the extent of which
was then in dispute, as far as it related to the Plantations, had always
been observed by us.

"_The authority of all Acts of Parliament which concern the colonies,
and extend to them, is ever acknowledged in all the Courts of law, and
made the rule in all judicial proceedings in the province. There is not
a member of the General Court, we know no inhabitant within the bounds
of the Government, that ever questioned this authority._

"_To prevent any ill consequences which may arise from an opinion of our
holding such principles, we now utterly disavow them, as we should
readily have done at any time past if there had been occasion for it_;
and we pray that his lordship may be acquainted therewith, that we may
appear in a true light, and that no impressions may remain to our
disadvantage."[284]

This is a full and indefinite recognition of the supreme authority of
Parliament, even to the providing of accommodation for the soldiers; and
such was the recognition of the authority of Parliament throughout the
colonies. "It was generally allowed," says Dr. Ramsay, "that as the
planting of colonies was not designed to erect an independent
Government, but to extend an old one, the parent state had a right to
restrain their trade in every way which conduced to the common
emolument. They for the most part considered the mother country as
authorized to name ports and nations to which alone their merchandise
should be carried, and with which alone they should trade; but the novel
claim of taxing them without their consent was universally reprobated as
contrary to their natural, chartered, and constitutional rights. In
opposition to it, they not only alleged the general principles of
liberty, but ancient usage. During the first hundred and fifty years of
their existence they had been left to tax themselves and in their own
way." "In the war of 1755, the events of which were fresh in the
recollection of every one, the Parliament had in no instance attempted
to raise either men or money in the colonies by its own authority. As
the claim of taxation on one side and the refusal on the other were the
very hinges on which the revolution turned they merit a particular
discussion."[285]

The only exception to the authority of Parliament over the colonies was
levying _internal_ taxes. A marked distinction was made between
_external_ and _internal_ taxes. It was admitted upon all hands that the
Parliament had the con