[5] See the Resolutions of the grand Continental Congress, in Opposition to the reconciliatory Proposal of Parliament for permitting each Province to tax itself, according to its own Mode. In these Resolutions they expressly declare, that they will be the sole Judges, not only of the _Mode_ of raising, but also of the Sum or Quantum to be raised, and of the Application of it: And that the Parliament of _Great-Britain_ hath no Right to decide as to either of these Points. [6] The Princes of the House of STUART took it into their Heads to believe, that all Colonies were their private Patrimony; in respect of which the Parliament had no Right to intermeddle. This Notion, so long ago justly exploded, is now revived, (strange to tell!) even by modern Patriots, and _American_ Republicans: For they are the People at present, and not the King's Ministers, who propose to exalt the Prerogatives of the Crown to the Subversion of the Rights, Privileges, and Liberties of the _British_ Parliament, and the _British_ Nation. Indeed so far, it must be owned, is Fact,--that as the Princes of that House had the first modelling of the Colonies, they introduced a Practice, (still most absurdly retained tho' without any Power to enforce it) of bringing all Appeals before themselves and their Privy Councils, instead of before the Court of King's-Bench or the House of Lords; which is the only regular and constitutional Mode of appealing, and the only one now observed in Appeals from _Ireland_. However, notwithstanding this _Impropriety_, as the King can send no armed Forces to _America_, without Consent of Parliament first had for their Maintenance, and afterwards for authorizing the Use of military Law, and military Discipline among them, it may be justly averred, that the King doth in no other exclusive Sense govern _America_, than as the sole executive Power, which is to enforce and put in Motion the Laws and Decrees of the supreme Legislature of _Great-Britain_. See a very candid and impartial Account of this Matter in a Book entituled, "Remarks on the principal Acts of the 13th Parliament of _Great-Britain_," from Page 38 to 45. [7] See De LOLME's _Constitution of England_, the Note of Page 52. The whole is a most excellent Treatise, and worthy the Perusal of all those _Englishmen_, who wish to understand, and to set a just Value on the distinguishing Excellencies of the _English_ Constitution,--a Constitution, as he justly observes, the only one in its Kind, _ponderibus librata suis_. [8] See his Speech, _March_ 22, 1775, second Edition Octavo.