Could Parliament rightfully tax the colonists without their consent?

OCR: 10 cited passage(s) are machine-read (OCR) text of old printings; quotations reproduce the stored OCR text, misreadings included.

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated): Samuel Adams believed that the British constitution could not be altered by the supreme legislative or executive, and that the constitution is fixed and cannot be changed without destroying its own foundation. He argued that the supreme legislative of the empire could not leap the bounds of the constitution in the exercise of power over the subjects in America. (key quote above) [1]
• BELIEF (undated): Samuel Adams believed that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent. He argued that the Act would set a precedent for Parliament to tax the colonists in all future time without their consent, which he viewed as a grievance and an injustice. "Moreover this Act, if carried into Execution, will become a further Grievance to us, as it will afford a Precedent for the Parliament to tax us, in all future Time, & in all such Ways & Measures, as they shall judge meet without our consent." [2]
• BELIEF (undated): Samuel Adams believed that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent, because it would be inconsistent with the British Constitution and the rights of free subjects. "It is an essential Part of it. that the supreme Power cannot take from anv^ man any Part of his Property without his Consent... the Parliament cannot tax them consistent with t^e Constitution, because they are not represented" [3]
• BELIEF (undated): Samuel Adams believed that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent, arguing that taxation and representation are inseparable and that the colonists' lack of representation in Parliament made such taxation unjust and impracticable. [4]
• BELIEF (undated): Samuel Adams believed that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent, because the people of America were never represented in the British Parliament, and therefore the consent of the British Parliament to tax them could not be said to be their consent. (key quote above) [5]
• BELIEF (undated): Samuel Adams believed that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent. He argued that the Stamp Act was passed with the intent to tax the colonies, and that the colonies had always supported their own government, implying that any taxation without their consent was unjust. "the house of commons was resolv'd to propose to the colonies, that they should tax themselves ,£350,000 sterling a year for the maintenance of 10,000 troops to be kept up in America, and for the support of their own government, (which they had always before honorably supported) or they would tax them by the passing of the stamp act" [6]
• BELIEF (undated): Samuel Adams believed that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent because the colonists could not be represented in Parliament, and therefore, their consent could not be constitutionally obtained. "the reason is obvious ; because, they cannot be represented, and therefore, their consent cannot be constitutionally had in Parliament." [7]
• BELIEF (undated): Samuel Adams believed that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent, and he argued that if the colonists had acknowledged Parliament's right to tax them, it would have influenced their choice of representatives and changed the course of events. "he acknowledges that 'there is a great deal of justice and propriety in the case, that the subjects taxed should give their consent by their representatives'" [8]
• BELIEF (undated): Samuel Adams believed that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent, because the colonists were not equally represented in Parliament and thus could not give their consent. He argued that this violated the British constitution and endangered the security of rights and property. "And your Lordship will judge, whether any necessity can render it just and equitable in the nature of things, that the supreme legislative of the empire, should impose duties, subsidies, talliages and taxes, internal or external, for the sole purpose of raising a revenue, upon subjects that are not, and cannot, considering their local circumstances, by any possibility, be equally represented, and consequently, whose consent cannot be had in Parliament." [9]
• BELIEF (undated): Samuel Adams believed that it was unconstitutional for Parliament to tax the colonists because they were not represented in Parliament, and in his opinion, it ever would be unconstitutional because they never could be present in Parliament by their representatives, it being impracticable. [10]

What cuts against it

• The contrary-evidence entries are already in the record ledger above: [1], [2], [3], [4].

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. Samuel Adams believed that the British constitution could not be altered by the supreme legislative or executive. [1]

2. He argued that the constitution is fixed and cannot be changed without destroying its own foundation. [1]

3. He believed that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent, as it would set a precedent for future taxation without consent, which he viewed as a grievance and an injustice. [2]

4. He argued that the Act would afford Parliament the right to tax the colonists in all future time without their consent, which he considered a violation of their rights. [2]

5. He believed that the British Constitution and the rights of free subjects were violated by taxation without representation, and that the colonists could not be represented in Parliament, making such taxation unjust and impracticable. [3] [4]

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

Samuel Adams directly addressed the question of whether Parliament could rightfully tax the colonists without their consent. He consistently argued that it could not, citing the British Constitution, the principle of representation, and the rights of free subjects.

Extrapolation: Samuel Adams believed that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent. He argued that the British Constitution and the rights of free subjects were violated by taxation without representation, and that the colonists could not be represented in Parliament, making such taxation unjust and impracticable.

Competing readings: None of the passages suggest a competing reading that contradicts Samuel Adams's belief that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent.

Confidence: High. The record directly supports Samuel Adams's belief that Parliament could not rightfully tax the colonists without their consent, citing the British Constitution, the principle of representation, and the rights of free subjects.