all Protestants. These measures created universal indignation toward the ernment, and sympathy for the people of Boston. gov On the first of June, 1774, the Boston Port Bill went into operation. It was a heavy blow for the doomed town. Business was crushed, and great suffering ensued. The utter prostration of trade soon produced wide-spread distress. The rich, deprived of their rents, became straitened; and the poor, denied the privilege of laboring, were reduced to beggary. All classes felt the scourge of the oppressor, but bore it with remarkable fortitude. They were conscious of being right, and everywhere, tokens of the liveliest sympathy were manifested. Flour, rice, cereal grains, fuel, and money, were sent to the suffering people from the different colonies; and the city of London, in its corporate capacity, subscribed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the poor of Boston. For the purpose of enforcing these oppressive laws, General Gage, the commander-in-chief of the British army in America,' was appointed governor of Massachusetts, and an additional military force was ordered to Boston. These coercive demonstrations greatly increased the public irritation, and diminished the hopes of reconciliation. Slavish submission or armed resistance, was now the alternative presented to the American people. Committees of correspondence which had been formed in every colony in 1773, had been busy in the interchange of sentiments and opinions, and throughout the entire community of Anglo-Americans there was evidently a general consonance of feeling, favorable to united efforts in opposing the augmenting tyranny of Great Britain. Yet they hesitated, and resolved to deliberate in solemn council before they should appeal to "the last argument of kings."" SC NC M NJ P NY UNITE OR DIE SNAKE DEVICE. NE The patriots of Massachusetts stood not alone in their integrity. In all the colonies the WHIGS were as inflexible and bold, and as valiantly defied the power of royal governors, when unduly exercised. But those of Massachusetts, being the special objects of ministerial vengeance, suffered more, and required more boldness to act among bristling bayonets and shotted cannons, prepared expressly for their bosoms. Yet they grew stronger every day under persecution, and bolder as the frowns of British power became darker. Even while 1 Page 220. 2 At a consultation of leading members of the Virginia House of Assembly, in March, 1773, held in the old Raleigh tavern at Williamsburg, at which Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, and others, were present, it was agreed to submit a resolution in the House the following day, appointing a committee of vigilance and correspondence, and recommending the same to the other colonies. The measure was carried, and these committees formed one of the most powerful engines in carrying on the work of the Revolution. Similar committees had already been formed in several towns in Massachusetts. There are several old French can 3 These words, in Latin, were often placed upon cannons. nons, made of brass, in the State armory at Richmond, Virginia, on two of which these words appear. They also appear upon some French cannons at West Point. The terms, WHIG and TORY, had long been used in England as titles of political parties. The former denoted the opposers of royalty; the latter indicated its supporters. These terms were introduced into America two or three years before the Revolution broke out, and became the distinctive titles of the patriots and loyalists, ⚫ Even the children seemed to lose their timidity, and became bolder. They nobly exhibited it troops, to overawe them were parading the streets of Boston, sturdy representatives of the people assembled at Salem,' and sent forth an invitation to all the colonies to appoint delegates to meet in a general Congress at Philadelphia on the 5th of September following. It met with a hearty response from twelve of the thirteen colonies, and the Press and the Pulpit seconded the measures with great emphasis. Some newspapers bore a significant device. It was a snake cut into thirteen parts, each part bearing the initials of a colony upon it, as seen in the engraving. Under these were the significant words, Unite or die. The delegates were all appointed before the close of August, and the FIRST on one occasion. They were in the habit of building mounds of snow in winter, on Boston Common. These the soldiers battered down, so as to annoy the boys. This being repeated, a meeting of larger boys was held, and a deputation was sent to General Gage, to remonstrate. "We come, sir," said the tallest boy, "to demand satisfaction." "What!" exclaimed Gage; "have your fathers been teaching you rebellion, and sent you here to exhibit it?" "Nobody sent us here, sir," said the boy. while his eyes flashed with indignation. We have never insulted nor injured your troops, but they have trodden down our snow-hills, and broken the ice on our skating-grounds. We complained; and, calling us young rebels, told us to help ourselves if we could. We told the captain of this, and he laughed at us. Yesterday our works were destroyed for the third time, and we will bear it no longer." Gage admired the spirit of the boys, promised them redress, and turning to an officer, he said, "The very children here draw in a love of liberty with the air they breathe" At that meeting of the General Assembly of Massachusetts, the patriots matured a plan for a general Congress, provided for munitions of war to resist British power in their own province, and formed a general non-importation league for the whole country. In the midst of their proceedings, General Gage sent his secretary to dissolve them, but the doors of the Assembly chamber were locked, and the key was in Samuel Adams's pocket. Having finished their business, the Assembly adjourned, and thus ended the last session of that body, under a royal governor. 2 Page 226. CONTINENTAL CONGRESS' assembled in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, on the 5th of September, 1774, the day named in the circular. All but Georgia were represented. Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, was appointed President, and Charles Thomson of Pennsylvania, Secretary. The regular business of the Congress commenced on the morning of the 7th, after an impressive prayer for Divine guidance, uttered by the Rev. Jacob Duché, of Philadelphia. They remained in session until the 26th of October, during which time they matured measures for future action, which met with the general approbation of the American people. They prepared and put forth sev 4 eral State papers, marked by such signal ability and wisdom, as to draw from the Earl of Chatham these words in the House of Lords: "I must declare and avow, that in all my reading and study of history(and it has been my favorite study-I have read Thucydides, and have studied and admired the master States of the world)-that for solidity of reasoning, force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, under such a complication of circumstances, no nation or body of men can stand in preference to the general Congress at Philadelphia." In all its proceedings Congress manifested decorum, firmness, moderation, CARPENTER'S HALL. 8 This name was given to distinguish it from the two colonial Congresses [pages 183 and 215] already held; one at Albany in 1754, the other at New York in 1765. Thomson was secretary of Congress, perpetually, from 1774, until the adoption of the Federal Constitution, and the organization of the new government, in 1789. Watson relates that Thomson had just come into Philadelphia, with his bride, and was alighting from his chaise, when a messenger from the delegates in Carpenter's Hall came to him, and said they wanted him to come and take minutes of their proceedings, as he was an expert at such business. For his first year's service, he received no pay. So Congress informed his wife that they wished to compensate her for the absence of her husband during that time, and wished her to name what kind of a piece of plate she would like to receive. She chose an urn, and that silver vessel is yet in the family. Thomson was born in Ireland in 1730, came to America when eleven years of age, and died in 1824, at the age of ninety-four years. When the delegates had assembled on the 5th, no one seemed inclined to break the silence, and deep anxiety was depicted in every countenance. Soon a grave-looking man, in a suit of "minister's gray," and unpowdered wig, arose, and, with a sweet, musical voice, he uttered a few eloquent words, that electrified the whole audience. "Who is he?" was a question that went from lip to lip. A few who knew him, answered, "It is Patrick Henry, of Virginia." There was no longer any hesitation. He who, nine years before, had cast the gauntlet of defiance at the feet of British power, now set in motion that august machinery of civil power, which assisted in working out the independence of the United States. Duché was a minister of the Church of England, and afterward became a Tory. G They prepared a plan for a general commercial non-intercourse with Great Britain and her West India possessions, which was called The American Association, and was recommended for adoption throughout the country. It consisted of fourteen articles. In addition to the non-intercourse provisions, it was recommended to abandon the slave-trade, to improve the breed of sheep, to abstain from all extravagance in living and indulgence in horse-racing, etc., and the appointment of a committee in every town to promote conformity to the requirements of the Association. It was signed by the fifty-two members present. 6 A Bill of Rights; an address to the people of Great Britain, written by John Jay; another to the several Anglo-American colonies, written by William Livingston; another to the inhabitants of Quebec, and a petition to the king. In these, the grievances and the rights of the colonies were ably set forth. He also said, in a letter to Stephen Sayre, on the 24th of December, 1774: "I have not words to express my satisfaction that the Congress has conducted this most arduous and delicate business, with such manly wisdom and calm resolution, as do the highest honor to their deliberation." On the 8th of October, they unanimously resolved, "That this Congress approve the opposition. and loyalty; and when the delegates resolved to adjourn, to meet again at the same place on the 10th of May following [1775], unless the desired redress of grievances should be obtained, they did so with an earnest hope that a reconciliation might speedily take place, and render another national council unnecessary. But they were doomed to bitter disappointment. Great Britain was blind and stubborn still. CHAPTER II. FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. [1775.] PERSUADED that war was inevitable, the colonists began to prepare for that event, during the summer and autumn of 1774. They practiced daily in military exercises; the manufacture of arms and gunpowder was encouraged; and throughout Massachusetts in particular, where the heel of the oppressor bore heaviest, the people were enrolled in companies. Fathers and sons, encouraged by the gentler sex, received lessons together in the art of war, and prepared to take arms at a moment's warning. From this circumstance, they were called minute-men. The Whig' journals grew bolder every hour. Epigrams, parables, sonnets, dialogues, and every form of literary expression, remarkable for point and terseness, filled their columns. We give a single specimen of some of the rhymes of the day: แ THE QUARREL WITH AMERICA FAIRLY STATED. "Rudely forced to drink tea, Massachusetts in anger Spills the tea on John Bull; John falls on to bang her; And give Master John a severe bastinade. Now, good men of the law! pray, who is in fault, The Massachusetts leaders, in the mean while, were laboring, with intense zeal, to place the province in a condition to rise in open and united rebellion, when necessity should demand. And all over the land, the provincial assemblies, speakers at public gatherings, and from the pulpit, were boldly proclaiming the right of resistance. These demonstrations alarmed General Gage, and he commenced fortifying Boston Neck.' He also seized and conveyed to of the inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay, to the execution of the late acts of Parliament, and if the same shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force, in such case all America ought to support them in their opposition." This resolution, in letter and spirit, was the embodiment of the revolutionary sentiment. Note 4, page 226. Thomas Gage was a native of England. He was governor of Montreal [page 203] in 1760, and commander-in-chief of the British army in America, in 1763. He was appointed governor of Massachusetts, in 1774; left America in 1775; and died in 1787. The peninsula of Boston was originally connected with the main land by a narrow isthmus called the Neck. It has been greatly widened by filling in the marginal morasses; and over it now passes the fine avenue which connects the city with Roxbury, on the main. the city large quantities of ammunition found in the neighboring villages, and employed stringent measures for preventing intercourse between the patriots in the city and in the country. The exasperated people needed but the electric spark of even a slight offense to kindle their suppressed indignation into a blaze. They were ready to sound the battle-cry, and evoke the sword of rebellion from its scabbard; and they were even anxious to attack the soldiers in Boston, but they were restrained by prudent conselors.' A rumor went abroad on the third of September, that British ships were cannonading Boston. From the shores of Long Island Sound to the green hills of Berkshire, "To arms! to arms!" was the universal shout. Instantly, on every side, men of all ages were seen cleansing and burnishing their weapons; and within two days, full thirty thousand minute-men were under arms, and hastening toward that city. They were met by a contradiction of the rumor; but the event conveyed such a portentous lesson to Gage, that he pushed forward his military operations with as much vigor as the opposition of the people would allow. He thought it expedient to be more conciliatory; and he summoned the colonial Assembly to meet at Salem on the 5th of October. Then dreading their presence, he revoked the order. Ninety delegates met, however, and organized by the appointment of John Hancock' president. They then went to Cambridge, where they formed a Provincial Congress, independent of royal authority (the first in America), and labored earnestly in preparations for that armed resistance, now become a stern necessity. They made provisions for an army of twelve thousand men; solicited other New England colonies to augment it to twenty thousand; and appointed Jedediah Preble and Artemas Ward' men of experience in the French and Indian war," generals of all the troops that might be raised. The Americans were now fairly aroused to action. They had counted the cost of armed rebellion, and were fully resolved to meet it. The defiant position of the colonists arrested the attention of all Europe. When the British Parliament assembled early in 1775, that body presented a scene of great excitement. Dr. Franklin and others, then in England, had given a wide circulation to the State papers put forth by the Continental Congress; and the 1 6 Many hundreds of armed men assembled at Cambridge. At Charlestown, the people took possession of the arsenal, after Gage had carried off the powder. At Portsmouth, N. H., they captured the fort, and carried off the ammunition. At Newport, R. I., the people seized the powder, and took possession of forty pieces of cannon at the entrance of the harbor. In New York, Philadelphia, Annapolis, Williamsburg, Charleston, and Savannah, the people took active defensive measures, and the whole country was in a blaze of indignation. 2 Carpenters refused to work on the fortifications, and much of the material was destroyed by fire, at night, in spite of the vigilance of the guards. Gage sent to New York for timber and workmen; but the people there would not permit either to leave their port. John Hancock was one of the most popular of the New England patriots, throughout the whole war. He was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1737, was educated at Harvard College; became a counting-room clerk to his uncle, and inherited that gentleman's great wealth. Ho entered public life early; was a representative in the Continental Congress, and was its president when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. He was afterward governor of Massachusetts. Mr. Hancock died in October, 1793, at the age of fifty-six years. Note 5, page 238. Page 179. Dr. Franklin had then been agent in England, for several of the colonies, for about ten years 7 Note 6, page 228. |