按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
trade； a trade so much favoured by the mercantile system。
Our colonies； however； are by no means independent foreign
countries； and Great Britain having assumed to herself the
exclusive right of supplying them with all goods from Europe；
might have forced them （in the same manner as other countries
have done their colonies） to receive such goods； loaded with all
the same duties which they paid in the mother country。 But； on
the contrary； till 1763； the same drawbacks were paid upon the
exportation of the greater part of foreign goods to our colonies
as to any independent foreign country。 In 1763； indeed； by the
4th of George III； c。 15； this indulgence was a good deal abated；
and it was enacted； 〃That no part of the duty called the Old
Subsidy should be drawn back for any goods of the growth；
production； or manufacture of Europe or the East Indies； which
should be exported from this kingdom to any British colony or
plantation in America； wines； white calicoes and muslins
excepted。〃 Before this law； many different sorts of foreign goods
might have been bought cheaper in the plantations than in the
mother country； and some may still。
Of the greater part of the regulations concerning the colony
trade； the merchants who carry it on； it must be observed； have
been the principal advisers。 We must not wonder； therefore； if；
in the greater part of them； their interest has been more
considered than either that of the colonies or that of the mother
country。 In their exclusive privilege of supplying the colonies
with all the goods which they wanted from Europe； and of
purchasing all such parts of their surplus produce as could not
interfere with any of the trades which they themselves carried on
at home； the interest of the colonies was sacrificed to the
interest of those merchants。 In allowing the same drawbacks upon
the re…exportation of the greater part of European and East India
goods to the colonies as upon their re…exportation to any
independent country； the interest of the mother country was
sacrificed to it； even according to the mercantile ideas of that
interest。 It was for the interest of the merchants to pay as
little as possible for the foreign which they sent to the
colonies； and； consequently； to get back as much as possible of
the duties which they advanced upon their importation into Great
Britain。 They might thereby be enabled to sell in the colonies
either the same quantity of goods with a greater profit； or a
greater quantity with the same profit； and； consequently； to gain
something either in the one way or the other。 It was likewise for
the interest of the colonies to get all such goods as cheap and
in as great abundance as possible。 But this might not always be
for the interest of the mother country。 She might frequently
suffer both in her revenue； by giving back a great part of the
duties which had been paid upon the importation of such goods；
and in her manufactures； by being undersold in the colony market；
in consequence of the easy terms upon which foreign manufactures
could be carried thither by means of those drawbacks。 The
progress of the linen manufacture of Great Britain； it is
commonly said； has been a good deal retarded by the drawbacks
upon the re…exportation of German linen to the American colonies。
But though the policy of Great Britain with regard to the
trade of her colonies has been dictated by the same mercantile
spirit as that of other nations； it has； however； upon the whole；
been less illiberal and oppressive than that of any of them。
In everything； except their foreign trade； the liberty of
the English colonists to manage their own affairs their own way
is complete。 It is in every respect equal to that of their
fellow…citizens at home； and is secured in the same manner； by an
assembly of the representatives of the people； who claim the sole
right of imposing taxes for the support of the colony government。
The authority of this assembly overawes the executive power； and
neither the meanest nor the most obnoxious colonist； as long as
he obeys the law； has anything to fear from the resentment；
either of the governor or of any other civil or military officer
in the province。 The colony assemblies though； like the House of
Commons in England； are not always a very equal representation of
the people； yet they approach more nearly to that character； and
as the executive power either has not the means to corrupt them；
or； on account of the support which it receives from the mother
country； is not under the necessity of doing so； they are perhaps
in general more influenced by the inclinations of their
constituents。 The councils which； in the colony legislatures；
correspond to the House of Lords in Great Britain； are not
composed of an hereditary nobility。 In some of the colonies； as
in three of the governments of New England； those councils are
not appointed by the king； but chosen by the representatives of
the people。 In none of the English colonies is there any
hereditary nobility。 In all of them； indeed； as in all other free
countries； the descendant of an old colony family is more
respected than an upstart of equal merit and fortune； but he is
only more respected； and he has no privileges by which he can be
troublesome to his neighbours。 Before the commencement of the
present disturbances； the colony assemblies had not only the
legislative but a part of the executive power。 In Connecticut and
Rhode Island； they elected the governor。 In the other colonies
they appointed the revenue officers who collected the taxes
imposed by those respective assemblies； to whom those officers
were immediately responsible。 There is more equality； therefore；
among the English colonists than among the inhabitants of the
mother country。 Their manners are more republican； and their
governments； those of three of the provinces of New England in
particular； have hitherto been more republican too。
The absolute governments of Spain； Portugal； and France； on
the contrary； take place in their colonies； and the discretionary
powers which such governments commonly delegate to all their
inferior officers are； on account of the great distance；
naturally exercised there with more than ordinary violence。 Under
all absolute governments there is more liberty in the capital
than in any other part of the country。 The sovereign himself can
never have either interest or inclination to pervert the order of
justice； or to oppress the great body of the people。 In the
capital his presence overawes more or less all his inferior
officers； who in the remoter provinces； from whence the
complaints of the people are less likely to reach him； can
exercise their tyranny with much more safety。 But the European
colonies in America are more remote than the most distant
provinces of the greatest empires which had ever been known
before。 The government of the English colonies is perhaps the
only one which； since the world began； could give perfect
security to the inhabitants of so very distant a province。 The
administration of the French colonies； however； has always been
conducted with more gentleness and moderation than that of the
Spanish and Portugese。 This superiority of conduct is suitable
both to the character of the French nation； and to what forms the
character of every nation； the nature of their government； which
though arbitrary and violent in comparison with that of Great
Britain； is legal and free in comparison with those of Spain and
Portugal。
It is in the progress of the North American colonies；
however； that the superiority of the English policy chiefly
appears。 The progress of the sugar colonies of France has been at
least equal； perhaps superior； to that of the greater part of
those of England； and yet the sugar colonies of England enjoy a
free government nearly of the same kind with that which takes
place in her colonies of North America。 But the sugar colonies of
France are not discouraged； like those of England； from refining
their own sugar； and； what is of still greater importance； the
genius of their government naturally introduces a better
management of their negro slaves。
In all European colonies the culture of the sugar…cane is
carried on by negro slaves。 The constitution of those who have
been born in the temperate climate of Europe could not； it is
supposed； support the labour of digging the ground under the
burning sun of the West Indies； and the culture of the sugarcane；
as it is managed at present； is all hand labour； though； in the
opinion of many； the drill plough might be introduced into it
with great advantage。 But； as the profit and success of the
cultivation which is carried on by means of cattle； depend very
much upon the good management of those cattle； so the profit and
success of that which is carried on by slaves must depend equally
upon the good management of those slaves； and in the good
management of their slaves the French planters； I think it is
generally allowed； are superior to the English。 The law；