The Writings of Samuel Adams - Volume 2

Volume Ii

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1770-1773

CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.

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1770.

Article Signed "Vindex," January 8th . . . Power of Governer over sessions of General Assembly.

Article Signed "Determinatus," January 8th . . . Non-importation agreement.

To the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts, March 19th . . . Memorial of town of Boston--Apointment of special justices.

To John Hancock, May 11th . . . Proposed resignation.

To Benjamin Franklin, July 13th . . . Letter of town of Boston--Effect of massacre narrative--Influences upon public opinion--"Case" of Captain Preston.

To the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts, August 3d . . . Answer of House of Representatives--Place of meeting of General Assembly--Legal opinions--Precedents--Royal instructions--Nature of Province Charter--Rights of House.

Article Signed "A Chatterer," August 13th . . . Royal instructions.

Article Signed "A Chatterer," August 20th . . . Character of office holders.

Article Signed "A Chatterer," August 27th . . . Reply to "Probus"--Character of lieutenant-governor.

To Benjamin Franklin, November 6th . . . Letter of House of Representatives--Appointment as agent--Attitude of administration to Massachusetts--Royal instructions--Admiralty jurisdiction--Salaries and appointments.

To Stephen Sayre, November 16th . . . Letters of "Junius Americanus"--Non-importation agreement--Trial of Preston--Royal instructions.

To the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachussetts, Novemer 20th . . . Memorial of House of Representatives--Vacancies in militia.

Article Signed "A Tory," November 20th . . . Effects of present administration.

To Peter Timothy, November 21st . . . Reply to Charleston committee--Non-importation agreement.

To Stephen Sayre, November 23d . . . Choice of agent--Royal instructions--Attitude of Huthchinson.

To Josiah Williams, November 23d . . . Personal advice.

Article signed "A Chatterer," December 3d . . . Royal instructions--Control of troops--Custody of Castle William.

Article signed "Vindex," December 10th . . . Trials of Preston and soldiers--Discussion of testimony.

Article signed "Vindex," December 17th . . . Trials of Preston and soldiers--Discussion of testimony.

Article signed "Vindex," December 24th . . . Trials of Preston and soldiers--Discussion of testimony.

Article signed "Vindex," December 24th . . . Reply to "Somebody"--Trial of soldiers.

To John Wilkes, December 28th . . . Introduction of William Palfrey--Conditions in colonies.

Article signed "Vindex," December 31st . . . Action of Boston on massacre--Attitude of troops--Events of March 5, 1770--Testimony upon trial--The dead.

Article signed "Vindex," December 31st . . . Testimony upon trial of soldiers.

1771.

Article signed "Vindex," January 7th . . . Trial of soldiers--Discussion of testimony.

To Stephen Sayre, January 12th . . . Enclosing articles on trials.

Article signed "Vindex," January 14th . . . Discussion of testimony--"Case" of Captain Preston.

Article signed "Vindex," January 21st . . . Result of trial of soldiers--Discussion of testimony--Reply to Philanthrop.

Article signed "Vindex," January 28th . . . Discussion of testimony--"Case" of Captain Preston.

To Charles Lucas, March 12th . . . Acknowledgments of Boston.

To Arthur Lee, April 19th . . . Beginning of correspondence--General conditions--Designs of Administration--Royal instructions.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, April 24th . . . Answer of House of Representatives--Action of Spain at Port Egmont--Attitude of Administration--Place of meeting of General Assembly--Appointment of Governor.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, April 25th . . . Salary bills.

Article signed "Candidus," June 10th . . . Place of meeting of General Assembly--Royal instructions--Attitude of Hutchinson.

Article signed "Candidus," June 17th . . . Address of clergy.

To Benjamin Franklin, June 29th . . . Letter of House of Representatives--Right of Parliament to tax--Revenue and tribute--Independence of officers--Rights of colonists--Position of colonial agent.

Article signed "Candidus," July 1st . . . Convention of clergy.

To Arthur Lee, July 31st . . . Conditions in London--Effects of faction and of arbitrary power--Attitude of Hutchinson--Disturbances in North Carolina

Article signed "Candidus," August 5th . . . Address of clergy--Character of convention.

Article signed "Candidus," August 19th . . . Custom of "addressing"--Public opinion of Administration--Stamp Act--Events in 1768--Character of addresses.

Article signed "Candidus," September 9th . . . Assertion of rights by colonists--Factions--Revenue acts.

Article signed "Candidus," September 16th . . . Circular letter of February, 1768--The mandate to rescind--Letter to Hillsborough of June, 1768--Refusal to rescind.

Article signed "Candidus," September 23d . . . Dissolution of General Assembly--Charter rights of General Assembly--Royal instructions.

To Arthur Lee, September 27th . . . Remonstrance of London--Despotism in Massachusetts--Cause of colonial grievances--Possiblity of impeachment--Opposition to an American episcopate--Introduction of William Story.

Article signed "Candidus," September 30th . . . Letters of Bernard--Disorders in 1768--Letters of commissioners.

To Arthur Lee, October 2d . . . Comments on William Story.

Article signed "Candidus," October 7th . . . Salary of Governor--Attitude of Hutchinson.

Article signed "Candidus," October 14th . . . Historic instances of slavery and tyranny--Comparison of America and Rome--Liberties of America.

Article signed "Valerius Poplicola," October 28th . . . Acts of trade--Subjection and allegiance--Legislative power in Massachusetts--Jurisdiction of Parliament.

To Arthur Lee October 31st . . . Action of Council on "Junius Americanus"--Relationship of office holders--Attitude of House of Representatives--The "Hue and Cry."

To Joseph Allen, November 7th . . . Personal advice.

Article signed "Candidus," November 11th . . . Jeroboam as a Governor--Attitude of the clergy.

To Arthur Lee, November 13th . . . Proclamation by the Governor--Its reception by the clergy.

Article signed "Cotton Mather," November 25th . . . Salary of Governor--Provisions of the charter.

Article signed "Candidus," December 2d . . . Attitude of the people--Reply to "Chronus"--Royal instructions.

Article signed "Candidus," December 9th . . . Jealousy of liberty--Control of revenue--Powers of Governor.

Article signed "Candidus," December 16th . . . Reply to "Chronus."

Memorandum, December 18th . . . Alleged criticism of Hancock

Article signed "Candidus," December 23d . . . Effect of petitioning--Control of funds--Infringement of liberties.

1772.

To Henry Marchant, January 7th . . . Election in London--Activity of government agents--Policy of Crown officers.

To Arthur Lee, January 14th . . . Attitude of Government.

Article signed "Candidus," January 20th . . . Acts of trade--Power of taxation--Colonial right of legislation--Extent of "Dominion."

Article signed "Candidus," January 27th . . . Acts of trade--Magna Charta.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, April 10th . . . Answer of House of Representatives--Place of meeting of General Assembly--Power of Governor over sessions.

Article signed "Vindex," April 20th . . . Reply to "Philanthrop Jun."

To the Governor of Massachusetts, July 14th . . . Answer of the House of Representatives--Repair of Province House.

Article signed "Valerius Poplicola," October 5th . . . Tribute--Effect of petitions--Freemen or slaves?

To Andrew Elton Wells, October 21st Family affairs--Royal power over colonial government.

To Elbridge Gerry, October 27th . . . Independence of judges.

To Elbridge Gerry, October 29th . . . Independence of judges--Action of Boston.

To Arthur Lee, November 3d . . . Retirement of Hillsborough--Character of Dartmouth--Independence of judges--Action of Boston.

To Elbridge Gerry, November 5th . . . Concert of action--Action of Boston--Independence of judges.

To Elbridge Gerry, November 14th . . . Activity in Marblehead--Rights as Christians--Attitude of Roxbury and Plymouth.

The Rights of the Colonists as Men, as Christians, and as Subjects, November 20th . . .

A List of Violations of Rights, November 20th . . .

A Letter of Correspondence, November 20th . . .

Article Signed "Vindex," November 30th . . . To Aaron Davis--Character of Doctor Young.

To Arthur Lee, November 31st . . . Proceedings of Boston--Activity of public enemies--Action of Roxbury and Plymouth.

To Elbridge Gerry, December 7th . . . Acknowledgment.

To William Checkly, December 14th . . . Personal reflections.

Article Signed "Candidus," December 14th . . . Criticism of Draper's Gazette--Proceedings of Boston . . .

To Elbridge Gerry, December 23d . . . Proceedings of Marblehead.

To Darius Sessions, December 28th . . . Response to request for advice--The Rhode Island commission--Effect on judiciary system.

To the Committee of Correspondence of Cambridge, December 29th . . . Acknowledgment of Boston committee for their endorsement.

To the Committee of Correspondence of Plymouth, December 29th . . . Acknowledgment of Boston committee for their endorsement--Character of early settlers.

1773.

To Darius Sessions, January 2d . . . The issue in Rhode Island--Advice to the colony--Probabilities considered.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, January 26th . . . Answer of the House of Representatives--Jurisdiction of Parliament--Colonial charters--Rights of colonists--Historical precedents.

To the Committee of Correspondence of Lynn, February 9th . . . Acknowledgment of Boston committee--Diffusion of liberty.

To Darius Sessions, February . . . Futher advice upon political situation.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, February 12th . . . Message of the House of Representatives--Independence of judges--Attitude of Governor.

To John Adams . . . On reply to Governor.

To the Governor of Massachusetts, March 2d . . . Answer of House of Representatives--Proceedings of Boston--Rights of King in colonies--Jurisdiction of Parliament--Historical precedents

THE WRITINGS OF

SAMUEL ADAMS.

ARTICLE SIGNED "VINDEX."

THE power delegated by this clause to the Governor was undoubtedly intended in favor of the people--The necessity and importance of a legislative in being, and of its having the opportunity of exerting itself upon all proper occasions, must be obvious to a man of common discernment. Its grand object is the REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES: And for this purpose it is adjudg'd that parliaments ought to be held frequently--The people may be aggriev'd for the want of having a good law made, as well as repealing a bad one: So they may be, by the mal conduct of the executive in its manner of administring justice wrongfully under colour of law. In all these cases and many others, the necessity of the frequent interposition of the legislative evidently appears. And if either of them, much more, if all of them should at any time be justly complain'd of by the people, the adjourning, proroguing or dissolving the legislative, at such a juncture, must be the greatest of all grievances--There may be other reasons for the sitting of an American assembly besides the correcting any disorders arising from among the people within its own jurisdiction.--Some of the Acts of the British parliament are generally thought to be grievous in their operation, and dangerous in their consequences to the liberties of the American subjects: An American legislative therefore, in which the whole body of the people is represented, ought certainly to have the opportunity of explaining and remonstrating their grievances to the British parliament, and the full exercise of that invaluable and uncontroulable Right of the subject to petition the King, as often as they judge necessary, 'till they are removed. To postpone a meeting of this universal body of the people till it is too late to make such application must be a frustration of one grand design of its existance; and it naturally tends to other arbitrary exertions.--I have often tho't that in former administrations such delays to call the general assembly, were intended for the purpose above-mentioned: And if others should have the same apprehension at present I cannot help it, nor am I answerable for it. It may not be amiss however for every man to make it a subject of his contemplation. We all remember that no longer ago than the last year, the extraordinary dissolution by Governor Bernard, in which he declared he was merely ministerial, produced another assembly, which tho' legal in all its proceedings, awaked an attention in the very soul of the British empire.

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