The daily union., 1852-09-29

miraliy without jury. The stamp act, now exeera,ei
oy all lovers OF liberty had this extent and no more LIS
passage was The signal for general fame of opnosi,ion
and Indignation throughout the colonies Ii was de-
nounced as contrary TO the British constitution on two
principal grounds-Erst, usurpation by Parliament
Of powers not belonging IT, and an inrac,on of rights
secured 10 The colonies; and secondly denial OF
ulai oy Jury IN certain cases OF property.
Inc rublc feeling variously expressed AT Boz
on' on the arrival OF the stamps the shops closed
me bells OF the churches olled and the flags OF she
Hapmn.hs Hps hans "a, al hali, mast AZ Portsmouth, in New
trends o liberty TO hold themselves in readiness 10 al
lend her funeral Al New York letter was received
from Franklin, then IN London, written the day after
nnoerly y set" The obnoxious act, headed /" Folly o
England 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
ne merchants Of Philadelphia and Boston. Bodies o.
Sons Of Liberty" The orators also spoke James
ons, with fiery tongue appealed TO Magaa Charla
vi all me States virgnla-whose shield bears the i'm
age OF liberty trampng upon chansfrst declared her.
self by solemn resolutions, which the tmid thought
reasonable" but which found a response New
YORK followed Massachusetts came next, speaking by
the pen OF The inhexble Samuel Adams in an ad
dress from the Legislature TO the governor The true
grounds OF opposition TO the stamp act concident with
sci forth:
Parliament, and as such ought be observed Tns House
s mas TOO great reverence for the supreme legislature Of
appeains to us 10 presume adjust the boundaries of the
power o. pariament but boundaries there undoubtedly
ency in mind most grevons sentence of excommn
ncaton soemny denounced by the church in the ma
III and the estates OF the rcan against all those who
shonid make statutes observe being made contra
province invests the general assembly with The power Of
maRhg @ l laws ,o s Internal government and taxation ;
has right to make all laws within the limits of their
constitution, Ion SUI , !" The people complain that
Try and determine their property ia arising
from internal concerns without jury, contrary the very
but the oath Of @ S9od and lawful men Of the
We haer ourselves thai the hardsh of will shortly ap.
pear 70 them IN such light as shall induce them in their
excellency 10 excuse from doing anything in
the execution OF H."
Thus in those days spoke Massachusetts,! The par
allel still proceeds The unconstitutional stamp ACT was
welcomed IN the colonies by the tories of that day pre-
csely as the unconstitutional slave has been well
coined by large and mperious numbers among
Hutchinson, al that time euenan, governor and Judge
IN massachusetts, wrote TO ministers in England:
"The stamp act is received with as much decencv as
could be expected leaves room for evasion, and viii
execute itself"
Like the judges of day. in charges to grand juries
he resoluely vlndcated the act and admonshed sthe
Jurors and the people" 10 obey Like governors Of our
day, Bernard his speech to the legislature of Massa
chusetts, demanded unreasoning submission. 81 shall
no says this British governor, 'ener into any disqui-
son oil the policy OF this act have only say il is
an act OF the Parliament of Great Britain and trust
that the supremacy OF that Parliament all the mem.
bers OF their wide and dfused empire never was and
never will be denied within these walls" Like mar
shas OF our day, the officers OF the customs made app-
cation Tor military force TO assist them in the execution
OF lhsiF duty The military were against the people
ihe British major OF artillery at New York exclaimed
IN tones not unlike those sometimes heard al will
cram The stamps down their hroats with the end OF my
sword. he elaborate answer OF Massachusetts-a
paper oil bistoric grandeur-drawn by Samuel Adams,
was pronounced "the rawlings of parcel of wild en-
ihusiasts.p
Thus in those days spoke The partsans of the stamp
ACT bat Their weakness became manifest In the
lace o an awakened community, where discussion has
Tree scope, no men, though surrounded by office and
wealth. can long sustain injustice. Earth. water, Ma.
tnre, they may subdne; bat trsh they cannot subdue
Subtle and mighty, against all efforts and devices ii I'll,
every region OF ligh, with i,s majestic presence The
sanp acl was discussed and understood. Its violation of
constitutional rights exposed. By resolutions of
legislatures and o town meetings, by speeches and wr.
hnss W public assemblies and professions, the country
was rallied in peaceful phaanx against The execution OF
the act To this great object within the bounds OF law
the land.
ume afe iul OF proud memorials. In formal instructions
10 her representatives, adopted unanimously, "having
been read several times" in town meeting at Faneu
HAIL. the following rule oI conduct was prescribed:
justice 70 ourselves and posleEiiy, It undoub,d
privilege, IN the and nnreseyved bu decent and
respectful terms, 10 declare our greatest dissatisfaction
lhs law. And we think IL Incumbent upon you by no
means 70 lpn IN any public measures Tor counenancnR
and assisting Ia the execution Of the saue use yout
Oest endeuyo Ia the general assembly have the
rent lussnnbe rights OF the people OF this province as
serted and indicated, and left upon the public record
poseritg may never have charge the present
times with the guilt Of amely giving them away"
Virginia responded TO RosoR. Many OF her justices OF
the peace surrendered their commissions "aiher than
AID IN the enforcement OF the law or be instrumental in
The overthrow OF their country's liberties"
AS The opposition deepened its natural tendency was
10 outbreak and violence But this was carefully re-
strained On one occasion In Boston il showed itself in
the lawlessness OF mob. But the town, at a public
meeting in Faneu Hail. called without delay on the mo-
lion OF the opponents OF the stamp act, with James OTIS
chairman, condemned The outrage Eager in hostility
10 the execution Of ibe act Boston cherished municipal
order, and constantly ds,oun,enanced all tumul vio
ence, and illegal proceedings Her equal devotion 10
these two objects drew the praises and congratulations
oil other towns. ln reply March 27h i776 TO an ad.
dress from the inhabitants of Plymouth her own con.
sclousness Of daiy done is thus expressed
"lfthe Inhabitants OF Boston have taken the legal and
Waranlabe measures 10 prevent that misfortune all
olefs me most 70 be dreaded the execution Of stamp
act and rs necessary means OF preventing have made
any spirited applications fJr opening the custom
aud courts OF sce ~ at the iime they have borne
metz testimony against outrageous unuls and Illegal pro.
cee1ne and given any example OF The love OF peace and
good order next TO the ousness having done their
duty s me satisfaction Of meeting with the APPRECIATION OF
any OF their fellow countrYIaen."
Learn now from the Diary OF John Adams the results
OF this s. STEM
The year 1865 has been laa remarkable year OF
my life That enormous engine, labca ted by the British
Parliament, for bstterns down all the rights and liberties