Page:A Declaration of the People's Natural Right to a Share in the Legislature (1775) (IA declarationofpeo00shar).djvu/275

 that I have already been led to a tedious length of argument by the necessary examination of so many authors, I must beg leave still to add some general remarks upon the above-mentioned groundless argument, drawn from the Right of Conquest; for Judge Blackstone has been equally unguarded in what he has said concerning the American Colonies in p. 107, of the same volume, where he has made a very improper use of this same mistaken notion about the Right of Conquest.

“Our American Plantations” (says he) “are principally of this latter sort," (viz, conquered or ceded countries, of which he was treating in the preceding sentence,) “being obtained" (says he) “in the last century, either by Right of Conquest, and driving out the Natives, (with what natural Justice I shall not at present enquire,) or by Treaties.