Who argued that duties were a form of taxation that could not be levied on colonies without consent?

The argument that duties were a form of taxation that could not be imposed on the colonies without their consent is most notably associated with John Dickinson. In his writing, particularly in the “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania,” Dickinson articulated the viewpoint that even though the British government had the authority to regulate trade, the imposition of duties was effectively a form of taxation. He emphasized the principle that Englishmen, which included the colonists, should not be taxed without their own representatives in Parliament. This argument laid the groundwork for the colonists’ resistance to British taxation policies, asserting their rights and emphasizing the need for consent in governance.

Other figures mentioned, while also significant in the context of colonial resistance and political thought, did not specifically articulate this argument as prominently as Dickinson. John Adams and Samuel Adams were influential in the push for independence and organized protest against British rule, while Patrick Henry is best known for his fiery speeches advocating for colonial rights against British oppressions. However, it was John Dickinson's writings that succinctly addressed the constitutional issue regarding taxation and representation which reinforced the broader colonial sentiment leading up to the American Revolution.