Be that as it will, this was certainly placing their liberty upon a proper basis : here they ought to have rested ; here they ought to have bounded their demands ; this would have been a sufficient barrier against arbitrary power. The Parliament, in consequence of this, although they did not relinquish their claim or right to tax the Colonies, repealed that impolitic and oppressive act ; and although they afterwards imposed duties on paper, glass, paints, colors, &c., yet those also, in compliance with our demands, were taken off: so indulgent has our mother country been to the claims and humors of her children. This complying disposition, however, i i her so far

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from exciting our gratitude, or satisfying our uneasiness and discontent, has only emboldened us to make farther encroachments upon her authority. We foolishly attributed this gentle conduct towards us to fear, and to a consciousness of her inabilily to compel us to submission. And when a three penny duty on tea was demanded of us, we peremptorily refused to comply ; and instead of expostulating or of showing our disapprobation of that act, by remonstrating in a legal and constitutional way, as we ought to have done ; or instead of taking that easy and effectual method that offered itself to us, I mean the not purchasing that commodity, while encumbered with the duty, we flew into the most indecent rage, and hastily adopted every unwarrantable measure that could irritate and provoke the government ; we either destroyed or sent back, in a most contemptuous manner, all the tea that entered our harbors ; we insulted her ministers, and absolutely denied her authority.