t Essays : 
could not be taxed by a Parliament wherein we were 
not represented. But the payment of duties laid by 
an act of Parliament, as regulations of commerce, 
was never disputed. 
(Q. But can you name any act of assembly, or pub- 
lic act of any of your governments, that made such 
distinction? 
A. I do not know that there was any; I think 
there was never an occasion to make any such act, till 
now that you have attempted to tax us; that has 
occasioned resolutions of assembly, declaring the dis- 
tinction, in which I think every assembly on the 
continent, and every member in every assembly, 
have been unanimous. 
Q. What, then, could occasion conversations on 
that subject before that time? 
A. There was in 1754 a proposition made, (I think 
it came from hence,) that in case of a war, which was 
then apprehended, the governors of the colonies 
should meet, and order the levying of troops, build- 
ing of forts, and taking every other measure for the 
general defence; and should draw on the treasury 
here for the sums expended, which were afterwards 
to be raised in the colonies by a general tax, to be 
laid on them by act of Parliament. This occasioned 
a good deal of conversation on the subject; and the 
general opinion was, that the Parliament neither 
would nor could lay any tax on us, till we were 
duly represented in Parliament; because it was not 
just, nor agreeable to the nature of an English 
constitution. 
QO. Don’t you know there was a time in New York, 
766] 8c