The Connecticut courant — Hartford, Conn., 1774-05-24 00:00:00, page 2

AJ4JUIA Utt I fj& UiLb ]or
slocking the Tt<wn of Boston.
Ml. SVSAKER.
I FIND so much difficulty in pronouncing my fenti
meots at any fme, that, unlcfs the Houle is kind
ly disposed to hear me,at this late heur.l Hull patient
ly fit dawn, becaufc I am conscious it will require their
greatest indulgeoee.to enable nke tp express myfelf ip a
manner worthy of their attention. A modefly,becem
fog my fitnation prevented me from offering my opinion
before, when I saw men of so much fuperier ability
riling from the begicoiog of the debate.
It may appear arrogant in a Member so inferior,as I
confefs myfeif to be to offer objidtions to a bill so
teofive in its confcqueoces under every cotfidention e
fpccial'y after it mult have been so maturely cotfidcred,
in every article,by men so diftioguilhed by their talents
and high fituatisas in cffice.befides the general applaud
which has followed the Bill in its rapid pregrefs thro’
this Hoofc. Nevertbelefs, though naturally diffident of
my opinion, when I had the good or bad fortune (I
don’t know which to term it) of prognofticatiog ta the
Chairman of the East India Company the cot&qococes
offending this Tea, on their own account, toAmerica,
& that the event has literally fu § led my words,as it is
well known to some Members now in my eye.it makes
me more confident in warning the Houfo of what JI ip
prehend will be the.caofcgueoces of this Bill.
I tol^ the Chairman of the Eafl-India Company,Gift
in conversation. io afeing my opinion, and afterwards
by letter,that the evidence plight appear in the progress
of things ; that I conceived the East India Con piny
exporting Tea en their own account, was, under every
confidcration of their Ctuaffan ard inflitutioa, wrong,
bot, under the prefcut difeontents & disputed matters
of Government in America, criminally Aj^sunp,
because they were presenting thcmfdvcs as the butt in
the controversy, where they would probably come off
with the loss of the whole. The event has Nullified
my prediction ; for whatever re payment the Company
may obtain from the town of Bolton, under thole cruel
coercive measures now proposed. (the effect of which
I (till doubt, )yct theCompanv mull remain great lolers,
even if the other provinces, equally culpable, are made
to refund the loss arifiog from their conduct because it
was not /applies ofcafh at a distant period the Com
pany wanted, but an immediate supply. to answer
a temporary exigency, which a combination of the ene
mies of the Compioy had produced.
I now venture to predict to thisHoufe th^t the effect
®f the prefect Bill muff be produdtivc of a general con
federacy, to resist the power of this country. Jt is irri
tating, tempting, nay inviting men to thole deeds, by
IcefTe^ual expedients, the abortions of an uod^ci^vc
mind, incapable of comprebeodtog a chain of conse
quences which most rcfqlt from fyeh a law.—l am not
one of those who believe that distant provinces can be
retained in their duty by preaching or enchantments ;
J believe that rosea os power, conduced with wis
dom, are the means of fecu/iog regular obedience un
der every cftibliJhment, but that foch force (hou'd ne
ver be appied to any degree of rigour, unkfs it (hall
carry the general approbation of mankind in the executi
on However much fuck approbation mayprevaii at th.e
particular moment in this Houk, it is impossible to be
lieve the fcofe of Great Britain or the sense of Ameri
ca,can go to the punishing a particular Town.for refift
jog the payment es the Tea Tax, which is univerfafly
odious throughout America,and it is held in ridicule
and contempt by every thinking mao in this country.
The question of taxing America is Efficiently nice to
paliatc refiftance.if the fubjedt had never been litigated
in this country ; but, after the bigbeft ch^ra^ers ip
the State had declared against the right of this country
to impofc Taxes go America, for the purposes of ^.p
aenue ; after the general voice of the Senate had con
curred in R3PPRALING TH? STAM? A CT, ppOU that
principle , after these men, who bad maintained these
doflrines, had been ptovoted by his Majjfty to the
srft Qations io the Adminiflration of civil and judicial
affairs, there is so pinch mitigation tp be pleaded io fa
vour of the Americans, from thofc circumstances, (al-
Jowiog them in an error at present.) that every'man
Miufl feel the height of cruelty, by enforcing contrary
maxims, with atjy degree of fe verity, at fi/ft, before
due warning is given.
It is in vain to fay that Boflou is more culpable than
the other Colonics ; fending the (hipa from thence,and
obliging (hem to return to England, is a morefoiemo Sc
deliberate ad of refinance than the outrage committed
by perlons in disguise io the night,whsn the (hip refuted
8o depart. That of blocking up the harbour of Boston
so prevent the importation of Britifo manuEdures, or
the exportation of goods which arc to pay for them,
is a measure equally at absurd as if the Parliament
here, upon the refinance which was made to their re
solution, by the riots at Breotford, and other difturb
anccs io the County of Middlcfex.bad decreed,by way
of puoilhment, that the Freeholders foould have been
prohibited from sowing of wheat. For whose benefit
do the inhabitants of Boston toil and labour ? The
springs io the circle of commerce bear (o nicely on each
other, that few men can tell by interrupting one.the de
gree and extent to which the rest may be exposed. By
excluding the importation of molasses, and the expor-
Satwa of that spirit which is drilled at the
1 Will VC iw
the Sugar Trade that depends upon it. In extending
this kind of punishment to the other Colonies, every
one mufl fee the danger ; and yet, if it can be ap
proved for one, the fame arguments will hold good to
approve or rejefl it refpefling the tshcr. But let any
man figure to himfelf the confcquences to this country,
if a similar punilhmeot was applied to the Colony of
Virginia ; 30.p001, a year diminution in Revearc be
tides the loss of all the foreign coctr>d«, and perhaps
of that beneficial trade for ever. Nptwitbflanding the
general apnrobftivn which has been givp to this Bill,
& the loud spplaafes which hsve been re-ccbced toe
very word of the nob'e Lprd in explaining it, yet no
man will be bold enough to fay, that this partial
yuNisH^EN? is a remcc-y for the general dilcafc, and
yer without knowing what is to follow, no man can
be vindicated (even luppoficg the Bill right in past)4cr
giving his affect to it. These Gentlemen who are in
the fccretr of rhe Cabinet, and know bow assuredly e
very proft^i ion from them is adoptedly this Hcufe,
may be excused for their (anguine acclamations in fa
veur of the mcafpic; But the genera! mass, who n ofl
be equally ignorant with myself of what is to follow,can
have no excuse for giving tkeij assent so readily for
punilhing their fellow (bbj &s in so unprecedented a
manner and their eager zesl serves only tolhewhcv
ready they arc to obey the will of anothej,withoDt ex
ercising their own judgment in the case, if the go
vernment of tj^is Country is refilled in America, my o
pin on b, inftcad of removing the Seat of Government
jo tfie Colony, and forcing the elements to bend to our
will, whiph jj imp jlible, that an cffc&ual force fliculd
be carried to the heart of the Colony rcfiHiog, to crofti
rebel i©n in the bud before a general conlcdcrscy can
be formed. Jo the present case we abandon the Govern
mcot, and drive the inhabitants to difpair, leaving the
multitude a prey to any ambitious Ipirit that may arise.
For my own part 1 am convinced, from experience in
the Co Oci.es, that good government may be coudofled
there upon rational grounds,as well as in this Country ;
but the power and means of governing, rewards and
puciflimeots, are taken from ypur fupremc executive
Magistrate io every fenfc, and then you arc forprized
that al! order and obedience should ceafc. The Colo
nies can ooly be governed by their Affcmblies, as Eng
land by the Houle of Commons ; the patent cfficcs,
as well as those in the customs, which were formerly
given at the recommendation of the Governors, to men
luppofiing government, and refidipg in the Provinces,
are now given in reverfioa three or four lives deep, to
men living in this Country. The command of the
Mi itary, which wa« another great source of relpejS and
obedience, is likewise taken from the Governor; /o
that io TRury he remains an infignificant pageant of
State, fit only to traofmit tedious account of his cwn
ridiculous foliation or like a Dealer of the Sorborne,
to debate wrlh his Affrmbly about abflraA do&rinci in
Government.
1 am far from wifoiog to throw soy blame upon Go
vernor Hotchinfon or to condemn him like the town of
Boston, unheard. Ihe abfecce of the man, Si the ge
neral clamnur against him will reftratn me from faying
many things refpr^iiog his conduct, which appears re
prcbenfible. But I cannot admit a paffagc in the (peech
of a noble Lord to pass unnoticed. His Lorc'fliipal-
Icdges, “ that the Governor cculd cot apply totheAd
miral io »hc harbour, or to <he commandieg cfficer of
the troops in the caftlc for the protection of the cuftom
hcufe oarers, as well as the teas in queftton, with*
o«t the advice of bis Council.” But I beg leave to
inform the noble Lord, as 5 feived in thas tiatiou my
/elf, that th;re is a volume of inftru&ions to every Go
vernor en this fubjed whereby he is ccmmanded, co
de/ the fevajefl penalties, “ to give all kind of protec
tion to trade and commerce, a« well a/ to the excess
his Mvjeftf’s Cuftoms,by bis own apthorib without
the necefity of siting through his Council.” Nor esn
i conceive a pebble excuse for the deft turion of those
teas, whilp two men of war lay in the harbour,withept
the lea(l application, having been made to the Admiral
for protection, during so long a tranfidion.
The fir ft tffential point in those disputes, which are
now likely to become so ferieus by the wcaknefs efad
mioiftration in this country io following no conceded
plan, either of force or favour, but constantly vibrating
between the two, is to put curfclves io the right, ana
for this purpofc I would recommend an immediate re
peal of th* Tea Dutx, which cao be vindicated
upon ro principles, either of commerceor policy Men
may allcdge this would be giving up the point, Bftt if
we have no better points to difputc upoc, I am rc-sdy
to yield the rfgument Raffing taxes io America for
the purpufes of revenue, I maintain to be uncccffary
and dangerous A Stsmp A 6), a» a tacafore of police,
varied for the’different governments, and leaving the
revenue raised thereby to be appropriated by the respec
tive leg fhtures, I ho‘d to be a measure of the higbeft
efficacy,for maintaining a due obedience to the authori
ty of this coptty, and prolonging that dependence for
ages tQ come. How (ar it can be executed after what
has already passed, j am rather dijudeut, but of this I
am certain, that in cafcGrcat Britain is deprived of ex
renting a measure of that nature, which by pervading
every traofaflion secures the exccutico in itfdf, she ha»
M of the gtemft coginss for fuppoiimg her inlu
A contfpondent felicitates ns on feeing realized t^;
idea of a patriot King. His Majesty has proved hfoj
felf so by dismissing, contrary to the advice of the P—-
C —, and the endeavours of a asoft wicked, impudent
and flagitious Scotch lawyer, a tritor who was hardy
enough to advise the curtailing of Ecglifo liberties.
Extras of q Ittier from Bo Han dated February.
“ The principal leaders in this town are tired of th^
outrages the mob are every day commidog, and find
they are not as easily flopped as they were urged tp
these exccffes : The whole, jwn are fearful left go-1
vemment in England flwuld punifli us with rigour : if
your miniflers are firm and in earnest the people will
(hrink, for had you removed a tyrannical kcave ofp
——, Things would have fobfided long ago ; but the
one driving at al), and the other afraid of all,they can
not now manage the leaders en either fide ; and thus
W« are left to the mercy of an infatuated and mi flee
mob, who may peffibly take it in their heads to refi^
^uy force yon may fend to this place”.
The Petition of the American gentlemen tothe kif|
against the Boston port bill was prelected to bis ir ajeft|
by the right bon the Earl of Dartmouth, foerctary ,og
state for the colonies.
-•*-«? —— — F -- T
men who are for Hmplifyiog government tp their ewe
compreheoffoba will not allow they can conceive that
the fupremc Irgiflstive authority fltall not be paramount
in all things, and taxation being fully comprehended
in legi/htion, they argue, that the power of the one
most acceffatily follow that of the ot her ; and yet jv?
fiad mankind peffiffed of privileges which are not tp be
violated in the rnoft arbitrary countries. The province
of Languedoc is a fluking example tn refutation -cf
da^ripc* re/pqSicg- taxation, which are held by £pch
narrow observers. The kingdom oflreland is sjnptliet
inft.aoce in cur domicoos. There is not one argnmeut
which can apply for exempting Ireland from ia^atioc
by the P^.rJs^mvjrt of Great Britain, that dees not c
qually protect the colonics from ihe power of tuch par
tial j jdges. Every tp.iu fbould now call to fo® rcmem
brancc by what obflinate infatuarico Philip II carnet^
lose the United provinces l Caa it be/uppofed that
a nation so wife ar Spain was at that time,that co ma^
perceived the injustice and (utility pf the wseafcre jri
dlfputc ? But I can eafiiy suppose, from the pride of^
auihority where our vanity is fa much Bartered, thas
no man durst veoture a proposition for receding frossj
that crud meafure.after it had beenrefifled by violence.
These -are the general beads. ,
The particular objections to the Bill are firft for con
tinuing the puo’fomcnt “ uniil fatisfsdion fliallbe made
Jo the India Company,” without ftaiiog the #mount,os
what that fatisfaftion fell! be. Ncjtt, “ until peace &
good order foa 11 be certified to be refl-pred)” when, js
is impo/ffble as ro. the fuhiedt in dispute that fueff cer
tificate can never be granted, becs-nfe t£ic cuflom hpufe
officers are removed, and all frade and commence
bibited,
The numerous difpntcs and litigations vvhicb
necessarily ari/c io carrying this law into execuijop, pn
esqiradt made by parties befor? they could be apprised
of ir, and the difpatcb of (hips in harbour, pndef fffc
limited timp, without soy cxccpdap for the dpferiipA!
of fcamen, or wind and weather, is altogether roclap
choly to coefider 1 The power given to the Admiral
or Chief Cnm'hssodcr ro o/dcr the (tjips /etpuoing ^rops
foreign voyages, to (pch stations as be foall direct it
wild, vexatious, and indefinite;. That ©f permittfog
his Majcfty to alter the value of all the property i«j
the town of Boston upoo reftcring the ?ort, by tffixfog
such qiays and wharfs as hr onl^: foall appoint fa
landing and E pping of goods, is liable to foeb rnifje
prefeutation and abate, that I expeft to fee every evil
fellow the excrcife of it, and it must create ipffpit^:
jealoafies and diftraftioo iipoog the people.
I am thefore of opinion, that this Bill, both fropa
the principle and manner in which it has been passed,
and from sere running the general I'egolations that a.rs
intended, and which eugbt at foaft to accompany it s
inflead of quieting the diAptmincet in Boston. it wiU
promo'ethem flill further,and induce the inhabit ant str;
cut off all communication w;th your (hips of war,which
may be produ&iveof mutual boftilities, and pw
bably will end io a general revolt;
LONDON, April 5.
The public may be assured, fays a correfpcndent, that
the appointment pf General Gage to the -government
of the Massachusetts Bay proceeds entirely from
goodness of ihe King. His Majcfly is convinced of the
impropriety oi offering a person to preside over a pro
vince, who has by his wicked attempts to deftrey the
happioeb of Eis good fubjefts there, entirely loft thej?
confidence.
Every attempt o> the mother country tp oblige t,h^
Americas <0 contribute towards the public foppoxh
will be fruitlefs and ineffcfiual, unlcfs we can at -the
Lme titre persuade them that they enjoy those benefit?
in common with ihe rest of their fellow fubjefis, which
are foppofed to be the purchase of public burdens. W 5
may dragoon them for a while into an extorted obedi
ence ; Lit men will be do longer Caves than they
arc ignor ant cf ths or Want of ability, tp
thtmftlrcs.