A military journal during the American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783 / describing interesting events and transactions of this period; with numerous historical facts and anecdotes, from the original manuscript. To which is added, an appendix, containing biographical sketches of several general officers. By James Thacher.

  • Thacher, James, 1754-1844.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A military journal during the American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783 / describing interesting events and transactions of this period; with numerous historical facts and anecdotes, from the original manuscript. To which is added, an appendix, containing biographical sketches of several general officers. By James Thacher. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and all resistance to acts of Parliament may justly be called by the name of treason and rebellion. ‘‘ The people of these colonies consider themselves as British subjects entitled to all the rights and privileges of Freemen. It is inseparably essential to the freedom of a people, and the undoubted right of Englishmen, that no taxes be imposed on them but with their own consent, given personally, or by their representatives. From their local circumstances, the colonies cannot be represented in the house of commons of Great Britain; the only representatives of the people of the colonies are the persons chosen therein by themselves ; and no taxes ever can be constitutionally imposed on them, but by their respective legislatures.”? All acts of Parlia-. ment therefore, for raising a revenue in America, are con- sidered as depriving us of our property, without our consent, and consequently as a palpable infringement of our ancient rights and privileges. They are unconstitutional and arbi- trary laws, subversive of the liberties and privileges secur- ed to us by our royal charters. It is not consistent with the principles which actuate the American people, ever tamely to submit to such a degrading system of government ; not — however from a want of loyalty to our king, nor from an undue impatience of subordination or legal restraint ; for in a quiet submission and demeanor to constitutional authority, and in zeal and attachment to our king, we dare to vie with any of our fellow subjects of Great Britain ; but it is an imate love of liberty, and our just rights, that impels us to the arduous struggle. Inno country, it Is asserted, is the love of liberty more deeply rooted, or the knowledge of the rights inherent to freemen more generally diffused, or better understood, than among the British American Colonies. Our religious and political privileges: are derived from our vir- tuous fathers ; they were inhaled with our earliest breath ; and are, and will, I trust, ever be, implanted and cherished in the bosom of the present and future generations. These are the prevalent sentiments in New England at this event- ful crisis, and all the other provinces, Georgia excepted, are known to be in unison with us im the resolution, to oppose with all our power every violation of our just rights and privileges. We are not however authorized, even in the most glorious of causes, to expect a perfect unanimity among a people. Numerous are the springs of men’s actions; and diversity of sentiment and views are characteristic of hu- man nature. Accordingly we find a small minority in our