Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-10-04

tai spirit OF the English constitution, as tn.t
relation to the mother country will allow. In
this view tbey will be considered as subordi-
nate, and dependent SO far as the end OF oe-
sion of their establishment requires, and as
entitled to all the liberties of English SUBJ
iects not incompatible with this end or de-
sign; and they have no just cause OF com
plant, whilst they are under restrictions fairly
deduced from, and applied to, the nature Oh
this relation, because public faith is preserved
when the object of their settlement is pursu-
ed !: but when it is attempted to substitute
different relation and that too subversive OF
every degree of constitutional liberty, their
complaints, discontents and resistance wouia
be natural. Cicero defines slavery to De
&c Obedientia fracti Animi, ct obJecu Arbitilo
carentis suo,' and if the colonists owe obedi-
ence to all statutes which the British legisla-
ture MAY think fit to ordain, without their
consent, without any concurrence OF their
will, abiect, indeed is their condition; but as
their minds are not yet broken and deoased,
when pariameEts claim and endeavor to eH-
act from them such an unlimited obedience,
they will have the spirit to adopt the sentl-
ment of Caractacus, Mum ST vos nobls In
OMNIBUS linpc'ltdIC NVtiS' SH4aiSoA w -oo
Scrvitutem sucipiamus! (Iac.)
They, my Lord, who have contemplated
the genius of the English polity, the rules by
which the prcrosatiyes OF the crown,the rights
and dignity of the peerage, the privileges OF
the commons, and the regulations OF property,
are guarded and maintained, must acknow-
ledge that usage is very powerful Lesisla-
tor. Had the colonies been profe,sedly taxed
in as many instances by statutes, as they have
been by acts of assem5ly-had taxes, nloreo-
yer, been laid by parliament in consequence OF
their acquisitions, would not, my lord, such
usage be urged as an irrefragsble proof OF
their unlimited subiection But the usage
has been contrary: Tor the colonies haVe' IN
various instances, taxed themselves IN pursu-
arce Of royal acquisitions, and tie Propnety
of the measure, jealous and tenacious as the
commons are in the matter OF supplies, mas
not been called in question; but on so Iae oc-
cusions has been recognized by parliament IN
the allowance OF rein bursements. If the ar
eument from usage could lie applied In sup
port of the authority assumed by parliament,
and would he deemed on that ground SO mate
riol, why, nv lord, should the force OF 1t be de-
MED when applied in vindication OF the Anne
rican claim? Had the American charters eX-
plicitlv reserved the power to tax, as we'll as
to bind by other laws, such reservation would
| suggest, be deemed the ciearest proof o.
the rpn. to tay-it would be urged as a eli-'
rect specific evidence Of the original compact
with the colonies, coeval with their institution,
and precluding all theoretical dispute. 1t
such had been the constitution of the colonies
precisely defined in these charters, complaints
and renonstrances against parliamentary
tax, might be fully and conclusively answered
by reference to the terms, provisions and
conditions under which the colonlsts settled
in America, and no breach Of faith, or violation
of privilege would be imputable to an exercise
of the reserved authority to tax but, my lord,
neither is this the case !; for the American
charters speak in these terms, or in terms OF
similar import" Vo!umus &c per presentcs
pro nobis, h9redibuS Ct successorbus nostris
Conpcnimus, ct copccdimus, quod nos, here
DIES ct successors nostrl nullo temporc,
aliouas impositiones, custumas, aut alias tax
ationes, Quiet $, seu Contr.butiones quascunque
imponenius, ant imponi tac.emus aut causa-
bimus in aut super nicolas aut inh%bitantes
regionis prsdicte pro bonis ferris vel tene-
illGiilIS lllli u ouPS' w
nementa terras bona seu c.talia mira eandem
aut in aut super aliqua bona vel merchandise
infra eandam aut mira portus ant navium sta
tones dute regions oncrandas seu exoneran-
das ct hara declarationem nostram in omnibus
curtis ct pretoriis c: coram quibus cunque
iudicibus nostris haredum ct successorum
nostrorum pro sufficient ct legitima liberia
tone solutione, ct scquietantia indie de tenn
pore in terapis recipi ct allocari volumus &C
pro nobis heredibus ct succcssoribus nostris
iubenus ct mandamus prsciprientes omnibus
ct singulis oficiAris ct mnistris nostris hare
dunn ct successorum nostrorum ct sub gravi
indignatione iniungentes ne quid IN contrari-
UNI prsmissorum ullo emqaan tempore at
temptare audeant aut eaisdem ullo modo con-
travenisnt sed inco.is Mercatorlbus Eorumque
servis ct ministris factoribus ct assignatis in
plenissimo hujus Charte usu ct fruitione ON
nj tempore prout duet auxilianture ct assistant"
Though in these charters there DE not elias.
steal elegance to entertain, the perspicuitv
and precision Of the language are worthy of
praise. When bill imposing tax upon the
colonies without their consent is with solemn
4 Il