The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-08
THE SAME LAw-BREAKIEG, SEDITIoUS
BOSTON,


Great Britain; that it was when Shadrach
was rescued, the same w-breaking, seditious
Boston ."-Richmond Va) Examiner.
Yes-the bad habits of the Revolution still
cling to Boston, which now is as much hated
by the Aristocracy of Slavery as it was by the
Aristocracy of England, when Lord Grenville
attempted to enforce the Stamp Act, and Lord
North shut up its port, on account of It's sedi-
tions. The prejudices of education are not
quite overcome in that claw breaking" city
Much allowance should be made for her un-
fortunate training in revolutionary times, I'M
der Hancock, Otis, and Adams They had
way of resisting authority and speaking evil
of dignities, which savored somewhat of sedi-
ton indeed it is safe to say that "Treaeon"
began to tester" in Boston SO far back as
the year 1854, when town meeting of It's cti-
zens protested agains. Grenyille's scheme of
taxation without representation, and recon-
mended a combination of the Colonies in de-
fence of their common interests. 1t broke out
into an eruption the next year, when stamps
prepared in Great Britain, by order Of the Gen.
trail Power were sent to Government officials
in the Colonies, to sell them. There was u
great elm in Boston, which the seditious oppo-
ncnts of the Stamp Act styled " Liberty Tree"
under which they concooted their treason
able schemes, and on whose branches they
sometimes hung efiigies of persons conspicuous
or their Administration zeal. lphamed to
desperation, one day, by the seditious ha-
frangues of selfstyled patriots, the Liberty men
went straightway to the house Of Oliver, Sec
rotary of the Colony, stamp-distributcr for
Massachusetts pulled down small building
intended for stamp-ofice, and frightened the
official into a resignation. The peetifercus
preachers were also at work. Jonathan May
hew, a congregational minister, descended
from his exalted place, to dabble in the dirty
waters of politics, and preached sermon
against the Stamp Act, taking for his text,
" | would they were oven cut of, that trouble
me ~
It is even suspected that Bostcn was the
birthplace of that notorious order, called
"Sons of Liberty" which everywhere busted
itself in stirring up "sedition." Meantime,
Treason /" continued to iester," and there
was another eruption in 1853. Certain
Government officials, attempting to enforce
some severe regulations of the Administration,
on commerce, were obliged to seek shelter IN
der cover of company of British artillery and
town meeting in Faneuil Hall demanded
from the Governor the removal CT the ship Of
war from the harbor.
To put down this seditious spirit, the
Government ordered two regiments OF soldiers
from Halifax and two from Ireland but the
People, getting wind of it. sent out q notice for
q convention Of delegates from I'll the towns in
the Province, to be held in Boston in ten days,
advising all persons not provided with arms to
procure them at once. After this, the troops
arrived, and General Gage undertook to have
them "quartered at the expense Of the town
people, in accordance with instructions from
the Home Government; but the "seditious
town set the instructions at Defiance refused
them "lodging, bedding, firing" and the Cen
eral was obliged to support them as he could.
The English aristooracy hereupon was as much
incensed as the Examiner is now, and de-
nounced Boston as "factious and rebellious."
Franklin wrote home" Every man in Eng
land regards himself as piece of q sovereign
over America seams to jostle himself into the
throne with the King, and talks of our subjects
in the Colonice."
The soldiery of the Government being hta-
toned in the street and about Faneuil Hail. to
overswe the People, they became subject to all
kinds of annoyances; and at last collision
took place, in which several seditious law
breaking citizens were killed Forthwith the
misguided People assembled in town meeting,
resolved that the troops must be removed, and
appointed committee to wait upon the Gov
ernor and the General, aud make known their
demands Strange to say, the reasonable
requisition was promptly complied with-the
troops were removed.
So Treason continued to fester," till the last
great eruption when fifty "seditious" per-
sons, disguised as Mohawks, boarded the tea
vessels in B oston harbor, On the evening Of De-
cember 16, 1873, and in the course Of two hours
emptied three hundred and foTty-two chests of
tea into the water.
Thus, for ten years, was Boston trained TO &C.
dition and law breaking, and wha. is very Gu
rious, Virginia admired her deeds, responded
to her appeals, and pledged the lives and prop
erty of It's citizens to sustain her The secret
Of this was--Boston was committed to the death
against the exercise of arbitrary, unconstitu-
tional power by the Administration in Eng
land. 1t was loyal, willing TO obey just laws,
but determined to maintain It's rights against
usurpation. This was Why the Virginians of
that day loved her, and stood shoulder to shout
der with her. Patrick Henry was himself as" &C.
ditous and la ~ breaking" as Hancock or Adams.
There was no time during that whole period,
when repeal Of the unconstitutional laws Of
the Government, would not have allayed dis
content, suppressed sedition, proved complete
remedy for Treason.
Granville INDICATED the Stamp Act, as the
Government officials now vindicate the Fugi-
tive Act. The noble Pitt denounced it, and
denied its consttutionalty. Grenville retort-
ed, by charging upon the opposition of Pitt
and his friends, the tumults, and violent resist
ance of the Americans. In the spirit of Ger
tain Pro-Slavery Senators of this day. be ex-
claimed" The seditious spirit Of the Colonies
owes it's birth to the faction in this House"
What said the fearless Pitt-what were his
opinions of the agitations and tumults aroused
by unconstitutional and odious acts of Govern
ment?
"a charge is brought against gentlemen
sitting in this House, of giving birth to sedition
in America. The freedom with which they
have spoken their sentiments against this I'M