Wherefore, the said Parliament have reserved to themselves, in express words, the power of setting aside any such treaty, and taking the advantages of any circumstances which may arise to subject this Continent to their usurpations.
Paine asserts that the British Parliament retains the power to invalidate any treaty, undermining American sovereignty.
Share
More from Thomas Paine
He writes neither in the character of a Frenchman nor an Englishman, but in the fawning character of that creature known in all countries, and a friend to none--a courtier.
Man cannot, properly speaking, make circumstances for his purpose, but he always has it in his power to improve them when they occur, and this was the case in France.
A knowledge of the practice was then joined to the theory; and all that was wanting to give it real existence was opportunity.