Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-23
ttornsy Gsarai ofMe U. States.
Quincy March, |

attorney General ofthe U. States
QUINCY, March =, 1918.
DEAR SIR-Be pleased 10 accent my cordial
thanks for the present of an elegant copy of
your Sketches OF Mr.. Henry. know poi whe-
ther shall ever nave time TO make YOU any
other return than thanks but as see Won
wish to investigate the sources Of the American
revolution, IT You will give me leave l will
give Hon snch i1Ints as my memory affords, to
assist yon.
IN 1851 was Published in Boston, a pamphlet
- i he sentiments of British American" the
MOTTO OF which ought 10 have warned Great
/bFnain 10 deslst from her tyrannical system of
taxation
Assellnm in pTs;o tmidus pascebat senex
Us hestium clamOTe subito erTilus
sHadebtt asiho fug0fe ne pOssent CAPT,
All HE ienius quaeso mum binas mhi
SNIsilas impositHrun victorian pufas a?
seneX nesavit. Ergo quid refert inca
Cui seTvlan Ctelias DUN pOTtem meas"
Considering an act of parliament of the
fourth year of George the third, for granting
certain unties in the British colonies and plali.
tations IN America he says the fist objection
rs, that y" tax is laid on several commodities
TO be raised and levied in the plantations. and
TO be remitted home to England" This is
esteemed as grievance, inasmuch as they are
iaid without the consent Of the representatives
ST the coonists. Ii is esteemed AN ESSENTIAL
BRllIsH RIGHT, THAT NO PERSON SHALL DE
SUBJECT TO ANY TAX BUT WHAT IN PERSON, OR
bh HIS REPREsENIATiFE, ne HAS a VOICE IN
LAYING.
am indebted to YOU, Mr. WIT, for the re.
peTusal Of this pretty little thing ] had not
seen II for fifty -four years and should never
nave seen &c again, II yonr book had not excited
me, having no copy of il, TO borrow it, as a
great taver, FOR q short time. IL was written
by OXenbrldge Thatcher, a baTrster al law. in
Boston. There is so much resemblance be.
tween this pamphlet and Mr.. JAY 5 address TO
the people OF England, written in congress ten
fIat..v 4, II
Rasse!as aud Veltaire's Candid, the world
light suspect thar the one gave occasion 10 the
other.
Ia this year, 1861, was published in Boston.
he rights OF the British colonies asserted
and proved-by James Otis, esq" This work
was read in manuscript in the hOnse of re-
presentaiiVes OF Massachusetts, in I7Gt and
though not ordered by them TO be published
II was printed with their knowledge In il
lhTSe propositions are asserted as fundamen-
tai:
" /. That the supreme ard subordinate powers Of
legislation shonld be free aud sacred the hands here
the community have once righifnlly placed them
ne supreme national legislature cannot ne alter.
ed J"siiy, M tbe commonwealth is dissolved nor
sSboidBdte Legislature taken away without forfeiture or
1heI COCO cause Nor eau The subjects Of the subor
dnale government he reduced state of slavery and
fednced 10 the dcspotic rule ofOthers.
" 3. No Legislature, supreme Of subordinate has "a
night 10 make itself arbitrary.
" .. The supreme legislative cannot justly assume
of ruling by eXcmpoTc arbitrary DEGREES bui IL
bound to dispense justice by known settled Tues ana
by duy authorized, independent judges.
- ,. TIE SUPEEHE rOWBR CANNOT TAKE FRofANY
NAN Any FANr or HIs PROPERTY, wfIHotI MS con.
shNrIF PRISON, OR by HIS EEPBEslNTATiyE.
" o. ne legislature cannot transfer the pos eT OF ma
king laws 10 any nfheT haRds."
" These are tbc bounds which, by God and nature
ere SeH-iiiiherto haze they right TO come aud no
farther:
'' T. 10 govern by stated laws.
D htte laws should have end ultimately but the
good Of the people.
" 3. That taxes are not 10 De laid upon tie people
bui IVY Their consent or hy dCputauou.
). Their whole power not Transferable
These are the first principle oflaw and ms
tlre; The great bafriers of free state aud Of
ihe British constitution in particUlar.-i ask,
want, no more.
This work, Mr. Writ, which, IN 1864, was as
familiar % me as my Alphabet, I had not seen
ior fity iOGr years, and should never have seen
10 again. IS your" Sketches" for which again
thank YOU, had not afOused me- With sO'He
pains and as great favor. I nave obtained the
loan of it. from " m. Smith 5 taw, esq. the indc-
faiigable collector Of literary curios!ties in the
AihenCun
In page seventy three Of Mr. OTIS pamphlet
Is learned and elaborate demonstration that
al acts OF parliament, laying taxes On Tho
colot les without theiT corsebt, wCie nail and
void.
In an sppendiS 20 This woik. isa copy Of
instructions given by ihe ci,l Of Boston, az