The Writings of Samuel Adams - Volume 2

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Title: The Writings of Samuel Adams, volume II (1770 - 1773) collected and edited by Harry Alonso Cushing

Author: Samuel Adams

March, 2000 [Etext #2092]

The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Writings of Samuel Adams, V 2

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This text was prepared by Bill Stoddard , and Regina Azucena .

THE WRITINGS

OF

SAMUEL ADAMS

COLLECTED AND EDITED

BY

HARRY ALONSO CUSHING

_______ VOLUME II _______

1770-1773

CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.

______

1770.

Article Signed Vindex, January 8th . . .

Power of Governer over sessions of General Assembly.

Article Signed Determinatus, January 8th . . .

Non-importation agreement.

To the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts, March 19th . . .

Memorial of town of Boston—Apointment of special justices.

To John Hancock, May 11th . . .

Proposed resignation.

To Benjamin Franklin, July 13th . . . Letter of town of Boston—Effect of massacre narrative—Influences upon public opinion—Case of Captain Preston.

To the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts, August 3d . . .

Answer of House of Representatives—Place of meeting of General

Assembly—Legal opinions—Precedents—Royal instructions—Nature of

Province Charter—Rights of House.

Article Signed A Chatterer, August 13th . . .

Royal instructions.

Article Signed A Chatterer, August 20th . . .

Character of office holders.

Article Signed A Chatterer, August 27th . . .

Reply to Probus—Character of lieutenant-governor.

To Benjamin Franklin, November 6th . . . Letter of House of Representatives—Appointment as agent—Attitude of administration to Massachusetts—Royal instructions—Admiralty jurisdiction—Salaries and appointments.

To Stephen Sayre, November 16th . . .

Letters of Junius Americanus—Non-importation agreement—Trial of

Preston—Royal instructions.

To the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachussetts, Novemer 20th . . .

Memorial of House of Representatives—Vacancies in militia.

Article Signed A Tory, November 20th . . .

Effects of present administration.

To Peter Timothy, November 21st . . .

Reply to Charleston committee—Non-importation agreement.

To Stephen Sayre, November 23d . . .

Choice of agent—Royal instructions—Attitude of Huthchinson.

To Josiah Williams, November 23d . . .

Personal advice.

Article signed A Chatterer, December 3d . . .

Royal instructions—Control of troops—Custody of Castle William.

Article signed Vindex, December 10th . . .

Trials of Preston and soldiers—Discussion of testimony.

Article signed Vindex, December 17th . . .

Trials of Preston and soldiers—Discussion of testimony.

Article signed Vindex, December 24th . . .

Trials of Preston and soldiers—Discussion of testimony.

Article signed Vindex, December 24th . . .

Reply to Somebody—Trial of soldiers.

To John Wilkes, December 28th . . .

Introduction of William Palfrey—Conditions in colonies.

Article signed Vindex, December 31st . . . Action of Boston on massacre—Attitude of troops—Events of March 5, 1770—Testimony upon trial—The dead.

Article signed Vindex, December 31st . . .

Testimony upon trial of soldiers.

1771.

Article signed Vindex, January 7th . . .

Trial of soldiers—Discussion of testimony.

To Stephen Sayre, January 12th . . .

Enclosing articles on trials.

Article signed Vindex, January 14th . . .

Discussion of testimony—Case of Captain Preston.

Article signed Vindex, January 21st . . .

Result of trial of soldiers—Discussion of testimony—Reply to

Philanthrop.

Article signed Vindex, January 28th . . .

Discussion of testimony—Case of Captain Preston.

To Charles Lucas, March 12th . . .

Acknowledgments of Boston.

To Arthur Lee, April 19th . . .

Beginning of correspondence—General conditions—Designs of

Administration—Royal instructions.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, April 24th . . .

Answer of House of Representatives—Action of Spain at Port

Egmont—Attitude of Administration—Place of meeting of General

Assembly—Appointment of Governor.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, April 25th . . .

Salary bills.

Article signed Candidus, June 10th . . .

Place of meeting of General Assembly—Royal instructions—Attitude of

Hutchinson.

Article signed Candidus, June 17th . . .

Address of clergy.

To Benjamin Franklin, June 29th . . . Letter of House of Representatives—Right of Parliament to tax—Revenue and tribute—Independence of officers—Rights of colonists—Position of colonial agent.

Article signed Candidus, July 1st . . .

Convention of clergy.

To Arthur Lee, July 31st . . . Conditions in London—Effects of faction and of arbitrary power—Attitude of Hutchinson—Disturbances in North Carolina

Article signed Candidus, August 5th . . .

Address of clergy—Character of convention.

Article signed Candidus, August 19th . . .

Custom of addressing—Public opinion of Administration—Stamp

Act—Events in 1768—Character of addresses.

Article signed Candidus, September 9th . . .

Assertion of rights by colonists—Factions—Revenue acts.

Article signed Candidus, September 16th . . .

Circular letter of February, 1768—The mandate to rescind—Letter to

Hillsborough of June, 1768—Refusal to rescind.

Article signed Candidus, September 23d . . .

Dissolution of General Assembly—Charter rights of General

Assembly—Royal instructions.

To Arthur Lee, September 27th . . . Remonstrance of London—Despotism in Massachusetts—Cause of colonial grievances—Possiblity of impeachment—Opposition to an American episcopate—Introduction of William Story.

Article signed Candidus, September 30th . . .

Letters of Bernard—Disorders in 1768—Letters of commissioners.

To Arthur Lee, October 2d . . .

Comments on William Story.

Article signed Candidus, October 7th . . .

Salary of Governor—Attitude of Hutchinson.

Article signed Candidus, October 14th . . .

Historic instances of slavery and tyranny—Comparison of America and

Rome—Liberties of America.

Article signed Valerius Poplicola, October 28th . . .

Acts of trade—Subjection and allegiance—Legislative power in

Massachusetts—Jurisdiction of Parliament.

To Arthur Lee October 31st . . . Action of Council on Junius Americanus—Relationship of office holders—Attitude of House of Representatives—The Hue and Cry.

To Joseph Allen, November 7th . . .

Personal advice.

Article signed Candidus, November 11th . . .

Jeroboam as a Governor—Attitude of the clergy.

To Arthur Lee, November 13th . . .

Proclamation by the Governor—Its reception by the clergy.

Article signed Cotton Mather, November 25th . . .

Salary of Governor—Provisions of the charter.

Article signed Candidus, December 2d . . .

Attitude of the people—Reply to Chronus—Royal instructions.

Article signed Candidus, December 9th . . .

Jealousy of liberty—Control of revenue—Powers of Governor.

Article signed Candidus, December 16th . . .

Reply to Chronus.

Memorandum, December 18th . . .

Alleged criticism of Hancock

Article signed Candidus, December 23d . . .

Effect of petitioning—Control of funds—Infringement of liberties.

1772.

To Henry Marchant, January 7th . . . Election in London—Activity of government agents—Policy of Crown officers.

To Arthur Lee, January 14th . . .

Attitude of Government.

Article signed Candidus, January 20th . . . Acts of trade—Power of taxation—Colonial right of legislation—Extent of Dominion.

Article signed Candidus, January 27th . . .

Acts of trade—Magna Charta.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, April 10th . . .

Answer of House of Representatives—Place of meeting of General

Assembly—Power of Governor over sessions.

Article signed Vindex, April 20th . . .

Reply to Philanthrop Jun.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, July 14th . . .

Answer of the House of Representatives—Repair of Province House.

Article signed Valerius Poplicola, October 5th . . .

Tribute—Effect of petitions—Freemen or slaves?

To Andrew Elton Wells, October 21st

Family affairs—Royal power over colonial government.

To Elbridge Gerry, October 27th . . .

Independence of judges.

To Elbridge Gerry, October 29th . . .

Independence of judges—Action of Boston.

To Arthur Lee, November 3d . . . Retirement of Hillsborough—Character of Dartmouth—Independence of judges—Action of Boston.

To Elbridge Gerry, November 5th . . .

Concert of action—Action of Boston—Independence of judges.

To Elbridge Gerry, November 14th . . .

Activity in Marblehead—Rights as Christians—Attitude of Roxbury and

Plymouth.

The Rights of the Colonists as Men, as Christians, and as Subjects,

November 20th . . .

A List of Violations of Rights, November 20th . . .

A Letter of Correspondence, November 20th . . .

Article Signed Vindex, November 30th . . .

To Aaron Davis—Character of Doctor Young.

To Arthur Lee, November 31st . . . Proceedings of Boston—Activity of public enemies—Action of Roxbury and Plymouth.

To Elbridge Gerry, December 7th . . .

Acknowledgment.

To William Checkly, December 14th . . .

Personal reflections.

Article Signed Candidus, December 14th . . .

Criticism of Draper's Gazette—Proceedings of Boston . . .

To Elbridge Gerry, December 23d . . .

Proceedings of Marblehead.

To Darius Sessions, December 28th . . . Response to request for advice—The Rhode Island commission—Effect on judiciary system.

To the Committee of Correspondence of Cambridge, December 29th . . .

Acknowledgment of Boston committee for their endorsement.

To the Committee of Correspondence of Plymouth, December 29th . . . Acknowledgment of Boston committee for their endorsement—Character of early settlers.

1773.

To Darius Sessions, January 2d . . . The issue in Rhode Island—Advice to the colony—Probabilities considered.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, January 26th . . .

Answer of the House of Representatives—Jurisdiction of

Parliament—Colonial charters—Rights of colonists—Historical

precedents.

To the Committee of Correspondence of Lynn, February 9th . . .

Acknowledgment of Boston committee—Diffusion of liberty.

To Darius Sessions, February . . .

Futher advice upon political situation.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, February 12th . . . Message of the House of Representatives—Independence of judges—Attitude of Governor.

To John Adams . . .

On reply to Governor.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, March 2d . . .

Answer of House of Representatives—Proceedings of Boston—Rights of

King in colonies—Jurisdiction of Parliament—Historical precedents

THE WRITINGS OF

SAMUEL ADAMS.

ARTICLE SIGNED VINDEX.

[Boston Gazette, January 8, 1770.] —And the Governor for the time being shall have full power and authority from time to time as he shall judge necessary, to adjourn, prorogue and dissolve all Great and General Courts or Assemblies met and conven'd as aforesaid.—1

THE power delegated by this clause to the Governor was undoubtedly intended in favor of the people—The necessity and importance of a legislative in being, and of its having the opportunity of exerting itself upon all proper occasions, must be obvious to a man of common discernment. Its grand object is the REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES: And for this purpose it is adjudg'd that parliaments ought to be held frequently—The people may be aggriev'd for the want of having a good law made, as well as repealing a bad one: So they may be, by the mal conduct of the executive in its manner of administring justice wrongfully under colour of law. In all these cases and many others, the necessity of the frequent interposition of the legislative evidently appears. And if either of them, much more, if all of them should at any time be justly complain'd of by the people, the adjourning, proroguing or dissolving the legislative, at such a juncture, must be the greatest of all grievances—There may be other reasons for the sitting of an American assembly besides the correcting any disorders arising from among the people within its own jurisdiction.—Some of the Acts of the British parliament are generally thought to be grievous in their operation, and dangerous in their consequences to the liberties of the American subjects: An American legislative therefore, in which the whole body of the people is represented, ought certainly to have the opportunity of explaining and remonstrating their grievances to the British parliament, and the full exercise of that invaluable and uncontroulable Right of the subject to petition the King, as often as they judge necessary, 'till they are removed. To postpone a meeting of this universal body of the people till it is too late to make such application must be a frustration of one grand design of its existance; and it naturally tends to other arbitrary exertions.—I have often tho't that in former administrations such delays to call the general assembly, were intended for the purpose above-mentioned: And if others should have the same apprehension at present I cannot help it, nor am I answerable for it. It may not be amiss however for every man to make it a subject of his contemplation. We all remember that no longer ago than the last year, the extraordinary dissolution by Governor Bernard, in which he declared he was merely ministerial, produced another assembly, which tho' legal in all its proceedings, awaked an attention in the very soul of the British empire.

It is not to be expected that in ordinary times, much less at such an important period as this is, any man, tho' endowed with the wisdom of Solomon, at the distance of three thousand miles, can be an adequate judge of the expediency of proroguing, and in effect even putting an end to an American legislative assembly; and more especially at a time when the evil spirit of Misrepresentation is become so atrocious, that even M. . .y itself is liable to be wrongly informed!—It is for this reason that the delegation of this power to the governor for the time being, appears to be intended in favor of the people: That there might be always at the head of the province, and resident therein, as the charter provides, a person of untainted integrity, candor, impartiality and wisdom, to judge of and determine so essential a point—A point, in which I should think, no person who justly deserves this character, can be passive or merely ministerial, against his own judgment and conscience. Whenever therefore a Governor for the time being, adjourns, prorogues or dissolves the general assembly, having the full power and authority delegated to him of judging from time to time of the Necessity of it, we ought to presume that he exercises that power with freedom: That he determines according to the light of his own understanding, and not anothers: That he clearly sees that it will answer those purposes which he himself judges to be best; having, as a man of fidelity in his station ought, thoro'ly revolv'd the matter in his own mind: And, that however flattering the concurrent sentiments of any other man may be, he would have been impelled to do it, from the dictates of his own judgment, resulting from his own contemplation of the matter, if he had not received the express command of his superior. Such a man will bravely act his mind, and venture—Death.

VINDEX.

1B. P. Poore, The Federal and State Constitutions, 1878, vol. i., p. 949. vol. ii.—i.

ARTICLE SIGNED DETERMINATUS.

[Boston Gazette, January 8, 1770.]

To the Printers.

The agreement of the Merchants of this distressed and insulted continent, to with hold importations from Great Britain, it seems to be allowed on all sides, has the strongest tendency towards the repeal of the acts of parliament for raising a revenue in America without our consent. It is no wonder then, that it was oppos'd with so much vehemence at first, by the Cabal; who knew full well, that their Places and their Pensions, and all teh delectable profits which they expected to reap, and are now actually reaping, at the expence of the people in town and country, would entirely cease, if these acts, by the means of which their places, pensions and profits arise should be repealed—When they could no longer with any face call it the last efforts of a dying faction, (for the measure was so rational and pacific, that it soon spread far and wide, and was chearfully adopted by all disinterested friends of the country thro'-out the continent) they put on the appearance of the Sons of Liberty; and now their cry is, Where is that Liberty so much boasted of and contended for? We hear them very gravely asking, Have we not a right to carry on our own trade and sell our own goods if we please? who shall hinder us? This is now the language of those who had before seen the ax laid at the very root of all our Rights with apparent complacency,—And pray gentlemen, Have you not a right if you please, to set fire to your own houses, because they are your own, tho' in all probability it will destroy a whole neighbourhood, perhaps a whole city! Where did you learn that in a state or society you had a right to do as you please? And that it was an infringement of that right to restrain you? This is a refinement which I dare say, the true sons of liberty despise. Be pleased to be informed that you are bound to conduct yourselves as the Society with which you are joined, are pleased to have you conduct, or if you please, you may leave it. It is true the will and pleasure of the society is generally declared in its laws: But there may be exceptions, and the present case is without doubt one.—Suppose there was no law of society to restrain you from murdering your own father, what think you? If either of you should please to take it into your head to perpetrate such a villainous act, so abhorrent to the will of the society, would you not be restrained? And is the Liberty of your Country of less importance than the life of your father! But what is most astonishing is, that some two or three persons of very little consequence in themselves, have Dared openly to give out that They Will vend the goods they have imported, tho' they have Solemnly pledg'd Their Faith to the body of merchants, that they should remain in store 'till a general importation should take place! Where then is the honor! where is the shame of these persons, who can look into the faces of those very men with whom they have contracted, & tell them Without Blushing that they are resolved to Violate the contract! Is it avarice? Is it obstinacy, perverseness, pride, or from what root of bitterness does such an unaccountable defection from the laws of honor, honesty, and even humanity spring? Is it the Authority Of An Unnatural Parent—the advice of some false friend, or their own want of common understanding, and the first principles of virtue, by which these unhappy young persons have been induced, or left to resolve upon perpetrating that, at the very tho't of which they should have shudder'd! By this resolution they have already disgrac'd themselves; if they have the Hardiness to put the resolution into practice, who will ever hereafter confide in them? Can they promise themselves the regards of the respectable body of merchants whom they have affronted? or can they even wish for the esteem of their country which they have basely deserted, or worse, which they have attempted to wound in the very heart.—If they imagine they can still weary the patience of an injured country with impunity.—If—I will not utter it—would not the grateful remembrance of unmerited kindness and Generosity, if there was the least spark of ingenuity left, have Influenced to a far different resolution!—If this agreement of the merchants is of that consequence to All America which our brethren in All the other governments, and in Great-Britain Itself think it to be—If the fate of Unborn Millions is suspended upon it, verily it behooves, not the merchants Only, but every individual of Every class in City and Country to aid and support them and Peremptorily To Insist upon its being Strictly adhered to.

DETERMINATUS.

THE TOWN OF BOSTON TO THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS1

[MS., Office of the City Clerk of Boston.]

To his Honor the Lieutenant Governor in Council

The Memorial of the Town of Boston legally assembled in Faneuil Hall

Monday March 19 1770

Humbly shews

That with deep Concern they are made to understand that thro the

Providence of God diverse of his Majestys Justices of the Superior

Court are renderd unable to attend the Duties of their important Trust

by bodily Indisposition.

That there are a great Number of Prisoners now in his Majestys Gaol in the County of Suffolk, of whom fifteen are confind for Tryal for capital offences.

That the Sherriff of said County has been under Apprehension of the Escape of said Prisoners as appears by his Letter to the Town hereto annexd to be laid before your honor.

That there are a great Number of Witnesses in the Cases of the late

Trajical Murder in Boston many of whom are Seamen & detaind to their

very great Disadvantage & possibly some of them may be under

Temptation to absent themselves from the Tryal.

All which the Town beg leave humbly to represent to your honor as cogent Reasons for the Tryal of the said Prisoners as early as possible in the present Term.

Wherefore your Memorialists humbly pray your Honor to appoint special Justices in the Room of those taken off as aforesaid,2 in order for the Tryal of the said Prisoners, or otherwise that your Honor wd take such Steps to prevent the Delay of Justice at this important Crisis as in your Wisdom shall seem meet.

And as in Duty bound your Memsts shall ever pray.

Signd in Behalf of the Town at the Meeting aforesaid.

1Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and John Barret were on March 19, 1770, appointed by the Boston town-meeting a Committee to draw up a Memorial to the Lieuvetenant Governor and Council praying that special Justices may be appointed for the Superior Court now sitting in the room of those who may be necessarily prevented by sickness from attending their duty; that so the Tryals of the many Criminals now committed may not be postponed. . . . At the same session the committee reported a draft, which was accepted.—Boston Record Commissioners' Report, vol. xviii., p. 15. [back]

2At this point the words whom the Town reverence & esteem were stricken from the original draft.

TO JOHN HANCOCK.

[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library; a text with slight variations is in W. V. Wells Life of Samuel Adams, vol. i., p. 343.]

BOSTON May 11 1770

DEAR SR

Your Resolution yesterday to resign your seat gave me very great Uneasiness. I could not think you had sufficient Ground to deprive the Town of one whom I have a Right to say is a most valueable Member, since you had within three of the unanimous Suffrages of your Fellow Citizens, & one of the negative Votes was your own.1 You say you have been spoken ill of. What then? Can you think that while you are a good Man that all will speak well of you—If you knew the person who has defamd you nothing is more likely than that you would justly value your self upon that mans Censure as being the highest Applause. Those who were fond of continuing Mr Otis on the Seat, were I dare say to a Man among your warmest friends: Will you then add to their Disappointment by a Resignation, merely because one contemptible person, who perhaps was hired for the purpose, has blessd you with his reviling—Need I add more than to intreat it as a favor that you would alter your Design.

I am with strict truth

Your affectionate friend & Brother.

1At the Boston town-meeting on May 8, 1770, Hancock received, as a candidate for representative, 511 out of 513 votes. On June 13, 1770, William Palfrey, acting for Hancock, wrote to Haley and Hopkins: The removal of the General Court to Cambridge obliges Mr Hancock to be often there. John Hancock. His Book, by A. E. Brown, p. 167.

A COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF BOSTON TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

[MS., Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society; an incomplete draft is in the Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library; the latter text only is in the handwriting of Adams.]

BOSTON July 13th: 1770

SIR,

It affords very great Satisfaction to the Town of Boston to find that the Narrative of the horrid massacre perpetrated here on the 5th of March last which was transmitted to London,1 has had the desired effect; by establishing truth in the minds of honest men, and in some measure preventing the Odium being cast on the Inhabitants, as the aggressors in it. We were very apprehensive that all attempts would be made to gain this Advantage against us: and as there is no occasion to think that the malice of our Enemies is in the least degree abated, it has been thought necessary that our friends on your side the Water, should have a true state of the Circumstances of the Town and of everything which has materially occurred, since the removal of the Troops to the Castle. For this purpose we are appointed a Committee:2 But the time will not admit of our writing so fully by this Conveyance, as we intend by the next, in the mean time we intreat your further friendship for the Town, in your Endeavours to get the Judgment of the Public suspended, upon any representation that may have been made by the Commissioners of the Customs and others, until the Town can have the Opportunity of knowing what is alleged against it, and of answering for itself. We must confess that we are astonished to hear that the Parliament had come to a determination, to admit Garbled extracts from such Letters as may be received from America by Administration and to Conceal the Names of the Persons who may be the Writers of them. This will certainly give great Encouragement to Persons of wicked Intentions to abuse the Nations & injure the Colonies in the grossest manner with Impunity, or even without detection. For a Confirmation hereof we need to recur no further back than a few months, when undoubtedly the Accounts and Letters carried by Mr. Rob[in]son would have been attended with very unhappy if not fatal effects, had not this Town been so attentive as to have Contradicted those false accounts by the depositions of many credible persons under Oath. But it cannot be supposed that a Community will be so Attentive but upon the most Alarming Events: In general Individuals are following their private concerns, while it is to be feared the restless Adversaries are forming the most dangerous Plans for the Ruin of the Reputation of the People, in order to build their own Greatness on the Distruction of their liberties. This Game they have been long playing; and tho' in some few instances they have had a loosing hand, yet they have commonly managed with such Art, that they have so far succeeded in their Malicious designs as to involve the Nation and the Colonies in Confusion and distress. This it is presumed they never could have accomplished had not these very letters been kept from the view of the Public, with a design perhaps to conceal the falsehood of them the discovery of which would have prevented their having any mischievous effects. This is the Game which we have reason to believe they are now playing; With so much Secrecy as may render it impossible for us fully to detect them on this Side of the Water; How deplorable then must be our Condition, if ample Credit is to be given to their Testimonies against us, by the Government at home, and if the Names of our Accusers are to be kept a profound Secret, and the World is to see only such parts or parcells of their Representations as Persons, who perhaps may be interested in their favor, shall think proper to hold up—Such a Conduct, if allowed, seems to put it into the Power of a Combination of a few designing men to deceive a Nation to its Ruin. The measures which have been taken in Consequence of Intelligence Managed with such secrecy, have already to a very great degree lessened that Mutual Confidence which had ever Subsisted between the Mother Country and the Colonies, and must in the Natural Course of things totally alienate their Affections towards each other and consequently weaken, and in the End destroy the power of the Empire. It is in this extended View of things that our minds are affected—It is from these Apprehensions that we earnestly wish that all communication between the two Countries of a public nature may be unvailed before the public: with the names of the persons who are concerned therein, then and not till then will American affairs be under the direction of honest men, who are never afraid or ashamed of the light. And as we have abudent reason to be jealous