From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 132
"The citizens of Boston hung the stamp distributor in effigy, broke the windows of his office, and finally tore
his office down and made a bonfire of the fragments. They closed their demonstration by pelting the officials,
who interfered, with stones. The stamp distributor resigned his office at once."
"That is insurrection," remarked Fairfax.
"Very true, and I would not recommend a resort to such extreme measures; certainly not at this stage of
affairs. Yet I really sympathize with the patriotic spirit that has aroused the people of Boston to repel acts of
usurpation and tyranny."
Benjamin Franklin had been sent to England as an agent of the Colonies to intercede for their rights. He was
summoned before a committee of Parliament, where the following colloquy occurred:
"What was the temper of America towards Great Britain before the year 1763?" That was the year of the
treaty between England and France, as we have seen.
"The best in the world," Dr. Franklin answered. "They submitted willingly to the government of the Crown,
and paid, in all their courts, obedience to the acts of Parliament. Numerous as the people are in the several old
provinces, they cost you nothing in forts, citadels, garrisons, or armies, to keep them in subjection. They were
governed by this country at the expense only of a little pen, ink, and paper. They were led by a thread....
Natives of Great Britain were always treated with particular regard; to be an Old England man was, of itself, a
character of some respect, and gave a kind of rank among us."
"And what is their temper now?"
"Oh, very much altered!"
"If the Stamp Act is not repealed, what do you think will be the consequences?"
"A total loss of the respect and affection the people of America bear to this country, and of all the commerce
that depends on that respect and affection."
"Do you think the people of America would submit to pay the stamp duty if it was moderated?"
"No, never, unless compelled by force of arms."
This was stating the case without reserve; and, no doubt, it had much to do with the repeal of the Stamp Act in
March, 1766.
It should not be overlooked that the Colonies had some strong friends in Parliament. Charles Townsend
advocated the enforcement of the Stamp Act. "Who are these Americans?" he cried. "Are they not our
children, planted by our care, nourished by our indulgence, and protected by our arms?"
The brave Colonel Barré, with cheeks all inflamed with virtuous indignation, replied:
"They planted by your care? No, sir; your oppressions planted them in America! They fled from your tyranny
to a then uncultivated and inhospitable country, where they exposed themselves to all the evils which a
wilderness, filled with blood-thirsty savages, could threaten. And yet, actuated by true English love of liberty,
they thought all these evils light in comparison with what they suffered in their own country, and from you,
who ought to have been their friends.
"They nourished by your indulgence? No, sir; they grew by your neglect! As soon as you began to indulge