USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > An historical account of the old State house of Pennsylvania now known as the Hall of Independence > Part 7
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ANNAPOLIS, OGaber. il. This Day the General Attembly of this Province is to meet here , the Honte Speaker,. and a Number, of the Gentlemen of Both Houles, being already in Town.
On Sunday laft, being a very windy Day, a Schooner loaded with a light Carga, by carrying too much Sail was overfet meer the Month of Patty's, and one Man Drowned. She afterwards drove athore at the lowel End of Kent-Ifind ..
Friday last Died in Derchefer County; the Rev. Mr. Themas Ary, Rector of a Parila there.
Yefterdzy arrived here the Brig Fre-Mafony Capa Af Rirdy, in Sever. Weeks from Cadiz. She Spoke the Big Soly, Captain Richard. ibranyan, from New-York for Madeira, . in Lab 22º as'. Out 43 Days All. wall .. . . Mr. GREEN,
mandary Taxation of the Colomer , I have bed & carferry Reading of ; and is it about ds wish to They' good Sense, found Reason, plain and demons Arative Arguments true Spirit of Patriation and Lopaty, that I am in Love with the Author; as 1. Tetiming of which { fall be obliged bu what jending me's Dozen of there."
7 The FIRST Ispration of, CONSIDE- RATIONS ON, THE PROPRIETY OF FMPOMINO TAXES ON THE BRITISH COLONIES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING A REVENUE, by ACT of PARLIAMENT, being nearly all Sold, a Second is now in the Prefs, and will be publish'd in a few Days.
The Ingenious Author of a Piece From gina, ementyou'd forme Time and should have been obliged with a Publication, But it's coming to landwell as the Gazette we at it's lad Gals; 158 / many other This to do; retter if It in politie, and be tit excuse the Unitich.
The the hit Page of the Week's Paper, the Imiddle, Celama, in a Recital of a Pilazraph of the Charter, there is Dirctions, Lastad de Diffitions.
This PAPER has never had Oceafich to appear in Deep Mourning, finds the Death of our file good KIN O, until NOW.
58
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
The determined and uniform resistance produced its natural result, and the obnoxious law was finally repealed, March 18, 1766.
Rumors of the repeal had reached Philadelphia as early as 27th March, by the way of Ireland through Maryland, and they were reit- erated, though not credited, early in April. but on (Monday morning) May 20th, the brig Minerva, Captain Wise, anchored opposite the town, and having been boarded by an " individual," the news was ascertained and the official copy of the repeal, printed by Baskett, the King's printer, was brought ashore and read aloud at the London Coffee House.
This Act recited the passage of the Act, at the previous session of Parliament, for applying certain stamp duties, etc. And that Whereas the continuance of the said Act would be attended with many inconveniences and may be productive of consequences greatly detri- mental to the commercial interests of these Kingdoms ;
Wap it therefore pleale Dour mott Ercet lent Dajedtp, that it may be enaded ; and be it enadcu by the King's mot Ercellent speedy, by and with the Advice and Content of the Logos Spiritual and Tempo: ral, and Commons, in this pefent Parliament adem- bled, and by the Authority of the fame, @bat from and after the ffirtt Day of May, One thousand leben hundred and firty fir, the above-mentioned gã, and the feveral Watters and Things therein contained, thall be, and is and are bereby repealed and made boid to all Intents and Ourpotes tobatfoeber.
An immense crowd collected, and Captain Wise was brought ashore amid acclamations to enjoy a large bowl of punch, to drink prosperity to America. The next evening the city was grandly illuminated and numerous devices displayed, "for which," says the " Pennsylvania Gazette," " the public is indebted to the Ladies who exercised their fancies on the occasion."
Bonfires abounded, as did barrels of beer, and on the 21st we have to chronicle "an elegant entertainment at the State House," where the Governor (John Penn. then just about to be married to Anne Allen, elder daughter of William Allen the Chief Justice, and who was very probably awaiting this repeal for the purpose), the officers of the Government, of the Army, and of the Navy, including Captain
" you should be alimente!
- THE REPEAL~ of the Funeral Procession, of Miss AMERIC-STAMP.
59
REMNANT OF STAMPED PAPER.
8 One Penny Sheet
MERIGA
T
PENCE
1 Part of the Combustible MATTER
Which was preserved from amidst the Devouring flames, which lately confund, 10 Bases 2 of the same Commodity of new York.
This paper was sent from New York and put up at the Coffee house in Philadelphia.
See an account of the burning of the Stamp papers in New York in the New York Mercury M. 742 . for January. 13 766. 35 page
Nine Peuret
A Sheet of the Stamp Paper intended for the British Colonies. saved in large quantities. from the wreck of the Ship Etlis Capt" Egdon that was cast away on Abesomb Beach in New Jersey march 15 1766 bound to Philadelphia frem Jendon . Sie the Permbykania Journal. nº 1214 for march 13.1766.
THURSDAY, November 21, 1705: NEW-YORK
THE
NUMB. 1194
OR WEEKLY
Lasith the trebbea godites
GAZETTE; THE POST -BOY.
Jforeign and Domefick. .
The united Voice of all His Majefty's free and loyal Subjects in AMERICA, -- LIBERTY and PROPERTY, and NO STAMPS.
60
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
61
THE "JUST DEPENDENCY" ACT.
Hawker, of the Sardine, and strangers in the city, sat down to a sumptuous feast in the Banqueting Hall. Due honor was done by toasts to the King and all the royal family, and to Lords, Commons, and Ministry, and especially by name to Mr. Pitt, to Lord Camden, to Daniel Dulany, of Mary- land,1 to the London Com- Dac. Anhang 19th Jan 24-1776. mittee of Merchants, to the Virginia Assembly, and to all the other Continental Assemblies actuated by the like zeal for the liberties of their Country ; " May," said they, " the interest of Great Britain and her colonies be always united."
The worshipful the Mayor did the honors while cannon, placed in the State House Yard, boomed forth the royal salute after " The King," and appropriately responded after every other toast. It was determined at the table to specially honor the 4th June approaching, as the birthday of " our most gracious Sovereign, and to dress our- selves in a new suit of the manufactures of England, and give what Home-spun we have to the poor."
The Sardine, which had been kept in quarantine with the detested stamps on board, was brought up before the town and gayly decorated.
On the 3d June, the Governor announced to the House the repeal of the Stamp Act ; a copy of the Repealing Act, and another for " secur- ing the just dependency of the colonies on the Mother Country," as the Honorable Mr. Conway phrased it, were laid before the House.
That the faid Colonies and Plantations in America have been, are, and of Right ought to be, fubordinate unto, and Dependent upon, the Imperial Crown and Parliament of Great Britain ; and that the King's @ajeftp, by and with the Bobice and Content of the Lords Spiritual and Tem- pozal, and Commons of Great Britain, in Parliament affembled, bad, bath, and of Right ought to habe, full Dotver and Authority to make Matos and Statutes of fufficient foice and Cialicity to bind the Colomes and People of America, Subjects of the Crown of Great Bri. tain, in all Cales whattoeber.
This elicited an address of thanks to the " most gracious Sovereign,"
1 Mr. Dulany, though afterwards a loyalist, staunchly opposed the Stamp Act as unconstitutional.
62
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HIALL.
and the assurance therein that they were " fully sensible how much the happiness of your People depends on a perfect harmony and con nection between Great Britain and her Colonies, we assure your Maj- esty, that no care or endeavours shall be wanting on our part, to promote and establish that Union of affection and interests so essen- tial to the welfare of both, and to preserve that loyalty and affection to your Majesty's person and government, which we esteem to be one of their first and most important duties."
This " just dependency" or Declaratory Act contained the germ of much future trouble.
The Agents for Pennsylvania, in London, were instructed to give the Assembly " the earliest intelligence of every new measure or reg- ulation, that shall be proposed or intended to be proposed in Parlia- ment, wherein the general liberties of America, or those of this colony, may in the least be affected or concerned."
Many months were allowed to elapse, however, ere any attempt was made by Great Britain to exercise the power, claimed by this statute, when suddenly, in 1767, an act was passed for imposing duties on glass, paper, painters' colors, and TEA; the duties were trifling, but the discussions incident to the Stamp Act had opened the eyes of the colonists. generally, to their rights as freemen under the Constitution of England. In the guise of a plain farmer, John Dickinson, by a series of letters published in the newspapers, clearly demonstrated the necessity of resisting the imposition of a tax by the British Parliament, and pointed out that a free people are not those over whom only a Government is reasonably and equitably exercised, but those who live under a Government so constitutionally checked and controlled, that its exercise otherwise is rendered impossible.
The Assembly of Pennsylvania at once enjoined their agents in London, under date of February 20, 1768, " to cooperate with the agents of the other colonies in any decent and respectful application to Parliament (in case snch application is made by them), for a repeal of the late act imposing duties on the importation of paper, glass, etc., into the American Provinces, which act is looked upon as highly in- jurious to the rights of the people." On the same day the House adjourned to meet on the 9th of May following.
In the recess the Speaker received a communication from the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Assembly, setting forth specif- ically the infringements upon the constitutional rights of the Prov- inces by this Revenue Act and asking suggestions. This deservedly celebrated " Circular Letter " was promptly, May 10th, laid before the Assembly.
63
PENNSYLVANIA FIRM FOR UNION.
As the necessary instructions had already been given to their agents, and the Pennsylvania Assembly only remained two days in session, no further official action was taken at this time.
Upon the very day of their reassembling an artful letter from Lord Hillsborough, the Co- lonial Secretary, was transmitted by the Governor to the House, Hillsborough in which he sought, after bestowing praise upon Pennsylvania for the reverence, and re- spect always shown by her to the Constitution, to detach her from the interests of lier sister colonies. He invites her to stamp the action of Massachusetts as unjustifiable. On the same day, in bold and emphatic language, the protest of Virginia was laid before the House. " While," say they, " we do not affect Independency of our Parent Kingdom, we aspire to the national rights of British subjects, and assert that no power on Earth has the right to impose Taxes upon us without our consent." The Old Dominion not only endorsed what Massachusetts had done, but expressed the opinion "that the Colonies should unite in a firm and decent opposition to every measure which might affect their rights and liberties."
Lord Hillsborough's letter elicited a Resolution fully sustaining the magnanimous views of Massachusetts, and insisting upon " the un- doubted right of the varions Assemblies of the Colonies to correspond with each other relative to grievances affecting the general welfare."
A committee was at once appointed to express the sentiments of Pennsylvania, who reiterated and enforced the instructions already given on 20th Febuary to their agents, and inclosed for presentation to the King, to the Peers, and to the Commons, separate petitions, insisting " upon those rights, and that freedom which they are by birth entitled to as men and Englishmen who cannot be legally taxed, either by the principles of equity or the Constitution, but by themselves or their legal Representatives." In writing to their agents they also drew attention to the fact that the reasons assigned by them, throughout the petitious, to induce a repeal were " very much confined to the right of the Colony in being exempted from Parliamentary taxation ; little is said on the inexpediency of the regulation adopted by the Act, lest seeming to rely on the latter should weaken the arguments in support of the former."
64
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
Thus " the most temperate province of Pennsylvania " had scarcely need to be" roused from its slumbers by the voice of the Old Domin- ion," as has been alleged.
These direct protests, ably seconded by the Merchants throughout the country, who entered again into agreements not to import from England those articles that were subjected to a tax, finally produced the repeal, April 12, 1770, of this Act, though an exception was still made by Parliament. That exception was the duty on tea, an article that even then had become a necessity, and had yielded to the East India Company £130,000, sterling, per annum. Relying upon the im- portance of this beverage, and apparently believing that, by reducing its price, the technical claim of " right to tax America," could continue to be made, an export duty was actually taken off, while a smaller duty on importation into the colonies was imposed, and even this was at- tempted to be covered up by requiring its payment in England, thus to the consumers the cost apparently was alone increased.
The Americans were not to be taken unawares, nor yet to be over- come by the bribe ; they detected the " snake in the grass," and forth- with set about crushing its head.
In the Pennsylvania Assembly, on 4th February, 1771, a committee was appointed to draft a petition to the King for repeal of this duty also, " since great danger is apprehended from the continuance of such a precedent for taxing the Americans without their consent." Messrs. Dickinson and Morton were both on this committee, which, on 5th March, represented their grievance in a respectful though firm and able petition for redress. Corresponding instructions were given to their Agent in London, and reiterated at every session, but without avail.
The legislature was not unmindful during the lull following the re- peal of the Stamp Act, of charitable or of scientific wants of the times. Their journals teem with reports on the Pennsylvania Hospital - an institution which they had in every way fostered from its establish- ment, some dozen years before. The individual members frequently assumed duties the salaries of which they appropriated to this noble foundation.
In their encouragement of scientific researches the Assembly sanc- tioned and contributed to the erection of a building, destined to be famous in the history of Independence. This was " The Observa- tory " in the State House yard.
The American Philosophical Society had presented a petition to the Assembly in October, 1768, setting forth that a transit of Venus
65
THE OBSERVATORY.
over the sun would take place on the third of June, following, that it would afford the best method of determining the dimensions of the solar system, together with the correct longitude of the places where observations should be made, etc., that as none other would occur for more than one hundred years, the interests of astronomy as well as of navigation demanded the encouragement of public bodies, and hence they requested that some provision should be made by the govern- ment for " the purchase of a reflecting telescope of about three feet focus, and to defray expenses." It was stated that no telescope was to be found in the Province, and possibly none on the Continent, proper for the purpose.
This petition was now supplemented by another, asking permission to erect an observatory in the State House grounds, " with such pub- lic assistance as you may think convenient for erecting the same.".
These requests were both complied with by the Assembly. The telescope was ordered through Dr. Franklin - the then agent of Pennsylvania at London. £100 were granted, and permission given for the erection of the required building upon the public grounds.
The telescope duly arrived ; the observations were made by David Rittenhouse, assisted by Dr. John Ewing, Joseph Shippen, Thomas Pryor, James Pearson, and Dr. Hugh Williamson and Charles Thom son, - the two last mentioned destined to become prominent in the history of their country. The weather proved fine, and the situation very favorable, so that the society had the gratification to report that their observations " had been highily acceptable to those learned bodies in Europe to whom they have been communicated."
While no trace of this building is now visible, the foundations were discovered, when recently perfecting the sewerage of the Square. It appears to have been of circular shape, and was erected about forty feet due west from the rear door of the present Philosophical Hall, and about same distance south from the wall of the present (eastern ) wing. It would form an eminently appropriate site for a monument to the signers of the Declaration of Independence, so long in contemplation.
The period of non-importation in Philadelphia gave rise to various new enterprises, among them the establishment of a china factory in Southwark. Gousse Bonnin (apparently a Dane) and George An- thony Morris of Philadelphia, were the proprietors.
In January, 1771, they applied to the Assembly for aid. But little is known in regard to this attempt ; the present interest in "the
5
66
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
Ceramic Art " seems to call for the petition in full as laid upon the table in the Assembly room. It reads as follows : -
THE ADDRESS OF THE PROPRIETORS OF THE CHINA MANUFACTORY.
WORTHY SIRS : - We, the Subscribers, actuated as strongly by the sincer- est Attachment to the interest of the Public as to our private Emolument, have at our sole Risque and Expence introduced into this Province a Manu- facture of Porcelain or China Earthen Ware, a Commodity, which by Beauty and Excellence, hath forced its way into every refined Part of the Globe, and created various imitative Attempts, in its Progress through the different Kingdoms and Principalities of Europe, under the Sanction and Encourage- ment of their several Potentates. Great Britain which hath not been the least backward, in Royal Testimonials of Favour to the first Adventurers, in so capital an Undertaking, cannot yet boast of any great Superiority in Work- manship, surpassing Denmark. France and the Austrian Netherlands, she yields the Palm to Saxony. which in her Turn gives Place to the East Indies. America, in this general Struggle, hath hitherto been unthought of, and it is our peculiar Happiness to have been primarily instrumental in bringing her forward ; but how far she shall proceed, in a great Measure, depends on the Influence of your generous Support. We have expended great Sums in bring- ing from London Workmen of acknowledged Abilities, have established them here, erected spacious Buildings, Mills, Kilns and various Requisites, and brought the Work, we flatter ourselves, into no contemptible Train of Perfec- tion. A Sample of it we respectfully submit to the Inspection of your Honourable House, praying it may be viewed with a favourable Eye having Reference to the Disadvantages under which we engaged ; if happy enough to merit your approbation we would not wish to aspire at the Presumption of dictating the Measure of your Encouragement, but with all Humility hint at the Manner. You Gentlemen, who are appointed to a dignified Pre-eminence by the free Votes of your Countrymen, as well for your known Attachment to their truest Welfare. as superior Knowledge must be sensible, that capital Works are not to be carried on by inconsiderable Aids or Advancements : Hence it is, we beg leave to point out the Propriety of a Provincial Loan, at the Discretion of your Honourable House, independent of Interest, for a cer- tain Term of Years. Under such Indulgence, on our Part we shall not be deficient in the Display of a Lively Gratitude, and the Promotion of the Colony's service, by the introducing of an additional Number of Experienced Workmen the Extension of our Buildings. and Improvement of the Manu- facture, endeavoring to render it equal in Quality to such as is usually im- ported, and vending it at a cheaper Rate. We have the Honour, etc., etc., etc.
The " Tea Act " of Parliament still remained upon the Statute Book ; it was, however, practically nullified by the absolute refusal of
the sugli . American ! Kerelation.
67
THE PHILADELPHIA "TEA PARTY." .
the Americans themselves to import, or even to receive the tea on board the ships belonging to American ports. This caused an immense accumulation in the warehouses of the East India Company in London. In collusion with the ministry, the latter set about chartering vessels themselves, having determined, in the language of the day, " to cram the tea down the throats " of the colonists. These vessels were to be consigned to different parties in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston.
News of this fact reaching Philadelphia at the end of September, gave rise to an unprecedented commotion among the inhabitants, and possibly to the now well-known expression of " a tempest in a tea pot," for to such " base uses " may the most solemn events be subservient. The Philadelphia papers teem with addresses to the Commissioners and to the public. Probably the most able is from Scaevola, in the " Pennsylvania Chronicle," of the 11th October. The Boston papers took up the refrain, and, on the 14th of the same month, " express the same sentiments in regard to the tea, expected from London, as the people of New York and Philadelphia, whose conduct they highly approve and strongly urge their countrymen to imitate. The masters of all their London vessels, too, they expect, like those of New York and Philadelphia, will refuse to bring any tea to America while the duty remains."
An immense public meeting was held in the State House Yard on the 16th day of October, 1773, when the following spirited resolutions were adopted, and appeared in the public prints on the 18th : -
" Resolved, That the disposal of their own property is the inherent right of freemen ; that there can be no property in that which another can, of right, take from us without our consent ; that the claim of Parliament to tax Amer ica is, in other words, a claim of right to levy contributions on us at pleasure.
"'That the duty imposed by Parliament upon tea landed in America is a tax on the Americans, or levying contributions on them without their consent.
"That the express purpose for which the tax is levied on the Americans, namely, for the support of government, administration of justice, and defense of his Majesty's dominions in America, has a direct tendency to render Assem- blies useless, and to introduce arbitrary government and slavery.
" That a virtuous and steady opposition to this Ministerial plan of gov- erning America is absolutely necessary to preserve even the shadow of liberty. and is a duty which every freeman in America owes to his country, to himself, and to his posterity.
" That the resolution lately entered into by the East India Company to send out their tea to America, subject to the payment of duties on its being landed here, is an open attempt to enforce this Ministerial plan, and a violent attack upon the liberties of America.
68
HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.
" That it is the duty of every American to oppose this attempt.
" That whoever shall, directly or indirectly, countenance this attempt, or in any wise aid or abet in unloading, receiving, or vending the tea sent or to be sent out by the East India Company, while it remains subject to the pay- ment of a duty here, is an enemy of his country.
" That a committee be immediately chosen to wait on those gentlemen who, it is reported, are appointed by the East India Company to receive and sell said tea, and request them, from a regard to their own characters, and the peace and good order of the city and province, immediately to resign their appointment." 1
Notice of the actual sailing on the 27th of September, of the ship with the cargo of tea intended for PHILADELPHIA, was publicly given
1 In BOSTON, on 3d November, a meeting was held at " Liberty Tree," to enforce the resignation of the consignees of the tea intended for that city, which proved in- effective, but resulted in another on 5th November, when the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., was chosen Moderator, and at which it was -
" Resolved, That the sense of this town cannot be better expressed than in the words of certain judicious resolves, lately entered into by our worthy brethren, the citizens of Philadelphia." Here follow the resolves of the citizens of Philadelphia, of October 16th, preceding, as given in the text.
It is especially noteworthy that the handsome compliment thus and then paid to the city of Philadelphia, was, in 1873, returned in kind, by the selection for com memoration - as the salient event in the history of the defeat of the "Tea Scheme " - of the patriotic action of the Bostonians.
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