Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-01

cluson 10 the utterance on this floor, that the
Declaration of Independence is "a self-evdent
lie"
Here might leave the imputations on Massa-
chusetts. But the case Is stronger yet have
referred to the Stamp Act The parallel Is OF
such aptness and Importance, that, though on a
former occasion presented il TO the Senate,
cannot forbear from pressing it again AS the
precise character Of this act may not be familiar
allow me to remind the Senate, that 1t was an
attempt TO draw money from the Colonies through
asstamp tax, while the determination OF certain
questions of forfeiture under the statute was del
egated, not to the courts OF common law, but TO
courts of admiralty without trial by jury. This
act was denounced in the Colonies ut once on its
passage, as contrary to the British Constitution,
on two principal grounds, identical in character
with the two chief grounds on which the Slave
Act is now declared to be unconstitutional; first
as an assumption by Parliament Of powers not
belonging to it, and an infracton OF rights SCI
cured to the Colonies and secondly, as denial
of trial by jury in certain cases of property. On
these grounds the Stamp Act was held to be All
outrage Af1us
The Colonies were aroused against II. Vir-
ginia first declared herself by solemn resolutions
which the timid thought Unreasonable; yes, sir
"treasonable,n even as that word is now applied
to recent manifestations of opinion in Boston
But these reasonable resolutions soon found
a response. New York followed Massachusetts
came next. In an address from the Legislature
to the Governor the true ground of opposition To
the Stamp Act coincident with the two radical
objections to the Slave Act, are clearly set FORTH
with the following pregnant conclusion
We deeply regret that the Parliament has
seen fit to pass such an act as the Stamp Act ;
we fatter ourselves that the hardships OF it will
shortly appear to them in such light as shall
induce them in their wisdom, to repeal it IN
4 he mean time, must beg your Ercelteny 10 err
cuse from doing anything 10 assist IN the ezecu-
tion of IT,"
The Stamp Act was welcomed in the Colonies
by the Tories Of that day, precisely as the uncon
stitutonaI Slave Act has been welcomed by inn
perious numbers among us. Hutchinson, at that
time Lieutenant Governor and judge in Massa-
chnsetts, wrote to Ministers in England;
The Stamp Act is received with rs much de-
cency as could be expected. 1t leaves no room
for evasion, and will execute ITSELF"
Like the judges of our day, in charges to grand
jnres, he resolutely indicated the act, and adj
monished {" the jurors and the people " to obey
Like Governors in our day, Bernard, in his speech
to the Legislature of Massachusetts, demanded
unreasonng submission !" I shall not says this
British Governor, enter into any disquisition Of
the policy Of the act. have only to say it is
act Of the Parliament Of Great Britain" Like
marshals of our day, the officers Of the customs
are recorded as having made application for a
military force to assist them in the execution Of
their duty" The elaborate answer of Massa-
chusetts-a paper which is one of the corner
stones of our history--drawn by Samuel Adams
was pronounced " the rawlings of parcel of wild
enthusiasts" even as recent proceedings in Bos-
ton, resulting in the memorial before you, have
been characterized on this floor. Was not right
in adducing this PARALLEL
The country was aroused against the execution
of the act. And here Boston took the lead. In
formal instructions to her Representatives, adopt
ed unanimously in town meeting at Fancuil Hall,
the following rule Of conduct was prescribeds
We, therefore, think it our indispensable du-
ty, in justice to ourselves and posterty as it is
our undoubted privilege, in the most open and
unreserved, but decent and respectful terms, to
declare our greatest dissatisfaction with this
law Aad sce think IL incumbent upon you by no
means 10 JOIN in any public measures for counie-
aancing and assisting the execution of The same
But to use your best endeavors in the General
Assembly to have the inherent inalienable rights
of the people of this province asserted, and vim
Dictated and left upon the public record, that
posterity may never have reason to charge the
present times with the guilt Of tamely giving
them away
The opposition spread and deepened, and one
of its natural tendencies was to outbreak and
violence. On one occasion in Boston ii showed
itself in the lawessness of mob, of a most for
midable character, even as is now charged. Lib
erty in her struggles is too often driven to force
But the town, at public meeting in Fancui
Hall, called without delay, on the motion of the
opponents of the Stamp Act, with James Otis as
chairman, condemned the outrage. Eager in
hostility to the execution of the act, Boston
cherished municipal order, and constantly dis
.ad NIL viz and
proceedings. On these two grounds she then
stood; and her position was widely recognised.
In reply, March 81, 1885, to an address from the
inhabitants of Plymouth, her own consciousness
of duty done is thus expressed:
If the inhabitants Of Boston have taken The
legdi and srdrrantdJie measures preoent thai
fortune of all Others he most 10 be dreaded the er-
ecution Of the Stamp Act, and as a necessary
means of preventing 1t, have made any spirited
applications for opening the custom houses and
courts Of justice; if, al The same fiDse hey hare
borne Their testimony against outrageous hmulfs
and illegal proceedings, and given any example Of
the love of peace and good order next to the
consciousness Of having done their duty is the
satisfaction of meeting with the appreciation of
any Of their ellow-countrymen.p
Thus was the Stamp Act annulled, even before
its actual repeal, which was pressed with assidu-
ty, by petition and remonstrance, on the next
meeting Of Parliament. Among the potent infiu-
ences was the entire concurrence Of the mer-
chants, and especially remonstrance against
the Stamp Act by the merchants of New York
like that now made against the Slave Act by the
merchants Of Boston. Some asked at first only
for its modification. Even James Otis began
with this moderate desire. The King himself
showed disposition to yield to this extent. But
Franklin who was then in England, when asked
whether the Colonies would submit to the act, il
mtigated in certain particulars, replied: No,
never, unless compelled by force of arms" The
great Commoner, William Pitt, in an ever-mem-
orable speech, uttered words which iitly belong
to this occasion. lie said:
|" Sir, j have been charged with giving birth to
sedition in America. They have spoken their
sentiments with freedom against this unhappy
act, and that freedom has become their crime.
Sorry am to hear the liberty Of speech in this
House imputed as a crime. But the mputation
shall not discourage me- II is liberty mean
to exercise No gentleman ought to be afraid
80 axarc;oa n II ia a liberty Inv which tho rem