Speech on Conciliation with America

by Edmund Burke

BCC: With extensive knowledge of political affairs, Edmund Burke possessed a glowing imagination and passionate sympathies expressed in his landmark speeches, which continue to captivate contemporary readers. The best of Burke's writings and speeches uphold his position on the need for rigorous constitutional statesmanship against widespread abuse of authority in government. He remains one of the foremost political thinkers of eighteenth-century England. AUTHOR BIO: British political writer and statesman EDMUND BURKE (1729-1797) was educated at a Quaker boarding school and at Trinity College in Dublin. His eloquence gained him a high position in Britain's Whig party, and although he never held public office, his public activity never ceased. His works include Observations on the Present State of the Nation (1769) and On the Causes of the Present Discontents (1770). Perhaps the finest of his many efforts are the speech on American taxation (1774) and the letter to the sheriffs of Bristol (1777), which advocated astute and moderate measures to impending public crises.

Genres: History, Politics, Philosophy, Classics, American History, Nonfiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 1775

About the author

After A Philosophical Inquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful , aesthetic treatise of 1757, Edmund Burke, also noted Irish British politician and writer, supported the cause of the American colonists in Parliament but took a more conservative position in his Reflections on the Revolution in France in 1790.

Edmund Burke, an Anglo statesman, author, orator, and theorist, served for many years in the House of Commons as a member of the Whig party. People remember mainly the dispute with George III, great king, and his leadership and strength. The latter made Burke to lead figures, dubbed the "old" faction of the Whig against new Charles James Fox. Burke published a work and attempted to define triggering of emotions and passions in a person. Burke worked and founded the Annual Register, a review. People often regard him as the Anglo founder.

Reviews

[Patrick Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

2022-08-25 I read this my junior year in college for an American Revolution History course that it was assigned for. I remember it being EXCELLENT!!!! Very well written. Not hard to read, over 200 years later. Quite persuasive and scholar, even though Burke was not able to persuade his fellow Members of Parliament to conciliate with the American colonies.

Truly a classic work though.

I did not read this edition of the speech, since it came later than when I read it.

[Jessica Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This speech is a must!

For those who study oration, this is a must. For those who study American history, this is a must. And for those who study government, Edmund Burke is a must.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A political speech on a fascinating topic. Shortly before the American Revolution, Burke gave a speech on the problems between the colonies and the old country.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eloquent argument from Burke which I am inclined to agree with. He demonstrates the connection between Englishmen in the Mother Country and those in the New World beautifully, how both hold liberty dearly and, in Burke's point of view, it is not that Americans wish to rebel but that they are being pushed to rebel, and that the danger that lies with this educated populace - given they were raised by the book - is not one to be underestimated at all and that we ought to provide representation once we can figure out how to operate it. Burke does not particularly come to a firm conclusion on this, but applauds local colonial governments competence, although this slightly contradicts his usage of the past examples - Ireland, Wales, Chester, Durham, all of which were integrated through the things Burke suggests - given they were governed under one Parliament and not handed over to local government for a while.

The grievances that the Americans suffered thanks to taxes is excellently put in a single sentence - 'They complain, that they are taxed without their consent: you answer, that you will fix the sum at which they shall be taxed.' One questions why on earth Lord North's government would wantonly continue to impose these taxes with no expectation the consequence may be a faraway rebellion, something that destroyed his premiership? I can only have sympathy, but whilst Burke disagrees with an Empire essentially bullying its friends or colonies, he did not have the unfortunate power of clairvoyance to see his own nation be bullied by the bullied boy, luckily for him. However, whilst it perhaps would be less justified in modern times, in the context I can only agree with Burke's sentiments.

It is occasional verbose but never particularly dry. There is a very good reason Burke could live by the word, and his prose is a reason for his longevity. Another reason for the longevity is how it can be adapted to our world, and this text can be too, for I can only think that he would dislike the European Union, something that bullies their own virtual colonies with no regard for how the colonists would feel. Along with the unaccountable taxation and the lack of moral and blood connection, I can only imagine Burke would see this as being repugnant to our nation, not like America which he did not disagree with the rule in principle but the rule in practice. Then again, I suppose Burke never foresaw such a project ever being fashioned due to the enmity between the nations. But who could honestly argue that it has disappeared?

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this short speech because it was mentioned in David McCullough's "1776" and piqued my interest. Definitely worth mentioning and reading. Burke has a lot of reasons why they need to make peace with America; to me the most interesting is the idea that something besides rules and laws and taxes keep a people together, keep people paying taxes and abiding by rules. He points out that it is the love of the people and the feeling that they all have a stake and a claim in things keeps them together and keeps the English idea of freedom alive. This to me is the part that is most relevant for us today, and sounded very much like it could be referring to the 2016 Presidential Election:
"All this, I know well enough, will sound wild and chimerical to... a sort of people who think that nothing exists but what is gross and material, and who, therefore, far from being qualified to be directors of the great movement of empire, are not fit to turn a wheel in the machine... Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together."

[Owlseyes]

"All Protestantism, even the most cold and passive, is a sort of dissent. But the religion most prevalent in our Northern colonies is a refinement on the principle of resistance: it is the dissidence of dissent and the Protestantism of the Protestant religion. This religion, under a variety of denominations agreeing in nothing but in the communion of the spirit of liberty, is predominant in most of the Northern provinces, where the Church of England, notwithstanding its legal rights, is in reality no more than a sort of private sect, not composing most probably the tenth of the people."

[Michael Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A proposal to end the difficulties with America before they moved to full-scale independence. Burke's plan would have acknowledge the state of colonial affairs and allowed for self-government, but obligated America to provide money for the use of the Empire, but in America. An interesting look at a path not taken.

[PlatonisCiceronis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a shame to think that a young man, in need of a proper education, would find it difficult, and perhaps impossible, to find a class in our education system where this speech would be read, let alone analyzed. Thus, this Burkean panegyric on America, I have deemed necessary reading for any well-instructed citizen within these United States.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burke gives a thoughtful, moving plea to his fellow Members of Parliament to reconsider England's punitive policy toward its American colonies and proposes a more conciliatory approach on the eve of the Revolution. He throws aside abstract reasoning and on-principle arguments in favor of pure pragmatism. He demonstrates that the colonies paid voluntary taxes on numerous occasions in the past, highlights the times Parliament commended the colonies for doing so, and even rebated some income on occasions when it was deemed too much. He further showed how some of the punitive measures reduced America's (and hence England's) wealth, while of course the stationing of troops, inspectors, collectors, etc., came at great expense.

Recognizing the King's and Parliament's sovereignty over the colonies, and recognizing the colonies' objections to direct taxation without representation, Burke nonetheless does not propose granting the colonies representation in Parliament, without providing much of his reasoning for this. Rather, he proposes a return to self-government for the colonies and for voluntary tax contributions, not upon a specific demand or ransom, but leaving both the amount and means up to the colonies.

While verbose in places, he comes through with exceptional clarity overall and with hard-hitting pithy insights in parts as well. Burke reminds us, not only in this situation, but in all conflict negotiations:

The superior power may offer peace with honor and with safety. Such an offer from such a power will be attributed to magnanimity. But the concessions of the weak are the concessions of fear. (location 8076-8077)

In his rejection of principled arguments, legal technicalities, and abstract reasoning as a solution to the crisis, Burke says, "It is not what a lawyer tell me I MAY do, but what humanity, reason, and justice tell me I OUGHT to do." (location 8532)

I recommend it for all, especially those interested in American and/or English history, politics, and/or conflict resolution.

I actually read this in Collected Works of Edmund Burke but Goodreads' character limit prevents me from reviewing the whole of it in one place, so I reviewed the parts piecemeal. Location references are to the work I read.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irish guy in British Parliament Edmund Burke says hey wait a minute maybe we should patch things up with America, but by then the Marines had already formed, so it was too little too late; and Burke’s position here is pretty interesting; knowing the position he would later take regarding the French Revolution. Also, he knocks Germany’s perpetual state of war- nevermind that the British king at the time is descended from a German royal house.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burke's lengthy speech, delivered to fellow British Parliamentarians validating the American colonists' grievances before the Revolutionary War, was an illuminating perspective. He recounted history on taxation, representation, and British policy toward the colonies, and the recent changes that had created problems. He laid the fault at the feet of the English and believed conciliation was within grasp. I've long been fascinated by Burke's support for America's revolutionary zeal and opposition to the French's a decade or so later. It seems completely consistent.

"All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter. We balance inconveniences; we give and take; we remit some rights, that we may enjoy others; and we choose rather to be happy citizens than subtle disputants."