History of the Town of Fitchburg Rufus Torey 1836

(The natives are getting restless.)

The legality of the "Writs" was doubted, and the question
came before the Superior Court, for discision, in February,
1761.  By the powerful assistance of James Otis, the Writs
were defeated.  His masterly speech on this occasion first
awakened the Colonists to the real danger of the threatened
course of the ministry.  They saw, in the pretended right of
Parliament of taxing them to an unlimited extent, the germ
of tyranny which would destroy their liberties; and they
wisely resolved to destroy the monster in its shell, before
it should acquire sufficient strength to crush them in its
folds.  They knew that their charter have them the right to
tax themselves, and that every exercise of this right on the
part of the parliament was an infringement upon their
chartered privileges.  They were not actuated by the sordid
love of money, but by the nobler love of liberty.  They had
freely poured forth their treasure and their blood in the
preceding wars, and now they claimed the privilege of
taxintg themselves.  They contended that "Taxation and
Representation were inseparable;" while Parliament claimed
the right to "bind the Colonies in all cases whatever."
This was the point on which the dispute turned.

In the years 1763, 4, and 5, the commerce of the Colonies
was nearly at a stand, in consequence of the "Sugar Act,"
and the "Stamp Act."  Their operation was defeated by
nonimportation and smuggling.  To the great joy of the
Colonists the Stamp Act was repealed in 1766, and the
importation of goods was greater than ever.  A cloud was
soon thrown over the prosperity which everywhere began to be
visible.  The "Revenue Act" was passed in 1768.  Again the
people of Massachusetts took the lead in asserting the
liberties of teh Colonies, and they acted promptly and
effectually.

In September, 1768, the Selectmen of Fitchburg received a
letter from the Selectmen of Boston requesting them to call
a town-meeting, and then to take into consideration the
critical condition of government affairs, and to choose an
agent to come to Boston to express there the views, wishes,
and determination of the people of Fitchburg on this
important subject.  A town meeting was accordingly called,
and this town, in conjunction with Lunenburg, chose
Hon. Edward Hartwell, of the former place to be their agent.
What his instructions were, the records do not state; but
their subsequent proceedings leave no doubt but that thus
early the people were resolved upon maintaining their
rights.

The firm resistance with which the projects of the British
government were received, served to strengthen the
determination of the Ministry to carry their pornt, at all
hazards.  Troops were stationed in Boston to overawe the
inhabitants.  Acts of increased severity were passed.  The
colonists saw that they must yeld or maintain their rights
at the point of the bayonet.  They did hesitate between the
alternatives.  They did not prepare for the encounter under
the impulse of the moment, but calmly deliberated upon the
propriety of every measure.  The pens of Otis, Adams, and
their associates, were ever busy.  The acts of the
government were serverely scrutinized and the rights of the
Colonies most ably vindicated and maintained.  But one
sentiment pervaded the community, and that was a fixed
determination to preserve inviolate their freedom.

The people of Boston took the lead in these measures of
resistance and were nobly seconded by the inhabitants of the
other towns.  They sought an expression of opinion from
every town on the all-engrossing subject of dispute, in
order that they might know what they could rely upon, if it
should be necessary to meet the obstinacy of Great Britain
with open rebellion.

(In November, 1773, another letter was received from the
town of Boston, requesting the inhabitants of Fitchburg ---
to be continued)


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