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he¡¡legislature¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Commonwealth¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡of¡¡his¡¡colleagues¡¡were¡¡patriots¡£¡¡Boston¡¡was¡¡in¡¡that¡¡mood¡£
There¡¡runs¡¡a¡¡story¡¡that¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡entering¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡duties¡¡he¡¡was¡¡counselled¡¡by¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡to¡¡curb¡¡his¡¡impetuosity¡¡and¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡leadership¡¡by¡¡the¡¡mastery¡¡of¡¡selfadvice¡¡most¡¡salutary¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡temperament¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡much¡¡like¡¡advising¡¡General¡¡Putnam¡¡to¡¡be¡¡calm¡¡at¡¡Bunker¡¡Hill£¡¡¡¡¡Otis¡¡promised£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡if¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡would¡¡warn¡¡him¡¡when¡¡his¡¡temperature¡¡was¡¡rising£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡command¡¡himself¡£
It¡¡is¡¡also¡¡narrated¡¡that¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡did¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡pluck¡¡him¡¡by¡¡the¡¡coat£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡demanding¡¡to¡¡know¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡school¡¡boy¡¡to¡¡be¡¡called¡¡down£¡
At¡¡this¡¡time¡¡the¡¡relations¡¡between¡¡Governor¡¡Bernard¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Legislature¡¡were¡¡greatly¡¡strained¡£¡¡¡¡Otis¡¡rather¡¡increased¡¡the¡¡tension¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡question¡¡arose¡¡about¡¡a¡¡financial¡¡measure¡¡whereby¡¡gold¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡exported¡¡and¡¡silver¡¡money¡¡retained¡¡as¡¡the¡¡currency¡¡of¡¡the¡¡colonythe¡¡former¡¡at¡¡less¡¡than¡¡its¡¡nominal¡¡valuein¡¡a¡¡manner¡¡to¡¡juggle¡¡the¡¡people¡¡into¡¡paying¡¡their¡¡obligations¡¡twice¡¡over¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡argument¡¡became¡¡hot¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Council¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡administration¡¡was¡¡opposed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡legislative¡¡assembly¡£
Chief¡¡Justice¡¡Hutchinson¡¡and¡¡James¡¡Otis¡¡got¡¡into¡¡a¡¡controversy¡¡which¡¡was¡¡bitter¡¡enough£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡may¡¡be¡¡illustrated¡¡with¡¡the¡¡following¡¡letter¡¡which¡¡James¡¡Otis¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡printer¡¡of¡¡a¡¡newspaper£º¡¡¡¡
¡¨Perhaps¡¡I¡¡should¡¡not¡¡have¡¡troubled¡¡you¡¡or¡¡the¡¡public¡¡with¡¡any¡¡thoughts¡¡of¡¡mine£»¡¡had¡¡not¡¡his¡¡Honor¡¡the¡¡Lieutenant¡Governor¡¡condescended¡¡to¡¡give¡¡me¡¡a¡¡personal¡¡challenge¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡an¡¡honor¡¡that¡¡I¡¡never¡¡had¡¡vanity¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡aspire¡¡after£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡ever¡¡respect¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Hutchinson¡¡for¡¡it¡¡so¡¡long¡¡as¡¡I¡¡live£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡certainly¡¡consulted¡¡my¡¡reputation¡¡more¡¡than¡¡his¡¡own¡¡when¡¡he¡¡bestowed¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡general¡¡officer¡¡in¡¡the¡¡army¡¡would¡¡be¡¡thought¡¡very¡¡condescending¡¡to¡¡accept£»¡¡much¡¡more¡¡to¡¡give£»¡¡a¡¡challenge¡¡to¡¡a¡¡subaltern¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡honor¡¡of¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡lists¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gentleman¡¡so¡¡much¡¡one's¡¡superior¡¡in¡¡one¡¡view¡¡is¡¡certainly¡¡tempting£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡at¡¡least¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡his¡¡Honor¡¡may¡¡lose¡¡much£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡those¡¡who¡¡have¡¡and¡¡desire¡¡but¡¡little£»¡¡but¡¡little¡¡can¡¡possibly¡¡be¡¡taken¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¨I¡¡am¡¡your¡¡humble¡¡servant£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨JAMES¡¡OTIS£»¡¡JR¡£¡¨
This¡¡controversy¡¡continued¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡to¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡attributed¡¡much¡¡of¡¡the¡¡animosity¡¡displayed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Chief¡¡Justice¡¡towards¡¡Otis¡¡in¡¡the¡¡¡¨History¡¡of¡¡Massachusetts¡¡Bay¡£¡¨
Mr¡£¡¡Otis¡¡continued¡¡his¡¡aggressive¡¡policy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡session¡¡of¡¡the¡¡assembly¡¡held¡¡in¡¡1762¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡at¡¡this¡¡session¡¡that¡¡the¡¡government¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡a¡¡sum¡¡of¡¡money¡¡adopted¡¡the¡¡ruse¡¡of¡¡creating¡¡an¡¡alarm¡¡relative¡¡to¡¡a¡¡French¡¡invasion¡¡of¡¡Newfoundland¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡patriots¡¡would¡¡have¡¡none¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡went¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡if¡¡arbitrary¡¡government¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡established¡¡in¡¡America£»¡¡it¡¡made¡¡no¡¡difference¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡Americans¡¡should¡¡have¡¡King¡¡Stork¡¡or¡¡King¡¡Log¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡this¡¡effect¡¡ran¡¡a¡¡resolution¡¡offered¡¡by¡¡James¡¡Otis£º
¡¨No¡¡necessity¡¡can¡¡be¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡justify¡¡a¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Representatives¡¡in¡¡giving¡¡up¡¡such¡¡a¡¡privilege£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡of¡¡little¡¡consequence¡¡to¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡whether¡¡they¡¡were¡¡subject¡¡to¡¡George¡¡or¡¡Louis£»¡¡the¡¡King¡¡of¡¡Great¡¡Britain¡¡or¡¡the¡¡French¡¡King£»¡¡if¡¡both¡¡were¡¡arbitrary£»¡¡as¡¡both¡¡would¡¡be£»¡¡if¡¡both¡¡could¡¡levy¡¡taxes¡¡without¡¡Parliament¡£¡¨
It¡¡is¡¡said¡¡that¡¡when¡¡this¡¡resolution¡¡was¡¡offered¡¡a¡¡loyalist¡¡member¡¡cried¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Virginian¡¡manner£»¡¡¡¨Treason£»¡¡treason¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way¡¡that¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Otis¡¡gained¡¡the¡¡undying¡¡enmity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡King's¡¡party¡¡in¡¡America¡£
It¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡period¡¡following¡¡his¡¡legislative¡¡service¡¡that¡¡James¡¡Otis¡¡prepared¡¡his¡¡powerful¡¡pamphlet¡¡entitled¡¡¡¨A¡¡Vindication¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Conduct¡¡of¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Representatives¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Province¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Massachusetts¡¡Bay¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡work¡¡he¡¡traverses¡¡and¡¡justifies¡¡the¡¡course¡¡pursued¡¡by¡¡the¡¡patriot¡¡legislature¡¡during¡¡the¡¡sessions¡¡of¡¡his¡¡attendance¡£
Great¡¡was¡¡the¡¡joy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡American¡¡Colonies¡¡at¡¡the¡¡conclusion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡French¡¡and¡¡Indian¡¡War¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Treaty¡¡of¡¡Paris¡¡in¡¡February¡¡of¡¡1763¡¡conceded¡¡Canada¡¡to¡¡Great¡¡Britain¡¡and¡¡insured¡¡the¡¡predominance¡¡of¡¡English¡¡institutions¡¡in¡¡the¡¡New¡¡World¡£
The¡¡animosities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Americans¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡country¡¡rapidly¡¡subsided¡£¡¡¡¡Meetings¡¡were¡¡held¡¡in¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡towns¡¡to¡¡ratify¡¡the¡¡peace¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡jubilee¡¡in¡¡Boston£»¡¡James¡¡Otis¡¡presided¡£
He¡¡made¡¡on¡¡the¡¡occasion¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡notable¡¡addresses¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡referred¡¡with¡¡enthusiasm¡¡to¡¡the¡¡¡¨expulsion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heathen¡¨¡¡meaning¡¡the¡¡French£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡expressed¡¡sentiments¡¡of¡¡strong¡¡affection¡¡for¡¡Great¡¡Britain¡¡and¡¡appreciation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡filial¡¡relations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡American¡¡Colonies¡¡to¡¡her¡£
In¡¡these¡¡utterances¡¡Otis¡¡reflected¡¡the¡¡sentiment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bostonians¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡General¡¡Assembly¡¡of¡¡Massachusetts¡¡took¡¡up¡¡the¡¡theme¡¡and¡¡passed¡¡resolutions¡¡of¡¡gratitude¡¡and¡¡loyalty¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡this¡¡particular¡¡juncture¡¡the¡¡Americans¡¡did¡¡not¡¡anticipate¡¡what¡¡was¡¡soon¡¡to¡¡follow¡£
The¡¡English¡¡Ministry¡¡was¡¡already¡¡preparing¡¡a¡¡scheme¡¡for¡¡the¡¡raising¡¡of¡¡revenue¡¡in¡¡America£º¡¡¡¡The¡¡question¡¡of¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡taxation¡¡suddenly¡¡obtruded¡¡itself¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Americans¡¡claimed¡¡the¡¡right¡¡as¡¡Englishmen¡¡to¡¡tax¡¡themselves¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡English¡¡ministers¡¡replied¡¡that¡¡Parliament£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡the¡¡Colonial¡¡Assemblies£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡proper¡¡body¡¡to¡¡vote¡¡taxes¡¡in¡¡any¡¡and¡¡all¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡British¡¡Empire¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Americans¡¡replied¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡represented¡¡in¡¡Parliament¡£¡¡¡¡Parliament¡¡replied¡¡that¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡towns£»¡¡shires£»¡¡and¡¡boroughs¡¡in¡¡England¡¡were¡¡not¡¡represented¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡represented£»¡¡they¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Americans£»and¡¡thus¡¡the¡¡case¡¡was¡¡made¡¡up¡£
By¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡1764¡¡it¡¡was¡¡known¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Ministers¡¡had¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡rigorous¡¡enforcement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sugar¡¡Act¡£¡¡¡¡Than¡¡this£»¡¡nothing¡¡could¡¡be¡¡more¡¡odious¡¡to¡¡America¡£
In¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡¡just¡¡named£»¡¡the¡¡citizens¡¡of¡¡Boston¡¡held¡¡a¡¡great¡¡meeting¡¡to¡¡protest¡¡against¡¡the¡¡impending¡¡policy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crown¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡a¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Assembly¡¡and¡¡as¡¡chairman¡¡of¡¡a¡¡committee¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Otis¡¡made¡¡a¡¡report¡¡which¡¡was¡¡ordered¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡agent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡government¡¡along¡¡with¡¡the¡¡copy¡¡of¡¡Otis's¡¡recent¡¡pamphlet£»¡¡¡¨The¡¡Rights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡British¡¡Colonies¡¡asserted¡¡and¡¡proved¡£¡¨
At¡¡this¡¡time¡¡Lieutenant¡Governor¡¡Hutchinson¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡become¡¡the¡¡representative¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Colony¡¡in¡¡its¡¡contention¡¡with¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡and¡¡for¡¡some¡¡reason£»¡¡not¡¡very¡¡apparent£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Otis¡¡favored¡¡his¡¡appointment¡£¡¡¡¡Governor¡¡Bernard£»¡¡however£»¡¡opposed¡¡the¡¡measure£»¡¡and¡¡Hutchinson¡¡declined¡¡the¡¡appointment¡£¡¡¡¡Otis's¡¡course¡¡was¡¡censured¡¡by¡¡the¡¡patriots¡¡and¡¡his¡¡popularity¡¡was¡¡for¡¡the¡¡while¡¡impaired¡£¡¡¡¡However£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡strong¡¡grounds¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Sugar¡¡Act£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡afterward¡¡still¡¡more¡¡strenuously¡¡opposed¡¡the¡¡Stamp¡¡Act¡£
He¡¡regained¡¡the¡¡impaired¡¡confidence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of¡¡the¡¡session¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Assembly¡¡he¡¡was¡¡appointed¡¡chairman¡¡of¡¡a¡¡committee¡¡to¡¡correspond¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other¡¡Colonies£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡to¡¡promote¡¡the¡¡common¡¡interest¡¡of¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡This£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡intercolonial¡¡conference¡¡which¡¡Franklin¡¡had¡¡promoted£»¡¡was¡¡perhaps¡¡the¡¡first¡¡step¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡creation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Continental¡¡Congress¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Otis's¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡the¡¡provincial¡¡agent¡¡went¡¡to¡¡England£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡was¡¡sent¡¡in¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lower¡¡House¡¡only¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡document¡¡the¡¡writer¡¡said£º
¡¨Granting¡¡the¡¡time¡¡may¡¡come£»¡¡which¡¡we¡¡hope¡¡is¡¡far¡¡off£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡British¡¡Parliament¡¡shall¡¡think¡¡fit¡¡to¡¡oblige¡¡the¡¡North¡¡Americans£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡to¡¡maintain¡¡civil¡¡government¡¡among¡¡themselves£»¡¡for¡¡this¡¡they¡¡have¡¡already¡¡done£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡support¡¡an¡¡army¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡them£»¡¡can¡¡it¡¡be¡¡possible£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡duties¡¡to¡¡be¡¡imposed¡¡and¡¡the¡¡taxes¡¡to¡¡be¡¡levied¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡assessed¡¡without¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡or¡¡consent¡¡of¡¡one¡¡American¡¡in¡¡Parliament£¿¡¡¡¡If¡¡we¡¡are¡¡not¡¡represented£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡slaves¡£¡¨
This¡¡document¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡few¡¡American¡¡papers¡¡which¡¡was¡¡read¡¡and¡¡criticized¡¡in¡¡the¡¡British¡¡Parliament¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡merits¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Otis's¡¡pamphlet¡¡were¡¡actually¡¡debated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Lords¡¡by¡¡Lord¡¡Littleton¡¡and¡¡Lord¡¡Mansfield¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡his¡¡remarks¡¡said£º
¡¨Otis¡¡is¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡consequence¡¡among¡¡the¡¡people¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡have¡¡chosen¡¡him¡¡for¡¡one¡¡of¡¡their¡¡deputies¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Congress£»¡¡and¡¡general¡¡meeting¡¡from¡¡the¡¡respective¡¡governments¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡said¡¡the¡¡man¡¡is¡¡mad¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡then£¿¡¡¡¡One¡¡madman¡¡often¡¡makes¡¡many¡£¡¡¡¡Massaniello¡¡was¡¡mad£»¡¡nobody¡¡doubts£»¡¡yet¡¡for¡¡all¡¡that£»¡¡he¡¡overturned¡¡the¡¡government¡¡of¡¡Naples¡£¡¡¡¡Madness¡¡is¡¡catching¡¡in¡¡all¡¡popular¡¡assemblies£»¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡all¡¡popular¡¡matters¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡book¡¡is¡¡full¡¡of¡¡wildness¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡never¡¡read¡¡it¡¡till¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days¡¡ago£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡seldom¡¡look¡¡into¡¡such¡¡things¡£¡¨
It¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡this¡¡pamphlet¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Otis¡¡spoke¡¡so¡¡strongly¡¡on¡¡taxation¡¡and¡¡representation¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡very¡¡act¡¡of¡¡taxing£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨exercised¡¡over¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡not¡¡represented£»¡¡appears¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡be¡¡depriving¡¡them¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡their¡¡most¡¡essential¡¡rights£»¡¡and£»¡¡if¡¡continued¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡in¡¡effect£»¡¡an¡¡entire¡¡disfranchisement¡¡of¡¡every¡¡civil¡¡right¡£¡¡For¡¡what¡¡one¡¡civil¡¡right¡¡is¡¡worth¡¡a¡¡rush£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡man's¡¡property¡¡is¡¡subject¡¡to¡¡be¡¡taken¡¡from¡¡him¡¡at¡¡pleasure£»¡¡without¡¡his¡¡consent£¿¡¨£§2£§
In¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡germ¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stern¡¡resistance¡¡offered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Americans¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Stamp¡¡Act¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡colonies¡¡did¡¡so¡¡much¡¡to¡¡confute¡¡the¡¡principles¡¡on¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Stamp¡¡Act¡¡rested¡¡as¡¡did¡¡James¡¡Otis¡£
When¡¡the¡¡General¡¡Assembly¡¡of¡¡Massachusetts¡¡met¡¡in¡¡May¡¡of¡¡1765£»¡¡Governor¡¡Bernard¡¡urged¡¡in¡¡his¡¡address¡¡the¡¡duty¡¡of¡¡submission¡¡to¡¡Parliament¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡¡¨conservators¡¡of¡¡liberty¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡this¡¡recommendation¡¡which¡¡being¡¡referred¡¡to¡¡a¡¡Committee£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡Otis¡¡was¡¡a¡¡member£»¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡adoption¡¡of¡¡a¡¡resolution¡¡for¡¡the¡¡holding¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Colonial¡¡Congress¡¡in¡¡New¡¡York¡£
Nine¡¡colonies¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡invitation¡¡of¡¡Massachusetts£»¡¡and¡¡James¡¡Otis¡¡headed¡¡the¡¡delegation¡¡of¡¡three¡¡members¡¡chosen¡¡to¡¡represent¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡colony¡¡in¡¡that¡¡prophetic¡¡body¡£
The¡¡story¡¡of¡¡the¡¡contest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Americans¡¡with¡¡the¡¡home¡¡government¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Stamp¡¡Act¡¡is¡¡well¡¡known¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡controversy¡¡resulted¡¡on¡¡the¡¡18th¡¡of¡¡March£»¡¡1766£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡repeal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Act¡¡by¡¡Parliament¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡repeal¡¡was¡¡accompanied¡¡with¡¡a¡¡salvo¡¡to¡¡British¡¡obduracy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡a¡¡declaration¡¡that¡¡Parliament¡¡had¡¡¡¨the¡¡right¡¡to¡¡bind¡¡the¡¡colonies¡¡in¡¡all¡¡cases¡¡whatsoever¡£¡¨
Notwithstanding¡¡this¡¡hateful¡¡addendum£»¡¡the¡¡repeal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Act¡¡was¡¡received¡¡in¡¡America¡¡with¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡joy¡£¡¡¡¡During¡¡the¡¡excitement¡¡antecedent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡repeal£»¡¡mobs¡¡had¡¡surged¡¡through¡¡the¡¡streets¡¡of¡¡Boston£»¡¡building¡¡bonfires¡¡and¡¡burning¡¡effigies¡¡of¡¡officers¡¡and¡¡other¡¡adherents¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡party¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡ebullitions£»¡¡the¡¡house¡¡of¡¡Lieutenant¡Governor¡¡Hutchinson¡¡was¡¡attacked¡¡and¡¡pillaged¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡better¡¡people¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Many¡¡were¡¡arrested¡¡and¡¡imprisoned¡£
Governor¡¡Bernard¡¡was¡¡so¡¡much¡¡alarmed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡declared¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡governor¡¡only¡¡in¡¡name¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡partisans¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡started¡¡a¡¡story¡¡that¡¡James¡¡Otis¡¡was¡¡the¡¡instigator¡¡of¡¡the¡¡riots¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡hint¡¡to¡¡this¡¡effect¡¡in¡¡Hutchinson's¡¡¡¨History¡¡of¡¡Massachusetts¡¡Bay¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡evident¡¡that¡¡the¡¡charge¡¡was¡¡unfoundedexcept¡¡in¡¡this£»¡¡that¡¡in¡¡times¡¡of¡¡public¡¡excitement¡¡the¡¡utterances¡¡of¡¡orators¡¡are¡¡frequently¡¡wrested¡¡from¡¡their¡¡purpose¡¡by¡¡the¡¡ignorant¡¡and¡¡made¡¡to¡¡do¡¡service¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡anarchy¡£
Meanwhile¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first¡¡of¡¡November£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Otis¡¡returned¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Congress¡¡in¡¡New¡¡York£»¡¡laid¡¡a¡¡copy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡proceedings¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Assembly£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡formally¡¡thanked¡¡for¡¡his¡¡services¡£
During¡¡the¡¡Stamp¡¡Act¡¡year£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Otis¡¡found¡¡time¡¡to¡¡compose¡¡two¡¡pamphlets¡¡setting¡¡forth¡¡his¡¡views¡¡on¡¡the¡¡great¡¡questions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡had¡¡recently¡¡appeared¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡written¡¡by¡¡a¡¡Halifax¡¡gentleman¡¡and¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡Rhode¡¡Island¡¡friend¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡personage¡¡was¡¡un