The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-11-30

iiai aiidiis WHICH lOOh place HI New
port R. l.; New York city, Philadelphia, An
napos. Md. and Charleston, s. c.?
All Of these had their origins In the Town
shend acts OF 1767 which levied tax on colonial
importation of tea, glass. lead paper and SIM
liar articles: In colonial boycott which took
the form OF "non-importatlon agreements" and
In the repeal In April, ITO OF all duties except
that on tea. which was retained as King Georges
method OF saying to his American subjects II
have the right to tax you If / want to-"
Added to this fact were enough other irrta-
lions between Mother Country and her colonies
SO that by the end of 1772 the radicals among
the coonists chief Of whom was Samuel Adams
or Boston, were convinced that this country
must shake of Its intolerabe burdens at all
events" Then In 1773 came another event to
add fresh fuel to the fires OF discomfort The
East india company, which was In financial DIFF
ficnlties, obtained from the king permission to
carry tea to America free of the usual duties
charged for transhipment In England and to
establish colonial stores In which to sell Its
goods
The effect of this was to weaken the boycott
on tea by tempting colonial tea-drinkers with
cheaper price 1t also meant that the Amer
lean merchant who tried to support the boycott
would face cut-throat competition from a trad
ing company which had virtual monopoly
Faced by ruin, 1t was only natural that such
hitherto conservative merchants as William
Phillips, John Rowe and John Hancock should
be driven into the ranks OF the American rad
icals
Either blind or Indifferent to this fact. the
East India company proceeded to send out Its
tea ships headed for various American ports
The three which set out for Boston were Nam
tucket craft-the Dartmouth, Capt James Hall:
the Eleanor, Capt James Bruce. and the brig
Beaver, Capt Hezekiah Coffin They had taken
cargoes of whale oil to England and were en-
gagged by the East India company to carry the
cargoes of tea the return journey.
On November % the Dartmouth appeared In
Boston hasbor, followed soon afterwards by the
Eleanor nrfd the Beaver. ION Friday arrived
Captain Bruce from London. having on board a
quantity of the detestahle article of tea Ibis
ship lays at the same wharf with Captain Halls
that so the persons who watch the one may the
more easily take care OF the other also" Thus
reads an item In contemporary newspaper ON
December g. 17T3.
Every effort was made to have the tea sent
back to England In the ships that had brought
1t, but all these efforts failed. The captains OF
the ships, which were moored at Grifln's wharf
at the foot OF the present Pearl street In mod
ern Boston, were In a quandary, was Francis
Rotch peaceable Quaker, who WAS the owner
of the Dartmouth, for they had other cargoes
on board besides the 342r chests Of tea.
The collector of the port refused to Issue clear
ance papers until all dutiable goods had been
discharged. A selfappointed guard Of citizens
was keeping watch at the wharf to prevent the
unloading of the tea. In the meantime Cover
nor Hutchinson had taken measures to prevent
the departure Of the ships past Castle William,
which guarded the entrance to Boston harbor.
The law provided that unless duties were paid
nfter 20 days. ship and its cargo could be