Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-24

It,, perhaps. may not be amiss, in this
connection, Mr.. President, to advert for
few moments to some of the causes
which led to the determination of separa
ting from the mother country. Even as
early as the yea: 1868, Lord Greengille
proposed to the American agent, then in
London, that it was the determination OF
the British Government to draw reva-
nue. from the colonies, which however he
did no propose to parliament until l765.
1t was duty upon stamps. BY this act,
no written instrument could be legal un.
| less executed upon stamped paper, which
was sold by British agents at extravagant
prices, and such was the determination
Of the British government to fasten this
odious law upon the Colonies, that those
who violated it were subject to severe
penalties, exorbitant fines, and to harrass
them still more, a ms rine court was es>
tablished which made the Colonies liable
to be called TO trial to distant provinces,
even when no special crime had been al
ledged against them and many, accord
ing to that noble old Declaration which
has just been read in your hearing, were
sent TO England to be tried for pretended
offences. and even denied the right of a
jury. Immediately in connection, or
rather as a supplement to this law, an act
was passed for sendrg troops to America,
the avowed object of which was, TO check
insubordinaton but the ostensable and
true object was TO force the Americans in
to a servilc submission to these iniquitous
en0ctments. This act establishing mill.
tary force in the Colonies, obliged the in
habitants OF the Colonies, to which they
should be sent, TO furnish them with
quarters, and all necessary supplies. The
people petitioned Parliament for redress
of these grievances, and repeal of these
unjust and iniquitous enactments; but
their petitions were answered only by adj
ding insult to injury; they addressed the
Crown; they conjured him by all his love
for his subjects-his interests in the Colo
nies-aud by the evils which threatened
him; they entroated him to devise some
means by which these laws might not 60
into effect. But what was the answer of
| the Crown? Entire submission TO its au-
, thor:ty, or forced surrender of all their
rights and privileges as British subjects (;
and instead OF attempting any ameliora.
ton Of their condition, conniyed at new
schemes, the tendency of which was still
further to enslave, harrass and disturb the
peace of the Colonies, and other laws and
usurpations just as grevious TO be borne,
we're enacted shortly after; laws, Sir, the
provisions of which looked us ii they had
been concocted in the regions of despair,
and the supporters and trainers thereof
TO be men who had received their inStruc
tons from the Prince of darkness, him>
self. TIE inhabitants of the Colonies de-
termined that no law like the Stamp Act
should 90 into effect. Measures were ta>
ken to prevent the agents from attempt.
ing the distribution Of Stamps, They
disturb ed the populace, broke the win
dows and destroyed the furniture os one
Andrew Oliver, the proposed distributor
of Stamps in Boston, and forced him to
sign pledge that he would have no con-
Germ in the execution OF the obnoxious
statute. In New Hlven Mr. lngersol was
forced to make the same pledge. In fact,
so obnoxious was the law, that on the
first day Of November, the day on which
the act was to so into effect, was ushered
IN by tolling OF bells as Tor funeral pio-
cession, and signs of mourning and sorrow
appeared throughout all the Colonies
The courts suspended business, and p9r
sons having suits before court withdrew
them by common consent, and submitted
them to reference, rather than to pur~
chase enc stamp; for by so doing they
| believed they should be surrendering the
principles which they denied, or tacitly
acknowledging the right which the gov
ernment claimed, of taxing the Colonies
without allowing them representation, o.
asking their consent, although the Crown
and its minions were determined to en-
slave the Colonies and dark and porten-
tous clouds oyershadowed the country.
/ But few shining lights, such as Pitt,
Camden and Barr, stoo / forth, the cham
piors OF America, the advocates of free
dom. Their patriotism shines pre.emi-
nent on the historic page, and their mem
ories will be perpetuated while liberty ha:
one single refuge on this globe.
Lord Camden denied the right of tax
! ing the Colonies without commensurate
representation, and in one of his able
speeches in behalf of the American Colo.
MES said: =" Taxation and representa-
ton are ir separable. 1t is an eternel law
of nature, whatever is mans own, is ab
solutely his own; and no man, or no gov
ernment, has a right to take it away from
! him. Whoever attempts to do it, does ar
injury; whoever does it commits a rob
berry" trust it is unnecessary for m'
10 enter into minute recital of each ac
of usurpation committed by Great Britar
towards the Colonies. Suffice it 20 say
that Immediately after the repeal of tb,
Stamp Act Charles Townsend proposed
TO Parliament another method of raising
revenue from the Colonies, viz: by taxing
all glass, tea, paper, paints, colors, &c.
which were imported. This was alsc
strongly opposed throughout the entire
length and breadth of the land, and th'
consequence was that military force wa
sent from England, to enforce submission
to the Law oftaxing the Colonies. In l77'
the military force of Massachusetts, wer'
attacked at Lexington and Concord, anc
during the same year the memorable t
tie Of Bunker Hill occurred-which wa
indeed the opening of the Revolutionar.
war; and know of no better description
4, l,,t H., L. h.,