Page:Political Tracts.djvu/193

 treat uch deigns as erious, would be to think too contemptuouly of Botonian undertandings. The artifice indeed is not new; the bluterer who threatened in vain to detroy his opponent, has ometimes obtained his end, by making it believe that he would hang himelf.

terrours and pity are not the only means by which the taxation of the Americans is oppoed. There are thoe who profes to ue them only as auxiliaries to reaon and jutice, who tell us, that to tax the Colonies is uurpation and oppreion, an invaion of natural and legal rights, and a violation of thoe principles which upport the contitution of Englih government.

quetion is of great importance. That the Americans are able to bear taxation is indubitable; that their refual may be