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The Great Riots of New York, 1712 to 1873 by Joel Tyler Headley
page 39 of 264 (14%)
Governor's Carriages, while the Garrison look silently on.--Prejudice
against Coaches.--Major James' House sacked.--Great Joy and Demonstration
at the Repeal of the Stamp Act.--Celebration of the King's Birthday.--
Loyalty of the People.--Mutiny Act.--A Riot becomes a Great Rebellion.

At the present day, when personal ambition takes the place of patriotism,
and love of principle gives way to love of party; when the success of the
latter is placed above constitutional obligations and popular rights, one
seems, as he turns back to our early history, to be transported to another
age of the world, and another race of beings.

Nothing shows how thoroughly understood by the common people were the
principles of liberty, and with what keen penetration they saw through all
shams and specious reasoning, than the decided, nay, fierce, stand they
took against the stamp act. This was nothing more than our present law
requiring a governmental stamp on all public and business paper to make it
valid. The only difference is, the former was levying a tax without
representation--in other words, without the consent of the governed. The
colonies assembled in Congress condemned it; hence the open, violent
opposition to it by the people rises above the level of a common riot, and
partakes more of the nature of a righteous revolution. Still, it was a
riot, and exhibited the lawless features of one.

The news of the determination of the English Government to pass a stamp
act, raised a storm of indignation throughout the colonies, from
Massachusetts to South Carolina, and it was denounced as an oppressive,
unrighteous, tyrannical measure. From the wayside tavern and the pulpit
alike, it was attacked with unsparing severity. The Government, however,
thought it a mere ebullition of feeling, that would not dare exhibit
itself in open opposition. Nor does this confidence seem strong, when we
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