Thomas says:

John,

I’d like to see more evidence to support your theory that during the Revolution the British simply began enforcing existing tax law. The Stamp Act of 1765 for example, was clearly not existing law. Franklin said quite well in his Compleated (sic) Autobiography:

It was a common but mistaken notion in Britain that the colonies were planted at the expense of Parliament, and that therefore, the Parliament had a right to tax them, etc. The truth is, they were planted at the expense of private adventurers, who went over to America to settle, with leave of the King given by charter. On receiving this leave and these charters, the adventurers voluntarily engag’d to remain the King’s subjects, through in a foreign country, a country which had not be conquer’d (sic) by either King or Parliament, but was possess’d by a free people. When our planters arrive’d, they purchase’d the lands of the natives without putting King or Parliament to any expense. Parliament had no hand in their settlement, was never so much consulted about their constitution, and took no kind of notice of them til many years after they were established; but nothing was more common at this time in England than to talk of the sovereignty of Parliament, and the sovereignty of that nation over the colonies. (sic).

Rob says:

Oh I can’t stand Curry…

asperante says:

Adam,

you are reading it upside down.. its not an M its a W for Weed 😀