those at home, should at least bear the expense of the army stationed
here. I grant that it would have been far better had the colonists
taxed themselves to pay the extra amount, instead of the mother
country taxing them; but this they would not do. Some of the
colonists paid their quota, others refused to do so, and this being
the case, it appears to me that England is perfectly justified in
laying on a tax. Nothing could have been fairer than the tax that she
proposed. The stamp-tax would in no way have affected the poorer
classes in the colonies. It would have been borne only by the rich
and by those engaged in such business transactions as required
stamped documents. I regard the present rebellion as the work of a
clique of ambitious men who have stirred up the people by incendiary
addresses and writings. There are, of course, among them a large
number of men--among them, gentlemen, I place you--who
conscientiously believe that they are justified in doing nothing
whatever for the land which gave them or their ancestors birth; who
would enjoy all the great natural wealth of this vast country without
contributing toward the expense of the troops to whom it is due that
they enjoy peace and tranquility. Such, gentlemen, are not my
sentiments. You consider it a gross hardship that the colonists are
compelled to trade only with the mother country. I grant that it
would be more profitable and better for us had we an open trade with
the whole world; but in this England only acts as do all other
countries toward their colonies. France, Spain, Portugal, and the
Netherlands all monopolize the trade of their colonies; all, far more
than does England, regard their colonies as sources of revenue. I
repeat, I do not think that the course that England has pursued
toward us has been always wise, but I am sure that nothing that she
has done justifies the spirit of disaffection and rebellion which is
ripe throughout these colonies."