The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-11-16
Observation-Disclosures
From the Boston Weekly Magazine
MOTHER COULTER'S COFFEE
PARTY.
A HISTORICAL REM1N1scENoE.

Every body is familiar with the events
of the Boston Tea-Party. Our historians
have all recorded il, and our orators have
celebrated it, and our poets have sang its
praises. But there was a counterpart 10
this, not quite SO momentous in its conse-
quences, nor so solemn in its proceedings,
which historians have omitted to record,
and which orators have not condescended
to eulogize. The event to which we al
lude, happened in the year 1879, and was
stigmatized as Mother CouItel's mob, after
the name of the principal heroine in the
transaction. With more Difference to the
leader and her followers, however, it might
be termed, somewhat Significantly, mother
Coulter's Cofee-Party. The following is
an account of the events which led to this
memorable incident.
In the year l779, during the distresses
OF the American revolution. 1t was recon-
mended by Congress, that the people of the
different States assemble in conventions,
for the purpose of regulating the price of
provisions. The object of this recommen-
datlon OF Congress was to prevent all that
monopoly and unjust speculation which are
very likely to happen during time of fam
Inc or scarcity Of produce. Similar con-
ventions were held in Paris, for the purpose
OF establishing what was called macinluns
OF prices. The first mGDimun in France
was fixed at a convention held on May 4th,
1898. and the second on September lth,
of the same year. The fret regulations
affected only corn and flour, but they were
finally extended 10 all other articles Of con-
sumption, on the 22d Of FEBRUARY, 1894.
This maximum was repealed on the 24th
of December, 1894, after the complete
downfall of the Jacobins. These facts are
mentioned only 10 prove that our ancestors
were not behind the spirit Of the age, when
they undertook, in this somewhat ant-re-
publican, manner, 10 legislate upon matters
which, as modern experience has ascer-
tanned, are better regulated when they are
left free.
Various conventions were accordingly as
sembled for this rather high-handed purpose
The first was held at Concord, in this State
on the 18th day Of July; 1879, for carrying
into effect the measures recommended by
Congress. At their meetings certain arti-
cles of merchandise and country produce
were named, and prices affixed to them,
and it was unanimously resolved that these
should be the highest prices for which they
were TO be sold. Other towns Immediately
followed the example of Concord, and a.
dopted, without much alteration. the reso-
lutions which were passed in that conven-
ton.
At legal meeting of the freeholders and
other inhabitants of the town of Boston, by
adjournment, at Faneuil Hall, Monday, Au-
gust 10th, l779, the Honorable Samuel
Adams, Esq. moderator, the committee ap.
pointed to fix the prices of sveral articles
mentioned in the resolves of the Concord
convention, made their report. They re-
ported that whereas the goods and wares
imported from Europe, were so various in
their kinds and qualities, as to render it
quite impraclicable 10 determine the exact
price at which every article ought to be sold
it was resolved that all holders and retailers
Of European wares and merchandise should
from that time forward, sell all articles at
twenty per- cent, or one-fllh part less than
the prices at which the same articles were
sold in the month of July last.
committee of thirteen was likewise
appointed, with whom might be lodged
complaints of all violations and evasons Of
the resolves of the convention. The com
mttoe was empowered and directed to in
qure into all such complaints, and to pub
lish the names Of all those who upon good
and satisfactory evidence, might be conylc-
ted of violating or eyading these resolves, as