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The Earl of Buckinghamshire reported from the Lords' Committee,
That in obedience to your Lordships' commands, the Committee have met, and taken into consideration the matters to them referred; and having attentively read and considered the several Papers which have been laid before the House, relative to the Proceedings in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, in opposition to the sovereignty of his Majesty in his Parliament of Great Britain over that Province; and having also carefully inspected the Journals of the House,
That this Bill passed the House on the 4th of April, and received the Royal assent on the following day.
The Committee having perused the Report of the Board of Trade, of the 11th day of December, 2, 1764,
The Committee find that, on the 28th day of February, 1765,
That the said Bill received the Royal assent on the 22d of the same month.
That on the 17th day of December,
It appears to the Committee, from the votes of the House of Representatives of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, of the 6th of June, 1765,
Your Committee find, in a letter from the Governor to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, dated August 15th, 1765,
It is remarkable that this commotion entirely arose out of the town of Boston; for though it was given out that many People out of the country were concerned in this affair, upon inquiry, it was found that such persons living out of Boston as were seen in the crowd, were there merely as spectators.
In Governor Bernard' s letter to the Board of Trade, of October 12th, 1765,
And during the general disorder, the Governor thought it necessary for some companies of the Militia to be mustered, with the unanimous advice of the Council, but that the Militia refused to obey his orders.
And we find that so little attention was paid to an Act of the British Legislature, by the Council and House of Representatives, that they resolved in a joint Committee, on the 25th of October, 1765,
On the 14th day of January, 1766,
"My Lords and Gentlemen: When I met you last, I acquainted you that matters of importance had happened in America, which would demand the most serious attention of Parliament.
That no information which could serve to direct your deliberations in so interesting a concern might be wanting, I have ordered all the Papers that give any light into the origin, the progress, or the tendency, of the Disturbances which have of late prevailed in some of the Northern Colonies, to be immediately laid before you.
No time has been lost, on the first advice of these Disturbances, to issue orders to the Governors of my Provinces, and to the Commanders of my Forces, in America, for the exertion of all the powers of the Government
Whatever remains to be done on this occasion, I commit to your wisdom, not doubting but your zeal for the honor of my Crown, your attention to the just rights and authority of the British Legislature, and your affection and concern for the welfare and prosperity of all my People, will guide you to such sound and prudent resolutions as may tend at once to preserve those constitutional rights over the Colonies, and to restore to them that harmony and tranquillity which have lately been interrupted by riots and disorders of the most dangerous nature."
In the dutiful Address which was voted the same day, the House assure his Majesty, "of their hearty concurrence with his Majesty' s most salutary intentions; that they would exert their utmost endeavours to assert and support his Majesty' s dignity and honor, and the legislative authority of this Kingdom over its Colonies; and that they would take into their consideration the most proper methods to provide for the restoration of tranquillity to those Colonies which had been disturbed by such violent and dangerous commotions."
Upon the same day all the Papers relating to the information and advices received from America, of the riots and tumults there, were laid before the House.
More Papers relating to America were laid before the House, which, together with the other Papers, were referred to a Committee of the whole House for Tuesday, the 28th.
More Papers were laid before the House, and referred to the said Committee.
The Committee met,
"1. Resolved, That the King' s Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled, had, hath, and of right ought to have, full power and authority to make Laws and Statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the Colonies and People of America, subjects of the Crown of Great Britain, in all cases whatsoever.
"2. Resolved, That it appears to this Committee, that Tumults and Insurrections of the most dangerous nature, have been raised and carried on in several of the North American Colonies, in open defiance of the Power and Dignity of his Majesty' s Government, and in manifest violation of the Laws and Legislative authority of this Kingdom.
"3. Resolved, That it appears to this Committee that the said Tumults and Insurrections have been encouraged and inflamed by sundry Votes and Resolutions, passed in several of the Assemblies of the said Provinces, derogatory to the honor of his Majesty' s Government, and destructive of the legal and constitutional dependency of the said Colonies on the Imperial Crown and Parliament of Great Britain.
"4. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, to desire that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to give instructions to the Governors, of the several Provinces, where the above mentioned Tumults and Insurrections have happened, that they should, in his Majesty' s name, require of the Assemblies of the said Provinces, to make proper recompense to those who have suffered in their persons or properties, in consequence of the aforesaid Tumults and Insurrections; and to assure his Majesty that this House will, upon this and all occasions, support the lawful authority of his Crown, and the rights of Parliament.
"5. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that all his Majesty' s subjects, residing in the said Colonies, who have manifested their desire to comply with, or to assist in, carrying into execution, the Act for laying a duty on Stamps, or any other Act of Parliament, in the British Colonies in North America, have acted as dutiful and loyal subjects, and are therefore entitled to, and will assuredly have, the favor and protection of this House."
"Ordered, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, pursuant to the fourth Resolution."
On the 5th of March,
Which Bill received the Royal assent on the 18th of the same month.
And also a Bill intituled, "An Act to repeal an Act made in the last session of Parliament intituled, ‘An Act for granting and applying certain Stamp Duties, and other duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America; towards further defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same; and for amending such parts of the several Acts of Parliament relating to the Trade and Revenues of the said Colonies and Plantations, as direct the manner of determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein mentioned.’"
Which Bill received the Royal assent on the 18th of March.
Whilst the Bill for repealing the Stamp Act was under deliberation, petitions from the Merchants of the city of Bristol, from the Merchants of Glasgow, from Edward Montague, Agent for the Colony of Virginia, and from the Merchants of the city of London, in favor of the said repeal, were received and read.
On the 2d of June,
Which Bill received the Royal assent on the 6th of the same month.
It appears by a letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Shelburne, dated December 24th, 1766,
The Committee find that, on the 12th of March, 1767,
That on the 3d of April
That on the 14th of May,
That on the 18th day of May,
That on the same day it was ordered, that an humble Address should be presented to his Majesty, "That he would be graciously pleased to give directions, that there
That on the 22d of May,
Which Papers were ordered to lie on the table; and from a perusal of them we find that several Acts of different Colonies have been, from time to time, declared by his Majesty in Council, to be null, illegal, and void.
That on the 15th of June
Which Bill received the Royal assent on the 29th of the same month.
That on the 18th of June
Which Bill received the Royal assent on the 29th of June.
The Committee find that,
Governor Bernard was obliged in his Rejoinder,
The Committee find that, on the 2d of March, 1768,
Which Bill received the Royal assent on the 8th of the same month.
It appears to the Committee, that by a circular letter
In this year the Assembly, at the election of the Council, left out all the Crown Officers, which measure had been before adopted, in the years 1766 and 1767.
In the beginning of May, 1768, subscriptions were made, and Associations entered into, for the non-importation of goods from Great Britain; but this last measure was at that time defeated by the merchants in the other Colonies refusing to concur in it.
In consequence of, this disorderly state at Boston,
On Monday, the 5th of March, 1768, at nine at night, the alarm bells were rung, as in cases of fire: the fire said to be in Kings street, and the People thereby led thither, where, finding the alarm false, they joined a multitude who had been braving two companies at the gates of their barrack, and threatened with death the centinel who was posted at
In the Petition
And the Assembly absolutely refused,
It was also voted in a town meeting
They also voted that, as there was at that time a prevailing apprehension in the minds of many, of an approaching war with France, in order that the inhabitants of that town might be prepared, in case of sudden danger, that those of the said inhabitants who might at that time be unprovided, should be, and thereby were, requested duly to observe at that time the law of the Province, whereby it is required that every listed soldier and other householder, (except troopers, who by law, are otherwise to be provided,) shall always be provided with a well fixed firelock, musket, accoutrement, and ammunition, as in the said law is particularly mentioned, to the satisfaction of the commissioned officers of the company.
They also voted that a letter should be written to the several towns in the Province, as follows:
"This dissolution you are sensible has taken place. The Governor has publicly and repeatedly declared that he cannot call another Assembly; and the Secretary of State for the American Department, in one of his letters, communicated to the House, has been pleased to say, "That proper care will be taken for the support of the dignity of Government;" the meaning of which is too plain to be misunderstood. The concern and perplexity into which these things have thrown the People, have been greatly aggravated by a late declaration of his Excellency Governor Bernard, that one or more regiments may be expected in this Province.
"The design of these troops is in every One' s apprehension, nothing short of enforcing, by military power, the execution of Acts of Parliament, in the forming of which the Colonies have not, and cannot have, any constitutional influence. This is one of the greatest distresses to which a free People can be reduced.
"The town which we have the honor to serve, have taken these things, at their late meeting, into their most serious consideration; and as there, is in the minds of many a prevailing apprehension of an approaching war with France, they have passed the several votes which we transmit to you, desiring that they may be immediately laid before the town, whose prudentials are in your care, at a legal meeting, for their candid and particular attention.
"Deprived of the counsels of a General Assembly in this dark and difficult season, the loyal People of this Province will, we are persuaded, immediately perceive the propriety and utility of the proposed Committee of Convention, and the sound and wholesome advice that may be expected from a number of gentlemen chosen by themselves, and in whom they may repose the greatest confidence, must tend to the real service of our most gracious Sovereign, and the welfare of his subjects in this Province, and may happily prevent any sudden and unconnected measures, which, in their present anxiety, and even agony of mind, they may be in danger of falling into.
"And it is of importance that the Convention should meet as soon as may be; so early a day as the 22d of this instant, September, has been proposed for that purpose; and it is hoped, the remotest towns will by that time, or as soon after as conveniently may be, return their respective Committees.
"Not doubting but you are equally concerned with us, and our fellow citizens, for the preservation of our invaluable rights, and for the general happiness of our country, and that you are disposed, with equal ardour, to exert yourselves in every constitutional way for so glorious a purpose."
The Committee observe, that it does not appear to them that any steps were taken to suppress these measures, or
The Committee think it necessary here to insert the following extracts.
The first extract is from his Majesty' s most gracious Speech from the Throne, on the 8th day of November, 1768.
"At the close of the last Parliament, I expressed my satisfaction at the appearances which then induced me to believe, that such of my subjects as had been misled in some parts of my Dominions, were returning to a just sense of their duty; but it is with equal concern that I have since seen that spirit of faction which I had hoped was well nigh extinguished, breaking out afresh in some of my Colonies in North America, and in one of them, proceeding even to acts of violence, and of resistance to the execution of the law; the capital town of which Colony appears, by late advises, to be in a state of disobedience to all law and Government, and has proceeded to measures subversive of the Constitution, and attended with circumstances that manifest a disposition to throw off their dependence on Great Britain. On my part I have pursued every measure that appeared to be necessary for supporting the Constitution, and inducing a due obedience to the authority of the Legislature. You may rely upon my steady perseverance in these purposes; and I doubt not but that, with your concurrence and support, I shall be able to defeat the mischevious designs of those turbulent and seditious persons, who, under false pretences, have but too successfully deluded numbers of my subjects in America, and whose practices, if suffered to prevail, cannot fail to produce the most fatal consequences to my Colonies immediately, and in the end, to all the Dominions of my Crown."
The second extract is from your Lordships dutiful Address to his Majesty on his said most gracious Speech
"We feel the most sincere concern, that any of our fellow subjects in North America, should be misled by factious and designing men, into acts of violence, and of resistance to the execution of the law, attended, with circumstances that manifest a disposition to throw off their dependence upon Great Britain. At the same time that we shall be always ready to contribute to the relief of any real grievance of your Majesty' s American subjects, we most unfeignedly give your Majesty the strongest assurances, that we shall ever zealously concur in support of such just and necessary measures, as may best enable your Majesty to repress that daring spirit of disobedience, and to enforce a due submission to the laws; always considering that it is one of our most essential duties to maintain inviolate the supreme authority of the Legislature of Great Britain over every part of the Dominions of your Majesty' s Crown."
The third extract is from his Majesty' s most gracious Answer to your Lordships Address
"Your zealous concurrence in every measure that can bring relief to my People is well known to me, nor do I doubt of the attention that you will always give to any real grievances of my American subjects. The strong assurances I receive from you at the same time of your determination to vindicate the just Legislative authority of Parliament over all the Dominions of my Crown, deserve my warmest approbation."
The Committee find that on the 15th of November,
That accordingly, on the 28th of November,
That on the 15th of December,
"1. Resolved, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the votes and resolutions, and
"2. Resolved, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the resolution of the said House of Representatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in January last, to write letters to the several Houses of Representatives of the British Colonies on the Continent, desiring them to join with the said House of Representatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in Petitions which do deny, or draw into question the right of Parliament to impose duties and taxes upon his Majesty' s subjects in America; and in pursuance of the said resolution, the writing such letters in which certain late Acts of Parliament, imposing duties and taxes, are stated to be infringements of the rights of his Majesty' s subjects of the said Province, are proceedings of a most unwarrantable and dangerous nature, calculated to inflame the minds of his Majesty' s subjects in the other Colonies; tending to create unlawful combinations, repugnant to the laws of Great Britain, and subversive of the Constitution.
"3. Resolved, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That it appears that the town of Boston, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, has for some time past been in a state of great disorder and confusion; and that the peace of the said town has at several times been disturbed by riots and tumults of a dangerous nature, in which the officers of his Majesty' s Revenue there hare been obstructed by acts of violence in the execution of the laws, and their lives endangered.
"4. Resolved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in, Parliament assembled, That it appears that neither the Council of the said Province of Massachusetts Bay, nor the ordinary Civil Magistrates, did exert their authority for suppressing the said riots and tumults.
"5. Resolved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That in these circumstances of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and of the town of Boston, the preservation of the public peace, and the due execution of the laws became impracticable without the aid of a military force to support and protect the Civil Magistrates, and the Officers of his Majesty' s Revenue.
"6. Resolved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the declarations, resolutions, and proceedings, in the town meeting at Boston, on the 14th of June, and 12th of September, were illegal and unconstitutional, and calculated to excite sedition and insurrection in his Majesty' s Province of Massachusetts Bay.
"7. Resolved, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the appointment at the town meeting, on the 12th of September, of a Convention to be held in the town of Boston, on the 22d of that month, to consist of Deputies from the several towns and districts in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and the issuing a precept by the Selectmen of the town of Boston, to each of the said towns and districts for the election of such Deputies, were proceedings subversive of his Majesty' s Government, and evidently manifesting a design in the inhabitants of the said town of Boston, to set up a new and unconstitutional authority, independent of the Crown of Great Britain.
"8. Resolved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the elections, by several towns and districts in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, of Deputies to sit in the said Convention, and the meeting of such Convention in consequence thereof, were daring insults offered to his Majesty' s authority, and audacious usurpations of the powers of Government."
It was then ordered, "That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, to return, his Majesty thanks for the communication which he has been pleased to make to his Parliament, of several Papers relative to public
To express our sincere satisfaction in the measures which his Majesty has pursued for supporting the Constitution, and inducing a due obedience to the authority of the Legislature.
To give his Majesty the strongest assurances that we will effectually stand by and support his Majesty in such further measures as may be found necessary to maintain the Civil Magistrates in a due execution of the laws within his Majesty' s Province of Massachusetts Bay.
And as we conceive that nothing can be more immediately necessary either for the maintenance of his Majesty' s authority in the said Province, or for the guarding his Majesty' s subjects therein from being further deluded by the arts of wicked and designing men, than to proceed in the most speedy and effectual manner for bringing to condign punishment the chief authors and instigators of the late disorders, to beseech his Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to direct his Majesty' s Governor of Massachusetts Bay to take the most effectual methods for procuring the fullest information that can be obtained, touching all treasons or misprison of treason committed within his Government, since the 30th of December last, and to transmit the same, together with the names of the persons who were most active in the commission of such offences, to one of his Majesty' s principal Secretaries of State, in order that his Majesty may issue a special commission for inquiring of, hearing, and determining the said offences within this Realm, pursuant to the provisions of the statute of the thirty-fifth year of the reign of King Henry the Eighth, if his Majesty shall, upon receiving the said information, see sufficient ground for such a proceeding."
And a Message was sent to the House of Commons, to carry down the said Resolutions and Address, and desire their concurrence thereto.
On the 20th January, 1769,
On the 9th of February,
On the 14th of February,
"My Lords and Gentlemen: The sincere satisfaction you express in the measures which I have already taken, and the strong assurances you give of supporting me in those which may be still necessary, to maintain the just legislative authority, and the due execution of the laws, in my Province of Massachusetts Bay, give me great pleasure.
I shall not fail to give those orders which you recommend, as the most effectual method of bringing the authors of the late unhappy disorders in that Province, to condign punishment."
Which Address and Answer were ordered to be printed.
In some cases goods imported from Great Britain were locked up in ware-houses, under the care of these Committees, in order to prevent their being sold; and, in one or two instances, they were re-shipped to Great Britain.
The Governor having in reply to their Message, acquainted them "That he had no authority over his Majesty' s ships in that port, or his troops in that town, nor could give any orders for the removal of them," they then proceeded to the election of Counsellors, in which election not only the Lieutenant Governor, and other officers of Government were excluded, but also several other gentlemen who had been of the former Council, and who (the Governor represents) showed a disposition to support the King' s Government, to acknowledge the authority of Parliament, and to preserve the People from a Democratic despotism, and were otherwise distinguished by their integrity and ability.
On the 13th of June, the Assembly sent an Answer to the Governor' s Message, of the 31st of May, in which he had told them that he had no authority over the King' s ships or troops. In this Answer they assert that "By the principles of the Constitution, the Governor of that Colony has the absolute military command; that the sending a military force there to enforce the execution of the laws, is inconsistent with the nature of Government, and the spirit of a free Constitution; that the unwillingness of a People in general, that a law should be executed, was a strong presumption, of its being an unjust law; that it could not be their law, as the People must consent to laws before they can be obliged, in conscience, to obey them."
On the 6th of April, 1770,
Which Bill received the Royal assent on the 12th of April.
On the 30th of April,
And that on the 4th of May,
The Committee find that, on the 7th of May,
On the 14th of May
And on the 15th,
The Committee find by Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson' s letter of the 27th of March, 1770,
Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson, in his letter to the Earl of Hillsborough, of the 27th April, 1770,
The Committee do not find in your Lordship' s Journals of the years 1771 and 1772, any material proceedings relative to the matter to them referred.
Report of the Committee to Inquire into the Several Proceedings in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay
Bill Passed
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in America; for continuing and amending, and making perpetual, an Act, passed in the sixth year of the reign of his late Majesty, King George the Second, intituled ‘Act for the better securing and encouraging the Trade of his Majesty' s Sugar Colonies in America;’ for applying the produce of such Duties, and of the Duties to arise by virtue of the said Act, towards defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing, the said Colonies and Plantations; for explaining an Act, made in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of King Charles the Second, intituled ‘An Act for the Encouragement of the Greenland and Eastland Trades, and for the better securing the Plantation Trade;’ and for altering and disallowing several Drawbacks on Exports from this Kingdom, and more effectually preventing the clandestine conveyance of Goods to and from said Colonies and Plantations, and improving and securing the Trade between the same and Great Britain."
Assertions by the Assembly of Massachusetts Bay
Bill Passed
His Majesty' s Speech
House of Representatives of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay Resolution
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implore relief; and that letters should be forthwith prepared and transmitted to the respective Speakers of the several Assemblies, to invite them to accede to this proposition:" and further, that on the 8th of June,
Boston Riots
His Majesty' s Speech
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in the suppression of riots and tumults, and in the effectual support of lawful authority.
Address to the King by the House of Lords
Papers Laid Before the House of Lords
Resolutions of the House of Lords
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Bills Passed
Authority Questioned
Letters Laid Before the House of Lords
Address to the King by the House of Lords
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might be laid before this House, copies of such precedents as had been, or might be found, of Orders in Council, declaring Acts of Assembly in America, to be null, illegal, or void; together with Reports of the several Attorneys, and Solicitors General, or either of them, in similar cases, read at the Council Board on the 9th instant."
Bills Passed
Message from the House of Representatives, Massachusetts Bay
Governor Bernard
Bill Passed
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Colony Measures
Events in Boston, 1768
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the custom house, where the King' s treasure was lodged. The centinel being surrounded was forced to retreat, and call for aid, which brought Captain Preston,
Boston Town Meeting
Boston' s Letter to Other Towns
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that they were noticed
His Majesty' s Speech
Address of the House of Lords to the King
His Majesty' s Response
Papers Laid Before the House
Resolutions of the House of Lords
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proceedings of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts Bay, in the months of January and February last, respecting several late Acts of Parliament, so far as the said votes, resolutions, and proceedings, do import a denial of, or to draw into question, the power and authority of his Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in Parliament assembled, to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the Colonies and People of America, subjects of the Crown of Great Britain, in all cases whatsoever, are illegal, unconstitutional, and derogatory of the rights of the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain.
Address to the King by the House of Lords
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transactions in his Majesty' s Province of Massachusetts Bay.
Message Sent to the House of Commons
His Majesty' s Response
Comments on the Actions of the Masschusetts Bay Colony
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Committees were appointed to examine the cargoes of all vessels arriving from Great Britain; and regular votes and resolutions of censure were passed in those meetings upon all such as refused to concur in those unlawful Associations; their names were published in the public newspapers as enemies to their country; and the mandates and decrees of those Committees
Message to the Governor
The Governor' s Response
Response of the Assembly
Bill Brought from the House of Commons
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ware, exported to America; and for more effectually preventing the clandestine running of goods in the said Colonies and Plantations;’ as relates to the Duties upon glass, red lead, white lead, painters' colours, paper pasteboards, millboards, and scaleboards, of the produce or manufacture of Great Britain, imported into any of his Majesty' s Colonies in America; and also to the discontinuing the drawbacks payable on china earthen ware, exported to America; and for regulating the exportation thereof."
Address to His Majesty
Papers Laid Before the House of Lords
Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson' s Letter
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the usurpation of the powers of Government by the town of Boston. That he had used the negative powers given him by Charter, in excluding Mr˙ Hancock from being Speaker pro tempore, and Mr˙ Cushing from the office of Commissary General, to which offices they had been elected; but adds, that this was doing but little, as he could not remove any of those who were actually in office, some of whom were inflammatory than any out of office; he further says, that they were then attempting to compel all the impoiters, of what they call contraband goods, to send them back, and that he was not sure they would not succeed; that all goods which they have not enumerated are called contraband. That tea from Holland may lawfully be sold; that it is a high crime to sell any from England. That Mr˙ Hancock offered to send one or more of his ships back, and to lose the freight; that several of the importers pleaded that they should be utterly ruined; but the Boston zealots had no bowels, and gave for answer, "That if a ship was to bring in the plague, nobody would doubt what was necessary to be done with her; but the present case is much worse than that." In the same letter the Lieutenant Governor observes,
"That the Boston principles obtain more and more in the remote parts of the Province, and the Representatives of seven-eighths of the town appear, in the present session, to be favourers of the non-importation measures. That their internal distresses may, in a course of years, force them to desist, but that the distress at present, and it may be for some time to come, lies principally upon the friends to Government, who run the risk of importing goods, and then are compelled, by the ruling power, to keep them unsold, or to ship them back; that he made an attempt that day to prevail upon a merchant of the first estate and character, to induce him to promote an Association, but to no purpose; and that he gave him for answer, ‘that, until Parliament made provision for the punishment of the confederacies, all would be ineffectual, and the associates would be exposed to popular rage.’" He observed further, "that the last year, when the King' s speech, and the Addresses of the Lords and of the House of Commons first came to them, the heads of the opposition were struck with terror, and the seditious newspaper writers laid aside their pens for five or six weeks, but as soon as the apprehension of vigorous measures ceased, their fears were over, and they became more assuming and tyrannical than before, and although the terror was not so great the present year, yet it was visible; but now, that they expect nothing will be done, they are recovering their spirits, knowing there is no power within the Government to restrain them.
1771, 1772
House of Representatives, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Response to the Governor
Defiance of the Laws of Revenue and Trade
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Magistrates declined giving their assistance and support, though applied to for that purpose; which appears in the case of