Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-07-12
The stamp Act.


TO our Museum by our esteemed townsman,
Henry Gourdin esq He kindly Informed US
how be obtained them.
While in England, in 1851, he paid visit
to Mr.. Joho Shutteworth, then at the head
of the Stamp office, in Manchester. Nix.
Sbut,leworth pointed out to bin stamp
neatly framed and suspended 10 bis chamber.
And be stated that in clearing oct TIE Stamp
Office III London, short time before, teVerai
bundles Uf stamps were iound among piles
OF rubbish, wnicb, on examination, proved
10 be the identical stamps that mad been seat
TO South Carolina, and which constituted one
Of the chief causes OF rupture between tie
mother country and her Colouie5. Con
siderns that these stamps would De regarded
as of grea, interest at home, be kindly offer
ed TO procure several for Dir. Goucdln, and
they were subsequently seat 10 him by Mr..
John B. Smith, NJ. p, of London. One Of
these was presented by MIR. Gourdin to Mr..
Joseph Leland, formerly OF this city, with
request that he would present II to some Ma
scum or other Institution in Massachusetts
The other two were presented to the Museum
of the College Of Charleston, through Prot
T. 5. Holmes.
We copy that portion of Mr.. Smiths letter
in which he speaks Of these stamps:
LONDON. Oct. 10. 1871.
Ds4r GJurliH--+ r Happening 10 dine
the other day iu company with the Chair
man Of the Board OF Stamps be mentioned
a curious circumstance, that 10 clesrlng cut
somo old papers, at the Stamp once, Dun
die Of papers were discovered which proved,
upon inspection, to be a portion OF the cele-
brated stamps issued for our then North
American Colonies and the issuing of which
caused revolution destined, in all prubabil-
ity. to effect greater changes in human al
fairs, than any other event which ever hap
p-ued. was enabled to secure few OF the
curiosities, aud have the pleasure 10 enc!USe
Won three for your Charleston Museum, II
you deem that fitting place Tor them.
Truly yours,
Signed ). d. SMrH:.
As our readers may crafty their curiosity
By behoidng these bits Of brown paper, dec
Grated with the insignia of royalty, We for
bear a description OF them. Zach OF these
two stamps was worth two shlliIngs aud SIX
pence. As it will enhance the interest all
ru.t feel in these rare contributions, we vii!
tTanstTlDG
in which this amount of impost Is specified.
"For every skin or piece Of velium or
parchment or sheet or piece OF paper, 90
which shall be engrossed, written or print
ed, any such orgina! grant, or any such
deed, me,no conveyance, or other instrument
whatsoever, by which any quantity OF land,
above two hundred, and not exceeding three
hundred aud twenty acres, shall DC granted,
conveyed or assigned, and in proportion tor
every such deed, mesne conveyance, or other
instrument granting, conveying or assigning
every three huodred and twenty acres within
such colonies, plantations and Islands, q
stamp duty OF two shilllngs and six pence"
Forever skin OF piece of yeIum or parch-
ment, or sheet or piece OF paper, on which
shall be epgrOssed, written or printed, any
inienture, lease, conveyance, contract, supu-
lati0n, bill Of SALE charter party, protest, ar.
ticleS of apprenticeship, or covenant Except
Tor the hire of servants not apprentices and
also except such other matters as nereinbe-
fore charged, within tie Brit.h colonies
and plantations in America. stamp duty OF
two sbiIlings and six pence"
The Stamp act having passed the House
of Commons by large majority, and the
House Of Lords unanimously, received the
royal assent March 30, lI65. But, though
the signature II George the Third, had
clothed it with the majesty Of law, there was
not WEIGHT enough 10 his royal arm, 10
compel proud and patriotic people into
compliance with its eXactiOn-. The whole
nation cried out boldly and contemporary
against the tyranny u Taxation, without
the right OF representation. Although the
distributors OF the intolerabie iax.stamps
were selected from amoaI the ctizeas OF
America, 80 deep, universal, and utter was
the hostility 70 the bill, that Dot daring 70
utlict il; they were forced % resign. The
efises Of stamp officers, and Of thuse sus-
pected of being favorable to parliamentary
taxation, were dragged through the streets,
banged and burned All tbe stamps the 10.
furIatei populace could lay their hands up
Oh, were committed 10 the flames. On the
arrivs! Of the vessels contaiun: the mated
things, the coigrs U. the shipFicg we're halt
masted, toe act was printed and parGded
through the thoIonsh:arcs With mock pa
gcaaUN: and toutI!tS hlazed IN the public
squares. The frs; OF Nvyemu Der, tue day or
winch the act was to 60 into effect, mutiied
ON'Ib t'i!Eu ibySt lN!t'ui.l t4"b 4ohh ~ --i u
Let US iura to those bundles which have
bccyme trash, 10 which we're ,uud ihe stamps
TOW in our Museum. The rthce OF stamp
agent Gyr The Crown vas never flied n South
Carolina; no citizen could be induced 70
perform this di-LOnorable service. When
the vessel that brought rhe printed duties
arrived here they were deposited for saf.
keeor 10 Fort johnson. Al D'g / the gar
rlsoa were surprised by an armed parry from
the city, and when the Captain awUse in tie
morning he waS Gstouisbed 70 behold A1G
waving from the fortress, and It's heavy -ru'
lookir. grizzly at biz ship. TIE brave Uahd
avowed their determination 70 destroy ;h
offensive papers, ii he did not promise y ear
~ them back whence they came. They
were delivered u hin; and after the lapse q!
eighty-six years they are swept out OF the
Stamp Ctice as lumUer, aud thrse OF the
useless heap are brought back 70 revive the
memory OF u long, bloody and triumphant
struggle for freedom. They are also eloquent
remeiL oranc1rs OF the incOrTupuJ.e pa:r!-
O,ism, aud the gallant bravery OF our fore
fathers. British gold in vain aiured them 10
the post ut stamp distributor and when the
abhorEedst.mFs we're brought, without excess
Of any kind, and sCyrnIag ccucsamgnt ana
disguise, they dictated their terms from tie
walls cfthe fort they were prepared u defend
and compelled the vessel OF war TO return -
the monarch WIN hal seu, rehabilitation
CoUrser.