Benjamin Franklin speaks before the House of Commons concerning paying taxes (1766).
Q: If the act [Stamp Act] should pass, requiring the American assemblies to make compensation to the sufferers, [of the 7 years war] and they should disobey it, and then the parliament should, by another act, lay an internal tax, would they then obey it?
A: The people will pay no internal tax; and I think an act to oblige the assemblies to make compensation is unnecessary, for I am of opinion, that as soon as the present heats are abated, they will take the matter into consideration, and, if it is right to be done, they will do it of themselves. . .
Q: Does the distinction between internal and external taxes exist in the words of the [Pennsylvania] charter?
A: No, I believe not.
Q: Then may they not, by the same interpretation, object to the parliament's right of external taxation?
A: They never have hitherto. Many arguments have been lately used here to show them that there is no difference, and that if you have no right to tax them internally, you have none to tax them externally, or make any other law to bind them. At present they do not reason so, but in time they may possibly be convinced by these arguments. . .
Q: If the stamp-act should be repealed, would it induce the assemblies of America to acknowledge the rights of parliament to tax them, and would they erase their resolutions?
A: No, never.
QBenjamin Franklin speaks before the House of Commons concerning paying taxes (1766).
Q: If the act [Stamp Act] should pass, requiring the American assemblies to make compensation to the sufferers, [of the 7 years war] and they should disobey it, and then the parliament should, by another act, lay an internal tax, would they then obey it?
A: The people will pay no internal tax; and I think an act to oblige the assemblies to make compensation is unnecessary, for I am of opinion, that as soon as the present heats are abated, they will take the matter into consideration, and, if it is right to be done, they will do it of themselves. . .
Q: Does the distinction between internal and external taxes exist in the words of the [Pennsylvania] charter?
A: No, I believe not.
Q: Then may they not, by the same interpretation, object to the parliament's right of external taxation?
A: They never have hitherto. Many arguments have been lately used here to show them that there is no difference, and that if you have no right to tax them internally, you have none to tax them externally, or make any other law to bind them. At present they do not reason so, but in time they may possibly be convinced by these arguments. . .
Q: If the stamp-act should be repealed, would it induce the assemblies of America to acknowledge the rights of parliament to tax them, and would they erase their resolutions?
A: No, never.
Q: Is there no means of obliging them to erase those resolutions?
A: None that I know of; they will never do it unless compelled by force of arms.
Q: Is there a power on earth that can force them to erase them?
A: No power, how great soever, can force men to change their opinions. . .
Q: What used to be the pride of the Americans?
A: To indulge in the fashions and manufactures of Great Britain.
Q: What is now their pride?
A: To wear their old clothes over again, till they can make new ones.