Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/334

 304 INTRODUCTION. chap. vin. Secondly, Because it is the undoubted right 1728, of all Englishmen, by magna chart j, to raise and dispose of money for the public service, of their own free accord without compulsion. Thirdly, Because it must necessarily lessen the dignity and freedom of the house of re- presentatives, in making acts and raising and applying taxes, &c. and consequently cannot be thought a proper method to preserve that balance in the three branches of the legislature, which seems necessary to form, maintain, and uphold the constitution. Fourthly, Because the charter fully em- powers the general assembly to make such laws and orders as they shall judge for the good and welfare of the inhabitants, and if they, or any part of them, judge this not to be for their good, they neither ought nor could come into it, for, as to act beyond or without the powers granted in the charter might justly incur the king's displeasure, so not to act up and agree- able to those powers, might justly be deemed a betraying of the rights and privileges therein granted, and if they should give up this right, they would open a door to many other incon- veniences." Many messages passed in quick succession between the chair and the house, in the course of which the arguments stated in the papers already quoted, were considerably enlarged and diversified. At length, the house repeated their request that they might rise ; but the go-