George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

‘In America the Farmer is adored;’ said the Governor of Georgia;¹ ‘and no mark of honor and respect is thought equal to his merit.’ At that time Georgia was the most flourishing Colony on the continent.² Lands there were cheap and labor dear; it had no manufactures; though, of the poorer families, one in a hundred perhaps might make its own coarse clothing of a mixture of cotton and wool.³ Out of twenty-five members of the newly elected Legislature at least eighteen were professed ‘Sons of Liberty,’ ‘enthusiasts’ for the American cause, zealous for ‘maintaining their natural rights.’ They unanimously made choice of Benjamin Franklin, as their agent; and nothing but their prorogation prevented their sending words of sympathy to Massachusetts. New Jersey expressed its desire to correspond and unite with the other Colonies.⁴ The Connecticut Assembly in May, after a solemn debate, concluded to petition the King only; ‘because,’ said they, ‘to petition the Parliament would be a tacit confession of its right to lay impositions upon us; which right and authority we publicly disavow.’ Nor would the Court issue Writs of Assistance, although it was claimed that they were authorized by Townshend's Revenue Act. The times tried men's courage; some grew alarmed for consequences; but others ‘were carried above fear.’⁵