The Ordway new era., 1913-08-08
InstalIment 10

Sensible Of the Importance of unan.
unity among our constituents" said
Jefferson afterwards. looking back to
that time when he was young and in
the hrst fush 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 ad.
vtsed."
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
jealous exclusion of new men. Hen.
ry's 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 pamphlet entitled IAN
Inquiry into the Rights Of the British
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 allen"
When antiquarians and lawyers.
fresh from poring upon old documents.
spoke thus, there were surely signs of
the times.
Parliament . Mischief Breeder.
The government at home kept colo
nial 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-
~ 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:
- resolution for England's right to
do what the treasury pleased with
three millions of freemen." cried
Chatham.
Though Rockingham's government
would not act on that right, its sue
cessors would without scruple; and
they were soon about 1t, for Rocking
hams ministry retained office scarcely
q twelvemonth. Grenville was, in
deed, discredited; but Grafton and
Townshend were as bad as stubborn
in temper. as reckless In policy.
More. Taxes for the colonists.
The year 1867 saw taxes proposed
and enacted on glass. paper. painters
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 arrangements
they presently created custom-house
and board of revenue commissioners
for America.
It was an ominous year, and set
opinion forward not q little In the col
onies.
Protests from the eureesses.
The House Of Burgesses broke. at its
next session (176s), into fresh pro-
tests and remonstrances, and there
was NO one to restrain or rebuke It.
FauQuier was dead. and gone to his
reckoning; the reins of government
were in the hands of gentle John
Blair. president of the council. a vir-
ginian every inch. and with never a
thought Of checking his fellow-colo-
nists in the expression Of their Just
opinion.
The autumn brought Lord Bote-
tourt, the new governor-general. who
came in snowy state. and with genial
display Of courtly manners and good
feeling: but his arrival made little diff
ference. The Burgesses smiled to see
him come to open their session of
1853 with pageant Of coach and six
brave display Of royal insignia. and
the manner Of a sovereign meeting
Parliament; and turned from him al
most In contempt to denounce once
more the course OF the ministers.
argue again the rights of America, de.
clare they would draw the colonies
together in concerted opposition. and
call upon the other colonies to concur
with them alike in their principles
and in their purpose.
Out With the Governor.
Botetourt came hot foot to dissolve
them; but they only shifted their
place Of meeting. gathered again at
the private house OF Mr.. Anthony Hay,
and there resolved no longer to i'm
port the things which Parliament had