The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-07-25

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they bad, indeed. an ambition to be
known to the world and postertv Of
friends of liberty The men of Glou
eestcr also expressed their joy at Bos
tons glorious opposition. cried with one
voice that mo tea subject the duty
should be landed in their town. and hcll
themselves ready fer the last appeal.
THE morning of Thursday, the 9th
of December, 1878, dawncd upon Bos-
ton, a day by far the most momentous
in its annals. Beware, little town; count
tho cost, and know well if you dare defy
the wrath of Great B;itain, and if you
love exile and poverty and death rather
than submission The town of Ports
mouth held its meeting on that morning,
and with six only protesting, its people
adopted the principles of Philadelphia.
appointed their committee Of correspon.
dcncc ard resolved to make common
cause with the colonies. At ten o'clock
the people of Boston, with at least two
thousand men from the country, assem-
blcd in the Old South A report was
made that Rotch had been refused a
clearance from the custom-house. Then,
said they to him, protest Immediately
against the custom-house, and apply to
the Governor for his puas 80 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 make all haste, the meeting ad-
iourned to three in tho afternoon. At
that hour Rotch lad not returned 1t
was incidentally voted, as other towns
bad already done, to abstain from tue
use of tea; and every town was advised
to appoint its committee of inspection. to
prevent the dctcstcd tea from coming
within any of them. Thcn. since the
Governor might refuse his pass, the
momentous question REQUIRED whether
it be the sense and determination of this
body to abide by their former resolutions
with respect to the not suffering the tea
to be landed p Ga this question Sam.
uel Adams and Young addressed the
meeting, which was become far the most
numerous ever held in Boston. .em bracing
seven thousand men. There was among
them patriot. Of fervid feeling pas.
sonatcly devoted to the liberty of his
country still young. his eye bright, his
check glowing with hectic fever. lie
knew that bis strength was obbing. The
work of indicating American freedom
must be done soon, or lie would be no
party to the great achievement lie
rises, but it is TO restrain, and being tr,l-
ly brave ard truly resolved, he speaks
the language of moderation - Shouts
of hosannas will not terminate the trials
OF this day. nor popular resolves, har-
anguos and acclamations vanquish our
foes We must be grossly ignorant of
the value Of the prize for which we con
tend, Of the power combined against us,
OF the invetcrato malice and Unsuitable
revenge which actuatc our enemies, pub.
lie and private. abroad and IN our bosom,
if we hope that We shall end this con-
troversy without the sharpcst conflict
Let us consider the issue before we ad.
vance to those measures which must
bring on the most trying and terrible
struggle this country ever saw Thus
spoke the younger Quincy. Now that
the hand is to the plough said others,
there must be no looking back and
tho whole assembly Of seven thousand
voted unanimously that the tea should
not be landed.
" 1t had been dark for more than an
hour, The church in which they met was
dimly lighted when at quarter bef.re
six Rotch appeared, and satisfied the
people BY relating that the Governor had
refused him pass because the ship was
not properly cleared. AS soon as he had
finished his report Samuel Adams rose
and gave the word This meeting can
do nothing more to save the country
On the instant shout was heard at the
porch; the war whoop resouudcd; body
of men, forty or fifty in number, disguis-
cd as Indians, passed by the door, and,
encouraged by Samuel Adams. Hancock
and others, repaired to Griilin's wharf,
posted guards to prevent the intrusion
of spies took possession of the three tea
ships, and in about three hours three
hundred and forty chests of tea being
the whole quantty that had been import.
cd, were emptled into the bay without
the least injury to other property. All |
things were conducted with great order,
decency. and perfect submission to Gov.
crnncnt' The people around, as they
looked on, were so still that the noise of |
breaking open the tea chests was plainly
heard, A delay of few Eours would |
have placed the tea under the protection
of the admiral at the castle After the
work was done the town became as still
and calm as if it had been holy time
The men from the country that very
night carried back the great news to
their villages.
The next morning the committee of
correspondence appointed Samuel Adams
and four others to draw up declaration
of what had been done. They sent
Paul Revere as express with the infor.
nation to New York aud Philadelphia.
The height of joy that sparkled in
the eyes and animated the countenances
and the hearts of the patriots as they met
one another is imaginable. The Cover
nor, meantime, was consulting his books
aud bis lawyers to make out that the re-
solves of the meeting were reasonable
Threats were muttered Of arrests Of ex-
ocutions, Of transportation of the accused
to England, while the committee of cor
respondence pledged themselves to sap
mort and viuLicata each other and all !