Or if this likewise should prove to be a Pill too large, and too nauseous for Englishmen to swallow;—then, thirdly, we are to suppose, in order to end all Controversy, that the Trade with these North-Americans is so essential to our Interests, as a commercial Nation, that we must keep them in good Humour at any Rate, and at any Expence;—least they should deprive us of their Custom, to the utter Ruin of our Manufactures, Shipping, Navigation, &c. &c. &c.
Or lastly, we must suppose, that old England is in Fact grown so exceedingly weak and impotent, and America so very strong and powerful, that it is in vain to resist any Encroachments, which the Colonies may make on the Mother-Country:—For in such Circumstances, it is more prudent to submit to the present Evils, great as they are, than to provoke our Conquerors to inflict still greater.
I say, one or other of these four Suppositions must necessarily be made, before Mr. Burke’s Plan can terminate in real Peace, and restore that Harmony, of which he makes such continual Boastings. Let him therefore, at his own Leisure, take his Choice of either of the four, or even adopt them all, if he pleases, and make the most of them.
In the mean while, deign, my Lords and Gentlemen, to cast your Eyes on my Plan (childish as it is represented by him to be) of a total Separation. And first of all, is it practicable in itself? And could it be executed with Ease, if heartily set about?—Suppose therefore, that you were to recall your Fleets and Armies, and publish to the Americans the following Manifesto, couched under the Form of an Act of Parliament.
“Whereas many of the British Provinces, Colonies, and Plantations in North-America, after having made, from Time to Time, various Attempts to throw off, or subvert the legislative Authority and Jurisdiction of Great-Britain, have at length proceeded to the greatest and most daring Outrages for accomplishing the same, by entering into illegal Combinations and traiterous Conspiracies, and even by breaking out into open and undisguised Rebellion: And whereas the Inhabitants in general of the said Provinces, Colonies, and Plantations shew not the least Signs of Sorrow and Contrition for their past Offences, nor any Desire to implore the Clemency of the Parent-State, which hath in all Instances cherished, supported, and protected them at an immense Expence both of Blood, and Treasure; but on the contrary, continue to encrease their hostile Preparations for opposing, by Violence and Force of Arms, the Execution of the Laws made by the supreme Legislature of Parliament for the due Governance, and constitutional Dependence of such subordinate States and Provinces;
“Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and of the Commons of Great-Britain in Parliament assembled;—that every such Province, Colony, and Plantation which either now is, or at the Day of next ensuing shall be found to be in Arms and Rebellion against the Laws and Authority of the supreme Legislature of Great-Britain, shall, from and after the Time above mentioned, be totally cut off, severed, and separated from the British Empire; and that all its Inhabitants shall be declared, and are hereby declared to have lost and forfeited all Privileges and Advantages, Benefits and Protection both by Sea and Land, belonging, or supposed to belong to the Subjects of Great-Britain; and that they shall be deemed, taken, and reputed, in all Courts of Law, and in all Respects whatever, to be as much Aliens and Foreigners, and subject to the same Incapacities, as if they had been Aliens born.
“Provided nevertheless, and to the Intent, that as far as the Nature of the Case will admit, the Innocent may not be involved in the Punishment intended only for the Guilty; be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty, and for his Heirs and Successors, at any Time, to grant a Pardon to a whole State, Province, or Colony, now in Rebellion, under the Great Seal of the Realm; or to one or more Inhabitant or Inhabitants thereof under the Seal Manual, and to restore such Colony, or such Person or Persons to their former Rights and Privileges, as British Subjects, when it shall appear to his Majesty in Council, that such a Province, or Colony, or such a Petitioner or Petitioners is, are, or shall be deserving of his Royal Clemency and Favour.”
Suppose, I say, such a Manifesto, or one to this Effect, and couched under the Form of an Act of Parliament, to be proclaimed to the World concerning the Rebellion now existing in America: And then I ask, what possible Difficulty could attend the Execution of it? Or who would even attempt to prevent it? The only People or Nation, who would wish to obstruct the Execution of such a Law, are the Americans themselves; for they have no Manner of Objection against participating in all Kinds of Benefits to be derived from an Union with us; tho’ they raise such terrible Outcries against sharing in any of our Burthens: And yet their Efforts and Opposition would all be in vain; because, tho’ you should even allow, that they are able to maintain their Independence in America, that Circumstance would not render them the Conquerors of Great-Britain, much less of the rest of the World; who must of Course remain independent of them.
Therefore, so far at least my System must have the Preference to Mr. Burke’s.
2dly. The next Question is, Which System, can be carried into Execution with the least Expence? And surely as we have hitherto been engaged in nothing but Profusion and Extravagance, it is now high Time to adopt, if we can, some useful Scheme of Frugality and Œconomy in regard to America.