The True Life Stories of the Declaration of Independence Signers. Charles Augustus Goodrich
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warmly approved in every quarter of the country ; and at a subsequent date, received the sanction of the assemblies, not only of South Carolina, Connecticut, and New-York, but of those colonies which had not been represented in the congress.
While the highest assemblies were thus bearing their official and solemn testimony against the oppressive and unconstitutional acts of the British parliament; the people, in every section of the country, and especially in the principal towns, were manifesting their abhorrence of those measures, in a different, but not less decisive way.
On the morning of the 14th of August, two effigies were discovered hanging on the branch of an old elm, near the south entrance of Boston. One of these represented a stamp office; the other, a jack boot, out of which rose a horned head, which appeared to be looking round.
The singularity of this spectacle soon attracted the notice of great numbers; and before evening, the collection amounted to a multitude. The images were then taken down,placed upon a bier, and carried in procession with imposing solemnity. At a distance, in the rear, the multitude followed, shouting — "liberty and prosperity forever — no stamps!" Arriving in front of a house, owned by one Oliver, which was supposed to be a stamp office, they levelled it to the ground; and proceeding to his place of residence, they beheaded his effigy, and broke in the windows of his house. Oliver himself effected a timely escape; but his fences, the furniture of his house, and its dependencies, were destroyed. It was midnight before the multitude dispersed.
In the morning of the next day, the people re-assembled, and were proceeding to a repetition of their excesses; but upon hearing that Oliver had sent his resignation to England, they desisted, and repairing to the front of his house, they gave three cheers, and quietly returned to their homes.
A volume would scarcely suffice, to give a full recital of all the commotions which were excited by the stamp act, in the single province of Massachusetts. But these disorders were far from being confined to such circumscribed limits. A spirit of resistance pervaded the country. The very atmosphere seemed pregnant with revolt. Even sobriety was found off her guard, in the tumultuous crowd; and old age felt something of the impulses of younger days.
On the first day of November, the stamp act was to go into operation. As it drew near, the feelings of the colonists became more and more intense; less popular noise and clamour were, perhaps, to be heard; but a deep and settled hostility to the act had taken possession of every breast. On the 5th of October, the ships which brought the stamps appeared in sight of Philadelphia, near Gloucester Point: The vessels in the harbour immediately hoisted their colours half mast high; the bells on the churches were muffled; and during the rest of the day were tolled, in token of a profound and general mourning.
On the 10th of September, the stamps, designed for Boston, arrived at that place. By order of the governor, they were conveyed to the castle, where they could be defended by the artillery, should occasion require. At length, the 1st of November arrived. The day in many places was ushered in with marks of funeral ceremony. Business was suspended, and shops and stores were closed. But at this time, not a single sheet of all the bales of stamps, which had been sent from England, could have been found in the colonies of New England, of New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the two Carolinas. They had either been committed to the flames, had been reshipped to England, or were safely guarded by the opposition, into whose hands they had fallen. A general suspension, or rather a total cessation, of all business, which required stamped paper, was the consequence. The printers of newspapers only, observes an historian, continued their occupation; alleging for excuse, that if they had done otherwise, the people would have given them such an admonition, as they little coveted. None would receive the gazettes coming from Canada, as they were printed on stamped paper. The courts of justice were shut; even marriages were no longer celebrated; and, in a word, an absolute stagnation in all the relations of social life was established.
The mother country could not long remain in ignorance of the spirit which prevailed, and the disturbances which had been excited in the colonies, by the oppressive acts of parliament; and the stamp act in particular. The minds of all classes in that country were deeply affected; but as different interests swayed, different opinions were entertained and expressed.
The merchants, anticipating a loss on the credit given to the Americans, were disposed to censure the extraordinary course of parliament . The manufacturers were not less loud in their complaint, since, as the orders for their wares were discontinued, ruin stared them in the face. A deep despondency pervaded the minds of some; a lofty indignation took possession of others. By one class, the colonies were extravagantly extolled; by another, they were as pointedly condemned. By some, they were praised for their manly independence and bold decision; by others, they were accused of ingratitude, turbulence, and rebellion.
Fortunately for the interests both of the colonies and of Great Britain, about this time, a change took place in the administration of England, by which several of the friends of America came into power. The Marquis of Rockingham, one of the wealthiest noblemen of the kingdom, and highly esteemed for the endowments of his mind, and the sincerity of his character, was appointed first lord of the treasury, in the room of Lord Grenville; Mr. Dowdeswell was made Chancellor of the Exchequer; Lord Winchester took the place of the Duke of Bedford, as president of the council; and the Seals were given to the young Duke of Grafton and General Conway, who so nobly defended the cause of the Americans, on the motion in parliament to tax them.
During the session of the parliament of 1766, the subject of the late disturbances in the colonies was brought forward, by the new administration, and the expediency of repealing the odious enactments was strongly urged. Petitions,from various quarters, were presented, to the same effect. Many of the merchants and manufacturers of the kingdom were deeply affected by the new regulations concerning America. An immense quantity of British manufactures were perishing in the warehouses; while artisans and seamen were deprived of employment and support.
To the repeal of the stamp act, its original advocates were strongly opposed, and they marshalled all their strength to prevent it. In the first rank stood George Grenville, the late prime minister. In the debate on the subject of repeal, among other things, he said, "much against their will, the ministers have laid before this house, the disturbances and audacious enormities of the Americans; for they began in July,and now we are in the middle of January; lately they were only occurrences; they are now grown to disturbances, tumults, and riots. I doubt they border on open rebellion; and if the doctrine I have heard this day, be confirmed, I fear they will lose that name, to take that of revolution." — "When I proposed to tax America, I asked the house, if any gentleman would object to the right? I repeatedly asked it; and no man would attempt to deny it. And tell me, when the Americans were emancipated? When they want the protection of this kingdom, they are always very ready to ask it. This protection has always been granted them, in the fullest manner; and now they refuse to contribute their mite towards the public expenses. For let not gentlemen deceive themselves, with regard to the rigour of the tax; it would not suffice even for the necessary expenses of the troops stationed in America: but a pepper-corn in acknowledgment of the right is of more value than millions without. Yet, notwithstanding the slightness of the tax, and the urgency of our situation, the Americans grow sullen, and instead of concurring in assisting to meet expenses arising from themselves, they renounce your authority, insult your officers, and break out, I might almost say, into open rebellion.
"There was a time when they would not have proceeded thus; but they are now supported by the artifice of these young gentlemen; inflammatory petitions are handed about against us, and in their favour. Even within this house, in this sanctuary of the laws, sedition has found its defenders. Resistance to the laws is applauded; obstinacy encouraged; disobedience extolled; rebellion pronounced a virtue."
In reply to Grenville, William Pitt, now venerable for his age, and still more venerable for the important services which he had rendered his country, rose and said: "I know not whether I ought most to rejoice, that the infirmities which have been wasting, for so long a time, a body, already bowed by the weight of years, of late suspending their ordinary violence, should have allowed me, this day, to behold these walls, and to discuss, in the presence of this august assembly, a subject of such high importance, and which so nearly concerns the safety of our country; or to grieve at the