Newspapers / State Port Pilot (Southport, … / Nov. 1, 1972, edition 1 / Page 17
Part of State Port Pilot (Southport, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Storm On The Cape Fear 'Had the British offiters been less pliant, the Ameritan Revolution would have started in North Carolina By Margaret McMahan Special Correspondent It is mid-October, 1765, and near the turbulent waters of the Province of North Carolina’s Cape of Fear, a storm, out of the turbulence of men’s minds, is brewing. Leaders have learned that the colony’s first cargo of stamped paper is expected to arrive at Brunswick November 1st. Their long waiting period since passage of the tyrannical act in March is ending. Hen ceforth, seals upon blue parch ment, ornamented with tinfoil and Royal devices, and naming a monev-value, must be glued to A every official paper in the colony. The very thought is maddening to the freedom-loving > men who are making a new and democratic country; it is a flagrant exhibition of “taxation without representa tion,” a violation of their funda mental rights as English citizens. After months-long discussion in homes and abroad, the people of the Lower Cape Fear have chartered their course. Here, at the mouth of the province’s great ocean-bound river, where is the center of trade, the odious stamps must be resisted. The aggressive speaker of the House of Commons, John Ashe, declares for all: “We must stand against them to the point of blood and death.” Plan ters, politicians, merchants, define the reason: “The bulk of the import and export commerce of the province passes through Brunswick. We must make deaf''*" that vital necessities can be carri ed, by those versed in the art of smuggling, away from our river, into hidden coastal inlets and passages, without stamps. If this is permitted, the Wilming ton-Brunswick merchants will be ruined, and all those dependent upon them.” ^ “Aye,” interposes he impetuous x Ashe, “we must lead our com patriots in stamping out the hateful stamps . . . show our grievance and protest in displays of armed force and organized resistance — if need be.” Cornelius Harnett, a planter and political leader who has earn ed the sobriquet, “Pride of the Cape Fear,” makes a point: “Here is the logical place to begin, for Governor Tryon is close by at Russellborough and some of his council members also live in the district.” Decision is made to assert their independence in another way. They will import no British goods as long as the stamps are required. At Cross Creek (Fayetteville), at Edenton, New Bern and at other places the people resolutely take the same stand. On Oct. 19, to the lively Cape Fear port of Wilmington, comes bad news. Dr. William Houston, a respected planter and surgeon of Duplin County, has been ap pointed stamp collector for the province. Quickly, to show their disapproval, most of the town’s near 500 citizens gather on the courthouse lawn and there string up an effigy. To some the stuffy figure represents the stamp-; master. To others it is a symbol of the English parlia mentarian, Lord Bute (deemed responsible for passage of the Stamp Act). Now, from glistening tar barrels a great bonfire is building. When its flames reach high and golden, it greedjly receives the sad-looking remains of the effigy. The gentlemen of the town not already present are now brought to the scene. There, amid ringing cheers, all drink a toast: ‘‘Liberty, property and no stamp duty.” On the evening of Oct. 31 (Halloween), there is another gathering together of the men folk, another building of a bonfire. The reason?. News of the coming of the dreaded stamps has killed beloved Liberty. To the sound of muffled bell and mournful drumbeat, she goes to her last resting place. One patriot mour ner, reluctant to give up Liberty, feels her pulse. “Oh joy! she still breathes.” With great hilarity they bring her back to the bonfire. Partially recovered, she sits beside it with great state and - dignity in a heavy “two-armed” chair. “Hurrah! Hurrah!” cry the prankster-patriots together. And their voices reverberate through the little town. On Nov. 16, Stampmaster William Houston comes to "Wilm ington from his plantation home, Sacrete. The news spreads like wildfire. Three or four hundred defenders of liberty (later called Sons of Liberty) with drums beating CAPTAIN JOHN PHIPPS, who brought the Diligence up the Cape Fear River to Brunswick. and flags flying, confront him at his lodging house. Says their spokesman, “Do you intend to perform your new office?” The answer is evasive, "I would not wish to execute any office disagreeable to the people . . Spoken words are not enough, a written resignation is- required. The mood of the visitors at once changes. Houston receives almost an ovation. He sits in an armchair held upon sturdy shoulders as he is carried around the courthouse square. At each corner, the carriers stop, get breath, then send on the air three resounding huzzahs. Back within his lodging house they treat him very genteelly with ‘‘the best liquors to be had.” In the evening, another bonfire is made and a command goes ’round: “No person is permitted on the streets tonight without having Liberty in large letters on his hat.” The great fire, as if. aware of its importance, crackles and sparkles, throws into relief, in its broad bright blaze, the resolute patriots’ faces. Near it a table is laden with several sorts of liquors. The celebrants drink favorite 'American toasts “in great form, giving three cheers at the conclusion of each." Midnight comes upon them unawares. One thing more, before they disperse! From the meticulous Andrew Steuart, the public printer and newspaper editor, they extort a promise to print his North Carolina Gazette without stamps. He more than obliges, his next issue bears a skull and crossbones where the stamps, by English law, should be. He pridefully notes also that these exhibitions of patriotism were conducted "with great decorum, and not the least insult offered to any person.” Gov. William Tryon, seeing the serious turn affairs have taken, now seeks to woo the people. By circular letter he invites "near 50 merchants of New Hanover and Brunswick” to dine at his house, “Russellborough” (now part of Orton Plantation) on Nov. 18. He hopes that the warmth of his hospitality and the powers of his persuasion, will dissolve their differences, that they will at last find the Stamp Act advantageous to trade and “ac ceptable.” The dinner is pleasant. There is excellent food and fine table talk. The "reason for being” is temporarily ignored. Now com es conference. Tryon, an officer of the Army, a gentleman by birth and education, social-minded and accomplished, pressses his points. "Gentlemen,” he pleads, “you will find the circulation of stamps expedient. ... . If you will let the act go into partial operation, I will pay at -my own expense the duty on all stamped paper on which I am entitled to fees (a consider able amount — fees on land patents, testimonials, injunctions in chancery, letters of admin istration, wine licenses, etc.)” His overtures are useless. The Stamp Act, the visitors answer in a communication the next day, is “most dangerous to our liberties as British subjects.” As to the governor’s offer to pay certain fees, “With an approval of part we cannot deny the Act’s validity as a whole. . . .’’ The issue is not a matter of money, but of principle. Every effort will be used to prevent insult and violence to officers of the Crown, except the distributors of stamps: “They are too much detested to be secure from the resentment of the colonists.. . .” Governor Tryon and the English Parliament even now are not too disturbed. Bonfires and burn ings-in-effigy have been a British custom since time immemorial, “bibulous affairs for the roistering and undisciplined.” Those upstart Americans would learn their lesson in time! THE ARBITRARY AND STUBBORN King George III, seeking stricter control of the colonies, encouraged his ministers to pass the Stamp Act. And now, in late November, 1765, the people of the Cape Fear learn that the overdue British sloop-of-war,' the Diligence, bring ing from Virginia the colony’s first cargo of stamps, is not far' away. Crisis is at hand. By open hostility, by the use of arms if need be, they must prove their words, “We will resist them to the death.” The captain of the Diligence, Constantine John Phipps', has been cruising slowly in Virginia and North Carolina coastal waters. He is a distinguished naval officer, often a voyager to cold climes (he would some day be Lord Mulgrave and write “A Voyage Toward the North Pole.”) He is in no hurry, for- in these Southern waters the soft air of summer yet seems to linger. Pacing his deck he contemplates his destination, recalls the mouth watering delicacies he has enjoyed on previous trips, at the tables of the Cape Fear gentry; Hopeful ly, these pleasures will soon be repeated. The thought of terra firma is exhilirating for another reason. The deer hunts in the fragrant piney woods* about Brunswick, to the music of the hounds, are equal to any in the homeland, and have about them the added interests and excitements of a novel and expan sive country. The idea of resistance to the stamps does not occur to - him. Of course, the Cape Fear District, first, and then the Pro vince, will accept them, fot are they not living in a Crown l Colony and owing loyal support j to the King and Parliament? The Diligence bowls along, the | beautiful bringer of an obnoxious f cargo. At last (Nov. 28) she 5 reaches the bay into which the \ Cape Fear widens. With colors \ flying and all her canvas set, \ she walks the waves slowly, ma- i jestically, crosses the bar like | a great lady, poised, deliberate, i sure of herself. Opposite Fort ‘j Johnston, she sends in greeting, a puff of white smoke from * her port quarter and a roar from one of her guns. And from the recently- * completed fort, built to guard * the province from the Spanish, * comes an answering thunder of welcome. Now the Diligence pro udly plies her sails toward the Town of Brunswick, eight miles farther up the river in the direcr tion of Wilmington. In 60 minutes she sights the town. A little later, with a graceful sweep and a rushing keel, she glides toward her moorings opposite the Custom House of Brunswick. There is the shrill sound of the boatswain's whistle, then the clanging of chains, and her anchor is released. (Continued to Page 2) C ON TINUATION OF (November 20.) THE (Numb. 58.) NORTH-CAROLINA CASSETTE; NOTON, '-tHamamk 9t , , t N Saturday the 19th of laft Month, abode Seven of the CkxK ill the Evening, near Five Hundred People aflfcmbted together in this Town, and exhibited the Effigy of a certain Honour asle Gen tleman 1 and after letting k hang by the Neck fix fomc Time, near Ac Court Houfe, they made a large Bonfire with a Number of T»T-Barrets, See. and committed it to the f James.—The Reafou affigned for the People’s Diflike to that Gentleman, was, from bang informed of hts having feveral Times expreffed himfcif mueft in Favom ** the STAMP-DUTY.*-After the Effigy was confirmed, they stent to eves f Houfe in Town, and bro’t all the Gentlemen to the Bonfire, bnd infilled upon their drinking, LIBERTY, PROPERTY, and no STAMP-DUTY, and Confufioo to LoQii-Ti and all his Adherents, giving three Htttzas at the Cooclufion of each Toaft,——They continued together until 12 of the Clock, and then difperfed, without doing any Mifchief. And, 3 On Thurfday, 31ft of the fame Month, in the Evening, a great Ntrthber of People again aifembled, and produced an Effigy of LIBERTY, which they put into a Coffin, and marched in iolemn Proceffion with it to the Church-Yard, a Drum in Mourning beating before therm rod.-rist To#n Bell, muffled, ringing a doleful KneM at tae 'ttmFTIWe'i—But before they committed the Body to the Ground, they thought k advifeable to feel its Pulfe t and when finding feme Re-‘ mains of Life, they returned back to a Bonfire ready prepared, placed the Effigy before k in a large Two-arm’d Chair, and concluded the Evening with great Re joicings, on finding that LIBERTY had ftill an Exiftcnce in the Colonies.—-Not the leaft Injury was offered to any Perfon. On Saturday the 16th of this Inft. William Houston, Efijj Diftributur of STAMPS for this Province, came to this Town v upon which three or four Hun dred People immediately gathereatogether, with Drums beating and Colours flying, and repaired to the Houfe the faid Stamp-Offices pbc up at, and ihfified upon knowing, “ Whether he intended to execute bis faid Office, or not ?** He told them, “ He Ihould be very lorry to execute any Office difagreeable Co the People of the Province.” But they, not content with fuch t Declaration, carried him into' the Court-Houfe, where he figned a Refignation fatisfa&ofy to the Whole. As foon as the Stamp-Officer had comply’d with their Defire, they placed Ik) in an Arm-Chair, carried him firft round the Court-MoCffe, giving three Huzza* at every Corner, and then proceeded with him round one Of the Squares of the Town, and fat him down at the Door of his Lodgings, formed themfelves in a__, large Circle round him, and gave him three Cheers: They then efcorted him intoJiL the Houfe, where was prepared the befl Liquors to be had, and treated him very genteely. In the Evening a large Bonfire was made, and do Perfon appeared in the Streets without having LIBERTY, in large Capita) Letters, in his Hat.——— They had a large Table near the Bonfire, well ftirnHh*d with feveral Softs of Liquors, where they drank in great Form, at! the favourite American Toafts, giving three Cheers at the Conclufion of each. The whole Mat conducted With great Decorum, and not the leaft Infult offered at any Perfofi. B f Immediately PAGE FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA GAZETTE, November 20,1765. This story shows how the people of the lower Cape Fear region opposed the Stamp Act. Notice the skull and crossbones in the lower right-hand corner. d* Placa a* > STAMP.
State Port Pilot (Southport, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 1, 1972, edition 1
17
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75