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1 proposed an American union.2 ‘A certain
chap. VII.} 1754.
and permanent revenue,’ with a proper adjustment of quotas, was to be determined by a meeting of one commissioner from each colony. In electing the commissioners, the council, though appointed by the king, was to have a negative on the assembly, and the royal governor to have a negative on both. The colony that failed of being represented was yet to be bound by the result. Seven were to be a quorum, and of these a majority, with the king's approbation, were to bind the continent. The executive department was to be intrusted to one commander-in-chief, who should, at the same time, be the commissary-general for Indian affairs. To meet his expenses, he was ‘to be empowered to draw’ on the treasuries of the colonies for sums proportionate to their respective quotas. A disobedient or neglectful province was to be reduced by ‘the authority of parliament;’ and the interposition of that authority was equally to be applied for, if the whole plan of union should be defeated.3

Such was the despotic, complicated, and impracticable plan of Halifax, founded so much on prerogative, as to be at war with the principles of the English aristocratic revolution. Nor was any earnest effort ever made to carry it into effect. It does but mark in the mind of Halifax and his associates, the moment of that pause, which preceded the definitive purpose of settling all questions of an American revenue, government, and union, by what seemed the effective, simple, and uniform system of a general taxation of

1 [166] Thomas Robinson to the Board of Trade, 14 June, 1754.

2 Lords of Trade to Sir Thomas Robinson, 3 July, 1754. Same to same, 9 August, 1754, inclosing project for general concert, August, 1754. Representation of the Board of Trade to the king, 9 August, 1754.

3 Representation of the Board of Trade to the king, 9 August, 1754.

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