To The
TRADESMEN, MECHANICS, &c. Of the Province
of PENNSYLVANIA.
My dear
and much Respected Brethren, At a Time when a corrupt and prostituted
Ministry are pointing their destructive Machines against the sacred
Liberties of the Americans, the Eyes of all Europe
are upon us
; and much is expected from the known Resolution and Conduct of the Pennsylvanians,amongst
whom the industrious and respectable Body of tradesmen and MECHANICS hear a very
large Proportion. The Point in question is,
Whether we have Property of our own, or not? whether our Property, and the dear-earned
Fruits of our Labour, are at our own Disposal, or shall be wantonly wrested from
us, by a Set of luxurious, abandoned and piratical Hirelings, to be appropriated
by them to increase the Number of such infamous
Pensioners,and support their unlimited Extravagance? The Result depends on our
determined Virtue and integrity, at so
important a Crisis. The Nature of the detestable TEA-SCHEME, and the pernicious
Consequences of submitting to receive it amongst us, subject to a Duty payable here,
and levied on us without our Consent, have been so judiciously set forth, and demonstrated
by abler Pens, as to leave no Room for one of my Capacity to undertake it; and,
if the trifling Duty of Three-Pence were ONLY to be considered, it would not be
worth our while to oppose it; nor worth while for the Ministry so strenuously to
insist on; and take off, in Lieu thereof, a much greater Sum payable in London:
But, that by this Breach (though small)
they will enter the Bulwark of our sacred Liberties, and will never desist, till
they have made a Conquest of the Whole. These arbitrary Measures we have virtuously
opposed hitherto: Let us for our own Sakes, for our Posterity's Sake, for our Country's
Sake, stedfastly persevere in Opposing to the End. Corruption, Extravagance, and
Luxury, are seldom
found in the Habitations of Tradesmen. Industry, Economy, Prudence, and Fortitude,
generally inhabit there; and I expect to see these commendable Virtues shine
forth upon the present Occasion, with more than
brilliant Lustre. Let not the artful Insinuation of our Enemies, That the Duty will
be paid in England, by the East-India
Company, and not in America,
have any Weight amongst us: This is one of their Toils to ensnare us. The Act of
11th of Geo. 3, expressly lays the aforesaid Duty, on all Teas imported in America from England, payable
on its landing here; And no private Contract between the East-India
Company and the Lords of the Treasury, no Power under the Crown, nor even the King
himself, can dispense with, set aside, disannul, or make void such a Clause, or
any other in any Act of Parliament, but the same Power and Authority by which it
was enacted. The grand Point in View is, by every Artifice to enslave the American
Colonies, and to plunder them of their property, and, what is more, their Birth-Right,
LIBERTY. It is therefore
highly incumbent on us unitedly, with Heart and Soul, to resist the diabolical Delusion,
and despise the infamous Projectors. But supposing the Act was repealed, and the
Tea could be imported free of any Duty, Impost, or Custom; yet, is it not a most
gross and daring Insult to pilfer the Trade from the Americans, and lodge it in
the Hands of the East-India Company? Let us not be prevailed upon to suppose that
this will affect the Merchants
only:—We
need not concern ourselves with it:—It will first most sensibly
affect the Merchants; but it will also very materially affect YOU, ME,
and every Member of the Community. The East India Company at present have shipped
their desperate Adventure in chartered Bottoms; it was prudent so to do, or else
possibly their obnoxious Vessels and Cargoes might become a Sacrifice to the Resentment
of a much injured and exasperated
People. The same Consideration might probably have induced them to appoint our
Merchants their Agents to support the first heat of Action, rightly judging that
if we would chastise our Friends with Whips, we should chastise their Factors with
Scorpions. But if they can once open the Channel of Trade to themselves, they will
hereafter ship their Teas in their own Bottoms. They have passed a gross Affront
upon our Merchants in appointing such, whom we respect, Commissioners.
Hereafter, if they succeed, they will send their own Factors and Creatures, establish
Houses amongst US. Ship US all other East-India Goods ; and in order to full freight
their Ships, take in other Kind of Goods at under Freight, or (more probably) ship
them on their own accounts to their own Factors, and under-sell our Merchants, till
they monopolize the whole Trade. Thus our Merchants are ruined, Ship Building
ceases. They will then sell Goods at any exorbitant Price. Our Artificers will be
unemployed, and every Tradesmen will groan under the dire Oppression. The East-India
Company, if once they get Footing in this (once) happy Country, will leave no
Stone unturned to become your Masters. They are an opulent Body, and Money or
Credit is not wanting amongst them. They have a designing, depraved, and despotic
Ministry to assist and support them. They themselves are well versed in tyranny,
plunder, OPPRESSION and bloodshed. Whole Provinces labouring under the Distresses
of Oppression, Slavery, Famine, and the Sword, are familiar to them. Thus they have
enriched themselves,—thus they are become the most powerful Trading Company in the
Universe. Be, therefore,
my dear Fellow-Tradesmen, prudent,—be watchful,—be determined to let no Motive induce
YOU to favour the accursed Scheme. Reject every Proposal, but a repealing act. Let
not their baneful Commodity enter your City. Treat every Aidor or Abettor with Ignominy,
Contempt, &c. and let your whole Deportment prove to the World, "THAT WE
WILL BE FREE INDEED."
A MECHANIC.
Philadelphia, December
4, 1773.
