have

tress

rers

sur

ly a

led

the

the

had time to heal, the chancellor of the exchequer, Charles bold Townsend, came forward with a new scheme of taxing America, hout and was so sanguine in his views, that he pledged his character for the success of the project. The new revenue scheme was, to take off the duties on teas, which were paid in Great Britain, and to levy three pence per pound on all that was purchased in Amerand, ica, and also duty on paper, glass and several other articles. A board of customs was established, and commissioners appointed to set in Boston to collect the duties; and the custom-officers were to be paid from the revenue thus raised; and the governor, judges of the superior court, and other officers in Massachusetts, who had hitherto been dependant for their salaries on the assembly, to render them independent of the people, and more devoted to Great Britain, were also to be paid from these revenues. And to carry the iniquitous system into effect (as unjust laws can only be enforced by unjust means,) the powers of the court of admiralty were greatly extended, so as to deprive the people of trial by of jury in prosecutions for violating the revenue laws. Writs of Assistance, as they were called, issued by the governor, or any officer of the revenue, authorised searching the house of the mostrespectable inhabitant in the province, on suspicion of the concealment of contraband or smuggled goods.

eta

s of

5 01

ad

-vas

ce,

he

ny

act

at

ce

4

When intelligence of these new parliamentary regulations uli reached America, they occasioned universal astonishment, and revived all the excitement and alarm which prevailed during the stamp-act. In the minds of reflecting men they were regarded as more dangerous than that obnoxious act, as an indirect and th disguised system of taxation had a more certain and fatal tendency to undermine the liberties and enslave the people, than direct taxes. The colonies, assailed by the same injuries, had recourse to their former measures of complaint and supplication; but their petitions were not even read, and their remonstrances treated with contempt, thus adding insult to injustice. These accumulated injuries and indignities aroused the fears and spirit of the colonies; and a circular letter, addressed to the other colonies, by the assembly of Massachusetts, contributed to diffuse the flame and lead to concert of action. This letter was dated the 11th of February, 1768, and the sentiments it contained were reiterated by most of the colonial assemblies. From the bold and determined conduct of the assembly of Massachusetts, it was prorogued by the governor. Another assembly was convened in May following, to which the governor, in his first communication, insolently demanded of them, as required by the British Secretary of State, to rescind the resolutions of the preceding assembly, which led to the circular letter, and intimated that unless they complied immediately they would be dissolved at once. But the assembly acted with a firmness which became the defenders of liberty; and instead of complying with this haughty mandate, petitioned the king for the removal of the royal governor, and charged upon him a long catalogue of crimes. The governor, exasperated at their conduct, immediately dissolyed the mutinous assembly, and applied to the commander in

had time to heal, the ch Townsend, came forward w and was so sanguine in his v for the success of the project take off the duties on teas, to levy three pence per pour ica, and also a duty on pa A board of customs was esta to set in Boston to collect t were to be paid from the res judges of the superior court, who had hitherto been depen bly, to render them independ to Great Britain, were also to to carry the iniquitous syster be enforced by unjust means, were greatly extended, so a jury in prosecutions for vio Assistance, as they were call officer of the revenue, authori respectable inhabitant in the cealment of contraband or st When intelligence of the reached America, they occa revived all the excitement an alamp-act. In the minds of as more dangerous than that disguised system of taxation ha to undermine the liberties and taxes. The colonies, assailed to their former measures of their petitions were not eve reated with contempt, thus mulated injuries and indi colonies; and a circul by the assembly of me and lead to com of February, 17 ed by most of hed conduct the goren 9. to wh