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America’s First Constitutions and Declarations of Rights
depriving us of the accustomed and inestimable privilege of trial by jury,
in cases affecting both life and property; for suspending the legislature of
one of the colonies; for interdicting all commerce to the capital of another;
and for altering fundamentally the form of government established by
charter, and secured by acts of its own legislature solemnly confirmed by
the crown; for exempting the ‘‘murderers’’ of colonists from legal trial, and
in effect, from punishment; for erecting in a neighboring province, acquired by the joint arms of Great-Britain and America, a despotism dangerous to our very existence; and for quartering soldiers upon the colonists in time of profound peace. It has also been resolved in parliament,
that colonists charged with committing certain offenses, shall be transported to England to be tried.
But why should we enumerate our injuries in detail? By one statute it
is declared, that parliament can ‘‘of right make laws to bind us in all cases
whatsoever.’’ What is to defend us against so enormous, so unlimited a
power? Not a single man of those who assume it, is chosen by us; or is
subject to our control or influence; but, on the contrary, they are all of
them exempt from the operation of such laws, and an American revenue,
if not diverted from the ostensible purposes for which it is raised, would
actually lighten their own burdens in proportion, as they increase ours.
We saw the misery to which such despotism would reduce us. We for ten
years incessantly and ineffectually besieged the throne as supplicants;
we reasoned, we remonstrated with parliament, in the most mild and decent language. But administration sensible that we should regard these
oppressive measures as freemen ought to do, sent over fleets and armies
to enforce them. The indignation of the Americans was roused, it is true;
but it was the indignation of a virtuous, loyal, and affectionate people. A
Congress of delegates from the United Colonies was assembled at Philadelphia, on the fifth day of last September. We resolved again to offer an
humble and dutiful petition to the king, and also addressed our fellowsubjects of Great-Britain. We have pursued every temperate, every respectful measure: we have even proceeded to break off our commercial
intercourse with our fellow-subjects, as the last peaceable admonition,
that our attachment to no nation upon earth should supplant our attachment to liberty.—This, we flattered ourselves, was the ultimate step of