Essays
QO. Would they live without the administration of
justice in civil matters, and suffer all the inconveniences
 of such a situation for any considerable time,
rather than take the stamps, supposing the stamps
were protected by a sufficient force, where every one
might have them?
A. I think the supposition impracticable, that the
stamps should be so protected as that every one
might have them. The act requires sub-distributors
to be appointed in every county town, district, and
village, and they would be necessary. But the principal
 distributors, who were to have had a considerable
 profit on the whole, have not thought it worth
while to continue in the office; and I think it impossible
 to find sub-distributors fit to be trusted, who,
for the trifling profit that must come to their share,
would incur the odium and run the hazard that would
attend it; and, if they could be found, I think it impracticable
 to protect the stamps in so many distant
and remote places.
QO. But in places where they could be protected,
would not the people use them rather than remain in
such a situation, unable to obtain any right, or recover
 by law any debt?
A. Tt is hard to say what they would do. I can
only judge what other people will think, and how
they will act by what I feel within myself. Ihavea
great many debts due to me in America, and I had
rather they should remain unrecoverable by any law
than submit to the Stamp Act. They will be debts
of honor. It is my opinion the people will either
continue in that situation, or find some way to ex-766]

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