USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the provincial period. 1692-1775 v. II > Part 32
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The House having sanctioned this document, letters were sent to each of the ministers embodying the same sentiments, Jan. 15 1768. and urging the impracticability of a suitable representation of to 22. the colonies in Parliament.2 No memorial was sent to the Lords or the Commons ; but an address to the king was pre- Jan. 20. pared, and he was appealed to as umpire in the dispute.3 A proposition that these proceedings should be laid before the other colonies, that, "if they thought fit, they might join them," was at first negatived; but on maturer consideration it was Feb. 4. adopted, and a masterly circular, draughted by Adams, was Feb. 11. read and accepted.4
of the places in the gift of the crown have been filled with broken members of Parliament, of bad, if any princi- ples, valets de chambre, electioneering scoundrels, and even livery servants. In one word, America has been for many years the hospital of England." Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. v. 240.
Prior Doc'ts, 167-175; Bernard - to Shelburne, Jan. 21, 1768, in Let- ters, &c. 4; T. Cushing to De Berdt, Jan. 31, 1768; Bradford, i. 124, 134, and State Papers, 124-133; Boston Gazette for April 4, 1768; Jour. H. of R. for 1768, 99, 102, 104, 107, 109 ; Bancroft, vi. 119, 120.
2 Boston Gazette for March 21, 1768; Mass. Gazette for March 31 and April 7, 1768 ; Prior Doc'ts, 177
-191; Bradford's State Papers, 137- 144 ; Jour. H. of R. for 1768, 128, 144, 164, 204, also the Appendix, in which all the papers are given in full.
3 Prior Doc'ts, 175-177 ; Brad- ford's State Papers, 121-123 ; Jour. H. of R. for 1768, 121, 122, 124; Mass. Gazette for March 24, 1768.
4 Mass. Gazette for Mar. 10, 1768; T. Cushing to De Berdt, and Ber- nard to Shelburne, Jan. 30, 1768, in MS. Letters and Papers, 1761-1776, in Lib. Mass. Hist. Soc .; Trumbull MSS. ii. 163; Jour. H. of R. for 1767 -8, 148, 164 ; Bernard to Shelburne, Jan. 30 and Feb. 18, 1768; Prior Doc'ts, 191-199; Bradford, i. 134, 138, 153, and State Papers, 112, 134
344
COMPLAINTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
CHAP. XI. Nearly at the same time, the revenue board, in secret con- clave, prepared a memorial to be sent to England. Professing 1768. Feb. 5. apprehensions that their own lives were in danger, and com- plaining of the licentiousness of the press, of the league to discountenance the consumption of British manufactures, and of the New England town meetings, in which "the lowest mechanics discussed the most important points of government with the utmost freedom," they declared that they had " every reason to expect " it would be found " impracticable to enforce the execution of the revenue laws, until the hand of govern- ment should be properly strengthened." " At present," they added, " there is not one ship of war in the province, nor a company of soldiers nearer than New York." 1
This paper, like most of those sent from America by the minions of power, was artfully framed, and admirably adapted to inflame the passions of those to whom it was addressed. The current of feeling in England was beginning to turn. For more than a year no pains had been spared to irritate the people, especially the freeholders, and to persuade them that they were to pay "infinite taxes," and the Americans none ; that they were to be burdened, and the Americans eased ; in a word, that the interests of Britain were to be sacrificed to those of America.2 By such misrepresentations, many were prepared to look with favor upon the arbitrary measures which were urged upon Parliament, and the friends of those measures were encouraged to persist in their course. Hence distorted
-136. Bernard wrote to Shelburne, Feb. 18, 1768, that these proceedings expressed the opinions of but a few, and that, after much opposition, they were pushed through by the intrigues and threats of some violent members. Yet he acknowledges that the House "acted in all things, even in their re- monstance," so far as he could learn, " with temper and moderation." - Mem. of the Commissioners of
Feb. 12, and Letter of May 3, 1768; Bradford, i. 106 ; Bancroft, vi. 128. The proclamation of Bernard, requir- ing all civil officers to assist the offi- cers of the customs in the discharge of their duties, is given in the Mass. Gazette for March 14, 1768.
2 Letter of W. S. Johnson, dated London, March 14, 1767, in Trumbull MSS. ii. 144 ; Johnson's Diary, March 30, 1767, in Bancroft, vi. 64.
345
DISPUTES WITH THE GOVERNOR.
accounts were given of every occurrence in the colonies, and CHAP. innocent acts were construed as treasonable. Did the legis- XI. lature of Massachusetts, following the load of the merchants 1768. of Boston, with but one dissenting voice pass resolutions Feb. 26. discouraging the use of British, and giving the preference to American, manufactures ?1 These resolves, though conceded by Bernard to be "so decently and cautiously worded that at another time they would scarcely have given offence," 2 were enough to excite the anger of Grenville and his friends ; and the House of Commons ordered a full account of the manufac- Mar. 27. tures of the colonies since 1734 to be prepared and forwarded to England, with a view to subject such manufactures to addi- tional restrictions.3
Considering the position he had taken, disputes with the gov- ernor were of course to be expected ; and he was constantly fur- nishing grounds for fresh accusations. An article in the Gazette Feb. 28. commented severely upon his "obstinate perseverance in the path of malice," and his " diabolical thirst for mischief." 4 This he pronounced a " virulent libel," and, after it had been pre- sented to the Council and the House, the latter of which passed it over as a matter of little moment, the grand jury were called upon to indict the author ; but they refused. Hutchinson, by his own acknowledgment, told them, " almost in plain words, that if they did not find against the paper as containing high treason, they might depend on being damned ; " but his menace was laughed at, and the "Sons of Liberty " toasted the jurors.5
1 Letter of T. Cushing to De Berdt, April 18, 1768, in MS. Letters and Papers, 1761-1776, in Lib. Mass. Hist. Soc. ; Jour. H. of R. for 1767- 8, 198; Mass. Gazette for March 17, 1768; Bradford, i. 145.
2 Bernard to Shelburne, March 5, 1768.
Trumbull MSS. ii. 175, in Lib. Mass. Hist. Soc.
199 ; Bradford, i. 141, and State Pa- pers, 118, 119. The closing lines of this piece were significant : -
" If such men are by God appointed, The devil may be the Lord's anointed." Rochester's Satires.
5 'Hutchinson's Letters of March 23, 26, and 27, and Oct. 4, 1768, and Hist. iii. 186; Bernard to Shelburne, March 5 and 12, 1768; Jour. H. of R. for 1768, 206-210 ; Mass. Gazette
4 Otis, in the Boston Gazette for Feb. 29, 1768, Supp't ; Prior Doc'ts, Extra for March 4, and Gazette for
346
DISPUTES WITH THE GOVERNOR.
Mar. 4.
CHAP. On the last day of the session, the legislature came in for a XI. share of the reproofs of his excellency, and of some of the 1768. members he spoke in terms of the bitterest contempt. "These are the men," said he, "to whose importance everlasting con- tention is necessary. Time and experience will soon pull the mask off these false patriots, who are sacrificing their country to the gratification of their own passions." 1
Nor did he stop here. Satisfied that he had nothing to expect from either branch of the court, he once more busied himself in denouncing the charter, and invoked the aid of troops to assist in the work of oppression. To give point to his appeal, a scheme was devised which, it was thought, if prop- erly managed, could scarcely fail of success. The anniversary Mar. 18. of the repeal of the stamp act, it was supposed, would be ob- served in Boston with some parade; and the governor con- certed that reports should be circulated of a designed insur- rection on that day, and of danger to his own person and to the Board of Customs. Aware of his intentions, the "Sons of Liberty " labored to preserve order; and when, on the morning of that day, the effigies of Paxton and of Williams were found suspended from Liberty Tree, they were immediate- ly taken down.2 The observances of the day were conducted with decorum. At an early hour, drums were beaten, guns were fired, and the "whole town was adorned with ships' colors ; " at the public dinner, in Faneuil Hall, toasts were drunk to the freedom of the press and to the memory of several of
March 7, 1768; Prior Doc'ts, 199- 202. ""The time is not yet come," wrote Bernard to Shelburne, " when the House is to be moved against pop- ular printers, however profligate and flagitious."
Jour. H. of R. for 1768, 214; Mass. Gazette Extra for March 4, 1768; Hutchinson, iii. 186 ; Bradford, Hist. i. 143, and State Papers, 120, 121.
2 " There was, in the time of it, a
strong suspicion in the minds of many that these effigies were hung up by some particular persons on that day, with a design to give a coloring to just such representations as Governor Ber- nard now makes. There are persons here capable of playing such a game ; and there are some circumstances which make it appear that such a sus- picion was not groundless." Vindica- tion of the Town of Boston, 6.
347
THE EIGHTEENTH OF MARCH.
the martyrs of liberty ; 1 but, though public and private dwell- CHAP. ings were generally illuminated, no bonfire was lighted in the
XI. evening ; and the "mob," if there was one, by the acknowledg- 1768. ment of Hutchinson was only such as had been usual " on the fifth of November and other holidays." 2 Bernard, however, was not to be baffled ; and, since, the people would give no cause of offence, he was determined to make one. Hence, in his despatches to England, he magnified these occurrences into a terrible riot. " Many hundreds," he affirms, "paraded the streets with yells and outcries which were quite terrible ;" and when the "mob " passed his house, there was " so terrible a yell that it was apprehended they were breaking in." "I can afford no protection," he continues, "to the commissioners. I have not the shadow of authority or power. I am sure to be made obnoxious to the madness of the people by the testimony I am obliged to bear against it, and yet left exposed to their resent- ment without any possible resort of protection."3 The com- missioners of the customs seconded these charges, and, to insure the arrival of an armed force, earnestly appealed to Commo- dore Hood, the naval commander at Halifax, for aid, and me- morialized the treasury for troops to be sent over.4
Before these charges reached England, the Twelfth Parlia- Mar.11.
1 Boston Gazette for March 21, 1768 ; Mass. Gazette for March 24, 1768 ; Bancroft, vi. 134.
mere procession of a post chariot or two and some single horse chaises, with a mob of boys and idle people at their heels, by way of ovation or tri- umph over the stamp act. There was a procession of the very same nature failure of the excise bill; and yet the civil magistrates of the city of London never had any such severe charge brought against them for not putting a stop thereto."
2 Hutchinson to Jackson, March 23, 1768 ; Hist. iii. 188. Comp. Ber- nard to Shelburne, March 19, 1768, and see Mass. Gazette for March 24. in London upon the anniversary of the - the organ of the government. Gage to Hillsborough, Oct. 31, 1768, asserts that, " according to the best in- formation he had been able to pro- cure, the disturbance in March, so far from being ' terrible,' as the governor 3 Bernard to Shelburne, March 19 and 21, 1768. Comp. Pownall's Speech of Feb. 1769, p. 4. 4 Hood, in Grenville Corresp. iv. 306; Mem. of Commissioners, March 28, 1768; Bancroft, vi. 136. represents it, was in truth trifling." Vindication of the Town of Boston, 9. Pownall, also, in his Speech in the House of Commons, in Feb. 1769, p. 4, says the " disturbance " on the 18th of March " was nothing more than a
348
A NEW PARLIAMENT CALLED.
CHAP. ment was dissolved. In the election which ensued, the system XI. of bribery, which had long been practised, was carried to an
1768 extent never before known. The blood of Africa and the tears of Hindostan, by a new species of alchemy, were transmuted into English gold ; and seats in Parliament became an article of brokerage and merchandise. "There is no such thing as a borough to be had now," wrote Chesterfield to his son.1 " The rich East and West Indians have secured them all at the rate of three thousand pounds at least, but many at four thou- sand, and two or three at five thousand." " George Selwyn sold his borough of Ludgershall to two members for nine thou- sand pounds." In the borough of Northampton, a contested election and the petition which followed are said to have cost the Earl of Spencer no less than seventy thousand pounds.2 To a Parliament thus rotten were the liberties of England and America intrusted. Obviously, it would have been absurd to have expected from such a body measures of patriotism, of pru- dence, or of peace.3 Men who jest at their own corruption will not, as a general thing, hesitate to sanction the vilest measures. Is it surprising that the colonies, which had relied upon the integrity of Parliament, should have henceforth re- garded it as their deadliest foe ? " We must be free," was the word which began to circulate. " Laws are not valid unless sanctioned by our consent." "We will oppose any minister who shall innovate an iota in our privileges." Dickinson,
' Dec. 19, 1767, and April 12, 1768, in Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. v. 190, 191.
Lord Orford's Mems. iii. 198, note; Franklin's Works, vii. 394; Belsham's George III. i. 232; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. v. 191. Comp. Bancroft, vi. 147. Well might the poet indignantly exclaim, -
"Corruption ranges with gigantle stride, And scarce vouchsafes his shameless front to hide ;
The spreading leprosy taints every part. Infects each limb, and sickens at the heart.
Stern Independence from his glebe retires, And anxious Freedom eyes her drooping fires.
By foreign wealth are British morals changed,
And Afric's sons and India's smiles avenged." Epist. to "Wilberforce.
3 " It is at present," wrote De Berdt, May 11, 1768, "a time of great confusion ; the heats and animosity of electing new members of Parliament are not yet subsided ; universal dis- content spreads itself through the kingdom." Bradford, State Papers, 142.
349
THE MASSACHUSETTS CIRCULAR DENOUNCED.
of Pennsylvania, the author of the " Farmer's Letters," and a CHAP. man of singular calmness and moderation, approved this course. XI. " Almighty God himself " - such were his words -" will look 1768. down upon your righteous contest with approbation. You will be a band of brothers, strengthened with inconceivable supplies of force and constancy by the sympathetic ardor which animates good men confederated in a good cause. You are assigned by Divine Providence, in the appointed order of things, the pro- tectors of unborn ages, whose fate depends upon your virtue." 1 The people of Boston responded to this appeal ; and, in a meeting convened for the purpose, thanks were voted, and a Mar.24? committee was appointed, consisting of Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Joseph Warren, to greet the author in the name of the town, as " the friend of Americans and the common ben- efactor of mankind." 2
The circular of Massachusetts, sent out in February, reached England in April ; and it was at once denounced as of a "most Apr 15. dangerous and factious tendency, calculated to inflame the minds of his majesty's good subjects in the colonies, to promote an unwarrantable combination, to excite and encourage an open opposition to and defiance of the authority of Parliament, and to subvert the true principles of the constitution." 3 Let- ters were written to all the governors to prevail with the assemblies to take no notice of this circular ; 4 and the General Court of Massachusetts were required to rescind their resolu- tions, and to " declare their disapprobation of the rash and hasty proceeding." Should they refuse to comply, the governor was "immediately to dissolve them. Upon their next choice.
1 Farmer's Letters, 12; Franklin's Works, i. 282; Bancroft, vi. 139.
2 Bernard to Hillsborough, March 28, 1768; Boston Gazette for March 28, 1768; Mass. Gazette for March 24, 1768. The Boston Gazette for April 25, Mass. Gazette for April 28, contain the reply of Mr. Dickinson.
3 Hillsborough to the Governor of
Connecticut, April 29, 1768, in Trum- bull MSS. ii. 170; Hillsborough to -, in MS. Letters and Papers, 1761-1776, in Lib. Mass. Hist. Soc. ; Letter to the Earl of Hillsborough, pub. in 1769, p. 31; Grahame, ii. 433.
4 Trumbull MSS. i. 170 ; Bancroft, vi. 144.
350
BERNARD CORRESPONDS WITH HILLSBOROUGH.
CHAP. he was again to insist on it ; and if then refused, he was to do XI. the like, and as often as the case' should happen."1 As an
1768. additional argument to induce obedience, General Gage, the commander-in-chief of his majesty's forces in America, was ordered to maintain the public tranquillity.2
For some time Mr. Bernard had corresponded with Hills- borough, the secretary of state, and had acted as informer against the province, under the pledge that no exposure should be made of his letters.3 "It requires your lordship's distin- guished abilities," he wrote, "to accomplish the most arduous task of reducing the colonies into good order ; " and he ex- pressed the hope that he would prove successful. This compli- ment to his talents was sufficient to insure a favorable reception to the proposals of the governor, and the reply of the secretary was as flattering as heart could wish. Hutchinson, anxious to secure his share of applause, chimed in with the statements of Bernard, and rang the refrain in a similar strain. "It only needs," said he, " one steady plan, pursued a little while, and success is sure." 4 Such suggestions were by no means dis- pleasing to the secretary ; and, as the letters from the revenue June 8. officers bore the same burden, Gage was ordered to send a regiment to Boston, to be permanently quartered there for the assistance of the civil officers and the officers of the customs. The admiralty was also directed to send one frigate, two sloops, and two cutters to be stationed in Boston harbor ; and, for the accommodation of the troops, the Castle was to be repaired and occupied.5
1 Shelburne to Bernard, April 22, 1768; De Berdt to the Speaker of the House of Rep. July 29, 1768, in Bradford's State Papers, 161; Gra- hame, ii. 435 ; Bradford, Hist. i. 148; Bancroft, vi. 144.
2 Hillsborough to Gage, April 23, 1768. " It is become necessary that such measures should be taken as will strengthen the hands of the govern- ment in the Province of the Massa-
chusetts Bay, enforce a due obedience to the laws, and protect and support the civil magistrates and the officers of the crown in the execution of their duty."
3 Bernard to Hillsborough, May 12, 1768.
4 Hutchinson to Jackson, June 14, 1768.
5 Hillsborough to Gage, June 8, to the Lords of the Admiralty, June 11,
351
IMPRESSMENT OF SEAMEN.
The annual election occurred before these orders were is- CHAP. sued ; and the General Court, when convened, though they XI. listened to a sermon from Shute, of Hingham, in which the 1768. absolute authority of Parliament was denied, and resistance to May 25. May 4. inequitable laws was justified, evinced no disposition to stir afresh the waters of strife, but patiently awaited the result of their appeal to the king, and continued to confide in his ma- jesty's good will.1 Parties, indeed, were so nearly equal, and the disposition to overlook former miscarriages so far prevailed, that even Hutchinson, whose friends brought him forward, for the last time, as a candidate, lacked but three votes of an elec- tion to the Council ; but the pension he had accepted caused his defeat.2 Stung by this rejection, his arbitrariness increased ; and the commissioners of the customs - Paxton, in particular, who was his intimate friend - assumed the haughtiest airs, and cared not what umbrage was taken at their course.
A ship of war, the Romney, had for a month past lain at anchor off in the channel ; and her commander, Captain Cor- ner, under the pretence that he was in want of men, had ven- tured to impress a number of seamen belonging to New Eng- land. One of these was rescued ; but when an attempt was Jun. 10. made to obtain the release of another, by offering a substitute, the captain exclaimed, in a violent rage, "No man shall go out of this vessel. The town is a blackguard town - ruled by mobs. They have begun with me by rescuing a man whom I pressed this morning ; and, by the eternal God, I will make their hearts ache before I leave it." 3
and to Bernard, June 11; Narr. of Facts ; Bancroft, vi. 153. " As this appears to be a service of a delicate nature," says Hillsborough, " and pos- sibly leading to consequences not easily foreseen, I am directed by the king to recommend to you to make choice of an officer for the command of these troops upon whose prudence, resolution, and integrity you can en- tirely rely."
1768; Mass. Gazette for May 26, 1768; Bancroft, vi. 151. 2 Affidavit of N. Waterman. Comp. Hutchinson to Jackson, June 18, 1768, and Oliver to -, May 11, 1767. Letters from the Earl of Hillsborough and the Board of Trade were laid be- fore the House, May 31, " concerning the constitution of an agent for this province." Jour. H. of R. for 1768, 20. 3 Affidavit of N. Waterman, an- 1 Hutchinson to -, July 21, nexed to the Mem. presented by De
352
THE SLOOP LIBERTY SEIZED.
CHAP. XI. About sunset of the same day, another step, of a more violent nature, fanned the sparks of excitement into a flame. A sloop, 1768. Jun. 10. the Liberty, belonging to John Hancock, one of the wealthiest and warmest of the Boston patriots, which had just discharged a cargo of wines and taken in a freight of oil and tar for a new voyage, was seized for an alleged false entry, and, after receiving the broad arrow, preparations were made to remove her from the wharf, to be moored under the shelter of the guns of the Romney. The revenue officers, fearing a rescue, signalled to the Romney ; and a boat, filled with armed men, was sent to their aid. Malcom, a trader at the north part of the town, advised the officers to let the vessel lie at the wharf : but Hallowell, the comptroller, gruffly replied, "I shall not," and orders were given to cut the fasts. "Stop, at least, till the owner comes," was shouted from the crowd ; 1 but the comptroller, with an oath, bade the men "cast her off ; " and the master of the Romney cried, "I'll split the brains of any man that offers to reeve a fast, or stop the vessel." Then, turn- ing to the marines, he commanded them to fire. " What ras- cal is that," cried onc, " who dares to tell the marines to fire ?" Harrison, the collector, witnessed these proceedings, but re- fused to interfere. "The owner is sent for," it was said ; "you had better let the vessel lie at the wharf till he comes." But Hallowell repeated his orders, and added, "Show me the man who dares oppose." Exasperated at this conduct, Malcom shouted, " We will throw the people from the Romney over- board ;" but Corner, with an oath, swore the vessel should go, and again called to the marines, "Why don't you fire ? Fire, I say !" The crowd, on this, fell back, and the sloop was towed away.2
Berdt; Hutchinson to Jackson, June 18, 1763; Jour. H. of R. for 1768, 25, 30; Bancroft, vi. 155.
' 'The commissioners represented this as a " numerous mob ; " but the Vindication of the Town of Boston, p. 10, says, " It was not a numerous
mob, nor was it of long continuance, neither was there much mischief done."
2 Affidavits of Joseph Piper, Wil- liam Ross, Caleb Hopkins, &c., an- nexed to the memorial of De Berdt of July 21 ; Deposition of Hallowell,
353
SEIZURE OF THE LIBERTY.
As the officers of the customs retired, the crowd followed CHAP. at their heels, pelting them with stones and bricks and dirt ; XI. but, save a few flesh wounds, no serious injury was done.1 On 1768. reaching their houses, the mob broke in the windows, and frightened their families ; and, soon after, seizing a pleasure boat belonging to the custom house, it was dragged in triumph from the water side to the Common, and burned. Hancock, Warren, and Samuel Adams had already met to deliberate as to what should be done ; but, an hour before midnight, the word was given, "Each man to his tent." The crowd dis- persed, and all was quiet.2
Saturday and Sunday passed without disturbance. The gov- ernor convened the Council, to advise with them; and, after some altercation, a committee was appointed to ascertain the facts attending the seizure. This, however, did not satisfy the officers, who trembled for their own safety ; and four of the five went with their families on board the Romney.3 On Monday, a placard called upon the "Sons of Liberty " to meet Jun. 13. the next day at "Liberty Hall," a name given to the space around Liberty Tree.4 A vast crowd responded to this call ; 5 Jun. 14. a chairman was chosen ; and the selectmen were requested to call a legal meeting that afternoon at three o'clock. At that hour the meeting was held; but, finding the concourse so
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