Because they formerly declared, not only that they had a right to bind the inhabitants of these States in all cases whatsoever, but also that the said inhabitants should absolutely and unconditionally submit to the exercise of that right.
Paine highlights the British claim to absolute authority over American colonists, which he argues is unjust.
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The American constitutions were to liberty what a grammar is to language: they define its parts of speech, and practically construct them into syntax.
They had a cause at stake, on which depended their freedom or their slavery.