is not dead in them, it is only dormant; and fhould it once take fire, it will break out into a flame which no reafon, no prudence, no force can reftrain. Thofe people, whom Great Britain hath to this hour drawn as it were with a filken thread, she will find it in vain to attempt to rule with a rod of iron. If the houfe will not believe this at present, I requeft at least that they will remember it hath been faid, and that they are forewarned of it. If then force will not and cannot produce the effect aimed at, there remains no other alternative than to adopt some mode of policy that will carry their confent along with it. But why do I talk of modes of policy, when the short way of force feems already adopted? Nevertheless, even under this difcouragement, could I command the attention of the houfe, I would mark out that line of policy by which all may be again restored to peace and happiness. Wave all confideration of abftract questions-make no innovations in practice. Act in the government of the colonies as you have done, till the rage of experiment commenced, for one hundred and fixty years paft. Manifeft a difpofition to relieve and amend whatever is injurious to the fpirit of commerce, whatever is matter of real grievance, and all would be quiet as foon as a fhip could arrive with the news in America. In a word, refume the fpirit of your antient policy. I am founded

when

when I fay, this would reftore again peace, order, and government. Let the matter of legif lative fupremacy rest in filence upon the declaratory law. America will understand that she is placed in the fame line of adminiftration with Ireland, and this will be better understood by avoiding explanations. Do nothing which may bring into difcuffion questions of right. Aim not to extend your power to new objects; and exercife the powers you have been accustomed to with prudence and moderation, and in the spirit of commercial wifdom. This mode of governing would cement again the union of the two countries: it would restore the spirit of obedience which the loss of authority on the one hand, and the lofs of affection on the other, hath interrupted. Exert the spirit of policy, that you may not ruin the colonies and yourselves by an arbitrary exertion of force."-The houfe was not in a temper to be impreffed with arguments of this nature. Actuated by the spirit of pride and domination, they shut their eyes and ears against whatever had a tendency to awaken them from the strong delufion under which they acted, and this political Caffandra admonished, warned, and prophefied in vain. When this addrefs reached the western shore of the Atlantic, the affemblies of Maffachusetts and New York no longer exift ed; but Virginia, on this occafion, affumed the

lead

lead with equal spirit and firmnefs. On the 16th of May (1769) they came to feveral refolutions, copies of which they ordered their fpeaker to tranfmit to the different affemblies throughout the continent, and to requeft their concurrence. These refolutions imported, "That the fole right of impofing taxes on the inhabitants of the colony is now, and ever hath been, in the houfe of burgeffes, with confent of the council, and of the king, or governor for the time being-that it is the privilege of the inhabitants to petition their fovereign for redress of grievances; and that it is lawful to procure the concurrence of his majefty's other colonies in dutiful addreffes, praying the royal interpofition in favor of the violated rights of America :-that all trials for treafon, or mifprifion of treafon, here committed, ought to be in and before his majesty's courts within the said colony; and that fending accused persons to be tried beyond the feas is highly derogatory to the rights of British subjects." These refolutions were followed by a humble addrefs to the king, befeeching his royal interpofition to quiet the minds of his loyal fubjects in the colonies, and to avert thofe dangers and miferies which will enfue from a departure from the ancient rules and maxims government." The next day, lord Bottetourt, the governor, declared to the affembly, that these refolutions had made it his duty to diffolve them;

of

and

and that they were diffolved accordingly. The affembly immediately voted themselves into a convention, and choofing the late fpeaker, Pey-. ton Randolph, efq. moderator, they entered unanimously into an affociation against importing not only the taxed commodities, but wines and other articles; and the fimple recommendations of this convention had throughout the province all the force and efficacy of law. The neighbouring province of Maryland followed the example of this great and leading colony, in respect to the non-importation agreement; and the North Carolina affembly adopting, by an exprefs vote, the refolutions paffed by Virginia, were also diffolved by governor Tryon.

The general court of Massachusetts being called together in the courfe of the fummer 1769, in conformity to their charter, immediately presented an address to his excellency the governor, for the removal of the naval and military force stationed in the town and harbour of Bofton; to which the governor returned for answer," that he had no authority over his majetty's fhips in this port, or his troops within this town." The house refufing to proceed to bufiness while they were furrounded with an armed force, the governor adjourned the court to the town of Cambridge; foon after which they paffed refolutions fimilar to those of Virginia; and also a vote,

"that

"that the fending an armed force into the colo ny, under pretence of affifting the civil power, is highly dangerous to the people, unprecedented, and unconftitutional." The governor calling upon them to declare, whether they would or would not make provifion for the troops agreeably to the injunctions of the act of parliament ? the house answered, "As we cannot confiftently with our honor or intereft, much lefs with the duty we owe to our conftituents, fo we never fhall make any provision of funds for the purposes in your feveral meffages." Upon this the governor prorogued them to the 10th of January 1770, to meet at Bofton.The propofition adopted by the British parliament, for tranfporting perfons from America in order to trial in Great Britain, by a forced and unheard-of conftruction of the old ftatute of Henry VIII. excited prodigious alarm throughout the continent. The houfe of reprefentatives of Virginia, in their addrefs to the king, exprefs with feeling and digni ty the fentiments which, wounded by fuch cruel provocation, muft neceffarily animate the breafts of freemen. "When we confider," say they, "that, by the established laws and conftitution of this colony, the most ample provision is made for apprehending and punishing all those who fhall dare to engage in any treasonable practices against your majefty, or difturb the tranquillity

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