Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-16
AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
From the New York Express.


ed last night agreoabiy to promise. IN the chape
attached to the New Yo,k University. That spa
csus chapel proved too small for the audience, and
more were present than could find a comfortably,
seat The audience OF the most inlelleciu
nj we have seen numbering, We were glad &c see, a,
many ladies as gentlemen, and all, from appear.
apce. deeply interested IN the subject The lecture
occupied hour and thirty minutes, and TO the
and ali were attentive, as ali would have been, had
il been twice its length. Mr. Sparks manner prov.
ed almost attractive as his subject All, there
fore, distinctly heard all that was said.
At half past seven, soon alter the lecture
commemorative arrangement having first been an.
nouneed from the desk, aud Mr Sparks introduced
to his audience. The subject OF the lecture, II
vas announced, would be-The Causes Of h'
RspoluIiion. Each lecture, II was said, would form
a distinct subject and, therefore, be interesting
itself The subject was entered upon 1t the begin
ming Of the settlement Of the English Colonies, anG
the charters given them by the King of Eng land
The rights under which Englishmes came here were
briefly stated, and the obedience expected Of the
Colonisis rs English subjects Rhode Island and
Connecticut were the only Colonies exempt from
sending the laws OF their Assembly over TO Eng
land for approval by Great Britain; and this ex-
snption from literal Interpretation OF the two
charters, and not from any intended fayoriism on
the part of the mother country. The letter Of the
Law did not require the sancIlor, and the letter and
not the spirit was the Interpretation. All the other
coonists were obliged to have the laws OF their
sembles approved before they could become laws
in force. The veto power was among the rights
more modern times, as the speaker remarked, It had
proved a Of great trouble. As no law cou ID
90 into effee; until approved in England, the laws
were evaded by resolutions adopted by the Colonial
Assemblies, which had the effect of laws In time,
and under Cromwell, for the reason that Dalcil
vessels absorbed the colonial trade the Navigation
4 Ct was passed. The law declared that English
ships should have the carrying trade and that En-.
sI;sh Capains should be commanders OF the yeSSel Is
employed. In furtherance OF this proscrip;ire 20
lcy IL was also declared that these vessels should
touch at English Ports, and pay duty upon the
goods carried. The same spirit was manifested in
Teference 10 manufactured goods. As well
Known, there was iron in America, but the Eng Ish
here were allowed only TO Smelt II. No iorges
could be erected, and no iron Manufactured IN o
steel. The material was sent 10 England, there
manufactured aid then reshiPPed to the Colonies.
For the reason. however, that general feeling OF
dependence pervIded the People there was little or
no complaint at this. / was regarded IN the light
of proper compensation due the mother country.
Lord Chatham estimated the benefits resulting 10
England from the Colonial Trade, IN money at
f2OO00O0
The poll tax recommended by Gov. Dinwddie
Of Virginia, was spoken OF, ana the consultations
and correspondence between franklin and Gov.
Shirley IN Boston, upon the subject of the Colonies
In 1854 F-snkn proposed union of the Colonies
for the resistance Of the French, and upon the queS
ton Of taxation for the support OF the war took the
same ground that taken afterwards IN refer
ence 10 the Stamp Act. No people, II was declar-
ed should be taxed without their consent. They
could only tax themselves through their Repressn'
tatives
The French war soon after broke out, and con-
tnued nine years. From Canada To Florida 1t was
a severe and bloody war, employing $4,000 men,
half colonsts and half regular soldiers. The Royal
prerogative was at this time phantom which alarm
ed the Governors. Towards the expenses OF the
war Parliament paid E2O0,600 year during its
continuance. The war ended IN 1861, and until
now there had been no attempt TO tax the colonies.
The policy had been TO derive benefit irom them by
trade, and through the enormous prohts obtained
by acquisitions. These avs and requisliions on
the part of the Colonial Assemblies were regarded
free gifts, and they were considered matter be-
tween the King and Parliament
The Assemblies held the same relationship to the
King that the Parliament did at home.
After the peace OF '63, new system was begun
and in '64 the Sugar Act passed, 10 place fur
Their restrictions upon the colonial trade, Lord
Grenve, at that lime the Minister, gave notice
also Of his intention TO introduce the Stamp Act -
The announcement created q great alarm IN Eng
land. Massachusetts was the first to act on that
subject the Legislature being then in session. Re-
solutions adopted there ~ opposition, and
soon in New York, which were OF 50 strong
character that no man was found 10 Parliament
willing 10 present them. The Stamp Act follow
ed carried by large vote, but nevertheless resist
ed by small minority, and among them by Col
Barre, who had formerly served IN America, and
who vas a sincere friend TO the country. In his
speech which was one Of the most remarkable OF
an character delivered, he took
ground in defence of liberty, and used the term
"Sons of Liberty" which afterwards so en-
Enthusiastically adopted by the coonIsts themselves
The Stamp Act imposed duty upon every piece
Of psper-upon warrants, licenses, deeds, bonds,
checks mortgages, newspapers, almanacs, adVer-
tisements, &c. Advertisements paid shIings and
some small pieces OF paper ElO. Pamphlets paid
more duty than their original cost. The per was
stamped in England and sent 10 the colonies with
Stamp Commissioners appointed by the Crown.
These commissioners were only located IN the large
towns, and those who lived at u distance were com.
PEELED TO send or come TO the commissioner to OBJ
tain even the smallest piece OF paper.
The resistance to this tax was eoqUently com.
mented upon by the lecturer. IL was spoken Of as
the only case IN the world where an abstract ques-
ton of prncipis had been successfully sustained.
The reasons of Great Britain for the imposition OF
this tax were next considered. The right was de-
cared upon the ground that Eng land supported the
colonies whereas The contrary was the TACT IN every
instance, except in the case OF Georgia. The colo.
MES even sustained the expenses OF the war which
England created. The right to tax was an assumed
one, aud the colonies prayed and entreated TO be
left alone, offering support when it was needed but
asking none for their own defence.
The People, IN time, compel ed the Stamp Com
rnissioncrs TO resign, and the stamped paper was
treated as a peslence kept on board OF armed yes.
sels and never landed. The bells were toiled upon
the day apart for its enforcement, and unIver
sal gloom pervaded the land.
In Eng land there was, in the mean time, change
Of Ministry. Grenviile was succeeded by the Mar
quis Of Rockingham; colonial questions fortunately
became party questions, as II increased the number
Of the friends Of America IN Parliament. Franklin
wac in England ard summoned before Parliament
without pfemeJatIon, or knowing what questions
were 20 he put 10 him; he answered promptly and
fearlessly, and tie event may be regarded OF
the noblest in the life Of the When asked If
the colonies would pay, his answer was mo, nsy-
err unless compelled by force !" When asked If
Assemblies would not rescind their resolutions the
same response was given. The questions put 10
Franklin ~ conclusion Of the examination we're TWO:
first
Question.-Whnt used to be the pride Of Amer
icnns7
Answer-To initiate tie fashions, and wear the
dresses Of England
Question.-What is the pride Of Americans
Answer.-To wear their old clothes until they
can make new ones tAppIause.l
The repeal Of the Stamp Act followed, and the
OBSERVATORY Act was substituted, Ivy which Para-
ment declared that IL had the right TO pass what
laws they pleased. IL was durng this discussion
that the Earl Of Chatham declared, 81 am gad
America has resisted" and that Lord Mansfield de.
elared thut "the Doclaratory Act meant no'hingi'
The ministry, to punish such bold audacity on the
part Of the friends Of the Coonisis resolved To try
another experiment; nnd TO this end they passed an
act declaring that paper, glass, and ten should pay
duty. II was the Stamp Act m principle. Anoth-
er act Of Parliament was % separate the Governor
from the Assembly, and n pay his salary from the
revenue derived from the tar upon articles again t
which there were objections. Another net was that
the Assembly should provide quarters for the army,
double grievance; first, In the act ITSELF and, Sc
eondly, in the establishment Of o standing army.
There was deep feeling every where but less Of
gioisnce than could have been expected. Tie psO.
rfr IsGtrr their AeaprphHes and unrrffpg IN