. Essays 
A. 1 do not think it would be necessary. If an 
assembly could possibly be so absurd, as to refuse 
raising the supplies requisite for the maintenance 
of government among them, they could not long 
remain in such a situation; the disorders and 
confusion occasioned by it must soon bring them to 
reason. 
Q. If it should not, ought not the right to be in 
Great Britain of applying a remedy? 
A. A right, only to be used in such a case, I 
should have no objection to; supposing it to be used 
merely for the good of the people of the colony. 
Q. But who is to judge of that, Britain or the 
colony? 
A. Those that feel can best judge. 
QO. You say the colonies have always submitted to 
external taxes, and object to the right of Parliament 
only in laying internal taxes; now can you show that 
there is any kind of difference between the two taxes 
to the colony on which they may be laid? 
A. I think the difference is very great. An exter- 
nal tax is a duty laid on commodities imported; that 
duty is added to the first cost and other charges on 
the commodity, and, when it is offered to sale, makes 
a part of the price. If the people do not like it at 
that price, they refuse it; they are not obliged to pay 
it. But an internal tax is forced from the people 
without their consent, if not laid by their own repre- 
sentatives. The Stamp Act says, we shall have no 
commerce, make no exchange of property with each 
other, neither purchase, nor grant, nor recover debts; 
we shall neither marry nor make our wills, unless we 
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