The Washington herald., 1913-01-28

L
No. 20.
Before a year was out Richard Bland
himself. parchment man and conservative
| that he was, had written and published
a 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 distinct. independent State"
though united with the parent state by
the closest league and amity, and under
the same allegiance" A colony treated
with injury and violence" he exclaimed,
lis become an allen"
When antiquarians and lawyers, fresh
from porting upon old documents, spoke
thus. there were surely signs OF the
times.
Parliament q Mischief Breeder.
The government at home kept colonial
sentiment very busy. Even Lord Rock
ingham's government with Burke to
admonish II, coupled its repeal OF the
stamp duties with a "declaratory act
which sought to quiet controversy by
giving the lie direct to every argument
urged against its, authority in the colo
mics. parliament has power to bind the
colonies in all cases whatsoever, was
its round assertion:-"a resolution for
Engiand'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 success
ors would without scruple: and they were
soon about II, for Rockingham's ministry
retained Office scarcely a twelvemonth.
Granville was, indeed. discredited; but
Grafton and Townsend were as bad, az
stubborn in temper, as reckless In poIicy.
More Taxes for the Colonists.
The year 1867 saw taxes proposed and
enacted on glass, paper. painters colors.
and tea imported into the colonies. with
a 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 minis
tiers suspended the legislative powers of
the Colonial Assembly in New York for
refusing to make provision for troops
CHARTERED upon the colony. To complete
their fiscal arrangements they presently
created a custom-house and board of
revenue commissioners for America
1t was an ominous year. and set opin-
ion forward not little in the colonies.
Protests from the Burgesses.
The House of Burgesses broke. at its
next session u7s9, into fresh protests
and circumstances, and there was no
one TO restrain or rebuke il. 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 Virginian every inch, and |
with never a thought of checking his fell |
low-colonists in the expression of their |
just opinion. =,
The autumn brought Lord Botetourt. |
the new governor general. who came in !
snowy state. and with genial display of
manners and good feeling; but
his arrival made little difference. The |
Burgesses smiled to see him come to
open their session OF 1863 with pageant |
OF coach and six, brave display of royal |
insignia and the manner OF a sovereign |
meeting Parliament: and turned from
him almost in contempt to denounce once !
more the course of the ministers, argue
again the rights OF America, declare they
would draw the colonies together in con-
certed opposition. and call upon the 9TH |
er 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 pri-
vate house OF Mr.. Anthony Hay, and \
there resolved no longer to import the
things which Parliament had taxed in
spit Of them. George Mason had
drawn the resolutions. at washington's
request, and Washington himself pre-
sented them.
Masou's thought had fastened very
far along the path of opposition under
the whip Of Ensland's policy. and Wash
ngton's quite as far.
The government had not only sent
troops to Boston and dissolved every
Assembly that protested. but had ad-
rised the King to press prosecutions for
reason In the colonies; and, should
here be deemed sufficient ground,
transport the accused to England to be
rled by special commission.
Hot Outburst from Virginia.
1t was this last measure that had
the Burgesses to their hottest
,utburst. AT a time when our lordly