USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the provincial period. 1692-1775 v. II > Part 43
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Jan. 29.
" This pamphlet was published in 1773.
2 Hutchinson to -, June 29, 1773.
3 On this affair see Sparks's Frank-
lin ; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. v. 326 -329 ; Bancroft, vi. 490-502.
4 Hutchinson to Bernard, June 20, 1773.
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CHAPTER XIV.
THE BOSTON TEA PARTY. THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
CHAP. XIV. THE ministry in England were not entirely unfriendly to America, for Dartmouth, the secretary of state for the colo- 1773. nies, openly favored conciliatory measures.1 Distinguished for his piety, his uprightness, and his candor, and demeaning at all times with "decency and propriety," his associates felt the power of his example ; and had his influence at court been commensurate with his worth, his prudence might have averted the evils which threatened. The embarrassments of the East India Company hastened the struggle. The affairs of this company, through long mismanagement, had fallen into confu- sion ; and the continued refusal of the merchants of America to import their teas had thrown upon their hands such quanti- ties of this article that they were unable to pay either divi- dends or debts; and, reduced to a state of extreme distress, they were forced to apply to Parliament for a loan, to save themselves from bankruptcy and ruin. This loan was granted, accompanied by a bill for the better regulation of their affairs May 10. in the future, which empowered them to export teas direct from their own warehouses, and on their own account, and granted a drawback of the whole duty payable in England on such teas as were exported to the British plantations in Amer- ica .? The colonial tax of threepence on the pound was still
1 Grafton's Autobiog .; Lord Ma- Gazette for Oct. 18, 1773; Lord Ma- hon's Hist. Eng. v. 320; S. Adams to J. Hawley, Oct. 4 and 13, 1773.
2 Acts 13 Geo. III. c. xliv .; Boston
hon's Hist. Eng. v. 319; Bradford, i. 298; Bancroft, vi. 459, 465. Sted- man, Hist. War, i. 85, and Grahame, (464)
465
THE TEA TAX RETAINED.
to be paid ; nor would Lord North listen to the proposal of CHAP. Trecothick that this should be abandoned. America was not XIV. 1773.
to be relieved from taxation. Yet, as teas could be sold in the colonies under the new regulations at lower rates than for- merly, and as the article itself was one which the people were willing to use, provided it was not made a badge of their ser- vitude, it was supposed that they might be tempted, in view of the apparent reduction in their favor, to forego their scru- ples, and submit without further opposition to the wishes of the king.
But if the ministry calculated upon seducing the colonists by appealing to their cupidity, they were destined to find them- selves sadly mistaken ; for no sooner did the company apply Aug.20. to the treasury for the customary license than they were warned that it would be useless to send teas to America ; the mer- chants would not receive them, and the people were deter- mined to resist at all hazards the claim of authority by the Parliament of Great Britain. In vain did Lord North say, "It is to no purpose making objections, for the king will have it so. He means to try the question with America."1 The king might try the question, but he could not decide it. The measure was at once denounced as "insidious ; "2 a plan of resistance was matured ; and it was publicly declared, in the papers of the day, that " whoever should purchase and use this article would drink political damnation to themselves."3 In- deed, the excitement in the province was general. No meas-
ii., mistake in saying the company had leave to export their teas duty free wherever they could find a mar- ket for them. They were only enti- tled to a drawback of the whole duty payable in England on such teas as were exported to the British planta- tions in America.
1 Almon's Anecdotes, c. xli. ; B. Franklin to W. Franklin, July 14, 1773, in Works, viii. 75; Bancroft, vi. 465.
VOL. II. 30
2 W. Phillips, in Bradford, i. 298, note. "Nothing can more evidently prove the ill conduct or mismanage- ment of the affairs of the East India Company than their becoming export- ers of tea to America - a paltry trans- action, unworthy of one of the great- est associated bodies in Europe. How are the mighty fallen !" Boston Post Boy for Nov. 1, 1773.
Bradford, i. 298, note.
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466
ACTION OF THE PROVINCE.
CHAP. ure of administration, not even the stamp act, had created XIV. more alarm.1 It was now to be determined whether the Amer- 1773. icans should be freemen or slaves.
Concert of action throughout the continent could alone insure success in this crisis ; and Samuel Adams, impatient at even the appearance of delay, urged, with his usual power and eloquence, a Congress on the " plan of union proposed by Vir- ginia." " When our liberty is gone," said he, " history and experience will teach us that an increase of inhabitants is but an increase of slaves." 2 The committee of correspondence Sept. seconded his views; and, though Thomas Cushing, the speaker of the House, advised forbearance,3 assured of the concurrence of the more ardent patriots, they fearlessly aimed at the " union of the province," and advised "the confederacy of the whole continent of America." " Watchfulness, unity, and harmony," they urged, "are necessary to the salvation of ourselves and posterity from bondage. What oppressions may we not ex- pect in another seven years, if, through a weak credulity, we should be prevailed upon to submit our rights to the tender mercies of the ministry ? We have an animating confidence in the Supreme Disposer of events, that he will never suffer a sensible, brave, and virtuous people to be enslaved." 4 A " Con- gress of American states, to frame a bill of rights," or to "form an independent state, an American commonwealth," was no longer the " sickly dream of an enthusiast."5 It was the opinion of Franklin 6 that such a step was necessary ; and
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1 Hutchinson, iii. 422, asserts that the intelligence " caused no alarm ; " that " the body of the people were pleased with the prospect of drinking tea at less expense than ever ; " and that "the only apparent discontent was among the importers of tea."
2 A., in the Boston Gazette for Sept. 13, 1773. A writer under the signature of " Time and Judgment," in the Gazette for Ang. 2, 1773, urges a union of the colonies, or congress of
the states, for the "interest of Great Britain as well as their own." See also W. in the Gazette for Sept. 27, 1773.
3 T. Cushing to A. Lee, Sept. 20, 1773 ; Bancroft, vi. 466.
4 Circular of the Com. of Corresp. Sept. 21, 1773; Bancroft, vi. 467.
5 " Observation," in Boston Ga- zette for Sept. 27, 1773.
6 Franklin to T. Cushing, July 7, 1773; Bancroft, vi. 469.
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467
ACTION OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Samuel Adams, whose vigorous intellect overpowered opposi- CHAP. tion, persuaded even Cushing to act as one of a select commit- XIV. tee to prepare a circular to be sent to the other colonies to 1773. join with Massachusetts in resisting the designs of the English ministry, and in preventing the landing of teas in their ports.1
and 18.
The province of Pennsylvania was the first to act; and Philadelphia, the largest town in the colonies, denied the Oct. 8 authority of Parliament to tax America, condemned especially the duty on tea, declared every one who should countenance its importation an "enemy to his country," and requested the resignation of the agents of the East India Company.2 The citizens of Boston followed this example ; and as Hutchinson himself, under the name of his sons, had been selected as one of the consignees, the committee prepared to require of all a resignation of their office. Accordingly, in the night between the first and second of November, letters were left at their Nov. 1. doors for their appearance at Liberty Tree on Wednesday, at noon, then and there to resign their commissions ; and printed notices were posted in the town, requesting the freemen of Boston and its vicinity to meet at the same time and place, to witness the ceremony.3
On the appointed day, at an early hour, a flag was hung out Nov. 3. on Liberty Tree ; and at eleven o'clock the bells were rung. At twelve, five hundred persons assembled. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and William Phillips, three of the four representa- tives of Boston, were present, with William Cooper, the reso- lute town clerk, and the board of selectmen; and as the con- signees failed to appear, a committee was appointed to wait upon them at their stores. The people in a body then pro- ceeded to King Street, to the warehouse of Richard Clarke, and Molineux, one of the committee, acted as spokesman.
1 Bancroft, vi. 469.
2 Hutchinson, iii. 423; Gordon's Hist. Pa. 481, 482 ; Hazard's Pa. Re- gister, ii. 368; Boston Post Boy for Nov. 1, 1773 ; Ramsay's Am. Rev. i. 98 ; Bancroft, vi. 470, 471.
3 Order on Thos. and Elisha Hutch- inson, Nov. 2, 1773, and Handbills, posted Nov. 2 and 3, 1773; Boston Post Boy for Nov. 8, 1773 ; Boston News Letter for Nov. 4, 1773; Hutch- inson, iii. 423; Bancroft, vi. 473.
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468
MEETINGS IN BOSTON.
CHAP. " From whom are you a committee ?" was the inquiry of XIV. Clarke. "From the whole people," was the brief reply.
1773. " And who are the committee ?" was the next inquiry. "I am one," was the answer of Molineux ; and he named the rest. " What is your request ?" "That you give us your word to sell none of the teas in your charge, but return them to Lon- don in the same bottoms in which they were shipped. Are you ready to comply ?" "I shall have nothing to do with you," was the haughty response. The same answer was re- turned by the other consignees ; upon which Molineux, in a clear voice, read a resolve passed at Liberty Tree, declaring that those who should refuse to comply with the request of the peo- ple were " enemies to their country," and should be dealt with accordingly ; and, after a short tarry, "every one returned to his own home." 1
Nov. 5.
On Friday a legal meeting of the citizens was held in Fan- euil Hall ; John Hancock was chosen moderator ; and a series of resolves, eight in number, a transcript of the Philadelphia resolves, was passed, with an additional resolve to prevent the sale of the company's teas. The meeting then adjourned " till three o'clock in the afternoon," when the committee which had been appointed to wait on the consignees reported that the Clarkes and Benjamin Faneuil persisted in refusing to resign their commissions, on the ground that they wished to consult the Hutchinsons, who were absent at Milton. A committee was next appointed to wait on the Hutchinsons ; an adjourn- Nov. 6. ment was proposed ; and, upon reassembling, a letter was read from Thomas Hutchinson, which, with the reply of the Clarkes and of Faneuil, was declared to be "daringly effrontive to the town," and the meeting was dissolved.2
1 Boston Post Boy for Nov. 8, succeeded in pacifying the crowd. 1773 ; Bancroft, vi. 473, 474. Some Comp. Hutchinson, iii. 424. were for immediately ejecting the 2 Hutchinson, iii. 424 ; Boston Post Boy for Nov. 8, 1773; Boston News Letter for Nov. 11, 1773. consignees, and cried, "Out with them ! out with them !" But Moli- neux dissuaded from violence, and
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469
THE AGENTS REFUSE TO RESIGN.
Twelve days later, intelligence was received through Cap- CHAP. tain Scott, who arrived with Jonathan Clarke, "one of the XIV. East India factors," that the "Boston tea ships " had actually 1773. Nov.17. sailed, and might be shortly expected ; whereupon a new meet- ing was called for the following day, at which fresh resolutions were passed, and the consignees were again desired to resign. " We have received no orders from the East India Company respecting the teas," was their reply. "Our friends in Eng- Nov.18. land have entered into general engagements in our behalf, merely of a commercial nature, which puts it out of our power to comply with the request of the town." This answer was " voted unsatisfactory, and the meeting was dissolved."1 The consignees were alarmed, and applied to the governor for aid ; upon which the Council was convened, and a petition was pre- Nov.19. sented from the " tea commissioners," praying to "resign them- selves and the property committed to their care to his excel- lency and their honors, as guardians and protectors of the people," and that measures might be taken "for the landing and securing the teas, until the petitioners can be at liberty openly and safely to dispose of the same, or until they can receive directions from their constituents."2 But the Council declined acting on the petition, on the ground that they "might as well become the trustees of all 'the individuals, and, ex officio, be the storekeepers of every store, in the province ; " and the gentlemen were left to shift for themselves.3
On Monday, the committees of Dorchester, Roxbury, Brook- Nov.22. line, and Cambridge met the Boston committee at the select- men's chamber, in Faneuil Hall ; and the question being put, " Whether it be the mind of this committee to use their joint influence to prevent the landing and sale of the teas exported
1 Hutchinson, iii. 426 ; Boston Post Boy fur Nov. 22, 1773; Boston News Letter for Nov. 26, 1773; Boston Gazette for Nov. 8, 1773. . " This sud- den dissolution," says Hutchinson, " struck more terror into the consign-
ees than the most minatory resolves." Hutchinson, iii. 426, 427 ; Boston 2 Post Boy for Nov. 22, 1773.
Boston . Post Boy for Nov. 22, 1773; Boston Gazette for Dec. 27, 1773.
470
ACTION OF OTHER TOWNS.
CHAP. from the East India Company," it passed in the affirmative XIV. unanimously ; and a letter was prepared to be sent to the other 1773. towns, soliciting their concurrence.1 The governor, alarmed at this demonstration, prepared to " flee to the Castle, where he might, with safety to his person, more freely give his sense of the criminality of the proceedings ; "2 but he was dissuaded from a step which would manifest his cowardice, and remained in the town. Yet with trembling and fear he listened to the declarations of the people that "the teas should never be landed ; " and the consignees were warned of the " dreadful consequences that must in all probability ensue " if they per- sisted in their refusal to send them back.3
Nov.26.
Before the week was out, the citizens of Cambridge adopted the Philadelphia resolves, and declared that whoever should harbor the East India factors in their houses were " unfriendly to their country ;" and that any inhabitants of the province who should import any teas subject to the payment of a duty in America were "in an eminent degree enemies to their coun- try, and ought to be treated with equal contempt and detesta- tion with the present supposed factors." "And as it is very apparent," they added, "that the town of Boston are now struggling for the LIBERTIES of their country, it is therefore Resolved, that this town can no longer stand idle spectators, but are ready, on the shortest notice, to join with the town of Boston and other towns in any measure that may be thought proper to deliver ourselves and posterity from slavery." The Nov.27. citizens of Charlestown imitated this example, and adjourned their meeting until the following Wednesday.4
Nov.28. On Sunday one of the ships arrived, bringing one hundred and fourteen chests of tea.5 Immediately the selectmen held
1 Boston Gazette for Dec. 6, 1773 ; Bancroft, vi. 476.
2 Letter of Hutchinson, of Nov. 24, 1773.
3 Boston Gazette for Nov. 22, 1773. Boston Post Boy for Nov. 29,
1773 ; Boston News Letter for Dec. 2, 1773; Boston Gazette for Nov. 29, 1773.
5 This was the Dartmouth. Boston News Letter for Dec. 2, 1773.
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471
MEETING IN THE OLD SOUTH.
a meeting ; and the committee of correspondence obtained CHAP. from Rotch, the owner of the vessel, a promise not to enter it XIV. until Tuesday. The towns around Boston were then sum- 1773. moned to meet on Monday ; "and every friend to his country, to himself, and to posterity " was desired to attend, "to make a united and successful resistance to this last, worst, and most destructive measure of administration." 1
At an early hour the people gathered ; and by nine o'clock Nov.29. the concourse was so great that Faneuil Hall was filled to overflowing. A motion to adjourn to the Old South Meeting House, the "Sanctuary of Freedom," was made and carried ; and, on reaching that place, Jonathan Williams was chosen moderator, and Hancock, Adams, Young, Molineux, and War- ren fearlessly conducted the business of the meeting. At least five thousand persons were in and around the building; and but one spirit animated all. Samuel Adams offered a resolu- tion, which was unanimously adopted, that "the tea should be sent back to the place from whence it came, at all events, and that no duty should be paid on it." The consignees asked time for consultation ; and, "out of great tenderness," their request was granted. To prevent any surprise, however, 'a watch of twenty-five persons, under Edward Proctor, was ap- pointed to guard the ship during the night.
The answer of the consignees was given in the morning ; Nov.30. and, after declaring that it was out of their power to send back the teas, they expressed their readiness to store them until otherwise advised. In the midst of the meeting the sheriff of Suffolk entered, with a proclamation from the gov- ernor warning the people to disperse ; but the message was received with derision and hisses, and a unanimous vote not to disperse. The master and owner of the ship which had lately arrived were then required to attend ; and a promise was ex- torted from them that the teas should be returned, without
1 Boston Post Boy for Nov. 29, 1773; Boston News Letter for Dec. 2, 1773 ; Bradford, i. 301.
472
THE SIXTEENTH OF DECEMBER.
CHAP. touching land or paying a duty. The factors of two other. XIV. vessels, which were daily expected, were next summoned, and 1773. similar promises were given by them ; upon which the meeting, after voting to carry into effect, "at the risk of their lives and properties," their former resolves, quietly dissolved.1
After this dissolution the committees of correspondence of Boston and its vicinity held meetings daily, and gave such directions as circumstances required. The other ships, on their arrival, were anchored beside the Dartmouth, that one guard might serve for all ; and the inhabitants of a number of towns, at meetings convened for the purpose, promised to aid Boston whenever their services should be needed.2 At the end of twenty days the question must be decided ; and if the teas were landed, all was lost. As the crisis drew near the excitement increased. Hutchinson was confident that no vio- lent measures would be taken. The wealth of Hancock and others seemed a sufficient security against such measures. But the people had counted the cost, and had determined to risk all rather than be slaves.
Dec. 16.
The eventful day at last dawned ; and two thousand from the country, besides the citizens of Boston, assembled in the Old South, at ten o'clock, to decide what should be done. It was reported that Rotch, the owner of the Dartmouth, had been refused a clearance ; and he was immediately instructed to " protest against the custom house, and apply to the gov- ernor for his pass." But the governor had stolen to his resi- dence at Milton ; and at three o'clock in the afternoon Rotch had not returned. What should be done ? "Shall we abide by our resolutions ?" it was asked. Adams and Young were in favor of that course ; Quincy, distinguished as a statesman
1 Hutchinson, iii. 429-433 ; Boston ter, Charlestown, Newburyport, Mal- Gazette for Dec. 6, 1773 ; Bancroft, vi. 478, 479.
2 Votes of the inhabitants of Mar- blehead, Plymouth, and Medford, in Boston Post Boy for Dec. 13 and 20, 1773. Roxbury, Brookline, Dorches-
den, Lexington, Leicester, Fitchburg, Gloucester, and other towns, passed similar votes. Original Papers, 495, 670; Jour. of Com. of Corresp. in Bancroft, vi. 482 et seq .; Boston News Letter for Dec. 9 and 16, 1773.
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473
DESTRUCTION OF THE TEA.
and a patriot, advised discretion ; but the people cried, " Our CHAP. hands have been put to the plough ; we must not look back ; " XIV. and the whole assemblage, of seven thousand persons, voted 1773. unanimously that the tea should not be landed.1
Darkness, in the mean time, had settled upon the town, and in the dimly-lighted church the audience awaited the return of Rotch. At a quarter before six he made his appearance, and reported that the governor had refused him a pass. "We can do no more to save the country," said Samuel Adams ; and a momentary silence ensued. The next instant a shout was heard at the door ; the war whoop sounded ; and forty or fifty men, disguised as Indians, hurried along to Griffin's Wharf, posted guards to prevent intrusion, boarded the ships, and in three hours' time had broken and emptied into the sea three hundred and forty-two chests of tea.2 So great was the still- ness that the blows of the hatchets, as the chests were split open, were distinctly heard. When the deed was done, every one retired, and the town was as quiet as if nothing had oc- curred. The next day travellers upon Dorchester beach found the tea heaped up in windrows along the shore.3 " This," says Hutchinson, " was the boldest stroke which had yet been struck in America." 4
The die was now cast. It was impossible to recede. "They had passed the river, and cut away the bridge." Nothing re- mained but to bide the issue.5 The governor was " in a forlorn state," and was unable to keep up even "a show of authority."
1 Boston Post Boy for Dec. 20, of all. There is a dignity, a majesty, 1773 ; Boston News Letter for Dec. 23, 1773; Hutchinson, iii. 435, 436.
2 Boston Post Boy for Dec. 20, 1773; Boston News Letter for Dec. 23, 1773; Boston Gazette for Dec. 20, 1773, and Supp't for Dec. 27, 1773 ; Hutchinson, iii. 436.
3 MS. Journals, in the possession of the author.
4 Hist. Mass. iii. 439. "This," says John Adams, Diary, in Works, ii. 323, " is the most magnificent movement
a sublimity in this last effort of the patriots that I greatly admire. The people should never rise without do- ing something to be remembered. The destruction of the tea is so bold, so daring, so, firm, intrepid, and inflexi- ble, and it must have so important consequences, and so lasting, that 1 cannot but consider it an epocha in history."
5 J. Adams's Works, ix. 333.
474
MEETING OF THE GENERAL COURT.
CHAP. Every one was against him. The House were against him ; XIV. the Council were against him ; "the superior judges were 1773. intimidated from acting ;" and "there was not a justice of the peace, sheriff, constable, or peace officer in the province who would venture to take cognizance of any breach of law against the general bent of the people."1 The committees of corre- spondence were never more animated ; and a "declaration " was drawn up to be sent abroad ; letters were written to all the colonies ; "old jealousies were removed, and perfect har- mony subsisted between all." 2 " A common cause," it was said in the papers, "is best supported by a common associa- tion. The defence and maintenance of our rights and liberties is the common cause of every American ; and all should unite, hand in hand, in one common association, in order to support it." 3 " Union," was the cry ; " union from Florida to the plains of Canada." " A Congress of the states is indispensa- ble ; we can redress ourselves if we will ; and what the people wills shall be effected." 4
The General Court stood prorogued to the twelfth of Jan- uary ; but the governor, fearing to meet it at that time, issued Dec. 31. a proclamation further proroguing it to the twenty-sixth of 1774. Jan. 26. the month.5 In his opening address no notice was taken of the recent transactions in Boston, and such things only were mentioned as, in his estimation, "were least likely to give room for any harsh or unkind return." 6 One thing was allud- ed to, however, which could not be passed over. This was his signification of "his majesty's disapprobation of the appoint- ment of committees of correspondence," to sit and act during Feb. 5. the recess of the court. To this signification the House re-
1 Hutchinson, iii. 437.
2 S. Adams to J. Warren, Dec. 28, 1773. Boston Post Boy for Dec. 20, 1773.
4 Boston Gazette for Dec. 27, 1773.
" From Florida, where heat intensely reigns, To where we sought the Gaul on icy plains,
One mortal flame through every breast may spread, By insult prompted and by FREEDOM led."
5 Boston Post Boy for Dec. 27, 1773 ; Boston News Letter for Dec. 23, 1773.
6 Hutchinson, iii. 442 ; Bradford's State Papers, 410.
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475
IMPEACHMENT OF OLIVER.
plied that, " while the common rights of the American subjects CHAP. continued to be attacked, at times when the several assemblies XIV. were not sitting, it was highly necessary that they should cor- 1774. Feb. 5. respond with each other, in order to unite in the most effectual means for the obtaining a redress of their grievances." " We would, moreover, observe," they added, " that, as it has been the practice for years past for the governor and lieutenant governor of this province, and other officers of the crown, at all times, to correspond with the ministers of state and persons of distinction and influence in the nation, in order to concert and carry on such measures of the British administration as have been deemed by the colonists to be grievous to them, it cannot be thought unreasonable or improper for the colonists to cor- respond with their agents, as well as with each other, to the end that their grievances may be so explained to his majesty as that, in his justice, he may afford them necessary relief." 1
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