It was true that America had gained from the late war.

The foreign enemy had been struck down.

But had he not been struck down too for England?
Had there not been far more dread in England of invasion by France and had not the colonies by helping to ruin France freed England as much as England had freed them?
If now the colonies were asked to pay a share of the bill for the British army that was a matter for discussion.

They had never before done it and they must not be told that they had to meet the demand within a year or be compelled to pay.

Was it not to impose tyranny and slavery to tell a people that their property would be taken by force if they did not choose to give it?
What free man would not rather die than yield on such a point?
The familiar workings of modern democracy have taught us that a great political issue must be discussed in broad terms of high praise or severe blame.