Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1926-03-05

In 1888, The Sugar Act was
passed. This act placed duties on
sugar and molasses so high as to
prevent the coloniSts from getting
these things from the French West
Indies. But the Americans snug
gled some. The purpose of this
law was to make the colonistS buy
their sugar from Jamaica, where
the sugar planters were in finun-
cial distress. Jamaica was an Eng
fish colony
To enforce the Navigation Laws
general search warrants were is
sued. These were used to search
for smugg!sd goods. They were
called Writs IF Assistance
Grenyille saw that the colonies
were prosperous and itch, and tn
English government had expend
ed vast sums of money in the late
war and it seemed to him only Just
that they should now pay for their
own protection. Then Parliament
passed a Staun Act. 1t provided
that bills, nci. 3marriage certifi-
Gates, legal documents, etc, should
be written only on stamped paper
The revenue obtained from this
sale Of stamps was to be used for
colonial defense. The plan was
not devised for enriching the moth.
er country at the expense of the
colonies, for it was fully expected
that the tax would yield not more
than one hundred thousand pounds
less than one third the amount
England must expend to protect
America from foreign invasion or
Indian uprising. The Stamp Act
alarmed America and there was
great deal of trouble because of it
There was strong evidence every
where that the act could be en-.
forced only at the point of the bay
unet, if at all. Societies were or
gained, called Sons Of Liberty, I"
pledged to resist the law. Many
entered into agreements not to use
British goods, Later it was re
pealed, though.
Then Charles Townshend, bril-
liant man, then Chancellor of the
Exchequer. proposed to levy duties
Jon goods imported into the colo
mics, as a fair example of external
regulation. These were the Clown
shen Acts" Of 1867. The Colonists
protested against these acts. Sam
uel Adams, who was now clerk of
the Massachusetts assembly, wrote
"a series of addresses that were is
sued by the Assembly. In l770 the
.Townshend Acts were modified
TFe duty was taken off all the ar
ticles save tea.
Then came the Boston Massacre
The soldiers on the streets were a
Source Of annoyance aud were Of
ten insulted and provoked by
crowds Of men and boys, who de-
lighted in teasing them. On the
night of March 3, l7i0, small
guard Of soldiers, irritated beyond
endurance, fired into crowd and
instantly killed three persons, and
wounded several others. Then the
troops were demanded to with
draw from the town.
In l772, 4fi English ship, the
Gaspee, whose commander seem.
to have beenavery arbitrary in his
fforts to enforce the revenue
laws. was attacked and burned BY
q party of Rhode Islanders. The Of
Tenders could not be discovered
The Virginia Assembly appointed
a Committee Of Correspondence tol
keep III communication with the
other colonies This aggravated
the discomfort Of the colonies.
Cargoes az Tea were sent sol
from England, and thre
Ships enteyei Boston harbor. AL
was held 9here it was re-
solved that tfe tea must he sent
back to England. On the evening
Of December l6 a body OF men dis
euisad as Indians, boarded the
ships aud breaking open thel
chests. emptbi their contents intol
the sea. This was called the Boston
Tea Party The English people |
we're outraged by this action, and
fiery speeches were made DO Par |
lament
Five other acts were passed |
The first was sbe Boston Port BIN /
closing Che port af Boston until to- |
TEA was paid for The second
hang q THE charter OF Massachu /
cts la many WINS chiefly by ex /
ending Che power of tho Grown /