the  stamp  act  be  repealed,  totally,  absolutely,  and  immedi-  ^"ap-  ^^■

The  bill  for  its  repeal,  at  length  passed  the  commons,  and  Passes  the
was  sent  to  the  house  of  lords,  where  it  met  with  much  op-  J""™**"^ '
position.      But  the  cause  of  the  colonies  was  ably  advocated  the  house  of
by  Lord  Camden.     "  My  position,"  said  he,  "  is  this  ;  I  re-  lords  by-
peat  it,  I  will  maintain  it  to  my  last  hour — taxation  and  repre-  ^en  "*
sentation  are  inseparable.      This  position  is  founded  on  the
laws  of  nature  ;  it  is  more — it  is  itself  an  eternal  law  of  na-
ture :  for  whatever  is  a  man's  own  is  absolutely  his  own ;  no
man  has  a  right  to  take  it  from  him  without  his  consent.
Whoever  attempts  to  do  it,  attempts  an  injury  ;  whoever  does  March  18.
it,  commits  a  robbery."     The  bill  for  repeal  at  length  passed  Passes  the
the  house  of  Lords,  but  with  it  was  another,  called  the  "  de-  lordT  bit  its
claratory  bill,"  in  which  the  resolution  was  repeated,  that  salutary
"  parliament  had  a  right  to  bind  the  colonies  in  all  cases  what-  ^^^^  4^"

^                                       °  stroyed.
soever.
CHAPTER  IV.
Second  attempt  to  tax  America. — Opposition.
1766.
Although  the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act  gave  joy  to  the  col-
onists, yet,  while  a  principle  was  at  the  same  time  asserted,    colonies
upon  which,  any  future  ministry,  with  the  sanction  of  parlia-  jealous  and
mentary  authority,  might  oppress  them,  they  continued  a  jeal-    watchful.
ous  watch  over  the  British  government.
