USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > An historical account of the old State house of Pennsylvania now known as the Hall of Independence > Part 6
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" The Congress of 1765 " had not yet fully assembled at New York. when, on Saturday the 5th October, the ship Royal Charlotte, under the command of Captain Holland, and bearing the dreaded stamped papers for Pennsylvania, Jersey, and Maryland, was reported coming up the Delaware, rounding Gloucester Point. She was under convoy
53
RESISTANCE TO THIE STAMP ACT.
of the royal man-of-war, the Sardine. Immediately the State House Bell, and the bells of Christ Church, were muffled and tolled ; and all the ships in port displayed their colors at half mast.
In the afternoon, a public town meeting of several thousand citizens was held at the State House to prevent the landing of the stamps. Addresses were delivered by several prominent merchants and law- yers, declaring the act unconstitutional and void ; and delegates were appointed to wait immediately upon John Hughes, the stamp master, - who it was said had been appointed for Pennsylvania at the in- stance of his friend Dr. Franklin, - to demand his resignation. Mr. Hughes temporized with the Committee, but as he was seriously ill in bed the Committee asked indulgence at the hands of the meeting which had awaited the reply, and which then adjourned till the following Monday. Upon reassembling in the square on the 7th, a letter was read from Mr. Hughes, pledging himself to take no action except in con- formity with that of the neighboring.colonies. Huzzas at first greeted this concession, but they were soon changed to hisses upon the claim of one of the leaders that Mr. Hughes should have responded by an immediate resignation of the office of stamp master, absolutely and unequivocally.1 Still the dissatisfaction took no form of violence, though it resulted in the transfer of all the stamps to the royal ship without any attempt to land them.
The circumstances attending this practical defeat of the Act, seem fully to justify the self congratulations of the newspapers of the day, on the public spirit displayed, as well as the moderation with which the measures were enforced.
But the Merchants of Philadelphia, all honor to their memory, saw that this was not enough. The Act must be repealed, and until its repeal, measures should be devised to frustrate its future enforcement. It was determined, by striking directly at their commercial interests, to secure the cooperative influence of their friends and correspondents among the British merchants. Thomas Willing, Samuel Mifflin, Thomas Montgomery, Samuel Howell, Samuel Wharton, John Rhea, William Fisher, Joshua Fisher, Peter Chevalier, Benjamin Fuller, and Abel James were selected from among their number as a Committee. Resolutions were drawn up by which they pledged their honors to each other to require all new orders given for goods or merchandise in Great Britain not to be shipped, to countermand all former orders, and not even to receive goods for sale on commission, until and unless the Stamp Act should be repealed.
These resolutions bear date October 25, 1765, and within a fortnight were signed by three hundred and seventy-five of the most prominent
54
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
merchants and citizens of Philadelphia.1 This, " the first Pledge of Honor " in the record of our Independence, may be justly regarded as the forerunner, if not the actual prototype, of that national interchange of " lives, fortunes, and sacred honors " on the 4th of July, 1776, that has rendered its " Signers " famous.
The Shopkeepers of the time also appointed a Committee, and en- ' tered into an agreement not to buy British goods till the Stamp Act should be repealed. Their committee consisted of John Ord, Francis Wade, Joseph Deane, David Deshler, George Bartram, Andrew Doz, George Schlosser, James Hunter, Thomas Paschall, Thomas West, and Valentine Charles.
Similar action was taken in New York, on 31st day of October, by
1 Colonel Etting was certainly in error in ascribing this date to the Non-Importa- tion agreement of Philadelphia. The original document is in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; but it bears no contemporaneous statement showing when it was adopted or signed. On the top of it, however, is written "Oct. 25th, 1765." This memorandum is in the handwriting of Thomas Bradford, and a letter of his grand- son attests the authority of the handwriting, and states that it was placed there by his grandfather when he gave him the document. Thomas Bradford at that time was ninety years of age. Although he had, as a boy, carried the paper to a num- ber of merchants to sign, and it had remained in his family, from that time, a trea- sured proof of the patriotism of our merchants, we cannot accept his recollection of the exact date of the signing, recorded so long after the event, in the face of the evidence we have that the resolutions were adopted and signed at a meeting held at the Court House, in Philadelphia, on the evening of November 7th, 1765. On the 6th of November, a circular was issued calling a meeting of the merchants, to be held at the Court House, the next evening (November 7th), at 4 o'clock. The Pennsylvania Journal, for November 14th, prints the resolutions that we know as the Non-Importation Resolutions, and says that they were adopted at that meeting, and adds that they were signed by about four hundred merchants.
In Volume II. of the Upcott Clippings, in the library of the New York Histori- cal Society, there is a printed extract of a letter from a clergyman in Pennsylvania, dated November 7th, 1765, which states : " An Association was formed this day, and articles signed, by a very large number of the merchants, and will be subscribed by all engaging, that they will not import from Britain any Goods or Merehandize till the Stamp Act is repealed."
In the St. James Chronicle, published in London, December 26th, 1765, there appears a letter from a merchant in Philadelphia to his London correspondent, dated Philadelphia, November 7th, 1765, which says: " At a general meeting of the merchants and traders of the city it was this day resolved by them (and to strengthen their resolutions, they entered into the inost solemn engagements with each other), that they would not import any goods from Great Britain until the Stamp Act was repealed."
Some years ago the resolutions were lithographed with the supposed date (Oeto- ber 25) at the head, and facsimile signatures attached. A copy of the broadside is here given .- [ Editor of Second Edition.]
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55
RESISTANCE TO THE STAMP ACT
the Merchants, as well as by the Shopkeepers ; and by those of Boston on 3d of December following.
It is deeply to be regretted that the original New York and Boston agreements cannot be found.
Every act requiring a stamp under the law was anticipated when feasible, and where not, it was determined to ignore the law alto- gether. We find even marriages consummated earlier than the day originally fixed, to avoid using stamps for licenses, since dispensing with these might involve very serious consequences legally. As the dreaded November 1st approached, no effort was left untried to render it a day of sadness and of gloomn.
On the 31st day of October, the newspapers appeared in mourning for the death of Liberty, and declared an intention to suspend publi- cation from " the fatal to-morrow, till means can be found to elude the chains forged for us." 1
The bells were rung muffled and every indication of grief for a national calamity adopted that ingenuity could invent. Still no hesi- tation appears at resorting to every means to make the law a prac- tical nullity. While a large proportion determined and agreed among themselves to proceed in their usual avocations, regardless of stamps, it was rendered impossible to procure the latter, and no official recog- nition of the detested stamp was even allowed. The only stamped papers discovered in use by any vessel trading at Philadelphia, were intercepted and publicly burnt at the Coffee House.2 The Stamp Act everywhere throughout the country became a dead letter, the stamp masters having resigned either voluntarily or by compulsion, and no stamps seem ever to have been officially distributed in any one of the thirteen colonies.
Four colonies were not represented at the Congress in New York : New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia, while the representatives of Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina did not feel themselves authorized to sign the addresses to the King and to the two Houses of Parliament. These state papers succintly set forth all the grievances of the colonies under fourteen heads, and were signed by the Delegates from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jer- sey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. On the 7th January, 1766, they were laid before the Pennsylvania Assembly, which after passing a vote of thanks to their delegates, ordered the transmission of the addresses to England.
1 See pages 56, 57, and 60.
2 See page 59 for the only specimen extant rescued from the flames, from Du Simitiere's collection in the Philadelphia library.
·
56
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
NUMB, 1195.
PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL; AND WEEKLY ADVERTISER.
EXPIRING: In Hopes of a Refurrection to LIFE again:
Calix, July 19. Letters Brought by the last pud from; Gibralter Ly, the reperetisfore spread, that the Alge rines have killed the Dey, and declared war against ai the European power except England and France, protes
DO N.
Azaf 17. On Thu-fisy at the King's arza tevern in Cornelius, an elegant entertainment was given by the committee of North. Aversion merchants to Riktad. Slover, and Charles Garin, Eign," when there gentle .! men received thethanks cf unat body, fur their tades. yours to prevent the kidvery from being biljett upun the private logies at the's bulowofobjects in America ..
" In my last I acquainted you that we did at lak na Joce Madure. The army has fines conquered the Ano our country for the Nabol, at 100,000. meand a riss. We are pyw under orders to attack mower chef, cr polyagor contiguous to this country : borb chics bart manually maintained as independency of the Nabob the nos , meerly co account of the impenetrable woode they !. are polletted of. You certains have heard before of the. measurable battle Major Nur so gained at Berget over ! Data Dools, one of the muchfun. Nable power of Ladi. is The consequence of this battle given the company? the command cidade in the greater and we're the! girl's dominioni, and, willow exaggeration. the Exact- dies with Alexander the Great, a base sur mand, fan! the river ladus to the river Ginger, was not fo rauch re!pefled as the:r's."
It is said the new m- -.. y, taking into conGieradioe;
Ingrained to take up all the Canada bulls at par, will interest to the present eine; and afterwards to demand, to the mod (wird terms, jamitak and fuA @traitutti Finace, under para of all the consequences that pero. falt from a refofal.
The new lords of trade and plantations will bull's
board on Monday wat for the Eri bere, at the lack. pit Whirchail.
'e hear the rent rollect abe several proprietary chata Trendy les mitad have the Me Philadetatin Parde, Have ordered to be made one was in climate if the! waval product of their land tave, in order to introduce a martequitable forms of levying his mainty's repeats in i that part of the world-
They ante frora Gibralter, that Englla efren mad karmen are engaging both there and at Minutes by lanaign agents, to ferwe on board his Sarcinias maycky's Diys or nar in the Mediterranean.
Aurelio. . The right hencurable the Ext Cormaat- Er. lieutenant colonel tothe is regiment of food, in ap
St. Jean's, hight 19. The line has been pleased to is pointed one of his sister raus de camp, with the fall uf colonel ot foot in the army.
Switzerland, where be intends publishing wie bleed Sin. Chorobal'a poema, will explanatory notes, and we, 98 ikeakte informed, that be bas in internoa' or gabulls. jing, at the Gme place, & E tory of England weste by
By a vehet arrived at Cseraloy from Beleider there is? advice. that the French are caching leveral benene at Sandy Bay, ou the South east of the ifund, and in the | ry the tanien aad troupe ueder Admiral Koprd ans
Aug. Is wie hear hond I'd owns Spencer is Shortly to be created aneat.
fiches to it are misture y opposed, or singencely part." Lord. 67 esential s tat to Frettore, Property, and
AX thoughts of any fartser changes are said to be es. tartly land al it. . min in the finalled Degree, have always been not the-() arealissue, that e-care ware grenter the Pitera mini- It is reported, that's perfin of lingh rank. in hong namely oppused by the vistaest, fine and a branded Fa ery, for unsulitaly retning shut the demiettes we'the cip- oderel a great price Restaurante I'm Impunity, and even to fear no Danger from Spero- by Datik. " I've he could not pulci Indie Emer whether in Religion or Politicas The wire of attending to this has produced medios Enquires, and
Wire, And The tribunal of Cinema Poland, i derrest of is, cantilandy wie als Pulseras, be granted permits to the Leme. " tore love he have to the Brewa jaqueline Conjunto of whose is true in Fact or no i : in si cons of Labiceny to open sie .: : laweb, a bied has been junction. would would ever of
To Webar'd from his last Reines in a dangerous and bel. perform divine lerrue a probie.
Bagel for de a mais to phe and die while onot Comers, Job at. The dresstional of one hundred! | Monday force difpatches Cad;
In The s. sy as to contact on board the Unique legale si rised here from Herrami, to
Preis lettera irons d'an
And in all political Difeders the more contented we are ta under thew, is much the womb are they, and to each the perfe are we for them. Bas a very happy Circum -! we were it viled, the more alu Arious is a ways op. way. No Fehlen Named schind it can prosper, for it it once career and confused : Svilirken and not invete. tto Caomay. But although public Vinge carmes be, Seded by the Ind'alger or of the moon wilincited Free. mit derives all its is Que wife and its Secrecy, may be extremely benefited by the Reverie. For this mon, in Comisia inducted to the inviable Demands of Power and Avance, the Brit Areempty to inspire People withs 4 af Sebfr of their Corduson, ire countomy nipt in the Sund It is of the ich Importante to the Views si cefan. Colours of Interaction from the People, when they are
1 Acr, isfeud to &c ob Jigatory upon us after the First of November en. iving, (the fate Ts-mer. 9) bo Publither of this Paper unable to bear:the Burtben, has thought it expedient . to spor a while, in order to deliberate, wheat ther any Methods can be found to elude the l Chains forged for us and escape the infor- portable Slavery; which it is hopet, from coming Not batanes ou Ded only to the known in or- She just Representations now made apaint of des to be Opened Besin the Deprivation of our --- Liberty may be peusehen the late Principles ar they Act may be affected. Mean while. If the Depiration of sty lindivided Part, but as the Line I'mruft carnefly Request every Individual ca wary of the Pre's undoub silly 11. He aimable & the Kningment of Liberty I But how bereits ble are the Bonds wegrillade i 'Tistherefore fin- why the way we und New England Spirit to See you! fod in Former Turen, will never condescend EsimiSento now and consmantable Restrictions. A Day, en Bour of virtuous Liberty, Is with a whole Eternity in Bondage. df mr Subscribers, many of whom have nonediately Discharge their respective Ar. 3 rears, that I. may be able, not only to Arpport myfelf during the Interval, but May we all as loval Sobiech, and free born Britons! eres our wirsoit to preserve the Rights and Liberties off ser Country, in a Manner that bal and Honour to our be better prepared to proceed again with this Paper, whenever an opening for that Firpofe appears, which I hope will ce WILLIAM BRADFORD.
I hes Glory they, the brightre Crown of Praise, Which every Lover of his Country's Waakt, And every Patron of Mankind Charges, Will gracefully adort fuch Politiet's Deals. And leave behind an Honour that will last With Praise intera to the End of Tuus.
De los, great Liberty; withers for jeans,
Pun."| LIBERTY is The of the greatet Bleting, which roman seings can possibly euroy.
& When we are deprived of this earthing happiness, we are lettres with ste
A + chains of initial farinale. Nicoas. Te tann's who are bene for the atreand Support of isabsent to the breites and happiness of their nation with when they are called, this we're murede ahome if af Cicoding might be Secure and permanente :. When. Fromion is Separated by the illegal encreactiveents on.
Jproui the tous Nosourthe the Muqui of Roching., . WE are informed, what a gerulemas lately very popty- ."go to be land lieutenant of the vet-range of the count that Litery, which to the Soul of Commerce, and the rest of York, and of the entry of York, and county of the Star is this country, is toom to relde in Leverans Support of Life, in degenerates into in-latable Ennter & Ste city, and alo Cullis Rondaram of the north and which in time goods five crate, and has ly recole upen.
ant ridings in the lund quanty of York and of the city of ;whe Arady, of York.
The Liberty of the Pro's are very july vern enice sed and of ibe rain Pillars of the Liberty of the Prove. Vitis The king has been predled to appoint the right non. " homble, for it contained, the first Steps to Copre con are dentes Willem Best of Destinoath, Scam Jeayns. Zesid E. V. leped, and the Acreation of the Pack ka ambly anne. if list. John York, George King John Roberts, Jeremi- ened, When this is Supprallied, the sufficion ar che: ich Davon, and Whiam Fireherbert, Elony, to be com. People, and their Ruia trav au tut of fo indien a trans. : ismo at randers the Success of the and impracticable, and the Milenes snerting the latter vaavoidable. So Imgerqui Is this to lam'en Power, that the fartbel so. Fisso Richard Vifcount How, thecase of treafarer of bit l'o Maxkinzvy.
menon of wit, Tai for ineedling and improving by great road where the de sene was made in the late that En mighty's plantations ir. America, and enewhere. Tas King has Dem sealed is gone into the night i Centrallocation.
So Jane's, digul ys. By I've had lever from Cal 4
2 0 M .... ONE harved is Un connery bach noe prov.
engaged the congregation cenbhdied for inipadling into the supplies of provision! !
to prevent -. src/h Sarcity.
A Momaber, Ony frisiert de Las, me Rights,
Indearea; that future Posterity may reap the Benefit of the present deplorabie Situation of the Canadians, and and bie's the Hands which were the Intrument of pro-
RAM forry to be obliged to acquaint my Read- & ere, that as The STAND.
Khiett, Adien to the LIBER T.Y of the PRESS.
Thurklay, OBak gr. 1765.
THE
eind Physician i solo ed to explore ?: Lative, de pat. " to the ( the of war miss fight Sinon !!!! I've love of
57
NEWSPAPERS IN MOURNING.
THIRD and LAST SUPPLEMENT TO THE
Maryland GAZETTE, of the Tenth Inftant.
annapolis, October 31, 1765:
READER,
e .G .Y means of a lite - B . Ad of Parliament, a Stoppage ist O put es the Publication of AUF Ga- obe d zettes or Papers"of Public Intui -: gence, and Advertifers, after this Date; ex- cept on fuch intolerable asd butthehimmel Terms as cannot a project the complied Din here, of courfe This mud now Cerfe ans Deterthine. . The Printer heteof returns h .: grateful Thanks to the Pubhe, tor their paf: Encouragemetre, and hoces he has in fonte Degree contributed to theit Entertainment and Amufement, which he his always en- derrour'd, and would fill continue to to do. but for the Retfons well knowh. IF the Stamp- Att froidld be Repealed, or the Ope- Sition of ir. Sufpendel, he prebofes to revive the MARYLAND GAZETTE, and again PasLíb. in the fume Manper, for the line" Price, and with the fame Impartiality 27% Freedom, as herecolore, provided there Dal! appear a faficient Number of Encouragers for the carrying on a Work to Necetart. and of fach general Utling. All chate who fhall & molinable to give a helping Hinli Thereto for the Terms ONLY in the ACT Be Suspended] we lived to leave there Names at these Places Where the life Ga- sette used to be Lody de, or at the Printing- Office : And as Son ai pofikle, it will be Revived, and a New Legger of a proper Suze, provided for the Purporcy. Noot ate de- fred to Subjective, except such as intend to Pay regularly. And all those who are in Arrests, eliter- to MiAH and M .. Rid, or on aTy own Account of!y, Ire etnicftig re quefted to take Pedy Payment. Riater FarewellI Ferrekell, Reader
JONAS GREEN
N. B. . Single Adschulements, of any! Kind of PRINTING, the GAZETTE only excepted, is carried on as usual.
LONDON. f 8
A GENTLEMAN Of DiFinction, it the Fel Ebd of the Veya, roarkable for 25 xt Strength and ALMese Contraction, bus band & Wager of 1000 Guiness that he thrown a Suome 3 Poands Weight go Yar's." Grest Ses are de.
1
. Ou Thuriday ore Carr, a Warrmin, laid sh Warer that he and his Dor world joing krom obe Cours Arch of Webrainter Bridge, and bo bule Linketh ,with . Heat of tach aber. The Dog looking the wishes to of, jaunged to mediately chur tus mao the River, feled t.c by the Name of the Neck, and would ox la po t'? Hold geril be had by force L sood tirmm of the Bridge Poor on the Sarry Side, to the grim Di "Eow of the Specfiton A Gem zmed pretend ofreds Guiness for the Dog, which were setufed NEWYORK, Cad# 17
We hear that a Design of ela! ihave ip this City a Market to corazexe on Har tway we 3;" Inftant, for af Rindt cf.Hoc'e Mitulachter
ac a Los to koow how to come at what they
w-Died in thi To ArGeles; and it is expected that is will be equally conversor for those who have Pech Goods in Hand, and that quick Note, Lod ready Money, will reduce them and many olbers! to increase their Diligence. And bring their Goods to Mycket:
On Teelday, La? arrived The Stomp Halini. Captain Rivers, in 36 Days how Peniscola, by unott we karh, that'sen Sal of Transports, with Troops lo seliegt those in that Seul po, who ares going Home) were arrived there, and that there "has been a great Mortality among them, ted or maive dying of a way. amongit which was that palast and worthy Oficer Brigadier General BOUQUET. whole eminent Services, and ami able Chersfur, demind the tears of le Country's and Acquaintance-He argued the end of An eLA, and died the 14 Day of ofpiember. Our of is DEcon Ladies, wo accompanied them, five were dead, and the father very ill, and not likely To recover Tha Pisce, we are told, is barrec! sod uncomfortable, and as sa Tradchee been per - tied with the spaniards, 400 000 Dollar joe is been turned away, the Defigo and Use of it in were very diceroble waters is be for a Burying Ground.
PHILADELPHIA, OBKM 24. Exinde of a Little From Brifl, Buzaf 15. " The posun situacidass the Colonin alertas ! e747 Perfes who bal thy Connection with them . cod. if our otw, MintGry do not repeal the 20.7. wilde the old One we thell all be ranged .- The Avaruer of Trade me all tet up .-. We bare Recimances, and are at our Wiss End fort WVam of bioney op falfl dur Engagements with su Tredeinen -How the will end, The only's can erince ; bow evet we dread the Confequences." We bear from antigas, that a Seip froun Lou- os, bocad for fumares, bet pat ie to osload fome Goods for the Merchant of Antigue, had b.veghi wweer thret Pe-fons, faid to be the Ditributor of Sta ups for the land of jamaica, es who were. in to great a Harry to ger to the Spot, where, with Impocity. they might mob and bear from the Labaortaoss of taste the sheer Money and Luber. Cien. that shey offered any Price for a Verled to go! down immediately to Jamaica.
Vie Mer frota.New. Jorfey. the: coo Family is that Proyfare, ted modafactured ond wore as mochi Work she as would, by a modernia Computation, bave col soh had they purchased it .. A soble? Exemple, worthy the Invitation of et look every One who lives in the Country. f ms Fourty cas 20,000 ,w rach Prosince Bas!
We have who Plezare of inbruing for Retters? barthe important Branch of the GENERAL CONGRESS as New York in fo great Forward EORGE ISENBERG, intending to fored G a few Moors to this City when this the or perfect theroleises as ido Cortar Pias, there they may be Taught by him to perform is a short Time. He may be Spoke with at Mr. Joby Dalfs Ký He alfo toresdi bot to take above 9 Bebolaly. come and It is chonghe, will be Banned this Week in the Badand ne of which, we und alined, there? jahod to acquaint there Georlernen machining to farm bat cerca the moft perfe? Harmony and Usar.mity. Is the Now . York Mercary there w tha fait viss Character of the matt brave General BOUQUET. " This Goodman farvel bis dainty of the " it War with great Dificeich. He was pro acest from coritions Meric not only oneared, " but even with the Approbation and good Wither! of all who knew him , bis funersor judgment The TIMES are Dettofal, Dilmat Dolcisi, .. Dolorous, and DOLLAR-LESS, and Knowledge of Military Matters, Aus cz. " perienced Abilities, known Humanity, remark. acle Politesety and porttant Artenung to the "Crvit Rients of his Majesty's Subject, men. I dered bird so Howaux to his Country, and . " Losa to Mankind."
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