The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

AET. 35.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 1-17
ered as one of the vital elements of the British constitution, and the main pillar of British freedom, that
no subject of the realm could be taxed except by
himself or his representatives, was virtually declared
inapplicable to the colonies. It was no wonder that
a people, habituated, to self-government and nurtured
in the atmosphere of liberty from the very origin of
their political existence, should revolt at such an assumption, and be roused to a defence of their rights.
The act of Parliament imposing duties on tea,
paper, glass, and painters' colors, imported into the
colonies, was in reality a repetition of the Stamp Act in
another form. It was thus understood by the people,
and produced universal indignation and alarm. Spirited
resolves were immediately adopted in Massachusetts
and other colonies, expressing a determination not to
submit to this act. Articles of agreement were at the
same time entered into, called dJssociations, by which
those who subscribed them were bound not to purchase or-use the manufactures of England, and other
goods imported from that country, except in cases
of the most urgent necessity. It was thought this
measure, if effectually pursued, would cramp the British commerce, and distress the manufacturers and
merchants to such an extent, as to open the eyes of
the government to the impolicy, if not to the iniquity,
of the course they had begun.
The spirit of discontent and opposition diffused itself rapidly in all the provinces. In the month of
April, 1769, just before the assembling of the Virginia
legislature, Colonel Washington received sundry papers,
containing the resolves and proceedings of the merchants
of Philadelphia. These papers he communicated to
his neighbour and friend, George Mason, accompanied
by a letter, in which he declared his own opinions in