Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-12-01

Gu unanimously thhN TUE tedoHOulu De beDL
back 10 the place from whence it came al
all events, and that no duty should be paid
on it, The only way to get rid of it, said
Young, is to throw il overboard' The con-
signees asked for time TO prepare their an
swer; and out Of great tenderness the body
postponed receiving it to the next morning.
Meantime the owner and master of the ship
were convened and forced to promise not to
land the tea H. said Hancock, will be
one of it, rather than that there should be
none, and party of -twenty-6ve persons
under the orders Of Edward Proctor as its
captain, was appointed to guard the tea
ship during the night"
After detailing further proceedings and
the arrival of more tea ships, the narrative
concludes:
"On Saturday, the eleventh, Rotch, the
owner of the Dartmouth, is summoned be-
fore the Boston Committee with Samuel
Adams in the chair; and asked why he has
not kept his engagement, to take his ves-
sci and tea back to London, within twenty
days of its arrival. He pleaded that it was
out of his power. The ship must CO. was
the answer; the people of Boston and the
neighboring towns absolutely require and
expect it, and they bade him ask for a
clearance and pass, with proper witnesses
of his demand. Were it mine,' said lead
ing merchant, I would certainly send it
back Hutchinson acquainted Admiral
Montauge with what was passing; on which
the Active and Kings6sher, though they
had been laid up for the winter, were sent
to guard The passages out of the harbour.
At the same time orders were given by the
governor to load guns at The castle, SO that
no vessel, except coasters might go to sea
without permit. He had no thought of
what was to happen; the wealth of Han
cock, Phillips. Rowe, Dennie, and so many
other men of property, seemed TO him Sc
curity against violence, and he fattered
himself that he had increased the perplexi-
ties Of the committee
"The decisive day draws nearer and
nearer; on the morning of Monday, the thir-
tieth, the committees of the FIVE towns are
at Faneul Hall, with that of Boston. Now
that danger was really at hand, the men of
the little town of Maiden offered their blood
and their treasure; for that which they once
esteemed the mother country, had lost the
tenderness of a parent, and become their
great oppressor. We trust in God,' wrote
the men of Lexington, that should the
state of affairs require it, we shall be ready
to sacrifice our estates and everything dear
in life, yea, and life itself, in support of the
common cause Whole towns in Worces.
ter County were on tiptoe to come down
GO on as you have begun wrote the COM
mittee of Leicester on the fourteenth; and
do not suffer any of the teas already come
or coming to be landed, or pay one farthing
of duty. You may depend on our aid and
assistance when needed
"The line Of policy adopted was, if posi-.
BILE, to get the tea carried back to London
uninjured in the vessel in which it came
A meeting of the people on Tuesday after
noon directed and as it were compelled
Rotch, the owner of the Dartmouth, to ap-
ply for a clearance. He did so, accompan-
led by Kent, Samuel Adams, and eight
others as Witnesses. The collector was at
his lodgings, and refused to answer till next
morning; the assemblage on their part ad-
journed TO Thursday the sixteenth, the last
of the twenty days, before is would become
legal for the revenue officers to take pos
session of the ship, and so land the teas at
the castle. In the evening, the Boston COM
mttee finished their preparatory meetings.
After their consultation on Monday with
the committee of the five towns, they had
been together that day and noxt. both NOR
ming and evening; but during the long and
anxious period, their journal has only this
entry; NO business transacted, matter of
record.
"At ten o'clock on the 18th, Rotch was
escorted by his witnesses to the custom
house, where the collector and comptroller
unequivocally and finally refused to grant
his ship a clearance, till it should be dis
charged of the teas.
Hutchinson began to clutch at victory !;
for said he, it is notorious the ship cannot
pass the castle without permit from me,
and that / shall refuse. On that day, the
people of Fitchburgh pledged their word
never to be wanting according to their
small ability for they had indeed an am
bition to be known to the world and to pos
terity as friends to liberty The men of
Gloucester also expressed their Joy at Bos-
toms glorious opposition, cried with one
voice that mo tea subject 10 duty should
be landed in their town. and held them
selves for the last appeal.
"The morning of Thursday the 16th of
December, 1779. dawned upon Boston, a
day by far the most momentous in its an
mails. Beware little town; count the cost,
and know well. if you dare defy the wrath Of
Great Britain. and if you love exile and
poverty and death rather than submission.
The town Of Portsmouth held its meeting
on that morning, and, with six only protes-
ting, its people adopted the principles Of
Philadelphia, appointed their committee of
correspondence, and resolved to make com
mon cause with the colonies. At ten O'Clock
:heipeople Of Boston with at least two
thousand men from the country. assembled
in the Old South. A report was made that
Rotch had been refused clearance from
the collector Then said they to him,
protest Immediately against the custom
house. and apply to the governor for his
pass, so that your vessel may this very day
proceed on her voyage for London.
"The governor had stolen away to his
country house at Milton. Bidding Rotch
mske all haste, the meeting adjourned to
three in the afternoon. Atthat hour Rotch