8301. TAXATION, Oppressive English.—
No earthly consideration could induce
my consent to contract such a debt as England
has by her wars for commerce, to reduce
our citizens by taxes to such wretchedness,
as that laboring sixteen of the twenty-four
hours, they are still unable to afford
themselves bread, or barely to earn as much
oatmeal or potatoes as will keep soul and
body together. And all this to feed the
avidity of a few millionary merchants, and to
keep up one thousand ships of war for the
protection of their commercial speculations.—
To William Crawford. Washington ed. vii, 7.
Ford ed., x, 35.
(M.
1816)
