The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-07-06
ESTABLISHED. 1891.


of Parliament to impose these re-
strictions When, however, Par
lament went one step farther, and at
tempted to levy internal taxes in the
shape of stamp duties, embracing
within their scope nearly all the daily
transactions of life; they remon-
strated and boldly denied the power
of Parliament to impose such bur-
dens. The controversy. which this
attempt on the part of Parliament to
tax the colonies without their con-
sent, gave rise to the Continental
Congress of 1865, which may be re-
garded as the germ Of the American
Union.
Although each colony had local
Legislature, they were separate and
distinct political communities, and
had, by their organic structure, no
power to unite for any purpose with
out the consent of the British Gov
ernment, and as a consequence the
union Of the people of the colonies
for the purpose of resisting the ag-
gressions of the parent Government,
was one step towards the revolution.
The colonial Legislative Assem-
blies consisted of three separate and
distinct branches, the concurrence of
all of which was necessary in the pas
sage of laws These branches con-
sisted, first, of a Governor chosen
directly or indirectly By and depend
ent upon the Crown. Second, rep
resentatiye Assembly chOses By the
people; and, third, a Council or Up
per House selected BY the represent
atives Of the people, with the concur
renee or subject to the negative Of
the royal Governor. For many years
the colonial Legislaturas had exer-
cised the exclusive and unquesti0ned
right of levying all the internal taxes
which were imposed upon the colo
nists, and of granting or refusing such
supplies to the King as TO the Legis-
ature might seem proper. With per
haps a single exception, no reasonable
complaint gould be made against any
of the colonies of want Of liberality
in responding TO the Kings requisi-
tions for supplies. The colonists in
sisted that, being British subjects,
they were entitled to all the rights of
British citizenship, and that as resi-
dent citizens of England could not be
taxed except with the consent Of
their representatives in the House Of
Commons. aud as it was impractical
bic that the colonies should be repre-
sented in Parliament, it followed that
the people of the colonies could only
be taxed with the consent of their rep
resentatives ia the Colonial Legislative
/ Assemblies. Parliament. on the other
hand, claimed the unlimited power
of legislating for the colonies in all
cases whatsoever.
Here, then, was an issue between
A. Il I Al.
| hand, and the Parliament on the 9TH
er, which could only be settled by the
yielding Of one party to the claims of
the other, or by the stern arbltra-
ment Of the sword.
The history of the times, and the
| facts set forth in the Declaration of
Independence, show how reluctant
| the Fathers were to resort to extreme
measures for redress of grievances.
| They say in that instrument that at
every stage of the expressions of
which they complained they had Pc
titioned for redress in the most hum
BILE manner, but that their petitions
had been answered by repeated in
jury.
How calm, considerate and digni-
| fed was the conduct of the men of
Il the IeefOIuliOu Nuet COlhpdiNN WIN
the proceedings of those who recently
rebelled against the authority OF a
government in which they were not
only fully represented, but over which
they exercised an undue control.
In the one case every peaceable meas
ure was exhausted for the redress of
real grievances, and resistance was
only sanctioned as a last resort. In
the ether, without any real cause. OF
complaint, war was invoked as a rem
edy against apprehended evils. Look
ing at these two examples OF resist
ance to constituted authority ia the
light OF their respective results, who
can doubt that God is just, or tnat He
governs in the affairs Of men?
The stamp act received the royal
assent on the 22d day Of March, 1863,
and thereby the power of Parliament
to tax the colonies in the absence OF
representation was attempted to. be
exercised to the fullest extent and in
the most oppressive manner.
On the 9Th day Of June, Of the
same year, in the House of Repre-
sentatives of Massachusetts,, James
Otis, of Boston, advised the calling
of an American Congress, which
should come together IctthOm asking
the consent of the King, and should
consist of committees from each Of
the thirteen colonies, to be appointed
respectively by the delegates of The
people totthom regard to the other
branches Of he Legislature.
The suggestion was adopted, Otls