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this right elsewhere tend to destroy? British as well as American liberty.

By what majority, did the Virginia Resolutions pass?

For what, did they petition? What did they declare to be i separable?

Principal advantages of the Stamp Act Congress? To give As-leading members of distant colonies opportunity to become acquainted, to establish correspondences, to learn to co-operate and prepare the way for future congresses.

What led the speaker of the sembly and others to cry out, Treason, during the debate? What did Henry say of George III.?

Where were copies of these resolutions sent?

What did they conduce to raise still higher?

What colony soon after recom mended a colonial congress? By whom, was the recommendation well received?

How many members assembled ? Where?

When? On the first Tuesday of October.

How long before the Stamp Act was to come in force?

Why did they not meet sooner? There was not time for the several legislatures to choose the delegates. Against what, did they remonstrate?

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When did the Stamp Act come into operation?

Why were no stamps to be found?

What was the consequence ? How were the feelings of the people against the Stamp Act manifested?

What was done at Boston in August?

Who were the sons of liberty? → Their object?

For what were societies instituted?

In what part of Europe, had we many to aid us in our struggle with Britain ?- How? t

What act did they more particularly oppose?

afforded

us

themselves. Some their secret prayers; more, their sympathies; and some devoted to our cause, the mighty efforts of their tongues and pens. But for such assistance, we might even now be wearing the yoke of Britain. Particularly, they opposed the Stamp Act. They opposed its rise and progress, and did much toward procuring its repeal. To borrow the language of Dr. Ramsay, "Some speakers of great weight, in both houses of parliament, denied their right of taxing the colonies. The most distinguished supporters of this opinion were Lord Camden in the house of peers, and Mr. Pitt in the house of commons. The

former, in strong language said; 'My position is this; I repeat it; I will maintain it to my last hour. Taxation and representation are in.

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With what, did his approbation inspire the Americans ?

To what, did it embolden them? To what alternative, was the parliament reduced?

Which did they choose? In what year? 1766. What declaratory act accompanied the repeal ?

Why were English merchants and tradesmen deeply interested to have the Stamp Act repealed? Because this act prevented the sale of English goods.

separable. This position is founded on the laws of nature. It is more; it is itself an eternal law of nature. For whatever is a man's own, is absolutely his own. No man has a right to take it from him, without his own consent.

Who

ever attempts to do it, attempts an injury. Whoever does it, commits a robbery.' Mr. Pitt, with an original boldness, justified the colonists, in opposing the Stamp Act. "You have no right,' said he, "to tax America. I rejoice, that America has resisted. Three millions of our fellow citizens, so lost to every sense of virtue, as tamely to give up their liberties, would be fit instruments to make slaves of the rest'

"The taxes are a voluntary gift and grant of the commons alone; when, therefore, in this house, we give and grant, we give and grant what is our own. But in an American tax, what do we do? We, your majesty's commons of Great Britain, give and grant to your majesty what? Our own property? No. We give and grant to your majesty the property of your commons in America. It is An absurdity in terms.'

How were the colonies affected by the repeal of the Stamp Act? What right, did they think, the British had relinquished?

What intercourse was revived? Upon what articles, were du ties laid in 1767 ?

How were the colonists affected? What feelings were revived in them ?

For what, were associations again formed? The non-importation of British goods.

What soon after increased the public excitement?

To whom, did the Ms. Representatives send a circular in 1768 ? +

By what act, was this circular occasioned?

"He concluded with giving his advice, 'that the Stamp Act be repealed absolutely, totally and immediately, that the reason for the repeal be assigned, that it was founded on an erroneous principle.' The approbation of this illustrious statesman, whose distinguished abilities had raised Great Britain to the highest pitch of renown, inspired the Americans with additional confidence, in the rectitude of their claims of exemption from parliamentary taxation; and emboldened them to further opposition, when at a future day, the project of an American revenue was resumed."

† NOTE Y. Massachusetts circular to the colonial assemblies, in 1768. Among the various subordinate causes, that conduced to separate us from Britain, few had greater influence, than the circular letter, addressed by the House of Representatives of Ms. to the Legislatures of the several colonies. It was occasioned by what is often called the Revenue Act of 1767, laying a duty

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In what month, did Ms. legislature achieve most important services in the cause of freedom? To whom, did they prepare a long letter?

upon glass, paper, paints and tea, though it had some respect also to other acts. The grand object of this circular letter, was to induce all the other colonies to unite with them in petitioning the king to redress their grievances.

Intelligence of the revenue act of 1767, arrived in Sept. but the General Court did not sit till Dec. 30. Their first business was to attend to the state of the provinces, and exert their utmost efforts to frustrate the machinations of the British Ministry. At the beginning of the year 1768, they were prepared for action. With all the caution of hoary-headed experience, with all the zeal of the most ardent patriotism, rendered indignant by repeated oppressions, they applied themselves to emancipate their country from the British yoke. In one month their work was nearly accomplished; and never perhaps in a single month, did any legislature achieve more important services in the cause of freedom. Let the month of January 1768 be gratefully and indelibly inscribed upon the heart of every American, and of every hater of tyranny, to the end of time.

The first thing was to prepare a very long letter to Dennis De Berdt, who was then their agent in England. In this, they most thoroughly discuss the subject of their rights, and clearly, though temperately, show, that the Revenue act,

What office did De Berdt ther hold?

What subject did they discuss in that letter?

What did they show to be tyrannical?

What use was De Berdt to make of this letter?

To whom, did they next write ?

What did they endeavor to impress upon the mind of Lord Shelburne?

&c. were oppressive and tyrannical. This letter, De Berdt was to use according to his best discretion, to correct British errors, to enlighten British minds, and to promote the cause of justice and freedom.

They conclude their letter to De Berdt, as follows. "We have reason to believe, that the nation has been grossly misinformed with respect to the temper and behavior of the colonists; and it is to be feared, that some men will not cease to sow the seeds of jealousy and discord, till they shall have done irreparable mischief. You will do a singular service to both countries, if possible, in detecting them. In the mean time, we desire, you would make known to his Majesty's ministers, the sentiments of this House, contained in this letter, and implore a favorable consideration of America."

Their next business was to prepare a letter directly to Lord Shelburne, one of the British ministers, whom they considered a little more favorably disposed toward them, than some others. Among other things, they labored to impress his mind with a sense of the dangers, the hardships, the toils and the merits of our forefathers, and the consequent claims of their posterity.

A still more important and more difficult labor seems to have been, preparing a petition directly to the

To whom, did they request him to represent their grievances? To the king.

To whom, did they prepare a direct petition?

Of what, did they profess the warmest sentiments?

What did they beg him to afford them and their constituents?

Mention the names of some others, to whom they sent letters.

By whom, were these letters drafted?-corrected?

What do these letters breathe?

king. Of this it may here suffice to give a few lines of the beginning and close.

"Most Gracious Sovereign, Your Majesty's faithful subjects, the Representatives of your province of the Massachusetts Bay, with the warmest sentiments of loyalty, duty and affection, beg leave to approach the throne, and to lay at your Majesty's feet, their humble supplications in behalf of your distressed subjects, the people of this province. We most humbly beseech your Majesty to take our present unhappy circumstances under your royal consideration, and afford us relief in such manner, as in your Majesty's great wisdom and clemency, shall seem meet."

During the same session, they prepared letters to the Marquis of Rockingham, (who had been a great instrument in procuring the repeal of the Stamp Act,) to Gen. Conway, to the Earl of Camden, and to William Pitt. "These letters," says Mr. Alden Bradford, "are written with great ability, and breathe a noble spirit of freedom. -These papers show the diligence, the interest and zeal, which the patriots of that period exhibited and their unwearied efforts to secure the rights and liberties of the people." These letters were drafted by Otis, corrected by S. Adams, and then considered and

What influence were these letters calculated to have in Britain ?

Where was the chief advantage of these letters?

Of what letter, may they be cou sidered a part?

Character of the circular? In what light alone, did the writ ers wish to have it considered?

What would they take kind in any other House of Representatives?

How was this circular received?

discussed by a large committee, chosen to prepare them; and finally being reported to the House, were discussed and accepted. They could hardly fail of having a salutary, and very considerable influence in Britain, to increase the number, to warm the hearts, and arm the understanding of our British friends.

But the grand influence, the chief advantage of these letters, was in this country. They were sent on to the several colonial assemblies

in company with the circular letter, co-operated with it, and may in a sense, be considered as a part of it. Nay, they may in fact, be considered, as by far the most important part of it. The simple circular, addressed immediately to the other Assemblies, is remarkably modest, respectful, and conciliating. "This House," say they, "hope, that this letter will be candidly considered in no other light, than as expressing a disposition freely to communicate their mind to a sister colony upon a common concern, in the same manner, as they would be glad to receive the sentiments of your, or any other House or Assembly on the continent." In conclusion, they remark, "The House is fully satisfied, that your Assembly is too generous and liberal in sentiment, to believe, that this letter proceeds from an

How durable was the excitement produced?

Why was this excitement then peculiarly needed?

To whom, was it grievous and distressing?

To what degree, did it sting them?

ambition of taking the lead, or dictating to the other assemblies. They freely submit their opinions to the judgment of others; and shall take it kind in your House to point out any thing further that may be thought necessary."

What did they require the Legislature of Ms. to do?

Why could not this be done? How many members voted in favor of rescinding?

What were they called?

What was done to the G. C. for not rescinding?-By whom?

creasing, till independence was ac· tually declared.

Perhaps no document or transaction of a colony, was ever more grievous and distressing to the British ministry, than this circular. It wounded them most deeply. This circular with its appenda-Nay, it seems to have stung them ges, or more properly speaking, this compound circular, was the very thing, which was exceedingly needed in the colonies, at that time. After being unspeakably excited and distressed by the Stamp Act, the people were scarcely less enraptured by its repeal. Feeling as though they were forever emancipated, they settled down into a calm, which was most dangerous to their liberties -a calm, from which, they were most reluctant to be aroused. At least, this was generally the case. A powerful stimulus was needed to operate upon the vast mass of patriotism, that was slumbering in all the colonies. Such was the Ms. circular. "The circular of the House of Representatives of Ms." says Chief Justice Marshall, "was well received in the other colonies. They generally approved the measures of opposition, which had been taken, and readily united in them. They too petitioned the king against the obnoxious acts of parliament, and instructed their agents to use all proper means to obtain their repeal."

By this circular, which was immediately published in all the colonies, an excitement seems to have been produced, that never subsided, but continued constantly in

to madness—literally, to madness, unless perchance they were mad before. Their consequent order was not merely tyrannic and cruel; it was downright insanity. They required the Ms. Legislature to rescind a resolution, that had already been executed. And strange to think! another House of Representatives were required" immediately to rescind the resolution of the last House, to transmit circular letters to the other British colonies," &c. when the letters had been actually sent, and several, if not all of them, had been kindly answered!! And in obedience to royal authority, the House did condescend to act upon the degrading question, whether they should rescind a resolution of their predecessors, which, having been executed, even Omnipotence could not now alter. The vote was taken, and more surprising still, 17 members voted in the affirmative, while 92 voted against it. The former were held up to public execration, and stigmatized as the INFAMOUS SEVENTEEN. For thus refusing to attempt an impassible act, the House was immediately prorogued by Gov. Bernard, and the next day dissolved, agreeably to the command of his royal master.

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