The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-06-03

he came his way on his progress 70
the mines" He declared that If the
assembly In New England would stand
blum, he did not see how they could be
forced to raise money against their
done by act Of parliament. which they
have threatened to do Though 1t be
against the right of Englishmen to be
taxed but by their representatives..
yet they would find it no easy matter
to put such an act in execution"
No observing man could so much as
travel in Virginia without finding very
promptly what 1t was that gave point
and poignancy to such an opinion
A levei-Headed Parson.
That quiet gentleman, Rev. Andrew
Burnaby, vicar Of Greenwich, was in
Virginia In 1859, and saw plainly
enough how matters stood. "The pub
lie or political character Of the Vir-
ginians," he said, corresponds with
their private one; they are naughty
and jealous of the liberties, impa-
tient Of restraint, and can scarcely
bear the thought of being controlled
by any superior power. Many Of
them consider the colonies as indie
pendent states, not connected with
Great Britain otherwise than by hav-
ing the same common king and being
bound to her with natural affection"
Not only so, but they think it hard
ship not to have an unlimited trade
to every part of the world"
All this, and more, Grenville might
have learned by the simple pains of
inquiry. One had but to open his
eyes and look to see how imperfous a
race had been bred in the almost
feudal south; and, for all they had
never heard revolutionary talk thence,
ministers ought to have dreaded the
leisure men had there to think, the
provocation to be proud, the neces-
sity to be masterful and individual.
quite as much. as they had ever
dreaded the stubborn temper and the
quick capacity for united action they
had once and again seen excited in
New England.
Law a Dead Letter.
1t was not necessary to try new
laws to see what the colonies would
do il provoked. The difficulty already
encountered in enforcing the laws of
trade was object-lesson enough; and
the trouble in that matter had grown
acute but yesterday. For long, indeed,
no one in the colonies questioned the
right Of parliament to regulate their
trade; but it was notorious that the
laws actually enacted III that matter
had gone smoothly OF In America only
because they were not seriously en-
forced.
"The trade hither is engrossed by
the Saints Of New England" laughed
Colonel Byrd. who carry OF a great
deal Of tobacco without troubling
themselves with paying that imperti-
nent duty Of penny a pound"
The acts Of trade practically for
bade direct commerce with foreign
countries for their dependencies,
especially in foreign bottoms; but
ships from France, Spain, and the
Canary isles came and went very
freely. Notwithstanding, in colonial
ports; for royal officials liked to
enjoy a comfortable peace and the
esteem of their neighbors, and very
genially winked at such transgres-
sions.
Cargoes without number were sent
to the Dutch and Spanish West Indies
every year, and as many brought
thence, which were undoubtedly for
felt under the navigation laws parlia-
ment had been at such pains to elabor-
ate and enforce; and privateering as
well as smuggling had for long af-
forded the doughty seamen of Boston,
Salem, Charleston, and New York
genteel career of profit.
Indulge in Illegal Trade.
Things had come to such a pass
that where business went briskly the
people of the colonial ports demanded
as of right ''a full freedom of illegal
trade" and broke sometimes into riot
when it was denied them. The Ros-
ton News Letter had been known very
courteously to mourn the death of a
worthy collector of his majesty's Gus
toms because, with much humanity"
he had been used to take pleasure
in directing masters of vessels how
they ought to avoid the breach of
the acts of trade"
Sea captains grew accustomed to
very confidential relations with own
ers and consignees, and knew very
well, without official counsel, how to
take the advice mot to declare at the
customhouse;" and things went very
easily and cordially with all parties to
the understanding.
In 1851 that understanding was of
a sudden rudely broken and the trou-
bic began, which Granville had the
folly to add to. The board Of trade
determined to collect the duties on
sugar. molasses and rum. 10 long and
SO Systematically evaded in the trade
between New England and the West
Indies. at whatever cost Of suit and
scrutiny, and directed their agents in
Boston to demand 'wrfts Of assist
ance" from the courts, giving them
leave to enter what premises they
would in search Of struggled goods.
coIonlsts Resist Search Warrants.
There were instant transportation