INTRODUCTION
« previous – TABLE OF CONTENT – next »
SOON after the middle of February, 1775, two months before the spring verdure of Lexington Green suddenly turned redder than autumn, the Boston Committee of Correspondence held a session in its usual place of meeting, Faneuil Hall. (The duty of opening correspondence with Canada was referred to this Com by the Mass. Prov. Cong (see Journal, p. 100) on Feb. 15, and, as will appear in Chap. I., the Com. acted within a week. Frothingham, Warren, p. 446.)
Certainly the name of this body could not be called sensational. It reminds one of the genial and dignified personage who figures, as Corresponding Secretary, among the sedate officials of many learned societies ; and when Mr. Samuel Adams — rising in the Town Meeting, November the second, 1772, at about half-past three of the clock — moved that a Committee of twenty-one persons be chosen, “to state the rights of the Colonists, and of this Province in particular, as Men, as Christians, and as Subjects,’ and to exchange opinions and news with other towns, probably no one except himself suspected how iruch this action might signify”’ (Boston Town Records, 1770-1777, p. 92.)
The world soon began to learn, however. There are Places whcrc a word brings down an avalanche. So there are times when an exchange of views means a revolution, and this happened to be such a time. Within three years, a contributor to the Massachusetts Gazette wrote of theCommittee of Correspondence. “This is the foulest, subtlest and most venomous serpent that ever issued from the eggs of sedition.” “The source of the rebellion,” cried many a Tory in high wrath ; and Bancroft has echoed: It “included the whole revolution.” It was, in the strictest reality, a secret but mighty engine, this modest body; and before it lay just now perhaps the gravest concern it had ever handled, — one that certainly had a long outlook both in time and in space. (Mass. Gazette (Massachusettsensis), Jan. 2, 1775. Frothingham, Warren, p. 200. Bancroft, U. S. (N. Y., 1883), III., p. 420 (of Adams’s motion.)
How many of the members attended that day one cannot be sure ; for, if any records of the session were kept, they have disappeared. James Otis, that tongue of fire, had been the chairman ; but his spirit had badly shattered its earthen vessel, and at his own request his name had been removed from the list. Josiah Quincy could not aid with his ripened wisdom ; for his voyage in search of health had failed, and he was now about sailing from England, to breathe his last off Cape Ann in sight of his beloved native land. Very likely Oliver Wendell, the grandfather of our poet-wit, had come ; Thomas Young, John Adams’s physician, may have driven down in his gig ; and perhaps Dr. Benjamin Church, who had stanched the blood of Crispus Attucks, could afford to leave his elegant mansion in Raynham. One can only be sure that seven members at least answered at the roll-call; for the town, mindful that hours were precious and engagements many, had fixed that number as a quorum.” (Otis: Boston Town Records, Dec. 30, 1774. Quincy : Loring, Orators, p. 259 ; Young: ib , p. 26; Church: ib., p. 37, Quorum: Boston Town Records, Dec. 7, 1774.)
And yet this is by no means all that is morally certain. Whether Young and Church appeared or not, a certain other physician came over from his house in Hanover Street, no matter what called him elsewhere. A fascinating type was he,— quick, impulsive, lovable, hatable. All that marked the cultured and easy man of the world, he suggested; yet his elegance counted little beside the spirit and the patriotism that spoke from his eloquent face and flashing eyes. It was he, the funeral orator of the Boston Massacre, who quietly dropped his handkerchief over the handful of bullets which a British officer held up at him as he spoke in the Old South Church, and went on without a tremor in his impassioned plea for liberty. Warren was his name; Dr. Joseph Warren, the Martyr of Bunker Hill. (Loring, Orators, p. 60. Frothingham, Warren, pp. 15, 26, 166, etc.)
And a man still more notable was there. In good season at the rendezvous, came “a plain, simple, decent citizen, of middling stature” or perhaps a little above it, in a red cloak, a cocked hat, and a tie-wig. To be an elegant man of the world seemed far from his thought. Indeed, he appeared to despise, or at least shun, all display and luxury, and to deserve the name that has been given him, “Last of the Puritans.” Yet his florid countenance hinted of blood in the heart; his heavy brows lightened with pleasure as each of his colleagues entered the room; and he greeted them, one by one, in a cordial, though in truth somewhat formal style. This was Samuel Adams. (J. Adams, Works, X., p. 251. Wells, S. Adams, II., p 211 ; III., p. 335. Frothingham, Warren, p. 26.)
It had been proposed that the Committee extend its field to Canada, — the province of Quebec, it was then called; and immediate action seemed in order. The step was evidently important, though its importance appeared to grow as it was dwelt upon; and very naturally the consideration of it opened the way to long views and a broad discussion on the state of the country.
What Warren said, can be gathered quite well from his recorded utterances: — “Our existence as a free people depends absolutely on acting with spirit and vigor. The ministry are even yet doubtful whether we are in earnest when we declare our resolution to preserve our liberty; and the common people in Britain are made to believe that we are a nation of noisy cowards. Even those who wish us well dare not openly declare for us, lest we should meanly desert ourselves, and leave them alone to contend with Administration; who, they know, will be — politically speaking — omnipotent if America should submit to them. If America sees better days, it must be the result of her own conduct. We have had such full demonstration of their diabolical designs against us, that we can look for nothing from them but what our own virtue and spirit can extort. It is barely possible that Britain may depopulate North America, but I trust in God she can never conquer the inhabitants. Our cause is just; and we are so sensible how necessary it is to defend it, that I have no doubt, but, with the blessing of heaven upon us, and upon the many good friends engaged for us, we shall be able to hold on and hold out until oppression, injustice and tyranny shall be superseded by freedom, justice and good government. America must and will be free. The voice of our fathers’ blood cries to us from the ground, ” My sons, scorn to be slaves !” The contest may be severe, the end will be glorious.” (The language of Warren : Frothingham, Warren, pp. 33, 177, 381, 392, 393, 396, 414. )
Warming as he developed his ideas, Warren glowed before he was through like a coal from the altar; and the slender company thrilled profoundly with that sense of majesty and awful earnestness which never failed to make the assembly shiver, when he— as President of the Provincial Congress— gave the officers their commissions and their charge.’ (Frothingham, Warren, p. 33.)
Then Adams spoke, moving his little audience no less, though in a different way. One point was evident, he thought. If the Colonies were merely to kneel and petition at the foot of the throne, the presence of Quebec among them would add power to their voice. But that was not all. ‘The plan of the British Court, as I have been well informed this winter, is to take possession of New York, make themselves masters of Hudson’s River and the lyakes, cut off all communication between the Northern and Southern Colonies, and employ the Canadians, upon whom they greatly rely, in distressing the frontiers of New England. ‘ (S. Adams to Bowdoin, Nov. 16, 1775: Proc. Mass. Hist See, ist Ser., XII,, p. 227)
From this premise, the orator went on with rising force, clearing the vision of his colleagues as Elisha opened the eyes of his servant.
“It requires but a small portion of the gift of prophecy for any one to foresee that Providence will erect a mighty empire in America; and our posterity will have it recorded in history that their forefathers emigrated from an island in a distant part of the world, the inhabitants of which had long been revered for wisdom and valour. They grew rich and powerful: these emigrants [also] increased in numbers and strength. But they were at last absorbed in luxury and dissipation; and, to support themselves in their vanity and extravagance, they coveted and seized the honest earnings of those industrious emigrants. This laid a foundation of distrust, animosity and hatred, till the emigrants, feeling their own vigor and independence, dissolved every bond of connection between them. (S. Adams to A. Lee : Apr. 4, 1774 : 4 Force, I , 238.)
‘We are to be a nation and a great one. To be prosperous we must have an extensive trade. This will require a respectable navy. Our ships must be manned, and the source of seamen is the fishery. Nova Scotia and Canada would be a great and permanent protection to the fishery. And further, the possession of these territories would prevent any view of Britain to disturb our peace in the future and [would] cut off an important source of corrupt British influence.’ ” (S. Adams to Cooper, Apr. 29, 1779 : S. Adams Papers. A few slight changes have been made. Though this letter was written later, it seems highly probable, in view of Adams’s large hopes for his country and his deep interest in Canada, that it represents his views in 1775. “Long before the outbreak of hostilities” Adams and Warren had” concerted plans” for the acquisition of Canada (Wells, S. Adams, II., p. 340). As the reader will perhaps infer from Chap. Ill,, other points also may have been dwelt upon t)y Warren and Adams.)
Without the slightest sign of affectation, the plain citizen of a moment ago had now assumed an air of dignity and even majesty. His melodious voice, tuned by a rarely musical ear, charmed the small circle; his head, though already trembling with the palsy, wore somehow a look of extraordinary meaning; his dark blue eyes shone with a prophet’s enthusiasm; and his outstretched arm, which had overawed Governor Hutchinson after the Massacre, seemed clothed with more than human power. His arguments, — combining warm patriotism, diplomatic wisdom, military prudence, and statesmanlike foresight, — backed up with such eloquence and such a personality electrified the Committee ; and in this spirit it set its face toward its work: Canada must be won. ‘(J. Adams, Works, X., p. 251- Wells, S. Adams, II., p. 408; III., p. 335. Before Hutchinson : ib., I., p. 323)
Certain facts added immensely to the importance of this decision. Adams’s influence reached far beyond those walls. He ?ias been called the Father of the Revolution, and not without reason. Wherever the spirit of the movement should go, his ideas were to fly on the same wings; and among them his views about Canada. Nor were they to travel unattended. Adams possessed a rare gift, the power of making others his spokesmen without their knowing it; and for many years this power had been used unceasingly in the cause of America. From 1758 to 1775, said John Adams, “he made it his constant rule to watch the rise of every brilliant genius, to seek his acquaintance, to court his friendship, to cultivate his natural feelings in favor of his native country, to warn him against the hostile designs of Great Britain, and to fix his affections and reflections on the side of his native country.” Even the rich John Hancock, dashing past in his gold-laced hat, embroidered waistcoat, scarlet coat, and ruffled sleeves, with a coachman and a footman bespangled with silver, and six beautiful bays to draw it all, — even he, though not aware of the fact, owed his patriotism largely to a certain plain fellow on the curb following him with a lustrous eye. Several of these young men were now leaders among the patriots, and they could hardly fail to reflect the views of their political father on a point he deemed highly important. He and they led Massachusetts ; and all have recognized the share of Massachusetts in guiding the Revolution. ” (J. Adams, Works, X., p. 364. Loring, Orators, pp. 105, 106 ; Nat. Port. Gall., I. (J Hancock))
“Short-sighted mortals see not the numerous links of small and great events which form the chain on which the fate of kings and nations is suspended,” wrote Joseph Warren ; and before long this truth was to be illustrated most astonishingly by the course of policy set moving in the chamber at Faneuil Hall. But the beginning seemed very simple. Adams and his colleagues felt they knew what they were going to do. Their action was deliberate. No chance, no mere accident carried the American revolt into Canada, but a set purpose: a set purpose to win the fourteenth Colony. And what that meant was to gain the whole of British America north of New England, New York, and the Ohio River, to gain waves bound to be the school of hardy seamen, and to gain ocean areas filled with a shining wealth of cod and mackerel.
Extraordinary turns of fortune both aided and hindered the working out of this design. Bold, sagacious, and also mistaken plans, brilliant and also blundering action, the deeds of heroes and the sufferings of martyrdom, dramatic successes and no less dramatic failures marked the course of events ; and all these, together with the flow and ebb of sentiment among an almost voiceless people, it is our present endeavor to trace.
« previous – TABLE OF CONTENT – next »