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
The revulsion was not long in coming. Before Hutchinson had time to
restore the repentant legislature to the town house in Boston, the
hearts of the members became hardened against him. When it became known
that the decision of the king had been made for the support of the
Massachusetts town officials from the revenue of the Colony by warrants
drawn on the Commission of Custom, the wrath of the people became heavy,
and the voice of Samuel Adams led the discontented. The Governor was
paid £1500 sterling, instead of £1000, annually, which he was paid when
dependent on the people. Hutchinson now plainly announced that he should
now receive his salary from the King. The House protested in its usual
temper, the set of the opposition being so powerful that several of the
Loyalists withdrew disheartened. But in the midst of the fault-finding
"Sons of Liberty", he received a mark of confidence from the General
Court at which he was greatly pleased, as he had a right to be. We have
already seen him as the principal figure in settling the boundary lines
on the sides of New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The
boundary line on the side of New York, not settled in 1767, and still in
dispute, were equally in need of adjustment, and although his principles
were popularly denounced, and the scheme was already in progress which
was to drive him from his native land and deprive him of all his
possessions in it, yet none but he could be trusted to undertake the
delicate negotiations upon which the welfare of the Province
depended.[126]
[126] The details are in Mass. Archives marked Colonial. Vol. IV. pp.
335-344.
The journal of the proceedings in the handwriting of the Governor, is
still extant. With William Brattle, Joseph Hawley, and John Hancock,
Hutchinson journeyed to Hartford, where on May 18, 1773, they discussed
the matter with Governor Tyron, John Watts, William Smith, R. R.
Livingston, and William Nicoll, Commissioners from New York. The New
York men, although more compliant than the negotiators of seven years
ago, were still disposed to exact hard concessions, to which all the
commissioners but Hutchinson were about prepared to agree. Hutchinson,
however, while diplomatic, was unyielding, insisting upon what had been
substantially the demand of 1767. At last it was conceded, establishing
for all time as a part of the Bay State the beautiful county of
Berkshire. This alone should entitle him to a monument by the State of
Massachusetts. He alone, it is said, prevented the giving up by
Massachusetts of her claim to western lands; these were retained and
afterwards sold for a large sum.[127]
[127] N. E. His. and Gen Reg., Vol. I., p. 310.
It was a great victory for the Governor, the Massachusetts Commissioners
had been left free to do what seemed to them best, but they cordially
acknowledged that success belonged to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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