james otis the pre-revolutionist-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
therwise。 They certainly may act ill by design； as well as by mistake。 * * * If this presumption in favor of the subjects against the trustees of power be not the more probable； I am sure it is the more comfortable speculation； because it is more easy to change an administration than to reform a people。〃
Very much the same ideas are presented by Otis in his article on the 〃Rights of the Colonists；〃 and the passage bearing on this present topic will be given for comparison with Burke's treatment。 The pamphlet is divided into four parts； treating respectively of the origin of government； of colonies in general； of the natural rights of colonists； and of the political and civil rights of the British colonists。 The writer maintains； that government is founded not as some had supposed on compact； but as Paley afterwards affirmed； on the will of God。 By the divine will； the supreme power is placed 〃originally and ultimately in the people； and they never did； in fact； freely； nor can they rightfully； make an absolute； unlimited renunciation of this divine right。 It is ever in the nature of a thing given in trust； and on a condition the performance of which no mortal can dispense with； namely； that the person or persons； on whom the sovereignty is conferred by the people； shall incessantly consult their good。 Tyranny of all kinds is to be abhorred； whether it be in the hands of one； or of the few； or of the many。
The colonies were not at all unwilling to pay revenue to the home government； if the manner of payment was just and right。 They were so far from refusing to grant money that the Assembly of Pennsylvania resolved to the following effect： 〃That they always had； so they always should think it their duty to grant aid to the crown； according to their abilities； whenever required of them in the usual constitutional manner。〃 This resolution was presented by Franklin； who was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly； to the Prime Minister of England； Mr。 Grenville； before the latter introduced the Stamp Act into Parliament。 Other colonies made similar resolutions； and had Grenville instead of the Stamp Act； applied to the King for proper requisitional letters to be circulated among the colonies by the Secretary of State； it is highly probable that he would have obtained more money from the colonies by their voluntary grants than he himself expected from the stamps。 Such at any rate is the claim of Franklin； who was surely in a position to feel the pulse of the colonies better than any other one man。 〃But he （Grenville） chose compulsion rather than persuasion； and would not receive from their good…will what he thought he could obtain without it。 Thus the golden bridge which the Americans were charged with unwisely and unbecomingly refusing to hold out to the minister and parliament； was actually held out to them； but they refused to walk over it。〃
The action of the English Ministry in the matter of the tea tax in particular； and of the whole question of American taxation in general； is thus spoken of by Burke in his famous address in the House of Commons：
〃There is nothing simple； nothing manly； nothing ingenious； open； decisive； or steady； in the proceeding； with regard either to the continuance or the repeal of the taxes。 The whole has an air of littleness and fraud。 * * * There is no fair dealing in any part of the transaction。〃 * * * * * * * * * * * 〃No man ever doubted that the commodity of tea could bear an imposition of three…pence。 But no commodity will bear three…pence； or will bear a penny； when the general feelings of men are irritated； and two millions of people are resolved not to pay。 The feelings of the colonists were formerly the feelings of Great Britain。 Theirs were formerly the feelings of Mr。 Hampden when called upon for the payment of twenty shillings。 Would twenty shillings have ruined Mr。 Hampden's fortune？ No； but the payment of half twenty shillings； on the principle it was demanded； would have made him a slave。 * * * It is then upon the principle of this measure； and nothing else； that we are at issue。〃 * * * * * * * * * * * 〃I select the obnoxious colony of Massachusetts Bay； which at this time （but without hearing her） is so heavily a culprit before parliamentI will select their proceedings even under circumstances of no small irritation。 For； a little imprudently； I must say； Governor Bernard mixed in the administration of the lenitive of the repeal no small acrimony arising from matters of a separate nature。 Yet see； Sir； the effect of that lenitive； though mixed with these bitter ingredients； and how this rugged people can express themselves on a measure of concession。
〃'If it is not in our power；' （say they in their address to Governor Bernard）； 〃in so full a manner as will be expected； to show our respectful gratitude to the mother country； or to make a dutiful and affectionate return to the indulgence of the king and parliament； it shall be no fault of ours； for this we intend； and hope we shall be able fully to effect。'
〃Would to God that this tender had been cultivated； managed； and set in action； other effects than those which we have since felt would have resulted from it。 On the requisition for compensation to those who had suffered from the violence of the populace； in the same address they say； 'The recommendation enjoined by Mr。 Secretary Conway's letter； and in consequence thereof made to us； we will embrace the first convenient opportunity to consider and act upon。' They did consider； they did act upon； it。 They obeyed the requisition。 I know the mode has been chicaned upon； but it was substantially obeyed； and much better obeyed than I fear the parliamentary requisition of this session will be； though enforced by all your rigour； and backed with all your power。 In a word； the damages of popular fury were compensated by legislative gravity。 Almost every other part of America in various ways demonstrated their gratitude。 I am bold to say； that so sudden a calm recovered after so violent a storm is without parallel in history。 To say that no other disturbance should happen from any other cause； is folly。 But as far as appearances went； by the judicious sacrifice of one law； you procured an acquiescence in all that remained。 After this experience； nobody shall persuade me； when a whole people are concerned； that acts of lenity are not means of conciliation。〃
〃0PP0SITI0N T0 ARBITRARY POWER；〃 By John Wilkes； 1763。
While Otis and other patriots were opposing the arbitrary measures of the English Ministry in their dealings with the Colonies； certain men in England were equally as ardent in their opposition to such a course whether pursued at home or abroad。 Most prominent among these were Edmund Burke and John Wilkes； both members of Parliament。 In this connection the following extracts frown Wilkes' article on 〃Opposition to Arbitrary Power〃 will be of interest。 This article appeared in the famous No。 45 of 〃The North Briton；〃 edited by Wilkes； who was very clever but somewhat profligate。
* * * 〃In vain will such a minister （referring to Lord Bute）； or the foul dregs of his power； the tools of corruption and despotism； preach up in the speech that spirit of concord； and that obedience to the laws； which is essential to good order。 They have sent the spirit of discord through the land； and I will prophesy； that it will never be extinguished； but by the extinction of their power。 Is the spirit of concord to go hand in hand with the Peace and Excise； through this nation？ Is it to be expected between an insolent Excisemen； and a peer； gentleman； freeholder； or farmer； whose private houses are now made liable to be entered and searched at pleasure？ The spirit of concord hath not gone forth among men； but the spirit of liberty has； and a noble opposition has been given to the wicked instruments of oppression。 A nation as sensible as the English； will see that a spirit of concord when they are oppressed； means a tame submission to injury； and that a spirit of liberty ought then to arise； and I am sure ever will； in proportion to the weight of the grievance they feel。 Every legal attempt of a contrary tenden
