Thomas Paine: “In doing this they expended their substance to make conquests, not for themselves, but for their masters, who in return…”

The Aristocracy had hitherto opposed the despotism of the Court, and affected the language of patriotism; but it opposed it as its rival (as the English Barons opposed King John) and it now opposed the nation from the same motives.

The object is not so much the produce of the tax as the justice of the measure.

The more it is struck the more sparks it will emit; and the fear is it will not be struck enough.

War is their trade, plunder and revenue their objects.