Our granting money to th,e troops, is implicitly acknowledging the authority that enacted the revenue acts, and tlieir being obligaiuiy i;ii us, as ihcse acts \vere enacted for the exjiress

PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. 529

purpose of taking money out of our pockets without our consent j and to provide for the defending and support of government in America ; which revenue we say by our grant of money, is not sufficient for the purpose aforesaid ; therefore we supj)ly the deficiency.

This was the point of view in which these acts were considered, by the Massachusetts and South Carolina Assembhes, and to prevent that dangerous construction, refuted it. On this important point we have differed with these spirited colonies, and do implicitly approve of all the tyrannical conduct of the ministry to the Bostonians, and by imphcation censure their laudable and patriotic denial. For if they did right (wliich every sensible American thinks they did) in refusing to pay the billeting money, surely we have done wrong, very wrong, in giving it. But our Assembly says, that they do their duty in granting money to the troops : Consequently tlie Massachusetts Assembly did not do theirs, in not obeying the ministerial mandate. If this is not a division in this grand point, I know not what is : And I doubt not but the ministry will let us know it is to our cost ; for it will furnish them with arguments and fresh courage. Is this a grateful retaliation to that brave and sensible people, for the spirited and early notice they took of the suspending act ? No, it is base ingratitude, and betraying the common cause of liberty.