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Rh effect, it was found that all the stamp distributors had resigned their offices. Meantime in June the Massachusetts legislature issued a circular inviting all the colonies to send delegates to a congress at New York on the first Tuesday of October. On that day delegates from nine of the colonies appeared. The congress drew up a declaration of rights, a memorial to parliament, and a petition to the king, in which they claimed the right of being taxed only by their own representatives; and these proceedings were approved by the colonial assemblies. The merchants of the principal cities agreed to purchase no more goods in England till the act was repealed, and the people pledged themselves to use no articles of English manufacture. These demonstrations of popular feeling in America led to the repeal of the stamp act on March 18, 1766, an event celebrated with great rejoicings both in the colonies and in the English seaports, whose trade was already seriously affected. But the plan of taxing America was not yet given up, and in June, 1767, parliament passed an act imposing duties on paper, glass, tea, and some other articles imported into the colonies. The colonies in return revived with renewed vigor their non-importation associations. Massachusetts, and especially the town of Boston, was foremost in the opposition; and in Boston, on the occasion of the seizure (June 10, 1768) of a sloop belonging to John Hancock for an alleged false entry, a disturbance occurred, which the commissioners of customs made the pretext for retiring to a vessel of war in the harbor. The government resolved to take vengeance on “the insolent town of Boston,” and a military force under Gen. Gage was sent to occupy the place in September. A collision took place March 5, 1770, between the soldiers and a crowd of citizens, in which three of the latter were killed and eight wounded. This “Boston massacre,” as it was called, caused great excitement throughout the country, and had much influence in heightening the popular feeling against England. The non-importation associations soon produced such an effect in England, that in April, 1770, the government removed all the duties except that of threepence a pound on tea, which was retained at the express command of George III., who said that “there should be always one tax, at least, to keep up the right of taxing.” This did not satisfy the Americans, who objected not to the amount of the taxes, but to the principle of taxation without representation; and combinations were formed against the importation and use of tea, and measures taken to prevent its being either landed or sold. At Boston, on the evening of Dec. 16, 1773, a band of men disguised as Indians went on board three tea ships, which had recently arrived from England and lay at one of the wharves, and, taking out the chests, emptied the tea into the water, and then quietly retired. When the news of this action reached England, the government determined

to punish the colonies, and especially to make an example of Boston. Parliament accordingly, in March, 1774, passed the “Boston port bill,” which closed that port to all commerce, and transferred the board of customs to Marblehead and the seat of colonial government to Salem. Bills were also passed abrogating the most popular features of the colonial charter, and authorizing the commander to quarter his army in towns, and to transfer to another colony or to Great Britain any persons informed against or indicted for crimes committed in supporting the revenue laws or suppressing riots. These acts excited to a still greater pitch the already deep indignation of the people. Boston was everywhere regarded as the champion of popular rights, and as the victim of ministerial persecution; and money and provisions were sent to it from the most distant colonies and from England. Hutchinson was superseded as governor of Massachusetts in May, 1774, by Gen. Gage. Meanwhile conventions were held and delegates chosen to the congress at Philadelphia, known as the “old continental congress,” which met Sept. 6 in Carpenters' hall, all the colonies being represented except Georgia and North Carolina; but delegates from the latter arrived on the 14th. Among the 53 members were Washington, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Edward and John Rutledge, Christopher Gadsden, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Philip Livingston, William Livingston, and John Jay. Peyton Randolph of Virginia (succeeded by Henry Middleton of South Carolina on Oct. 22) was chosen speaker, and Charles Thomson of Pennsylvania secretary. The discussions were opened on the second day by Patrick Henry in a speech of surpassing eloquence, in which he said: “British oppression has effaced the boundaries of the several colonies; the distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American.” A declaration of rights was agreed upon, in which was set forth the claim of the colonists as British subjects to participate in making their own laws and in imposing their own taxes, to the right of trial by a jury of the vicinage, of holding public meetings, and of petitioning for redress of grievances. The maintenance of a standing army in the colonies without their consent was protested against, as were eleven acts passed since the accession of George III. in violation of colonial rights and privileges. The measures of redress which they proposed were peaceable, and comprised the formation of an “American association,” pledged not to trade with Great Britain or the West Indies, nor with those engaged in the slave trade, and not to use British goods or tea. Among the papers issued by them were a petition to the king and an address to the people of Canada, written by John Dickinson of Pennsylvania; an address to the people of Great Britain, by John Jay; and a memorial