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THE DUTIES ON TEA. 117
British subjects, as thereby the inestimable privilege of being tried by a jury, from the
vicinage, as well as the liberty of summoning and producing witnesses on such trial, will
be taken away from the party accused."
The people of the province were now thoroughly aroused at the course of
policy pursued by the parent country. William Eddis, who arrived in
Annapolis on the 3d of September, 1769, in a letter to a friend in London,
dated October 19th, thus speaks of the condition of affairs in the province:
"Public affairs do not, at this juncture, wear the most flattering aspect. You, who
know with what applause the repeal of the Stamp Act was received on this side the
Atlantic, will not be surprized to hear that a revival of the claim of taxation, by laying
duties on other articles, has renewed the apprehensions of discontents which had happily
subsided; and the establishment of admiralty courts, during the course of the preceding
year, appears to have raised a determined opposition to the proceedings of government.
To know where it will terminate is beyond the reach of human penetration. Associations are forming from one extremity of this continent to the other; few appear to dissent
from the popular creed; and it seems to be generally admitted, that if the Americans
steadily adhere to their non-importation agreement, they will from the interest, if not
from the equity of the parent-State, obtain redress of grievances. ' Statist I am none, or
like to be;' therefore am by no means competent to deliver my sentiments on this very
alarming subject. There are some zealots, who are frantic enough to affect a bold
language, and to talk of hostile measures, if arguments and pacific remonstrances should
prove ineffectual."
Nor was this excitement quelled when they heard that on the ground of
commercial policy, the duties imposed by the Act of 1767, were to be taken
off, excepting the duties on tea. This partial repeal, which took place on the
12th of April, 1770, though not satisfactory, served, it is true, as a small
measure, to tranquilize the minds of the colonists. The insignificant duty on
tea was continued for the purpose of maintaining the supremacy of parliament, and like a " pepperjcorn " rent, was reserved to show the tenure by
which the colonists held their rights.
Governor Eden, in a letter dated August 17th, 1770, said:
" From what I can observe, I do not imagine that the taking off the duties on glass,
paper, and colors, will put an end to the association, while the duty on tea continues;
Although there are some here desirous of ending it, and associating not to import tea, the
general voice is that it will stand as a precedent for laying duties in America on some future
occasion. I have endeavored to convince the reasonable people, that the act laying the
three pence on tea, can only serve as a precedent, for any future act that may operate in the
same manner it does, which is as a relief, the 25 per cent, drawback exceeding the duty,
tea being now much cheaper than it was before that was laid on, and that we ought not,
at any rate, to complain of an act that was beneficial to us, as this is. But this argument
has not the weight I could wish; I am pretty certain that the laying six pence in England
or keeping back the seven pence halfpenny, and taking off the three pence here, would
answer the wishes of the Americans entirely."
Before this repeal a number of the colonies seized upon the asurances made
by the Earl of Hillsborough, of the intention to relax the restrictions upon
importation. While Maryland was vindicating the rights of the colonies by
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000144 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | THE DUTIES ON TEA. 117 British subjects, as thereby the inestimable privilege of being tried by a jury, from the vicinage, as well as the liberty of summoning and producing witnesses on such trial, will be taken away from the party accused." The people of the province were now thoroughly aroused at the course of policy pursued by the parent country. William Eddis, who arrived in Annapolis on the 3d of September, 1769, in a letter to a friend in London, dated October 19th, thus speaks of the condition of affairs in the province: "Public affairs do not, at this juncture, wear the most flattering aspect. You, who know with what applause the repeal of the Stamp Act was received on this side the Atlantic, will not be surprized to hear that a revival of the claim of taxation, by laying duties on other articles, has renewed the apprehensions of discontents which had happily subsided; and the establishment of admiralty courts, during the course of the preceding year, appears to have raised a determined opposition to the proceedings of government. To know where it will terminate is beyond the reach of human penetration. Associations are forming from one extremity of this continent to the other; few appear to dissent from the popular creed; and it seems to be generally admitted, that if the Americans steadily adhere to their non-importation agreement, they will from the interest, if not from the equity of the parent-State, obtain redress of grievances. ' Statist I am none, or like to be;' therefore am by no means competent to deliver my sentiments on this very alarming subject. There are some zealots, who are frantic enough to affect a bold language, and to talk of hostile measures, if arguments and pacific remonstrances should prove ineffectual." Nor was this excitement quelled when they heard that on the ground of commercial policy, the duties imposed by the Act of 1767, were to be taken off, excepting the duties on tea. This partial repeal, which took place on the 12th of April, 1770, though not satisfactory, served, it is true, as a small measure, to tranquilize the minds of the colonists. The insignificant duty on tea was continued for the purpose of maintaining the supremacy of parliament, and like a " pepperjcorn " rent, was reserved to show the tenure by which the colonists held their rights. Governor Eden, in a letter dated August 17th, 1770, said: " From what I can observe, I do not imagine that the taking off the duties on glass, paper, and colors, will put an end to the association, while the duty on tea continues; Although there are some here desirous of ending it, and associating not to import tea, the general voice is that it will stand as a precedent for laying duties in America on some future occasion. I have endeavored to convince the reasonable people, that the act laying the three pence on tea, can only serve as a precedent, for any future act that may operate in the same manner it does, which is as a relief, the 25 per cent, drawback exceeding the duty, tea being now much cheaper than it was before that was laid on, and that we ought not, at any rate, to complain of an act that was beneficial to us, as this is. But this argument has not the weight I could wish; I am pretty certain that the laying six pence in England or keeping back the seven pence halfpenny, and taking off the three pence here, would answer the wishes of the Americans entirely." Before this repeal a number of the colonies seized upon the asurances made by the Earl of Hillsborough, of the intention to relax the restrictions upon importation. While Maryland was vindicating the rights of the colonies by |
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