ians, iii., iv.

[528:B] 1 Timothy, vi.

[529:A] Brief Examination of Scripture Testimony on the Institution of
Slavery, by the Rev. Thornton Stringfellow; Essay on Abolition of
Slavery, by the Rev. Dr. George A. Baxter; Rights and Duties of Masters,
by the Rev. Dr. J. H. Thornwell; The Christian Doctrine of Slavery, by
the Rev. George D. Armstrong, D.D.

[529:B] Foote's Sketches, first series, 291.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

1764.

Disputes between Colonies and Mother Country--Stamp Act--
Patrick Henry--Contested Election--Speaker Robinson--
Randolph--Bland--Pendleton--Wythe--Lee.

THE successful termination of the war with France paved the way for
American independence. Hitherto, from the first settlement of the
colonies, Great Britain, without seeking a direct revenue from them,
with perhaps some inconsiderable exceptions, had been satisfied with the
appointment of their principal officers, and a monopoly of their trade.
Now, when the colonies had grown more capable of resisting impositions,
the mother country rose in her demands. Thus it was that disputes
between Great Britain and the colonies, commencing in 1764 and lasting
about twelve years, brought on the war of the Revolution, and ended in a
disruption of the empire. This result, inevitable sooner or later in the
natural course of events, was only precipitated by the impolitic and
arbitrary measures of the British government. In the general loyalty of
the colonies, new commercial restrictions, although involving a heavy
indirect taxation, would probably have been submitted to for many years
longer; but the novel scheme of direct taxation, without their consent,
was reprobated as contrary to their natural and chartered rights; and a
flame of discontent, bursting forth here and there, finally overspread
the whole country.

There appears, indeed, to have been no essential difference between
internal and external taxation; for it was still taxation; and taxation
without representation. But the internal or direct taxation was new,
obvious, and more offensive. The restrictions of the navigation act,
vehemently resisted at their first enactment, and not less so in
Virginia and other Southern colonies than in the North, had never been
acquiesced in, but only submitted to from necessity; and long eluded
not only by New England, but also by other colonies, by a trade
originally contraband, indeed, but which had lost much of its
illegitimate chara