From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
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<strong>Farm</strong> <strong>House</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>White</strong> <strong>House</strong>, by William M. Thayer 133<br />
<strong>the</strong>m, that boasted indulgence was <strong>to</strong> send <strong>the</strong>m hungry packs of your own creatures <strong>to</strong> spy out <strong>the</strong>ir liberties,<br />
<strong>to</strong> misrepresent <strong>the</strong>ir actions, and <strong>to</strong> prey upon <strong>the</strong>ir substance! Yes, sir; you sent <strong>the</strong>m men, whose behavior<br />
has often caused <strong>the</strong> blood of those Sons of Liberty <strong>to</strong> recoil within <strong>the</strong>m--men promoted by you <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> highest<br />
seats of justice in that country, who, <strong>to</strong> my knowledge, had good cause <strong>to</strong> dread a court of justice in <strong>the</strong>ir own!<br />
They protected by your arms? No, sir! They have nobly taken up arms in your defence--have exerted a most<br />
heroic valor, amidst <strong>the</strong>ir daily labors, for <strong>the</strong> defence of a country whose frontier was drenched in blood,<br />
while its interior parts gave up all <strong>the</strong>ir savings <strong>to</strong> our emolument!"<br />
These words of Barré were as just as <strong>the</strong>y were heroic; for, in <strong>the</strong> "Seven Years' War" <strong>the</strong> Americans lost<br />
about thirty thousand men; and Massachusetts alone spent about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in<br />
defence of <strong>the</strong> country.<br />
The next session of <strong>the</strong> <strong>House</strong> of Burgesses occurred after a Congress of delegates from <strong>the</strong> several Colonies<br />
met in New York City. The doings of that Congress were not suited <strong>to</strong> make <strong>the</strong> action of <strong>the</strong> Virginia<br />
Legislature more concilia<strong>to</strong>ry, for that Congressional body denounced <strong>the</strong> acts of <strong>the</strong> British Parliament, and<br />
declared that Americans could never submit <strong>to</strong> such assaults upon <strong>the</strong>ir liberties.<br />
The Virginia Assembly was more insurrectionary at <strong>the</strong> next session, startling <strong>the</strong> new governor (Lord<br />
Bote<strong>to</strong>urt) <strong>to</strong> such a degree that he appeared in <strong>the</strong> council chamber personally, and said:<br />
"Mr. Speaker, and gentlemen of <strong>the</strong> <strong>House</strong> of Burgesses, I have heard of your resolves, and augur ill of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
effects. You have made it my duty <strong>to</strong> dissolve you, and you are dissolved accordingly."<br />
The Burgesses adjourned <strong>to</strong> a private house, and made Pey<strong>to</strong>n Randolph modera<strong>to</strong>r. Here Washing<strong>to</strong>n<br />
presented "a draft of <strong>the</strong> articles of association, concerted between him and George Mason. They formed <strong>the</strong><br />
ground-work of an instrument signed by all present, pledging <strong>the</strong>mselves nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong> import nor use any goods,<br />
merchandise, or manufactures taxed by Parliament <strong>to</strong> raise a revenue in America."<br />
This plan had been adopted by <strong>the</strong> New England Colonies, and now measures were taken <strong>to</strong> make it universal.<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n adhered scrupulously <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> plan, and allowed nothing <strong>to</strong> come in<strong>to</strong> his house with <strong>the</strong> tax of<br />
England upon it. He wrote <strong>to</strong> his London agent:<br />
"You will perceive, in looking over <strong>the</strong> several invoices, that some of <strong>the</strong> goods <strong>the</strong>re required are upon<br />
condition that <strong>the</strong> act of Parliament, imposing a duty on tea, paper, etc., for <strong>the</strong> purpose of raising a revenue in<br />
America, is <strong>to</strong>tally repealed; and I beg <strong>the</strong> favor of you <strong>to</strong> be governed strictly <strong>the</strong>reby, as it will not be in my<br />
power <strong>to</strong> receive any articles contrary <strong>to</strong> our non-importation agreement, which I have subscribed and shall<br />
religiously adhere <strong>to</strong>, and should, if it were as I could wish it <strong>to</strong> be, ten times as strict."<br />
He wrote <strong>to</strong> George Mason:<br />
"Our all is at stake, and <strong>the</strong> little conveniences and comforts of life, when set in competition with our liberty,<br />
ought <strong>to</strong> be rejected not with reluctance, but with pleasure.... It is amazing how much this practice, if adopted<br />
in all <strong>the</strong> Colonies, would lessen <strong>the</strong> American imports, and distress <strong>the</strong> various traders and manufacturers in<br />
Great Britain."<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n's prediction was fulfilled. The traders of England were embarrassed by non-importation, and<br />
appealed <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> government for relief. The tax was removed from all articles except tea. It was retained on tea<br />
in order "<strong>to</strong> show <strong>the</strong> Colonies that England claimed <strong>the</strong> right of taxation."<br />
To <strong>the</strong> Colonies a tax on one article was just as much an invasion of <strong>the</strong>ir rights as a tax upon all; so that <strong>the</strong><br />
last act of Parliament was additional proof that England meant <strong>to</strong> force taxation upon <strong>the</strong>m. Of course, as