DISCOURSE,
DELIVERED in PROVIDENCE,
IN THE
COLONY of RHODE ISLAND,
upon the 25th Day of July, 1768.
AT
The DEDICATION of the
TREE of LIBERTY,
From the Summer House in the TREE.
By a SON of LIBERTT
(SILAS DOWNER)
PROVIDENCE
PRINTED AND SOLD BY JOHN WATERMAN*
AT HIS PRINTING OFFICE, AT THE PAPER-MILL
M,DCC,LXVIII
TARRYTOWN, N. Y.
REPRINTED
WILLIAM ABBATT
1918
BEING EXTBA NUMBER 64 OF THE MAGAZINE OF HISTORY WITH NOTES AND QUERIES
A DISCOURSE
DELIVERED AT THE DEDICATION OF
THE TREE OF LIBERTY,
IN PROVIDENCE
Dearly beloved Countrymen.
WE His Majesty's subjects, who live remote from the throne,
and are inhabitants of a new world, are here met together
to dedicate the Tree of Liberty. On this occasion we chear-
fully recognize our allegiance to our sovereign Lord, George the
third, King of Great Britain, and supreme Lord of these dominions,
but utterly deny any other dependence on the inhabitants of that
island, than what is mutual and reciprocal between all mankind.
It is good for us to be here, to confirm one another in the principles
of liberty, and to renew our obligations to contend earnestly there
for.
OUR forefathers, with the permission of their sovereign, emi
grated from England, to avoid the unnatural oppressions which
then took place in that country. They endured all sorts of mis
eries and hardships, before they could establish any tolerable foot
ing in the new world. It was then hoped and expected that the
blessings of freedom would be the inheritance of their posterity,
which they preferred to every other temporal consideration. With
the extremest toil, and danger, our great and noble ancestors found
ed in America a number of colonies under the allegiance of the
crown of England. They forfeited not the privileges of English
men by removing themselves hither, but brought with them every
right which they could or ought to have enjoyed had they abided
in England. They had fierce and dreadful wars with savages,
who often poured their whole force on the infant plantations, but
under every difficulty and discouragement, by the good providence
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4 DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN PROVIDENCE
of GOD they multiplied exceedingly, and flourished, without re
ceiving any protection or assistance from England. They were
free from impositions. Their kings were well disposed to them,
and their fellow subjects in Great Britain had not then gaped after
Naboth's vineyard. Never were people so happy as our fore
fathers, after they had brought the land to a state of inhabitancy,
and procured peace with the natives, They sat every man under
his own vine, and under his own fig-tree. They had but few wants;
and luxury, extravagance, and debauchery were known only by
the names, as the things signified thereby had not then arrived
from the old world. The public worship of GOD, and the educa
tion of children and youth, were never more encouraged in any
part of the globe. The laws which they made for the general ad
vantage were exactly carried into execution. In fine, no country
ever experienced more perfect felicity. Religion, learning, and a
pure administration of justice were exceeding conspicuous, and
kept even pace with the population of the country.
>
WHEN we view this country in its extent and variety of cli
mates, soils, and produce, we ought to be exceeding thankful to
divine goodness in bestowing it upon our forefathers, and giving
it as an heritage for their children. We may call it the promised
land, a good land and a large — a land of hills and vallies, of rivers,
brooks, and springs of water— a land of milk and honey, and where
in we may eat bread to the full. A land whose stones are iron,
the most useful material in all nature, and of other choice mines
and minerals; and a land whose rivers and adjacent seas are stored
with the best of fish. In a word, no part of the habitable world can
boast of so many natural advantages as this northern part of
America.
BUT what will all these things avail us, if we be deprived of
that liberty which the GOD of nature hath given us? View the
miserable condition of the poor wretches who inhabit countries
once the most fertile and happy in the world, where the blessings
AT THE DEDICATION OF THE TREE OF LIBERTY 5
of liberty have been removed by the hand of arbitrary power.
Religion, learning, arts, and industry, vanished at the deformed
appearance of tyranny. Those countries are depopulated, and
the scarce and thin inhabitants are fast fixed in chains and slavery.
They have nothing which they can call their own; even their lives
are at the absolute disposal of the monsters who have usurped
dominion over them.
THE dreadful scenes of massacre and bloodshed, the cruel
tortures and brutal barbarities which have been committed on
the image of GOD, with all the horrible miseries which have over
flowed great part of the globe, have proceeded from wicked and
ambitious men who usurped an absolute dominion over their fel
lows. If this country should experience such a shocking change
in their affairs, or its despotic sway should succeed the fair enjoy
ment of liberty, I should prefer a life of freedom in Nova Zembla,
Greenland or in the most frozen regions in the world, even where
the use of fire is unknown, rather than to live here to be tyrannized
over by any of the human race.
GOVERNMENT is necessary. It was instituted to secure to
individuals that natural liberty which no human creature hath a
right to deprive them of. For which end the people have given
power unto the rulers to use as there may be occasion for the good
of the whole community, and not that the civil magistrate, who is
only the people's trustee, should make use of it for the hurt of the
governed. If a commander of a fortress, appointed to make de
fence against the approaches of an enemy, should breech about
his guns and fire upon his own town, he would commence tyrant,
and ought to be treated as an enemy to mankind.
THE ends of civil government have been well answered in
America and justice duly administered in general, while we were
governed by laws of our own make, and consented to by the Crown.
It is of the very essence of the British constitution, that the people
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6 DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN PROVIDENCE
shall not be governed by laws in the making of which they had no
hand, or have their monies taken away without their own consent.
This privilege is inherent, and cannot be granted by any but the
Almighty. It is a natural right which no creature can give, or
hath a right to take away. The great charter of liberties, commonly
called Magna Charta, doth not give the privileges therein mentioned,
nor doth our Charters, but must be considered as only declara
tory of our rights and in affirmance of them. The formation of
legislatures was the first object of attention in the colonies. They
all recognized the King of Great Britain, and a government in
each was erected, as like to that in England as the nature of the
country and local circumstances would admit. Assemblies or
parliaments were instituted, wherein were present the King by
his substitutes, with a council of great men, and the people by
their representatives. Our distant situation from Great Britain
and other attendant circumstances, make it impossible for us to
be represented in the parliament of that country, or to be governed
from thence. The exigencies of state often require the immediate
hand of government; and confusion and misrule would ensure
if government was not topical. From hence it will follow that our
legislatures were compleat, and that the Parliamentary authority
of Great Britain cannot be extended over us without involving
the greatest contradiction: For if we are to be controuled by
their Parliament, our own will be useless. In short, I cannot be
perswaded that the Parliament of Great Britain have any lawful
right to make any laws whatsoever to bind us, because there can
be no fountain from whence such right can flow. It is universally
agreed amongst us that they cannot tax us, because we are not
represented there. Many other acts of legislation may affect us
as nearly as taking away our monies. There are many kinds of
property as dear to us as our money, and in which we may be great
ly injured by allowing them a power in, or to direct about. Sup
pose the Parliament of Great Britain should undertake to pro
hibit us from walking in the Streets and highways on certain
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AT THE DEDICATION OF THE TREE OF LIBERTY 7
Saints' days, or from being abroad after a certain time in the even
ing, or (to come nearer to the matter) to restrain us from working
up and manufacturing materials of our own growth, would not
our liberty and property be as much affected by such regulations
as by a tax act. It is the very spirit of the constitution that the
King's subjects shall not be governed by laws, in the making of
which they had no share; and this principle is the great barrier
against tyranny and oppression? If this bulwark be thrown down,
nothing will remain to us but a dreadful expectation of certain
slavery. If any acts of the British Parliament are found suitable
and commensurate to the nature of the country, they may be in
troduced, or adopted, by special acts of our own Parliaments,
which would be equivalent to making them anew; and without such
introduction or adoption, our allowance of the validity or force
of any act of the English or British Parliament in these dominions
of the King, must and will operate as a concession on our part
that our fellow subjects in another country can choose a set of
men among themselves, and impower them to make laws to bind
us, as well in the matter of taxes as in every other case. It hath
been fully proved, and is a point not to be controverted, that in
our constitution the having of property, especially a landed es
tate, entitles the subject to a share in government and framing
of laws. The Americans have such property and estate, but are
not, and never can be represented in the British Parliament. It
is therefore clear that that assembly cannot pass any laws to bind
us, but that we must be governed by our own parliaments, in
which we can be in person, or by representation.
BUT of late a new system of politics hath been adopted in
Great Britain and the common people there claim a sovereignty
over us, although they be only fellow subjects. The more I con
sider the nature and tendency of this claim, the more I tremble for
the liberties of my country. For although it hath been unan
swerably proved that they have no more power over us than we
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8 DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN PROVIDENCE
have over them, yet relying on the powerful logic of guns and cut
lery-ware, they cease not to make laws injurious to us; and when
ever we expostulate with them for so doing, all the return is a dis
charge of threats and menaces.
IT is now an established principle in Great Britain that we
are subject to the people of that country, in the same manner as
they are subject to the Crown. They expressly call us their sub
jects. The language of every paultry scribler, even of those who
pretend friendship for us in some things, is after this lordly stile,
our colonies — our western dominions — our plantations — our islands
— our subjects in America — our authority — our government — with
many more of the like imperious expressions. Strange doctrine,
that we should be the subjects of subjects, and liable to be con-
trouled at their will! It is enough to break every measure of pa
tience, that fellow subjects should assume such power over us.
They are so possessed with the vision of the plenitude of their
power, that they call us rebels and traitors for denying their au
thority. If the King was an absolute monarch and ruled us ac
cording to his absolute will and pleasure, as some kings in Europe
do their subjects, it would not be in any degree so humiliating and
debasing as to be governed by one part of the King's subjects who
are but equals. From every part of the conduct of the Adminis
tration, from the acts, votes, and resolutions of the Parliament,
and from all the political writings in that country and libels on
America, this appears to be their claim, which I think may be said
to be an invasion of the rights of the King, and an unwarrantable
combination against the liberties of his subjects in America.
LET us now attend a little to the conduct of that country to
wards us, and see if it be possible to doubt of their principles. In
the 9th of Anne, the post office act was made, which is a tax act,
and which annually draws great sums of money from us. It is
true that such an establishment would have been of great use, but
then the regulation ought to have been made among ourselves.
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AT THE DEDICATION OF THE TREE OF LIBERTY 9
And it is a clear point to me that let it be ever so much to the ad
vantage of this country, the Parliament had no more right to in
terfere than they have to form such an establishment in the elec
torate of Hanover, the King's German dominions.
THEY have prohibited us from purchasing any kind of goods
or manufactures of Europe except from Great Britain, and from
selling any of our own goods or manufactures to foreigners, a few
inconsiderable articles excepted, under pain of confiscation of
vessel and cargo, and other heavy penalties. If they were indeed
our sovereign lords and masters, as they pretend to be, such regu
lations would be in open violation of the laws of nature. But
what adds to this grievance is, that in the trade between us they
can set their own prices both on our and their commodities, which
is in effect a tax, and of which they have availed themselves.
And moreover, duties are laid on divers enumerated articles on
their import, for the express purpose of a revenue. They freely
give and grant away our monies without our consent, under the
specious pretence of defending, protecting and securing America,
and for the charges of the administration of justice here, when in
fact we are not indebted to them one farthing for any defence or
protection from the first planting the country to this moment, but
on the contrary, a balance is due to us for our exertions in the gen
eral cause; and besides, the advantages which have accrued to
their trade with us hath put millions in their pockets. As to the
administration of justice, no country in the world can boast of a
purer one than this, the charges of which have been always chear-
fully provided for and paid without their interposition. There
is reason to fear that if the British people undertake the business
of the administration of justice amongst us it will be worse for us,
as it may cause an introduction of their fashionable corruptions,
whereby our pure streams of justice will be tainted and polluted.
But in truth, by the administration of justice is meant the keeping
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10 DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN PROVIDENCE
up an idle sett of officers to rob us of our money, to keep us down
and humble, and to frighten us out of our undoubted rights.
AND here it may be proper to mention the grievances of the
custom house. Trade is the natural right of all men, but it is
forestrained, perplexed and fettered, that the officers of the cus
toms, where there happens a judge of admiralty to their purpose,
can seize and get condemned any vessel or goods they see fit. They
will seize a vessel without shewing any other cause than their ar
bitrary will, and keep her a long time without exhibiting any libel,
during all which time, the owner knows not on what account she
is seized, and when the trial conies on, he is utterly deprived of one
by a jury, contrary to the usages among our fellow subjects in
Britain and perhaps all his fortune is determinate by a single,
base, and infamous tool of a violent, corrupt, and wicked adminis
tration. Besides, these officers, who seem to be born with long
claws, like eagles, exact most exorbitant fees, even from small
coasting vessels, who pass along shore and carry from plantation
to plantation, bread, meat, firewood, and other necessaries, and
without the intervention of which the country would labour under
great inconveriiencies, directly contrary to the true intent and
meaning of one of the acts of trade by which they pretend to
govern themselves, such vessels by that act not being obliged to
have so much as a register. It is well known that their design in
getting into office is to enrich themselves by fleecing the mer
chants, and it is thought that very few have any regard to the in
terest of the Crown, which is only a pretence they make in order
to accomplish their avaricious purposes.
THE common people of Great Britain very liberally give and
grant away the property of the Americans without their consent,
which if yielded to by us must fix us in the lowest bottom of slavery:
For if they can take away one penny from us against our wills,
they can take all. If they have such power over our properties
they must have a proportionable power over our persons; and from
318
AT THE DEDICATION OF THE TREE OF LIBERTY 11
hence it will follow that they can demand and take away our lives
whensoever it shall be agreeable to their sovereign wills and pleas
ure.
THIS claim of the Commons to a sovereignty over us is found
ed by them on their being the Mother Country. It is true that
the first emigrations were from England; but upon the whole more
settlers have come from Ireland, Germany, and other parts of
Europe, than from England. But if every soul came from Eng
land, it would not give them any title to sovereignty or even to
superiority. One spot of ground will not be sufficient for all:
As places fill up mankind must disperse, and go where they can
find a settlement; and being born free, must carry with them their
freedom and independence on their fellows, go where they will.
Would it not be thought strange if the commonalty of the Massa
chusetts-Bay should require our obedience, because this colony wras
first settled from that dominion? By the best accounts, Britain
was peopled from Gaul, now called France, wherefore according to
their principles the Parliaments of France have a right to govern
them. If this doctrine of the maternal authority of one country-
over another be a little examined, it will be found to be the great
est absurdity that ever entered into the head of a politician. In
the time of Nimrod, all mankind lived together on the plains of
Shinar, from whence they were dispersed at the building of Babel.
From that dispersion all the empires, kingdoms, and states in the
world are derived. That this doctrine may be fully exposed, let
us suppose a few Turks or Arabs to be the present inhabitants of
the plains of Shinar, and that they should demand the obedience
of every kingdom, state, and country in the world, on account of
their being the Mother Country: would it be one jot more ridicu
lous than the claim made by the Parliament of Great Britain, to
rule and reign over us? It is to be hoped that in future the words
Mother Country will not be so frequently in our mouths, as they
are only sounds without meaning.
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12 DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN PROVIDENCE
ANOTHER grievance to be considered, is the alarming attempt
of the people of Old England to restrain our manufactures. This
country abounds in iron, yet there is an act of Parliament, passed
in the late King's reign to restrain us from manufacturing it into
plates and rods by mill-work, the last of which forms are absolutely
necessary for the making of nails, the most useful article in a new
country that can be conceived. Be astonished all the world, that
the people of a country who call themselves Christians and a civi
lized nation, should imagine that any principles of police will be a
sufficient excuse for their prohibiting their fellow subjects in a
distant part of the earth from making use of the blessings of the
GOD of nature! There would be just as much reason to prohibit
us from spinning our wool and flax, or making up our cloaths.
Such prohibitions are infractions on the natural rights of men, and
are utterly void.
THEY have undertook, at the distance of three thousand
miles, to regulate and limit our trade with the natives round about
us, and from whom our lands were purchased — a trade which we
opened ourselves, and which we ought to enjoy unrestricted. Fur
ther, we are prohibited by a people who never set foot here from
making any more purchases from the Indians, and even of settling
those which we have made. The truth is, they intend to take into
their own hands the whole of the back lands, witness the patents
of immense tracts continually solicited, and making out to their
own people. The consequence will be shocking, and we ought to
be greatly alarmed at such a procedure. All new countries ought
to be free to settlers; but instead thereof every settler on these
patent lands, and their descendants forever will be as compleat
slaves to their landlords, as the common people of Poland are to
their lords.
A standing army in time of profound peace is cantoned and
quartered about the country to awe and intimidate the people —
Men of war and cutters are in every port, to the great distress of
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AT THE DEDICATION OF THE TREE OF LIBERTY 13
trade. In time of war we had no station ships, but were obliged
to protect our trade, but now in time of full peace, when there are
none to make us afraid we are visited with the plague of men of
war, who commit all manner of disorders and irregularities; and
behave in as hostile a manner as if they were open and declared
enemies. In open defiance of civility, and the laws of Great
Britain, which they profess to be governed by, they violently
seize and forcibly carry on board their ships the persons of the
King's loving subjects. What think ye my brethren, of a military
government in each town? — Unless we exert ourselves in opposi
tion to their plan of subjecting us, we shall all have soldiers quar
tered about upon us, who will take the absolute command of our
families. Gentry boxes will be set up in all the streets and pas
sages, and none of us will be able to pass, without being brought
to by a soldier with his fixed bayonet, and giving him a satisfac
tory account of ourselves and business. Perhaps it will be ordered
that we shall put out fire and candle at eight of the clock at night,
for fear of conspiracy. From which fearful calamities may the
GOD of our fathers deliver us!
BUT after all, nothing which has yet happened ought to alarm
us more than their suspending government here, because our Par
liaments or Assemblies (who ought to be free) do not in their votes
and resolutions please the populace of Great Britain. Suppose a
parcel of mercenary troops in England should go to the Parlia
ment house, and order the members to vote as they directed under
pain of dissolution, how much liberty would be left to them? In
short, this dissolving of government upon such pretences as are
formed, leaves not the semblance of liberty to the people. We
all ought to resent the treatment which the Massachusetts-Bay
hath had, as their case may soon come to be our own.
WE are constantly belied and misrepresented to our gracious
sovereign by the officers who are sent hither, and others who are
in the cabal of ruining this country. They are the persons who
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14 DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN PROVIDENCE
ought to be called rebels and traitors, as their conduct is superla
tively injurious to the King and his faithful subjects.
MANY other grievances might be enumerated, but the time
would fail. — Upon the whole, the conduct of Great Britain shews
that they have formed a plan to subject us so effectually to their
absolute commands, that even the freedom of speech will be taken
from us. This plan they are executing as fast as they can; and
almost every day produces some effect of it. We are insulted and
menaced only for petitioning. Our prayers are prevented from
reaching the royal ear, and our humble supplications to the throne
are wickedly and maliciously represented as so many marks of
faction and disloyalty. If they can once make us afraid to speak
or write, their purpose will be finished. — Then farewell liberty. —
Then those, who were crouded in narrow limits in England will
take possession of our extended and fertile fields, and set us to
work for them.
WHEREFORE, dearly beloved, let us with unconquerable re
solution maintain and defend that liberty wherewith GOD hath
made us free. As the total subjection of a people arises generally
from gradual encroachments, it will be our indispensible duty
manfully to oppose every invasion of our rights in the beginning.
Let nothing discourage us from this duty to ourselves and our pos
terity. Our fathers sought and found freedom in the wilderness;
they cloathed themselves with the skins of wild beasts, and lodged
under trees and among bushes; but in that state they were happy
because they were free. Should these our noble ancestors arise
from the dead, and find their posterity trucking away that liber
ty, which they purchased at so dear a rate, for the mean trifles
and frivolous merchandize of Great Britain, they would return to
the grave with a holy indignation against us. In this day of danger
let us exert every talent, and try every lawful means for the pre
servation of our liberties. It is thought that nothing will be of
more avail, in our present distressed situation, than to stop our
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AT THE DEDICATION OF THE TREE OF LIBERTY 15
imports from Britain. By such a measure this little colony would
save more than 173,000 pounds lawful money, in one year, be
sides the advantages which would arise from the industry of the
inhabitants being directed to the raising of wool and flax, and the
establishment of manufactures. Such a measure might distress
the manufacturers and poor people in England, but that would be
their misfortune. Charity begins at home, and we ought primarily
to consult our own interest; and besides, a little distress might
bring the people of that country to a better temper and a sense of
their injustice towards us. No nation or people in the world ever
made any figure, who were dependent on any other country for
their food or cloathing. Let us then in justice to ourselves and
our selves and our children, break off a trade so pernicious to our
interest, and which is likely to swallow up both our estates and
liberties. — A trade which hath nourished the people, in idleness
and dissipation. We cannot, we will not, betray the trust reposed
in us by our ancestors, by giving up the least of our liberties. We
will be freemen, or we will die. We cannot endure the thought of
being governed by subjects, and we make no doubt but the Al
mighty will look down upon our righteous contest with gracious
approbation. WTe cannot bear the reflection that this country
should be yielded to them who never had any hand in subduing it.
Let our wrhole conduct shewr that we know what is due to ourselves.
Let us act prudently, peaceably, firmly, and jointly. Let us
break all off trade and commerce with a people who would en
slave us, as the only means to prevent our ruin. May we strength
en the hands of the civil government here, and have all our exer
tions tempered writh the principles of peace and order, and may we
by precept and example encourage the practice of virtue and mo
rality, without which no people can be happy.
IT only remains now, that we dedicate the Tree of Liberty.
WE do therefore, in the name and behalf of all the true SONS of
LIBERTY in America, Great Britain, Ireland, Corsica, or whereso-
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16 DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN PROVIDENCE
ever they are dispersed throughout the world, dedicate and solemn
ly devote this tree, to be a TREE of LIBERTY. May all our
councils and deliberations under its venerable branches be guided by
wisdom, and directed to the support and maintenance of that liberty
which our renowned forefathers sought out and found under trees and
in the wilderness.
-May it long flourish, add may the SONS OF LIBERTY
often repair hither, to confirm and strengthen each other
When they look toward this sacred ELM, may they be pene
trated with a sense of their duty to themselves, their country, and
their posterity: And may they, like the house of David, grow
stronger and stronger, while their enemies, like the house of Saul,
grow weaker and weaker. AMEN.
JOHN WATERMAN,
The Printer hereof;
GIVES Notice to his former good Customers and others,
that he continues to make all Sorts of Paper as usual,
and that he sells the same at the cheapest Rates for Cash.
He also carries on the Printing Business at his office at the
Paper-Mill, but intends shortly to remove his office into the
most Public Part of the Town, where he proposes to extend the
Business. The Public may depend upon his Fidelity, Care and
Dispatch, in such Printing Work as they may employ him about.
324
REC CIR AU6 4
FOR^A NO. DD6, 60m
,
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ERKELEY LIBRARIES