; that the prayer of the
petition of congress should then be granted, and that the powers of
admiralty and vice-admiralty courts in America should be confined to
their ancient limits, and the trial by jury in civil cases should be
restored wherever they had been abolished, etc.; that all the recent
acts of parliament which had been the cause of the agitation in America
should be forthwith suspended; and that, in order to secure due and
impartial administration in the colonies, his majesty's judges in the
courts of law, who were appointed in America by the crown with salaries,
should hold their offices and salaries in the same manner as his
majesty's judges in England; _quamdiu se bene gesserint_. The bill which
Chatham introduced concluded thus: "And it is here by further declared
that the colonies in America are justly entitled to the privileges,
franchises, and immunities granted by their several charters or
constitutions; and that the said charters or constitutions ought not
to be invaded or resumed, unless for misuser, or some legal ground of
forfeiture. So shall a true reconcilement avert impending calamities,
and this most solemn national accord between Great Britain and her
colonies stand an everlasting monument clemency and magnanimity in the
benignant father of his people; of wisdom and moderation in this great
nation, famed for humanity as for valour; and of fidelity and grateful
affection from brave and loyal colonies to their parent kingdom, which
will ever protect and cherish them.
Pages:
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374