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THE GAUNTLET OF DEFIANCE. 523
Before anything definite was effected, however, a change took place in the
ministry; and after some difficulty, in April, 1763, a new cabinet was formed.
George Grenville took the place of Bute at the head of the treasury and
the exchequer; the Earl of Egremont and Lord Halifax became the two
Secretaries of State; and Charles Jenkinson, the able and indefatigable
Secretary of Bute, was retained under Grenville as principal Secretary of the
Treasury.
Immediately upon the formation of this ministry, Grenville, as Lord of the
Treasury, renewed the attempt for the passage of a revenue bill, " extending
the stamp duties to the colonies." On the 9th of March, 1764, he read in the
House of Commons a series of resolutions declaring the intention of the government to raise a revenue in America by a duty on stamped paper; announcing,
however, that final action on the question would be delayed, with a view of
allowing the colonists an opportunity of suggesting other modes of laying a
tax. The king on proroguing parliament, on the 19th of April, gave a hearty
approval to what he characterized as " the wise regulations which had been
established to augment the public revenues, to unite the interests of the most
distant possessions of the crown, and to encourage and secure their commerce
with Great Britain." In pursuance of the declaratory resolves, the herald of
the famous Stamp Act, Lord Halifax, on the 11th of August, 1764, addressed
a letter to Governor Sharpe, in which he said that " the House of Commons
having, in the last session of parliament, come to a resolution by which it
is declared, that towards defraying, protecting and securing the British colonies and plantations in America, it may be proper to charge certain" stamp
duties in the said colonies and plantations, it is his majesty's pleasure that you
should transmit to me3 without delay, a list of all instruments made use of in
public transactions, law proceedings, grants, conveyances, securities of land
or money, within your government, with proper and sufficient descriptions
of the same/in order that if parliament should think proper to pursue the
intention of the aforesaid resolutions, they may thereby be enabled to carry
it into execution, in the most effectual and least burthensome manner."
The intelligence of the intention to impose a direct internal tax on the
colonies, awakened the most serious apprehensions among the American people.
The principle now asserted by the English government was in direct conflict with the chartered powers of the province of Maryland,1 secured
by the express and solemn pledge of the crown, and with the established
rights of the whole people of America, guaranteed them as British subjects,
sanctioned by use for more than a century, and hallowed and revered by the
fondest associations. In America the subject was discussed in public meetings,
and by the press and people everywhere. In all British America union of
feeling began to spring up ; and as the meshes of tyranny were drawn closer
and closer, and escape seemed impossible, the resolute made ready to abide
the issue, and the gauntlet of defiance was thrown at the feet of the king and
1 Charter of Maryland, § 22.
| Title | History of Maryland - 1 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000557 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | THE GAUNTLET OF DEFIANCE. 523 Before anything definite was effected, however, a change took place in the ministry; and after some difficulty, in April, 1763, a new cabinet was formed. George Grenville took the place of Bute at the head of the treasury and the exchequer; the Earl of Egremont and Lord Halifax became the two Secretaries of State; and Charles Jenkinson, the able and indefatigable Secretary of Bute, was retained under Grenville as principal Secretary of the Treasury. Immediately upon the formation of this ministry, Grenville, as Lord of the Treasury, renewed the attempt for the passage of a revenue bill, " extending the stamp duties to the colonies." On the 9th of March, 1764, he read in the House of Commons a series of resolutions declaring the intention of the government to raise a revenue in America by a duty on stamped paper; announcing, however, that final action on the question would be delayed, with a view of allowing the colonists an opportunity of suggesting other modes of laying a tax. The king on proroguing parliament, on the 19th of April, gave a hearty approval to what he characterized as " the wise regulations which had been established to augment the public revenues, to unite the interests of the most distant possessions of the crown, and to encourage and secure their commerce with Great Britain." In pursuance of the declaratory resolves, the herald of the famous Stamp Act, Lord Halifax, on the 11th of August, 1764, addressed a letter to Governor Sharpe, in which he said that " the House of Commons having, in the last session of parliament, come to a resolution by which it is declared, that towards defraying, protecting and securing the British colonies and plantations in America, it may be proper to charge certain" stamp duties in the said colonies and plantations, it is his majesty's pleasure that you should transmit to me3 without delay, a list of all instruments made use of in public transactions, law proceedings, grants, conveyances, securities of land or money, within your government, with proper and sufficient descriptions of the same/in order that if parliament should think proper to pursue the intention of the aforesaid resolutions, they may thereby be enabled to carry it into execution, in the most effectual and least burthensome manner." The intelligence of the intention to impose a direct internal tax on the colonies, awakened the most serious apprehensions among the American people. The principle now asserted by the English government was in direct conflict with the chartered powers of the province of Maryland,1 secured by the express and solemn pledge of the crown, and with the established rights of the whole people of America, guaranteed them as British subjects, sanctioned by use for more than a century, and hallowed and revered by the fondest associations. In America the subject was discussed in public meetings, and by the press and people everywhere. In all British America union of feeling began to spring up ; and as the meshes of tyranny were drawn closer and closer, and escape seemed impossible, the resolute made ready to abide the issue, and the gauntlet of defiance was thrown at the feet of the king and 1 Charter of Maryland, § 22. |
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