fellow subjects in
America was concerted, and
has ever since been pertinaciously carrying into
execution.
PRIOR to this æra you were content with
drawing from us the wealth produced by our
commerce. You restrained our trade in every
way that could conduce to your emolument.
You exercised unbounded sovereignty over the
sea. You named the ports and nations to
which alone our merchandize should be carried,
and with whom alone we should trade; and
though some of these restrictions were grievous,
we nevertheless did not complain; we looked
up to you as to our parent state to which we
were bound by the strongest ties: And were
happy in being instrumental to your prosperity
and your grandeur.
WE call upon you yourselves, to witness our
loyalty and attachment to the common interest
of the whole empire: Did we not, in the last
war, add all the strength of this vast continent
to the force which repelled our common enemy?
Did we not leave our native shores, and meet
disease and death, to promote the success of Bri-
tish arms in foreign climates? Did you not
thank us for our zeal, and even reimburse us
large sums of money, which, you confessed, we
had advanced beyond our proportion and far
beyond our abilities? You did.
TO what causes, then, are we to attribute the
sudden change of treatment, and that system of
slavery which was prepared for us at the restora-
tion of peace.