The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-02
NO. 296.

,l,uos was pronounced +" the rawlings of
rarcol of wild enthusiasts"
PIThns in those days spoke the partlsans OF
no S,amp Act. But their weakness soon be-
W. hr,ne manifest. In the face of an awakened
'a lmnmunity. where discussion has free scope,
'o"' non though surrounded by Office and
n,,I,h can long sustain injustice. Earth,
,sster. nature, they may subdue; but Truth
Wv cannot subdue Subtle and mighty,
.,,inst all efforts and devices, IL fills every re-
ann of light, with its majestic presence. Inc
S,.mp Act was discussed and understood. It's
,,olation of constitutional rights was exposed.
Ry resolutions of Legislatures and oil town
meetings, by speeches and writings, by public
assemblies aud professions, the country was
nlred in peaceful phalanx against the ereeu-
t;on of the .fct To this great object, within
the bounds of law and the constitution, were
hsnt all the patriot energies OF the land
And here Boston took the lead. Her rec
,,ls at this time are full OF proud memorials.
In formal instructions to her representatives,
aJonted unanimously, " having been read sew
araI times" in Town Meeting at FaneuIl Hall,
the following rule Of conduct was prescribed:
We therefore. think it our Indispensable duty, in
Lattice TO ourselves and Posterty as It is our un-
J1nbted Privilege in the most open and unreseryed'
Nv, decent and respectful Terms to declare our
.ro.tcs Dissatisfaction with this Law. And t0e fhtA
e;~rag7brm uyon y0u be- Means 10 1oin ." any
LIZ, Measures for coHRtsRancing ami ASSISTING ."
i5 ,,,rtioR Of The same. But to use your best en-
I.,rs in the General Assembly to have the lnhe-
u inaIienable Rights of the People OF this Province
n and yindicated and left upon the public rec
al that Postcrity may never have reason TO charge
tbe present Times with the Guilt OF tamely CIV
ing them away O.
Virginia responded TO Boston. Many other
iustices of the peace surrendered their commits
sions rather than aid in the enforcement OF
tho law or be instrumental in the overthrow OF
their country's liberties"
AS the opposition deepened, It's natural ten
daocy was TO outbreak and violence. But thus
was carefully restrained. On one occasion IN
pos,on il showed itself in the lawlessness Of a
,noh Put the town, At a public meeting in
TonorI Hall called without delay on the mo
non of the opponents of the Stamp Act, with
James OGs as chairman, condemned the out
roge Eager in hostility 10 The execution OF
he Act Boston cherished municipal order,
and constantly discOuntenanced all tumult, VIC
Jeoce. and illegal proceedings. Her equal de-
yotion TO these two objects drew the praises
and congratulations of other towns. In reply,
March 9th. l766, TO an Address from the
inhabitants OF Plymouth, her own conscious
ness of duty done is thus expressed:
1.-THE inhabitants of Boston have taken the legal
and payrgRta5f measures yteUsNt thai Riisf0rtUns
of III OtbGS tie most TO be dTtaded, the erecHtt0n Of
tL5 Stqmp Act, and q necessary means of prevent
ing it have made any spirited applications for open
ing the custom houses and courts of justice if at
hS same time they haOe bOr7n thar testimony against
outrageous tnmuits and illegal proceedings, and
given any example of the Love of Peace and good
der next to the consciousness of having done their
duty is the satisfaction of meeting with the approba-
ton of any of their ellowcountrymen."
Learn now from the Diary of John Adams
the results of this system:
The year 1865 has been the most remarkable year
Of my life That enormous engine, fabricated by the
British Parliament, for battering down all the rights
and liberties of America-I mean the Stamp Act
has raised and spread through the whole continent
spirit that will be recorded to honor with all flu
ture generations. In every Colony, from Georgia to
New Hampshire inclusyely the stamp distributors
and inspectors have been compelled by the uncon-
Juerable rage of the people to renounce their Offices
Such and universal has been the resentment of the
people that every man who has dared to speak in
favor of the stamps or to soften the detestation in
which they held, how great soever his abilities
and virtues had been esteemed before, or whatever
his fortune connections, and influence had been, has
been seen To SINK into universal contempt ana lg-
nOminy
The Stamp Act became dead letter. AT
the meeting of Parliament numerous petitions
were presented, calling for its instant repeal.
franklin, at that time in England, while Civ
ing his famous testimony before the House of
Commons. was asked whether he thought the
people of America would submit to the Stamp
Act if modified. His emphatic response was :
mo, never, unless compelled by force of
arms" Chatham, yet weak with disease, but
mighty in eoguence, exclaimed in ever-mem-
orable words: " We are told America is obst-
nae-Amerlca is almost IN open rebellion.
Sir, IrjOice that .Aaerica has resisted. Three
millions of people 50 dead TO all the feelings
OF liberty, as voluntarily to submit to be
slaves, would have been fit instruments to
make slaves of all the rest The Ameri-
cans have been wronged; they have been
driven to madness. will beg leave to tell
the House in few words what is really
lay opinion. is that the Stamp .Act be re
pealsd, absolutely, totally. and immediately" 1t
was repealed. Within less than year from
ITS original passage, denounced and discredited
1t was driven from the Statute Book. In the
charnel-h house of history, with the unclean
things ofdhe Past, it now rots. Thither the
Slave Acts destined to follow.
Sir, regarding the Stamp Act candidly and
cautiously, free from the anmosites of the
time, II is impossible not to see that, though
grayely unconstitutional, it was at most an in
Engagement OF cra liberty only not of persO,ial
HoeHy. There was an uni just tax OF few
pence, with the chances Of amercements by
single Judge without a jury but, by no pro
VISION oil tins Act was the personal liberty OF
any man aSSalled. Under it no freeman could
ne Selzed as a slave. Such an act, though
Justly obnoxious 10 every lover of consttuv
uonal Liberty, cannot be viewed with the
feelings OF repugnanee, enkindled by a statute,
winch assalls the personal liberty of every man,
ana under which any freeman may be seized as
save: Sir. IN placing the Stamp Act by the
SIDE OF the Slave Act, do injustice to that
e'nanauon OF British tyranny. Both, indeed,
Infringe important rights; one Of property !;
one other The vital right of all, which is to
o,her rights as the soul to the body-the right
man 10 himself. Both are condemned but
t'en relative condemnation must be measured
Wy uielr relative characters. As Freedom is
''I 'ndh property; as Man is above the dol
idf mai he earns as Heaven 10 which we
all aspire. IS higher than the earth. where every
accumulation Of wealth mus, ever remain 81
'ie ,'gh's aSsalled by an American Con
D., D. n'gneI man those once assailed by the
n''uSh rafi'ament. And just in this degree
~, nus history condemn the Slave Actmore than
the Stamp Act.
Ill, ar might here stop. II is enough in this
P'ale anu on Tins occasion to show the uncon-
eo'u'onaity OF tins enactment Your duty
vY'nnences al once. All legislation hostile TO
lie fundamental law Of the land should BIZ re-
Pta'ed without delay. But the argument is
not yet exhausted. Even If this Act could
elaiIn any validity or apology under the Const-
"uoh, which il cannot. 1t lacks that essential
support IN The Public Conscience of The States,
"Iere II rs 10 be enforced, phich is the life Of
~ U0V. and nIthnm irhnh nna LIlr ,n,lsf heoo,nn