[149] imported here from Great Britain for the purpose of a revenue, is a tax illegally laid upon and extorted from us. 3. That said India Company's exporting their own teas to the Colonies, while charged with said duty, has a direct tendency to establish said revenue acts. 4. That we will exert ourselves, and join with our American brethren, in adopting and prosecuting all legal and proper measures to discourage and prevent the landing, storing, and vending and using those teas among us; and that whosoever shall aid or assist said India Company, their factors or servants, in either landing, storing, or selling the same, does a manifest injury to his country, and deserves to be treated with severity and contempt. 5. That we are ready at all times, in conjunction with our American brethren, as loyal subjects, to risk our lives and fortunes in the service and defence of His Majesty's person, crown, and dignity; and also, as a free people, in asserting and maintaining inviolate our civil and religious rights and privileges against all opposers whatever. 6. That the thanks of this town be and are hereby given to our worthy brethren of the town of Boston, for their unwearied care and pains in endeavoring to preserve our rights and privileges free from innovation, and furnishing this and our other towns with copies of their late proceedings. Voted that a copy of these resolutions and proceedings be transmitted to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston.June 1, 1774: The Boston Port Bill, which prohibited all trade by water, brought the great question to its issue. Every one here was asking, Must we be slaves? Can we be free? When men's labor is forbidden, and their bread fails, then “bayonets begin to think.” Our fathers now felt that the hope of the country was in the union of the Colonies. Men who could understand these acts of oppression, and could thus talk, were ready and willing to act; and their first prophetic deed was that of abstinence. Nov. 14, 1774, Medford voted thus: “Resolved, That, if any person or persons sells or consumes any East India teas, the names of such persons to be posted up in some public place.” Again, “Voted that we will not use East India teas till the Acts be repealed.” This was equivalent to cleaning the rifle, and looking into the cartridge-box. Medford had its stock of powder deposited in the powder-house, on Quarry Hill, and, on the 27th of August, 1774, removed it. Governor Gage heard that the powder in that house was fast leaving it; and, as he called it the “king's powder,” he resolved to remove it to Castle William (Fort
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John Wilson and son. 22 School Street. Boston. 1855.
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