The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-11-07
ONO u u E d.
BIZ THOMAS JEFFERSON,


coScLU
That thus have we haftened through the
reigns which preceded his maefy's, during
which the violations of our right were les alarm
ing, becaufe repeated at more ditant intervals
than that rapid and bold fucceflion of injuries
which is likely to difinguifh the prefent from
all other periods of American tory. Scarcely
have our minds been able to emerge from the
afonifhment into which one ftroke of pari;a-
mentary thunder has involved us, before another
more heavy, and more alarming, is fallen on us.
Single acts of tyranny may be afcrbed to the
accidental opinion of day but ferries OF op-
prefiions, begun at diftinguiihed period, and
puriued unalterably through every change of
minitters, too plainly prove deliberate and fyf-
tematical plan of reducing rs to iiavery.
That the aef Ia paaed in the 4th year of
his majefty's reign, Untitled " An act for grant
ing certain duties in the Britilh colonies and
plantations in America &C.,
One other atf H. pafled in the sth year of
his reign, Untitled &c An a6 for granting and ap-
plying certain ftamp duties and other daties in
the Britifh colonies and plantations in America,
&C."
One other aa (eJ paHed in the oth year of
his reign, intituled An "a for the better fe-
curing the dependency of his majefty's domini-
ons in America upon the crown and parliament
OF Great Britain )" and one other ar ~ psf-
fed in the 18th year of his reign, intituled " Aa
a8 for granting duties on paper, tea, &c." form
that connected chain of parliamentary ufurpsti-
on, which has already been the fubiecl of fie-
qnent applications to his majefty, and the hou-
les of lords and commons of Great Britain; and
no anfwers having yet been condeicended to A.
ny of thefc, we fhall not trouble his maiec
ty with repetition OF the matters they contain
ed.
But that one other act (eJ pafTed in the fame
7th year OF his reign, having been a peculiar at
tempt, mutt ever require peculiar mention it
is intituled can ae for fuipending the legila-
ture of New-York." One free and indepcnd-
ent Legislature hereby takes upon itfe!f TO fuC-
pend the powers of another, free and independ-
ent a, itfelf; thus exhibiting phenomenon I'M
known in nature, the creator and creature Of its
own power. Not only the principles Of COM
mon fenfe, but the feelings of human nature,
mutt be surrendered up before his majeAy S fub-
jeets here can be perfuaded to believe that they
hold their political exiffence at the will of Bri-
tiih parliament. Shall thefe governments be
difiolved, their property annihilated, and their
people reduced to a fate of nature, at the i'm
perious breath of body of men, whom they ne
yer fav, in whom they never confided, and over
whom they have no powers of puniihment or
removal, let their crimes againf the American
public be ever 70 great Can any one reafon
Great Britain fhonld give law to four millions
in the fates of America, every individual of
whom is equal to every individual of them, in
virtue, in understanding, and in bodily ftrength?
Were this TO be admitted, innead of being free
I.s2le, as we have hitherto fuPpofed, s, mean
found i6aue ourfelves, we fhould fuddenly be
rants, pcircumftance, that they are removed
h3Sthe reach of fear, the only reftranng mo-
>eirc which may withhold the hand of ty-
rant.
That by " an act III to difcontinue in finch
manner and for fuch time as dire therein menti-
oned the landing and difcharging, lading or fl,ip
ping, of goods, wares, and merchandise, at the
town aud within the harbour of Bottom. in the
province OF Mafachufetts Bay, in North Anne.
rIca," which was paf1ed at the lait felton, of
Bltlih parliament large and populous town,
whole trade was their fole fnbfftence, was de-
prived of that trade, and involved in utter ruin.
Let us for while fuppofe the quefton of right
impended, in order to examine this act on prin-
ciples ofjutice An act of parliament had been
paiied lmpohne duties on teas, to be paid in A
nerica, aganft which acf the Americans had
protected as inauthoritatve. The Eah-India
company, wha til that time had never fent a
pound or tea 20 America their own account,
iteP forth on that location the a!1ertors of pari
amentary right, and fend hither many flip loads
OF that obnoxious commodity. The matters of
their feveral vefiels however. their arrival in
America, wifely attend to adrnonition, and re-
turned with their cargocs. In the province of
Maiiachufetts alone the remonfrances of the
people were diiregarded, and compliance, af-
ter being many days waited for, was fatty re-
fufed. Whether in this the mater of TIE veGcl
was governed by his ob0iDacy, or his inhru6ti-
ons, let thefe who know, fay. There are ex-
traoriinary fituations which require extraordi-
nary interpoliton. An exafperated people,
who feel that they pofefa power, are not eafily
reftrained within limits GriGtIy regular. a num-
Der ofthem attended in the town of Bottom,
threw the tea into the ocean, and dfperfed with
out doing any other act OF violence. IF in this
they did wrong, they were known and were A.
ncnahle 70 the laws of the land aganR which
It could not be OBJ ,eted that they had ever, in
any infancc, been obftrueed or diverted from
their regular courfe in favour of popular Offend
ers. They ihould therefore not have been diff
trulted on this occa6on. But that i'll fated CO.
ionY bad formerly been bold in their e1Hnities A.
gainit toe houfe ofSiuart, and were now devot-
ed to ruin by that uufeen hand which governs
the momeutous affairs of this great empire. On
the partial approximations of few worthlefs mi
nfterlal dependents, whole conftant Office il has
been to keep that government embroied, and
who, by their treacheries, hope to obtain the
dignity Of the III Britifh nighthood, without
calling tor party accufed, without aking
proof, without attempting 2 difinffipn bet,veen