HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, May 15, 1775.

Mr. Burke informed the House, that he had in his hand a paper of importance from the General Assembly of the Province of New-York; a Province which yielded to no part of his Majesty's Dominions in its zeal for the prosperity and unity of the Empire, and which had ever contributed as much as any, in its proportion, to the defence and wealth of the whole. He observed, that it was a complaint, in the form of a Remonstrance, of several Acts of Parliament, some of which, as they affirmed, had established principles, and others had made regulations, subversive of the rights of English subjects. That he did not know whether the House would approve of every opinion contained in that paper; but, as nothing could be more decent and respectful than the whole tenour and language of the Remonstrance, a mere mistake in opinion upon any one joint, ought not to hinder them from receiving it, and granting redress on such other matters as might be really grievous, and which were not necessarily connected with that erroneous opinion. He represented this direct application from America, and dutiful procedure of New-York, in the present critical juncture, as a most desirable, and even fortunate, circumstance; and strongly urged, that they never had before them so fair an opportunity of putting an end to the unhappy disputes with the Colonies as at present; and he conjured them, in the most earnest manner, not to let it escape, as, possibly, the like might never return. He thought this application from America, so very desirable to the House, that he could have made no sort of doubt of their entering heartily into his ideas, if the noble Lord (North) some days before, in opening the budget, had not gone out of his way, to pass a panegyrick on the last Parliament; and, in particular, to commend, as acts of lenity, and mercy, those very laws, which the Remonstrance considers as intolerable grievances. This circumstance, indeed, did somewhat abate the sanguine hopes of success which he had entertained for this dutiful procedure of the Colony of New-York. That he was so ill as not to be able to trouble them, if he were willing, with a long speech. He had several times in the session expressed his sentiments very fully upon every thing contained in that Remonstrance; as for the rest, it spoke so strongly for itself, that he did not see how people in their senses could refuse at least the consideration of so reasonable and decent an Address. He then moved, "That the Representation and Remonstrance of the General Assembly of the Colony of New-York be brought up."

Lord North moved that the entry in the Journals of the House of the 7th day of December, 1768, of the proceedings of the House, touching the Petition of the Representatives of Freemen in Assembly of Pennsylvania, then offered to be presented to the House, might be read. And the same was read accordingly.

Lord North also moved that an Act, made in the sixth year of the reign of his present Majesty, entituled, "An Act for the better securing the Dependency of his Majesty's Dominions in America, upon the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain," might be read. And the same was read accordingly.

He then spoke greatly in favor of New-York, and said, that he would gladly do every thing in his power to shew his regard to the good behaviour of that Colony; but the honour of Parliament required, that no paper should be presented to that House, which tended to call in question the unlimited rights of Parliament. That they had already relaxed in very essential points; but could not so much as hear of any tiling which tended to call in question their right of taxation. As to the Quebec Duties, by which the Province of New-York was affected, as he did not pretend to be infallible, he confessed they were not laid exactly as they ought to be, and he was willing to give satisfaction in that point immediately. This, however, was but a trifle to the general objects of the Remonstrance.

He then moved an amendment, which was an indirect, though effectual, negative upon the motion, by inserting after the word. "Remonstrance" the words "in which the said Assembly claim to themselves rights derogatory to, and inconsistent with, the Legislative authority of Parliament, as declared by the said Act."

Mr. Cruger. No person can be less disposed to trouble the House than I am; but when a subject so important and interesting is before us, I am confident I shall be forgiven, though I intrude on your patience fora few minutes. Sir, I pant after peace between this country and its Colonies, and will gladly join my feeble voice to any proposal or overture that tends to an amicable settlement of the dispute. Any other mode of determining, must inevitably injure both. The strength and prosperity of Great Britain and America have a common foundation; they stand on the same basis, and one cannot be shaken without endangering the other. It is, therefore, the interest of both parties, to discover a disposition to be reconciled, not to be too severe in marking each others errours, to remember their old friendship, and calmly and dispassionately advance to a renewal of confidence for the future. The Assembly of New-York have pursued this path; they have endeavoured to put a truce to resentment and tumult; and, while the other Colonies (in the phrenzy of riot, commotion and despair) have nearly annihilated the powers of their Legislatures, and rush on to civil war, they dutifully submit their complaints to the clemency of the mother country.

Such conduct, sir, cannot but meet the approbation of this House. The Legislature cannot but invite subjects thus peacefully to pursue every legal way of redress: on the contrary, should this application be attended with no success, the Colonies will be discouraged from such attempts, and the Assembly of New-York be driven into the common stream of opposition, to escape the charge of ineffectual and imprudent singularity. Although almost every other Colony on the Continent has transferred the business of petitioning from their own proper Legislature to a General Congress, the Province of New-York has ventured to be singular in reverence and obedience to her Colonial Constitution, and has resolutely adhered to her duty, uninfluenced by the example of her neighbours.

Policy and justice recommend the encouragement of such a spirit and conduct. It will induce others to copy their example; the citizens of New-York have, during the present unhappy dispute, distinguished themselves by their temperate conduct. If they meet the protection and patronage of Government, they will be animated to pursue the same path with greater alacrity and firmness. In their present Addresses to the Throne, and both Houses of Parliament, though they may have extended their claims and complaints a little too far, still let us make a generous allowance for the difficulty of their situation: they could not, at this particular crisis, wholly disregard the opinion of their sister Colonies, and, indeed, every lover of this liberal Constitution cannot but, at least, forgive the apprehension and disquietudes of freemen, under a claim which stamps them with the character of slaves. I mean the claim held up by this country of binding them, without the consent or security of their own Representatives, in all cases whatever— than which there cannot be a more complete description of the most ignominious servitude; and it is reserved to distinguish the Administration of this day—to assign as a reason for rejecting a Petition from British subjects, and in an English House of Commons, that they claimed a right of giving and granting their own money by their own Representatives.

And, sir, as a refutation of many unjust charges alleged against them, they particularly disclaim all intentions and desire of Independence. They confess the necessity of a superintending power in Parliament, and explicitly state their conviction of its utility and equity when exercised for the regulation of Trade. They look up to the Legislature for redress; they entreat the exertions of its wisdom and benevolence to propose and adopt some method to terminate the present destructive dispute, for the happiness, and to the satisfaction, of both countries. They gratefully acknowledge the blessing which they have derived from the parental state; they deeply lament the interruption of your affection, and hope to avert your indignation by remonstrance and prayer. What more humble would Englishmen ask from Englishmen and the sons of Englishmen? Permit me then, sir, to beseech the House not to turn a deaf ear to their requests; but to embrace the first favourable opportunity of bringing them back to their duty, and leading them on to higher acts of obedience by new instances, on our part, of mildness, remission, and friendship.