Wesley Corpus

This the English Parliament always had, and always exercised, from the first settlement of the American colonies. But it was not explicitly declared, because it was never controverted. The dreadfulness of it was never thought of for above an hundred years; nor is it easy to discern where that dreadfulness lies. Wherein does it consist? The Parliament has power to make statutes, which bind Englishmen likewise, in all cases what ever. And what then? Why, you say, “I defy any one to express slavery in stronger terms.” I think I can “express slavery in stronger terms.” Let the world judge between us. Slavery is a state wherein neither a man’s goods, nor liberty, nor life, are at his own disposal. Such is the state of a thou sand, of ten thousand, Negroes in the American colonies. And are their masters in the same state with them? in just the same slavery with the Negroes? Have they no more disposal of their own goods, or liberty, or lives? Does any one beat or imprison them at pleasure; or take away their wives, or children, or lives; or sell them like cows or horses? This is slavery; and will you face us down that the Americans are in such slavery as this? You answer, Yes, with regard to their goods; for the English Parliament “leaves them. 110 opSERVATIONS ON LIBERTY. nothing that they can call their own.” (Page 35.) Amazing ! Have they not houses, and lands, and money, and goods of every kind, which they call their own? And did they not enjoy, a few years since, complete liberty, both civil and religious, instead of being bound to hard labour, smarting under the lash, groaning in a dungeon, perhaps murdered, or stabbed, or roasted alive, at their masters' pleasure? 42. But, “did not their charters promise them all the enjoyment of all the rights of Englishmen?” (Page 40.) They did; and they have accordingly enjoyed all the rights of Englishmen from the beginning. “And allow them to tax themselves?” Never so as to exempt them from being taxed by Parliament. It is evident from the Acts of Parlia ment now in being, that this was never granted, and never claimed till now : On the contrary, the English Government has ever claimed the right of taxing them, even in virtue of those very charters.