s and imperfections, while
they pay high encomiums on the excellency of the British Constitution.
The Continental Congress has never lisped the least desire for
independency or republicanism. All their publications breathe another
spirit." What strong ground the _Gazette_ had for the above statement
will be seen from the words of the address sent to the British
Parliament and People by the Congress of Delegates which met on the 5th
September, 1774, at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia. "You have been
told," says the Congress, "that we are impatient of government and
desirous of independence. These are calumnies. Permit us to be free as
yourselves, and we shall esteem a union with you to be our greatest
glory and our greatest happiness."

It is always the unexpected that happens, however, and, strange as it
may appear, in little more than a year after the publication of the
warnings of the _New York Gazette_, and the strong deprecations of
leading colonists, the first decisive and irrevocable step towards
revolution of the government and the autonomy and independence of the
colonies was taken. On July 4, 1776, the Rubicon was passed: the
Declaration of Independence was proclaimed.

To trace the causes and indicate the character of this sudden and
irreversible revulsion of feeling is to relate the story of the public
career of James Otis as _primus inter pares_ and leader of the popular
party in the Province of Massachusetts. For ten years, with the
exception of some brief intervals of popular misunderstanding and
disfavor, he stood forth as the eloquent exponent and acknowledged
champion of the popular cause. Long prior to 1760 he had achieved renown
as a lawyer, and the skill and distinction he had attained in his
profession had already received due and appropriate recognition and
reward in his appointment to the Attorney-Generalship of the Province.
In that year, however, the outcry against the administration of the Acts
of Trade became loud and general, and in the discontent and excitement
which prevailed the over-zealous agents of the Executive came into
collision with the people. The revival of an old "Act for the better
securing and encouraging the trade of His Majesty's colonies in
America," imposed a duty of sixpence on molasses and other articles
imported from the French and Spanish West Indies. As this was tantamount
to doubling the price, the trade was forced into contraband channels,
and vigorous measures had