SUMMARY VIEW

OF THE CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE

AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

THOUGH the narrow and illiberal policy of the British govent towards her North American colonies, from their first ement, was calculated to alienate the affections of the colofrom the parent country; yet from their exposed situation, habitual loyalty, this unworthy conduct, long persevered in, duced no sensible impression on the Americans their loyalty attachment to the interests of Britain were not in the smalldegree impaired, down to the period of the peace of Paris in

Never had they shewn so much zeal, or made such great ifices in the cause of their country, as during the preceding having lost more than twenty-five thousand men, expendall the revenues they could raise, and involved themselves ply in debt. Almost the whole burdens of the war in Amerihad fallen on the colonies; and their exertions were altogether proportionate to their means, and tended greatly to impoverand distress them. After eight years' arduous struggles, ended with the greatest sacrifices, the successful termination the war-the dominion of France in America being relinquishd forever-occasioned universal joy throughout the colonies; ey forgot their sufferings and distresses, in the fair prospects hich the peace afforded.

But these prospects were of short duration; the peace of Paris rmed a new era in the views and conduct of Great Britain toards her colonies in America. The possessions of France, in merica, having been ceded to Britain, and having no longer any ar of her power in this hemisphere, a system of measures was ursued towards the colonies, originating in jealousy, and tendg to despotism. As soon as the colonies had fought their way o a condition, which afforded the prospect of rapidly increasing population and wealth, attempts were made to restrict their commercial and political privileges, and gradually to reduce hem to the most wretched state of colonial vassalage. For a century and a half, the colonies had been left to themselves as to taxation; their own local assemblies had provided the necessary revenues to defray the expenses of their governments; and the

A

SUMMARY VIEW

OF THE CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE

AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

:

ALTHOUGH the narrow and illiberal policy of the British government towards her North American colonies, from their first settlement, was calculated to alienate the affections of the colonies from the parent country; yet from their exposed situation, and habitual loyalty, this unworthy conduct, long persevered in, produced no sensible impression on the Americans their loyalty and attachment to the interests of Britain were not in the smallGest degree impaired, down to the period of the peace of Paris in 1763. Never had they shewn so much zeal, or made such great sacrifices in the cause of their country, as during the preceding war; having lost more than twenty-five thousand men, expended all the revenues they could raise, and involved themselves deeply in debt. Almost the whole burdens of the war in America had fallen on the colonies; and their exertions were altogether disproportionate to their means, and tended greatly to impover ish and distress them. After eight years' arduous struggles, attended with the greatest sacrifices, the successful termination of the war-the dominion of France in America being relinquishhed forever occasioned universal joy throughout the colonies; they forgot their sufferings and distresses, in the fair prospects which the peace afforded.

h

But these prospects were of short duration; the peace of Paris formed a new era in the views and conduct of Great Britain towards her colonies in America. The possessions of France, in America, having been ceded to Britain, and having no longer any fear of her power in this hemisphere, a system of measures was pursued towards the colonies, originating in jealousy, and tending to despotism. As soon as the colonies had fought their way to a condition, which afforded the prospect of rapidly increasing in population and wealth, attempts were made to restrict their commercial and political privileges, and gradually to reduce them to the most wretched state of colonial vassalage. For a century and a half, the colonies had been left to themselves as to taxation; their own local assemblies had provided the necessary revenues to defray the expenses of their governments; and the

parliament of Great Britain had neither directly nor indirectly ever attempted to derive a dollar of revenue from America although various acts had from time to time been passed, regulating the trade and commerce of the colonies, yet none of these were designed or regarded, either in Britain or America, as revenue laws.

But in an inauspicious moment, the British ministry conceived the idea of taxing the colonies, under the pretence of providing for their protection, but in reality to relieve the nation from the immense debt, the weight of which hung heavily upon it. This iniquitous scheme, originating with the cabinet, was easily introduced into parliament; and in March, 1764, as a prelude to the memorable Stamp Act, the house of commons resolved, "That towards further defraying the necessary expenses of protecting the colonies, it may be necessary to charge certain stamp duties upon them," and this resolution was followed by what was commonly called the Sugar Act, passed on the 5th of April, and introduced by the following truly alarming preamble:- "Whereas it is JUST and necessary that a revenue be raised in America, for defraying the expenses of defending, protecting and securing the same; we, the commons, &c. towards raising the same, give and grant unto your majesty, after the 29th day of September, 1764, on clayed sugar, indigo and coffee, of foreign produce, [and various other articles] the sum of," &c. This was the first act adopted by parliament, for the avowed object of raising a revenue in the colonies. The justice of this measure, which appeared so clear to the British parliament, was regarded in America as oppression and tyranny, and occasioned great excitement and alarm. The deceptive pretension, that the revenue was to be raised for the purpose of protecting the colonies, was only adding insult to injustice; as the colonies supposed that they were capable of protecting themselves, and they apprehended that the object was rather under the pretence of affording them protection, to maintain a military force in America, for the purpose of dragooning them into submission, and enforcing an unconstitutional system of taxation; thereby rendering them the instruments of forging their own chains. This act was rendered more disgusting, by a provision that the money raised by it must be paid in specie, and another, that those charged with having violated the revenue laws, might be prosecuted in the courts of admiralty; whereby they were deprived of the privilege of trial by a jury, and were liable to be condemned by a single officer of the crown, whose salary was to be paid from the very forfeitures decreed by himself. And this was not all, or even the worst; as the trial was. conducted on such principles, that the accused, contrary to the well known maxims of the common law, and repugnant to every idea of justice, was obliged to prove himself innocent, or suffer the penalties of the law. These iniquitous proceedings destroyed all security of property, and left every one at the mercy of the minions of the British crown. Their pernicious influence was soon felt extensively in the colonies; they no longer regarded Great Britain as an affectionate mother, but viewed her in the

light of a selfish, cruel and imperious step-mother. The designs of the ministry were penetrated, and occasioned great alarm, which spread wider and wider, until it became universal. The press, that great engine of truth and liberty, was called into requisition; the subject was ably and elaborately discussed; and the more it was discussed, and the better it was understood, the more strong and determined the opposition became. All the colonies petitioned and remonstrated against these obnoxious measures, and most of them appointed agents to present their memorials to parliament, or the king.

But notwithstanding the excitement and opposition in America, and the remonstrances of the colonies, Mr. Grenville, who was at the head of the treasury, prepared the Stamp-Bill, and introduced it unto parliament in February, 1765; and although oppposed with all the powers of eloquence, by Alderman Beckford, Mr. Jackson, Colonel Barre, Sir William Meredith and others, it was adopted by a great majority; fifty only voting in opposition, out of about three hundred members, who were present. On the second reading of the bill, various petitions, not only from the colonies, but from the London merchants interested in the American trade, were presented; but the petitions were not even received, being refused, on the plea that no memorial could be received on a money bill. Having passed both houses of parliament, on the 22d of March, the Stamp-Act received the royal assent. Dr. Franklin, then in England, as agent for Pennsylvania, wrote to Charles Thompson, afterwards secretary of congress-"The sun of liberty is set; you must light up the lamps of industry and economy." Mr. Thompson, in a spirited reply, observed, "That he thought other lights would be lighted up to resist these unconstitutional measures. It is unnecessary to add, that this prediction was soon fulfilled.

This unjust and impolitic act was the first great cause which led to the American revolution; indeed it was substantially the first scene in the bloody drama of that revolution. It was passed in parliament, on the 7th of February, 1765, under the ministry of Lord Grenville, and was repealed on the 18th of March, 1766, from the influence of Mr. Pitt. This period of thirteen months was the most eventful and tumultuous of any which had hitherto occurred; the apprehensions of the people were roused to the highest pitch, and the most determined spirit of opposition prevailed throughout the colonies. The Americans had not believed that the act would be passed, and on receiving the intelligence, every one was struck with astonishment and filled with consternation; they looked at each other with amazement, and for a short interval, hesitated what course to pursue; but soon recovering from their consternation they determined not to submit to such a flagrant outrage on their rights. In Boston, the ships in the harbor, in token of the deepest mourning, suspended their colours half-mast high; the bells were rung muffled; and the obnoxious act, with a death's head in front of it, with the motto "THE FOLLY OF England and the RUIN OF AMERICA,"