So extensively right was the ground on which America proceeded, that it not only took in every just and liberal sentiment which could impress the heart, but made it the direct interest of every class and order of men to defend the country.The war, on the part of Britain, was originally a war of covetousness.The sordid and not the splendid passions gave it being.The fertile fields and prosperous infancy of America appeared to her as mines for tributary wealth.
She viewed the hive, and disregarding the industry that had enriched it, thirsted for the honey.But in the present stage of her affairs, the violence of temper is added to the rage of avarice; and therefore, that which at the first setting out proceeded from purity of principle and public interest, is now heightened by all the obligations of necessity; for it requires but little knowledge of human nature to discern what would be the consequence, were America again reduced to the subjection of Britain.Uncontrolled power, in the hands of an incensed, imperious, and rapacious conqueror, is an engine of dreadful execution, and woe be to that country over which it can be exercised.The names of Whig and Tory would then be sunk in the general term of rebel, and the oppression, whatever it might be, would, with very few instances of exception, light equally on all.
Britain did not go to war with America for the sake of dominion, because she was then in possession; neither was it for the extension of trade and commerce, because she had monopolized the whole, and the country had yielded to it; neither was it to extinguish what she might call rebellion, because before she began no resistance existed.It could then be from no other motive than avarice, or a design of establishing, in the first instance, the same taxes in America as are paid in England (which, as I shall presently show, are above eleven times heavier than the taxes we now pay for the present year, 1780) or, in the second instance, to confiscate the whole property of America, in case of resistance and conquest of the latter, of which she had then no doubt.
I shall now proceed to show what the taxes in England are, and what the yearly expense of the present war is to her- what the taxes of this country amount to, and what the annual expense of defending it effectually will be to us; and shall endeavor concisely to point out the cause of our difficulties, and the advantages on one side, and the consequences on the other, in case we do, or do not, put ourselves in an effectual state of defence.I mean to be open, candid, and sincere.I see a universal wish to expel the enemy from the country, a murmuring because the war is not carried on with more vigor, and my intention is to show, as shortly as possible, both the reason and the remedy.
The number of souls in England (exclusive of Scotland and Ireland)is seven millions,* and the number of souls in America is three millions.* This is taking the highest number that the people of England have been, or can be rated at.
The amount of taxes in England (exclusive of Scotland and Ireland)was, before the present war commenced, eleven millions six hundred and forty-two thousand six hundred and fifty-three pounds sterling; which, on an average, is no less a sum than one pound thirteen shillings and three-pence sterling per head per annum, men, women, and children;besides county taxes, taxes for the support of the poor, and a tenth of all the produce of the earth for the support of the bishops and clergy.* Nearly five millions of this sum went annually to pay the interest of the national debt, contracted by former wars, and the remaining sum of six millions six hundred and forty-two thousand six hundred pounds was applied to defray the yearly expense of government, the peace establishment of the army and navy, placemen, pensioners, etc.; consequently the whole of the enormous taxes being thus appropriated, she had nothing to spare out of them towards defraying the expenses of the present war or any other.Yet had she not been in debt at the beginning of the war, as we were not, and, like us, had only a land and not a naval war to carry on, her then revenue of eleven millions and a half pounds sterling would have defrayed all her annual expenses of war and government within each year.* The following is taken from Dr.Price's state of the taxes of England.
An account of the money drawn from the public by taxes, annually, being the medium of three years before the year 1776.
Amount of customs in England 2,528,275 L.
Amount of the excise in England 4,649,892Land tax at 3s.1,300,000Land tax at 1s.in the pound 450,000Salt duties218,739Duties on stamps, cards, dice, advertisements, bonds, leases, indentures, newspapers, almanacks, etc.280,788Duties on houses and windows 385,369Post office, seizures, wine licences, hackney coaches, etc.250,000Annual profits from lotteries 150,000Expense of collecting the excise in England297,887Expense of collecting the customs in England 468,703Interest of loans on the land tax at 4s.expenses of collection, militia, etc.250,000Perquisites, etc.to custom-house officers, &c.
supposed 250,000Expense of collecting the salt duties in England 10 1/2 per cent.27,000Bounties on fish exported 18,000Expense of collecting the duties on stamps, cards, advertisements, etc.at 5 and 1/4 per cent.18,000Total 11,642,653 L.
