The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-09-30

Boston, the arrival of the stamps the shops were
closed the bells of the churches tolled and the has
of the ships hung at half-mast. At Portsmouth, IN
New Hampshire. the bells were tolled, and notice
given to the friends of Liberty to hold themselves
in readiness attend her funeral At New ork
letter was received from Franklin, then IN London,
written the day after the passage OF the Act, IN
which he said: 'sThe of liberty is set" The
obnoxious Act. headed "Folly ofEngland and Ruin
of America, was contemptuously hawked through
the streets. The merchants of New York, inspired
then by Liberty, resolved to import no more goods
from England until the repeal of the Act; and their
example was followed shortly afterwards by the
merchants of Philadelphia and Boston Bodies of
patriots were organized everywhere underline name
of 'Sons of Liberty The orators also spoke.
James Otis with fiery tongue appealed to Magma
Charta.
Of all the States, Yirginia-whose shield bears
the image of Liberty trampling upon chains-frst
declared herself by solemn resolutions, which the
timid thought ''treasonable,' but which found
a response New York followed Massachusetts
came next, speaking by the pen of the inhexlble
Samuel Adams. In Address from the Legisla-
ture to the Governor, the true grounds of oppoSl-
ton to the Stamp Act, coincident with the two
radical objections to the Slave Act, clearly set
forth:
'sYou are pleased to say that the Stamp Act is an
act of Parliament and such ought to be observed
This House, sir, has too great reverence Tor the
Supreme Legislature of the nation, to question ats
presume to adjust the boundaries of the power of
Parliament; but boundaries there undoubtedLy are.
We hope we may, without offence, put your Ex-
cellency in mind of that most grievous sentence of
accommodation solemnly denounced by the
Church in the name of the sacred Trinity, in the
presence of King Henry the Third and the estates
of the realm against all those aoho should make stat
utes OR OBSERVE THEM, BEING MADE, contrary to the
liberties of Magma Charta The Charter of this
province invests the General Assembly with the
PoOsr of making laws for its internal government
and taxation; and this Charter his been for
feited. The Parliament has right to make all laws
within the limits of their own constitution" +
"The people complain that the Act vests a single
judge of Admiralty with power to try and deter
mine their property in controversies arising from
internal concerns, acithout jury, contrary to the
very expression of Magma Charta that no freeman
shall be amerced, but by the oath of good and law
full men OF the vicinage." "We deeply
regret that the Parliament has fit to pass such
an act the Stamp Act; fatter ourselves that
the hardships of it will shortly appear to them in
such light, shall induce them in their wsd 1m
to repealit; the mean time, must beg your Err
ceIlency to crease us from doing anything to assist IN
the execution of it,"
Thus in those days spoke Massachusetts,! The
parallel still proceeds. The unconstitutional Stamp
Act welcomed in the Colonies by the Tories of
that day precisely the unconstitutional Slave Act
has been welcomed by large and imperious numbers
among Hutchinson, at that time Lieutenant
Governor and Judge IN Massachusetts, wrote to
Ministers in England: ''I'he Stamp Act is received
with much decency could be expected 1t
leaves room for evasion, and will execute itself"
Like the judges of day, in charges to grand u-
ries he resolutcly vindicated the Act, and adnon-
ished s'the jurors and the people, to obey. Like
Governors of orrday, Bernard in his speech to the
Legislature of Massachusetts, demanded unreason-
ing submission. 81 shall not,' says this British
Governor, 'enter into any disquisition of the poll
cy of this Act. have only to say it is an act of
the Parliament of Great Britain; and trust that
the supremacy of that Parliament over all the
members of their wide and diffused empire never
was and never will be denied within these walls
Like marshas of our day, the officers of the Gus
toms made application ior military force to as
sist them in the execution of their duty" The
military against the people. British ma jor
of artillery at New York exclaimed, in tones not
unlike those now sometimes heard: ~ will cram
the stamps down their throats with the end of my
sword The elaborate of Massachusetts
"a paper of historic grandeur-drawn by Samuel
Adams, was pronounced ''ihe rawlings of parcel of
wild enthusiasts"
Thus in those days spoke the partizans of the
Stamp Act But their weakness soon became man
ifest. In the face of awakened community
where discussion has free scope, men, though
surrounded by Office, and wealth, can long sustain
injustice Earth, water, nature, they may subdue;
but Truth they cannot subdue Subtle and mighty
of light with its majestic presence. The Stamp
Act was discussed and understood. Its violation
of constitutional rights exposed. by resolu-
tions of Legislatures and of town meetings, by
speeches and writings, by public assemblies and
professions, the country was rallied IN peaceful
phalanx against the execution of the Act. To this
great object, within the bounds of law and the
sitution were bent all the patriot energies of the
land
And here Boston took the lead. Her records at
this time are full of proud memorials In formal
instructions to her representatives. adopted unanl-
mously, s.having been read several times, in Town
Meeting at Faneuii Hall, the following rule of con-
duct prescribed:
ssWe therefore. think it indispensable duty, IN
Justice to ourselves and Posery, it is undoubt
ed Privilege the open and unreserVed but decent
and respectful Terms declare greatest Dissatis-
faction with this Law. And think 1t incumbent up
ON YOU by no Means to Join in any public Measures for
countenancing and assisting in The execution OF the
same But to your best endeavors IN the General
Assembly TO have the inherent inallenable Rights of
the People of this Province asserted and vlndleaed,
and left upon the public record that Posterlty may
have charge the present Times with the
Guilt of tamely giving them away.
Virginia responded to Boston. Many of her
justices of the peace surrendered their commissions
srather than aid in the enforcement of the law be
instrumental in the overthrow of their country g
liberties"
AS the opposition deepened. its natural tenden-
cy was to outbreak and violence But this was
carefully Ail oHt OSCdSioh OOSIOll IL
showed itself in the lawlessness of mob. But
the town, at public meeting in Faneu1l Hall,
called without delay the motion of the opponents
of the Stamp Act, with James Otis Chairman
condemned the outrage. Eager in hostility to th'
execution of the Act, Boston cherished municipal
order, and constantly discountenanced all tumult,
violence, and illegal proceedings Her equal devo-
ton these two objects drew the praises and con-
gratuIaions of other towns. In reply. March 27
1865, to an address from the inhabitants of Pvm.
outh, her own consciousness of duty done is thu s
expressed:
ar the inhabitants of Boston have taken the le
gal and warranted measures to prevent that misfor
tune of all others the most to be dreaded the execu
ton of the Stamp Act and as necessary means Of
preventing it have made any spirited applications fol
opening the custom-houses and c. urts of Justice
f at the time they have borne their testimony
against outrageous tumuts and illegal proceedings
and given any example of the Love OF Peace anc
good order, next to the consciousness of hayino
done their duty is the satisfaction of meeting with
the appreciation of any oftheir fellow-countrymen
Learn now from the Diary of John Adams the
results of this system:
''The year 1765 has been the most remarkable
year of my life. That enormous engine fablicat
ed by the British Parliament, for batterng down all
the rights and liberties of America mean the
Stamp Act-has raised and spread through the
whole continent spirit that will be recorded tc
our honor with all future generations. In every
Colony, from Georgia to New Hampshire inclusive