Wesley Corpus

54. A Third objection, you say, is this: “They will not obey the Parliament and the laws.” You answer: “Say, They will not obey your Parliament and your laws; because they have no voice in your Parliament, no share in making your laws.” (Page 100.) So, now the mask quite falls off again. A page or two ago, you said, “They are your fellow subjects.” Now, you frankly declare, they owe no subjection to our Government, and attempt to prove it! To that proof I reply: Millions in England have no more voice in the Parliament than they ; yet that does not exempt them from subjection to the Government and the laws. But “they may have a voice in it if they will.” No; they cannot, any more than the Americans. “Then they so far want liberty.” I answer, (1.) Whether they do or no, they must needs be subject; and that not only for wrath, for fear of punishment, but for conscience sake. (2.) They do not want liberty; they have all the liberty they can desire, civil as well as religious. “Nay, I have no other motion of slavery, but being bound by a law to which I do not consent.” If you have not, look at that man chained to the oar: He is a slave; he cannot at all dispose of his own person. Look at that Negro sweating beneath his load: He is a slave; he has neither goods nor liberty left. Look at that wretch in the Inquisition: Then you will have a far other notion of slavery. 55. You next advance a wonderful argument to convince us that all the Americans are slaves: “All your freehold land is represented; but not a foot of theirs; “nay,’ says an eminent man, “there is not a blade of grass in England but is represented.’” This much-admired and frequently-quoted assertion is altogether new ! I really thought, not the grass, or corn, or trees, but the men of England, were represented in Parliament. I cannot comprehend, that Parliament-men represent the grass, any more than the stones or clay of the kingdom. No blade of grass but is represented 1 Pretty words ! But what do they mean? Here is Mr. Burke; pray, what does he represent? “Why, the city of Bristol.” What, the buildings so called; or the ground whereon they stand?