Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-31

was the misfortune Of England to have a /
king and ministry in favor OF taxing the /
American colonies to support the home gov
eminent. But in consequence OF the siren
nous antagonism Of some Of the ablest Lead
ers Of the opposition, like Burke aud Pitt'
il was impossible for the government TO |
carry into effect the arbitrary measures 1t
originated. Lord Norths policy in respect
to this country was arbitrary but fuctuating |
Il was a mixture of concession and coercion !
and excited hatred for its spirit aud con
tempt fo- its weakness The different meas
ures for the taxation of the colonies had been
one after another enacted and repealed eX-
cept one only on tea, but after the destruc-
ton of that article in Boston barber, violent
measures prevailed, without any more weak
attempts at Cancellation. The period OF
English history from 1850 TO l77G was one
of the stormest and most brilliant in its an
nails. Grenvile and Fox, with the undiscov-
cred Junius on the one side Of the Ameri-
can issue, and Burke and Pitt on the other
side, discussing, publicly and privately with
their followers, the affairs Of this embryonic
nation, and the especial connections of Eu-
ropean politics at that time, attracted the at
tention Of the world, aud found snch oppor-
tunity for political writing and speaking as
is not often furnished to the statesmen Of
any age or nation.
This country was born into the family of
the nations not without great throes and
anguish on the part of the mother country.
The arbitrary character Of the proceedings
Of the English government, coupled with its
vacilation and weakness. together with the
resolute defense Of the colonies by such
statesmen as Burke and Chatham, secured
for them the opportunity for rightful resist
ance and successful conflict. II the colo
MES were largely and even chiefly indebted
to their own determination and heroism in
accomplishing their independence, it is well
to remember also the aid which was given
them by their sturdy friends in England,
and by the weakness and violence of their
enemies.
1t often happens that the foes of good
cause accelerate its course more even than
the energy Of its friends. False intolerant
harsh expressions and actions usually react
against their own objects The letters OF
.Iunius give Us some idea of the state OF
public sentir,,at an hundred years ago with
respect TO American affairs. The party
which acted with the king in his oppressive
measures seemed to look upon America a,
the real oppressor of England. The colo
MES were forced into revolution by the gov
eminent in its frantic attempts to free itseli
from their exactions. In Il letter to tn,
Adrertise, in 1867 Junius speaks Of th,
successive enterprises of the colonies against
Great Britain" and wondered that any Of
ners of a unatic who, with more than frantic
fury, offered up his bleeding country vic
tim to America" In the judgment of thi,
noted writer, whose unwilling pen, by it,
brilliant extravaganza of denunciation anc
fierce scorn and invective, did more to hell
the colonies than even the eloquence o.
Chatham, an American was the synonym fo
all baseness and treachery. In his anger n
the criminal stupidity of the British people
in their leniency to the colonies, he said tina
they would not even keep measures will
their friends, and they regarded the interest
of the men who served them (such men a
Pitt and Burke) as little as they did the in
terests of the mother country" The certain
effect OF comforting benefits upon an Ameri
can was TO become the victim OF his malig
nant intentions.
The intention of the party in Great Brit
ain which meant to retain the colonies wa
to make them tributary to the financial in
terests of the nation. England was then il
lebt about seven hundred millions of dollars
1t was an immense sum in those days an,
the taxes and duties necessarily laid OF
trade, in order to pay the interest OF such
debt, were so heavy that the merchants AM
manufacturers of England were undersol'
and beaten out of the foreign markets.
desired an exclusive commerce with the col
onies, in order to compensate these losse
and make up the deficiency of the revenue
The people, or rather the crown and uphold
ing party in England, thought they had
right to expect " this exclusive commero
from the gratitude of Americans, from thei
relations as colonists, and from their ow
real interests, if truly understood" Blu
unfortunately, the colonies did not see thei
duties and privilege in this light They ha
certain strange ideas of liberty and ind,
pcndence, OF a separate government in whic
representation should go with taxation, am
like an ungrateful and rebellious child, who's
services were necessary to its debt-burdene
parent, they cut of all the hopes OF III
crown by their turbulent and revolutionar
spirit England learned how sharper than
serpent's tooth is thankless child No
approaching the duty of gratitude and tn
privilege OF paying the interest on the pull
lie debt, the ungrateful inhabitants OF thi
country united to secure bounties on the in
portation Of American commodities ia En-.
land, and in an absolute prohibition of In
manufactures of Great Britain" Such VI
flial conduct of course, resulted in the il
crease of parental restraint and accelerate
the final separation of mother and child, an
the "perdition of the English govern
rnent. The daring attack of the colonies O
the commerce of the mother country wa
successful. They refused to buy and sell a
the dictation aud terms of England. The
grew more and more tumultuous and insc
lent on account of the injudicious forbeal
ance of the home government and trample
ON England because she submitted 10 thrin.
such was the conviction of the ablest poll
zeal writer in England, upon the relation q
the two countries hundred years sine,
lie believed that the effect Of suffering tn
colonies TO erect themselves into independ
ent states, would be the perdition of Ems
land and the ruin Of America" Ii woul
encourage filial ingratitude and swamp Eng
land with hopelessly irredeemable debt.
Bat the fearful dreams OF the opponents q
American independence are not realize,
England survived the loss of her colonies
She not only has staggered along under tn
debt whose interest she then needed the co
onies to pay, but has managed 10 increas
Il vau-fold mill. a.. .ata...as Al