Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer (1767)

Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer (1767)
John Dickinson
Every government at some time or other falls into wrong measures. These may proceed from mistake or passion. But every such measure does not dissolve the obligation between the governors and the governed. . . . It is the duty of the governed to endeavor to rectify the mistake, and to appease the passion. They have not at first any other right, than to represent their grievances, and to pray for redress, unless an emergency is so pressing as not to allow time for receiving an answer to their applications, which rarely happens. If their applications are disregarded, then that kind of opposition becomes justifiable which can be made without breaking the laws or disturbing the public peace. This conflicts in the prevention of the oppressors reaping advantage from their oppressions, and not in their punishment. . . .
The constitutional modes of obtaining relief are those which I wish to see pursued on the present occasion; that is, by petitions of our assemblies, or where they are not permitted to meet, of the people, to the powers that can afford us relief.
. . . Let us complain to our parent; but let our complaints speak at the same time the language of affliction and veneration.
If, however, it shall happen . . . that our applications to his Majesty and the parliament for redress, prove ineffectual, let us then take another step, by withholding from Great Britain all the advantages she has been used to receive from us. Then let us try, if our ingenuity, industry, and frugality, will not give weight to our remonstrances. Let us all be united with one spirit, in one cause.
-How did the British government most frequently respond to writings like those published by Dickinson and others like him?

A) by repealing the Parliamentary legislation in question and replacing it with more moderate laws
B) by occupying colonial cities in order to impose martial law
C) by limiting freedom of speech by arresting the authors and jailing them in England
D) by arguing that despite their distance, colonists were virtually represented in Parliament