USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > An historical account of the old State house of Pennsylvania now known as the Hall of Independence > Part 5
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The Assembly at once empowered the Governor to march a part of the troops of the Province to the assistance of the colony of New York, "in immediate danger of being lost to the crown," and they authorized the Commissioners to give a bounty to one thousand vol- unteers, at the option of the Governor, and to supply them with arms and ammunition. They further addressed themselves to comply with the requisition for a permanent militia ; but the bill which they framed was amended by the Governor in order "to make an equi- table and constitutional militia law," while the Assembly, though no longer impeded by the presence of the Quakers, rejected the amend- ments because they would " oblige the inhabitants to take a test as to their religious and conscientious scruples," gave the Governor the appointment of the officers without the sanction of the people, and besides exempted the proprietary estates.
On 8th March, 1758, the tones of William Pitt resounded in the
45
JOHN DICKINSON APPEARS.
Assembly room urging the necessity of providing troops for active operations against the French, whereupon the Legislature at once responded. They appropriated one hundred thousand pounds and ordered two thousand seven hundred men to be enlisted for the cam- paign - more men, say they, than a full share according to the pro- portions required of this Province - thus essentially contributing to the capture of Fort Du Quesne and to the subsequent complete de- struction of the French power in America.
The death of George II. produced a ripple of excitement in the loyal city of Philadelphia, and was communicated formally to the House, January 27, 1761 - the usual " glorious memory " of the de- funct sovereign, and the "universal applause " conceded to the live one upon his accession, etc., with the appropriate besprinkling of con- dolences and congratulations, formed the staple of messages and re- sponses.
The curtain now rises upon the last individual monarch of America with as much applause and as many encores as had ever greeted the royal majesty of England - almost simultaneously appeared, Septem- ber 7, 1762, for the first time in the House, the man who was des- tined more than any other to guide the fortunes of Pennsylvania, and incidentally to mould those of Amer- ica as an independent sovereign- ty. JOHN DICKINSON on that day " was qualified and took his seat " -- he had been returned as a member on 12th May preceding, at a special session of short duration.
A public meeting was called in the State House Yard by the Governor, on 4th February, 1764, to resist what is popu- larly known as "the March of the Paxton boys against Philadelphia."
George &
Georget.
This threatened " invasion " was occasioned by the effort to secure some Indian murderers of frontiersmen as was claimed, though it was believed that the inhabitants of Lancaster County (whose appetite for blood had been whetted by some murders
46
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
they had already committed in their own borough) were really desir- ous, in an undiscriminating retaliation against the Indians, to sacrifice to the Manes of their murdered friends a large body of inoffensive savages. These Indians were being christianized by the Moravians and they had placed themselves under the protection of the Province.1
This meeting duly held at the State House, resulted in the prompt organization of a large force of citizens, to assist, in case of need, the handful of troops stationed at the barracks, where the Indians, one hundred and twenty-seven in number, men, women and children, were quartered. Even the Quakers are said to have borne their share of these military preparations. The approaching rioters were esti- mated at from seven to fifteen hundred, but on sight dwindled down to two hundred ; they made a halt upon their arrival on Sunday evening at Germantown ; there they were interviewed and after sat- isfying themselves (or prudentially pretending to do so) that the murderers whom they sought were not among the friendly Indians sheltered at the barracks, in town, they dispersed and returned home again.
A caricature of the day burlesques the march of the City's De- fenders up the hill and down again.
After the accession of John Penn to the government of Penn- sylvania, the difficulties between the Proprietary family and the Legislature seemed to culminate in the persistent objections made by the former to the taxation of their uncultivated lands in the country ; it resulted in an earnest application to the King to take the govern- ment into his own hands, making equitable compensation to the Pro- prietaries. In their petition " to the King's most Excellent Majesty," to this end, they ascribe " the great obstructions to your Majesty's service and the mischief to the Province during the last two wars " entirely to the Proprietary form of government, and instanced the fact that the disagreements, thence inevitably resulting, had occasioned generally the surrender of the power of government to the crown, where the colonies had been settled under this form.
They instructed their agents to press the application in every way consistent with the retention of their original essential rights as
1 The Governor at the same time communicated the facts to the Assembly and earnestly recommended the passage of a Militia law for the purpose not only of defending the Indians, but supporting the government itself, thus threatened by a licentious set of people, " who, have already given abundant proof, that neither religion, humanity, or laws, are objects of their consideration or of sufficient might to restrain them."
win hun de
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Tune Vicar 1 of Bray. THE ELECTION A MEDLEY, ambly InfunDed & Squir Lilliput Profesor of SCURBILITY.
47
TAXES AND - TARES.
British subjects, as well as those specifically granted by the charter of Charles II. to Penn. and confirmed by the laws of the Province and the Royal assent. The propriety of this careful reservation was just now beginning to make itself manifest ; its all-absorbing interest effectively cured all smaller grievances.
In the autumn of this year (1764), the great event of the eighteenth century commenced to unfold itself.
Privy Purse. in 17 53.
Privy Purse in 17 63.
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The ministerial scheme of filling the shrunken purse of George III. by the imposition of taxes in America, fixed by the British Parlia- ment and without reference to the Colonial legislatures, now assumed definite shape.
The Colony of Massachusetts took the lead in entering the pro- test of the Colonies. As early as June 13th of this year, the House of Representatives of that Province instructed its agent, Israel Mauduit, to use his endeavors to obtain a repeal of " the Sugar Act," and to exert himself to prevent a Stamp Act or any other imposi- tions and taxes upon that and the other American Provinces, and on behalf of Massachusetts invited the other colonies to join in the same measure. The official letter, signed by JAMES OTIS, THOMAS CUSHING, OXENBRIDGE THACHER, and by Thomas Gray and Ed- ward Sheaffe, was laid before the Pennsylvania Assembly on the sec- ond day of their session, September 11th, 1764.
The Massachusetts Bay asks the united assistance of the several Colonies against the formidable attacks upon what it conceives to be the inseparable rights of British subjects, and desires that the agents of the several Colonies may be directed by the Representatives of the people on the Continent of North America to unite in the most serious
48
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
remonstrance against measures destructive of the Liberty, the Com- merce, and Property of the Colonists, and in their tendency pernicious to the real interest of Great Britain.
James Otis Thomas busting Oxentridge Machen
Thomas
Benjamin Franklin, the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly, was promptly instructed to direct the Agent to guard the Colony against these and all other impositions while at the same time assuring the Home Government that a plan is being formed "to grant the neces- sary aids to the Crown and to contribute to the general defence that will not destroy or infringe the natural and legal rights of the Colo- nies or affect those of the Mother Country."
"INSTRUCTIONS TO RICHARD JACKSON.
"The Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, having received Information of the Resolutions of the September House of Commons respecting the Stamp Duties and other Taxes 22, 1764. proposed to be laid on the British Colonies, do most humbly con- ceive that the measures proposed as aforesaid if carried into execution, will have a Tendency to deprive the good People of this Province of their most essential Rights as British Subjects and of the Rights granted to them by the Royal Charter of King Charles the Second, and confirmed by Laws of this Province, which have received the Royal Approbation.
49
PENNSYLVANIA AND RHODE ISLAND PROTEST.
"The House of Assembly therefore most earnestly request you will exert your utmost endeavours with the Ministry and Parliament to prevent any such impositions and Taxes or any other Impositions or Taxes on the Colon- ists from being laid by the Parliament inasmuch as they neither are or can be represented, under their present Circumstances in that Legislature : Nor can the Parliament, at the great Distance they are from the Colonies, be properly informed, so as to enable them to lay such Taxes and Impositions with Justice and Equity, the Circumstances of the Colonies being all different one from the other."
Before yet a month had elapsed the brave little colony of Rhode Island sends to the Pennsylvania Assembly a communication dated October 8th, also calling attention to the anticipated Act of Parlia- ment. " The impositions already laid on the trade of these Colonies," say they through Stephen Hopkins, " must have very fatal conse- quences, but the act in embryo for establishing stamp duties if effected will further drain the people and strongly point out their servitude. The resolution of the House of Commons that they have a right to tax the Colonies if carried into execution will leave us nothing to call our own."
The Rhode Island letter evoked a unanimous resolution from the Pennsylvania Assembly to enforce the instructions already given to their agents in London to remonstrate against the Stamp Act and all other acts of Parliament by which heavy burdens have been laid on the Colonies; still the response given to Stephen Hopkins was con- servative.
These matters of deep concern induced the House to enforce still more strongly their instructions by sending another agent " to join with and assist " Mr. Jackson.
Franklin was designated and was elected notwithstanding a remon- strance from a number of inhabitants of Philadelphia, who objected to this selection because " Mr. Franklin has had a principal hand in pro- posing and promoting the petitions for a change of Government which now appear " say they " contrary to the sentiments of more than three fourths of the Province ; " it was resolved, "That Benjamin Franklin, Esq., be and he is hereby appointed to embark with all convenient despatch for Great Britain."
The murmurs of disapprobation which rolled from Massachusetts to the Carolinas and back again, found vent in a masterly protest from the pen of Samuel Adams. Deaf to the appeal, Parliament, late in March of 1765, passed the celebrated Stamp Act, enforcing the collec- tion of "a duty" (evidenced by a stamp) upon every paper used in 4
50
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE IIALL.
judicial proceedings, in commercial transactions, and even in the daily amusements of the people, reaching pamphlets, newspapers, almanacs, 227 playing cards. The Act was not, however, to go into operation till the first of November, CUFER but tidings of its passage reached America towards the middle of April.
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At first the colonists admitted themselves almost stupefied by the blow, the tendency of which was at once proclaimed to reduce the Colonies to slavery, but " the spirit of liberty informed the Press, we began to collect our scattered thoughts our privileges were set forth in a clear and striking light, which the latent spark of patriotism enkindled at once, and flew like lightning from breast to breast, it flowed from every tongue and Pen, and Press, till it diffused itself through every part of British America, it united us all - we seemed to be animated by one spirit and that spirit was LIBERTY."
In legislative assemblies Patrick Henry opened the ball in his well known speech before the House of Burgesses. " Virginia gave the signal to the Continent," wrote the British Commander-in-chief, and was promptly answered by Massachusetts, which at the instance of James Otis demanded a convention or union of all the Colonies that greater effect might be given to their resistance.
Massachusetts unhesitatingly makes a formal appeal to her sister Colonies. Her communication received in the recess was promptly answered by the Speaker, who laid both letters before the Penn- sylvania Assembly upon their re-assembling on 10th September, 1765. Here was the first germ - the first practical suggestion for an actual union in counsel to secure the preservation of their rights and lib- erties, and in the same chamber which ultimately witnessed the fruition of " the more perfect union " of the present day. It is entitled to be presented in verbis ipsissimis.
PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY, BOSTON, June 8, 1765.
SIR, - The House of Representatives of this Province, in the present Session of the General Court, have unanimously agreed to propose a Meeting, as soon as may be, of Committees from the Houses of Representatives, or Bur- gesses of the several British Colonies on this Continent, to consult together on the present Circumstances of the Colonies, and the Difficulties to which they
51
MASSACHUSETTS CALLS FOR A CONGRESS.
are and must be reduced, by the Operation of the Acts of Parliament for levying Duties and Taxes on the Colonies, and to consider of a general and united, dutiful, loyal, and humble Representation of their Condition to his Majesty and the Parliament, and to implore Relief. The House of Repre- sentatives of this Province have also voted to propose, that such Meeting be at the City of New York, in the Province of New York, on the first Tuesday of October next, and have appointed a Committee of three of their members to attend that Service, with such as the other Houses of Representatives or Burgesses in the several Colonies may think fit to appoint to meet them; and the Committee of the House of Representatives of this Province are directed to repair to New York on said first Tuesday of October next, accordingly. If, therefore, your Honorable House should agree to this Proposal, it would be acceptable, that as early Notice of it as possible might be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of this Province.
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To the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania.
The response was prompt, -
PHILADELPHIA, June 27, 1765. To the Honorable the Speaker of the House of
Representatives for the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
SIR, - Your favor of the Eighth Instant coming to Hand in the Recess of our Assembly, I thought proper to convene such members thereof as were in and near the city, to consider of your Proposal of a Congress at New York, in October next, to consist of Committees from the Houses of Representa- tives of the Several British Colonies on the Continent and the business to be then transacted ; which being UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED by the Gentlemen who met, we have agreed to lay the same before our House. at their meeting on the Ninth of September Next; and you may be assured I shall not fail to transmit you, by the first opportunity afterwards, the Result of their Delib- erations thereon. In the mean Time I have the Honor to be with great Re- spect
Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
Los The
Speaker.
The House, when convened formally, unanimously confirmed the Speaker's view and appointed a committee of three, with Mr. Speaker Fox, to attend the proposed Congress at New York, -JOHN DICKIN-
FAC SIMILE Autographs of the Merchants and for Citizens & Philadelphia .of the as subscribed to the NON · IMPORTATION RESOLUTIONS. October 25 th, 1765.
The Mackants and Traders of the City of iladelphia, taking into their consideration the" Melancholy state of the North American Commerce in general, and the destroyed situations of this Province of Pennsylvania in particular" de unanimously aque. That the many difficulties they were latour under as a trading people , are owing to the Restrictions , Betaletions and All advised Regulations, made in several tits of the Parliament A Great Britain lutely passed to regulate the Colores , which have" honderd the Exportation of some part of our of our Country Prature, miseased The cost and expense of many CU Articles of our Importation', and cut off from us all means of . Gyeng conserves with "Specie enough , over to pay ; " the duties imposed and us, much Less to serve as ( Medund of Pour Chade . (Othat this Prevence is heavy in Dell to
" "" Chef Butaint for the Manufactures and other Importations for
theneed , which the Produce of our lunds have been found unequal; to pay for, when a five exportations of it to the best "Markets was allowed of , and such bades sport as supplied .
wells Gashi and other Estules of immediate remittance to That the late unconstitutional law , the Stamp ata of rassed, onde executions for this Provence? those Remellances to Suats Butonly for Boy" fit, Butant who "" .well further tend to prevent our making thoset Resultantes to 'Suats Butout , for payment of elt Melts , or purchase of more' Goods , which the"Faith subsisting between the . Indeedants loading with each other requires . And therefore , in justere to ourselves , to the "Traders of Great Britaint who usually' give us 'Cuchili , and to that Consumers of Busterle Mans . factures in this Provence " the Subscribers hereto ' have' voluntarily' and unassimously come into the following! resolutions and agreements , and hopes that their' Grample' will stimulate the" good people of this Lerince', ta be frugal in their use and consumption of all 'Manufactures excepting those of AMERICA, and lawful goods coming ducelly" from Reland" manufactured there, whilst that weresales of our Country are such as to required at work est hopes that there' 'Brethrent , the Marchants and Manufacturers of "? " Great Britain will find their own.
interest so' intimately connected with cars , that they will be' spassed on to befound as from that Have , If no other' should take flores
Siret. Of es unammously resolved and agreed that int all' orders , any of the "Julsanders to this Sefient , may scade to Great Butrent for goods , they shall and pull donc the? Correspondents not to shop them until the Samplelet as Requested Secondly That all those amongst the subscribers that have already sent orders for Great Britain for goods , shall and well immediately anddermand .'That same under the @Hampt " > Ed is Repeated Except suite " Merchants as one corners of 'Vosds already gone os non stoused! oui for Great Butaun', who are at Alerty' to bring back' and then and these sont Accounts ! Grats , ' Pasks of"Bartherundt , "Sendstones , Ipes , Jos Gets , emply ; "that may be ordered by any . fotky Articles as ourners manually fill afe there' ' Shapes with', but no they Goods of any kind, except such kind of Dye staffs and Utensils necessary for carrying on Manufacture" alles! &Bullles , and' sucht person Thirdlo. That word of the Subsenters hosts shafts est will send any " Goods or "Marchandge whatsoever' , that should be shippeds thanksut Sugufree"
of january most , andy's that Stamp Glad IS Repeated. Southly. That these posters and a tysements shall be binding out all ande sucht of us the hut . scubas, who do havet
after the first day to had Card and every Persent foot himself apeut las WORD OF HONOUR' agreat , that' het wall streetly and funly adbord to , and stedet hop , very article from this buone till that first day of May mest int . whent of Meeting of the Subscribers shall Wealles to sensuder whether the further contenance ? if this obligations .
Fifthla It is agreed that of goods of ary kids de avere from Great Budoudal such fond of under sucht avenuestanses, as to ponder any request of this Agreement Suspected of having birkent, has ( Premise' , ' " the Veninallee pone appointed shall eugane after the premises , and of sucht suspectede formed afuses , ost mount . b. you' them' 'Salufichent , the Gibsonles Ports . well puanumously take all fondent measures to descountenance and prevent the state of such goods , and they are released from the" """"! by natural and generate -frusind . Early '' to it may be necessary' that a Comomatted of the futuredoes N' appointed to grant our the "tendres of the belly to get this fromand present , "many for free bushin? ( hulleman' as' appointed for that ISspese was Willing & Grimmel . Mifflin , Eny" Thomas Montgomery ; Shemmet Houdt . "James "harten . Geht' illy sudsorted , the following . show Wishes, Kter "theradar, Bognone "Jullie Gullet , "Jours .
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52
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
SON, GEORGE BRYAN, and JOHN MORTON. The three last mentioned were, with Wm. Allen, George Taylor, and a few others, appointed a committee to draft instructions. These were cautiously worded; while authorized to consult with the other colonies, and to join in petitions imploring relief from the late acts of Parliament, the Delegates were strictly enjoined to use " the most decent and respectful terms," and to make a report of proceedings to the House.
It was also ordered that the Speaker should communicate their official acquiescence to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
The Pennsylvania Assembly, in which John Dickinson was the able and patriotic leader, while thus careful to approach their sovereign in respectful and even humble terms, placed upon their Journals unequiv- ocal evidences of their steadfast purpose to claim their rights under the British Constitution, nor were these resolutions suppressed, but having been passed unanimously, they were ordered to be published in the newspapers, German as well as English.
They pointed out the alacrity and liberality with which the Provin- cial Legislature had always met every requisition made by his Maj- esty, for carrying on military operations for the defense of America, and promised for the future every aid in men or money that might be needed for the public services of the British American Colonies for their defense or security, but they insisted that the inhabitants of Pennsylvania were entitled to every liberty, right, or privilege of sub- jects of Great Britain; "the Constitution of Government in this Province " say they, " is founded on the natural rights of mankind and the noble principles of English Liberty, and hence is, or ought to be perfectly free." After specifying the infringements attempted, they conclude that they deem it their duty, " thus firmly to assert, with modesty and decency, their inherent rights, that their posterity may learn and know that it was not with their consent and acquies- cence, that any taxes should be levied by any Persons but their own Representatives, and they are desirous that these Resolves should re- main as a Testimony of the zeal and ardent desire of the present House of Assembly to preserve their inestimable rights, which as Englishmen they have possessed ever since this Province was settled - and to transmit them to their latest Posterity."
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