I call the war with our brethren in America an unjust
and felonious war, because the primary cause and confessed origin of
it is to attempt to take their money from them without their
consent, contrary to the common right of all mankind, and those
great fundamental principles of the English Constitution for which
Hampden bled.
I assert, sir, that it is a murderous war, because it is an effort
to deprive men of their lives for standing up in the defence of
their property and their clear rights. Such a war, I fear, sir, will
draw down the vengeance of Heaven on this devoted kingdom. Sir, is
any minister weak enough to flatter himself with the conquest of the
Americans? You can not, with all your allies—with all the mercenary
ruffians of the North—you can not effect so wicked a purpose. The
Americans will dispute every inch of territory with you, every
narrow pass, every strong defile, every Thermopylæ, every Bunker’s
Hill! More than half the empire is already lost and almost all the
rest is in confusion and anarchy. We have appealed to the sword, and
what have we gained? Bunker’s Hill only—and that with the loss of
twelve hundred men! Are we to pay as dear for the rest of America?
The idea of the conquest of that immense country is as romantic as
unjust.
The honorable gentleman who moved this address says, “The Americans
have been treated with lenity.” Will facts justify the assertion?
Was your Boston Port Bill a measure of lenity? Was your Fishery Bill
a measure of lenity? Was your Bill for taking away the charter of
Massachusetts Bay a measure of lenity, or even of justice? I omit
your many other gross provocations and insults by which the brave
Americans have been driven to their present state. Sir, I
disapprove, not only the evil spirit of this whole address, but
likewise the wretched adulation of almost every part of it. My wish
and hope, therefore, is, that it will be rejected by this House; and
that another, dutiful yet decent, manly address, will be presented
to his majesty, praying that he would sheathe the sword, prevent the
further effusion of the blood of our fellow subjects, and adopt some
mode of negotiation with the general Congress, in compliance with
their repeated petition, thereby restoring peace and harmony to this
distracted empire. |