America: and the Sequel, being some few Traces left upon
the Memory, will shew you I was not wholly Disappointed.
The Address, or Eccho of the Speech, having been Moved
by the Earl of Hardwicke, and seconded by the Duke of
Manchester, The Earl of Suffolk Proposed the following
addition by way of amendment to it Vizt
" To Express to His Majesty our deep concern & Indigna-
tion at the Dangerous Tumults and Insurrections which have
been raised and fomented in his Majesty's Dominions of
North America in opposition to the Execution of the Laws, &
in open Defiance of the Parliamentary right of Great Britain:
And, that We Embrace, with Pleasure, the earliest opportunity
in our Power, to assure his Majesty that, fully sensible of the
indispensable necessity of Vindicating and Establishing the
Just Power of the Legislature of Great Britain, We will chear-
fully concur in every measure which may strengthen the hands
of Government & enforce the Legal Obedience of the Colo-
nies, & their Constitutional Dependance on the Sovereign
authority of this Kingdom."
The Proposed Amendment was supported by the Earls of
Halifax, Sandwich, Gower, Temple, & Buckingham, Lord
Lyttelton & the Duke of Bedford. And the members on a
Division were 24 for it.
It was opposed by the Duke of Grafton, & the Earls of
Shelburne, Dartmouth, Pomfret, & Northington (the Chancel-
lor) who Divided 80 against it.
Lord Mansfield tho' he Assented (as did the Chancellor) to
the Principles advanced in Support of the Amendment, arising
from the Subordination of the Colonies, yet, having recom-
mended the Consideration to be postponed till the House was
better Informed by the Production of the Promised Papers, he
withdrew without giving any Vote.
The General Arguments for the Amendment were That it
was a Solecism in Politicks to say there could be Protection
without Dependance & Obedience as If the Americans were
Entitled to the Priviledges of British Subjects, Why not British
Subjects to all Intents and purposes, as The Connection
between Great Britain and her Colonies was analogous to the
Relation between Parent & Child. For the Parent not to
Correct or reprehend the undutiful Child would Argue
Weakness. It was his Duty to Enforce the Obedience due
by nature and he could not give it up because he could not
destroy the Relation.
The King could not Separate his Colonies more than any
other part of his Dominions from the mother Country nor
could he render them Independent of the British Legislature
as the Romans too had Planted their Colonies but the Latter
|