George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition.

[180] destroyed, support of the peace establishment and

Chap. XVI.} 1774. Dec.

government, liberal aids in time of war on requisition by the king and parliament, a continuance of the same aids in time of peace, if Britain would give up its monopoly of American commerce. On the other hand, among various propositions, he asked the repeal of the Quebec act, and insisted on the repeal of the acts regulating the government and changing the laws of Massachusetts. ‘The old colonies,’ it was objected, ‘have nothing to do with the affairs or Canada.’ ‘We assisted in its conquest,’ said Franklin; ‘loving liberty ourselves, we wish to have no foundation for future slavery laid in America.’ ‘The Massachusetts act,’ it was urged, ‘is an improvement of that government.’ ‘The pretended amendments are real mischiefs,’ answered Franklin; ‘but were it not so, charters are compacts between two parties, the king and the people, not to be altered even for the better but by the consent of both. The parliament's claim and exercise of a power to alter charters, which had been always held inviolable, and to alter laws which, having received the royal approbation, had been deemed fixed and unchangeable but by the powers that made them, have rendered all our constitutions uncertain. As by claiming a right to tax at will, you deprive us of all property, so by this claim of altering our laws at will, you deprive us of all privilege and right whatever but what we hold at your pleasure. We must risk life and every thing, rather than submit to this.’

The words of Franklin offered no relief to Lord North; but they spoke the sense of his countrymen; and were in harmony with the true voice of England.