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


1t, perhaps, may not be Nmss, in thi'
connection, Mr.. President, TO adycct iol
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: 1903, Lord Green lille
proposed 10 the American agent, then in
London, that it. was the determination oil
the British Government to draw reva-
nue. from the colonies, which however he
did no propose to parliament until 1868
IL wasa duty upon stamps. BY this act,
no written instrument could be legal un.
less executed upon stamped paper, which
was sold by British agents al extravagant
prices, and such was ;he determination
OF the British government to iasten this
odious law upon the Colonies, that those
who violated it were subject to severe
penalties, eXorbitant fines, and to ha:rass
them still more, a IN rine court was es,
taOli,hed which made the Colonies liable
| to be called to trial to distant provinces,
| even when no special crime had been al
! lodged against them: and many, Accord
| ing to that noble old Declaration which
has jus. been read in your hearing we're
sent to England to be tried for pretended
offences, and even denied the right of a
jury. Immediately in connection, or
rather rs a supplement to this law, an act
was passed for scndi:g troops to America
the avOwed object of which was, 10 check
insubordinatoc but the ostensable and
true object was TO force the Americans in
to a servilc submission to these iniqlilous
enoctmcnts. This act establishing mill.
tary force in the Colonies, obliged the in
habi ants Of the Colonies, TO which they
should be sent, TO furnish them with
quarters, and all neccssNr! supplies. The
people petitioned Parliament for a 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-and by the evils which threatened
him; they entr"ated him to devise scme
means by which these laws might not 20
into effect. But what was the answer Of
the Crown? Entire submission to its au-
thor.ty, or a forced Surrender Of all their
rights and privileges as British subjects
and instead OF attempting any ameliora.
ton o. their condition, connlyed 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 greyious to he borne,
we're enacted shortly after; laws, Sir, the
provisions of which looked as II they had
been concocted in the regions Of despair,
and the supporters and Trainers thereof
to be men who had received their InStruc
Il, H. H. 1
self. TAc inhabitants of the Colonies dee
termincd that no law like the Stamp Act
should 90 into effect. Measures were ta>
ken to prevent the agents from atten,pt-
ing the distribution Of Stamps. They
disturb ed the popumcc, broke the vim
dows and destroyed the furniture OF one
Andrew Oliver, the proposed distributor
of Stamps in Boston, and forced him to
sign a pledge that he would have no con.
Germ in the execution OF the obnoxious
statute. In New Haven Mr.. Ingersol 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 80 into effect, vas uShercd
IN by tolling OF bells as tor a funeral pro-
cession, and signs OF mourning AID sorrow
appeared throughout all the Colonies
The courts suspended bISiucsS aud p0r
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 surrcndcring the
principles which they denied, or tacitly
acknowledging the right which the gov
prnment 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 Fit,
Camden and Barr, stoo forth, the cham
piors of America the advocates OF free
dom. Their patriotism shines pre.cmi-
nent on the historic plge, and their mem
cries will be perpeluated while liberty has
one single refuge on this globe.
Lord Camden denied the right Of tax
ing the Colonies without commensurate
representation, ard in one Of his able
sreeches in behalf of the American Colo-
mes said Taxation and Representa-
ticn are ir separable. 1t is an eternel law
of niture, whatever is a mans own, is alb.
solutely his own; and no man, or no gov
ernment, has a right to take it away from
i him. Whoever attempts to do it, does an
injury; whoever does it commits rob.
berry" trust it is unnecessary for me
TO enter into minute recital of each act
of usurpalion committed 10y Great Britain
towards the Colonies. Suffice it 20 say,
that Immediately after the repeal of The
Stamp Act Charles Townsend proposed
to Parliament another method Of IaSing
revenue from the Colonies, viz by taxing
all glass, tea, paper paints, colors, &c,
which were imported. This was also
strongly opposed throughout the entire
length and breadth Of the land, and the
consequence was that military force was
sent from England, TO enforce submission
to the law oftaXing the Colonies. In l77j
the military force of Massachusetts, were
attacked at Lexington and Concord, and
during the sane year the memorable . I.
tie OF Bunker Hill ocCurred-which was
indeed the opening of the Revolutionary
war: and know of no better description
of the effect produced by that battle than
that contained in the following poeticai