XVII
THE BRITISH NATION, AS IT APPEARED TO THE COLO-NISTS
 IN 1775 *
“ Whereas, The British nation, through great corruption
 of manners and extreme dissipation and
profusion, both private and public, have found all
honest resources insufficient to supply their excessive
 luxury and prodigality, and thereby have been
driven to the practice of every injustice which
avarice could dictate or rapacity execute; And
whereas, not satisfied with the immense plunder of
the East, obtained by sacrificing millions of the
human species, they have lately turned their eyes
to the West, and grudging us the peaceable enjoyment
 of the fruits of our hard labor and virtuous
industry, have for years past been endeavoring to
extort the same from us under color of laws regulating
 trade, and have thereby actually succeeded in
draining us of large sums to our great loss and detriment;
 And whereas, impatient to seize the whole,
they have at length proceeded to open robbery,
declaring, by a solemn act of Parliament, that all
* The draft resolution was found among Dr. Franklin's papers. It
prepared with the intent to have it adopted by Congress, which is improbable,
 the author changed his mind. for it was never offered.

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