Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-07-26

necessity came for the defence Of her
rights.
IL would seem ihs, George III might
have anticipated resistance. the fearless
and successful Assistance which awaited
him. when he chose out this people as the
best prepared Tor submission To the exer-
else of his oppressive measures. lts.rkcs
US with surprise that he could have ina
gined j, possible 20 compel them
Ito close their lips with ser'ile awe"
Wills, he was making DANCE rous enc:oach-
ments upon them. The most OF Them were
Englishmen by birth, and ,:was not an their
nature 10 become the passive objects Of a
wsnton attempt to deprive them Of their
b,rlh-righ,s; they were not the proper
-!aisTidI 10 be wrought into wronged aid
deienceless dependents. They would
not. they durstnot submit to the operation
OF laws obviously unjust and unconsiIiu-
tional; and when they saw that a manly
opposition TO such laws provoked the ty-
rant To the violation OF their charters. To
the destruction Of all that, as men worthy
of the name Of Englishmcn. they were
bound TO defend; when they saw him in
blind and obstinate fury invoking
Mad sm billions CORY hand,
Ito send, like blood hounds, from the slip,
"wo. want. and murder DER their lind"
the link was broken which bound the. TO
England.
As CoIonists Of England. these step
children showed no Impotence 10 inicr-
Iupt The peaceful relations existing be-
tween themselves and the land Of their
nativity; they did not object 10 the rcqui-
si,ion shat they should trade exclusively
with her; they yielded obedience 30 her
commercial laws, they were not exact in
dihning the extent OF the power OF Par
| lament over them about matters IN which,
| without mourning too gr>at sacrifice OF
their righn and privileges, they might
/ bow TO ITS authoIty-ihcy gave no proof
! Of the existence of stubborn. insubordi.
| nate spirit. Bot they did determine 10
( resist when Lord North disreGarding one
/ Of the most firmly established principles
/ Of the British Constitution, attempted g.
force iuto execution among them 4 law
requiring them 10 pay certain taxes, which
law had been enacted by legislative 30.
/ dv irresponsible 10 them. IN v Inch they
had no representation and no voice. =
Such body had no night 10 lay taxes on
them.
Here was matter in which submission
would have been political ruin; convinced
Of this, the first instance OF their opposl.
lion was neither timid nor wayer'ns-
they were indignant that scheme 50
Subvcrsive Of :heir rights aud so ominou,
Of future oppression should have teen dc
yised, they were prompt and peromrto'
~ IN their rejection Of II.
The Statesmen Of the day, and none
more efficiently than our own Lee ant
Henry, signalized themselves by their ei
forts 10 prevent the successful operation
of the STAMP Act" They explained
70 the people its nature and tendency
they dwell on rs unconSiItu,iOnaliiy,
many unanswerablc Arguments were e.
ven that proved tito be 10 unjust: memo
rals and circumstances were sent ACROSS
the Atlantic, and at length the NEac,in-
clause Of that Statute was repealed. Bu
that gave the Coloul,'s no triumph, nc
security, for the British Parliament sui
claimed and declared II had the right e
tax tho Colonies.
Unfortunately for Great Britain her Cab
met still cherished the anticipation O
raising revenue from the American De
pcnGcacIcs; and, ia accordance with tn
i!ea, another obnoxious Act was speedily
passed laying duties on certain oommodi
ties that were imported INTO America -
a proof Of a determination to carry thi
Act INFO execution was 70 be found ~ ID,
establishment Of cusiom-houses IN Boi'on
These measures gave rise 90 angry dis
cussion and aroused the feelings of ~,
embryo Republicans 10 4 high degree q
excitement. They knew that submrsioi
to taxation in this shape would doom thci
property prey 20 Euelish fapaci'y; TIC,
knew that It would open the way 90
variety of oppression m their fiscal con
Germs. No matter how urimpofiant o.
particular might &c IA which IT was o,
tempted 10 carry out the iuilu,iouS rrin
oiplc. whether as tax on stamped "a
per. or duty on tea rs injustice coal
not be CLOSED over destruction could Oh
be rendered pslaiablc ~ cap ol tea
The eNcltemcutamongi The people caus
cd them 10 meet together 10 rchcafrc ihei
grievances and devise mean, q redfrs'
To suppress these popular meetings ih
British Government STATIONED troops o.
Boston The sdvoca'cs e liberal con
druction Of The British Constitution coul
not tail - behold 1i'h hostile and Jcalyu
eyes The ready ins'rumcnts-ff'Tfaruv e.
The inevitable alierostions between lhrs
were the cause Of blonIshcd. Tie ,ril
ing Of the fret drop Of American bloc
by an English soldier. went fsf toward
, destroying the hope - reconciliation
burning deslre fof recoufie 90 arms O.,
. came daily manifest or th,s SIDE % o.
Atlantic This desire SWEPT over -
, bounds II restraint when thc Bosio
. Port Act. and tie repeal u Nc Cili'
Of Mauachuse'ts came 20 complete 81
! Catalogue Of shameful Efforts TO wtesi a.
. property Of the people from their hand
Z 10 o,crsvs aud humble them, 90 lea,
. them nothing bot scriliy and dcg.ad
h ton 90 hand down % their children o.
! These act were fatal 90 ihe Authority
y Great Bnts,n among the Colonies.
The American rforle would vtiiirg