The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-11-16

sion established by this body, but that of
labor likewise. which was the highest either
TO be demanded or given. 1t was voted,
moreover, that violation Of these resolves.
in the present situation Of public affairs,
was sc crime Of the deepest dye" Any
person or persons who should violate them
in any way, either by buying or selling,
except in those places whose inhabitants
had not yet adopted the measures, were to
be exposed TO inlamy, according to the u
nanimous resolves of the convention. The
penalty assigned them was to have their
names published by q" the committee of thir-
teen," in the Boston newspapers, d" that the
public, knowing the facts, might abstain
from all trade and conversation with them,
and the people at large i'fict upOn him
that punishment aOhich Such lUretcheS de-
SerUe ~ These are the very words of one
of the resolutions, and are plainly an en-
couragement of mobs and Lynch law. A
fine specimen Of the wisdom and modera-
ton Of our ancestors
1t should, moreover, be deemed infamous
for any one 10 trade or hold any intercourse
or conversation with such persons. 1t was
likewise voted that It was the duty OF every
citizen to keep a vigilant eye upon his
neighbor, that any infringement Of the reso-
lutions aforesaid might be prevented. The
committee further reported that the inh abb
tants, in all their perchases Of meat, buy
by tile po'o1d and not By the quarter, as
the latter mode was an inlet to great eva
sions, and might elude the salutsry purpo-
ses in view, Such were the additional re-
solves Of the convention after they had fix
cd tie prices OF all articles of merchandise
and produce.
1t may well be supposed that such laws
met with no very cordial appreciation a
mong the merchant aud large dealers, A
great deal of violent opposition was made to
them by many individuals in different parts
of the country. Among the disafected was
a merchant of the town of Boston, an extern
sive importer Of goods. named Thomas
Boylston. He is said to have been very
honorable and upright citizen, warm friend
to the revelation, and well-wshcr to the
political cause of the young republic. But
the proceedings of the convention affected
his interest very seriously; he became
greatly exasperated Immediately shut up
his stores, and declared his intention Of
selling nothing at all hereafter, until the
maximum laws were annuled. He was
steady and unalterable in his purpose, and
being one of the most noted merchants in
the place, his resolution occasioned great
burst of indignation among the people.
Mr.. Boylston, among other articles, had
considerable quantities Of coffee in his store
which was, at that time, in great demand.
The imposibility of obtaining this article by
purchase; no less than the unpatrlotic reso-
lutions and obstinacy of the owner, particu-
larly excited the indignation of certain wo-
men Of the town of Boston. They imme-
diately determined to punish the offender,
agreeably to the implied recommendation
in that clause Of one oftne convention re-
solves, which says in relation 10 such per-
sons, " that the people at large may inAict
upon them that punishment which such
wretches deserve" The most prominent
individual among these indignant women,
was one Mother Coulter, who kept a sal
lOr's boarding house. She was a woman
of very masculine habits, and great bodily
strength, and agreed to lead the women, if
they would assemble and take satisfaction.
She assembled them together, accordingly
and stirred them up to inaict punishment
upon this rebelIous merchant. They re-
solved, with her for their leader, to break
open MI. BoyIston's store, and take forcible
possession of the coffee. "The men," ex-
claimed Mother Coulter, " have had their
tea-party and now the women will have
their coA'ee-party !"