The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-10-31

cicty of Colonial DANES OF America
The Essays Given In Full.
The following official announcement
has just been made:
The prizes for compositions on colo
NAL subjects offered by the Connecticut
Society of the Colonial Danes of Amer
lea have been awarded as follows:
In the high school competition the
first prize has been awarded to Emma
Reed Van De Water of the Litchf1eld
high school, subject, 1.-THE Stamp
Act
The second prize to Frederick Is.
Noyes of the Norwich Free academy;
subject, "Uncas, Chief of the Mohe-
gans"
The third prize to Paul B. Gilmore of
the Litchfield high school; subject, Col
onial Customs"
In the grammar school competition
the first prize has been awarded to
Florence E. Robb of the Arsenal school,
Hartford; subject, 1.-THE Taking of Con-
necticut's Charter"
The second prize to Anna M, Peck OF
Black Hall; subject, New England So
cial Life
The compositions sent with stamps
and the request to return are hereby re-
turned.
The members of the prize committee
wish to thank the scholars and teach
ers in Connecticut who have shown an
active interest in making this competl-
ton of value in the school work
EDITH WOOLSEY,
For the Committee.
The following is in reference to the
prizes for the above mentioned con-
tests:
For scholars in the high schools of the
state a first prize of twenty dollars, a
second prize of ten dollars, third prize
of five dollars.
For scholars In the grammar schools
of the state a first prize of ten dollars'
a second prize of five dollars.
A certificate of merit will be sent to
each of the pupils taking prize, as
also to others whose compositions snow
thoughtful, intelligent study.
"The Stamp Act composition by
Emma Reed Van de Water and 'Ihe
Taking of Connecticut's Charter" COM
position by Florence E. Robb are given
in full below, these receiving the trst
prize in the two classes:
THE STAMP ACT.
The French and Indian war followed
by the Seven Years war had caused
heavy drain on the English treasury.
AS the frontiers of America had been
cleared of Indians and French, Eng
land thought that the colonists would
be willing to pay their share of the ex-
penses.
Years before, many prominent men
In the colonies and public writers had
upheld the idea of raising a revenue by
the sale of stamps and stamped paper
in America. George Grenvile listened
to these suggestions and proposed, on
May S, 1854, the stamp act. He told the
colonial agents, however, he would not
have it passed that year and if the col
pnists could tell of better plan by
which one million dollars could be
raised, he would be very glad to hear
of it.
The act, as proposed by GrenvilIe and |
later passed by parliament, laid tax
on all legal papers, playing cards, dice,
newspapers pamphlets, almanacs, cal |
endars and all advertisements. If any |
of the taxable documents were written
in a foreign language, the tax was
doubled, while a duty was necessary in |
order to receive or pay money for labor. |
The proceeds received by the stamps |
and stamped paper were paid to the |
kings treasurer who held them until |
ordered by parliament to expend the
same AS the colonies had no voice in |
parliament, they rightly thought that |
England had no privilege to tax her; as
soon as they heard of the proposed |
stamp act, the whole country became
excited. Some were afraid to express
their opinion, but others were quite
bold in denouncing the act Boston
was the head, and Virginia the heart of
the movement: New York and Penn
sylyania were not far behind them in
boldness and zeal
To prevent the unjust law from pass
ing the New York assembly appointed
a committee to write to their agent in
London to oppose the passage of the
act and to the other colonies calling
their attention to the movement
During the correspondence, it was
found necessary to have a meeting of
the colonies in order to talk over plans
more fully, so each colony, with the ex-
ception of four who wrote that they u
would agree to anything the conference Il
did elected a delegation of three to
meet at New York on the first Tuesday
in October.
This conference drew up declara- ]
tion of rights, a petition to the king,
and q memorial to both houses of par
Lament; these were all signed by the {
with the exception of two
All the colonial assemblies approved of
the action Of the conference, so that, {
before the stamp act had taken effect,
America had spoken to the king and ]
his ministers, begging them to be mer- {
ciful and just, but also denouncing the ]
stamp act. (
Benjamin Franklin was the coonists !
agent in London to deliver the mes t
sage; also to prevent if possible, the c
enactment of the odlous act 1t is be- {
lieved that his action delayed the pas I
sage Franklin plainly said that /
would not be taxed without | q
that If the act was i
passed the unity of the empire would I
be destroyed g
The king, in his opening address to {
ma rliament January TO- 1865, referred to |