[40]I have always said that the war carrying on against America is unjust.In the Commons, March 11th, 1776, Col. Barre, Mr. Burke, Mr. Fox, all vied in eulogies upon General Montgomery, the account of whose death before Quebec had arrived some days before. In the Commons, April 24th, 1776, a debate arose on the Budget, containing resolutions to raise taxes to carry on the war against America. Mr. Fox then said:To the resolutions he should give a flat negative, and that not because of any particular objection to the taxes proposed (although it might be a sufficient ground for urging many) but because he could not conscientiously agree to grant any money for so destructive, so ignoble a purpose as the carrying on a war commenced unjustly, and supported with no other view than to the extirpation of freedom, and the violation of every social comfort. This he conceived to be the strict line of conduct to be observed by A member of Parliament. He then painted the war with America as unjust, and the pursuance of the war as blood-thirsty and oppressive.Col. Barre followed, and adopted the phrase of Mr. Fox, giving his flat negative to the Resolutions, as they were calculated to tax the subject for an unjust purpose. In the Lords, Oct. 31st, 1776, the Duke of Grafton said:He pledged himself to the House, and to the Public, that while he had a leg to stand on, he would come down day after day to express the most marked abhorrence of the measures hitherto pursued, and meant to be adhered to in respect to America.In the Commons, on the same night, Mr. Fox said:The noble Lord who moved the amendment, said that we were in the dilemma of conquering or abandoning America; if we are reduced to that, I am for abandoning America.In the Commons, Nov. 6th, 1776, Mr. Burke said:You simply tell the Colonists to lay down their arms, and then you will do just as you please. Could the most cruel conqueror say less? Had you conquered the devil himself in hell, could you be less liberal? No!In the Commons, Feb. 18th, 1777, Col. Barre said:America must be reclaimed, not conquered or subdued. Conciliation or concession are the only sure means of either gaining or retaining America.In the Commons, May 14th, 1777, another debate occurred on the Budget, in the course of which Mr. Burke said:
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