Detestable tax on tea is illegal and extorted
Anyone receiving, buying, selling product from East India Co. will be deemed enemy
AMERICA'S VIEW| BOSTON GAZETTE AND COUNTRY JOURNAL
These excepts from local government resolutions appeared on the front page of the Boston Gazette and Country Journal on Dec. 20, 1773, four days after the Boston Tea Party. The Sons of Liberty dumped some 46 tons of tea into Boston Harbor to protest British taxation without representation:
The enemies of the rights and liberties of Americans, greatly disappointed in the revenue act, are seeking to avail themselves of new, and if possible, yet more detestable measures to distress, enslave and destroy us.
It is not enough that a tax was laid upon teas, which should be imported by us, for the sole purpose of raising a revenue to support task-masters, pensioners, etc., in idleness and luxury. But by a late act of parliament, to appease the wrath of the East India Company, provision is made for said company to export their teas to America free and discharged from this payment of all duties and customs in England.
We are more especially alarmed by these crafty measures the revenue act is to be established, and the rights and liberties of Americans forever sapped and destroyed.
These appear to us to be the sacrifices we must make, and these the costly pledges that must be given up, into the hands of the oppressor, the moment we receive this detested article, by which the tribute will be established upon us. For nothing short of these will ever fill the mouth of oppression, or gorge the insatiate appetite of lust and ambition.
Once admit this subtle, wicked, ministerial plan to take place — once permit this tea, thus imposed upon us, by the East India company, to be landed, received and vended, by their consignees, factors, etc., the badge of our slavery is fixed, and the foundation of ruin is surely laid. And unless a wife and powerful GOD, by some unforeseen revolution, in providence, shall prevent, we shall soon be obliged to bid farewell to the once flourishing trade of America, and an everlasting adieu to these glorious rights and liberties, for which our worthy ancestors so earnestly prayed, so bravely fought, so freely bled!!! ...
We will not be concerned, either directly or indirectly, in landing, receiving, buying or selling, or even using any of the teas sent out by the East India Company. ...
All such persons as shall directly or indirectly aid or assist in landing, receiving, buying, selling or using the teas sent out by the East India Company, or imported by others, subject to a duty for the purpose of revenue, shall be deemed and treated by us as enemies of their country.
It is the opinion of this town that the British Parliament has no constitutional authority to tax these colonies without their own consent, and that therefore, the present duty laid upon teas imported here from Great Britain, for the purpose of a revenue, is a tax, illegally laid upon and extorted from us.
"Once admit this subtle, wicked, ministerial plan to take place … the badge of our slavery is fixed, and the foundation of ruin is surely laid."
