_Q._ Does the distinction between internal and external taxes exist in the words of the charter?
_Q._ Then may they not, by the same interpretation, object to the parliament's right of external taxation?
_A._ They never _have_ hitherto. Many arguments have been lately used here to show them that there is no difference, and that if you have no right to tax them internally, you have none to tax them externally, or make any other law to bind them. At present they do not reason so; but in time they may possibly be convinced by these arguments.
_Q._ Do not the resolutions of the Pensylvania assembly say--all taxes?
_A._ If they do, they mean only internal taxes; the same words have not always the same meaning here and in the colonies. By taxes they mean internal taxes; by duties they mean customs; these are their ideas of the language.
_Q._ Have you not seen the resolutions of the Massachusett's Bay assembly?
_Q._ Do they not say, that neither external nor internal taxes can be laid on them by parliament?
_A._ I don't know that they do; I believe not.
_Q._ If the same colony should say, neither tax nor imposition could be laid, does not that province hold the power of parliament can lay neither?
_A._ I suppose that by the word imposition, they do not intend to express duties to be laid on goods imported, as _regulations of commerce_.
_Q._ What can the colonies mean then by imposition as distinct from taxes?
_A._ They may mean many things, as impressing of men, or of carriages, quartering troops on private houses, and the like; there may be great impositions that are not properly taxes.
_Q._ Is not the post-office rate an internal tax laid by act of parliament?
_Q._ Are all parts of the colonies equally able to pay taxes?
_A._ No, certainly; the frontier parts, which have been ravaged by the enemy, are greatly disabled by that means; and therefore, in such cases, are usually favoured in our tax-laws.
_Q._ Can we, at this distance, be competent judges of what favours are necessary?
_A._ The parliament have supposed it, by claiming a right to make tax-laws for America; I think it impossible.
_Q._ Would the repeal of the stamp act be any discouragement of your manufactures? Will the people that have begun to manufacture decline it?