The Ordway new era., 1913-07-25
lnstaIlment 8

grow iusty as Kingdoms in their
roomy c. ntinent. to assert mothers
power to use and restraln-a power
BY no means lost because too long un-
exercised and neglected.
II vas with such wisdom the first
step was taken. In March. 1854. par
lament voted it "just and necessary
that revenue be raised in America,
passed an act meant to secure duties
on wines and sugars. and took meas
ures TO increase the efficiency OF the
revenue service in America
George GrenyiIle vas prime minis
ter. He lacked neither official capacity
nor acquaintance with affairs. He
thought il just the colonists should
pay their quota into the national
treasury. seeing they were SO served
By the national power; and he de-
clarei that In the next session of par
Lament he should propose certain d.
rect taxes In addition to the indirect
already in force
He saw no suffici 1t reason, to
doubt that the colonies would ac-
quiesce. II not without protest, at
least without tumult or dangerous re-
sistance.
A Serious BIunder.
1t was sad blunder. Virginia re-
sented threat and execution alike in
S ch a matter as deeply as did litigi-
Gus Massachusetts.
A long generation ago. in the quiet
year 1892. when b,uff Sir Robert was
prime minister. there had been an in
cident which Governor Keith. maybe.
had forgotten. The ministry had de-
manded of Massachusetts that she
should establish a fixed salary for her
governors by a standing grant. but
she had refused. and the ministers
had receded.
The affair had not been lost upon
the other colonies. That sturdy one
time royal governor. Alexander Spots
wood. in Virginia. had noted it very
particularly. and spoken of 1t very
bluntly. diligent servant of the crown
as he was. to Col, William Byrd. when
he came his way on his progress to
the mines" He declared that IL the
assembly in New England would stand
bluff, he did not see how they could be
forced to raise money against their
will, for II they should direct it to be
done b. act Of parliament. which they
have threatened to do Though it be
against the right of Englishmen to be
taxed but by their representatives.. +.
yet they would find 1t 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 1853, ard saw plainly
enough how matters stood. "Ths pub
lie or political character of the vir-
g!nians," 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 inde-
pendent states. not connected with
Great Britain otherwise than by hav-
tng the same common king and being
bound to her with natural affection"
Not only SO, but they think 1t 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
eyeH and look to see how imperious a
race had been bred in the almost
feudai 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 Dead Letter.
1t wa- not necessary to try new
laws to see what the colonies would
do II 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. Fo- long, indeed.
no one in the colonies questioned the
right of parliament to regulate their
trade; but 1t was notorious that the
laws actually enacted in that matter
had gone smoothly off in America only
because they were not seriously en-
forced.
The trade hither is engrossed by
tho Saints of New England" laughed
Colone, Byrd, who carry II a great
dea' of tobacco with. ut troubling
themselves. with paying that imperti
nent duty OF a 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
aniau a camforfahla nnaca md H.