CHAPTER III.

Insurrection in North Carolina.... Dissatisfaction of Massachussetts....Corresponding committees appointed....Governor Hutchinson's correspondence with the administration sent over by doctor Franklin....The assembly petition for the removal of the governor and lieutenant governor.... Hutchinson is succeeded by general Gage.... Measures to enforce the execution of the act concerning duties....Ferment excited in America....The tea is thrown into the sea at Boston.... Measures of parliament....General enthusiasm in America... A general congress is proposed....General Gage arrives in Boston.... Troops stationed on Boston Neck ....New counsellors and judges....Obliged to resign.... Boston Neck fortified....Military stores seized by general Gage.... Preparations for defence in Massachussetts....King's speech in parliament.... Proceedings of that body....Battle of Lexington.... Vote of Massachussetts for raising men.... Meeting of congress....Proceedings of that body....Transactions in Virginia...Provincial congress of South Carolina...Battle of Breed's hill.

In the middle and southern colonies, the irritation against the mother country appears to have gradually subsided; (1770) and no disposition was manifested to extend their opposition further, than to defeat the collection of the revenue by entirely preventing the importation of tea. Their attention was a good deal taken up by an insurrection in North Carolina, where a number of ignorant people, supposing themselves to be aggrieved by the fee bill, rose in arms for the purpose of shutting up the courts of justice, destroying all officers of government, and all lawyers, and of prostrating government itself. Governor Tryon

marched against them, and having, in a decisive battle, totally defeated them, the insurrection was quelled, and order restored.

In Massachussetts, where high opinions of American rights had long been imbibed; and where the doctrine, that the British parliament could not rightfully legislate for the Americans was already maintained as a corollary from the proposition that the British parliament could not tax them; a gloomy discontent with the existing state of things was every where manifested. That the spirit of opposition lately excited seemed expiring, without having established on a secure and solid basis the rights they claimed, excited in the bosoms of that inflexible people, apprehensions of a much more serious nature than would have been created by any conflict with which they could be threatened. This temper displayed itself in all their proceedings. The legislature had been removed from Boston, its usual place of sitting, to Cambridge, where the governor still continued to convene them. They remonstrated against this measure as an intolerable grievance; and, for two sessions, refused to proceed on business. In one of their remonstrances, they insisted on the right of the people to appeal to Heaven in disputes between them and persons in power, when those in power shall abuse it.

When assembled in September, the general court was informed by the governor, that his ma jesty had ordered the provincial garrison in the castle to be withdrawn, and regular troops to succeed them. This they declared to be so es

sential an alteration of their constitution, as justly to alarm a free people.

From the commencement of the contest, Massachussetts appears to have been peculiarly solicitous to unite all the colonies in one system of measures. In pursuance of this favourite idea, a committee of correspondence was elected at this session, to communicate with such committees as might be appointed by other colonies. Similar committees were soon afterwards chosen by the different towns* throughout the province, for the purpose of corresponding with each other, and of expressing, in some degree officially, the sentiments of the people. Their reciprocal communications were well calculated to keep up the spirit which was general through the colony. The example was afterwards followed by other colonies, and the utility of this institution became apparent, when a more active opposition was rendered necessary.

Although the governor, judges, and other high colonial officers had been appointed by the crown, they had hitherto depended on the provincial legislatures for their salaries; and this dependence had always been highly valued, because it was believed materially to affect their conduct. It has been already seen, how perseveringly on a former occasion this source of influence was maintained by Massachussetts. As a part of the new system, it had been determined that the salaries

* See Note, No. X. at the end of the volume,

ture.

of these officers should be fixed by the crown, and paid without the intervention of the legislaThis measure, which was adopted in all the royal governments, was communicated in May (1772) to the general court of Massachussetts. It gave high offence, and was declared by the house of representatives to be an infraction of the rights of the inhabitants, granted them by charter.*

About this time (1773) a discovery was made, which greatly increased the ill temper already prevalent throughout New England. Doctor Franklin, the agent for several of the colonies, and among others for Massachussetts, by some unknown means, obtained possession of the letters which had been addressed by governor Hutchinson, and by lieutenant governor Oliver to the department of state. These letters, many of which were private, he transmitted to the general court. They were obviously designed to induce on the

"A committee having been appointed to consider the matter of the governor's support being provided for by the king, reported and observed, that the king's providing for the support of the governor is a most dangerous innovation. It is a measure whereby not only the right of the general assembly of this province is rescinded, but the highest indignity is thrown upon it. It is an infraction of the charter in a material point, whereby a most important trust is wrested out of the hands of the general assembly.' And the house, the same day, declared, by a message to the governor, 'that the making provision for his excellency's support, independent of the grants and acts of the general assembly, and his excellency's receiving the same, is an infraction upon the rights of the inhabitants granted by the royal charter."

Gordon, vol. I. p. 310.

part of government, a perseverance in the system which had so greatly tended to alienate the affections of the colonies. The opposition was represented to be confined to a few factious turbulent men, whose conduct was by no means generally approved, and who had been emboldened by the weakness of the means used to restrain them. More vigorous measures were recommended, and several specific propositions were made, which were peculiarly offensive to the colony, among these, was a plan for altering their charters, and rendering the high officers dependent solely on the crown for their salaries.a

Inflamed by these letters, the assembly unanimously resolved "that their tendency and design. were to overthrow the constitution of the government, and to introduce arbitrary power into the province." At the same time, a petition to the king was voted, praying him to remove governor Hutchinson, and lieutenant governor Oliver, forever, from the government of the colony. This petition was transmitted to doctor Franklin, and laid before the king in council. After hearing it, the lords of the council reported, "that the petition in question was founded upon false and erroneous allegations, and that the same is groundless, vexatious, and scandalous, and calculated only for the seditious purposes of keeping up a spirit of clamour and discontent in the provinces." This report, his majesty was pleased to approve.

a Minot.