The Odyssey of Ebenezer Smith Platt

摘要: On 17 February 1777 John Wilkes, the controversial politician, pamphleteer, and propagandist, rose to address House of Commons. renowned for his opposition King George III followers, was equally regarded by Americans as a long-standing champion their colonial rights. And it in both these contexts that he marshaled oratorical skills on this occasion. The specific target speech third reading bill, proposed Lord North's government, which would suspend habeas corpus act through remainder year persons accused high treason actions within American colonies, or seas, alleged acts piracy. Wilkes began declaring emphatically: “I cannot continue silent while so important Bill is pending before house.” He then attacked “tyrannical, arbitrary, ambiguous, unconstitutional,” forecast lead expansion war had been raging almost two years. illustrated oppressive, unwarrantable alienating effects citing case young named Ebenezer Smith Platt, confined London's infamous Newgate prison.