PART III. REVOLUTION. CHAPTER I. Cause of the Revolution-Stamp Act-Its Effects-Grenville's Speech-Barre's Reply-Change of Ministry-Effort to revoke the Stamp Act-Franklin's Speech -Grenville's Reply-Pitt's Speech-revocation of the Stamp Act-Change of Ministry-Duties on Tea, &c.-Disturbances in the Colonies-Imprudent Acts of Parliament-Troops sent to Boston-Fight between Soldiers and Citizens-Importation of Tea-Its Reception-Boston Port-Bill-Meetings held in the Colonies -Congress meets at Philadelphia-Their Acts-What constitutes a State-Preparations for War-Assistance of the Ladies-Governor fortifies Boston-Seizes the Powder at Charlestown-People fly to Arms-Excitement in the other Provinces. ALTHOUGH the object of this work is, more particularly, the description of warlike operations, than the proceedings of legislative bodies, yet, the rights of the colonists, and of mankind generally, were so ably discussed in America and in England, just before, and during the revolution, and the justice of the war so clearly demonstrated to every unprejudiced mind, that we could not do justice to our subject without entering more fully into their detail, than we had at first intended. Instead of giving the detached ideas of many individuals, from which we can never form correct opinions, we shall give the orations of a few of those illustrious men, of both countries, whose minds rose higher and higher, and shone with brighter effulgence as the fearful political storm increased around them. Taxation or no taxation, that was the question-the hinge upon which the revolution turned. After the close of the French and Indian War, and the treaty of 1763, England, encumbered with an enormous national debt, incurred by her wars in the Old and the New World, adopted a most oppressive policy against the colonies. An act was passed in Parliament, September 24, 1764, the preamble to which began thus: "Whereas, it is just and necessary that a revenue be raised in America, for defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same, we the Commons, &c." The act then goes on to lay a duty on a variety of articles, The colonists justly contended that taxation and representation were inseparable, and that they could not be safe, if their property could be taken from them without their consent. Το The following year, notwithstanding the memorials, the remonstrances, the petitions, and resolutions of the American provinces, the famous stamp act passed both houses of Parliament. By this it was ordained that instruments of writing, such as deeds, bonds, notes, &c, among the colonies, should be null and void, unless executed on stamped paper, for which a high duty should be paid to the crown. make this act still more odious, if possible, the stamp duties were to be paid in specie; of which, said Benjamin Franklin, there was not enough, in all the colonies, to pay them, even for one year. Another provision in this act was, that those charged with a violation of the revenue laws might be prosecuted in the courts of admiralty, thus depriving them of a trial by jury, and exposing them to the rapacity of a single officer of the crown, whose salary proceeded from the very forfeitures decreed by himself!! The legislature of Virginia being in session when the news of the act was received, immediately passed resolutions against it. The general court of Massachusetts recommended a congress of deputies from the colonies, to deliberate upon the best means of opposing this preposterous system of taxation. They met at New York, drew up a declaration of rights and grievances of the colonies; and voted a petition to the king. The greatest excitement prevailed among the people In one of the societies they formed, the members bound themselves to march, at their own expense, to any part of the continent, for the single purpose of preventing the execution of the stamp act. On the 5th of October, the ships which brought the stamps, appeared in sight of Philadelphia; whereupon all the vessels in the harbour hoisted their colours half-staff high: the bells were muffled, and tolled during the remainder of the day, and all seemed to denote great mourning over a national calamity. On the 1st of November, when the stamp act came into operation, the day was ushered in by a tolling of the bells in Boston and in Postsmouth. In the latter place, a coffin, inscribed with the word Liberty, was carried to the grave. Minute-guns were fired during the movements of the funeral procession, and at the grave an oration was offered in favour of the deceased. Similar feelings were manifested in various parts of the country. Riots broke out in the principal cities; officers were threatened, and some had their houses demolished, and their furniture destroyed. "The courts of justice were closed; the ports were shut; even marriages were no longer celebrated; and, in a word, an absolute stagnation in all the relations of social life was established." When great outrages are committed upon a spirited people; when attempts are made to deprive them of their rights, their indignation becomes terrible, and many become extremely violent, so as often to injure for a time the most noble cause. Their more prudent brethren, or their own reflections, when the first impulse is over, generally, however, bring them within due bounds, to make a reasonable and judicious opposition to their oppressors. The King's ministers, who, pending this bill, had been de R* claiming vehemently against the opposition of the colonists, had proved nothing but their own bigotry and blind zeal for the King, and their entire destitution of a sense of political truth and justice, relative to this great question. Mr. Charles Townsend, in the conclusion of a speech on this measure of George Grenville's, exclaimed, "These Americans, our own children, planted by our cares, nourished by our indulgence, protected by our arms, until they are grown to a good degree of strength and opulence; will they now turn their backs upon us, and grudge to contribute their mite to relieve us from the heavy load which overwhelms us?". Colonel Barre caught the words, and with the true spirit of a soldier, said: "Planted by your cares? No! your oppression planted them in America; they fled from your tyranny into a then uncultivated land, where they were exposed to almost all the hardships to which human nature is liable, and among others, to the savage cruelty of the enemy of the country; a people the most subtle, and, I take upon me to say, the most truly terrible of any people that ever inhabited any part of God's earth; and yet, actuated by principles of true English liberty, they met all these hardships with pleasure, compared with those they suffered in their own country, from the hands of those that should have been their friends. "They nourished by your indulgence? They grew by your neglect; as soon as you began to care about them, that care was exercised in sending persons to rule over them, in one department and another, who were, perhaps, the deputies of some members of this house, sent to spy out their liberty, to misrepresent their actions, and to prey upon them; men, whose behaviour, on many occasions, had caused the blood of these sons of liberty to recoil within them; men, promoted to the highest seats of justice, some of whom, to my knowledge, were glad, by going to foreign countries, to escape the vengeance of the laws in their own. "They protected by your arms? They have nobly taken up arms in your defence, have exerted their valour amidst their constant and laborious industry, for the defence of a country, whose frontiers, while drenched in blood, its interior parts have yielded, for your enlargements, the little savings of their frugality and the fruits of their toils. And believe me, remember I this day told you so, that the same spirit which actuated that people at first, will continue with them still; but prudence forbids me to explain myself any further. God knows I do not, at this time, speak from motives of party heat; what I assert proceeds from the sentiments of the heart. However superior to me in general knowledge and experience any one here may be, yet I claim to know more of America, having seen and been more conversant in that country. The people there are as truly loyal as any subjects the king has ; people jealous of their liberties, and who will vindicate them if they should be violated. But the subject is delicate; I will say no more." but a While the colonel delivered this extemporaneous discourse, the whole house, petrified with surprise, stared at him as though he had been a messenger from another sphere. On the very night the stamp act was passed, Dr. Franklin, who was then in London, wrote to Charles Thompson, afterwards Secretary of the Continental Congress; "The sun of liberty is set; the Americans must light the lamps of industry | and economy." To which Mr. Thompson answered; " Be assured we shall light torches of quite another sort." 66 The determined and universal opposition to the stamp act in America, soon convinced Parliament that it must either be enforced or repealed. The King, either alarmed or not quite tyrant enough yet to resort to force, changed his ministers, and the Marquis of Rockingham, a man of great vigour and genius and of a sincere character, was appointed First Lord of the Treasury in place of Grenville. The year 1765 approaching its conclusion, the parliament was convoked. But meeting again in January 1766, the new ministers, passionately desirous of obtaining a revocation of the stamp act, made every exertion to accomplish this great object. In addition to their numerous preparatives, they resolved |