Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/357

] Boyles and Newtons; who was an honor, not to the English nation only, but to human nature."

Immediately after the failure of Chatham's efforts, a joint address was presented to the ting on American affairs. In this address the Parliament declared, "that a actually existed in the province of Massachusetts Bay, besought his majesty to adopt measures to enforce the authority of the supreme legislature, and solemnly assured him that it was their fixed resolution, at the hazard of their lives and properties, to stand by him against his rebellious subjects." Notwithstanding the eloquent opposition made to this address, it passed by a large majority. The king's reply was in perfect accordance with the tenor of that address, and showed how entirely he sanctioned the course pursued towards the Americans. On the 10th of February, Lord North introduced a bill restricting the commerce of Massachusetts. New Hampshire. Rhode Island and Connecticut, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British West Indies, and prohibiting their carrying on any fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland, and other places, for a limited time; the same restrictions were subsequently extended to all the colonies represented in the Congress at Philadelphia, with the exception of New York and North Carolina, These bills were opposed by the minority in both houses, as unjust and cruel towards the colonists, involving the innocent with the guilty, and unwise and impolitic in regard to the people of Great Britain, By the loss of their foreign trade and the fisheries. the colonists, it was said, particularly those of New England, would be unable to pay the large balances due from them to the British merchants. But every argument, however just or reason able, was urged in vain against the measures proposed by the minister. An idea prevailed in Great Britain, that the people of New England were dependent on the fisheries for subsistence, and that, when deprived of these, they would be starved into obedience and submission.

Lord North, who, in all personal relations, was an amiable and peace-loving man, ventured to propose a plan of conciliation, which, in its substance, did not differ much from that advocated by Lord Chatham. It provided, "that when the Governor, Council and Assembly, or General Court, of any of his majesty's colonies in America, shall propose to make provision, according to the condition, circumstances, and situation of such province or colony, for contributing their proportion for the common defence, (such proportion to be raised under the authority of the General Court or Assembly of such colony, and disposable by Parliament,) and shall engage to make provision also for the support of the civil government and the administration of justice in such colony, it will be