fficers, who expected large advantages from being assigned
and paid their salaries by the Crown, independent of the local
Legislatures; and the consignees of the East India Company, who
anticipated large profits from their monopoly of its sale. Opposition to
the tea duty was represented as "rebellion"--the assertors of colonial
freedom from imperial taxation without representation were designated
"rebels" and "traitors," notwithstanding their professed loyalty to the
Throne and to the unity of the empire, and that their utmost wishes were
limited to be replaced in the position they occupied after the peace of
Paris, in 1763, and after their unanimous and admitted loyalty, and even
heroism, in defence and support of British supremacy in America.

"Intelligence," says Dr. Holmes, "of the destruction of the tea at
Boston was communicated on the 7th of March (1774), in a message from
the Throne, to both Houses of Parliament. In this communication the
conduct of the colonists was represented as not merely obstructing the
commerce of Great Britain, but as subversive of the British
Constitution. Although the papers accompanying the Royal message
rendered it evident that the opposition to the sale of the tea was
common to all the colonies; yet the Parliament, enraged at the violence
of Boston, selected that town as the object of its legislative
vengeance. Without giving the opportunity of a hearing, a Bill was
passed by which the port of Boston was legally precluded from the
privilege of landing and discharging, or of lading or shipping goods,
wares, and merchandise; and every vessel within the points Aldeston and
Nahant was required to depart within six hours, unless laden with food
or fuel.

"This Act, which shut up the harbour of Boston, was speedily followed by
another, entitled 'An Act for Better Regulating the Government of
Massachusetts,' which provided that the Council, heretofore elected by
the General Assembly, was to be appointed by the Crown; the Royal
Governor was invested with the power of appointing and removing all
Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas, Commissioners of Oyer and
Terminer, the Attorney-General, Provost-Marshal, Justices, Sheriffs,
etc.; town meetings, which were sanctioned by the Charter, were, with
few exceptions, expressly forbidden, without leave previously obtained
of the Governor or Lieutenant-Governor, expressing the special business
of said meeting, and with a further restriction that no m