james otis the pre-revolutionist-第10章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ich　under　the　nurture　of　other　able　hands　and　in　the　providence　of　the　God　of　Nations　budded　at　last　into　〃The　Great　Republic。〃　　Thus　it　becomes　the　purpose　of　this　article　to　recall　briefly　the　most　striking　characteristics　of　him　whose　name　must　always　be　intimately　associated　with　the　ardent　debates　and　the　troublesome　events　which　foreshadowed　the　great　struggle　between　the　greatest　of　colonizing　nations　and　her　greatest　Colonies。

The　exigency　of　these　times　was　great；　and　men　of　courage　and　capacity；　wise　in　council　and　prompt　in　action　rose　to　meet　it。　　They　were　not　men　ennobled　merely　by　their　appearance　on　the　stage　at　the　time　when　great　scenes　were　passing。　　They　took　a　part　in　those　scenes　with　a　degree　of　aptness　and　energy　proportional　to　the　magnitude　of　the　occasion　and　throughout　displayed　high　qualities　of　character。

Otis's　part　was　played　not　so　much　in　the　revolution　itself；　as　in　the　agitations　and　controversies　by　which　it　was　heralded　and　its　way　prepared。　〃Admirably　fitted　by　his　popular　talents；　legal　acquirements；　and　ardent　temperament；　to　take　an　active　share　in　the　discussion　respecting　the　comparative　rights　of　the　Colonies　and　the　British　Parliament；　and　in　preparing　the　minds　of　his　countrymen　for　the　great　step　of　a　final　separation　from　England；　and　having　exhausted；　as　it　were；　his　mental　powers　in　this　preparatory　effort；　his　mind　was　darkened　when　the　contest　really　came；　and　he　remained　an　impotent　spectator　of　the　struggle；　by　which　the　liberties　of　his　native　land　were　at　last　permanently　established。〃

The　Life　of　James　Otis　as　narrated　by　William　Tudor　is　one　of　the　most　pleasant　and　instructive　in　the　whole　range　of　American　biographies；　and　leaves　few　particulars　in　the　personal　life　of　Otis　to　be　gathered　by　the　subsequent　investigator。　　The　sketch　by　Francis　Bowen　in　Jared　Sparks'　Library　of　American　Biography　furnishes　additional　and　valuable　illustrations　of　the　character　and　services　of　Otis；　which　were　secured　from　the　third　volume　of　Thomas　Hutchinson's　History　of　Massachusetts；　（first　published　after　Tudor's　Life　of　Otis　appeared）；　from　the　copies　of　papers　in　the　office　of　the　English　Board　of　Trade　relating　to　the　colonial　history　of　Massachusetts；　and　from　the　private　correspondence　of　Governors　Bernard　and　Hutchinson　with　the　English　Ministry；　during　the　time　of　Otis's　public　career。　　These　sources　throw　much　light　on　the　conduct　of　Otis　as　the　chief　political　opponent　of　the　these　two　colonial　executives。

It　is　the　purpose　of　the　present　article　merely　to　emphasize　the　three　striking　traits　of　his　character；his　impetuosity　and　earnestness；　his　high　integrity　and　devotion　to　truth　and　justice；　and　his　marked　ability　as　an　advocate　before　the　bar。

In　reading　the　memoirs　of　James　Otis　one　is　struck　from　first　to　last　with　the　impetuosity；　the　earnestness；　the　ardent　temper　of　his　nature。　　This　was　at　once　the　secret　of　a　great　measure　of　his　power　and　also　the　partial　source　of　his　mental　undoing。　　As　a　student　at　Harvard；　the　last　two　years　of　his　college　life　were　marked　with　great　assiduity　in　study；　and　while　at　home　during　the　vacations　in　this　period；　he　devoted　himself　so　closely　to　his　books；　that　he　was　seldom　seen　by　his　friends；　and　often　it　was　not　known　that　he　had　returned；　till　he　had　been　in　his　father's　house　for　some　days。　　Such　severe　application　doubtless　served　to　sow　the　first　seeds　of　mental　derangement；　which　falling　on　the　fertile　soil　of　his　feverish　disposition　and　nutured　by　the　constant　and　intense　argumentative　strife　of　his　later　political　career；　finally　found　their　fruition　in　the　mental　collapse　which　so　distressingly　darkened　his　latter　days。　　When　participating　in　the　common　amusements　of　youth　he　exhibited　all　the　vivacity　of　an　excitable　temperament。

The　earnestness　of　his　nature　led　him　to　resign　a　lucrative　office；　renounce　the　favor　of　government；　abandon　the　fairest　prospects　of　professional　emolument　and　distinction；　and　to　devote　himself　to　the　service　of　his　country　with　unflinching　courage；　quenchless　zeal；　and　untiring　energy。

As　an　orator　the　impetuosity　of　his　speech　and　the　earnestness　of　his　voice　and　manner　were　so　impressive；　that　they　forced　conviction　upon　his　hearers　even　when　his　arguments　did　not　reach　their　judgment。　　Such　was　the　fluency　and　animation　of　his　language；　whether　written　or　spoken；　that　though　it　was　sometimes　coarse　and　defective　in　taste；　it　was　always；　as　will　be　seen　from　the　examples　quoted　in　this　paper；　extremely　effective。

In　political　controversy　the　impetuosity　of　his　nature　led　him　to　be　irascible　and　harsh　towards　his　opponents　and　sometimes　hasty　in　judgment。　　But　towards　those　whom　he　liked　he　was　equally　effusive　in　expressions　of　regard；　and　was　generous；　high…spirited　and　placable。

The　fiery　and　impetuous　temper　of　Otis　is　well　illustrated　by　the　following　anecdote　given　by　Tudor；　who；　however；　does　not　vouch　for　its　authenticity。　　Upon　first　taking　his　seat　in　the　house；　a　friend　sitting　near；　said：　　〃Mr。　Otis；　you　have　great　abilities；　but　are　too　warm；　too　impetuous；　your　opponents；　though　they　cannot　meet　you　in　argument；　will　get　the　advantage　by　interrupting　you；　and　putting　you　in　a　passion。〃　　　〃Well；〃　said　Otis；　〃if　you　see　me　growing　warm；　give　me　a　hint；　and　I'll　command　myself。〃　　Later　on　when　a　question　of　some　importance　arose；　Otis　and　this　friend　were　on　the　Boston　seat　together。　　Otis　said　he　was　going　to　speak；　and　his　companion　again　warned　him　against　being　irritated　by　interruptions　from　the　opposition。

He　soon　rose；　and　was　speaking　with　great　fluency　and　powerful　logic；　when　Timothy　Ruggles　interrupted　him；　he　grew　warm　in　reply；　and　his　friend　pulled　his　coat　slightly。　　Otis　scowled　as　he　turned　round；　but　taking　the　hint　moderated　his　tone。　　Soon　afterwards；　Mr。　Choate；　of　Ipswich；　broke　in　on　him　again。　　This　aroused　his　temper；　and　his　coat　was　pulled　a　second　time；　turning　round　quickly　he　said　in　an　undertone　to　his　monitor；　〃Let　me　alone；　do　you　take　me　for　a　schoolboy？〃　and　continuing　his　address　with　great　impetuosity　he　overwhelmed　his　opponent　with　sarcasm　and　invective。

Without　doubt　James　Otis　was　a　strong　man；a　man　of　strong　and　positive　character；　whose　friends　and　enemies　were　equally　strong　in　their　feelings　of　like　and　dislike。　　The　men　who　were　ranged　as　his　enemies　have　for　the　most　part　been　relegated　to　a　second　place　on　the　page　of　history　（this　does　not　apply　to　Thomas　Hutchinson；　who　in　his　official　capacity　was　Otis's　chief　political　opponent；　but　who　did　not　exhibit　the　personal　enemity　of　Bernard　and　others）；　while　those　who　were　his　friends　stand　out　boldly　among　the　notable　characters　of　the　past。　　As　Otis　himself　remarked　concerning　Charles　Lee；　we　are　not　at　a　loss　to　know　which　is　the　highest　evidence　of　his　virtuesthe　greatness　and　number　of　his　friends；　or　the　malice　and　envy　of　his　foes。　　But　friends　and　foes　alike　agree　in　ascribing　to　him　a　very　ardent　temperament；　though　with　the　latter　it　is　unjustly　regarded　as　violent。　　There　is　a　great　contrast　between　the　estimate　of　Otis　given　by　Hutchinson　（quoted　below）　and　that　exhibited　in　the　following　extract　from　a　long　letter　written　by　Governor　Bernard　to　Lord　Shelburne；　near　the　end　of　the　year　1766；　which　is　entirely　filled　with　a　review　of　Otis's　career　and　character；　and　is　a　curious　specimen　of　studied　calumniation。　　The　introductory　remarks　show　sufficiently　well　the　spirit　of　the　whole。　　〃I　would　avoid　personalities；　but　in　the　present　case　it　is　impossible。　　The　troubles　in　this　country　take　their　rise　from；　and　owe　their　continuance　to；　one　man；　so　much；　that　this　history　alone　would　contain　a　full　account　of　them。　　This　man；　James　Otis；　Esq。；　was　a　lawyer　at　Boston　when　I　first　came　to　the　government。　　He　is　by　nature　a　passionate；　violent；　and　desperate　man；　which　qualities　sometimes　work　him　up　to　an　absolute　frenzy。I　say　nothing　of　him；　which　is　not　known　to　be　his　certain　character；　confirmed　by　frequent　experience。〃

While　sympathy　for　Otis　made　the　public　commonly　ascribe　the　alienation　of　his　reason　chiefly　to　the　injuries　received　during　his　encounter　with　Robinson　in　the　British　Coffee　House；　it　is　fairly　certain　that　the　commencement　of　the　disease　dates　further　back；　and　that　the　blows　on　the　head　hastened　and　aggravated　an　already　incipient　malady　superinduced　by　very　different　causes。

In　the　ardor　and　assiduity　of　his　devotion　to　the　colonial　cause　Otis　had　overtaxed　his　mental　powers。　　His　fine　faculties　that　had　been　exerted　so　strenuously；　and　with　such　striking　effect；　in　the　service　of　his　country；　were　sinking　under　the　excitement　and　the　effort　which　had　sustained　them　in　the　heat　of　action。　　For　ten　years　he　had　abandoned　the　ordinary　practice　of　his　profession　and　renouncing　all　recreation　had　given　his　entire　time　and　thought；　himself；　verily；　to　the　〃great　argument〃　which　involved　the　welfare　of　the　Colonies；　and　as　we　now　see　it；　of　the　world。　To　allow　one　idea　exclusive　occupancy　of　the　mind　and　constantly　to　ponder　a　single　topic；　is　a　very　frequent　and　almost　sure　cause　of　mental　distress。　　It　was　his　highest　merit　and　at　the　same　time　his　greatest　misfortune；　that　Otis　permitted　this　political　controversy　to　have　such　an　absorbing　and　despotic　command　of　his　attention　that　melancholy　consequences　gradually　appeared　and　left　little　hope　of　his　final　restoration。　　His　excitable　and　passionate　temperament　allowed　the　fire　to　be　soon　kindled；　and　nourished　the　flame　in　which　his　intellect；　strong　as　it　had　been；　was　ultimately　destroyed。

Otis's　mental　malady　first　appeared　in　a　form　which　was　mistaken　for　mere　eccentricity　of　humor；　and　some　time　elapsed　before　his　oddities　of　fancy　and　conduct　deepened　into　acknowledged　insanity。　　An　incident　which　might　have　aroused　the　suspicions　of　his　friends　occurred　during　the　legislative　session　of　1769；　when　at　the　close　of　a　powerful　and　ingenious　speech　by　Brigadier　Ruggles　in　which　he　had　made　a　deep　impression；　Otis　at　once　arose　and　in　an　impassioned　tone　and　manner　which　struck　awe　upon　all　those　present；　exclaimed；　〃Mr。　Speaker；　the　liberty　of　this　country　is　gone　forever；　and　I'll　go　after　it；〃　and　turning　round　immediately　left　the　House。　　Some　members　stared；　some　laughed；　but　none　seemed　to　suspect　the　true　cause　of　this　odd　behavior。

How；　after　the　encounter　with　Robinson；　this　mental　disease　made　inroads　on　his　fine　powers；　we　best　know　from　John　Adams；　who　on　September　3；　1769；　wrote：　　〃Otis　talks　all；　he　grows　the　most　talkative　man　alive；　no　other　gentleman　in　company　can　find　space　to　put　in　a　word。　　He　grows　narrative　like　an　old　man。〃　　On　September　5th　occurred　the　encounter　with　Robinson；　one　of　the　Commissioners　of　Customs；　at　the　British　Coffee　House；　which　greatly　aggravated　his　mental　disorder。　　From　this　time　on　he　was　a　subject　of　some　perplexity　to　the　Whig　leaders；　though　the　spell　with　which　he　influenced　the　people　was　long　in　breaking。　　On　January　16；　Adams　again　wrote：　　〃Otis　is　in　confusion　yet；　he　loses　himself；　he　rambles　and　wanders　like　a　ship　without　a　helm；　attempted　to　tell　a　story　which　took　up　almost　all　the　evening。　*　*　*　In　one　word；　Otis　will　spoil　the　club。　　He　talks　so　much；　and　takes　up　so　much　of　our　time；　and　fills　it　with　trash；