The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-07-01

These laws were comprehensive and strict being
designed to give British merchants n monopoly
OF trade with the colonies and to protect British,
manufacturers against colonial competition. War
ships were now placed along the coast to stop
the colonial trade with France and Spain and
their West Indian colonies The "Writs of AS
sistance" were general search warrants given 10
customs officials to enable them to break into and
search any premises mt any time. James Otis
the famous Boston lawyer. opposed the right OF
the British government to issue the wrIts or even
to pass an act of trade Imposing a tax on the
colonies. John Adams said of Otis celebrated
speech: ut breathed into this nation the breath
of lfe." Undoubtedly this situation was one OF
the contributing causes of the Revolution
Then King George demanded that the colonies
pay the expense of British army of about 20.
600 men to be quartered in America to protec,
the colonies against the Indians The colonies
suspected the purpose of this army and would
have none of It, Here was the beginning of real
trouble little later
The Boston Tea Party was a serious affair
not In itself, but because parliament immediate.
~ took measures to punish Boston and Massa.
chusetts. The closing of the port of Boston, the
removal OF the seat of government to Salem, the
appointment of General Gage governor of Mas.
schusetts and the remodeling of the charter OF
Massachusetts constituted warning to all the
colonies that free government was In imminent
danger everywhere On top of this came the
net providing that British officers magistrates
charged with murder or other capital crime should
be tried In some other colony In England; the
act billeting soldiers on people who failed voun.
tarlly To provide quarters and the net extendn:
the boundaries of Quebec To the Ohio river and
establishing an arbitrary form of government.
THIS emulation of activities ON the part of the
crown seems to have convinced the colonies that
their only salvation lay in getting together for
united action, so the First Continental Congress
met This congress merely delberative and
advisory; II issued declaration of rights; 1t
formed an association for carrying out the nom
importation agreement; II forwarded a petition
To the king and set out address To the col
onles; II provided for another congress To meet
In i1Ta stu there open discussion OF
Independence.
II was Massachusetts, which finally set off the
powder barrel General Gage summoned the prc-
,inclal congress tn meet In Salem but put off the
date Of assembling. The delegates met without
him and his counselors. They provided for the
appointment of a committee of safety and issued
a call for i2.ono Minute Men" Parliament then
declared Massachusetts To Ne in a state Of re-
helon. Next was the expedition out of Boston
to seize powder and to arrest the two chief trait.
ors'.
Then came the shots heard round the world"
and hoadshed The fight on, And still there
was no open movement for Independence until
after year ot bleoly lighting. Ii was not until
June Z lsT5. in the Second Continental Congress-
that Nirgnia's instructed delegate. Richard Hen
ry Lee, introduced the resolution beginning THAT
these united colonies are. and of right ought To
be. frCr and independent states"
The Declaration Of Independence. as drafted
by Thomas jefferson with the aid Of John Adams
Benjamin Franklin. Roger sherman and Robert
X, Livingston and amended by congress. consists
of two principal parts: A statement of American
political theories in justification of Independence
and list OF abuses by King George III that had
operated to ahsolve the united colonies from all
allegiance 10 the British crown. The facts here
In set forth make clear most OF the abuses Us out.
lined In the Declaration.