Perspectives on the Boston Tea Party
British merchants complained loudly about the financial losses they were enduring because Americans were not buying their goods.
Samuel Adams and his Sons of liberty complained loudly and often about the presence of British soldiers.
The New York Gazette offered their opinion: “It’s high time a stop was put to mobbing…. God knows where it will end.”
The New York Gazette offered their opinion: “It’s high time a stop was put to mobbing…. God knows where it will end.”
Benjamin Franklin had a close friend, William Strahan, who was a member of Parliament. In November 1769, as the time drew near when Parliament would be discussing colonial outrage over the Townshend Acts, Strahan wrote a letter to his friend. He asked Franklin to give his views on the situation so that Parliament might better understand what was going on. Franklin told Strahan that a partial repeal (keeping a tax on tea, for example) would not satisfy the colonists. Franklin said it was not the tax they objected to but its purpose – “the better support of [British] government… This the colonists think unnecessary, unjust, and dangerous to their most important rights.” Franklin warned Stahan that if Parliament did not modify its hard line against the colonies, there was likely to be more violence and loss of affection for England.
James Otis argued that the power of the Crown and Parliament was limited. Otis said they could not “take from any man any part of his property, without his consent in person or by representation.” No one in Britain had asked the colonists if they wanted to be taxed. In addition, the colonists had no direct representation in Parliament. Colonial assemblies had little influence on Parliament’s decisions.