Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24


ing men hesitated to take the bold posi-
ton of resistance to the crown. The
member from Louisa was observed to be
intent upon making notes upon the fly
leaf of an old book rather than following
the debate In an interval of quiet he
rose and haltngly offered five resolu
lions that smacked of rebellion and were
destined TO Immortality. In the fifth of
the series was the point of the whole
question: The general assembly Of this
colony has the sole right and power to
levy taxes and impositlons on the lnEab-
itants of this colony
Henry's Burst of Eloquence.
The resolutions were passionately de-
bated. the eading Virginians prudently
opposing their adoption. In speaking to
them Henry electrified his audience by an
entirely unexpected burst of eloquence
that has never been surpassed: Caesar
had his RrutuS. Charles | his Cromwell:
George III f"Treason' TreaSon.")-atter
an eloquent pause-"may profit by their
example. If this be treason make the
most of it, In the excitement of tha
hour the resolutions were passed by one
vote.
This was the earliest pledge of the
American colonies to independence. The
assembly was at once dissolved by the
royal governor. but it was too late. the
seed had been planted to bear fruit with
in the decade.
Never after Nay 80 INA. We're the
British able TO exercise any authority
in Massachusetts colony. although the
curt ain did not fall on the final tableau
until Gen. Washington had forced the
evacuation of Boston. two years later.
AS punishment for the Boston tea
party of the previous December the
British government had passed five acts
which. in their opinion. would prevent
any further outbreaks and humble the
presumption of the refractory colonists.
BY the Boston port bill. one of these
mea sures. no ships were 10 be permitted
to enter or clear from the port of Boston
until the East India Company had been
repaid for the tea destroyed; Marblehead
was made the port of entry. Salem the
seat of government. The cherished char
ter of rights was annuled by another
measure. to that thereafter there would
be no general elections, all councillors AMI
general officers would be appointed and
paid by the crown. BY the third meas
ure all capital crimes committed by civil
or military officials would be tried in
England BY the fourth troops might he
quartered upon the citizens of Boston.
BY the fifth. or Quebec act the New Eng
land colonies We're deprived of all terri
tory west of the Alleghenies in which the
Catholic religion would be tolerated.
Bottling Up Boston.
According to the prearranged program.
May 30 Gen. Gage bottled up Boston
to be starved into submission" The day
was observed throughout the American
colonies as day of fasting and prayer,
muffied bells were tolled in all the cities,
flags f1oated at half-mast in all the har
bors. Weeks in advance had commenced
that spontaneous outpouring from the
abundance of the other colonies for the
relief of the beleagured city. the high
ways leading into Boston We're clogged
with droves of cattle focks of sheep and
trains of wagons laden with provisions
of all kinds. even sugar and rice from the
far-off Carolinas. Boston would not be
starved.
The colonial legislature was in session
in Salem when the call for Continental
Congress was issued by the Sons of Lib
erty in New York. Adams motion was
delegates amid intense excitement.
member was suddenly taken very i'll and
excused He reported to the governor
who in all haste. sent his officials to dis
solve the assembly. Adams suspecting
the trick. put the ponderous key of the
locked door in his pocket, and while the
messenger pounded at the door the ques-
elected to the Congress to meet in Phla-
delphia in the September following.
In Lexington. Mass. the nth of
April 111o. a score or more farmers dis
puted the way with relocated soldiers
and fired the volley that was heard round
the world The story of Lexington and
Concord rapidly spread through the
country. Late in May it had reached the
hill country of the Carolinas and reused
the temper of the hardy Scotchmen. who
had not forgotten their own experience at
Allamance. At once a call was issued