Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/126

 102 SKETCHES OF THE

informed of our sentiments touching the conduct we wish them to observe on this important occasion, we de- sire that they will express, in the first place, our faith and true allegiance to his majesty king George the third, our lawful and rightful sovereign; and that we are de- termined, with our lives and fortimes, to support him in the legal exercise of all his just rights and prerogatives. And, however misrepresented, we sincerely approve of a constitutional connexion with Great Britain, and wish most ardently a return of that intercourse of affection and commercial connexion that formerly united both countries; which can only be effected by a removal of those causes of discontent which have of late unhap- pily divided us.

" It cannot admit of a doubt, but that British sub- jects in America are entitled to the same rights and pri- vileges as their fellow-subjects possess in Britain; and therefore, that the power assumed by the British par- liament to bind America by their statutes, in all cases whatsoever, is unconstitutional, and the source of these unhappy differences.

" The end of government would be defeated, by the British parliament exercising a power over the lives, the property, and the liberty of American subjects, who are not, and from their local circumstances can- not, be there represented. Of this nature we consider the several acts of parliament for raising a revenue in America, for extending the jurisdiction of the courts of admiralty, for seizing American subjects, and transport- ing them to Britain, to be tried for crimes committed in America, and the several late oppressive acts respect- ing the town of Boston, and province of Massachu- setts Bay.

" The original constitution of the American colonies.

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