Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/313

 INTRODUCTION. 283 This strong assertion of a principle, the con- chap. vn. troversy concerning which afterwards dismem- 1706. bered the British empire, then passed away without notice. It was probably understood to be directed only against the assumption of that power by the governor.* The expedition against Canada, which had been planned in England, and which has been stated not to have been prosecuted in conse- quence of the failure of the ministry to furnish the stipulated military and naval force, was entered into by New York, with the same zeal with which it had been engaged in by New England. The treasury not being in a situa- tion to supply the demands upon it, bills of credit to the amount of twenty thousand pounds were issued to defray the expense of the expe- between the mother country and the colonies on the great point which afterwards separated them, made its appear- ance. The legislature of Massachussetts, employed in establishing a system of laws under their new charter passed an act containing the general principles respecting the liberty of the subject which are asserted in magna charta, and in which was this memorable clause, " No aid, tax, tallage, assessment, custom, loan, benevolence, or imposition whatsoever, shall be laid, assessed, imposed, or levied on any of their majesties' subjects or their estates, on any pretence whatsoever, but by the act and consent of the governor, council, and representatives of the people assembled in general court." Tt is almost unnecessary to add that the royal assent to this act was refused. o o 2
 * So early as the year 1692, the difference of opinion