Practical English Composition: Book II.: For the Second Year of the High School — John Shaqi
Practical English Composition: Book II.: For the Second Year of the High SchoolMiller, Edwin L. (Edwin Lillie)
Philosophy
Practical English Composition: Book II.: For the Second Year of the High School
Miller, Edwin L. (Edwin Lillie)
English language -- Composition and exercises
LONDON, March 22, 1775.--Conciliation as a means of allaying the
present discontent in the American colonies was advocated in the
House of Commons to-day by Mr. Edmund Burke. He proposed that
Parliament abandon the idea of taxing the colonies, and instead
place on the statute book an act acknowledging that the various
colonial legislative bodies have the power to grant or refuse
aids to the crown. Though his speech, which lasted over three
hours, was heard with respect, the measures which he proposed
were defeated by a strict party vote, 270 to 78.
Mr. Burke spoke with a dignity and power which have not been
surpassed even by the Earl of Chatham. His mastery of the
subject was so complete and the form of his speech so perfect
that competent judges pronounce it a classic. His speech is to
be printed at once as a pamphlet.
In outline Mr. Burke said: "As I have studied this American
question for years, have held fixed opinions on it since 1766,
and have nothing to gain except disgrace if I suggest a foolish
solution of the problem, I believe that you will hear me with
patience. My speech will consist of the discussion of two
questions: (1) Should we attempt to conciliate the Americans?
(2) If so, how? America is already powerful by virtue of
population, commerce, and agriculture. The chief characteristic
of the American people is their fierce love of freedom. There
are only three ways to deal with this spirit: (1) To remove it
by removing its causes; (2) to punish it as criminal; (3) to
comply with it as necessary. Its causes are irremovable, being
the love of independence which caused their ancestors to leave
England; their religion in the North, which is the Protestantism
of the Protestant religion; the fact that in the South they hold
slaves; the general diffusion among them of education; the
circumstance that they speak English and that an Englishman is
the unfittest man on earth to argue another Englishman into
being a slave; and the 3000 miles of ocean, between us and
them. It cannot be treated as criminal, there being no way to
draw up an indictment against a whole nation. Indeed, you have
already tried to do this and failed. There remains no way of
treating the American spirit except to comply with it as
necessary. I propose, therefore, to erect a Temple of British
Concord with six massive pillars by granting to America in six
propositions the identical rights which for generations have
been by acts of Parliament secured to Ireland, Wales, Chester,
and Durham, except that, owing to the distance of America from
England, each colony, instead of sending members to Parliament,
shall have the power, through its own legislature, to grant or
refuse aids to the Crown. If adopted, these measures, I believe,
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