The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-05-16
InstaIIment 10

that time Wnen ne was young anu III
the first flush of his radical senti-
ments. although we often wished to
have gone faster, we slackened our
pace, that our less ardent colleagues
might keep up with us; and they. on
their part differing nothing from us
in principle, quickened their gait
somewhat beyond that which their
prudence might of itself have adj
vised."
Patrick Henry was received to the |
place he had earned; and although the /
older leaders resumed that sway in [
counsel to which their tried skill and /
varied experience in affairs fairly en-
titled them, there was no longer any I
jealous exclusion of new men. Hen |
rvs fame crept through the colonies +
as the man who had first spoken the |
mind not Of Virginians only, but of
all just men, with regard to the liber-
ties of Englishmen in America.
Before year was out Richard
Bland himself, parchment man and
conservative that he was, had written
and published a pamphlet entitled AN
tnlO Tic hlSltS VI LuG DIlLlSH
Colonies" which said nothing less
| than that in all that concerned her
internal affairs Virginia was "a dis
tinct, independent state" though uni
ted with the parent state by the clos
est league and amity, and under the
same allegiance" A colony treated
with injury and violence" he exclaim-
| ed, lis become an alien"
When antiquarians and lawyers,
fresh from porting upon old documents,
spoke thus, there were surely signs of
the times.
Parliament a Mischief Breeder.
The government at home kept colo.
aial sentiment very busy. Even Lord
Rockingham's government, with Burke
TO admonish 1t, coupled its repeal of
the stamp duties with "declaratory
act which sought to quiet controver-
sy by giving the lie direct to every
argument urged against its authority
in the colonies. Parliament has pow
er to bind the colonies in all cases
whatsoever" was its round assertion:
"a resolution for England's right to
do what the treasury pleased with
three millions Of freemen," cried
Chatham
Though Rockinghams government
would not act on that right. its sue
cessors would without scruple; and
they were soon about it, for Rocking
hams ministry retained office scarcely
a twelvemonth. Grenville was, in
deed, diseredited; but Grafton and
Townshend were as bad, as stubborn
in temper. as reckless in policy
More Taxes for the coIonists.
Tae year 1867 saw taxes proposed
and enacted on glass. paper, painsers
colors. and tea imported into the col
onies. with purpose to pay fixed
salaries to the crowns officers in the
colonies out of the proceeds; and the
contested ground was all to go over
again.
To show their temper, the new min
listers suspended the legislative pow
ers of the Colonial Assembly in New
York for refusing to make provision
for troops quartered upon the colony
To complete their fiscal arrangement:
they presently created custom-houst
and board of revenue commissioner:
for America.
1t was an ominous year. and Sc
opinion forward not little in the col
onies.
Protests from the Buraesses.
The House of Burgesses broke, at it
next session t176S), into fresh pro
tests and remonstrances, and Their
was no one to restrain or rebuke il
Fauqu'er was dead. and gone to hi
reckoning; the reins of government
we're in the hands of gentle job
: Blair, president of the council. Vii
I ginian every inch, and with never
1 thought of checking his fellow-colc
1 nists in the expression of their jus
opinion,
The autumn brought Lord Bot,
i tourt, the new encouragement, VIII
4 came in snowy state, and with geni;
= display of courtly manners and goo
: feeling; but his arrival made little di
ference. The Burgesses smiled to Sc
him come to open their session {
1 1863 with pageant of coach and 81
brave display of royal insignia. an
1 the manner of a sovereign meetin
\ Parliament; and turned from him q
4 most in contempt to denounce one
= more the course of the minister
, argue again the rights of America. d
clare they would draw the colonit
2 together in concerted opposition, ar
call upon the other colonies to conc,
=. with them alike in their principle
and in their purpose
Out With the Governor.
lie Botetourt came hot foot to dissolr
1t them; but they only shifted the
place of meeting. gathered again
ne the private house of Mr.. Anthony Ha
Sc and there resolved no longer to IL
port the things which Parliament hi
axed In despite of them. George NJ
son had drawn the resolutions,
or Washington's request. and Washin
.on himself presented them.
a.I Mason's thought had FASTENED We