William Pitt，Earl of Chatham
ON THE RIGHT OF TAXING AMERICA
January 14，1766
It is my opinion that this kingdom has no right to lay a tax upon the colonies.At the same time，I assert the authority of this kingdom over the colonies to be sovereign and supreme，in every circumstance of government and legislation whatsoever.They are the subjects of this kingdom；equally entitled with ourselves to all the natural rights of mankind and the peculiar privileges of English－men；equally bound by its laws，and equally participating in the constitution of this free country.The Americans are the sons，not the bastards of England！Taxation is no part of the governing or legislative power.The taxes are a voluntary gift and grant of the Commons alone.In legislation the three estates of the realm are alike concerned；but the concurrence of the peers and the Crown to a tax is only necessary to clothe it with the form of a law.The gift and grant is of the Commons alone.In ancient days，the Crown，the barons，and the clergy possessed the lands.In those days，the barons and the clergy gave and granted to the Crown.They gave and granted what was their own！At present，since the discovery of America，and other circumstances permitting，the Commons are become the proprietors of the land.The Church（God bless it?。﹉as but a pittance.The property of the lords，compared with that of the Commons，is as a drop of water in the ocean；and this House represents those Commons，the proprietors of the lands；and those proprietors virtually represent the rest of the inhabitants.When，there－fore，in this House，we give and grant，we give and grant what is our own.But in an American tax，what do we do？“We，your Majesty's Commons for Great Britain，give and grant to your Majesty”—what？Our own property！No！“We give and grant to your Majesty the property of your Majesty's Commons of America！It is an absurdity in terms.
The distinction between legislation and taxation is essentially necessary to liberty.The Crown and the peers are equally legislative powers with the Commons.If taxation be a part of simple legislation，the Crown and the peers have rights in taxation as well as yourselves；rights which they will claim，which they will exercise，whenever the principle can be supported by power.
There is an idea in some that the colonies are virtually represented in the House.I would fain know by whom an American is represented here.Is he represented by any knight of the shire，in any county in this kingdom？Would to God that respectable representation was augmented to a greater number！Or will you tell him that he is represented by any representative of a borough？a borough which，perhaps，its own representatives never saw！This is what is called the rotten part of the constitution.It cannot continue a century.If it does not drop，it must be amputated.The idea of a virtual representation of America in this House is the most contemptible idea that ever entered into the head of a man.It does not deserve a serious refutation.
The Commons of America，represented in their several assemblies，have ever been in possession of the exercise of this，their constitutional right，of giving and granting their own money.They would have been slaves if they had not enjoyed it！At the same time，this kingdom，as the supreme governing and legislative power，has al-ways bound the colonies by her laws，by her regulations，and restrictions in trade，in navigation，in manufactures，in everything，except that of taking their money out of their pockets without their consent.
Gentlemen，sir，have been charged with giving birth to sedition in America.They have spoken their sentiments with freedom against this unhappy act，and that freedom has become their crime.Sorry I am to hear the liberty of speech in this House imputed as a crime.But the imputation shall not discourage me.It is a liberty I mea to exercise.No gentleman ought to be afraid to exercise it.It is a liberty by which the gentleman who calumniates it might have profited.He ought to have desisted from his project.The gentleman tells us Americans obstinate；America is almost in open rebellion.I rejoice that America has resisted.Three millions of people，so dead to all the feelings of liberty as voluntarily to submit to be slaves，would have been fit instruments to make slaves of the rest.
查塔姆伯爵威廉·皮特
論向亞美利加征稅的權利
1766年1月14日
我個人認為，我們這個王國無權向殖民地征稅。與此同時，我堅決主張無論在行政或立法的任何一個方面，王國對殖民地的權威是至高無上的。他們是本王國的臣民；跟你們一樣享有人類的天賦權利和英國人的特權；一樣受到王國法律的約束，一樣參與這個自由國家的組成。亞美利加人是英國的子孫而不是私生子！課稅不是行政或立法權的組成部分。稅款是平民自愿交納的。在法律上，王國的三大社會等級一樣受到關注；但是賦予稅收以法律形式卻須得到貴族和國王的同意。唯有平民交納稅賦。古時候，帝王、貴族和牧師擁有土地。當時貴族和牧師向帝王納貢。他們交納的是自己擁有的東西！由于美洲的發(fā)現(xiàn)和其他一些情況，目前平民成了土地擁有者。教會（上帝保佑它?。┧玫降膬H僅是一些小額施舍。貴族的財產與平民百姓的財產相比，好比汪洋大海中的一滴水；而下院是代表土地擁有者——平民的；這威廉·皮特（1708—1778），英國政治家，曾是英國政府的主要決策人。晚年致力于調解英國與北美殖民地的關系。本篇是他在下院發(fā)表的演說。
些土地擁有者實際上代表著其他居民。所以當我們在下院中交稅時，我們所交的是自己的東西。但是亞美利加人納稅與我何干？“我們，陛下在大不列顛的平民向陛下交納”——什么？自己的財產！不對！“我們向陛下交納陛下在亞美利加的平民的財產！”真是荒謬絕倫。
把立法和征稅區(qū)分開來對于維護自由權是非常必要的。國王和貴族與平民一樣都有立法權。如果征稅只是立法的一個組成部分，那么國王和貴族跟你們擁有一樣的權利；只要這項原則得到權力的支持，他們就會要求得到井行使這些權利。
某些人有一種觀點，認為下院實際上也代表著殖民地。我很想知道誰在這里代表亞美利加人？王國任何一個郡的任何一個郡選議員都代表亞美利加人？天呀！但愿這種可敬的代表能夠大量增加！或者你會對亞美利加人說，任何一個享有自治權的市鎮(zhèn)的議員都代表他嗎？可是這個市鎮(zhèn)的議員們卻不曾意識到這一點！這就是憲法糟糕的部分。它無法延續(xù)一個世紀，這若不中止執(zhí)行就必須刪除。認為下院實際上代表亞美利加的觀點是人所能構想的卑鄙的思想，不值一駁。
亞美利加一些州議會所代表的平民擁有交納自己的金錢的憲法權利。如果他們享受不到這種權利，就會成為奴隸。同時，王國作為高的統(tǒng)治和立法權力機構，一直以其法律法規(guī)和貿易、航運、制造業(yè)及各個方面的規(guī)定把各殖民地結合起來，但是無權未經它們同意即從它們的口袋里取走金錢。
先生們，議員被指責在亞美利加進行煽動。他們自由地表現(xiàn)反對這項災難性法案的激烈情緒，這種自由已變成他們的罪行。我十分遺憾地聽到言論自由在下院被判定為一種罪行。然而，這種指責不會使我泄氣。那正是我打算行使的自由。議員不應害怕行使這種自由。有人一面對這種自由惡意中傷，一面也許會借這種自由取利。他應該停止他的計劃。這位議員對我們說亞美利加倔強不馴，幾乎要公開叛亂。我卻因亞美利加進行了反抗而感到欣喜。三百萬人民對自由的感情麻木冷淡，甘愿屈服為奴，那就會成為使其他人成為奴隸的合適工具。
ON THE RIGHT OF TAXING AMERICA
January 14，1766
It is my opinion that this kingdom has no right to lay a tax upon the colonies.At the same time，I assert the authority of this kingdom over the colonies to be sovereign and supreme，in every circumstance of government and legislation whatsoever.They are the subjects of this kingdom；equally entitled with ourselves to all the natural rights of mankind and the peculiar privileges of English－men；equally bound by its laws，and equally participating in the constitution of this free country.The Americans are the sons，not the bastards of England！Taxation is no part of the governing or legislative power.The taxes are a voluntary gift and grant of the Commons alone.In legislation the three estates of the realm are alike concerned；but the concurrence of the peers and the Crown to a tax is only necessary to clothe it with the form of a law.The gift and grant is of the Commons alone.In ancient days，the Crown，the barons，and the clergy possessed the lands.In those days，the barons and the clergy gave and granted to the Crown.They gave and granted what was their own！At present，since the discovery of America，and other circumstances permitting，the Commons are become the proprietors of the land.The Church（God bless it?。﹉as but a pittance.The property of the lords，compared with that of the Commons，is as a drop of water in the ocean；and this House represents those Commons，the proprietors of the lands；and those proprietors virtually represent the rest of the inhabitants.When，there－fore，in this House，we give and grant，we give and grant what is our own.But in an American tax，what do we do？“We，your Majesty's Commons for Great Britain，give and grant to your Majesty”—what？Our own property！No！“We give and grant to your Majesty the property of your Majesty's Commons of America！It is an absurdity in terms.
The distinction between legislation and taxation is essentially necessary to liberty.The Crown and the peers are equally legislative powers with the Commons.If taxation be a part of simple legislation，the Crown and the peers have rights in taxation as well as yourselves；rights which they will claim，which they will exercise，whenever the principle can be supported by power.
There is an idea in some that the colonies are virtually represented in the House.I would fain know by whom an American is represented here.Is he represented by any knight of the shire，in any county in this kingdom？Would to God that respectable representation was augmented to a greater number！Or will you tell him that he is represented by any representative of a borough？a borough which，perhaps，its own representatives never saw！This is what is called the rotten part of the constitution.It cannot continue a century.If it does not drop，it must be amputated.The idea of a virtual representation of America in this House is the most contemptible idea that ever entered into the head of a man.It does not deserve a serious refutation.
The Commons of America，represented in their several assemblies，have ever been in possession of the exercise of this，their constitutional right，of giving and granting their own money.They would have been slaves if they had not enjoyed it！At the same time，this kingdom，as the supreme governing and legislative power，has al-ways bound the colonies by her laws，by her regulations，and restrictions in trade，in navigation，in manufactures，in everything，except that of taking their money out of their pockets without their consent.
Gentlemen，sir，have been charged with giving birth to sedition in America.They have spoken their sentiments with freedom against this unhappy act，and that freedom has become their crime.Sorry I am to hear the liberty of speech in this House imputed as a crime.But the imputation shall not discourage me.It is a liberty I mea to exercise.No gentleman ought to be afraid to exercise it.It is a liberty by which the gentleman who calumniates it might have profited.He ought to have desisted from his project.The gentleman tells us Americans obstinate；America is almost in open rebellion.I rejoice that America has resisted.Three millions of people，so dead to all the feelings of liberty as voluntarily to submit to be slaves，would have been fit instruments to make slaves of the rest.
查塔姆伯爵威廉·皮特
論向亞美利加征稅的權利
1766年1月14日
我個人認為，我們這個王國無權向殖民地征稅。與此同時，我堅決主張無論在行政或立法的任何一個方面，王國對殖民地的權威是至高無上的。他們是本王國的臣民；跟你們一樣享有人類的天賦權利和英國人的特權；一樣受到王國法律的約束，一樣參與這個自由國家的組成。亞美利加人是英國的子孫而不是私生子！課稅不是行政或立法權的組成部分。稅款是平民自愿交納的。在法律上，王國的三大社會等級一樣受到關注；但是賦予稅收以法律形式卻須得到貴族和國王的同意。唯有平民交納稅賦。古時候，帝王、貴族和牧師擁有土地。當時貴族和牧師向帝王納貢。他們交納的是自己擁有的東西！由于美洲的發(fā)現(xiàn)和其他一些情況，目前平民成了土地擁有者。教會（上帝保佑它?。┧玫降膬H僅是一些小額施舍。貴族的財產與平民百姓的財產相比，好比汪洋大海中的一滴水；而下院是代表土地擁有者——平民的；這威廉·皮特（1708—1778），英國政治家，曾是英國政府的主要決策人。晚年致力于調解英國與北美殖民地的關系。本篇是他在下院發(fā)表的演說。
些土地擁有者實際上代表著其他居民。所以當我們在下院中交稅時，我們所交的是自己的東西。但是亞美利加人納稅與我何干？“我們，陛下在大不列顛的平民向陛下交納”——什么？自己的財產！不對！“我們向陛下交納陛下在亞美利加的平民的財產！”真是荒謬絕倫。
把立法和征稅區(qū)分開來對于維護自由權是非常必要的。國王和貴族與平民一樣都有立法權。如果征稅只是立法的一個組成部分，那么國王和貴族跟你們擁有一樣的權利；只要這項原則得到權力的支持，他們就會要求得到井行使這些權利。
某些人有一種觀點，認為下院實際上也代表著殖民地。我很想知道誰在這里代表亞美利加人？王國任何一個郡的任何一個郡選議員都代表亞美利加人？天呀！但愿這種可敬的代表能夠大量增加！或者你會對亞美利加人說，任何一個享有自治權的市鎮(zhèn)的議員都代表他嗎？可是這個市鎮(zhèn)的議員們卻不曾意識到這一點！這就是憲法糟糕的部分。它無法延續(xù)一個世紀，這若不中止執(zhí)行就必須刪除。認為下院實際上代表亞美利加的觀點是人所能構想的卑鄙的思想，不值一駁。
亞美利加一些州議會所代表的平民擁有交納自己的金錢的憲法權利。如果他們享受不到這種權利，就會成為奴隸。同時，王國作為高的統(tǒng)治和立法權力機構，一直以其法律法規(guī)和貿易、航運、制造業(yè)及各個方面的規(guī)定把各殖民地結合起來，但是無權未經它們同意即從它們的口袋里取走金錢。
先生們，議員被指責在亞美利加進行煽動。他們自由地表現(xiàn)反對這項災難性法案的激烈情緒，這種自由已變成他們的罪行。我十分遺憾地聽到言論自由在下院被判定為一種罪行。然而，這種指責不會使我泄氣。那正是我打算行使的自由。議員不應害怕行使這種自由。有人一面對這種自由惡意中傷，一面也許會借這種自由取利。他應該停止他的計劃。這位議員對我們說亞美利加倔強不馴，幾乎要公開叛亂。我卻因亞美利加進行了反抗而感到欣喜。三百萬人民對自由的感情麻木冷淡，甘愿屈服為奴，那就會成為使其他人成為奴隸的合適工具。