Doctor SPRY, here; but it is a severity we have brought upon ourselves. When every mild expedient, to stop the atrocious and infamous practice of smuggling, has been try'd in vain, the government is justifiable in making laws against it, even like those of Draco, which were written in blood. . Believe me, my Friend, it gives me great pain to see so much ingratitude in the colonies to the mother country, whose arms and money so lately rescued them from a French government. I have been told, that some have gone so far as to say, that they would, as things are, prefer such government to an English one. - Heaven knows I have but little malice in my heart, yet, for a moment, I ardently wish that these spurious, unworthy sons of Britain could feel the iron rod of a Spanish inquisitor, or a French farmer of the revenue; it would indeed be a punishment suited to their ingratitude. . . . . I am very sure the loyalty of the colonies has ever been irreproachable; but from the pride of some, and the ignorance of others, the cry against mother country has spread from colony to colony; and it is to be feared, that prejudices and resentments are kindled among them which it will be difficult ever, thoroughly, to sooth or extinguish. It may become necessary for the supreme legislature of the nation to frame some code, and therein adjust the rights of the colonies, with precision and certainty, otherwise Great-Britain will always be teazed with new claims about liberty and privileges. A Letter from a Gentleman at Halifax, to his Friend in Rhode-Island, containing Remarks upon a Pamphlet, entitled, The Rights of Colonies Examined (Newport, 1765), 5–22 passim. 139. The Hutchinson Riot (1765) BY JOSIAH QUINCY, JR. Quincy was a young Boston lawyer when the troubles with England became manifest. He was sent to England to state the wrongs of America to sympathetic statesmen; and had an interview with Lord North. - Bibliography: Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VI, 72-73; Tyler, Literary History of the Revolution, I, 271-273; Hosmer, Thomas Hutchinson; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 134. A UG. 27, 1765.-There cannot, perhaps, be found in the records of time a more flagrant instance to what a pitch of infatuation an incensed populace may arise than the last night afforded. The destructions, demolitions, and ruins caused by the rage of the Colonies in gen - at that singular and ever-memorable eral — perhaps too justly inflamed statute called the Stamp Act, will make the present year one of the most remarkable eras in the annals of North America. And that peculiar inflammation, which fired the breasts of the people of New England in particular, will always distinguish them as the warmest lovers of liberty; though undoubtedly, in the fury of revenge against those who they thought had disclaimed the name of sons, for that of enslavers and oppressive taxmasters of their native country, they committed acts totally unjustifiable. The populace of Boston, about a week since, had given a very notable instance of their detestation of the above unconstitutional Act, and had sufficiently shown in what light they viewed the man who would undertake to be the stamp distributor. But, not content with this, the last night they again assembled in King's Street; where, after having kindled a fire, they proceeded, in two separate bodies, to attack the houses of two gentlemen of distinction, who, it had been suggested, were accessories to the present burthens; and did great damage in destroying their houses, furniture, &c., and irreparable damage in destroying their papers. Both parties, who before had acted separately, then unitedly proceeded to the Chief-Justice's house, who, not expecting them, was unattended by his friends, who might have assisted, or proved his innocence. In this situation, all his family, it is said, abandoned the house, but himself and his eldest daughter, whom he repeatedly begged to depart; but as he found all ineffectual, and her resolution fixed to stay and share his fate, with a tumult of passions only to be imagined, he took her in his arms, and carried her to a place of safety, just before the incensed mob arrived. This filial affection saved, it is more than probable, his life. Thus unexpected, and nothing removed from the house, an ample field offered to satiate, if possible, this rage-intoxicated rabble. They beset the house on all sides, and soon destroyed every thing of value : "Furor arma ministrat."— Virgil. The destruction was really amazing; for it was equal to the fury of the onset. But what above all is to be lamented is the loss of some of the most valuable records of the country, and other ancient papers; for, as his Honor was continuing his history, the oldest and most important writings and records of the Province, which he had selected with great care, pains, and expense, were in his possession. This is a loss greatly to be deplored, as it is absolutely irretrievable. The distress a man must feel on such an occasion can only be con ceived by those who the next day saw his Honor the Chief-Justice come into court, with a look big with the greatest anxiety, clothed in a manner which would have excited compassion from the hardest heart, though his dress had not been strikingly contrasted by the other judges and bar, who appeared in their robes. Such a man in such a station, thus habited, with tears starting from his eyes, and a countenance which strongly told the inward anguish of his soul,—what must an audience have felt, whose compassion had before been moved by what they knew he had suffered, when they heard him pronounce the following words in a manner which the agitations of his mind dictated? August Term, 3 George III. in B. R., &c. - Present: The Hon. Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., Chief-Justice; John Cushing, Peter Oliver, Esqs., Justices. The Chief-Justice, addressing the whole court, said,— "GENTLEMEN,-There not being a quorum of the court without me, I am obliged to appear. Some apology is necessary for my dress: indeed, I had no other. Destitute of every thing, — no other shirt; no other garment but what I have on; and not one in my whole family in a better situation than myself. The distress of a whole family around me, young and tender infants hanging about me, are infinitely more insupportable than what I feel for myself, though I am obliged to borrow part of this clothing. "Sensible that I am innocent, that all the charges against me are false, I can't help feeling: and though I am not obliged to give an answer to all the questions that may be put me by every lawless person, yet I call God to witness, and I would not, for a thousand worlds, call my Maker to witness to falsehood, I say, I call my Maker to witness, that I never, in New England or Old, in Great Britain or America, neither directly nor indirectly, was aiding, assisting, or supporting-in the least promoting or encouraging — what is commonly called the Stamp Act; but, on the contrary, did all in my power, and strove as much as in me lay, to prevent it. This is not declared through timidity; for I have nothing to fear. They can only take away my life, which is of but little value when deprived of all its comforts, all that was dear to me, and nothing surrounding me but the most piercing distress. "I hope the eyes of the people will be opened, that they will see how easy it is for some designing, wicked man to spread false reports, to raise suspicions and jealousies in the minds of the populace, and enrage them against the innocent; but, if guilty, this is not the way to proceed. The laws of our country are open to punish those who have offended. This destroying all peace and order of the community, all will feel its effects; and I hope all will see how easily the people may be deluded, inflamed, and carried away with madness against an innocent man. "I pray God give us better hearts!" The court was then adjourned, on account of the riotous disorders of the preceding night, and universal confusion of the town, to the 15th of October following. Learn wisdom from the present times! O ye sons of Ambition! beware lest a thirst of power prompt you to enslave your country! O ye sons of Avarice! beware lest the thirst for gold excite you to enslave your native country! O ye sons of Popularity! beware lest a thirst for applause move you groundlessly to inflame the minds of the people! For the end of slavery is misery to the world, your country, fellow-citizens, and children; the end of popular rage, destruction, desolation, and ruin. Who, that sees the fury and instability of the populace, but would seek protection under the arm of power? Who, that beholds the tyranny and oppression of arbitrary power, but would lose his life in defence of his liberty? Who, that marks the riotous tumult, confusion, and uproar of a democratic, the slavery and distress of a despotic, state, the infinite miseries attendant on both, — but would fly for refuge from the mad rage of the one, and oppressive power of the other, to that best asylum, that glorious medium, the British Constitution? Happy people who enjoy this blessed constitution! Happy, thrice happy people, if ye preserve it inviolate! May ye never lose it through a licentious abuse of your invaluable rights and blood-purchased liberties! May ye never forfeit it by a tame and infamous submission to the yoke of slavery and lawless despotism ! "Remember, O my friends! the laws, the rights, Or our death glorious in thy just defence." From the diary of Josiah Quincy, Jr., in Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings, 1858-1860 (Boston, 1860), 47-51. 140. A Spirited Remonstrance (1765) BY THE TOWN-MEETING OF CAMBRIDGE This piece is selected as a spirited example of the protests made against the Stamp Act by all sorts of public bodies and public meetings. Bibliography: Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VI, 29-33; Frothingham, Rise of the Republic, 183184; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 134. A Ta Legal meeting of the freehold & other Inhabitants of the The Hon William Brattle Esq' Chosen Moderat! Voted (that with all humility) It is the opinion of the Town that the Inhabitants of this Province have a Legal Claim to all the natural Inherent Constitutional Rights of Englishmen notwithstanding their distance from Great Brittain; That the Stamp Act is an Infraction upon these Rights; one Instance out of many in our Opinion is this: The Distributor of Stamps will have a Soveranity over Every thing, but the lives of the People, since it is in his Power to Summon Every one he pleases to Qebeck, Montreal, or New found land, to answer for the pretended or Real Breaches of this Act, and when the faithfull Subject arrives there; By whom is he to be Tryed, not by his Peers (the Birth Right of Every English man) No but by the Iudge of Admiralty without a Iury, and it is possible without Law. Under these Circumstances the Stamp Master may unrighteously get more than His Majesty will upon a Ballance by the Stamps. for who would not Rather pay the fine then be thus harrassed, thus Tryed; Why are not His Majest* Subjects in Great Brittain Treated in this manner, Why must we in America who have in Every Instance discovered as much Loyalty for His Majesty & Obedience to His Laws as any of His Brittish Subjects (and whose Exertion in some of the Provinces during the Last Warr have been Greater; be thus Discriminated; at this time Especially whilst we are under an almost unsupportable load of Debt the Consequence of this Exertion; We believe it may be Truly said that no one in Great Brittain pays so great a Tax as some do in this Province in proportion to their Estates; let this Act but take place, Liberty will be no more, Trade will Languish & dye; Our Medium will be Sent into His Majeste Exchequer, And Poverty come upon us as an Armed man; The Town therefore hereby Advise & Direct their Representatives by no means whatsoever to do any one thing that may Aid said Act in its opperation; But that in Conjunction with the friends |