Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

June

18.

discovered a most noble spirit, which will prove a fore disappointment to them. If it was expected, that incurable envy, jealoufy and animofity, would be excited between the two towns, and that the refractory capital being abandoned and left alone to ruminate upon her forlorn fituation, would foon be reclaimed and brought to a full fenfe of her duty; the very reverfe will mortify. The day after the diffolution of the general court, the merchants and freeholders of Salem presented an address to the governor, and in it expreffed the most generous fentiments. They faid, "We are moft deeply afflicted with a fenfe of our public calamities; but the miferies that are now rapidly haftening on our brethren in the capital of this province, greatly excite our commiferation, and we hope your excellency will use your endeavours to prevent a further accumulation of evils, on that already forely diftreffed people."-" By fhutting up the port of Bofton, fome imagine that the courfe of trade might be turned hither and to our benefit; but nature in the formation of our harbour, forbids our becoming rivals in commerce with that convenient mart. And were it otherwise, we must be dead to every idea of juftice, and loft to all feelings of humanity, could we indulge one thought to feize on wealth, and raise our fortunes on the ruin of our fuffering neighbours." The governor was treated with the highest respect, and mention was made of their hoping much, from his general character, as well as from his wifdom and mildness in another command. They expreffed the strongest attachment to the mother country, the deepeft concern for the present unhappy troubles, and the most fervent wifhes for a speedy and happy reconciliation, to obtain

which they were willing to facrifice every thing compȧtible with the safety and dignity of British fubjects.

Marblehead, a fea-port, about three miles from Salem, and equally far with the last from Boston, but a town of no great trade, being engaged chiefly in the cod-fifhery, teftified its regard and compaffion for the capital, by letting the fuffering merchants have the free ufe of its wharfs and ftores. Its inhabitants offered alfo to attend the lading and unlading of their goods, and to transact for them all the bufinefs to be done at their port, without putting them to the fmalleft expence.

The pity and refentment of the country at large, were excited by observations published on the Boston port-bill. Those of Mr. Jofiah Quincy, jun. were most generally read and admired. He obferved-" The Bofton port-bill condemns a whole town unheard, nay, uncited to answer; involves thousands in ruin and mifery, without fuggeftion of any crime by them committed; and is fo conftituted, that enormous pains and penalties muft enfue, notwithstanding the most perfect obedience to its injunctions. The deftruction of the tea which took place without any illegal procedure of the town, is the only alleged ground of configning thoufands of its inhabitants to ruin, mifery and despair. Thofe charged with the most aggravated crimes, are not punishable, till arraigned before difinterested judges; heard in their own defence, and found guilty of the charge. But here a whole people are accufed; profecuted by they know not whom; tried they know not when; proved guilty they know not how; and fentenced to fuffer inevitable ruin. Their hard fate cannot be averted by the moft fervile fubmiffion, the moft implicit obedience to Bb 4

this

[ocr errors]

this ftatute.

Their firft intimation of it was on the tenth of May, and it took place the firft of June, thence to continue in full force, till it fhall fufficiently appear to his majefty, that full fatisfaction hath been made by or in behalf of the inhabitants of Bofton, to the East India company, for the damage fuftained by the deftruction of their tea; and until it fhall be certified to his majefty, by the governor or lieutenant governor of the province, that reasonable satisfaction has been made to the officers of the revenue and others, for the riots and infurrection mentioned in it. So fhort a, fpace is given for staying the torrent of threatened evils, that the fubject though exerting his utmost energy, must be overwhelmed, and driven to madness by terms of deliverance which deny relief till his ruin is inevitable.'

Others faid, Had punishment been only threatened, had it been in our own option, whether we would submit or fuffer, the reason for complaint would have been lefs. But without previous warning in the propofal of any terms that might have prevented the coming of evil upon us, it is inflicted with ineffable vengeance; so that fhould we fervilely fubmit to all required, we must notwithstanding fuffer almoft total ruin. The conditions upon which alone our fufferings are to be removed, far from being fixed with precifion, are fo loofe and indeterminate, that a governor may perpetuate them during his political existence, the king in council not being enabled to open the port without his certificate. The wharfs and landing places in Boston, which are the property of numerous individuals, are as to the ufe of them wherein only their value confifts, wrefted out of their hands, and put into the king's, to be disposed of at his

plea

[ocr errors]

pleafure. Two wharfs indeed are to be opened again, when his majefty fhall think proper; but the residue are for ever interdicted the exercise of commerce."

The rough drafts of the bills" for the better regulating of the government of the Massachusetts-bay ;" and "for the impartial administration of justice in it," as well as of that "for quartering the troops in America," upon their arrival at Bofton, were inftantly circulated through the continent, and filled up whatever was before wanting, of violence and indignation in most of the colonies. Even thofe who were moderate or feemed wavering, now became refolute and refentful. Nothing was to be heard of, but meetings and refolutions. Liberal contributions for the relief of the distreffed Boftonians were every where recommended, and foon practifed. Numberless letters were written from diftricts, towns and provinces, to the people of Boston, in which, besides every expreffion of fympathy and tenderness, they were commended for their past conduct, and strongly exhorted to a perfeverance in that virtue, which had brought on their fufferings. It was in vain, that the friends of government attended a town meeting, and attempted to pass refolutions for the payment of the tea, and for diffolving the committee of correspondence; they found themselves loft in a prodigious majority, and had no other refource than drawing up a protest against the proceedings of that body. The Boston committee of correfpondence apprehended themselves fo fixed in the good opinion of the public, that they ventured to frame and publish an agreement, entitled, A folema league and covenant,

General

June General Gage was fo alarmed at the idea of a folemn 29. league and covenant, that he iffued a ftrong proclamation against it, ftiling it an unlawful, hoftile, and traiterous combination. He charged all magiftrates to apprehend and fecure for trial, fuch as fhould have any fhare in aiding or abetting the foregoing or any fimilar covenant. The charge was needlefs; for the engagement was so unguardedly expreffed, and fo extremely infnaring, that it was feverely cenfured by many of the beft and warmest fons of liberty, in and about Boston, who refused to give it fupport; fo that, however it might be venerated out of the colony, it funk into obfcurity at home; and changed its form into one that was lefs exceptionable, and yet equally well calculated to stop the trade with Great Britain, and that accorded with thofe entered into about the fame time, in various parts of the continent, without any previous concert with each other, any more than with Bofton. The coincidence of fentiments and measures, given into by individuals, and affemblies larger and fmaller, in the feveral and moft diftant colonies, without any previous contrivance, has been fo remarkable, that perfons, the furtheft removed from fuperftition, have inclined to afcribe it to a special providence of God. They have been seemingly actuated by one and the fame fpirit, nearly at the fame inftant. When letters have been dispatched from Bofton to fellow-patriots afar, afking or giving advice; letters from thefe have been upon the road, giving or afking the very advice which was wanted-the like in other matters. Not that there is a uniformity in all points through the continent. The people may be divided into two great claffes. One is for rufhing headlong into the

greatest

« ZurückWeiter »