Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/278

254 children, through centuries of departed time, she undertook to tax the people of the colonies without their consent."

This led to inevitable collision; this hastened on the struggle for chartered lights and liberties; this, persisted in as it was, and attempted to be established by force, roused the colonists to risk their all in contending for what was dearer to them than even life itself. A brief review of the causes which led to the contest with the mother country, will demonstrate the truth of what has just been stated.

England, under the ministry of Pitt, had attained a preeminence in military renown, unequalled in her history; she had subdued her enemies, had come off victorious in every contest, and was now the acknowledged mistress of the seas, and superior over all her competitors. Gratifying as was this success, however, it had not been attained without vast expenditure of means; and now, victorious as she was, she found herself saddled with a debt almost fearful to contemplate, and compelled to lay burdens upon the people, well nigh beyond all possibility of endurance. It was but natural, that, following out the suggestion of Pitt in reference to this matter, so soon as the war was concluded, some steps should be taken to obtain revenue from the colonies. It was but natural, likewise, that the colonists should view with suspicion, any scheme calculated to trench upon what they held to be their inalienable right, not to grant money except by or through their own representatives. The seven years' war had not been carried on without great effort and sacrifices on the part of the colonists. Thirty thousand of their soldiers had fallen in the struggle, either in battle or by disease. Sixteen millions of dollars had been expended, of which, only about five millions had been reimbursed by Parliament. Massachusetts had burdened herself with an oppressive debt, as also had Connecticut, New York, and Virginia. And the colonists could not but feel that their importance was vastly increased by the results of that war, which they had materially aided in bringing to its successful conclusion. They were now, no longer weak and inexperienced children: they had grown up to a vigorous youth and manhood; and they were prepared to manifest the fact whenever it might be necessary. It became a settled determination with them, to assert their claims as sons, as children in the family, and as entitled to all the privileges and rights of sons and this was only what was to be expected from sons who boasted of the origin which they enjoyed.

"It is the honorable distinction of England," says M. Guizot, "to have given to her colonies, in their infancy, the seminal principle of their liberty Almost all of them, either at the time of their being planted or shortly after received charters which conferred upon the colonists the rights of the mother country. And these charters were not