The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-12-25
The Boston Tea Party

Z Colonies. none came moro keeny and direct
l1y home to the people than the tax on tea
!. aud nowhere was there more trouble about
or more decided resistance to it, than i
/ Boston. The Stamp Act, which is too we
known 20 need description, the Mptiny AZ
/ in 1865, requiring the Colonies in certai
cases to quarter the royal troops the arr
wal of frigates and transports Hying at mast
head the British colors, the appearance 0
/ the red coats la martial array in Boston
streets, the white tents on the Common, an,
the artillery and stacked muskets in tront o
the Town House-all these excited ant
deeply angered the people. business wa.
4 interrupted, amusements we're suspended, so
ciety was ''not at home" to, the royal officers
the Legislature adjourned to Cambridge
from the day the soldiers marched up Kline
street, all Boston was in a fcrment, private
Draws were succeeded by public riots; and
at last the soldiers fred upon the citizens on
the day that vas long known as She Has.
sacre." ''sa
This was on the 9th March, ITO. And
on that very day, by singular coincidence
Lord North, then Premier of Great Britain
advocated and carried in the House Of Com
mons repeal Of all the American duties
except that on tea. Soon after this repeal a
cargo of tea was sent to Boston, the impor.
tiers thinking that in the good feeling occa !.
stoned by the removal of all other duties, the
tea would be readily admitted. But as the
principle of 'sno taxation without represen-
tation" was at stake, the return of the tea
was at once and steadily demanded and
John Hancock offering one of his own yes,
sells to carry it, the chests were sent back un-
opened to London. At this time every deal
err but one in Boston was pledged not to sell
any tea, And the ladies', yho had some
time befoga, both old and young, taken up
the matter and resolved against the use OF
tea, formed the,nselves into societies. called
..Daughters Of Liberty" some binding Them
selves to abstain from tea unless il was
struggled, while others drank only coffee, or
what was called 'siberty tea" an infusien Of
the herb known as ''rib wort" At this
time large quantities Of tea we're smuggIed
in from Holland, while the Custom House
officers, through fear Of the people, scarcely
ever seized chest. But as to the tea of the
East India Company, which was taxed, the
people were as bitterly opposed to it as ever:
though some ladies', it is said, still made tea
10 their coffee pots to avoid suspicion, aud
others drank it quietly by themselves when
the regular meat was over. One lady OF OPP
ulence in Virginia is named, who Invited a.
small party to her chamber, all determined
to enjoy their tea, when her husband, who
was IA thorough patriot, suspeetilg their OBJ
ject, quietly slipped up stairs and dropped y
piece OF tobacco in the tea kettle, making
them all sick, and enjoying laugh at their
expense, r., +.
At this time the East India Company
made proposal, which, if the Grown had
accepted it, would have alayed the dissatis-
faction, increased the revenues, and saved
the Colonies to Great Britain. 1t vas that
they would setter home tax of sixpence a
pound on the expectation Of tea, provided
the tax on tea sold in the Colonies was Civ
en- up But Parliament, insisting on Its
right to tax Americans, resolved they must
be BUNDLED by being compelled to use the
tea that was taxed, and by taking off entirely
tn , export tax thsy made tea cheaper than
ever, hoping the colonists might thus be
tempted to use it. But when in August,
1878, tea was again sent, the agitation be
gan afresh, and as British officer wrote,
''All America was ia fame"
IN When the tea arrived in New York har-
Dor, aud also when coming up the Delaware
to Philadelphia, it was at once sent back TO
England, andin most of she Southern ports
it met with the same fate. But in Boston,
where the agents for the tea were relatives
of the Governor, aud the representatives of
Great Britain were numerous and determln-
ed, the prospect Of being able to send back
the vessels was in all-resgects discouraging.
The port officer would no; give them clear
ance until the tea was landed, and the Brit
ish Admiral was ready to intercept then, if
they should atteppt to leave. But when, on
the 2Sth of November. the Dartmouth came
In with hundred and fourteen chests OF
tea, the excitement became intense, and the
next day the city was covered with flaming
handbills calling the people to open an dpnl-
ted resistance. Meeting after meeting was
now held; resolutions were passed that every
chest Of tea should 60 back watch was
placed over the Dartmouth; the order of the
Governor that one Of the public meetings
should be disperscdswas openly hissed and
WheE two other vessels came in With tea the
excitement became deeper than ever.
Z On Thursday, December 10Th, thousands
met in az around the old South Church
some two thousands being from the neighbour
ing towns. The meeting began in the MGR
ming, reassembled in the afternoon and Coz
tinued till six o'clock. The ccnsiguee, hold
ing out against all remembrance, and refu-
sing to say they vyud got land the tea, sud
denly the Indian var yheop vas soqndsd,an
a number Of men, s'agnissd Is savages, yers
At the doors, and ~ the crowd rnshed out
they led the way amid shouts Of .Hprrah FIR
GrDin's VhaJ,' and Boston Hardor a tsq-
pot TO night to the wharf where the vessels
lay. la three hours, undsr the very guns
and eyes Of British soldiers, sailors and oh-
GERS. three hundred and forty-two chests
were broken TO pieces and their contents
poured into the dock. As be tide rose 1t
hoated the broken chests and the tea, so that
the harbor gas covered with theal from the
south part of the town to Dorchester Neck.
For three eyentfu hours the crowd OH the
wharf looked on ID silence, while nothing
was heard except now and then the war
whoop, or the bortsvaia's whistle, the creak-
ing of the prIleys, aud the slashins OF the
poles as the boys on the fats beat the tee in