Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/408

 

1775—1776.

assembling of Parliament, in October, 1775, was looked to with anxiety and concern by the Americans. On the course which it should resolve to pursue would depend very materially the nature and extent of the opposition which the colonists were prepared to sustain against its previous acts. If Parliament should see fit to make such concessions and assurances for the future, as the people in America demanded as their right, possibly the differences and disputes which had proceeded already to so great lengths, might be accommodated and amicably settled; but if, on the other hand, that body should persist in its offensive attitude, and continue to employ force in order to subdue the colonies, then force must be met by force, and the people must nerve themselves for war and bloodshed.

The petition to the King, on which some had built considerable hope, was rejected with contempt, and in his speech at the opening of Parliament, George III. not only accused the colonists of revolt, hostility, and rebellion, but stated that the rebellious war carried on by them was for the purpose of establishing an independent empire. To prevent this, he informed Parliament that the most decisive and vigorous measures were necessary; that he had consequently increased his naval establishment, had augmented his land forces, and had also taken measures to procure the aid of foreign troops. He 