Right to decide as to either of these Points.
[6] The Princes of the House of STUART took it into their Heads to
believe, that all Colonies were their private Patrimony; in respect of
which the Parliament had no Right to intermeddle. This Notion, so long ago
justly exploded, is now revived, (strange to tell!) even by modern
Patriots, and _American_ Republicans: For they are the People at present,
and not the King's Ministers, who propose to exalt the Prerogatives of the
Crown to the Subversion of the Rights, Privileges, and Liberties of the
_British_ Parliament, and the _British_ Nation. Indeed so far, it must be
owned, is Fact,--that as the Princes of that House had the first modelling
of the Colonies, they introduced a Practice, (still most absurdly retained
tho' without any Power to enforce it) of bringing all Appeals before
themselves and their Privy Councils, instead of before the Court of
King's-Bench or the House of Lords; which is the only regular and
constitutional Mode of appealing, and the only one now observed in Appeals
from _Ireland_. However, notwithstanding this _Impropriety_, as the King
can send no armed Forces to _America_, without Consent of Parliament first
had for their Maintenance, and afterwards for authorizing the Use of
military Law, and military Discipline among them, it may be justly
averred, that the King doth in no other exclusive Sense govern _America_,
than as the sole executive Power, which is to enforce and put in Motion
the Laws and Decrees of the supreme Legislature of _Great-Britain_. See a
very candid and impartial Account of this Matter in a Book entituled,
"Remarks on the principal Acts of the 13th Parliament of _Great-Britain_,"
from Page 38 to 45.
[7] See De LOLME's _Constitution of England_, the Note of Page 52. The
whole is a most excellent Treatise, and worthy the Perusal of all those
_Englishmen_, who wish to understand, and to set a just Value on the
distinguishing Excellencies of the _English_ Constitution,--a
Constitution, as he justly observes, the only one in its Kind, _ponderibus
librata suis_.
[8] See his Speech, _March_ 22, 1775, second Edition Octavo.
[9] Queen ELIZABETH sometimes raised this Duty to 20 and 25 per Cent. by
Orders and Warrants issued from her Privy Council; that is, by her own
sole and absolute Authority. Yet she was _good Queen_ BESS: And her Days
were _golden Days_. See also the shocking Number of Monopolies granted in
her Reign, set forth
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