peace to the whole empire." The motion was carried by two hundred and seventy-five against one hundred and sixty-seven. During the debate, as this eloquent advocate of the repeal of the Stamp Act further says, "the trading interest of the empire crammed into the lobbies of the House of Commons with a trembling and anxious expectation, and waited, almost to a winter's return of light, their fate from the resolution of the House. When, at length, that had determined in their favor, and the doors thrown open, showed them the figure of their deliverer in the well-earned triumph of his important victory, from the whole of that grave multitude there arose an involuntary burst of gratitude and transport. They jumped upon him like children on a long absent father. They clung about him as captives about their redeemer. All England joined in his applause. Nor did he seem insensible to the best of all earthly rewards, the love and admiration of his fellow-citizens. Hope elevated and joy brightened his crest."
The ministry, however, were by no means disposed to go the length of Pitt on this point. They placed the repeal on the ground of expediency, not of right and justice, and they caused another bill to be previously passed, in which it was declared, that "Parliament had, and of right ought to have, power to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever."
In the House of Lords, the highest legal authorities differed on the question. The celebrated Lord Mansfield maintained that the sovereign power of Parliament included the right of taxation: on the other hand, Lord Camden, formerly chief-justice Pratt, expressed himself in these strong words: "My position is this—I repeat it; I will maintain it to the last hour—taxation and representation are inseparable. The position is founded in the law of nature. It is more; it is itself an eternal law of nature. For whatsoever is a man's own, it is absolutely his own. No man has a right to take it from him without his consent. Whoever attempts to do it, attempts an injury. "Whoever does it, commits a robbery."[1]
The king was opposed to the repeal, but was loth to proceed to force: others of the peers, including, it is said, most of the bishops, were in favor of compelling obedience at all hazards. The bill was finally passed, by a vote of a hundred and five against seventy one. On the 19th of March, the king, having repaired to the House of Peers. gave his assent to the Act of Repeal, and that of the Dependence of the colonies towards Great Britain. The American merchants at that time in London, went, in a body, to testify their joy and gratitude upon this occasion. The ships which lay at anchor in the Thames, displayed their colors in token of felicitation. The houses were illuminated in all parts of the city; salutes were heard, and bonfires were kindled in all quarters. In a word, none of the public demonstrations, usual on similar occurrences, were omitted, to celebrate the goodness of the king, and the wisdom of Parliament.
- ↑ See Bancroft, vol. v., p. 446. 8.
