CHAPTER XXIII — THE STAMP ACT CONTROVERSY
138. A Colonist's Defence of Taxation (1765)
BY MARTIN HOWARD
Howard was an eminent Rhode Island lawyer and politician, and had been a delegate from Rhode Island to the Albany Congress. For the publication of this tract and similar ones, under the name of "A Gentleman of Halifax," Howard's house at Newport was wrecked; in 1778 he fled to England. — Bibliography: Tyler, Literary History of the Revolution, I, 70-80; Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VI, 68-71.
. . . DEPEND upon it, my Friend, a people like the English, arrived to the highest pitch of glory and power, the envy and admiration of surrounding slaves, who hold the balance of Europe in their hands, and rival in arts and arms every period of ancient or modern story ; a nation who, for the defence and safety of America only, staked their all in the late war ; this people, I say, justly conscious of their dignity, will not patiently be dictated to by those whom they have ever considered as dependant upon them. Happy will it be for the colonies, yea happy for the honourable author, if his pamphlet should meet with nothing more than contempt and neglect ; for should it catch the attention of men in power, measures may be taken to stifle in the birth " the low murmurs of submissive fear " and crush in embryo "the mingled rage, " which now so prettily adorns the head of his honour's pamphlet.
However disguised, polished or softened the expression of this pamphlet may seem, yet every one must see, that its professed design is sufficiently prominent throughout, namely, to prove, that the colonies have rights independant of, and not controulable by, the authority of parliament. It is upon this dangerous and indiscreet position I shall communicate to you my real sentiments. . . .
The several New-England charters ascertain, define and limit the respective rights and privileges of each colony, and I cannot conceive how it has come to pass that the colonies now claim any other or greater
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