[171] New England heart, he crushed the specious declamation of the Tory orator. From Faneuil Hall the crowd went to the Old South Church; and, so far from being censured, the Committee was thanked, and told to go forward, whatever the consequences. The weaklings of royalty quailed before truth and right; but they did not stop their vituperative tongues. There were no opprobious epithets in the language which they did not freely bestow on the patriot cause. One said, “The annals of the world have not been deformed with a single instance of so unnatural, so causeless, so wanton, so wicked a rebellion.” The patriot leaders were called “calves, knaves, and fools;” “self-interested and profligate men;” “the Boston saints.” “The merchants form a part of those seditious herds of fools and knaves;” and “the generality of young Bostonians are bred up hypocrites in religion, and pettifoggers in law.” Such were the words and arguments of the Tories against the cause of their country. No wonder that such abuse should stir the blood of James Otis and John Adams. The great question was now fairly brought before the country and the world; and there was left but one course for patriotism to pursue,--which was, to fight for liberty and independence. Our fathers met the issue; and the great results are now shaking Europe to its very centre. It is not necessary to say more here to introduce the topic under remark. Medford had a very small number of Tories; but they should have historical notice at our hands. Curwen says:--
Of nearly two hundred exiled Royalists who were banished by the government of Massachusetts, more than sixty were graduates of Harvard College. Of the five Judges of the Supreme Court of that Province at the commencement of the difficulties, the lion. William Cushing alone was of patriot principles; and he was afterwards on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States.Our patriot fathers felt that they could not trust those to live among them who were the avowed enemies of freedom or the avowed supporters of the Crown. After long patience and ready allowances, the General Court felt called upon, in self-defence, to pass three acts. The first was passed September, 1778, entitled “An act to prevent the return to this State of certain persons therein named, and others who have left this State, or either of the United States, and joined the enemies ”
