USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 13
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1768.
the Romney man-of-war, then lying in the harbour.
Entertaining a doubt as to the legality of the seizure, and enraged that the sloop should be placed under the protection of a vessel, on board of which were several seamen who had been forcibly taken from colonial ships in port by & press-gang but a few days previous, the crowd turned upon the obnoxious commissioners, pelted them home with stones, and broke in the windows of their dwellings. More legitimate m were taken, soon after, in the call of a public meeting, at which a remonstrance was prepared and sent to the governor, who was desired to order the Romney from the harbour. Though declining to do this, Bernard, in his answer, either through fear or a sense of justice, did not seem to regard the proceedings of the people as altogether unwarrantable.
In the midst of the excitement thus occasioned, the governor, in pursuance of his instructions from Lord Hillsborough, lately appointed to the new office of secretary of state for the colonial department, required the house of representa- tives to rescind the resolution which had led to their circular letter to the colonies, and to de- clare their " disapprobation of so rash and hasty a proceeding." But conscious of the propriety of their course, and sustained by the concurrence of nine colonies in the measures proposed, the
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MILITARY AID REQUIRED.
1768.]
members, by a vote of ninety-two to seventeen, refused to obey the requisition. In obedience to the peremptory orders of Hillsborough, Ber- nard immediately declared the assembly dissolved, and stated that, without permission from the king, he would not feel at liberty to convene it again.
The indignation of the people now rose to such a height, that the governor became alarmed for his personal safety. The commissioners of customs, regarding themselves also in jeopardy, solicited a regular military force for their protec- tion. Accordingly, in July, General Gage received orders to remove two regiments from Halifax to Boston, and soon afterward a like number sailed from Ireland, having the same destination.
Nothing was known of this movement in Bos- ton until the arrival of an officer to provide quarters for the Halifax regiments. A town meeting was immediately called, and Bernard requested to assemble the legislature. This he peremptorily refused to do until he had received permission from abroad. Spirited resolutions were then adopted in the meeting, declaring that the maintenance of troops in the town, against the wishes of the inhabitants, and in a time of peace, was an infringement of their rights, and a grievance of the most alarming nature. In- structions were likewise given to the selectmen of the town, desiring them to write to all the
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
[1768.
other towns in the colony, embodying a request that they would respectively appoint delegates to a convention, to meet at Faneuil Hall in Boston, on the twenty-second of September. In conclusion, it was resolved, that as a war with France might be apprehended, such inhabitants of the province as were unprovided, be requested " to supply themselves forthwith with arms."
Though denounced as rebellious, and stigma- tized as treasonable, the proposition for a con- vention was received with enthusiasm. Of ninety- seven towns, but one refused to join in the movement. Having met at the appointed time and place, and chosen Thomas Cushing, speaker of the late house, as chairman, the convention drew up a petition to the governor, in which, disclaiming any legislative authority, they urged the assembling of the general court as the only means of averting the alarming dangers that now threatened the destruction of the colony.
Bernard, declining to receive the petition, re- turned a message to the delegates, declaring that he only excused them from the charge of treason on the ground of their ignorance. He called upon them to dissolve immediately, as it was his intention to take prompt measures for asserting and maintaining the royal prerogatives.
To this threat, the convention responded by explaining the nature of their meeting, and ex- pressing their uneasiness at the governor's
221
ACTION OF THE CONVENTION.
1768.]
suggestion of criminality-not from personal fear, but from a fixed aversion to compromise the dignity of the king. This communication Bernard likewise refused to accept, on the ground that such an acceptance would be an admission of the lawfulness of the convention, which he would by no means allow.
Without exhibiting any annoyance, but with calmness and moderation, the delegates pro- ceeded to draw up a report, declaring their own loyalty and that of the body of the people, whom they affectionately advised to avoid any undue expression of resentment, and to prevent, as far as possible, all tumult and disorder. For them- selves, they promised that, in their several stations, they would yield their assistance to the civil authorities for the preservation of peace and order. After preparing a justification of their proceedings, and a detail of the late trans- actions, to be transmitted to their agent in London, the convention was dissolved.
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
[1768.
CHAPTER XVI.
Arrival of troops in Boston-Action of the council-Quartered in the city-General Gage-Popular alarm and indignation -British instructions to Bernard-Virginia supports Massa- chusetts-Repeal of all taxes except the duty on tea-Ber- nard summoned to England-Disclosure of his letters-Po- pular indignation-Spirited conduct of the legislature-De- parture of Bernard-Governor Hutchinson-His policy- Dissatisfaction in Boston-Collision with the troops-Mas- sacre of the 3d of March-Arrest and trial of Captain Pres- ton and his soldiers-The verdict-Anniversary celebration of the massacre-The seat of government-The governor and judges to be paid by the crown-Protest of the general court-Alarm of the people-Resolutions drawn up-Una- nimity of the provincial towns-Uneasiness of Hutchinson -Public agitation-Virginia declares a union of the colonies necessary-Hutchinson's letters-Charges preferred against him-His trial and acquittal-His recall.
ON the same day that the convention dis- solved, the two regiments from Halifax arrived. To curb the "bad spirit" which, it was al- leged, prevailed in Boston, the whole force, numbering about one thousand, was stationed in the town, greatly to the indignation of its in- habitants. Difficulties immediately arose be- tween Bernard and the council, on the subject of furnishing the soldiers with quarters, and with such barrack articles as the Mutiny Act required from the colonies.
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1768.]
ARRIVAL OF TROOPS.
Before the troops arrived, the council had de- clined to co-operate with the governor in desig- nating their future quarters, suggesting that the proper persons to be consulted were the select- men of the town. Castle William, they said, was abundantly capable of accommodating the two regiments from Halifax ; and, until the bar- racks thus provided by the colony were filled, the Mutiny Act forbade any troops from being quartered on the inhabitants.
The first night after landing, by the direction of Bernard, the soldiers were accommodated with quarters in different public buildings. The next day application was made to the council for fuel, lights, and other articles enumerated by the Act of Parliament, but the latter still re- fused to move in the matter.
Until the quarters in Castle William were filled, they could not consider the troops out- side as lawfully in barracks, and therefore they had no authority to allow the articles de- manded. Denying that ther that there was any occasion for a military force to preserve the quiet of the town, they intimated a hope that the regiments already arrived would soon be sent to the castle, and those expected from Ireland be ordered to Nova Scotia, or to some other station requiring their services.
General Gage, who arrived soon after, made an unsatisfactory attempt to settle the question.
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
[1768.
Finding it impossible to bend the council to hist wishes, he, with much difficulty, hired houses for the troops, and procured the necessary barrack- articles at the expense of the crown. The soldiers, however, were still stationed in the town, where their presence created, at first, con- siderable alarm; but as those feelings wore off, an almost general indignation began to manifest itself in continual quarrels between the town's- people and the soldiers.
Meanwhile, several changes had taken place in the British ministry, and various measures proposed to parliament with respect to the colo- nies. Resolutions were adopted censuring the late proceedings in Massachusetts as illegal, and calculated to promote insurrection and rebellion; and it was earnestly requested that Governor Bernard might be instructed to transmit the fullest information of all treasons committed within his government since January, 1768, to- gether with the names of those most active in the perpetration of such offences, with a view that they might be brought to England for trial.
The intelligence of this proposed measure caused great uneasiness in Boston, but it soon subsided. Virginia, and the other colonies, publicly approved the course which had been taken by Massachusetts, and adopted spirited resolutions in opposition to the action meditated
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1769.]
RECALL OF BERNARD.
by the British government. During all this time the Impost Act of 1767 had not been forgot- ten. In addition to the non-importation agree- ment, still faithfully observed, the people of Boston now took a bolder step, and reshipped obnoxious goods to England. This, with the determined concurrence of the other colonies in the engagement not to import, began to affect the prosperity of the British manufacturers, who at length solicited to be relieved from their distress by the repeal of a law which could not be enforced. Petitions, remonstrances, and ad- dresses were also poured in constantly from all parts of America, until finally, in April, 1770, the duties were repealed with the exception of threepence a pound on tea.
The inexpediency of taxing America was thus emphatically acknowledged, while the right to do so was as pertinaciously retained.
In April, 1769, Bernard was summoned to England ; and, although he did not take his de- parture immediately, the people of Massachusetts testified their joy at his recall, fervently hoping it would eventually result in the appointment of a more popular officer in his place. Already detested for his misrepresentations of public. men and public events in the province, new facts were disclosed, at the very moment, of his re- moval, which raised to the highest pitch the popular indignation. Copies of letters he had
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1769
written to prominent persons connected with th British government were received by the council and by them immediately published. In these letters he was found to have advocated the ap pointment, by the crown, of a royal council, ir the place of that chosen by the representatives of the people ; thus proposing to annul, in ar important particular, the charter of the colony.
To defend the province from so glaring ar encroachment upon its liberties, the council im- mediately despatched letters to England earnestly remonstrating against the proposition of Ber- nard, and respectfully suggesting that his per- manent recall would be of the greatest advan- tage to the crown. The house of representatives, which met soon after, took a still bolder stand, and expressly petitioned for the removal of the obnoxious governor. After one more stormy contest with the house, now almost wholly com- posed of his bitterest political enemies, Bernard delivered his farewell message, severely condem- natory of their proceedings, and prorogued all further legislation until the tenth of January, 1770. A few days afterward he embarked for England, amid the firing of cannon, the ringing of bells, and other demonstrations of public joy.
The duties of administration devolved upon Hutchinson, who presently received the royal commission as governor. Like Bernard he was
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227
1770.]
COLLISION WITH THE TROOPS.
an earnest supporter of the royal prerogative, though he disapproved of the vacillating course of the English parliament ; who, in his opinion, should have conceded to the colonies every thing or nothing. Already in no favour with the people, he regarded their disapproval of his course as a thing to be expected. Feeling bound to maintain the authority of the crown, yet con- scious of his inability to do so with effect, he already foresaw the approach of turbulent times, the termination of which, he argued, would be fatal to British supremacy in America.
One of the principal local causes of dissatisfac- tion at this period was the military surveillance to which the people of Boston were subjected. Re- monstrances and petitions for the removal of the troops proving wholly unavailing, the latter be- came especial objects of hatred to many of the citizens ; who, in return, were regarded with an equal antipathy. Out of this turbulent condition of things arose frequent quarrels and collisions, very seriously compromising the public peace. At length an occurrence took place which creat- ed an intense sensation throughout the whole province.
On Saturday, the 3d of March, 1770, a dif- ficulty occurred between the soldiers and the populace, in which several privates of the twenty- ninth regiment were roughly handled. Nothing further transpired until the following Monday.
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1770.
Early in the evening of that day there were. symptoms of an approaching tumult. About eight o'clock, on a slight affray between two soldiers and a few of the inhabitants, the alarm bell was struck. A large number of citizens, armed with bludgeons and greatly excited, im- mediately poured into King street. Having dis- persed, shortly after, in little knots about the town, some of their number encountered the sentinel at the custom-house, whom they began to pelt with snow and pieces of ice. A sergeant and six men from the main guard, followed by Captain Preston, the officer of the day, hastened to the protection of their comrade. This rein- forcement being received with showers of snow- balls, in some of which stones were concealed, Preston ordered his men to charge upon the rioters and disperse them. Undaunted by hear- ing this command, the crowd loudly dared the troops to fire. At this moment, struck by a bludgeon, one of the soldiers fell. Exasperated by the blow, he sprung upimmediately and fired at the supposed aggressor. At the same time his comrades, with one exception, discharged their pieces with deadly effect into the multitude. Three persons were killed outright, and five wounded, two of them mortally.
The excitement that ensued was terrific. In the midst of the confusion the soldiers escaped to the main guard, to strengthen which several
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1770.]
ARREST OF PRESTON.
229
additional companies were brought up. On the arrival of Hutchinson, he at once demanded of Preston by what authority he had ordered the soldiers to fire. Before the latter could answer, a cry was raised, " The Town House, the Town House !" and thither the people immediately rushed, bearing Hutchinson in their midst. Stepping out upon a balcony, he èntreated the people to retire peaceably to their homes, assur- ing them that a full and impartial enquiry should be made into the whole affair. With a wild shout of " Home, home !" they separated tu- multuously.
Notwithstanding this evidence of submission to the laws, the town continued to be fearfully agitated for several days. A grand procession accompanied the bodies of the slain to one grave, with all those marks of respect which are usually accorded to men who fall in the cause of freedom. Committees from town meetings demanded the instant removal of the troops, predicting scenes of blood and carnage if the requisition was not complied with. As desirous of preserving peace as of maintaining the royal authority, Hutchinson reluctantly yielded, and the obnoxious regiments were removed to Castle William. Preston, and the eight soldiers par- ticularly implicated in the massacre, were com- mitted for trial during the following October ; John Adams and Josiah Quincy, two prominent
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1770
friends of the people, being wisely retained as counsel for the prisoners. Preston having given no orders to fire was acquitted, as were also eight of his men, against whom nothing could be positively proved. The remaining two were
found guilty of manslaughter. Justice was thus rigidly administered to all. The outraged feel- ings of the people were properly vindicated, while their own violence was tacitly rebuked. Upon parliament the guilt of blood now properly, rested, from its unwarranted interference with the civil regulations of the colony.
The tragical event of the " Massacre," as it was soon called, sunk deep into the hearts of the people. Its anniversary was solemnly observed. Orators, celebrated for their eloquence, taking for their theme the arbitrary conduct of Eng- land, and the oppressions under which the pro- vinces laboured, sent out their fiery appeals from colony to colony, and enkindled that patri- otic heat which afterward sustained the Ameri- can people through all the dark and weary hours of the Revolution.
During the two following years but few events of marked political importance occurred. The usual dispute was continued between the go- vernor and his friends as supporters of the royal prerogative, and the members of both houses as! defenders of the rights of the peeple.
The seat of government having been removed,
231
ALARM OF THE PEOPLE.
1772.]
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during Bernard's term, to Cambridge, and re- tained there by subsequent orders from England, the popular desire for its transfer back to Boston was for some years unheeded. At length, in 1772, Hutchinson consented to the change, and by this means succeeded in restoring a tempo- rary quiet. In the midst of his dream of tran- quillity, Hutchinson was startled by a fresh ebul- lition of popular feeling,-not violent, but evidencing a more determined spirit of inde- pendence. Hitherto the salary of the governor, as well as that of the chief justice's, had been paid by annual grants of the general court. Notice was now given that, hereafter, these salaries would be disbursed by the crown. This intelligence, so far as regarded the governor's salary, was received during the session of 1772. Resolutions were immediately adopted denouncing it as a violation of the colonial charter, and destructive to the independence of the ex- ecutive.
A month or two after the adjournment, the royal grant for paying the chief justices was made public. Viewing this as a species of ju- dicial bribery, the people were at once alarmed and indignant. " A crisis is at hand," said they, "in which the freedom or slavery of our posterity must be decided." A town meeting was called. A committee was appointed to draw up a state- - ment of the rights of the province, and of all
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1773.
infringments thereon. This report was bold and spirited. It avowed that the numerous griev- ances under which the colonies laboured were sufficient to justify them in revolting, and erect- ing an independent government. The proposition to lay these declarations before the general court, for their sanction, and afterward transmit copies to the various colonial assemblies, was adopted with such extraordinary unanimity as to embrace the assent of nearly every town in the province. Hutchinson became alarmed. Forgetting, in his perplexity, his instructions to avoid disputes with the general court, he introduced the subject in his message at the opening of the session of 1773, and undertook to confute the statements made in the report. Both branches of the le- gislature immediately drew up replies. Steadily pointing to the charter, they showed how often it had been violated, and announced their de- termination to protect it from all future en- croachments as far as their ability permitted.
For force of logic, eloquence of language, and elevation of thought, these documents have rarely been surpassed. Even Hutchinson was compelled to admire where he would not be con- vinced. Without taking up the report of the Boston committee, the house prepared and passed a set of resolutions of their own, one of which, covering perhaps the whole ground, asserted that the only authority from which laws could ema-
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HUTCHINSON'S LETTERS.
1773.]
nate, so as to bind the people of the province in all cases whatsoever, resided in the general court or assembly. Raising the salaries of the judges, they voted a grant for their payment; but as Hutchinson would not give it his sanction, the difficulty was permitted to remain open for a. season.
On Hutchinson's return, shortly after, from arranging, as it was then supposed, a final settlement of the long-disputed boundary ques- tion between New York and Massachusetts, he found the public mind greatly agitated. Virginia, in a series of noble resolutions, had responded to the appeal of the Boston committee, declaring a union of the colonies necessary, and recommend- ing each legislature to appoint a committee of cor- respondence, whose duties it should be to commu- nicate with one another on subjects important to the general welfare. A storm was also gathering around Hutchinson himself. During the second legislative session of the year, after endorsing the Virginia resolutions, the house took into consideration several copies of letters received from Franklin, at that time agent of the province in England. These letters, which had fallen accidentally into Franklin's posses- sion, were from Hutchinson, Oliver, and others, and contained, like those of Bernard, exagger- ated details of colonial proceedings, the temper and disposition of the people were unfavourably
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1773.
represented ; and the whole tendency of the correspondence was to show the necessity of coercive measures against the province, if not a total abrogation of its charter, in order to secure the implicit obedience and subordination of the people.
Repressing with difficulty an improper out- break of their scorn and indignation, both branches of the general court, with scarcely a dissenting voice, passed a petition and remon- strance to the crown, charging the governor and lieutenant-governor with betrayals of their trust, and with having given private, partial, and false information, with a view to the injury of the colony. As being guilty of these of- fences, the legislature prayed for justice against them, and their speedy removal from their re- spective offices.
During the following February the British council, at the particular desire of Hutchinson's friends, accorded a hearing to the petition for his removal. Franklin attended as agent of the colony, and against him the foul-mouthed Wed- derburne, as council for Hutchinson, opened an almost overwhelming torrent of abuse. Dun- ning, who acted as counsel for the petitioners, made but a lame reply, and the complaint was dismissed as « groundless, scandalous, and vex- atious." Hutchinson's recall, however, had already been determined on, though it was only
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TAX UPON TEA.
1773.]
intended to be temporary, or until the power of a military executive should have curbed the free spirit of the colonists. For the part which Franklin had taken in this affair, he was de- prived of his office of deputy postmaster-general. But these indignities were speedily forgotten in the momentous events which were slowly ma- turing at this time in the American colonies.
CHAPTER XVII.
The tax upon tea-Its repeal agitated-Non-importation agree- ment-Drawback allowed on tea-Its shipment to America -Conduct of Pennsylvania, New York, South Carolina, Massachusetts-Destruction of tea in Boston harbour-Port of Boston closed-Gage appointed governor-Reception of the Boston port bill-Action of the colonies-A national congress recommended-Warlike preparations-Convention at Milton-National congress at Philadelphia-Provincial congress at Salem-At Cambridge-Committee of Safety organized-Ward and Pomeroy appointed generals of militia -British detachment ordered to Concord-Skirmish at Lexington-At Concord-Gathering of the provincials-Re- treat of the British-Advance of Lord Percy-Arrival of the regulars at Charlestown-British and American loss- Congress of Massachusetts-Additional levies ordered- Address to the people of Great Britain.
MEANWHILE, the repeal of the impost tax upon tea was being agitated. Not looked upon as a heavy grievance, there was yet seen in it a determination to establish taxation of the colo-
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HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS. [1773.
nies as the right of parliament. Harmless in appearance, it was an insidious attempt to draw the Americans into an acknowledgment of the claim they had so long and earnestly resisted. Non-consumption and non-importation agree- ments had been entered into throughout the different colonies ; and, being pretty faithfully observed, the tax on tea, as an assertion of par- liamentary right, was rendered almost nugatory. Teas imported through England were seldom, if ever, in the market. The British East India Company's warehouses contained seventeen mil- lions of pounds of tea, for which no market could be found. Offering the company a drawback equal to the amount of duty, government pre- pared to force a large supply of the obnoxious article into the colonies ; where, as the tax was now merely nominal, they hoped it would be willingly received and find a ready sale. .
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