The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg, Va., 1775-06-16 00:00:00, page 8

_ whereas, to us, it appears just that those
who bear equally the burthens ot' govern
ment, should equally participatc of its
benesits. lfithctss be contentulsi with the
monopoly of our tradc, which brings
greater loss to us, and bent-lit to them,
than the amount of our proportionsitl con—
tributions to the common defence; or,
if the latter be preferred, relinquists the
former; and do not propose, by holding
both, to exact from us double eoutributi
ons. Yet We Would remind government,
that on former emergeneies, when called
upon as a free peoplsie, however eramped
by this monopoly, in our resources of
wealth, we hwe liberally contributed to
the common defence. Be ail'u'red, then,
that we shall be generous in future as in
past times, disdaining the lhztcklesot'pro
portion when called to our fl'ee (tation in
the general system of the empirc.
Because, the proposition now made to
us involves the interest osall the other co
lonies. We are now represented in General
Congress, by members approved by this
House, where ourshrmerunion , it 75 hoped,
will be so strongly cemented, that no par
tisitl applications can produce the llightcil:
(lepartttre from the common cause. \Ve
consider'ourselves as bound in honour, as
well as interest, to share one general f'atc
with our sister colonies; and should hold
oltffelves base deserters, of that union to
which we have acceded, were we to agree
on any measures distinct and apart from
them.
There was, indeed, :1 plzni of accom
modssition offered in Parliament ; which,
though not entirely equal to the terms
we had a right to all—;, yet diflered but in
sc w points from what the General (jongress
had held out. Had Parliament been dis
poscd sincerely, us We are, to bring about
a reconciliation, reasonable men had hop
ed, that, by meeting us on this ground,
something might have been done. Lord
Chath-sinn's hill, on the one part. and the
terms of the (jongrelfs, on the other,
would have sormed & bulissor negotiution;
which a spirit osaccommodution, on both
sides, might perhaps have reconciled. it
csiune recommended, too, from one whole
successsul expeiience in the nrt olctgovern
ment should have ensured to it some atten
tion srom those to whom it was rendered.
He had !hcwn to the world, that Great
Britain, with her colonies, united firmly
undei' ajust and honest government, sormsi
ed & pQWer which n'iight hid delsiiance to
the most potent enemies. W'ith achange
osministers, how ever, sl totul change of
measures took place: The component parts
of the empire have, from that moment,
been falling asunder ; and a totzil unuihila
tion osits weight. in the policical scule of
the world, seemsjnslly to be :ippi'eliended .
These, my Lord, are our sentiments on
this important subject; which we offer,
-
oniy, as an individual part of the Whole
eiiipirc. linsid detcrmiuution we lcziv(. to
the bcncrsid (Jousirels, now sitting, lu-shsse
Whom we (hzdi lay the pnpei's your Lord.
ship has couminuiczitcd to us. To their
wisdom we commit the improveuiem of
this important advance. is it can be
wrought into any good, we are assured
they wiil doit . To them also we reserthe
diseovery of that proper method of.-&
presentiug our wcil-(siounded grievance;
which, your Lordship assures Ll'i, will mtci
with the attention ;uid regard sojufflv (she
to them . For ourselves, we have cxliaust
ed every mode of application which Our
invention could shggest, as proper and
promising. \Ve have decently remonsh-at.
ed with Parliament ; they have added new
injuries to the old. We have wcaried Our
King with siipplications; he hgs not deign.
ed to answer us. \Ve have ap ealedto
the native honour and justice ost le British
nation; their efforts, in our favourct'have
hcen hitherto inessectu-sid . What then re.
mains to be done ? That we commit om
injurics to the even-handed justice of that
Bl-ZING who doth no wrong; earnestly
beseeching him to iihlminnte the councih,
and prosper'the endeavours, os-thoseto
whom America hath confided hcr hopes;
that, through their wise direction, we ma
again see, reunited, the biefiings of'siber.
tv and property,':utd the most pcrmanem
./
harmony withssGreat Britain.