Richard Henry Lee to John Dickinson

That I might not be troublesome is the only reason that has hitherto prevented me from answering your agreeable favour of the 10th of August. It is greatly to be lamented that any consideration, should prevail with so potent and so flourishing a people as those of Pennsylvania to be silent, when the Liberty of America is thus dangerously invaded, when her sister Colonies are generously contending against oppression, and when a Union of the whole must infallibly establish the public freedom and security. To what purpose do her merchants toil, her people labor for wealth, if Arbitrary Will, uninfluenced by reason, and urged by interest, shall reap the Harvest of their diligence and industry! - I wish these people may not discover when it is too late, that the blessings of Liberty flow not from timid and selfish policy - I do not observe that your Assembly have even expressed the least dislike to the late duty Act, although all England now agrees its principal intention to be the establishment of a Precedent for American taxation by the British Parliament. Our long expected Governor at length arrived, his lordship s good sense, affability, and politeness give general pleasure, but how far his political opinions may agree with those of Virginia remains yet to be known. The late Assembly is dissolved, and writs have been issued for the choice of a new one, to meet, tis said, in May next - at which meeting; tis reported, we are to be informed, that his Majesty having seen, disapproves our objections to the duty Act, is determined to support the authority of the British Parliamt., and directs the Act of the 6th of his reign (commonly called the Bill of Right) to be laid before the assembly. It is supposed that the silence of the House would on this occasion be highly accept able to Government, but the propriety of being so, is a question much agitated here. Say the time-serving Men, "As the Assembly have denied, and the King has asserted those rights, the matter ought to lie without their taking the least notice of it" - And this on a supposition, that the principle admitted, will never again be carried into execution. - On the other hand, it is contended, that silence in this case, must by all the world, be deemed a tacit giving up our Rights, and an acknowledgement that the British Parliament may at pleasure tax the unrepresented Americans. That every kind of reason makes it probable destructive execution will soon follow so dangerous an admission. The facts it seems are these. On the late Stamp Act being known here, the Assembly asserted their right to exemption from British Taxes. Since that, the Parliament by an Act declare the binding force of their Legislature over America in every instance. But this Act having never been laid before the Assembly by authority, and the Stamp Act being repealed, the Bill of Right passed off unnoticed. However, the world soon saw an intention to avail themselves of this declared right by the passage of the ill judged duty bill.

To this act the Assembly again object, and by petition entreat his Majesty s interposition for the security of their Rights against the principles of that act - should a new Assembly be told that these objections are disapproved, that the authority of Parliament must be supported, and the Bill of Right be laid before them by the highest Authority - How Sir must silence in this case, be construed? The reception of the Act will be registered, but no objection will follow - The poison, unattended by its antidote, may be used for the destruction of the Body Politick - I confess, I cannot readily go along with those who would derive our security from our submission. Is it reasonable to suppose that so sensible a people as the English, would disturb the peace of all North America, and endanger their most valuable trade here, for the poor purpose of establishing a principle they never meant to execute! This it seems to me would be sottishness not wisdom - When opportunity Permits, I should be extremely glad to know your sentiments on this important point, for indeed I am never so wedded to any opinion, but that I can readily yield to clear and superior reason.

I am, with very particular esteem Sir &c &c.

R. H. Lee

To John Dickinson, Esqr. Philadelphia.