who alone legally Represent us, is to point out such inconveniences, as by reason of our great distance from the Supreme Legislative of the Nation may and in all probability will sometimes arise from such Laws, in order that they may be remidied. And we upon this Occasion strictly enjoin upon you to use your influence that the nature and tendency of the late Act of Parliament imposing Dutys upon Paper, Glass &c. may be the Subject of enquiry in the House of Representatives. The design of this Act we perceive is to raise a Revenue out of the Colonies for the support of his Majestys Government, and to defend and secure his Majestys Territories. As this Revenue is to be raised out of our property, it is immaterial to us by what mode the Taxes are to be levied, or by what Name they are called. It is without controversy the natural right of every Man, and the constitutional Right of every British Subject solely to dispose of his own property cither by himself in Person, or by his Representatives of his own free Election. If therefore the People of [55.] This Province are by nature and by the Royal Charter entitled to all the Rights of natural born Subjects, as without doubt they are, it is certain that all Property taken from them, by any manner or way without their consent must be an infringement of their natural and Constitutional Rights, and it is a point of the utmost consequence to us; For what Liberty could any Man be supposed to have, if another have a right to demand of him any part of his earnings, and by consequence the whole if he pleases? Besides the appropriation of the Moneys to be raised by this Act we humbly apprehend it to be Just matter of grievance to us, in as much as we are thereby deprived of that honor which is the pride of British Subjects of testefying our alacrity in supporting his Majesties Officers in the several Departments of Government, as well as of the privilege of taking into Consideration our own ability and the merit of their Services. Moreover the Act in its opperation will further discourage our Trade, already sinking under its pressures & difficulties. And it is worth your particular notice that it has ever been the policy of Great Britain to lay the Colonies under the necessity of purchasing her own Manufactures to the exclusion of all others, which obliges us to purchase such Articles as we have nead of at an advanced price: and this alone we apprehend would be sufficient to exempt us from any additional Charges or Duties upon them here, even it were not inconsistent with our natural and constitutional Rights; especially when it is considered, that by our consumption of their Manufactures, the price of them is greatly advanced, the Manufactures increased in number and wealth and enabled to pay a larger proportion towards the public and National Charges, and the value of their Lands is also greatly enhanced · We therefore upon the whole Instruct you to endeavor that in the most humble dutiful and loyal terms such representations may be made to our most gracious King, of our Constitutional & Charter Rights of our unrivalled Loyalty & Affection to his Person, Family & Government [56.] Of our acknowledged Constitutional subordination to the supreme Legislative power of the Nation, and of the hardships & grieveances which lye upon us under the opperation of the said Act, together with such humble supplication to his Majesty, as may prevail upon him graciously to recommend its Repeal The above Report having been duly Considered, it was Voted unanimously that the same be accepted. Upon a Motion made and seconded Voted, that the afore going Instructions be printed in the public News Papers Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are given to the Honble. James Otis Esq. the Moderator of this Meeting for dispatching the Business thereof Then the Meeting was dissolved. At a Meeting of the Freeholders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston legally qualified and warned in publick Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Wednesday the 13th. of January A.D. 1768. read. [57] Warrant for calling the Meeting Samuel Grant Esq. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting, and took the Oath respecting his paying and receiving Bills of Credit of the other Governments, as required by an Act of this Province The Committee appointed the 28th. of October last "to consider of some Measures for employing the Poor of the Town of Boston, by reviving the Linnen Manufacture, and in such other ways as shall be thought most beneficial" Report That having Reported their Sentiments to the Town on the 22a December last as to the carrying on the Linnen Manufacture and therein suggested their Opinion as to the great probability there was, that the making of Duck or Sail Cloth upon suitable encouragement given, would employ the Poor and be fully as beneficial to the Public as any other Manufacture whatsoever though they were not then able to inform the Town as to the process in making Duck or Sail Cloth, but as they expected answers to Letters they had wrote relative to this Article, they were in hopes when they should them, they should be able to lay a Plan before the Town for carrying this Manufacture on in such a manner as to answer the grand design of the Town, vizt. Employing the Poor of it And as the Committee were then desired by the Town to continue their good offices for effecting this Plan, the Committee accordingly beg leave to Report That they have received answers to the Letters referred to, & had a long conversation with a Gentleman who has been concerned in this Manufacture and procured such other information about it, that they are of opinion the manufacturing of Duck or Sail Cloth, may be set up and carried on, so as to employ all the poor Women and Children of the Town and render it very beneficial to the Community. And there is this peculiar advantage in this Manufacture, that Duck can be made either with Flax or Hemp of our own growth or Forreign Hemp, which can at all times be [58.] Procured and so not liable to fail by reason of a drought, whereas the Linnen Manufacture depended wholly on the growth of Flax, has by sorrowful experience failed heretofore on that Account to the great detriment of this Town. But for the effecting this Plan, it will be necessary that Suitable encouragement be given by the Public to such Persons as shall appear to undertake and carry on the same; and for this end the Committee would humbly propose - First That the Government should grant the use of the Manufactury House in Boston to the Undertakers, for so long time as they shall continue to carry on the Manufacturing of Duck, Check or plain Linnen Secondly That a Sum be immediately raised by Subscription and given to the Undertakers, for the purchasing Looms, Wheels and other Utensils, necessary for carrying on said Business; learning of Spinners and paying such other incidental Charges as may arise - Thirdly - That for purchasing such a Stock for carrying on this Manufacture as will answer the good purposes proposed it will be necessary for the Undertakers to hire a considerable Sum of Money, for which they must give their own personal security and pay the Interest thereof. And as the prospect of advantage is not sufficient to induce any to engage in it without some assistance from such as are of ability to afford it; The Committee would propose that a Subscription be opened for the Annual payment of such a Sum as each Person should incline to give for the space of Five Years; this is to be given to the Undertakers to enable them to pay the Interest of the Moneys they shall borrow With this encouragement the Committee are in hopes some Persons of Character & Resolution will appear to undertake this Manufacture; which if any do and success attends the same, it will be not only a constant Employ to the Poor, but be greatly advantageous to the Town in many other respects; and this encouragement as proposed, the Committee apprehend none can have any objection to; and doubt not such a spirit and disposition will prevail in the Inhabitants, as that this Plan may be prosecuted in such a manner as the good effects of it may be, & continued [59.] With the Inhabitants of this Town and their Posterity forever. The Committee beg leave further to inform the Town, that Mr. John Brown who now lives in the Factory, did make a proposal that he would engage ou certain Conditions to manufacture and deliver them Linnens at the same price they are imported from London; which proposal the Committee have carefully examined and considered; and it appeared to them a very considerable Sum must have been advanced, to enable them to carry on the Manufacture, for which he could give no security; And it further appeared to the Committee that it was not practicable for him to comply with the proposals he had made; therefore they cannot advise the Town to pursue it at present But the Committee would recommend it to the Gentlemen who may undertake the making of Sail Cloth, if it should appear to them that Check Linnen can be made to advantage, that they would employ some part of the Money subscribed to encourage that branch In the Name and by Order of the Committee JOHN BARRET The above Report having been read and considered, Voted, that the same be accepted, and that the Thanks of the Town be given the Gentlemen of the Committee for the Pains they have taken in the affair also Voted, that the Gentlemen of the above Committee be desired to procure Undertakers for the Execution of the Scheme; and when Undertakers shall appear, the Town recommend to the Inhabitants a Subscription for said purpose - It was further Voted, that the Gentlemen who Represent the Town in General Assembly, be and hereby are desired to countenance & forward all in their power any application that may be made to the Court by the Undertakers for their Assistance in said Undertaking Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be given Samuel Grant Esq. Moderator Then the Meeting was dissolved. [60.] At a Meeting of the Freeholders & other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston legally qualified & warned in publick Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Monday the 14th. Day of March Anno Domini 1768 Prayer was made by the Reva. Dr. Cooper - read. Sundry Laws enjoin'd to be read at this Meeting, were according read The Honble. James Otis Esq. was chosen Moderator of this Meeting, and took the Oaths respecting his paying and receiving Bills of Credit of the Connecticut New Hampshire and Rhode Island Governments as required by an Act of this Province. William Cooper was chosen Town Clerk for the Year ensuing, and having taken the Oath respecting his paying & receiving Bills of Credit of the Connecticut and other Governments, took the Oath of Office for the faithful discharge of his Duty, which Oaths were Administred to him by Mr. Justice Dana The Town proceeded to the choice of Seven Selectmen, and the Votes being brought in and sorted, it appeared that Coll. Joseph Jackson John Ruddock Esq. John Hancock Esq. were chose Selectmen for the Year ensuing (all sworn) [61.] The Town brought in their Votes for Twelve Overseers of the Poor, and upon sorting them it appeared, that John Barrett Esq. The Honble. Royal Tyler Esq. Mr. William Whitwell Mr. William Greanleaff Capt. John Bradford were chose Overseers of the Poor for the Year ensuing. Upon a Motion made and seconded Voted, that the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are given to Jonathan Williams Esq. for his good Services the Year past as an Overseer of the Poor The Town brought in their Votes for Twelve Wardens, and upon sorting them, it appeared that, Henry Loyd Esq. Jonathan Simpson Esq. John Hancock Esq. William Blair Townsend Capt. John Marston excused do. [62.] Capt. William Downe Cheever Mr. Nathan Hancock Mr. Samuel Barrett Mr. John Sweetser Jun". Mr. Hopestill Capon Mr. John May Mr. Samuel Dyer were chose Wardens for the Year ensuing. 2 more see after The Town brought in their Votes for Sixteen Fire Wards and upon sorting them it appeared that John Scollay Esq. Newman Grenough Esq. John Rowe Esq. John Rowe Esq. William Cooper Mr. John Mico Wendell Collo. Thomas Marshall William Homes Esq. were chose Fire Wards for the Year ensuing. |