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Collected and edited by Harry Alonzo Cushing, vol. III.
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The Writings of Samuel Adams, vol. III.
Harry Alonzo Cushing, ed.
March, 1999 [Etext #2093]
The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Writings of Samuel Adams, V 3
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Prepared by: Regina Azucena [email protected] Daniel Moore [email protected]
THE WRITINGS OF SAMUEL ADAMS
COLLECTED AND EDITED BY
HARRY ALONSO CUSHING
VOLUME III
1773-1777
CONTENTS OF VOLUME III.
1773.
To James Otis, March 19th . . .
Political Activity of Mr. Bacon.
To the Town of Boston, March 23rd . . .
Report of Resolutions in Reply to Governor—Legality of Town
Meetings—Right of Petition—Supremacy of Parliament.
To John Dickinson, March 27th . . .
Controversy with Governor.
To Committee of Correspondence of Littleton, March 31st . . .
Acknowledgment of Co-operation.
To Nathan Sparhawk, March 31st . . .
Political Activity of Rutland.
To Thomas Mighill, April 7th . . .
Political Activity of Rowley.
To Arthur Lee, April 9th . . .
Election to Society of Bill of Rights—Effects of November Town-
Meeting—Controversy with Governor—Attitude of Lord Dartmouth—
Position of Hancock.
To Richard Henry Lee, April 10th . . .
Position of Colonies—Activity of Friends of Liberty—Resolves of
Virginia—Courts in Rhode Island.
Article Signed "Candidus," April 12th . . .
November Town-Meeting—Controversy with Governor.
To John Wadsworth, April 13th . . .
Action of Duxbury.
To Ezra Whitmarsh, April 13th . . .
Political Activity of Weymouth.
To Joseph North, April 13th . . .
Votes of Gardnerstown.
To Josiah Stone, April 13th . . .
Political Activity of Framingham.
To Arthur Lee, April 22nd . . .
Position of Hancock and of Otis.
To Arthur Lee, May 6th . . .
Practice of Instructing Representatives—Controversy with
Governor.
To Selectmen of Boston, May 14th . . .
Declining Election as Moderator.
To Arthur Lee, May 17th . . .
Meeting of General Assembly—Letters of Hutchinson.
To Arthur Lee, June 14th . . .
Letters of Hutchinson and Oliver.
To Elijah Morton, June 19th . . .
Resolves of Harfield—Unity of Colonists.
To Arthur Lee, June 21st . . .
Letters of Hutchinson—Action of House of Representatives.
To the King, June 23rd . . .
Petition for Removal of Hutchinson and Oliver.
To Arthur Lee, June 28th . . .
Action of House of Representatives on Letters—Attitude of
Public—Independence of Judiciary.
To Committee of Correspondence of Worcester, September 11th . . .
Activity of Committees of Correspondence—Independence of
Judiciary.
To Joseph Hawley, October 4th . . .
Disposition of Administration—Controversy with Governor—
Grievances of Colonists.
To Joseph Hawley, October 13th . . .
Character of Lord Dartmouth—Plans of Administration.
To Committees of Correspondence, October 21st . . .
Circular of Massachusetts Committee—Attitude of Ministry and
Parliament—Rights of Colonists.
Resolutions of Town of Boston, November 5th . . .
Duty upon Tea.
To Committee of Correspondence of Roxbury, November 9th . . .
Activity of Troops—Call for Conference.
Political Situation.
To Selectmen of Boston, November 17th . . .
Petition for Town-Meeting for Action upon Tea.
To Committee of Plymouth, December 17th . . .
Report on Tea.
To Committees of Correspondence, December 17th . . .
Report on Disposal of Tea.
To Arthur Lee, December 25th . . .
Recommending John Scollay.
To Arthur Lee, December 31st . . .
Boston Town-Meeting—Action on Tea.
1774.
To John Pickering, January 8th . . .
Petition of Negroes.
To Arthur Lee, January 25th . . .
Destruction of Tea.
Resolution of House of Representatives, March 1st . . .
Refusing Grant to Peter Oliver.
To Committee of Correspondence of Marblehead, March 24th . . .
Proposal of Continental Post.
To Elbridge Gerry, March 25th . . .
Political Disorders in Marblehead.
To Benjamin Franklin, March 31st . . .
Independence of Judiciary—Controversy with Governor—Rights of
Colonists.
To James Warren, March 31st . . .
Political Comments—Continental Post.
To Committee of Correspondence of Marblehead, April 2nd . . .
Local Politics in Marblehead—Effect of Committee's Resignation.
To Arthur Lee, April 4th . . .
Independence of Judiciary—Attitude of Governor—Relations with
England.
To Arthur Lee, April . . .
Disposition of Lord Dartmouth.
To John Dickinson, April 21st . . .
Oration of Hancock—Course of Massachusetts.
To Elbridge Gerry, May 12th . . .
Duty of Political Service.
To Committee of Correspondence of Portsmouth, May 12th . . .
Action of Boston on Port Bill.
To the Colonies, May 13th . . .
Appeal of Boston—The Port Act—Arrival of Gage.
To Committee of Correspondence of Philadelphia, May 13th . . .
Port Act.
To James Warren, May 14th . . .
Port Act—Attitude of Public—Action of Boston.
To Silas Deane, May 18th . . .
Response to Connecticut Committee—Co-operation of Colonists.
To Stephen Hopkins, May 18th . . .
Port Act—Need of Co-operation.
To Arthur Lee, May 18th . . .
Port Act.
To Elbridge Gerry, May 20th . . .
Port Act—Attitude of New York.
To Committee of Correspondence of Marblehead, May 22nd . . .
Attitude of New York.
To Charles Thomson, May 30th . . .
Function of Committee of Correspondence—Dependence upon
Merchants—Address to Hutchinson.
To Silas Deane, May 31st . . .
Political Plans—Adjournment of Legislature.
To William Checkley, June 1st . . .
Birth of Daughter—Position of Boston.
Resolution of House of Representatives, June 17th . . .
Need of Relief of Boston and Charlestown.
To Elbridge Gerry, June 22nd . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
Article Signed "Candidus," June 27th . . .
Trade Policy.
To Charles Thomson, June 30th . . .
Disposal of Donations.
To Committee of Correspondence of Norwich, July 11th . . .
Acknowledgment of Support.
To Richard Henry Lee, July 13th . . .
Port Act—Policy of Lord North—Attitude of Public.
To Noble Wymberly Jones, July 16th . . .
Acknowledgment of Co-operation.
To Christopher Gadsen, July 18th . . .
To Christopher Gadsen and L. Clarkson, July 18th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance—Efforts of Colonists.
To Committee of Correspondence of Colrain, July 18th . . .
Non-Consumption Agreement.
To Andrew Elton Wells, July 25th . . .
Condition of Boston.
To Peter Timothy, July 27th . . .
Boston Circular Letter—Shipment of Axes.
To Fisher Gay, July 29th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To Ezekiel Williams, July 29th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To Committee of Correspondence of Marblehead, August 2nd . . .
Attitude of Colonists to Boston.
To Joseph Gilbert, August 3rd . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To Fisher Gay, August 4th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To Committee of Correspondence of Boston, September 14th . . .
Proceedings of Continental Congress—Middlesex Resolves—
Opposition to Administration—Position of Committee.
To Charles Chauncy, September 19th . . .
Suffolk Resolves.
To Joseph Warren, September . . .
Government in Massachusetts.
To Joseph Warren, September 25th. . .
Need of Co-operation—Action of Continental Congress.
To General Gage, October . . .
Petition of Continental Congress—Acts of Parliament—
Fortifications at Boston—Indignities to Citizens.
To Thomas Young, October 17th . . .
Military Preparation—Resolves of Continental Congress.
To Peter V. Livingston, November 21st . . .
Shipment from South Carolina.
To Union Club, December 16th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
1775.
To Peter T. Curtenius, January 9th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To the Public, January 13th . . .
Statement of Donations Committee—Reply to Criticisms.
To Arthur Lee, January 29th . . . Port Act—Massachusetts Act—Effects of Military Force—Attitude of Colonists.
To Stephen Collins, January 31st . . .
Report of Personal Disagreements—Religious Liberty.
To Edward Archer, February 1st . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To Richard Randolph, February 1st . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance—Virginia Resolves of 1765.
To Benjamin Watkins and Archibald Cary, February 1st . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To Jonathan Tabb, February 7th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance—Attitude of Colonists to Boston.
To Arthur Lee, February 14th . . .
English Politics—Attitude of Colonists.
To Joseph Nye, February 21st . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To John Brown, February 21st . . .
Enclosing letter to Quebec.
To Inhabitants of Quebec, February 21st . . .
Statement of Situation by Committee of Correspondence—Design and
Conduct of Ministry—Acts of Parliament—Letters of Bernard and
Hutchinson—Quebec Act—Attitude of Jamaica—King's Speech.
To George Read, February 24th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To Isaac Van Dam, February 28th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To William Black,. . .
Shipment from Virginia—Advice concerning Captain
To Charles Dick, March . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To Arthur Lee, March 4th. . .
Conduct of Military Force—Action of Marshfield—Disaffection in
New York—Correspondence with Canada—Tories.
To —————, March 12th . . .
Attitude of South Carolina—Spirit in Boston—Massacre Oration.
To Jonathan Upshaw, March 14th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance—Attitude of Virginia.
To Samuel Purviance, March 14th . . .
Acknowledgment of Remittance.
To Jonathan Hanson, March 15th . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance.
To Jonathan Veazey, March 15th . . .
Directions as to Donations.
To Richard Henry Lee, March 21st . . .
Military Force in Boston—Massacre Oration—Conduct of Troops—
Course of Administration.
To Jonathan Augustine Washington, March 21st . . .
Acknowledgment of Assistance—Purpose of Boston.
To the Mohawk Indians, March . . .
Address of Massachusetts Delegates.
To Mrs. Adams, May 7th . . .
Reception in New York.
To Mrs. Adams, June 10th . . .
Family Affairs.
To Mrs. Adams, June 16th . . .
Personal Comments—Family Affairs.
To Elbridge Gerry, June 22nd . . .
Recommendations to Washington.
To James Warren, June 22nd . . .
Recommendations to Washington.
To Mrs. Adams, June 28th . . . Engagement at Bunker Hill—Death of Joseph Warren—Proclamation of Gage.
To Mrs. Adams, July 30th . . .
Recess of Congress—Election to Legislature.
From Moses Gill, September 4th . . .
Receipt of Amounts paid to Adams.
To Elbridge Gerry, September 26th . . .
Journey to Philadelphia—Need of Information—Character of
Officers.
To Mrs. Adams, October 20th . . .
Affairs of the Country—Schuler and Arnold.
To Elbridge Gerry, October 29th . . .
Militia Bill—Continental Army—Need of Legislation.
To James Warren, November 4th . . .
Need of Powder—Military Affairs—Governments of New Hampshire
and South Carolina—Trade Regulations—Government of
Massachusetts.
To Mrs. Adams, November 7th . . .
Conduct of Enemy.
To James Bowdoin, November 16th . . .
Petition of Congress—Plans of Administration.
To James Otis, November 23rd . . .
Opinion of Delegates as to Militia Legislation.
To James Warren, December 26th . . .
Government of Massachusetts—Character of the People.
1776.
To Elbridge Gerry, January 2nd . . .
Legislative Control of Military Force—Character of
Representatives.
Resolutions of Continental Congress, January 5th . . .
Imprisonment of James Lovell.
To James Warren, January 7th . . .
Establishment of Militia—Powder—Confederation—Attack on
Norfolk.
To James Warren, January 10th . . .
Trade Regulations—Imprisonment of Lovell.
To John Pitts, January 12th . . .
To James Sullivan, January 12th . . .
King's Speech.
To John Adams, January 15th . . .
Portsmouth Instructions—Independence—Pay of Massachusetts
Troops.
Article Signed "Candidus," February 3rd . . .
Dependence of the Colonies.
To Mrs. Adams, February 26th . . .
Duty in Congress—Oration on Montgomery.
To James Warren, March 8th . . .
Political Comments on Colleague.
To Mrs. Adams, March 10th . . .
Personal Affairs.
To Joseph Palmer, April 2nd . . . Effect of Adopting New England Army—Military Affairs—Evacuation of Boston.
To Samuel Cooper, April 3rd . . .
Plans of Administration—Evacuation of Boston—Foreign Affairs—
Independence.
To Joseph Hawley, April 15th . . .
Military Affairs—Necessity for Declaration of Independence.
To Samuel Cooper, April 30th . . .
Views of Independence—Formation of State Governments.
To John Scollay, April 30th . . .
Evacuation of Boston—Public Morals—Defenceless Condition of New
England.
To James Warren, May 12th . . .
Safety of Boston—State of the Eastern District.
To George Washington, May 15th . . .
Proposed Road to Montreal—Defences of Boston.
To Horatio Gates, June 10th . . .
Military Affairs at Boston—Purposes of the Enemy.
To Perez Morton, June . . .
Allowance for Services.
To Joseph Hawley, July 9th . . .
Reverses in Canada—New Jersey Campaign—Declaration of
Independence.
To Richard Henry Lee, July 15th . . .
Schuyler and Gates—Arrival of Howe—Declaration of Independence-
-Confederation.
To James Warren, July 16th . . .
Effect of Declaration of Independence—Constitution of Virginia.
To James Warren, July 17th . . .
Urgent Need of Troops.
To John Pitts, July 17th . . .
Declaration of Independence.
To Samuel Cooper, July 20th . . .
South Carolina Campaign—Howe's Circular Letter.
To Benjamin Kent, July 27th . . .
Work of Congress—Declaration of Independence—New State
Governments.
To Joseph Trumbull, August 3rd . . .
Affairs of the Northern Department—Legislation on Commissary
Department.
To John Adams, August 13th . . .
Military Affairs.
To John Adams, August 16th . . .
Military Affairs—The Northern Campaign.
To John Adams, September 16th . . .
Form of Government of Massachusetts—Military Affairs—
Negotiations with Howe.
To John Adams, September 30th . . .
Conference with Howe—Public Attitude toward Independence.
To Samuel Mather, October 26th . . .
Military Affairs at New York.
To Mrs. Adams, November 14th . . . Northern Campaign—Military Affairs—Application of Brother-in- law—Exchange of Lovell.
To Mrs. Adams, November 29th . . .
Character of Americans—Howe's Proclamation.
To James Warren, November 29th . . .
Supply of Clothing—New York Campaign.
To James Warren, December 4th . . . Massachusetts Legislature—Conduct of the Colonists—Conditions in Pennsylvania.
To Mrs. Adams, December 9th . . .
Personal Reflections.
To George Washington, December 12th . . .
Rhode Island Campaign.
To Mrs. Adams, December 19th . . .
Adjournment of Congress to Baltimore—Inaction of the Population-
-New Jersy Campaign.
To James Warren, December 25th . . .
Military Operations.
To Mrs. Adams, December 26th . . .
Aid of Samuel Purviance—Attitude of New Jersey.
Need of Ordnance.
To Walter Stewart, December 30th . . .
Instructions as to Ordnance.
To James Warren, December 31st . . .
Foreign Relations—Military Affairs.
1777.
To Arthur Lee, January 2nd . . .
Resumption of Correspondence—Political Situation.
To James Warren, January 8th . . .
Military Operations.
To John Adams, January 9th . . .
Removal of Congress—Military Operations.
To James Warren, January 16th . . .
Representation in Congress—Attitude of Massachusetts
Legislature.
To Mrs. Adams, January 29th . . .
Correspondence—Effect of War News—Charity—Death of Mr.
Checkley.
To James Warren, February 1st . . .
Conference of New England Committees—Management of War Supplies.
To Samuel Cooper, February 4th . . .
King's Speech.
To James Warren, February 10th . . .
Account of Expenses.
To Walter Stewart, February 12th . . .
Price of Ordnance.
To Jonathan Trumbull, February 12th . . .
Use of Connecticut Ordnance.
To John Pitts, February 15th . . .
Activity of Tories.
To James Warren, February 16th . . .
Activity of Tories—Case of General Lee.
To Mrs. Adams, March 19th . . .
News from France—Attitude toward Son—Effect of Trade
Legislation.
To John Scollay, March 20th . . .
Regulating Act.
To Mrs. Adams, April 1st . . .
Assistance from France—Arrest of Spy.
To Nathaniel Greene, May 12th . . .
Military Policy.
To Mrs. Adams, June 17th . . .
Military Operations.
To James Warren, June 18th . . .
Introducing William Whipple—Massachusetts Election-Military
Affairs.
To James Warren, June 23rd . . .
New Jersey Campaign.
To Richard Henry Lee, June 26th . . .
New Jersey Campaign—Progress in Congress.
To James Warren, June 30th . . .
Postal Facilities—Confederation—Massachusetts Constitutional
Convention.
To Arthur Lee, July 4th . . .
New Jersey Campaign.
To Samuel Hewes, July 7th . . .
Major Ward—New Jersey Campaign.
To John Pitts, July 8th . . .
Interruption of Correspondence.
To Richard Henry Lee, July 15th . . .
New Jersey Campaign—Schuyler and Gates.
To Samuel Cooper, July 15th . . .
Northern Campaign.
To Richard Henry Lee, July 22nd . . .
Confederation—Northern Campaign—Distribution of Forces.
To Paul Revere, July 28th . . .
Ranking of Artillery Regiments.
To James Warren, July 31st . . .
Attitude of Congress to Schuyler—Northern Campaign—
Participation of New England—Hostile Fleet.
To James Warren, August 1st . . .
Northern Campaign.
To Mrs. Adams, August 2nd . . .
Course of Hostile Fleet.
To Samuel Freeman, August 5th . . .
Foreign Relations—Northern Campaign.
To John Langdon, August 7th . . .
Course of Hostile Fleet—Northern Campaign.
To Mrs. Adams, August 8th . . .
Appointment of Gates.
To Roger Sherman, August 11th . . .
Northern Campaign—Letters of Schuyler.
To James Warren, August 12th . . .
Letter of Schuyler.
To William Heath, August 13th . . .
Northern Campaign.
To Mrs. Adams, August 19th . . .
Course of a Hostile Fleet.
To Henry Bromfield, September 2nd . . .
Introducing Henry Crouch—Howe's Army.
To Mrs. Adams, September 17th . . .
Northern Campaign.
To Arthur Lee, October 26th . . .
Resumption of Correspondence—LaFayette.
To Horatio Gates, . . . . . .
Surrender of Burgoyne.
Resolution of Continental Congress, November 1st . . .
Thanksgiving.
To John Adams, December 8th . . .
Re-election to Congress—Conduct of Colleagues—Work of
Massachusetts Legislature.
To Henry Laurens, December . . .
Articles of Confederation.
______
THE WRITINGS OF
SAMUEL ADAMS.
______
TO JAMES OTIS.
[MS., copy in Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BOSTON, March 19th 1773
SIR
I have the honor of joining with my brethren the Committee of Correspondence for the town in a letter to you, which the bearer of this is chargd with & will deliver to you.
The occasion is somewhat singular. Our Brother Mr William Molineux, a few days ago receiv'd an ANONYMOUS letter dated Barnstable &.c, in which mention is made of some rude Aspersions cast upon the characters of himself and several others of our Committee by your Representative Mr Bacon in a public meeting of your Town. As the intelligence was thus uncertain the Committee would fain hope that it was impossible for one of Mr Bacon's station in life to act so unjustifiable a part; especially after the handsome things which he had the credit of saying of every one of Committee upon a late occasion in the House of Representatives. Admitting however, that this might be the case, they thought it prudent to address you, as the Moderator of your meeting, and it is their desire, if you judge there is a proper foundation for this letter AND NOT OTHERWISE, to obtain the consent of the Town that it should be openly read in the meeting at the ensuing adjournment. This the Committee refer to your known discretion, as they cannot place a full dependence upon an anonymous letter, although there are some circumstances that may seem to corroborate it.
As there is no measure which tends more to disconcert the Designs of the enemies of the public liberty, than the raising Committees of Correspondence in the several towns throughout the Province, it is not to be wondered at that the whole strength of their opposition is aim'd against it. Whether Mr B. is of this character is a question in which his Constituents ought certainly to satisfy themselves beyond a reasonable doubt. A man's professions may be as he pleases; but I honestly confess I cannot easily believe him to be a sincere friend to his Country, who can upon any consideration be prevail'd upon to associate with so detestable an enemy to it as I take a BOSTON BORN (I cannot say educated) Commissioner of Customs to be.
I am with great regard for your family and conexions in
B[arnstable.]
Sir your assured Friend & most humble servant
P. S. If there is not foundation for what is asserted in the anonymous letter, we desire that you will not only not read our letter in your meeting but also not let the original or a copy of it go out of your hands, but return it by the first opportunity.
ut supra
REPORT TO THE TOWN OF BOSTON, MARCH 23, 1773.
[MS., Boston Public
was printed in the Boston Gazette, March 29, 1773, in the
Massachusetts Spy, March 25, 1773, and in Boston Record
Commissioner's Report, vol. xviii., pp. 120-125.]
At a legal Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, at Faneuil-Hall on Monday the 8th of March 1773, and continued by Adjournment to the 23d instant.
Mr. Samuel Adams acquainted the Moderator, that he was directed by a Committee (of which he was Chairman) to make a report; and the same was read as follows, viz.1
The Committee appointed "to consider what is proper to be done, to vindicate the Town from the gross Misrepresentations & groundless Charges in his Excellencys Message to both Houses" of the General Assembly "respecting the Proceedings of the Town at their last Meeting", beg Leave to report.
That having carefully looked over the several Speeches of the
Governor of the Province, to the Council and House of
Representatives, in the last Session of the General Assembly,
they find that his Excellency has plainly insinuated;
First, that the said Meeting of the Town was illegal in itself.
Secondly, that the Points therein determind were such, as the Law
gives the Inhabitants of Towns in their Corporate Capacity no
Power to act upon; and therefore that the Proceedings of said
Meeting were against Law. And,
Thirdly, that the Inhabitants thus assembled advanced and afterwards publishd to the World, such Principles as have a direct Tendency to alienate the Affections of the People from their Sovereign: And he plainly asserts, that they "denied in the most express terms the Supremacy of Parliament, and invited every other Town & District in the Province to adopt the same Principles."
We have therefore thought it necessary to recur to the Methods taken for calling said Meeting. And they find that three Petitions were prefer'd to the Select Men, signd by 198 respectable Freeholders and Inhabitants, making Mention of a Report that then prevaild, & which since appears to have been well grounded, that Salaries were allowd to be paid to the Justices of the Superior Court of the Province by Order of the Crown; whereby they were to be made totally independent of the General Assembly and absolutely dependent on the Crown; and setting forth their Apprehensions that such an Establishment would give a finishing Stroke to the System of Tyranny already begun, and compleat the Ruin of the Liberties of the People. And therefore earnestly requesting the Selectmen to call a Meeting, that this Matter might be duly considerd by the Town, and such Measures taken as the Necessity and Importance thereof required. Whereupon the Selectmen issued a Warrant for calling a Meeting accordingly. All which was strictly agreable to the Laws of this Province, and the Practice of this and other Towns from the earliest times.
By an Act of this Province made in the fourth year of William & Mary it is enacted, that "when and so often as there shall be Occasion of a Town Meeting for any Business of publick Concernment to the Town there to be done, the Constable or Constables of such Town, by Order of the Selectmen or major Part of them, or of the Town Clerk by their Order in each respective Town within this Province shall warn a Meeting of such Town" &c.2 And by another Act made in the 2 Geo. I. it is enacted that "When and so often as ten or more of the Freeholders of any Town shall signify under their hands to the Selectmen their desire to have any Matter or thing inserted into a Warrant for calling a Town Meeting, the Selectmen are hereby required to insert the same in the next Warrant they shall issue for the Calling a Town Meeting."3
But were there no such Laws of the Province or should our Enemies pervert these & other Laws made for the same Purpose, from their plain and obvious Intent and Meaning, still there is the great and perpetual Law of Self preservation to which every natural Person or corporate Body hath an inherent Right to recur. This being the Law of the Creator, no human Law can be of force against it: And indeed it is an Absurdity to suppose that any such Law could be made by Common Consent, which alone gives validity to human Laws. If then the "MATTER OR THING" viz the fixing Salaries to the Offices of the Judges of the Superior Court as aforesaid, was such as threatned the Lives, Liberties and Properties of the People, which we have the Authority of the greatest Assembly of the Province to affirm, The Inhabitants of this or any other Town had certainly an uncontrovertable right to meet together, either in the Manner the Law has prescribed, or in any other orderly Manner, joyntly to consult the necessary Means of their own Preservation and Safety. The Petitioners wisely chose the Rule of the province Law, by applying to the Selectmen for a Meeting; and they, as it was their Dudty to do, followed the same Rule and called a Meeting accordingly. We are therefore not a little suprizd, that his Excellency, speaking of this and other principal Towns, should descend to such an artful Use of Words, that a "NUMBER of Inhabitants have assembled together, and having ASSUMED the Name of legal Town Meetings" &c. Thereby appearing to have a Design to lead an inattentive Reader to believe, that no Regard was had to the Laws of the Province in calling these Meetings, and consequently to consider them as illegal & disorderly.
The Inhabitants being met, and for the Purpose aforesaid, the Points determind, his Excellency says, "were such as the Law gives the Inhabitants of Towns in their CORPORATE Capacity no Power to act upon." It would be a sufficient Justification of the Town to say, that no Law FORBIDS the Inhabitants of Towns in their corporate Capacity to determine such Points as were then determined. And if there was no positive legal Restraint upon their Conduct, it was doing them an essential injury, to represent it to the World as ILLEGAL. Where the Law makes no special Provision for the common Safety, the People have a Right to consult their own Preservation; and the necessary Means to withstand a most dangerous attack of arbitrary Power.4 At such a time, it is but a pitiful Objection to their thus doing, that the Law has not expressly given them a Power to act upon such Points. This is the very language of Tyranny: And when such Objections are offerd, to prevent the Peoples meeting together in a Time of publick Danger, it affords of it self just Grounds of Jealousy that a Plan is laid for their Slavery.
The Town enterd upon an Inquiry into the Grounds of a Report, in which the common Safety was very greatly interested. They made their Application to the Governor, a fellow Citizen as well as the first Magistrate of the Province; but they were informd by his Excellency, that "it was by no means proper for him" "to acquaint them whether he had or had not receivd any Advices relating to the publick Affairs of the Government of the Province." Their next Determination was, to petition the Governor, that the General Assembly might be allowd to meet at the time to which it them stood prorogud: But his Excellency refused to grant this Request, lest it should be "encouraging the Inhabitants of other Towns to assemble" "to consider of the Necessity or Expediency of a Session of the General Assembly." Hitherto the Town had determind upon no Point but only that of petitioning the Governor. And will his Excellency or any one else affirm, that the Inhabitants of this or any other Town, have not a Right in their corporate Capacity to petition for a Session of the General Assembly, merely because the Law of this Province, that authorizes Towns to assemble, does not expressly make that the Business of a Town Meeting? It is the Declaration of the Bill of Rights, founded in5 Reason, that it is the
We have been the more particular in reciting the Transactions of that Meeting thus far, in order that the Propriety and Necessity of the further proceedings of the same Meeting may appear in a true Point of light.
His Excellency having thus frownd upon the reasonable Petitions of the Town; And they, having the strongest Apprehensions, that in Addition to, or rather in Consequence of other Grievances not redressd, a mortal Wound would very soon be given to the civil Constitution of the province; and no Assurance of the timely Interposition of the General Assembly, to whose Wisdom they were earnestly sollicitous to refer the whole Matter, The Town thought it expedient to state as far as they were able the Rights of the Colonists & of this Province; to enumerate the Infringements on those Rights, & in a circular Letter to each of the Towns & Districts in the province, to submit the same to their Consideration: That the Subject might be weighd as its Importance required, & the collected Wisdom of the whole people as far as possible obtaind. At the same [time], NOT "calling upon" those Towns & Districts "to adopt their Principles" as his Excellency in one of his Speeches affirms, but only informing them that "a free Communication of THEIR Sentiments to this Town of our common Danger was earnestly sollicited & would be gratefully receivd. We may justly affirm that the Town had a Right at that Meeting, to communicate their Sentiments of Matters which so nearly concernd the publick Liberty & consequently their own Preservation. They were matters of "publick Concernment" to this & every other Town & even Individual in the province. Any Attempt therefore to obstruct the Channel of publick Intelligence in this way, argues in our opinion, a Design to keep the people in Ignorance of their Danger that they may be the more easily & speedily enslaved. It is notorious to all the World, that the Liberties of this Continent & especially of this province, have been systematically & successfully invaded from Step to Step; Is it not then, to say the least justifiable, in any Town as PART OF THE GREAT WHOLE, when the last Effort of Tyranny is about to be made, to spread the earliest Notice of it far & wide, & hold up the INIQUITOUS SYSTEM in full View. It is a great Satisfaction to us, that so many of the respectable Towns in the province, and we may add Gentlemen of figure in other Colonies, have expressd, & continue to express themselves much pleasd with the Measure; and we encourage ourselves from the MANIFEST DISCOVERY of an Union of Sentiments in this province, which has been one happy fruit of the Measure, there will be the united Efforts of THE WHOLE in all constitutional & proper Methods to prevent the entire ruin of our Liberties.
His Excellency is pleasd to say in one of his Speeches, that the Town have "denied in the most express Terms the Supremacy of Parliament." It is fortunate for the town that they made Choice of the very Mode of Expression, which the present House of Representatives in their Wisdom made use of in stating the Matter of Controversy between the Governor & them: And after what they have advanced upon the Subject, it appears to us impossible to be shown that the Parliament of Great Britain can exercise "the Powers of Legislation for the Colonists in all Cases whatever" consistently with the Rights which belong to the Colonists as Men as Christians & as Subjects, or without destroying the foundation of their own Constitution.—If the Assertion that the Parliament hath no right to exercise a Power in cases where it is plain they have no right, hath a direct Tendency to alienate the Affections of the People from their Sovereign, because He is a constituent part of that parliament, as seems to be his Excellencys Manner of reasoning, it follows as we conceive, that there must never be a complaint of any assumption of power in the Parliamt, or petition for the repeal of any Law made repugnant to the Constitution, lest it should tend to alienate the Affections of the People from their Sovereign; but we have a better Opinion of our fellow Subjects than to concede to such Conclusions. We are assured they can clearly see, that a Mistake in Principle may consist with Integrity of Heart; And for our parts we shall ever be inclined to attribute the Grievances of various Kinds which his Majestys American Subjects have so long sufferd, to the Weakness or Wickedness of his Ministers & Servants, and not to any Disposition in HIM to injure them. And we yet perswade our selves that could the Petitions of his much aggrievd Subjects be transmitted to his Majesty thro the Hands of an honest impartial Minister, we should not fail of ample redress.
His Excellencys Argument seems to us to be rather straind, when he is attempting to show, that we have "invited every other Town & District to adopt our Principles". It is this. The Town says If it should be the general Voice of the Province that the Rights as stated do not belong [to] them, trusting however that this cannot be the Case, they shall lament the Extinction of Ardor for civil & religious Liberty; THEREFORE says his Excellency The Town invited them to ADOPT their principles. Could it possibly be supposd that when his Excy had declared to the whole Province that we had invited every other Town and District in the province to adopt the same Principles he intended to avail himself of such an Explanation! Much the same Way of reasoning follows, (though it would not be to the Reputation of the other Towns if it should have any Weight). That because THEIR consequent Doings were similar to those of this Town THEREFORE they understood that they were invited to ADOPT the same Principles, & therefore they were thus invited to adopt them.
Upon the whole, There can be no room to doubt but that every Town which has thought it expedient to correspond with this on the Occasion have acted their own Judgment & expressd their own principles: It is an unspeakeable Satisfaction to us that their Sentiments so nearly accord with ours, and it adds a Dignity to our Proceedings, that when the House of Representatives were called upon by the Governor to bear their Testimony against them, as "of a dangerous Nature & Tendency," they saw reason to declare that "they had not discoverd that the Principles advanced by the Town of Boston were unwarrantable by the constitution."6
The foregoing Report was accepted in the Meeting, Nemine Contradicente, and ordered to be recorded in the Town's Book, as the Sense of the Inhabitants of this Town.
It was also Voted, That said Report be printed in the several News-Papers, and that the Committee of Correspondence be directed to transmit a printed Copy thereof to such Towns and Districts as they have or may correspond with.
Attest.
WILLIAM COOPER, Town-Clerk. _________________________________________________________________
1The preceding portion is in the Gazette, but not in the manuscript draft.
2Acts and Resolves of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, vol. i., pp. 64, 68.
3Ibid., p. 30.
4At this point the draft originally included the words: "when they see it approaching them with hasty
5At this point the draft originally included the words: "Nature and."
6The following portion, from the Gazette is not in the autograph draft by Adams.
TO JOHN DICKINSON.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BOSTON, March 27 1773
SIR,
I take the Liberty of inclosing an Oration delivered by Dr Benjamin Church on the Anniversary of the 5th of March 1770, which I beg the favor of you to accept.
The Proceedings of our General Assembly at their last Session, you may perhaps have seen in the News papers. Our Governor in a manner forcd the Assembly to express their Sentiments of so delicate though important a Subject as the supreme Authority of the Parliament of Great Britain over the Colonies. The Silence of the other Assemblies of late upon every Subject that concerns the joynt Interest of the Colonies, renderd it somewhat difficult to determine what to say with Propriety. As the Sense of the Colonies might possibly be drawn from what might be advanced by this Province, you will easily conceive, that the Assembly would rather have chosen to have been silent till the Sentiments of at least Gentlemen of Eminence out of this province could be known; at the same time that Silence would have been construed as the Acknowledgment of the Governor's Principles and a Submission to the fatal Effects of them. What will be the Consequence of this Controversy, Time must determine. If the Governor enterd into it of his own Motion, as I am apt to believe he did, he may not have the Approbation of the Ministry for counteracting what appears to me to have been for two years past their favorite Design, to keep the Americans quiet & lull them into Security. Could your Health or Leisure admit of it, a publication of your Sentiments on this & other Matters of the most interresting Importance would be of substantial Advantage to your Country. Your Candor will excuse the freedom I take in this repeated Request. An Individual has some Right, in behalf of the publick, still to urge the Assistance of those who have heretofore approvd themselves its ablest advocates.
I shall take it as a favor if you will present the other inclosed Oration to Mr Reed, whom I once had the pleasure of conversing with in this place, & to whom I would have wrote by this unexpected Opportunity, but am prevented by the Hurry of the Bearer.
I am Sir with sincere Regards
Your most humble servt
Mr J[osiah] Q[uincy] a young Gentl but eminent here in the profession of the law is soon expected to arrive at Philadelphia from South Carolina. Could he be introducd into the Company of Mr Dickinson & Mr Reed he would esteem himself honord and his Conversation mt not be unentertaining even to them.
THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE OF BOSTON TO THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE OF LITTLETON.1
[MS., Committee of Correspondence Papers, Lenox Library.]
BOSTON, March 31 1773
GENTLEMEN
The Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Boston gratefully acknowledge your Letter of the 2 Instant accompanied with the declared Sentiments of the Town of Littleton at a legal meeting on the first of February.
The Sense which that Town has expressd of the Excellency of the British Constitution of Government, which appears eminently to have its foundation in nature, and of the Rights which are secured to the Inhabitants of this province by the Charter, is an evident token of their readiness "always to joyn in every regular & constitutional method to preserve the common Liberty."
We are perswaded that the Town whom we have the Honor to serve, although calumniated by the virulent Enemies of the province and of America, have nothing in view but to assist in "endeavoring to preserve our happy civil Constitution free from Innovation & maintain it inviolate" and we esteem our selves happy that the Town has receivd the Approbation of so many of their respectable Brethren in the Country, & particularly the Inhabitants of Littleton. The agreable manner in which you have communicated to us their Sentiments lays [us] under great obligation. We heartily joyn with you in wishing that Peace & Unity may be established in America, upon the permanent Foundations of Liberty & Truth. ________________________________________________________________
1Adressed "To Deacon Oliver Hoar Cap Jonathan Reed & Mr Aaron Savit a Come of Correspondence of the Town of Littletown."
THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE OF BOSTON TO NATHAN SPARHAWK.1
[MS., Committee of Correspondence Papers, Lenox Library.]
BOSTON, March 31 1773
SIR
Your attested Copy of the proceedings of Rutland District has been receivd and read by the Come of Correspondence for the Town of Boston. It affords us an unspeakeable Satisfaction to find so great a Number of the Towns & Districts in the province expressing a just Resentment at the repeated Attacks that have been made on the publick Liberty by a corrupt Administration and their wretched Tools & Dependents. Your District, in the Opinion of this Committee has very justly held up the publick Grievances of America in one short but full View; first the power assumed by the British parliament (in which we cannot be represented) to tax us at pleasure; and then their appropriating such taxes, to render the executive power of the province independent of the Legislature, or more properly speaking absolutely dependent on the Crown. It was impossible for the Conspirators against our invalueable Rights, with all their Art & Assiduity, to prevent our sensible Brethren in the Country from seeing the fatal Tendency of so dangerous an Innovation: And in a Virtuous Country it requires only a Sight of such daring Incroachments, to produce a manly & effectual Opposition to them. We applaud the patriotick Determination of the District of Rutland "that it is of the utmost Importance that the Inhabitants of this province stand firm as one man to support & maintain all their just Rights & Privileges." Such a resolution when general among the people can seldom fail to reduce the most haughty Invaders of the common Rights to a Submission to Reason. ________________________________________________________________
1Clerk of the District of Rutland, Worcester County.