The British nation a history / by George MWrong . iament could nottax those who sent to it no became the centre of agita-tion. Oliver, the secretary of theprovince, had accepted the post of stamp distributor, but the mob de- Andrew Oliver stroyed the stamp office and sackedhis house and that of Hutchinson, the Chief agreed not to use stamped paper. Merchantspromised to order no goods, and even to pay no debts,in England until the act was repealed. Boxes of stampsarriving from England were destroyed. There followeda paralysis of legal business, and finally the col
The British nation a history / by George MWrong . iament could nottax those who sent to it no became the centre of agita-tion. Oliver, the secretary of theprovince, had accepted the post of stamp distributor, but the mob de- Andrew Oliver stroyed the stamp office and sackedhis house and that of Hutchinson, the Chief agreed not to use stamped paper. Merchantspromised to order no goods, and even to pay no debts,in England until the act was repealed. Boxes of stampsarriving from England were destroyed. There followeda paralysis of legal business, and finally the colonial gov-ernments issued proclamations authorizing non-compli-ance with the law. Pitt assailed the act, but at the sametime claimed that Parliament was supreme over thecolonies, and could legislate for, though it ought not totax,.them. His views prevailed. The check to trade withAmerica had caused great distress in England. Grenvillesoon retired from office, and under Rockinghams ministrythe act was repealed, on March 18, 1766; but Parliament30. 4:66 THE BRITISH NATION passed also a Declaratory Act asserting the supremacy ofthe British Parliament. The repeal of the Stamp Act caused rejoicing inAmerica. Philadelphia Quakers, who during the agita-tion had worn only homespun, resolved toTownshendB wear new suits of English manufacture on new taxeSi the kings birthday. Benjamin Franklin andhis family had obeyed the rule to wear only cloth of homemanufacture, but he now wrote to his wife from Londonthat he was sending her material for a new gown. Stat-ues were raised to the king and Pitt, and the difficultyseemed ended. Yet feeling had been definitely arrayedin the colonies against the mother country and had takena violent form, while there was resentment in England atthis violence and at the refusal to share the burden oftaxation. No time was given for better conditions to ma-ture. In January, 17C7, only a few months after the repealof the Stamp Act, Charles Townshend, a young and
Size: 1283px × 1948px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidbritishnatio, bookyear1910
