Summary Of Edmund Burke's Conciliation Speech

Edmund Burke demonstrates in his Conciliation speech that he is a well versed orator. He appears to be quite the moralist, as well as maintaining an air of arrogance at times. My initial thought is that he is s staunch supporter of the Colonists. As I continued to review his speech, I began to think he may just be attempting to dissuade any effort of war by the Colonists, seeking greater revenue for England.

Burke seems to be playing to the honorable egos of the House of Commons as he states, “...ennoble the flights of the highest genius, and obtain pardon for the efforts of the meanest understanding.” This is surely an attempt to gain favor by putting at the forefront of thought to the men who passed the various Acts, they
This is an attempt to gain approval by speaking to the egos of the members of Parliament. If the Colonists believe their civil rights are being honored, regardless if it is true or not, allegiance to the crown will remain solid. Liberty and freedom are the rights the Colonists want. If the Colonists believe England is providing liberty, the colonies will be freely bound to England forever. Burke implores that for the Colonists to have the freedom, Parliament must give up its interest. With this revenue will freely return to
Surely Burke was right. Prior to the Act of Navigation, the colonies considered themselves British subjects and freely traded with the Mother Country. With the implementation of The Act, England reverted from a parent-child, superior-subordinate relationship to that of master and slave. The Colonists immigrated to America for a new found freedom, not to be bound by England. As English subjects, Colonists only wanted to be treated as equals to the country men in the Motherland, participating in freedom.

Burke shows great insight when he states that papers, notices, clauses do not make the government. It is a feeling of communal participation that provides life and vitality to men. When Burke states, “It is the spirit of the English Constitution which, infused through the mighty mass, pervades, feeds, unites, invigorates, vivifies every part of the Empire, even down to the minutest member,” he demonstrates a basic understanding of human need. The need to feel dignity, to feel alive, to feel esteem, and most of all to feel