and published in the midst of the arduous contention, while Britain with insulting pretensions, and relentless cruelties, was practising every artifice, and straining every nerve, by statutes and by swords, to bend or break us into bondage and the editors think it their right and duty, to insert some testimonies concerning several of these writings, to shew the sentiments that were entertained of them at the times when they were published, or soon af ter. THE SPEECH O F JOHN DICKINSON, ESQUIRE, One of the MEMBERS for the County of Philadelphia, in the House of Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania, May 24th, 1764, ON OCCASION Of a PETITION, drawn up by Order, and then under Consideration, of the House; praying the King for a Change of the Government of the Province. Published at the earnest request of a great number of very respectable citi zens of Philadelphia, as expressed in their address to him, dated the 6th of June, 1764. * On the 4th of March, 1764, George Grenville, then Minister, and the Houfe of Commons on his Motion, began their hostile Operations against the British Colonies on this Continent. This Speech was made in lefs than three months after, about a Year and a half before the meeting of the first Congrefs at New-York, on Account of the Stamp Act; defcribes the Sentiments of Adminiftration concerning Colonial Government, takes Notice of the then meditated Innovations, and was followed by a regular Course of fuch Measures as were apprebended and alluded to. The Change attempted did not take place. THE SPEECH OF JOHN DICKINSON, Esq. &c. MR. SPEAKER, * W HEN honest men apprehend their country to be injured, nothing is more natural than to resent and complain: but when they enter into consideration of the means for obtaining redress, the same virtue that gave the alarm, may sometimes, by causing too great a transport of zeal, defeat its own purpose; it being expedient for those who deliberate of public affairs, that their minds should be free from all violent passions. These emotions blind the understanding: they weaken the judgment. It therefore frequently happens, that resolutions formed by men thus agitated, appear to them very wise, very just, and very salutary; while others, not influenced by the same heats, condemn those determinations, as weak, unjust, and danger *Isaac Norris, Efquire. ous. Thus, Sir, in councils it will always be found useful, to guard against even the indignation, that arises from integrity. MORE particularly are we bound to observe the utmost caution in our conduct, as the experience of many years may convince us, that all our actions undergo the strictest scrutiny. Numerous are the instances, that might be mentioned, of rights vindicated and equitable demands made in this province, according to the opinions entertained here, that in Great-Britain, have been adjudged to be il legal attempts, and pernicious pretensions. THESE adjudications are the acts of persons vested with such dignity and power, as claim some deference from us; and hence it becomes not unnecessary to consider, in what light the (*) measures, now proposed may appear to those, whose sentiments from the constitution of our government it will always be prudent to regard. BUT on this important occasion, we ought not to aim only at the approbation of men, whose authority *The controversy between the Province and the Proprietaries, was,Whether the estates of the Proprietaries should be taxed as the estates of other persons were. The Proprietaries claimed an exemption, and were supported in their claim by the British Ministers. The Assembly took this opportunity to attempt a change of the Government from proprietary to royal. |