I will no longer stand by and allow Britain to do with the colonies what they wish! I am one of many who have come to be a part of this new land. This is land that has been run by the British government, which does not quite make sense to me; after all, we are an ocean away from each other. Although many of us have been born British, we are no longer a part of them; I, for one, am a citizen of New York. Why should we, the colonies, continue to follow under the rule of a country that really does not have much to do with us? We need each other in terms of trade and such, but how do we benefit in any other way from the British? We are a new people and part something new; I hold my alliance with New York, and not with Great Britain because the Brits wrongly taxed us, the limits on the immigrants, the conditions in the prisons for the prisoners of war, and how they want to continue to maintain control over the colonies.
The Tories do not allow the immigrants to settle in the colonies and treat the prisoners of war inhumanely. “The British also exploited to the fullest two other manpower pools, immigrants and war prisoners.”1 With the harsh and forceful conditions many found no other way around alliance. “According to Captain Alexander McDonald of the Royal Highland Emigrants, ‘We cannot say they [the immigrants] were there forced into the Service, yet there was no other shift for them since they would not be allowed to goe to Settle in the Country, and it was promised them their wives and Children should have the Same allowance with the others belonging to the Army.”1 Those in jail see it as either a life or death situation. “Through December and January, more and more prisoners died in all the British jails. Not surprisingly, the recruiters did well. Many prisoners enlisted to escape life in these prisons. Others joined only to desert at the first opportunity.”1 Many have been forced to join the tories, not by choice, but as the only way out; who wants to be a part of a country that “created inhuman conditions to push prisoners into enlisting”1 or whose enlistment technique is “force, or fear of it”?1
Great Britain has been taxing us for matters of their own benefit. They chose to protect us and now expect us to pay taxes on everything in order to repay for this protection? This is clearly stated in the Stamp Act, where it says, “Whereas by an act made in the last session of parliament, several duties were granted, continued, and appropriated, towards defraying the expences of defending, protecting, and securing, the British colonies and plantations in America: and whereas it is just and necessary, that provision be made for raising a further revenue within your MajestyÂ’s dominions in America, towards defraying the said expences[...]. That from and after the first day of November, one thousand seven hundred and sixty five, there shall be raised, levied, collected, and paid unto his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, throughout the colonies and plantations in America which now are, or hereafter may be, under the dominion of his Majesty, his heirs and successors.”2 We do not feel that this is our responsibility to repay Great Britain because they defended us in their best interests towards trade not because we asked them to, so we, the merchants of New York, have put into place the Non-importation Agreement. In this agreement, we have all “promise and oblige ourselves not to buy any goods, wares, or merchandises of any person or persons whatsoever that shall he shipped from Great Britain after the first day of January next unless the Stamp Act shall be repealed-as witness our hands.” The result of the taxes infringed upon us has put many colonists, including myself, into debt and should not be our responsibility.
Great Britain is wrongly taxing us and we are not willing to allow this to keep happening any more. We, the merchants, the lawyers, and other inhabitants of many ranks unite to testify our dislikes for the evil project the Brits have of enslaving Americans, by means of taxes. We came together in order to create a document called “Association of the Sons of Liberty in New York,” in which we all agree that we are not going to have anything to do with the duties on tea nor those who do. Together we understand that taxation has been a big issue and that it is not ok. They have used it against us to maintain some control, but no longer are we going to sit back and allow this to happen, nor favor anyone else who allows the taxation to continue without any act towards change. Little by little, we will not stop making attempts to take over our land and run it our way, by our own people.
The British are taxing us for things that do not belong to them. Why might anyone want to be a Tory? After all, the British are selfish. “For ‘What property have they in that which another may, by right, take when he pleases to himself?’ The former is the undoubted right of Englishmen, to secure which they expended millions and sacrificed the lives of thousands.”4 All they want is money for things that do not belong to them, in order to make up for the money that they willingly sacrificed. Why does it become our problem that they decided on their own to defend their own interests and that they are now in debt? The Brits keep trying to impose taxes on goods that they do not own.
Our constitution, like the constitution of many other states, touches on subjects such as how our government is run by the people, how we are protected under the constitution and those in ruling power must judge our crimes according, the right-to-bear-arms, the pursuit of happiness, freedom of religion and the liberties that we have been fighting for. We earn what we have been fighting for all along, our liberties and a form of government that we have taken back control of. No longer must we consider ourselves British or the lower class British men. All along I knew that what I was fighting for was right and that in the end we would conquer as we have.
Patrick Henry is one of my inspirations because he understands how important our liberty is and how we need to stand up to Great Britain. I was there the day he gave his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” Speech and it was phenomenal. The way he spoke with such a profound and determined character came to my amazement. He had the guts to say what I had been thinking all along. If I could have, I would have stood by his side during that speech and shown that I too believe that our liberty is worth our lives, after all, what is life without liberty. Sacrificing everything for everyone’s freedom is more than worthwhile, it is necessary and it is a privilege to have that opportunity to make a difference. Like the saying, drastic times call for drastic measures and this is one. He shows us that there really is not much of another option, because the “war” has already begun and there is no turning back. Either we stand up for the change or we fall back and let Great Britain continue to push us around. Like Patrick Henry’s decision, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
As a patriot from New York, I am so glad that we have finally won our independence. No longer can the Brits continue to tax us on our own goods. No longer can they try to control us and manipulate us. No longer can they control the people that come into the United States, or anything that we decide to do. It is such a breath of fresh air to finally be Americans.
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