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gress-Declarations of rights and other proceedings -Non-intercourse agreed upon-The General Court resolve themselves into a provincial Congress, and vote to raise twelve thousand men, &c.-King's stores seized at Rhode Island and New Hampshire Proceedings in Parliament Skirmish at Lexington-Commencement of revolutionary war.

THE repeal of the Stamp Act called forth the most lively demonstrations of joy throughout the colonies; but this exultation arose as much from triumph as from relief from an impost. The contest had exhibited the utter inability of English officials to execute enactments opposed to the interests and inclinations of the inhabitants, and satisfied the most timid of the power of the provincials, if united, to resist either the laws or the arms of the mother country. It invited opposition, and where there is a disposition to quarrel, subjects of dispute are never wanting.

Although the Stamp Act was repealed, the Sugar Act, slightly modified, remained in the statute book, and was rigidly enforced. With a singular misapprehension of the character of the people for whom they were legislating, the Ministry accompanied almost every additional

restriction with a corresponding boon. Thus, by an amendment of the latter law, all direct trade with France was prohibited; while, to soften the harshness of the measure, iron and lumber were allowed to be exported to European ports, South of Cape Finisterre. The one was regarded as an invasion, and the other as no more than an admission of right. The former, therefore, was resented as an injury, and the latter received with indifference or silence.

Townsend had now become Chancellor of the Exchequer, who, whatever his abilities might have been, could lay no claim to consistency of conduct, one of the first qualifications of a statesman. He had voted for the Stamp Act, and strenuously supported its repeal, an acknowledgment of error that induced the Americans to think his political advancement to the important office he held, was a special mark of Divine favour. What, therefore, was there astonishment, when they heard that his first measure was to introduce a bill to raise a transatlantic revenue, for maintaining a standing army in the colonies, and for securing permanent salaries to governors and judges, and thereby rendering them independent of the local

assemblies. While he affected to base this law on the distinction taken between internal and external taxation, he violated the principle by imposing duties on certain British productions, such as paints, paper, glass, and lead, to which was added another article, tea, afterwards rendered so notorious. This law was supposed to be of easier execution than the Stamp Act, and it passed with little or no opposition. It received the Royal assent on the 29th of June.

The preamble states that the duties were laid "for the better support of Government, and the administration of the colonies." One clause enabled the Crown, by sign manual, to establish a general civil list throughout every province of North America, to an indefinite extent, with salaries, pensions, or appointments. It provides, that after all such ministerial warrants, under the sign manual, "as are thought proper and necessary," shall be satisfied, the residue of the revenue shall be at the disposal of Parliament. Contemporaneously with the Stamp Act a law had been passed by Parliament, that obliged the several assemblies to provide quarters for the soldiers, and furnish

them with fire, beds, candles, and other articles, at the expense of the respective colonies.

The British Government receiving intelligence that New York had refused to provide for quartering the troops, a law was passed "for restraining the Assembly of that province from all legislative functions, until it had complied with the Act of Parliament, for the furnishing his Majesty's troops with the requisite necessaries. The suspension of the House of Representatives in one colony justly excited alarm in all the rest; for it was perceived that, by a parity of reason, others might be put on their trial for good behaviour, of which the British Ministry would be the sole judges. Georgia displayed some stubbornness on this same point; but the withdrawal of the troops, leaving the colony exposed to Indian invasion from without, and negro insurrection within, soon brought the Assembly to terms.

The Parliament also passed an act for establishing a Custom-house and a Board of Commissioners in America. The act was to come into operation after the 20th day of November; and, in the beginning of that month, three Commissioners arrived at Boston. The colonists,

believing that this Board was designed to enforce the new duties, were inflamed against them and their employers to the highest degree, and pronounced the appointment unconstitutional and oppressive. This measure called forth additional essays on colonial rights, and, among others, the celebrated "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies," which had a rapid and extensive circulation throughout North America. The passage of these acts, and the determination they evinced to raise a transatlantic revenue, brought the provincials in a body to the ground, originally taken by Otis, that imposts on trade, if designed for fixed purposes, were just as much a violation of their rights as any other tax. The acts accordingly met everywhere with the utmost opposition, and were denounced in resolves, petitions, addresses, and remonstrances.

Early in February the Pennsylvanian Assembly took into consideration the act, imposing duties on paper, glass, paints, and teas, and gave positive instructions to its agents to unite with those of the other plantations, in applying to Parliament for relief. The Assembly of Massachusetts adopted a more grave and ex

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