The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-06-03

just anu explicit ground OF suspicion
against him, no English subject any
where would submit to; and yet these
writs authorized nothing less.
Issued under a questionable extern
sion to America of an exceptional
power Of the court OF exchequer.
they violated every precedent of the
common law, no less than every prin-
ciple of prudent administration: and
the excitement which they provoked
was at once deep and ominous. Sharp
resistance was made in the courts,
and no officer ever ventured to serve
one of the obnoxious writs. Such
challenge of the recess was uttered
by colonial counsel upon trial of the
right. moreover, that ministers would
be without excuse should they ignore
the warning. so explicit and so
eloquent of revolutionary purpose.
1t was James Otis who utterd it.
He had but the other day carried the
royal commission In his pocket as adj
vocate general in his majesty's court
of admiralty; but he would not have
scrupled. even as his majesty's SER
want, he said. to oppose the exercise
Of power which had already cost
one king his head and another his
throne. To oppose in such case was
to defend the very constitution un-
der which the king wore his crown.
That constitution secured to English
men everywhere the rights of free
men: the eolonists had, besides, the
plan guarantees Of their own chart
ers; If constitution and charters
failed. or were galnsaid, the prin-
ciples Of natural reason suff1ced for
defense against measures 30 arrogant
and so futile. No lawyer could justify
these extraordinary writs; no king
with an army at his back could ever
force them to execution.
Protest not only, but defiance, rang
very clear in these fearless words;
and ministers must avow themselves
very ignorant, should they pretend
they did not know how Mr.. Otis had
kindled fire from one end of the
colonies to the other But Granville
was resolute to take all risks and
push this policy.
The Obnoxious Stamp Act.
He did not finch from the enforce
ment of the measures of 1854, and in
the session of 1865 calmly fulfilled his
promise of further taxation. He pro-
posed that the colonists should be re-
quired to use revenue stamps upon all
their commercial paper, legal docu-
ments, pamphlets, and newspapers,
and that, at once as general meas
ure of convenience and a salutary ex-
hlbitfon Of authority, his majesty's
troops stationed in the plantations
should be billeted on the people.
Parliament readily acquiesced. 1t
was thus Granville Tlrposed "defray-
ing the expenses of defending, protec-
ting. and securing" the colonies; but
he cam, near losing them instead.
The act was passed in March; it
was not to go into effect until Novem-
Der; but the colonists did not keep
him waiting until November for their
protests. It was the voice of verita-
BILE tempest that presently came over
sea to the ear of the startled min
lister. And it was not the general
court Of turbulent Massachusetts, but
the house of burgesses Of loyal Vir-
ginia that first spoke the general in
dignation.
A Polite Protest.
Already in the autumn of 1854, up
on the mere threat Of what was to
come, that house had spoken very ur
gently against the measures proposed,
in memorial to king and parliament,
which, amidst every proper phrase
of loyalty and affection, had plainly
declared it the opinion of his ma
jesty's subjects in Virginia that such
acts would be in fiat violation of their
undoubted rights and liberties; and
the committee by which that mem
orial was drawn up had contained al
most every man of chief consequence
in the counsels of the colony, the
kings attorney general himself not ex-
cepted.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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