USA > Massachusetts > History of Massachusetts, for two hundred years: from the year 1620 to 1820 > Part 47
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us; nothing that can afford just matter of triumph to those who were for maintaining the stamp act, nor of sorrow and concern to those who procured its repeal.
" Your excellency is pleased further to say, 'when the gov- ernment is attacked in form, when there is a professed intention to deprive it of its best and most able servants, whose only crime is their fidelity to the crown, I cannot be indifferent; but find myself obliged to exercise every legal and constitu- tional power to maintain the king's authority against this ill- judged and ill-timed oppugnation of it.' Whatever might have been your excellency's intention, this is, according to the more obvious meaning of your expressions, a heavy charge, in which no particular persons, or any order of men, are specified, de- livered in a speech to both houses of assembly, and which the world is left to place where it pleases.
" Your excellency expressly says, there has been an attack upon the government in form; and an ill-judged and ill-timed op- puguation of the king's authority. A regard to our own char- acter, to truth and justice, and the reputation of the province, in which we have the honor to serve his majesty, oblige us to speak upon this point with a freedom, in which we are far from meaning the least disrespect to your excellency. Silence, upon such an occasion, would merit the imputation, which some may be ready, from your manner of expression, to lay upon us; and would prove us equally unworthy of the choice which has been inade of us, and your excellency's approbation. Have, then, the people of this province been guilty of an attack upon the government in form, or of any oppugnation of the king's au- thority ? We declare to your excellency, we know of no such thing. The people, ever loyal to the best of sovereigns, and sensible of their felicity in connexion with, and subordination to, the mother country, have given new and unaffected testi- mony that these happy dispositions have increased in all orders, upon the indulgence granted to them. They have rejoiced, with the highest marks of honor and gratitude to the king, to both houses of parliament, and to our friends and patrons in Great Britain. They continually demonstrate a natural and warm affection to the country from which they are derived, and by which they have been protected and cherished. It has been no small addition to the joy of the wise and sober upon the late great occasion, that quite through the province good order and deco- rum have happily been preserved; and it is to the honor of that gracious prince, under whose government, all ranks among us account themselves happy. And we think it of peculiar im- portance, at the present season, to the people of this province, that they be viewed in this light. Your excellency will, there- fore, allow us to bear this public testimony; a testimony which
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may perhaps appear the more disinterested, as it comes from those who are not their mere immediate representatives. In the above cited passage, and in a great part of your speech, if your excellency had a particular reference to the transaction of both houses in the late election of counsellors, we beg leave to assure your excellency, that we know of nothing done by the general assembly on that day, which can, with any shadow of propriety, be deemed an attack upon government, or an oppug- nation of the king's authority. Every part of the legislature has acted in its proper place, and exerted those powers only with which they were entrusted by the charter. No branch has usurped, or interfered with, the right of another. Diversity of sentiment respecting men and measures, and collisions of par- ties, are common in all free governments. Some elections have been made, which your excellency has signified your disappro- bation of; and it has had its effect. But no one has called in question your right to negative such elections, or opposed you in the exercise of this branch of your authority. It would be improper to deliver our opinion of the expediency of any in- stances in which your excellency and the two houses of assem- bly have exerted the several powers which respectively belong to each. But we are obliged to assert, that nothing has taken place but what has been constitutional and according to the charter. And we are persuaded your excellency, upon reflec- tion, will not think that an election duly made, though disagree- able to the chair, deserves to be called a formal attack upon government, or an oppugnation of the king's authority. And should any thing like this be ever attempted, your excellency would find this board zealous to defend our sovereign's honor and the constitutional power of his representative. We beg leave to assure your excellency, that we shall heartily join with you in healing divisions and burying animosities, should they arise; and that we shall cheerfully contribute all in our power to the peace and honor of your administration.
" May it please your excellency,-The letter from the right honorable Mr. Secretary Conway, to your excellency, accom- panying your second speech from the chair, affords us a most agreeable occasion of repeatedly declaring the strong senti- ments of respect and gratitude, with which we regard the lenity and tenderness already so remarkably manifested on the part of his majesty and the parliament, to the American colonies, and the prospect given us of some additional indulgences; for all which it will be our pleasure, as it must be our glory, to make the most dutiful and affectionate returns. These are the dis- positions which have uniformly influenced this board, before we saw this letter, so happily adapted to confirm us in them. And we beg leave to assure your excellency, that from these dispositions we shall continue to act.
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" There are several paragraphs in your excellency's speeches, which have been construed to bear hard on the gentlemen, wito now constitute this board; but your explanation of them in council, and your repeated declarations, that you had no such intention, have given satisfaction to the board.
" We again beg leave to assure your excellency, that our best abilities shall be faithfully employed in promoting his majesty's honor and interest, snd in making every part of your administration easy and happy; and such testimonies of your conduct, as are contained in Mr. Secretary Conway's letter, will not suffer us to conclude, without recognising your excel- lency in the united character of a true friend to the province, and a faithful servant to the crown."
[The committee who reported the above, were W. Brattle, J. Bowdoin, H. Gray, N. Ropes, and R. Tyler; and the com- mittee who presented it, were W. Brattle, G. Bradford, T. Flucker, J. Powell, and J. Pitts.]
We also add here the vote of thanks, adopted in the house of representatives, June, 1766, to Mr. Pitt and others, members of the administration and of parliament, in England, for their in- fluence in obtaining a repeal of the stamp act, which was so very obnoxious to the people of Massachusetts. And the an- swers of several of the noblemen, to whom the vote of thanks was sent.
Vote of Thanks of the House of Representatives to divers noble- men and gentlemen, in England, for their efforts in procuring a repeal of the stamp act, June 20, 1766.
Upon a motion made and seconded, Resolved, unanimously, that the most grateful acknowledgments of this house be made to the right honorable William Pitt, Esq., for his noble and generous efforts, in the present session of parliament, in favor of the British colonies; and particularly for the display of his great abilities, and his assiduous and successful endeavors in procuring an act for the repeal of the stamp act; and that the . speaker be desired, by the first opportunity, to transmit to him a letter accordingly.
Resolved, unanimously, That the most sincere thanks of this house be given to his grace, Augustus Henry, Duke of Graf- ton, one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state, &c., for his noble and generous patronage of the British colonies. And that a copy of this vote be transmitted to his grace, in the most respectful manner, by the speaker.
The house also unanimously passed a vote of thanks, in the same tenor, severally to,
His grace, Philip Dorsett, Earl of Chesterfield, Lord Stan- hope; his grace, Thomas Pelham, Duke of Newcastle; his
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grace, Charles, Duke of Richmond; the right honorable Robert Earl, of Northington, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain; the right honorable Henry Seymore Conway, Esq., one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state; the right honorable Charles Watson, Marquis of Rockingham, first lord commissioner of his majesty's treasury; the right honorable George Onslow; the right honorable Charles Townsend; the right honorable William, Earl of Shelburne; the right honorable Charles, Earl of Campden; the right honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth; the right honorable John, Earl of Egmont; the right honorable George, Duke of Pomfret; the right honorable Vere Poulett, Earl Poulett; the right honorable George, Lord Edgcombe; the right honorable William Dowdeswell, Esq., chancellor of his majesty's exchequer; Sir George Saville, Baronet, member of parliament, for Yorkshire; Sir William Meredith, Knight, member of parliament, for Liverpool; the right honorable Ar- thur Onslow, Esq .; the honorable George Howard, Esq., member of parliament, and general in his majesty's army; the honorable Isaac Barre, Esq., member of parliament, and colonel in his majesty's army; Sir William Baker, Knight, member of parliament; and George Cook, Esq., member of parliament.
Answer of Mr. Pitt, (Earl of Chatham): " The honor of your letter, communicating to me a public testimony of so high a nature, found me in a severe fit of the gout, which long dis- abled me from using my hand. Give me leave now to offer my humble acknowledginents, and to assure you, that though late, they are not less warmly dictated by a sense of respectful grati- tude towards the house of representatives of Massachusetts. They will allow me to add, that I shall always esteem myself particularly fortunate, whenever the just discharge of my duty here, meets with approbation in America."
Duke of Richmond :- " Permit me to desire that you would make known to the house of representatives, the high sense I have of the honor they have done me in the vote of thanks which you transmitted me. Such a mark of their approbation of my conduct in relation to the British colonies, is very flat- tering to me. For though I can claim no other merit than that of heartily concurring in the important points which were so resolutely carried through by the administration; yet it is a great satisfaction to me to find, that I was right in my persua- sion, that those measures would not only restore tranquillity to the colonies, but produce great benefit to them and returns of
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gratitude to the mother country. In whatever station I may be, it will be my wish to see the prosperity of his Majesty's American dominions rise to the greatest height, both on their account, and because of the advantages that must necessarily result from tlience to the mother country."
Of Duke of Newcastle :- " Nothing does me greater honor, or gives me more satisfaction, than to find that my endeavors for his majesty's service, for the honor, prosperity and welfare of all his dominions, meet with the approbation of those con- cerned in them. It has always been my utmost endeavor, dur- ing the long course of my being in the service of the public, to promote, to the best of my abilities, the true interest of his majesty, his royal family, and, as essential to it, the welfare and prosperity of all the British colonies, and their happy con- nexion with the mother country, so necessary to both. It was with great pleasure, that I saw his majesty and his parliament had thought proper to remove some inconveniences, which I always feared might prove prejudicial to both. And nothing gives me more comfort than to find that those measures have met with the proper returns to the king, and a due sense of their obligations to their mother country. As these have been the motives of my conduct, the colonies may depend, that in whatever station I am, I shall always act on the same princi- ples."
Of Lord Shelburne :- "I have had the honor to receive a vote of the house of representatives, approving my conduct at the last session of parliament. I beg you to assure the house, that I esteem their approbation a very great honor, and of my sin- cere wishes for the prosperity and welfare of the province."
Of Lord Edgcombe :- " I am as sensible of the little claim I have to so distinguished a mark of their favor (the house of representatives as I am of the honor it does me to receive it; and I hope no conduct of mine will ever give them cause to change the favorable opinion they have been pleased to enter- tain of me; as no man wishes more sincerely a perfect harmony between the mother country and her colonies, or will be more ready to promote the real interest of both."
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Of Lord Poulett :- " If any thing could add to the satisfac- tion which I have all along found in defending, to the utmost of my ability,the rights and privileges of the colonies, it is the public mark of favor, which you have been pleased to transmit me, by order of your assembly, signifying their approbation of my conduct. At the same time, I must confess it was no more than the duty I owed to our mother country required of me, whose interests are so closely interwoven with her colonies, that I cannot look upon them in any other light than as insepa- rable. Permit me to return the assembly my sincere thanks for the honor they have conferred on me, and to assure them that I can never consider myself as a friend to Great Britain, without being a friend to them. Fixed in these sentiments, I conclude with a most earnest prayer that Great Britain and her colonies, in future, may never have any jarring interests."
Of Sir J. Saville :- " I beg you to express for me the high sense I have of the honor done me by the public approbation of the house of representatives, of my conduct in the late impor- tant measures-the manner of doing this, I leave with you, only requesting, that it may be such as best to testify my regard and respect for the house, the value I set on their approbation, and the zeal I shall always retain for the true interests of Great Britain and her colonies. I conceive their interests to be so inseparable, that it is impossible to lose sight of the one, if one truly consults the other. And I persuade myself you will agree with me in thinking, that whoever inculcates a contrary doc- trine, must be at least a sadly mistaken friend to one, if not indeed a fatal enemy to both."
Of Hon. George Howard :-- "I can safely aver that the prin- ciples I acted upon were dictated by the real sentiments of my heart. I shall ever retain the most grateful and lively sense of so flattering a distinction, which will not fail to produce one of the most pleasing recollections of my life. I beg yon to assure the house of the sincerity of these sentiments, and that I shall always be most anxious to promote and cement, as far as I am able, the united interests of Great Britain and her colonies."
Of George Cook, Esq. :- " I beg the favor of you, sir, to re- turn my grateful thanks to the house, and to assure them of my constant attention to the welfare and support of the British co- Jonies, and of their rights and privileges; and that I have re-
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ceived this signal mark of their esteem, with the more satisfac- tion, as it flows from the representatives of loyal and free sub- jects."
Of Mr. Dowdeswell, Chancellor of the Exchequer :- "Let me beg you, to assure the house of representatives, of the grateful sense I have of the favorable opinion they are pleased to enter- tain of me, and that I shall always esteem it my duty to promote, as far as my poor abilities will enable me to do it, the general interests of Great Britain and her colonies."
Of General Conway :- " I beg you to assure the house of representatives, that I am truly sensible of this great honor con- ferred on me, and that I shall always be happy, when my pub- lic conduct may be thought, in any degree, to merit the appro- bation of so respectable a body."
" Of J. Barre, Esq. :- " It gives me the greatest pleasure to find that my poor endeavors in parliament have been thought deserving the public approbation of so respectable a body. I am highly sensible of the honor they have done me, and beg you to assure them that I shall seize every occasion to promote the interests of the colonies, and to cultivate that union and harmony, which at present so happily subsists between them and the mother country."
The agent of the province in England, wrote to the speaker of the house of representatives, that Lord Stanhope, and Mr. speaker Onslow were much pleased with the vote of thanks; and that their hearts were warm in the cause of America : and that the speaker (Mr. Onslow,) desired him to assure the house that he esteemed it the highest favor which could be conferred on him.
Address of Thanks from the House of Representatives to the King for his assent to the repeal of the Stamp Act, June 19,1766.
Most gracious sovereign,-Your majesty's most faithful sub- jects, the representatives of your province of Massachusetts Bay ,
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in New England, under the deepest sense of duty and loyalty, beg leave humbly to approach the throne, and to express their warmest gratitude, that your majesty has been pleased, in par- liament, to give your royal assent to the repeal of the American stamp act.
This is a repeated instance of your royal clemency, and affords a fresh and affecting testimony of your majesty's un- remitted and indulgent attention to the welfare and happiness of all your subjects.
Your majesty will allow us, with the greatest grief and anxi- ety, to express our apprehension, that your American subjects may have been represented to your parliament as having mani- fested some kind of disaffection to their constitutional depend- ence on the parent country ; and as disposed to take occasion from the lenity and tenderness of your majesty and the parlia- ment, to abate of their respect and submission to the supreme legislative authority of Great Britain.
Permit us, with all humility, to assure your majesty of the great injustice of any such representations. Your subjects of this province, and we doubt not of the whole continent of America, are too sensible of the blessings they enjoy under your mild and gracious government, to admit the idea of such a temper and conduct, without abhorrence. They esteem their connexion with their fellow subjects in Great Britain, and a constitutional subordination to your parliament, their great privilege and security. Happy in the full possession of our rights and liberties under your majesty's propitious government, we never can be wanting in returns of duty and the most grate- ful affection.
Such, may it please your majesty, are our dispositions; and we beg leave to assure your majesty, that we shall ever esteem it our glory to cultivate, as far as our influence may extend, all sentiments of loyalty and affection to your majesty's personal government, and to maintain a happy harmony between your subjects of Great Britain and those of your American colonies.
(Signed) T. CUSHING, Speaker.
[The committee by whom this address was prepared, were, the speaker, (Mr. Cushing,) Mr. Otis, Mr. Worthington, Mr. Adams, Mr. Dexter, and O. Partridge.]
See page 207. It was Edward Payne, and not Edward Davis, who was on the committee mentioned in the note.
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See page 231. The friends of Governor Hutchinson believed that Governor Pownall furnished Dr. Franklin with these letters. Pownall and Hutchinson were not political friends. The for- mer was more popular in Massachusetts : and he had intrigued against Governor Shirley in 1757-8. What his object could be in opposing Governor Hutchinson does not appear.
See page 243. The following, with others, were on the grand jury, for Suffolk county, which declined acting
Ebenezer Hancock
Paul Revere.
Peter Boyer
Thomas Pratt.
Joseph Hall.
Lemuel Kollock.
James Ivers.
Thomas Crafts, Jr. Samuel Hobart. Nathaniel Bullard.
The Petit Jurors were :-
Josiah Waters. Nathan Frazier
Robert Wyer. John Cunningham.
Bartholomew Kneeland.
Timothy Tilestone. Jacob Sharpe.
Theodore Mann. James Blake.
Elias Thayer.
Nathaniel Lewis, &c.
See page 244. Whereas the power but not the justice, the vengeance but not the wisdom of Great Britain, which of old persecuted, scourged and exiled our fugitive parents from their native shores, now pursue us, their guiltless children, with un- relenting severity-and whereas this, then savage and unculti- vated desert was purchased by the toil and treasure, or acquired by the blood and valor of those our venerable progenitors-to us they bequeathed the dear-bought inheritance; to our care 57
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and protection they consigned it; and the most sacred obliga- tions are upon us to transmit the glorious purchase, (unfettered by power, unclogged by shackles, ) to our innocent and beloved offspring. On the fortitude, on the wisdom, and on the exer- tions of this important day, is suspended the fate of this new world, and of unborn millions. If a boundless extent of conti- nent, swarming with millions, will tamely submit to live, move and have their being at the arbitrary will of a licentious minis- try, they basely yield to voluntary slavery; and future genera- tions will load their memories with incessant execrations. On the other hand, if we arrest the hand which would rifle our purses, if we disarm the parricide who points the dagger to our bosoms, if we nobly defeat that fatal edict which proclaims a power " to frame laws for us in all cases whatever," thereby entailing the endless and numberless curses of slavery upon us, our heirs and their heirs forever,-if we successfully resist that unparalleled usurpation of unconstitutional power, whereby our capital is robbed of the means of life; whereby the streets of Boston are thronged with military executioners ; whereby our coasts are lined and harbors crowded with ships of war; whereby the charter of the colony, (that sacred barrier against the encroachments of tyranny) is mutilated, and in effect anni- hilated; whereby a murderous law is framed to shelter villains from the hands of justice; whereby the unalienable and inesti- mable inheritance, which we derived from nature, and the consti-' tution of Britain, and which is warranted to us in the charter of the province, is totally wrecked, annulled and vacated; pos- terity will gratefully acknowledge that virtue which preserved them free and happy. And, while we enjoy the blessings and the rewards of the faithful, the torrent of panegyric will roll our reputations to that latest period, when the streams of time shall be absorbed in the abyss of eternity.
NOTE. The foregoing has generally been attributed to the pen of Gen. Joseph Warren; as well as the resolutions which followed. But some have supposed that the writer was Dr. Benjamin Church.
RESOLVES.
We, the heirs and successors of the first planters of this colo- ny, do cheerfully acknowledge his majesty, George the Third, King of Great Britain, to be our rightful sovereign, and that our patent from a former king of England is the tenure and claim, on which are founded our allegiance and submission.
Second. That it is an indispensable duty which we owe to God, our country, ourselves and posterity, by all lawful ways and means in our power, to maintain, defend, and preserve those civil and religious rights and liberties, for which many of our
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fathers fought, bled, and died; and to hand them down entire to future generations.
Third. That the late acts of the British parliament, for block- ing up the harbor of Boston, and for altering the established form of government in this colony, and for screening the most flagi- tious violators of the laws of the province from legal trial,-are gross infractions of those rights, to which we are justly entitled, by the laws of nature, the British constitution and the charter of the province.
Fourth. That no obedience is due from this province to either or any part of the acts above-mentioned; but that they be rejected, as the attempts of a wicked administration to enslave America.
Fifth. That so long as the justices of the superior court, or of the inferior courts of pleas are appointed and hold their places by any other tenure than that which the charter and laws of the province direct, they should be considered as under un- duc influence ; and are therefore unconstitutional officers, and as such no regard ought to be paid to them by the people.
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