Stephen Hopkins
Parliament is Abusing the Rights of Americans (1764)
Role of Government and Rights
Faithful Subjects
The second point that Hopkins make is that the Americans have been faithful subjects and don't deserve to be treated in this manner. Previously they had been allowed to make laws for their own government, purchase lands, acquire goods, and participate in trade; they pay, as an acknowledgement to the crown, a fifth of the money found in the colonies at any time. These rights have been granted by several kings and Parliament. Parliament’s move to extensively tax the colonists has greatly alarmed them; England might shift their focus from making revenue from taxes in England to taxing the colonists, and by all rights it appeared as if it would happen. Men who are taxed at pleasure by others would not have any property left; rather than freed men, they would be slaves. The colonists, though, have always been faithful subjects of the crown: they have raised money, clothed and housed soldiers, along with providing their own men to fight in wars, and their reward is slavery and taxes.