The Loyalists of America and Their Times | Page 8

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CHAPTER XV.
EVENTS OF 1769.--UNJUST IMPUTATIONS OF PARLIAMENT ON THE LOYALTY OF THE COLONISTS, AND MISREPRESENTATIONS OF THEIR JUST AND LOYAL PETITIONS. 353-363
Manly response to these imputations on the part of the Colonists, and their assertion of British constitutional rights, led by the General Assembly of Virginia 355
Dissolution of Colonial Assemblies; agreements for the non-importation of British manufactured goods entered into by the Colonists 356
The General Assembly of Massachusetts refuse to legislate under the guns of a land and naval force; Governor Barnard's reply 357
Proceedings of the Governor and House of Assembly on quartering troops in Boston 358
Governor Barnard's recall and character (in a note) 359
Origin of the non-importation agreement in New York; sanctioned by persons in the highest stations; union of the Colonies planned 360
Sons of Governors Barnard and Hutchinson refuse to enter into the non-importation agreement 360
They were at length compelled to yield; humiliating position of the soldiers in Boston; successful resistance of the importation of British goods 360
Joy in the Colonies by a despatch from Lord Hillsborough promising to repeal the obnoxious Revenue Acts, and to impose no more taxes on the Colonies 361
The duty of threepence per pound on tea excepted 363
CHAPTER XVI.
EVENTS OF 1770.--AN EVENTFUL EPOCH.--EXPECTATIONS OF RECONCILIATION AND UNION DISAPPOINTED. 364-373
Collisions between the soldiers and inhabitants in Boston 365
The soldiers insulted and abused 365
The Boston Massacre; the soldiers acquitted by a Boston jury 365
The payment of official salaries independent of the Colonies another cause of dissatisfaction 366
What had been claimed by the old American Colonies contended for in Canada, and granted, to the satisfaction and progress of the country 367
Lord North's Bill to repeal the Colonial Revenue Acts, except the duty on tea, which he refused to repeal until "America should be prostrate at his feet" 368
Governor Pownall's speech and amendment to repeal the duty on tea, rejected by a majority of 242 to 204 369
Associations in the Colonies against the use of tea imported from England 370
The tea duty Act of Parliament virtually defeated in America 370
The controversy revived and intensified by the agreement between Lord North and the East India Company, to remit the duty of a shilling in the pound on all teas exported by it to America, where the threepence duty on the pound was to be collected 371
Combined opposition of English and American merchants, and the Colonists from New Hampshire to Georgia, against this scheme 372
CHAPTER XVII.
EVENTS OF 1771, 1772, 1773.--THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S TEA REJECTED IN EVERY PROVINCE OF AMERICA; NOT A CHEST OF ITS TEA SOLD; RESOLUTIONS OF A PUBLIC MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA ON THE SUBJECT, THE MODEL FOR THOSE OF OTHER COLONIES. 374-387
The Governor, Hutchinson, of Massachusetts, and his sons (the consignees), alone determined to land the tea at Boston 376
The causes and affair of throwing the East India Company's tea into the Boston Harbour, as stated on both sides 377
The causes and the disastrous effect of the arrangement between the British Ministry and the East India Company 381
The King the author of the scheme; His Majesty's condemnation of the petitions and remonstrances from the Colonies (in a note) 382
Governor Hutchinson's proceedings, and his account of the transactions at Boston 383
His vindication of himself, and description of his pitiable condition 383
Remarks on the difference between his conduct and that of the Governors of other provinces 387
CHAPTER XVIII.
EVENTS OF 1774.--ALL CLASSES IN THE COLONIES DISCONTENTED; ALL CLASSES AND ALL THE PROVINCES REJECT THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S TEA. 388-402
Opposition to the tea duty represented in England as "rebellion," and the advocates of colonial rights designated "rebels" and "traitors" 388
Three Acts of Parliament against the inhabitants of Boston and of Massachusetts, all infringing and extinguishing the heretofore acknowledged constitutional rights and liberties of the people 389
Debates in Parliament, and misrepresentations of the English press on American affairs 390
Lord North explains the American policy; the Bill to punish the town of Boston; petitions against it from the agent of Massachusetts and the city of London; debates on it in the Commons and Lords 394
Distress of Boston; addresses of sympathy, and contributions of relief from other towns and provinces; generous conduct of the inhabitants of Massachusetts and Salem 395
The second penal Bill against Massachusetts, changing the constitution of the government of the province 396
Third penal Bill for the immunity of governors, magistrates, and other public officers in Massachusetts 396
The fourth Act of Parliament, legalizing the quartering of the troops in Boston 397
The effects of these measures in the Colonies the reverse of what their authors and advocates had anticipated; all the Colonies protest against them 397
General Gage's arrival in Boston, and courteous reception, as successor to Governor Hutchinson--his character (in a note) 398
Meeting of the Massachusetts Legislature; adjournment to Salem; their respectful, loyal, but firm reply to the Governor's speech; his bitter answer 399
Courteous, loyal, and patriotic answer of the Assembly to