8490. TRADE, Restrictions on.—
Some
of the colonies having thought proper to continue
the administration of their government
in the name and under the authority of his
Majesty, King Charles I. whom, notwithstanding
his late deposition by the Commonwealth
of England, they continued in the
sovereignty of their State, the Parliament for
the Commonwealth, took the same in high
offence, and assumed upon themselves the
power of prohibiting their trade with all other
parts of the world, except the Island of Great
Britain. This arbitrary act, however, they
soon recalled, and by solemn treaty entered
into on the 12th day of March, 1651, between
the said Commonwealth, by their Commissioners,
and the Colony of Virginia by their
House of Burgesses, it was expressly stipulated
by the eighth article of the said treaty,
that they should have “free trade as the people
of England do enjoy to all places and with
all nations, according to the laws of that
Commonwealth”. But * * * upon the
restoration of his Majesty, King Charles II.,
their rights of free commerce fell once more
a victim to arbitrary power; and by several
acts of his reign, as well as of some of his
successors, the trade of the Colonies was laid
under such restructions, as show what hopes
they might form from the justice of a British
Parliament, were its uncontrolled power admitted
over these States.—
Rights of British America. Washington ed. i, 127.
Ford ed., i, 432.
(1774)
