Two Members of Parliament Debate 'American' on the Eve of the Stamp Act
A Brief Exchange Worthy Of Our Attention
While doing work on the Stamp Act Congress, I came across this exchange, published in full in Don Cook’s brilliant book, The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies, 1760-1785, pp. 67-68, on the floor of Parliament on February 6, 1765.
The passage is as follows:
Charles Townshend, speaking on behalf of the [British] government, interjected this typically pompous rhetoric:
“Now, will these Americans, children planted by our care, nourished by our indulgence until grown to a degree of strength and opulence, protected by our arms, will they grudge to contribute a mite to relieve us from the heavy weight of that burden which we lie under for their defense?”
Up rose Colonel Isaac Barre, a tall, fierce, rough-talking one-eyed veteran who had fought with Wolfe at the Plains of Abraham. Unlike virtually every other MP, Barre knew America firsthand and was devoted to the American cause [of opposing the Stamp Act]. Barre turned to Townshend and replied in passionate oratory:
“They, planted by your care? No! Your oppression planted ‘Em in America, They fled your tyranny to an uncultivated and unhospitable country where they exposed themselves to almost all the hardships to which human nature is liable, and among others to the cruelty of a Savage foe. And yet, actuated by the Principles of English Liberty, they met all these hardships with pleasure, compared with those they suffered in their own Country, from the hands of those who should have been their friends.
They, nourished by your Indulgence? They grew up by your neglect of ‘Em; as soon as you began to care about ‘Em, that care was exercised in sending persons to rule over ‘Em—sent to spy out their Liberty, to misrepresent their Actions, to prey on ‘Em.
They, protected by your Arms? They have nobly taken up Arms in your defense, have exerted a valor against their consent and Laborious industry for the defense of a Country whose frontiers, while drenched in blood, its interior Parts have yielded all its little Savings to your Emolument. And believe me, and remember I this day told you so, that some spirit of Freedom which actuated that people at first will accompany them still —but Prudence forbids me to explain myself further.
God Knows I do not act at this Time to speak from motives of party Heat, what I deliver are the Genuine Sentiments of my heart. I claim to know more of America than most of you, having seen and been conversant in that Country. The People I believe are as truly Loyal as any Subjects the King has, but a people Jealous of their Liberties who will vindicate them, if ever they should be violated—but the subject is too delicate and I will say no more.”
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These words have been published many times over, and Mr. Barre, whose name can be attached to the town of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, is oft-mentioned in colonial American history circles, but what should we make of this back and forth? It’s quite fascinating how much is said here. Mr. Townshend’s words represent the view of the stuffy, English aristocratic ruling gentry who are owed something while Mr. Barre, someone who has actually been among these children, lucidly sums up why Americans owed nothing but to themselves. And notice where Barre cuts himself off; I wonder where his tongue was about to go next…