NOTES.

SPEECH ON CONCILIATION WITH AMERICA.

THE political career of Burke began with his election to Parliament in 1765, under the Rockingham Ministry, and he made his first speech at the opening of the session 1766. He had already won distinction as a writer, and by this speech he received the praise of Pitt, the Great Commoner. At the close of this Parliament the Chatham Ministry was formed, but Burke remained loyal to Rockingham, and in 1769 published his review of a pamphlet entitled The Present State of the Nation. The author of this pamphlet had for his main purpose the justification of the Stamp Act and the praise of the Earl of Bute. The candor, clearness, incisiveness, and force of Burke's article, together with the masterly grasp of essential principles, made it a marvel of political literature. This was soon followed by another upon the Cause of the Present Discontents. The people were writhing-under the tyranny of the Ministry of Grafton in the affair of the Middlesex election, by which their right to select their own candidate was denied. Burke championed the cause of the injured people, and asserted that "in all disputes between them and their rulers the presumption is at least upon a par in favor of the people." He taunted the government with ignorance, "both of how to yield and how to enforce," and vigorously maintained that "to govern according to the sense and agreeable to the interests of the people, is a great and glorious object of government." The people appreciated such championship, and selected him as their safest and soundest political leader.

The treatment of the American colonies was but the natural result of the despotic principles of King and Commons when carried to their legitimate conclusion. Burke said that this conduct was just that which the

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worst enemy of the government would wish, that it was political suicide. The Stamp Act was the assertion that the personal will of the Sovereign was supreme. When it became necessary to repeal this act the real significance of the repeal was destroyed by the passage of the Declaratory Act, in which it was maintained that the British government had the right to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever. In 1767 the ministry formed a new scheme of taxation, and imposed a duty upon glass, paper, paints, and tea. This caused so much agitation in the colonies that Parliament (1770) decided to remove all the impositions, except that upon tea. But the Americans were not to be caught in such a trap, and accordingly the tea was not allowed to be landed. This resistance brought down a message from the throne, the result of which was the Boston Port Bill and the bill for regulating the Province of Massachusetts Bay. General Gage was commissioned to proceed to Massachusetts and enforce submission.

Amid the passion and frenzy of these times was heard the calm, clear voice of Burke, as he uttered the famous sentence, "The honorable gentleman has asked, Should not America belong to this country?' If we have equity, wisdom, and justice, it will belong to this country; if we have not, it will not belong to this country."

It was in connection with this subject that Mr. Rose Fuller, member for Rye, made the following motion, on April 19, 1774: Moved, "That an act made in the seventh year of the reign of his present Majesty, entituled An act for granting certain duties in the British colonies and plantations in America; for allowing a drawback of the duties of customs upon the exportation from this kingdom of coffee and cocoanuts; of the produce of the said colonies or plantations; for discontinuing the drawbacks payable on china earthenware exported to America; and for more effectually preventing the clandestine running of goods in the said colonies and plantations," might be read.

And the same being read, he moved, "That this House will, upon the day sevennight, resolve itself into a committee of the whole House to take into consideration the duty of 3d. per pound weight upon tea, payable in all His Majesties dominions in America, imposed by the said act, and also the appropriation of said duty."

When the news came that the tea upon which the royal prerogative

was based had been steeped in Massachusetts Bay, the Privy Council was considering the petition of Massachusetts for the removal of the Governor and Chief Justice. The venerable Dr. Franklin was present to represent the petitioners, and was openly insulted by the solicitor-general. Burke and Dr. Priestly, who witnessed the indignity, were greatly grieved.

On Mr. Fuller's motion to repeal the 3d. tax there was a long list of speakers in opposition, the last being Charles Wolfran Cornwall, one of the lords of the treasury, and to him Burke replied in what is known as the Speech on Taxation. Cf. Burke's American Orations.

Probably for breadth of grasp, clearness and cogency of reasoning, profound political wisdom, power of description, and biting sarcasm, together with originality and independence, this speech has never been surpassed. The scene in the Commons at its close was a memorable one. Lord John Townsend exclaimed, "Heavens! what a man this is! Where could he acquire such transcendent powers?" George Savile said that it was the greatest triumph within his memory. Colonel Barré said that if it was printed, he would nail it to every church door in the kingdom.

The speech was not printed until the close of the year, because the administration claimed that much of the trouble in America was due to the publication in England of writings hostile to the government.

"On the publication of this speech," says MacKnight, “young men at college, philosophers in their studies, and the better class of politicians became more than ever attracted to Burke." Mr. Bancroft says: "This speech was such as had never been heard in the British Parliament. The words fell from him as burning oracles; and while he spoke for America he seemed to prepare the way for renovating the constitution of England, yet it was not so."

Mr. Fox followed Burke, and for the first time gave his voice and vote for the opposition. On the division just the number that had stood against the Stamp Act stood by Burke against four times as many for the administration.

On the day upon which Parliament was considering the motion for repeal of the tax upon tea, the people of New York sent back the tea ship.

The administration had passed the penal measure, requiring all offenders indicted for crime in the colonies to be transported to England or to a

British colony for trial.
Boston was also passed.

The bill legalizing the quartering of troops in
Burke solemnly renewed his protest against such

recklessness and inhumanity.

A measure for the government of Quebec followed; the purpose of which was to prevent the colonies from extending their territory.

"As the fleets and armies of England," says Bancroft, "went forth to consolidate arbitrary power, the sound of war everywhere died away. Kings sat still in awe, and nations turned to watch the issue."

Affairs in America were fast coming to a crisis. Revolution was at hand. Boston was sustained, and preparations were made for a general Congress at Philadelphia. France favored the cause of the colonies. In September, 1774, Congress assembled; and Patrick Henry sounded the note of war, when, in quoting Hawley, who had said, "After all, we must fight," said, "I am of that man's mind." Virginia nullified the Quebec act, and General Gage was finding that it would be no easy matter to enforce the regulating act. The thirteenth Parliament had been prorogued, and then suddenly dissolved. Burke was not to stand for Wendover again, because Lord Verney, who controlled the district, needed to dispose of it to one who could pay for the privilege. Accordingly the city of Bristol asked Burke to stand in place of Lord Clare, the previous member, who declined to be a candidate after the poll had been open two days. Burke was about to stand for Malton, but immediately drove to Bristol, and ascended the hustings, where he addressed the sheriffs and electors in this speech. Mr. Henry Cruger, a Bristol merchant, was his colleague, while Mr. Brickdale, one of the last members, was a competitor. Cf. Speech on Arrival at Bristol, Burke's American Orations.

During the poll each candidate personally solicited the confidence of the electors, and at its close, on the 3d of November, Burke was declared duly elected. Cf. Speech at the Conclusion of the Poll, Burke's American Orations.

At the opening of the fourteenth Parliament, Nov. 30, 1774, reports from New England showed that war was certain, unless speedy movements were made to crush the colonists. General Gage was instructed to act offensively, and Clinton and Burgoyne were appointed. Franklin vigorously urged conciliation, and on meeting with no encouragement, but the rather with insult, determined to return to America. On taking leave of