before the Assembly of Massachusetts, by Governor Bernard, a man of morose haughty temper, and specially out of place just at this juncture in Massachusetts. Mr. Grahame characterizes his course towards the Assembly, as insolent and overbearing; the Assembly, of course, could not submit to anything of the kind. The language of Bernard's communication in regard to the voting money to the sufferers by the late disturbances was: "The justice and humanity of this requisition is so forcible, that it cannot be controverted; the authority with which it is introduced should preclude all disputation about it." In reply to language of this kind, the House observed, "That it was conceived in much higher and stronger terms in the speech than in the letter of the secretary. Whether in thus exceeding, your excellency speaks by your own authority, or a higher, is not with us to determine. However, if this recommendation, which your excellency terms a requisition, be founded on so much justice and humanity that it cannot be controverted; if the authority with which it is introduced should preclude all disputation about complying with it, we should be glad to know what freedom we have in the case." Compensation was not made to the sufferers in Massachusetts until December, 1766; and then in a manner and on conditions highly displeasing to the British government; the act for that purpose also containing "free and general pardon, indemnity, and oblivion, to all offenders in the late times." In New York, the Legislature, by a voluntary act, granted compensation to those who had suffered a loss of property in their adherence to the Stamp Act; but they refused to carry into execution the act of Parliament for quartering his majesty's troops upon them, on account of a clause which they declared involved the principle of taxation.
The exultation in America over the repeal of the Stamp Act soon subsided. Men began to scan more narrowly the meaning of that fatal clause declaring the absolute power of Parliament over the colonies, and they began to remember afresh the causes of grievance which had led to the late disturbances. Heretofore they had not been called upon to take united action in any great matter in which the interests of each and every colony were concerned: previous to this date, there had been no widespread agitation on topics of common importance to all; and the fires of popular eloquence had not been kindled and fanned into a blaze of light, until the attempt had been made to coerce the colonies into submission to taxation without representation. Disputes and dissensions between those nearly and closely allied, almost always leave rankling hurts in the minds of both parties, even after the fullest reconciliation; for the nature of man is such, that he is very likely to brood over the causes of complaint which before existed, and, thinking that perhaps he has not after all received quite his due, he is ready without much persuasion, with only a slight moving cause, to renew the dispute even more fiercely than ever. England had acted foolishly and ignorantly ; the colonies had resisted determinedly; England gave
