this coutry who are partly felf-interefted, and lie "alfo at a distance from the scene of action, are ready to cenfure the colonists more through partiality and attachment to fome party, than from a principle of judgment and true difcernment: Had they been in the fame fituation, they would have probably determined otherwife. The colonists fhewed that they were determined not to fubmit to the ftamp act upon any account; for when ships which came from thefe colonies that had fubmitted to this law, brought stamps to the customhouses, for the fake of their own vindication, they were feized and stuck up in taverns and coffee-houses in fcorn, and afterwards committed to the flames with the ufual ceremony. This was not merely the device and operation of a fickle mob of unthinking people: Perfons of wijdom and character were concerned both in the plan and its operation, and frequently mingled with the populace, to direct the exe-. cution of their main defign. Some of the leading men in the oppofition, not only countenanced the people in their outrages against this act, privately, but fome of them gave an open defiance to the authority that impofed this act, by publicly advertising that those who were employed to enforce that law, might fave themselves the trouble of applying to them, for they were refolved not to pay any duty, except what was laid on by their reprefentatives. The provincial af femblies were of the fame fentiments with the many individuals, in the oppofition, which they at first fhewed, by declining giving the governors any advice concerning their behaviour, in fuch a critical juncture of affairs: They knew that without their affiftance and concurrence, the governors could not proceed far, and were determined to give them no aid in executing executing a law which they confidered as altogether unconftitutional. Some of the governors of the provinces, and the provincial affemblies, were not very cordial in their affections to one another; they proceeded upon different principles, and were influenced by different ideas of intereft. The governors who had formerly had their falaries paid by the provinces, were now paid by the crown, which gave them a bias towards the fide of the miniftry, which was not always consistent with the advantage of the colonies. While the governors were paid by the provinces, the colonifts were often ready to reward their good fervices, with fingular tokens of favour and esteem, which made the legislative part of the constitution, and that of the executive, keep up a good understanding with one another; but when their interefts were feparated, their affections foon became difunited, and frequently the governors difapproved what the affemblies were pleased to recommend. This in procefs of time created jarring between the houfes of reprefentatives and their governors, which had proceeded to an uncharitable length about the time of the ftamp act. These affemblies were not difpleased to see men embarraffed in the execution of an office, which they confidered as not discharged for the purpofe of its first institution. They therefore They therefore gave them very fmall affiftance on this preffing occafion. They difavowed the riotuous proceedings of the multitude, and went fo far as to promife rewards for feizing the rioters who had plundered the houfe of one of their chief justices, who was obliged to appear on the feat of juftice without the infignia of his office, and the badges of his authority. When fome of these rioters were brought to their trial, the juries would not proceed fo far as the friends of the ftamp act were inclined they they fhould. The writer of the Anuual Regifter af firms that they could be brought to condemn them no farther than decency required, and would not promise to ftrengthen the hands of government fo far as to prevent commotions about the stamp-act; nor did they account these commotions were objects of military reftraint. When once a controverfy is begun, there are often errors on both fides, and there is no question but the colonists did feveral things that they ought not to have done *; but when the reafons and caufes of their oppofition to this law are confidered, it must be allowed that their provocations were not fmall. It may be eafy for perfons who are biaffed by intereft and party attachments, to form a fpecious fhew of reafoning to condemn the colonists, and vindicate the go vernment of this country; but an impartial hiftorian with nothing but truth in his eye, will be obliged to draw his inferences from pure facts, and the natural reafons of them, without paying any regard to party or perfuafions. On this occafion, when the debates and quarrels of the parties ran very high, fome perfons, from caution or fome other princciple, privately fpiked up the cannon belonging to the forts and flip-yards, left any ufe fhould be made of them by either party; and though this might be conftru ed an illegal interference with his Majesty's stores and arms, was a ready mean to prevent bloodshed in cafe of a fudden rencounter, through the irritation of party fpirit. What was determined in the provincial affemblies, with regard to the stampact, was approved by feveral affemblies of the prin cipal *The plundering of Governor Hutchinson's houfe on the 16th of Auguft, was cruel, barbarous, and unjuft. His papers were all burnt, his house unroofed, and all his clothes, with thofe of his daughter and fifter, were taken away. 1 cipal inhabitants of fome places, who inftructed their reprefentatives not to agree in any measures for the protection of the ftamp papers, or ftamp officers. They granted there had been fome tumults and diforders on that account, but that these must be laid to the charge of those who wanted to urge unconftitu tional laws upon them, contrary to their charters, and their rights as English fubjects, who ought to enjoy the equal privileges of the empire in making their own laws, and taxing themfelves. They alfo cautioned their representatives against all unconftitutional drafts on the public treasury, for fear that the governors fhould endeavour to ftrengthen their hands by tha means, without their confent. Thefe were proceed, ings which, though at first view they may appear precipitate and too determined, argued yet a political forefight, which fhewed they were not difpofed to trifle. The general affemblies proceeded ftill further. Inftead of winking at the oppofition of the people, they began to patronize it, and in exprefs terms, affirmed that the British legislature had no right to tax them. This had been often afferted, and even proved by the ftrongest arguments, to be founded in rea fon and the British conftitution. It was granted that they were. fubjects of the empire under one fovereign, or one executive power; but that they had as good a right to make their own laws as the subjects at home, and that none but themselves had a right to give away their property. They came at laft to a refolution to petition the legislature of Britain against the stamp act, and pleaded their incapacity to pay any fuch tax as was now impofed upon them; but at the fame time they afked the favour, they did not acknowledge that they were dependent upon the parliament of Britain. This was was confidered as only asking a favour of equals, without making the fubmiffion the parliament required, which rendered their petition offenfive to the majority of the legislature. From the manner of their proceedings, fome wife men forefaw what would be the confequence of the mother country's afferting a right of legislation over the colonists; they opposed the stamp act because they confidered it both unconstitutional in its nature, and detrimental to the real intereft of the empire. On this trying occafion the colonists were not wanting to themselves in any measure that might promote unanimity of defigns and execution in the different colonies: They formed affociations, and appointed committes, for the fake of a general corref pondence in carrying on the common affairs of the whole body. From these committees deputies were appointed to meet in congrefs at New-York; and what fhewed the unanimity of their fentiments in this general cause, and that they were all of one mind is, that when the deputies met at New-York, they were fo well agreed, that they had little more to do than to congratulate one another, and fet their hands to one general declaration of their rights, and the grievances they laboured under, and to a petition expreffing a fenfe of thefe grievances to the king, lords, and commons of great Britain. It was not long till the magiftrates fubordinate to the king began to join the legislative part. The juftices of Westmoreland in Virginia, gave public notice under their hands, that they had refigned their office, and declined acting in that capacity; that they would not any longer be inftrumental to the deftruction of their country, which their oath as juftices of the peace now |