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.

128 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1774.
put my hands into yours; and, this being already
urged to them in a firm, but decent manner, by all
the colonies, what reason is there to expect any thing
from their justice?
"As to the resolution for addressing the throne, 1
own to you, Sir, I think the whole might as well have
been expunged. I expect nothing from the measure,
nor should my voice have sanctioned it, if the nonimportation scheme was intended to be retarded by it;
for I am convinced, as much as I am of my existence,
that there is no relief for us but in their distress; and
I think, at least I hope, that there is public virtue enough
left among us to deny ourselves every thing but the
bare necessaries of life to accomplish this end. This
we have a right to do, and no power upon earth can
compel us to do otherwise, till it has first reduced us
to the most abject state of slavery. The stopping
of our exports would, no doubt, be a shorter method
than the other to effect this purpose; but, if we owe
money to Great Britain, nothing but the last necessity
can justify the non-payment of it; and, therefore, I
have great doubts upon this head, and wish to see the
other method first tried, which is legal and will facilitate
these payments.
"Satisfied, then, that the acts of the British Parliament are no longer governed by the principles of
justice, that they are trampling upon the valuable rights
of Americans, confirmed to them by charter and by
the constitution they themselves boast of, and convinced
beyond the smallest doubt, that these measures are
the result of deliberation, and attempted to be carried
into execution by the hand of power, is it a time to
trifle, or risk our cause upon petitions, which with difficulty obtain access, and afterwards are thrown by
with the utmost contempt? Or should we, because