The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-07-01
(coNTINUED.)
Parliament a Mischief Breeder.

The government at home kept colo
NAL sentiment very busy. Even Lord
Rockingham's government, with Burke
to admonish it. coupled its repeal of
the stamp duties with a "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 DOW
Ger 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 Rockinghams government
would not act on that right, it's sue
cessors would without scruple; and
they were soon about 1t, for Rocking
hams ministry retained Office scarcely
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 coIonists.
The year 1857 saw taxes proposed
and enacted on glass, paper, painters
colors, and tea imported into the col
onies. 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 min
listers suspended the legislative pow
ers 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.
It was an omfnous year, and set
opinion forward not a little in the col
onies.
Protests from the Burgesses.
The House of Burgesses broke. at its
next session t1768), into fresh pro-
tests and circumstances, 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
1869 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
taxed in despite of them. George Ma
son had drawn the resolutions, at
Washington's request. and Washing
ton himself presented them.
Mason's thought had fastened very
far along the path of opposition under
the whip. of England's policy; and
Washington's quite as far.
The government had not only sent
troops to Boston and dissolved every
assembly that protested, but had ad-
vised the king to press prosecutions
for treason in the colonies, and.
should there be deemed sufficient
ground, transport the accused to Eng
land to be tried by special commits
sion.
Hot Outburst from Virginia.
It was this last measure that had
provoked the Burgesses to their hot
test outburst AT time when our
lordly masters in Great Britain will
be satisfied with nothing less than
the deprivation of american freedom -
wrote Washington to Mason, with a
sudden burst of passion, 1T seems
highly necessary that something
should be done to avert the stroke.
and maintain the liberty which we
have derived from our ancestors.
That no man should scruple. or hest
tate a moment, to use arms In de-
fence of SO valuable q blessing, on
which all the good and evil OF life
depends. is clearly my opinion. Yet
arms, would beg leave to add. should
be the last resource"
Addresses to the throne and remon-
strances to Parliament had failed; II
remained to try starving their trades
and manufactures" to see If that at
last would arrest their attention. NO
doubt even that would prove OF little
avail; but it was at least peaceabie
and worth the trial.
Washington on His Feet.
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