The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American RevolutionStark, James Henry
History
The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American Revolution
Stark, James Henry
American loyalists -- Massachusetts; Massachusetts -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783
threw their influence on the right side, and sought repeatedly to save
the poor blind people from themselves. The right of the home government
to interfere in colonial affairs was then never questioned.
Massachusetts would dodge if she could, the government mandates, but the
theories of a later time, that Parliament had no jurisdiction over sea
and that the King, having granted the charter, had put it out of his
power to touch the provincial policy, in these days found no expression.
The Revolution was now preparing, the Colonies were chafing under
restrictions imposed beyond the ocean for their own benefit. It is now
generally admitted, that this was one of the first causes of the
Revolution, perhaps the most potent of all causes. In all this time of
distress no figure is apparent so marked with traits of greatness as
that of Thomas Hutchinson. All the Colonies were infected with the same
craze, but no other man in America saw the way out. Franklin, level
headed though he was, elaborately advocated paper money, turning a good
penny in its manufacture.[104] The father of Samuel Adams was one of the
directors of the iniquitous "Land Bank" and the part taken by Hutchinson
in causing Parliament to close it, was what led to the undying hatred of
Samuel Adams towards Hutchinson, and the Government. When "Instructions"
were reported in Town Meeting, Hutchinson was immediately on his feet,
and declared he would not observe them, there were immediately cries
"Choose another Representative." This could not be done during the
session; he consistently threw his influence on the hard money side, and
so far lost popularity that he was dropped in 1739. He was, however,
elected again in 1742, and was Speaker in 1746-7-8.
[104] A Modest Inquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper
Currency.
What saved the province from financial ruin at this time was the capture
of Louisburg. This warlike enterprise of Shirley led the country to
increase its debt to between two and three million dollars, but the
paper money was so depreciated at the close of the war that £1,200 was
equal to only £100 sterling. Parliament very generously voted to
reimburse the Province for the expense it had gone to in this war, and
voted to pay £183,649, 2s 7 1-2d sterling.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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