reat. An external tax is a duty
levied on commodities imported; that duty is added to the first
cost, and other charges on the commodity, and when it is offered
for sale, makes a part of the price. If the people do not like it
at that price, they refuse it; they are not obliged to pay it. But
an internal tax is forced from the people without their consent, if
not levied by their own representatives. The Stamp Act says we
shall have no commerce, make no exchange of property with each
other, neither purchase, nor grant, nor recover debts; we shall
neither marry nor make our wills unless we pay such and such sums,
and thus it is intended to extort our money from us, or ruin us by
the consequences of refusing to pay it.

Q.--But supposing the internal tax or duty to be levied on the
necessaries of life imported into your colony, will not that be the
same thing in its effects as an internal tax?

A.--I do not know a single article imported into the northern
colonies, but what they can either do without or make themselves.

Q.--Don't you think cloth from England absolutely necessary to
them?

A.--No, by no means absolutely necessary; with industry and good
management, they may very well supply themselves with all they
want.

Q.--Considering the resolution of Parliament as to the right, do
you think, if the Stamp Act is repealed, that the North Americans
will be satisfied?

A.--I believe they will.

Q.--Why do you think so?

A.--I think the resolutions of right will give them very little
concern, if they are never attempted to be carried into practice.
The colonies will probably consider themselves in the same
situation in that respect with Ireland; they know you claim the
same right with regard to Ireland, but you never exercise it. And
they may believe you never will exercise it in the colonies, any
more than in Ireland, unless on some very extraordinary occasion.

Q.--But who are to be the judges of that extraordinary occasion? Is
not the Parliament?

A.--Though the Parliament may judge of the occasion, the people
will think it can never exercise such right till representatives
from the colonies are admitted into Parliament, and that, whenever
the occasion arises, representatives will be ordered.

Q.--Did the Amer