New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-05-19
ioolitical zDistorp.-No. XIX.
PREPARED 70, The Tdbnne b, EDvls WILLIAMS.

Proceepzs Of tN B-,E 'tossanc' on Aiosan IN 'r o
i-s p,oy,Hcisi Goyerrrooats dunng the Revolution
Wings and Tories Confederation ard Ger,
nor. :. ". shinrtoHs Administration and IN,T.''f-"h
TIE repeal Of the Stamp Act by the British
Parliament was not attended with as favorable re-
suits as were hoped for and expected IN America
Previous to the repeal, which was brought about
by the short-livcd Rockingham administration
the opposition by the Colonies to the supremacy
Of Parliament created deep feeling IN England
The proceedings Of the House Of Representatives
Of Massachusetts, IN which they had recommend
ed the measure of convcning general Congress
r,f the Colonies IN 1865, had been laid before the
Board of Trade That body in presenting the
sone IN the King. say, /" as this appears to us to
be the frs, instance of general Congress ap-
pointed by the Assemblies Of the Colonies with
out the authority Of the Grown; measure winch
we conccice of dangerous tendency1n 1tseif. and,
more especially So when taken for the purposes
expressed in the resolution, and connected WIN
fhc spirit that has appeared throughout the whole
conduct of this particular Assembly we think II
our indispensable duty to submit tins matter 10
your Majesty's consideration
InJanuary, 1866, the American papers relating
to the disturbances in the Colonies were laid be
fore the House OF Commons; and or the 2nl
the petition Of the American Congress was Offered
to the House. Several objections 10 receiving /,
were immediately made; among them were these
thatft came from an unauthorized and unconstI-
tutional Assembly that to receive petition from
persons thus Assembled without royal authority
would give countenancc to such illegal meetings
in future that the petitioners denied the right OF
Parliament to impose taxes, and questioned even
aheir right to lay duties for the regulation OF trade
thus striking at the very vitals OF legislative
authority and strongly pointing TO state lnde
pendent of the mother country.
The ministers were unwilling to admit the pc
t,ion but were not disposed 10 give IT a direct
negative They expressed wish that the mo-
zion made for leave TO have II read and referred to
a committee should be withdrawn; but this not
being readily complied with, the order OF the day
was called for and carried and thus was the pc
tition from the United Colonies of America IN
shis sidc-way manner disposed of.
Although the ministry had determined 10 repeal
rhe Stamp Act, they first introduced resolutions
asserting in the most unqualified manner the alb
souc supremacy of Parliament over the colonies.
These resolutions were agreed to by the House
in February and the repeal of the Stamp Act
soon followed being carried in the House OF
Commons $50 TO l22, and IN the House OF LORDS
iO5 10 Il and on the 18th of March IT received
the royal assent.
A change III the British Ministry took place
July l166 when the administration OF the Mar
aus Of Rockingham terminated having lasted only
about a year and new cabinet WAS formed
under the direction OF MIR. Pitt. who was then
made Peer, with the title OF Earl OF Chatham,
and took the Privy Seal. The Duke of Grafton
was placed ut the head of the Treasury, Charles
Townsend was made Chancellor OF the En-
cheauer. and Lord North also took Office as one
OF this caeQuercd administration, composed of
10Th Wings and PORES, The scheme of ,aylng
America was revived, and bin imposing du-
lies on glass, paper, pastctoard, white and red
lead, painters coors and tea, brought INTO Par
,inment by Townsend uhe Chancellor OF the
Excheqner.l passed both aouscS wiihou, much
opposi,lon, t,hc Earl 81 Chatham beng then con-
fined bv sickness IN The country , and on the
o9t OF June i16I, II received the illng's assent.
An act was passed soon after this, establishing a
new Board o, Custom House officers IN America.
These acts, with others passed by Parliament,
excited anew the indignation OF the people OF the
Colonies, and although the duties cNccp; that on
tea were repealed III l1.0 the ColoniSts opposed
altogether 10 the principle OF taxation BY parEa-
lncn! could not be satisfied while any law found
cd upon that principle remained IN existence
Hence those disturbances arose which caused
events 10 follow each other IN rapid succession
until open hoSiilities commenced Which finally
led 10 The war OF Independence.
The destruction OF Tea IN Boston Harbog II,
HIS caused the passage, IN l77t, OF the Boston
Port Bal, shutting up the harbor OF Boston and
ell.
mont also passed another act regulating the gov
ernmont OF Massachusetts, the object Of which
was TO alter the charter and Xbridge the hbcrt:cS
Of the colony. Tue Earl of Chatham ana Ed.
m,lnd Burke opposed the passage Of these bills,
but withou, effect, Us they Were carried by large
nlsiorities.
The people Of the other colonies having been
equally opposed TO the importation and landing
OF the tea, made common cause with the people
of Massachusetts,, and IN various ways expressed
their syinpa,hics for the sutfcrings the citizens
OF Boston. The most important event, however,
which grew out OF the popular movements at THIS
time was the meeting of tho Congress Of ia,
which was the commencement; o! that political
system tina. obtained the historical designation OF
8. the old Congress" or The Continental Con
gress," We have seen that the plan of union pro-
posed BY the Albany Congress III 1884 proved
abor,ive. and the result of the Stamp Act Con-
gress OF l765 al New ork was only u few day s
JOINT deiiberaton on the lie of alfairs, and an
adjournment without; any provision for future
meetings.
Prior to LA there had been many Suggestions
of something IKE union OF the colonies through
their representatives IN Congress. Samuel Adams
and Arthur Lee expressed favorable opinions OF
the subject The merit, however of the first pub
lie suggestion Of a Congress in TIA, belongs 10
tho ,own Of Proriaeace, Rsods Island Amer