In accordance with these theories about the colonies, and to meet the
pressing needs of the Home Government, the English ministry proceeded
to levy a tax on the colonies (1764) in return for the protection they
granted them against the French and the Indians. The colonists,
however, had paid their full proportion of the expense of the French
and Indian wars out of their own pockets, and they now felt abundantly
able to protect themselves.
But notwithstanding this plea, a form of direct tax on the American
colonies, called the stamp tax, was brought forward in 1765. The
proposed law required that a multitude of legal documents, such as
deeds, wills, notes, receipts, and the like, should be written upon
paper bearing stamps, purchased from the agents of the Home
Government. The colonists, generally, protested against the passage
of the law, and Benjamin Franklin, with other agents, was sent to
England to sustain their protests by argument and remonstrance. But
in spite of their efforts the law was passed, and the stamps were sent
over to America. The people, however, refused to use them, and
serious riots ensued.
In England strong sympathy with the colonists was expressed by William
Pitt (Lord Chatham), Burke, Fox, and generally by what was well called
"the brains of Parliament." Pitt in particular was extremely
indignant. He urged the immediate repeal of the act, saying, "I
rejoice that America has resisted."
Pitt further declared that any taxation of the colonies without their
representation in Parliament was tyranny, and that opposition to such
taxation was a duty. He vehemently insisted that the spirit shown by
the Americans was the same that had withstood the despotism of the
Stuarts in England (S436), and established the principle once for all
that the King cannot take his subject's money without that subject's
consent (S436). So, too, Fox ardently defended the American
colonists, and boldly maintained that the stand they had taken helped
"to preserve the liberties of mankind."[1]
[1] See Bancroft's "United States," III, 107-108; "Columbia University
Studies," III, No. 2, "The Commercial Policy of England toward the
American Colonies"; Lecky's "American Revolution"; and C. K. Adams's
"British Orations."
Against such opposition the law could not stand. The act was
accordingly repealed (1766), amid great rejoicing in London; the
church bells rang out in triumph, and the shipping in the Thames was
illuminated. But the good effect on America was lost by the passage
of another act which maintained the unconditional right of Parliament
to legislate for the colonies, and to tax them, if it saw fit, without
their consent.