South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-07-23

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g. lived happily, and "bougbt and sold,
and got gain, and been at ease.o But
the payment would ha We admitted the
Fight 10 tax, and they would have held
those privileges at the tenure Of depen-
dence on foreign and distant power /;
at the mercy of king and his minions !;
or at best,of councils 10 which they had
no voice, and where their interests
would not in all probability be consul-
ted. They then distincly foresaw that
under such circumstances their coun-
try's prosperity would be precarious-
her possessions uncertaia-and her
ease inglorious. 1t was such foresight
that Immediately prompted their resis-
lance, and impaired energy and firm
ness TO their purpose; but even in
this point Of view this thing was rath-
er quality than cause Of the spirit
Of freedom. We may rest assured that
the capital causes cooperating TO pro-
duce The revolution lay much deeper
on the mup Of history they may be
traced :-at first they are seen almost
unuoticeabie streams gradually
increasing with accumulated force and
power, they at last widsned into the
broad expanse Of ocean which heayed
its resis,less weight Of waters to the
shore and "tossing and spotting on its.
bed with imperial consciousness Of
strength" uttered to the Hsavea's its
sublime declaration Of independence /!
Independence
We now come TO the consideration
Of the causes, which created and fos-
tered the growth Of this spirit, or Of
that steady and ardent love Of liberty
which was the leading feature in the
character Of the revolution, and mark
ed and distinguished the whole
The eolonis,s we're descendants Of
Englishmen,o no mean plcboian race,
nor ye, Of high patrician birth--but OF
that class which in England especially
constituted the best and most enter
pricing Other ci.inens /; independence
Of mind, fearlessness Of spiri, and grea.
strength ofpurposs we're their distin-
gushing characteristics. England was
a nation which almost ad0red her free.
dom, aud they emigra.ing at a time
when this trait OF character was predo-
minant carried with them the whole
force Of its tendency. Now, it hap
pened that in that country the great
contests from the earliest times were on
questions involving the principles OF
taxation. Il is not worth the while to
trace the facts which excited these
questions. Suffice it, tia. on these sub
iects the ablest pens and most eloquent
tongues had written and spoken, and
about them some OF the noblest spirits
had acted 81 suffered. 1t had not only
been contended, that the privilege OF
granting money had been admitted IN
ancient parchments and immemorial
usa2es 10 reside in the house OF com.
mons bu, it had been demonstrated
that in theory it ought to be so, from
the very constitution Of the house OF
commons as the immediate representa-
lives Of the people. The principle
also that the people alone had the right
Of granting their own money or no sha-
dow Of liberty could sabsisi' was with
much pains inculcated as fundamen.
tai maxim. Hence the colonisls drew
as with their life's blood from the mo-
Their eountry the opinions and princi
Piles on questions Of taxation, which
they so sternly and ably maintained
for many years anterior to the Decla-
ration OF MISREPRESENTATION taxa,
lion without representation was Insist-
ed upon on the part of the British mi,
nistry, as Incident to colonial subjec-
ton and protection and by the colo
nists nobly resisted as destructive Of
their rights and privileges.
The form also OF the provincial e-
gislative assemblies strengthened these
principles and opinions. Their govern
meats were popular in very high de-
gree, and the people having large par
,i3ipation therein, became inspired with
lofty sentiments OF their grandeur and
a stroag aversion from whatever ten
ded to deprive them OF their import
ance or take from them their money
without their consent.
Had any thing been wanting ia these
two causes, the defect would have been
! amply supplied by the character OF
their reIigion.-'RsIigion always q prin.
ciple of energy was with them in this
characteristic no way impaired. Most
of them had fled from persecution at
home, and sought the colonies as an
asylum where they might worship their
God according to the dictates of con.