USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836 : with various notices relating to the history of Worcester County > Part 10
USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836 : with various notices relating to the history of Worcester County > Part 10
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
A respectable merchant of the town was summoned before the as- sociation, to exhibit the certificate of an oath not to purchase En- glish goods, made by Artemas Ward, Esq. afterwards General in the Continental Army. The form not being considered satisfactory, a new oath was required and taken.
We have traced the society far enough in the detail of its acts, to show the control it assumed and exercised over committees of cor- respondence, the grand jury, the town, its selectmen and citizens.
11
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POLITICAL SOCIETY.
[1774.
Its career is interesting, as indicating the spring by whose impulse the complex machinery was moved, and as illustrative of the manner in which the government of opinion acted on the people, when the authority of the established officers tottered, the tribunals of justice were silent, and self constituted magistracies took the guardianship of the general welfare, and the lead in the municipal republics.
It remains only to notice the dissolution of this remarkable body. Many of the members having been called into the military service of the country, much of its energy was lost. In 1776, it is stated, that unhappy differences had arisen and divisions grown up in the town. It was voted, to institute an enquiry into their origin, and en- deavor to suppress contention and reestablish harmony. Each mem- ber was desired to give intelligence of misbehavior, and answer truly and fully to any question, proposed by a committee, formed from both parties, to investigate the causes of difficulty. It was re- solved, ' that the society, in its corporate capacity, should pass no votes relative to the choice of town or public officers, or for the man- agement of town meetings, until a report was made and acted on.'
The committee, composed of discordant materials, was unable to effect a compromise. The last meetings of the Society appear to have been passed in unavailing struggles to prolong its existence, in jealous rivalship of the committees of correspondence and safety, who had wrested away its power, and in stormy discussion of the deviations from the original principles of its constitution. It linger- ed until the first Monday of June, 1776, when, by mutual consent, it was suffered to expire, after a life of two years and a half.
The struggle between the patriotism of the people and the loyal- ty of a minority, powerful in numbers, as well as in talents, wealth and influence, arrived to its crisis in this town early in 1774, and terminated in the total defeat of the adherents of the king.
At the annual meeting, March ?, a committee 1 was formed, to take into consideration the acts of the British Parliament for raising revenue from the colonies, who soon presented the following report, matured by the Society, whose acts we have noticed, which was ac- cepted.
' We, the freeholders and inhabitants of Worcester, think it our du- ty, at this important time, when affairs of the greatest consequence to ourselves and posterity are hastening to a crisis, after due consid- eration, to offer our sentiments on the many grievous impositions,
1 William Young, Josiah Pierce, Timothy Bigelow.
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1774.]
which are laid upon us : we would particularize some of the most intolerable ones, viz.
' 1. Courts of Admiralty, wherein that most inestimable privilege, trial by jury, is destroyed : Boards of commissioners, with their nu- merous trains of dependents, which departments are generally filled with those who have proved themselves to be destitute of honor, honesty, or the common feelings of humanity ; those who are known to be the greatest enemies of the people and constitution of this country, even those who have murdered its inhabitants. For a re- cent instance of their consummate insolence, and of their barbarously harassing the subject from port to port, at the expense of time and money, and unjustly detaining property, we would mention the case of Capt. Walker, commander of the Brigantine Brothers.
'2. The Governor and Judges of the Superior Court, rendered in- dependent of the people of the province, for whose good only they were appointed, for which service they ought to depend on those they serve for pay : and, we are constrained to say, that to have these who are to determine and judge on our lives [and] property paid by a foreign state, immediately destroys that natural depend- ence which ought to subsist between a people and their officers, and [is,] of course, destructive of liberty. For which reason, we are of opinion, that we [are] not in the least bound in duty to submit to the ordering and determining of such officers as are not dependent on the grants of the people for their pay, and we have the satisfac- tion to hear that four of the superior judges, to their immortal hon- or, have refused the bribe offered them.
' But, as we have had an opportunity heretofore, jointly, to express our minds respecting our many grievances, we, principally, shall confine our observations to the East India company's exporting teas to America, subject to a duty laid thereon by the British Parliament, to be paid by us, not so much as mentioned for the regulation of trade, but for the sole purpose of raising a revenue : in consequence of which, we take it upon us to say, that it is an addition to the many proofs, that the British ministry are determined, if possi- ble, to enslave us : but, we rest assured, that however attached we may have been to that truly detestable herb, we can firmly resist the charm, and thereby convince our enemies in Great Britain and America, that however artful and alluring their snares, and gilded the bait, we have wisdom to foresee and virtue to resist.
' Therefore, resolved ; that we will not buy, sell, use, or any way be concerned with India teas of any kind, dutied or undutied,
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RESOLUTIONS.
[1774.
imported from Great Britain, Holland, or elsewhere, until the un- righteous act imposing a duty thereon be repealed ; the former on account of the aforesaid duty ; the latter, because we still maintain such a regard for Great Britain as to be unwilling to promote the interests of a rival.
' Resolved ; that we will break off all commercial intercourse with those persons, if any there should be, in this or any other place, who should act counter to these, our resolutions, thus publicly made known : that the tea consignees, and all those that have been aiding or assisting in introducing the East India company's tea among us, have justly merited our indignation and contempt, and must be considered, and treated by us, as enemies and traitors to their coun- try : that we contemptuously abhor and detest, all those, whether in Great Britain or America, that are not content with their own hon- est industry, but contrary to known principles of justice and equity, attempt to take the property of others in any wise without their consent.
' Resolved; that we have an indisputable right, at this time, and at all times, boldly to assert our rights, and make known our grievan- ces ; being sensible that the freedom of speech and security of prop- erty always go together. None but the base tyrant and his wicked tools dread this liberty. Upright measures will always defend them- selves. It is not only our indubitable right, but a requisite duty, in this legal and public manner, to make known our grievances. Amongst the many benefits that will naturally result therefrom, [will be] we hope, that important one of undeceiving our gracious sove- reign, who from the wicked measures practised against us, we have just reason to suppose, has been artfully deluded ; in defence of whose sacred person, crown and dignity, together with our natural and constitutional rights, we are ready, at all times, boldly to risk our lives and fortunes.'
Twenty-six of the royalists dissented from these resolutions, and their protest was entered of record, although rejected by the town.
Mr. Joshua Bigelow was chosen representative, with the follow- ing instructions,1 May 20, 1774.
' As English America is in a general alarm, in consequence of
) The committee who reported these instructions, were Josiah Pierce, Timothy Bige- low, Stephen Salisbury, Samuel Curtis, Edward Crafts, John Kelso, and Joshua Whil- ney. They had been prepared by Mr. Nathan Baldwin, the ablest writer of the parly here, and matured by the political society.
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INSTRUCTIONS.
1774.]
some late unconstitutional stretches of power, we are sensible this is the most difficult period that hath ever yet commenced since the first arrival of our ancestors into this then unexplored, uncultivated and inhospitable wilderness : and being fully sensible that the wisest head, uprightest heart, and the firmest resolution, are the necessary qualifications of the person fit and suitable to represent us in the Great and General Court of this Province the present year, [ we] have honored you with our suffrages for that important office. Notwith- standing our confidence in your virtue and abilities, we think it ne- cessary to prescribe some certain rules for your conduct. And first : as there is a late act of the British Parliament, to be enforced in Amer- ica, with troops and ships of war [on ] the first [day] of June, in order to stop the port and harbor of Boston, thereby depriving us of the winds and seas, which God and nature gave in common to mankind, we are induced to believe that [the ministers] of Great Britain, through misinformation, are led to a prostitution of that power which has heretofore made Europe tremble, to abridge us, their brethren in this province, of our natural and civil rights, notwithstanding, exclu- sive of our natural rights, we had all the privileges and immunities of Englishmen confirmed to us by our royal charter. And as we view this hostile manoeuvre of Great Britain as a blow aimed, through Boston, at the whole of American liberties, being emboldened through a consciousness of the justice of our cause, we, in the most solemn manner, direct you, that whatever measure Great Britain may take to distress us, you be not in the least intimidated, and thereby in- duced, that whatever requisitions, or ministerial mandate there may be, in order to subject us to any unconstitutional acts of the British parliament, to comply therewith. But to the utmost of your power, resist the most distant approaches of slavery. But more particular- ly, should the people of this province, through their representatives, be required to compensate the East India company for the loss of their tea, we hereby lay the strictest injunction on you not to com- ply therewith. As the destruction of the tea was not a public act, we cannot see the justice of a public demand. As the civil law is open to punish the offenders, we rather think, instead of an equitable compensation, it would be the means of encouraging riots and rob- beries, and, of consequence, render the courts of justice of no use.
' We also earnestly require that a strict union of the colonies be one of the first objects in your view, and that you carefully and im- mediately pursue every legal measure that may tend thereto; viz. that committees of correspondence be kept up between the several
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INSTRUCTIONS.
[1774.
houses of assembly through the colonies ; and that you by no means fail to use your utmost endeavors, that there be a general Congress formed of deputies from the same : that so we may unite in some safe and sure plan, to secure and defend the American liberties, at this important crisis of affairs.
' Also we direct you, as soon as may be, to endeavor that Peter Oliver, Esq. be brought to answer to the impeachment against him, preferred by the Representatives of this province, in the name of the whole people.
' There are a number of other matters respecting the internal poli- cy of this province, that, in our opinion, at this season, require the attention of the legislator : but, at a time like this, when Britain in return for the blood we have, on every needful occasion, so freely shed in her cause, has reduced thousands, through a wanton exer- cise of power, in our metropolis, to the most [distressing] circumstan- ces, which, at first view, is sufficient to excite in the human breast every tender and compassionate feeling, [this] is enough to engross your whole attention. Should other matters come under your con- sideration in the course of the present year, relative to the common and ordinary exigencies of government, we make not the least doubt, you will, on your part, make the peace and prosperity of the whole province, your ultimate aim and end, and by that means, honor yourself and us, your constituents, in the choice we have made.'
Language so strong and decided, could not but be offensive to the royalists. The acceptance was strenuously opposed ; Col. Putnam, the distinguished counsellor, exerting the whole force of his eloquence to prevent the cooperation of the town in acts of rebellion, but with- out success. Thus defeated, measures were taken to procure the reconsideration of the votes. A petition, signed by 43 freeholders, was presented to the selectmen, requesting them to issue their war- rant for a meeting, in the expectation, by concentrating the whole strength of the opposition, that the early efforts of freedom could be crushed.
A meeting, called in conformity with the prayer of the petition, which is recited at length in the warrant of the selectmen, was held on the 20th of June. After long and violent debate, the whigs prevailed, and it was voted not to act, in any manner, on any of the matters contained in the petition. Nothing remained to the de- feated party but the right of protesting. A spirited and most loyal paper was offered and refused. The Town Clerk, influenced more
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ROYALIST PROTEST.
1774.]
by feeling than prudence, entered a copy on the records, afterwards sent to Boston for publication. This production is one of the boldest and most indignant remonstrances of the friends of royal govern- ment among the productions of the time. It is inserted in the Bos- ton Gazette, printed on the 4th of July, 1774. The entry on the record was afterwards entirely obliterated.
' At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Worcester, held there on the 20th day of June, A. D. 1774, pursuant to an applica- tion made to the selectmen by 43 voters and freeholders of the same town, dated the 20th day of May last, therein, among other things, declaring their just apprehensions of the fatal consequences that may follow the many riotous and seditious actions that have of late times been done and perpetrated in divers places within this prov- ince : the votes and proceedings of which meeting are by us deemed irregular and arbitrary :
' Wherefore we, some of us who were petitioners for the said meeting, and others inhabitants of the town, hereunto subscribing, thinking it our indispensable duty, in these times of discord and con- fusion in too many of the towns within this province, to bear testi- mony in the most open and unreserved manner against all riotous, disorderly and seditious practices, must therefore now declare, that it is with the deepest concern for public peace and order that we behold so many, whom we used to esteem sober, peaceable men, so far deceived, deluded and led astray by the artful, crafty and in- sidious practices of some evil minded and ill disposed persons, who, under the disguise of patriotism, and falsely styling themselves the friends of liberty, some of them neglecting their own proper busi- ness and occupation, in which they ought to be employed for the sup- port of their families, spending their time in discoursing of matters they do not understand, raising and propagating falsehoods and ca- lumnies of those men they look up to with envy, and on whose fall and ruin they wish to rise, intend to reduce all things to a state of tumult, discord and confusion :
' And in pursuance of those evil purposes and practices they have imposed on the understanding of some, corrupted the principles of others, and distracted the minds of many, who, under the influence of this delusion, have been tempted to act a part that may prove, and that has already proved, extremely prejudicial to the province, and as it may be, fatal to themselves ; bringing into real danger, and in many instances, destroying that liberty and property we all hold sa-
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ROYALIST PROTEST.
[1774.
cred, and which they vainly and impiously boast of defending at the expense of their blood and treasure :
' And, as it appears to us, that many of this town seem to be led aside by strange opinions, and are prevented coming to such pru- dent votes and resolutions as might be for the general good and the advantage of this town in particular agreeably to the request of the petitioners for this meeting :
' And as the town has refused to dismiss the persons styling them- selves the committee of correspondence for the town, and has also re- fused so much as to call on them to render an account of their past dark and pernicious proceedings :
' We therefore, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do each of us declare and protest, it is our firm opinion, that the committees of correspondence in the several towns of this province, being creatures of modern invention and constituted as they be, are a legal griev- ance, having no legal foundation, contrived by a junto to serve par- ticular designs and purposes of their own, and that they, as they have been, and are now managed in this town, are a nuisance : And we fear, it is in a great measure owing to the baneful influence of such committees, that the teas of immense value, lately belonging to the East India company, were, not long since, scandalously des- troyed in Boston, and that many other enormous acts of violence and oppression have been perpetrated, whereby the lives of many honest, worthy persons, have been endangered and their property destroyed.
' It is by these committees also, that papers have been lately pub- lished and are now circulating through the province, inviting, and wickedly tempting, all persons to join them, fully implying, if not expressly denouncing the destruction of all that refuse to subscribe those unlawful combinations, tending directly to sedition, civil war, and rebellion.
' These, and all such enormities we detest, and abhor : and the au- thors of them we esteem enemies to our king and country, violators of all law and civil liberty, the malevolent disturbers of the peace of society, subverters of the established constitution, and enemies of mankind.'
The whole number of voters of the town at this time could not have exceeded two hundred and fifty. Fifty two inhabitants sub- scribed the protest.
The first intimation received by the whigs, of the existence of
1774.]
RESOLUTIONS.
sentiments so loyal, on the same pages with the narrative of their own patriotic declarations, was derived from the publication. Im- mediately after its appearance, a petition was presented to the select- men, describing the protest as a false and scandalous attack on the inhabitants, the committee, and their doings, charging the town clerk with a violation of his trust, and requesting them to convene a meeting to consider the subject. The town assembled on the 22d of August, and referred the matter to a Committee,1 to report at the adjournment to the 24th. Before that time, many of the protesters, shrinking from the violence of the storm they had roused, and under the compulsion of force, sought safety by submission, and signed pen- itential confessions of error. When the people reassembled, the following counter statement and the accompanying resolutions were adopted.
' Whereas, the publication, in the Massachusetts Gazette of June 30, was made, as a protest of the signers of it against the proceedings of the town of Worcester, and contains in it a number of groundless reflections and aspersions against the inhabitants of the town, viz : it seems to be implied in the direction to the printer, published at the front of the protest, that the signers were the only persons in the town, that were friends to truth, peace and order, and that they only, were the persons, that had any just apprehensions of the ill consequences arising by mobs, riots, &c. and that all the rest of the inhabitants acted irregularly and arbitrarily ; notwithstanding the matters [voted] in said meeting were fairly considered : and that they, were so destitute of understanding as to be led astray, by evil minded persons, who were endeavoring to reduce all things to a state of disorder and confusion ; thereby making themselves the sole judges of what is rule and order, and what is not : and proceed to stigmatize the inhabitants as holding to such bad opinions, as to pre- vent the town's acting prudently and for the general good. It is al- so implied in the publication, that this town allows a number of per- sons in it, to assume the character of a committee of correspondence for the town, and to act darkly and perniciously with impunity, con- trary to rule and good order and in violation of the truth : after, with unparalleled arrogance, representing themselves as the only friends to it, [they] assert that the town has refused to dismiss the persons styling themselves a committee of correspondence for the town, when,
1 The committee were Joshua Bigelow, Jonas Hubbard, David Bancroft, Samuel Cur- tis, Jonathan Stone, Benjamin Flagg, Josiah Pierce.
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RESOLUTIONS.
[1774.
setting aside the inconsistency of the town's dismissing persons who had arrogated the character of a committee, and consequently [were in fact] not chosen by the town, they well knew that the town had not been requested, either to dismiss persons styling themselves a committee, or those gentlemen so denominated by the town : neither was there an article in the warrant for calling said meeting, to dis- miss any persons whatever from office, nor so much as proposed in the meeting. There is also a malignity cast upon committees of correspondence in general through the continent, and in particular against the committee chosen by this town, without any reason as- signed for the same, but the opinion of the protesters, too slender a foundation to asperse the character of town officers upon, and [they] have endeavored to insinuate into the minds of the public, that the men of which committees of correspondence are composed through the province, are a parcel of unprincipled knaves, who are endeavoring to destroy the lives and property of the peaceable and well disposed, and also alleging that it is by these committees that papers have been lately published, and [that they have] wickedly tempted all persons to sign them, which they call an unlawful combination, tending di- rectly to civil war and rebellion. This town knows of no such pa- per : if it be the non-consumption agreement, entered and entering into through this and the neighboring provinces, that is pointed at, we take it upon us to say, that we much approve of the same, that if strictly adhered to, it will save our money, promote industry, fru- gality, and our own manufactures, and tend directly to prevent civil war and rebellion.
' After offering their opinions of mobs, riots, tumults, and disorder, and the proceedings of the town, so cruelly and with such temerity, as shows them to be destitute of that humanity and christian charity which we in all duty owe one to the other, they brand all that do not join with them, with the characters of enemies of the king and coun- try, violators of all law and civil liberty, the malevolent disturbers of society, subverters of the established constitution, and enemies to mankind. And as it appears by the said publication, that the same is recorded in the town book, notwithstanding the many aspersions it contains against the people of this town, and without the liberty or knowledge of the town ; therefore,
' Voted, that the town clerk do, in presence of the town, obliterate, erase, or otherwise deface the said recorded protest, and the names thereto subscribed, so that it may become utterly illegible and unin- telligible.
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RESOLUTIONS.
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' Voted, that the method taken by the leaders, in protesting, and procuring a very considerable number to sign the protest, who are not voters in the town, we think was a piece of low cunning, to de- ceive the public, and make their party appear more numerous and formidable than it was in reality.
' Voted, that the signers of said protest, on some of whom the town has conferred many favors, and consequently might expect their kindest and best services, be deemed unworthy of holding any town office or honor, until they have made satisfaction for their of- fence to the acceptance of the town, which ought to be made as public as the protest was.
' Voted, that as it is highly needful that those of the signers who have not made satisfaction as aforesaid, should be known in future, it is therefore necessary that their names should be inserted as fol- lows, viz.
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