of redress were offered, to return to their allegiance; but if the satisfaction to which they considered themselves entitled was still withheld, they would form connexions with foreign powers, which would essentially alter their position. He added, that the reception which their former petitions had met with was discouraging, and that their last hope of effecting an amicable arrangement rested upon the olive branch of which he was the bearer. Upon this statement, the Duke of Richmond proposed, and Lord Shelburne seconded, a resolution, that the petition was a ground for conciliation of the unhappy differences between Great Britain and America.' An An angry debate as usual succeeded, and the motion was negatived by a large majority. Another attempt was made by Burke, during the autumnal session of 1775, to settle the colonial question; but as the Crown was absolute master of the House of Commons, no conciliatory proposition which could be framed had the slightest chance of success; and the only effect of agitating the question in parliament was, |