Man, i parade around in my colonial clothing as the last remaining participant in the boston tea party. How strange it is to think what i have seen here in boston, how i witnessed a nation board of protest. I was no student of history or politics myself. My entire education consisted only of a modest understanding of reading and writing. I belonged to no associations, participated in no government, but in the years before our war of independence, i became a staunch liberty the way. Liberty boy. I was continually reflecting on the sufferings inflicted on the people of boston by the tyranny of great britain, and my mind was excited by a desire to aid in chastising the king. Here, here afterat in this very hall the bloody massacre in king street in march in 1770, and again with the meetings of the bodies of the people in 1773, when we decided the fate of that tea. [pandemonium] i came into this building a shoemaker. I left a true citizen. Tonight, friends, i ask you to indulge my memory and join me in a voyage back in time to 1773. You and i will participate in one of the most important events in American History, as i did once before. We will debate the issues of the tea tax and the three ships of tea floating in the harbor. And then, my friends, we will take a stroll to the harbor, perhaps. [indiscernible] thank you. [laughter] i would like you to imagine ont it was like here december 16, 1773. In olde all gathered south Meeting House, the largest building in the town, and with more than 5000 fellow colonists, it is the largest political meeting ever held in the town of boston. For overathered here two weeks to try to decide what to do about the three shiploads of tea that lie anchored in boston harbor. If that tea is landed, then we must pay a tax upon it. [pandemonium] our previous meetings have determined that the tea must not be landed, or we will not pay that tax [pandemonium] the royal authorities, of course, a firm that the tax must be paid and bt must be landed by midnight tonight. Must be landed by midnight tonight. We are at a crisis. All of our efforts to return the tea to england without unloading it have failed tonight, we will find a legal way to refuse this tea now, tonight, we meet as the body of the people, which means even the lower ranks like me may participate in the debate. Even you all may lend your voice. In your programs, you have a card. Take it out. Blue, you will be arguing tonight as a loyalist. A friend of parliament , the card is yellow, you will be arguing tonight as a patriot a friend to his country if you wish to speak at the meeting, you may do so by getting in line behind one of these speaking tubes, here, here, and two in the balcony. Please wait to be recognized by the meeting moderator. If you do not get a chance to speak, you may still show and lend your support for your fellow loyalists or patriot, but i ask you to do so as i and my fellow colonists once did. To show your support for the shout hau should za now lets warm it up. On my count, 1, 2, 3 haza i am an old man, so these dont work quite as well. I think you could do better than that. Remember, king george is listening. Lets try it one more time, shelley . 3 mark, 1, 2, haza much better. You can also show your disapproval and disdain for the speaker by shouting why like that. 1, 2, 3 why well done. Just between you and me, i hear that the thumbs of Liberty Party in the hall tonight, and they may have a secret plan that they will put into action if it is needed. [laughter] you are asked to follow the instructions of your meeting moderator. He will alert you when the meeting is a george, adjourned, and when our procession may begin. So, let us go back in time. There i am. Yes, a undermanned. A younger man. Oh, my. One marked by the qualities of economy, temperance, integrity, and Interest Rate and industry. And i see that my meeting moderator has arrived. I turn over the pulpit to mr. Samuel savage. Thank you. Good evening, sir. Mr. Hancock. We thank the clerk for his kind notes of our last session. I call the meeting to order. We have met here at the old h Meeting House since at those meetings, this body resolved firstly that the duty imposed by parliament upon the tea landed in america is a tax on the americans without their consent. Secondly, that a virtuous and steady opposition to the ministerial plan of governing america is absolutely necessary to preserve even the shallow shadow of liberty, and it is a duty in which every free man in america owes to his country, himself and his austerity. Likes here, here here, here , the east india is a violenterica attack upon the liberties of america. And fourthly, it is the duty of every american to oppose this tax. We have made every effort to peaceably prevent the landing of the tea and the paying of the duty. Mr. Nch is wrote francis wrote. Good evening, sir. Good evening. You are asked earlier to get clearance to leave bostons harbor without unloading its cargo of tea. That man, including samuel adams, accompanied you as witnesses. Sir, can you tell the assembly what has taken place . Yes. Commissioner of customs, mr. Richard harrison, he confirmed to his superior whose opinion it was that mr. Harrison could not do so until the duties have been paid for all the articles on board. Here, here. Gentlemen, with our assistance, he too said his hands were tied until mr. Roach gave him clearance. I recognize mr. Paul revere. I move that mr. Roach protest against the Customs House and prepare a path for the governor that he will sail with his vessel to london no, no it is impractical, impossible it is indeed out of the question, sir you promised to take your ship dartmouth out of the harbor within 20 days of its arrival. Tomorrow is the 20th day. Will you, sir, give the order for your ship to set sail this day . Know i cannot. No, i cannot. We have order on the floor. All in favor and the motion to stand with mr. Roach, one more time, to governor hutchinson. To get this ship out of the harbor, please say aye aye mr. Roach, this body requests that you carry your protest to governor hutchinson and to ask for a path to take lee safely take your guns to the castle. Will make one final attempt i leave for milton immediately. Oh, no. A sham. It appears this may be our last hope to peacefully return the tea. We will await captain roachs safe return to the Meeting House. The chair recognizes mr. John hancock. Adopted the resolutions set forth in philadelphia regarding the suppressive act. This oppressive act. Every town in the province must appoint this immediate inspection so this is never here, here recognizes mr. Clark. We encourage the merchants to firm andm stand exercise their right to sell this tea. This tax encourages commerce. Is that worth the bloodshed the socalled sons of liberty seek to call upon us . [pandemonium] order . R. Clark has the floor my cousin and i import good english tea in a legal manner, unlike the smuggler of beacon hill, who brings his dutch tea under the cover of darkness like a thief in the night order order please, let us maintain civility. The chair recognizes mr. John copley. I am an artist, not a politician, but like so many others in this town, i have been pulled into this matter. Just a month ago, my father in law and others were wanting to see peace in boston. It was out of their power to send the tea back to england, but they offered to have it stored while they awaited further orders, and they would allow the tea to be inspected to ensure said committees that no tea would be sneaked off and be sold. But this body refused those concessions. Of thewith the consensus consignees, as they were not involved in introducing the tea to the town, they would not at all interfere with the people. The consignee mr. May, youre out of order. The consignee mr. May, you will wait. Mr. May, you will know state. You may now speak. The consignees desire to lay the blame among the people of boston entirely. The consignees are under the direct and immediate influence of the governor. Let us not forget order then who of the seven consignees are governor hutchinsons son . Inlaws, mr. Nd copley. It is the governor himself who landevised this devilish devilish pla. Bn. The consignees must be excused. Talk as though the consignees were the passive instruments of the kings well. It was not so long ago that i and mr. Clark protested the kings taxes. Just last week, he proposed out anin invitation invitation for myself and other sons of liberty to discuss these matters in a civil fashion. Consignees show themselves to be as guilty as parliament themselves [pandemonium] order molineaux, you speak as though you and your compatriots are the gentleman in this debate . Mr. Clark and the other consignees are only trying to protect themselves and their families from the likes of you, sir by refusing to show their face, even in a Public Meeting such as s mr. Clark, what about you . Who threatens my good friend mr. Clarke for his wise refusal to meet with an unnamed crowd under your socalled liberty tree. Was it not you, mr. Molineaux, who not too long ago that a mob that grants act ransacked the home of our governor . I believe i should not call you serve, but by your more hitting your more fitting nickname. Order, order name a few of the other names that have been called by me . [pandemonium] gentlemen we will have order in this house gentlemen, let us for member the issue at hand. Dr. Warren, sir. Thank you. Gentlemaen, the issue here tonight is must greater than this tax much greater than this tax. We must clear our right to representation, because these duties are an infringement of our National Natural and constitutional rights. We must defend our right to , on us stands the fortune of america again. Ecognize mr. May what good would representation do us if we were tosend 13 representatives that unjust body, one from each colony, or two or three from each colony . We would still be outvoted. And then, we would have legitimized the right of parliament to tax us. Representation in parliament is a strawman, i say. We hold our right to tax ourselves and will not surrender that right to the corrupt placement and phenyl politicians of parliament. Here here the chair recognizes dr. Gardner. I am distressed that someone seek to delude us about this wholesome and legal. If there is a poison about us, it is watch flows from the lips who in spite the mob you inspire the mob. Lips whoflows from the inspire the mob. Protesting a tax worth the destruction of trade in this town . The chair recognizes mr. Samuel adams. Governors have no right to. Peak and take what they please instead of being content with the station that signed them, they instead become absolute desperate to kill as a private man has a right to pay int wages he will his private affairs, so has the community to determine what it will give of its substance to the administration of public affairs. The chair recognizes mr. Archibald wilson. I apprehend that the application of a modicum of decency and civility to this assembly will have no ill effect. Mr. Adams would have us drink his healthy new england rum or good english tea. Excesses of parliament are less than the petty terrence and estimates in tyrantws who hide despots in this town who hide behind john hancock and wish to destroy all those who oppose them. I strive to serve my customers of all political persuasions. Ofsent is the lifeblood the body politic, but when it interferes with my life, it defies the principles that the courts uphold. [pandemonium] order are there any others who wish to speak this evening . Let them come forward to the front of the aisles, to the corners of the balcony. We have many who wish to speak thus far. Have a few more. The chairman recognizes the young gentleman to my left on the main floor. Serve . My name is adam colson. I think parliaments taxes are ruining the lives of most of us who live in the colony. [pandemonium] i think it is mans right to be free, and to live with a just really are, not an unfair tyrant like king george a just ruler, not an unfair tyrant like king george order chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the balcony. Can you not see that this issue has caused nothing but trouble . Brother has turned against brother, father has turned against son. I argue with my brotherinlaw, john hancock, all the time. To what in . To what end . Let us play this pay this small tax and be done with it . I recognize my speaker to the right on the floor. I come in and out of the harbor, and i see many of the towns merchants. If only seven or eight men are allowed to sell te, what , whateda sell tea happened to the other ones . I am a wig maker. You loyalists think that this issue is over three cents, but it is not. We are fighting over representation in parliament, a right of all english men. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left on the main floor. Cochran. E is john i sell wine, not t. Tea. What is stopping parliament from taxing every item it chooses . We need representation the chair recognizes my speaker to the right. I go for the peaceable route. Removed all other taxes. Why not just go for the two cents, drink rt, and enjoy it . [pandemonium. ] my name is nathaniel russell. I have friends that are both riots and loyal its loyalists, but i am caught in the middle of his tax issue. But the patriots have begun a campaign that includes threats and violence, so i can no longer remain neutral. [groaning] be careful what you say, young sir. The sons of liberty are not following the law. However, there is no justice. We must do what is right the chair recognizes the speaker to the right. Wifes my name is james brewer. I understand that you loyalists are upset by some of the violence of the patriots. If violence takes if violence is what it takes for the king to listen to us, then i support the patriots. The chair recognizes the speaker to my right. Likes under the tea tax, british east India Companys under the tea tax, that tea is smuggled. Toncourage my colonists purchase british made goods. We are concerned about the violence, but as a patriot, i think we must consider our fight until our voices are heard. The chair recognizes my speaker to the left in the balcony. Chaos must stop. Let us return to our orderly lives. The chair recognizes my speaker to the right on the balcony. What will happen if we continue to divide parliament . The harbor. Se is this protest really worth risking our freedom . I recognize the speaker to my right on the floor. Williams. Is isaac we need to demand our full rights as english citizens. Without representation, gentlemen, parliament is committing a violent attack on the liberties of the colonists. I recognize the speaker to my left on the floor. Mr. Chairman, members of the congregation, i am a merchant. These meetings have been tiresome and a waste of our time. Why not leave well enough alone . The chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the balcony. A bunch is ahead of us if we do not resolve this issue. We must not let the riots and violence rule our streets. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left. These meetings have been a waste of our time. Why not leave well enough alone . The chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the floor. My name is benjamin tucker, junior. By refusing to richie to send tea back to england, the tea makers are causing even more problems in boston. I am a baker, and i believe that we must follow the good laws passed by parliament. Laws protect us and keep the strong. Keep the colony strong. The chair recognizes my speaker to my right. My name is nicholas. I am very angry that i am not being allowed to sell tea. Our businesses are losing money. He laws are preventing us from providing for our families. Murder am a simple i, too m a simple merchant. Since the tea act, i cannot sell tea, and i feel like i am punished. For what . For the right to speak your mind. I am a weaver of this town. We must not push too hard against king and parliament, or the costs of our community may also unravel. Chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the balcony. My name is joseph. The loyalists say we should behave as englishmen and talk about this peacefully. I say we have brought this forth in parliament for 10 years now, and they still have not listened. The chair recognizes my speaker to my left in the balcony. Samuel, a is loyalist. We should behave like english men and talk about this peacefully. We have been talking to the king and parliament from his 10 years now, and they are not going to listen. The time to talk with them is over. The time for action is now. The chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the floor. My name is peter harrington. My family has been boycotting british made goods and will continue to do so until the king and parliament start listening to the colonists the chair recognizes my speaker to my left in the balcony. I say the king is infringing on our liberties by telling us what we can and cannot buy. We are being treated like secondclass people. Secondclass citizens. Until england gives us the respect we reserve we deserve, i will smuggled tea into the colony be careful about your public statements, young lady recognizes the person to my right and the balcony. We must all obey the laws of king george. Violence must stop and order must be restored. The chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the floor. I fought in the french and indian war, and we did not need the british soldiers to win. Pay our troops we never asked for . The chair recognizes my speaker to my left on the floor. En tlem sir, you may speak. Mcec i understand that the loyalists i understand that the loyalists are upset by the violence. I understand that violence is an important is a way to make important changes. If violence is what it takes, i support the patriots and what other methods they choose. Be careful. I am john cooley. These socalled patriots campaign complain about a 3 10 tax, yet they pay higher prices for smuggled touch tea, i ask you, where is their sense . Thehe chair recognizes speaker to my right on the balcony. Charles, ais loyalist. The sons of liberty are causing violence and making boston a dangerous place to live. Remember the boston massacre . You patriots threw snowballs at the soldiers. No wonder they fired on the mob. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left in the balcony. I thinking george has been good to us, and i worry about what will happen to the patriots if they continue to defy him. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left on the floor. As a doctor, i worry about violence,with this but as a patriot, i believe we must continue with our fight until our voices are heard and the king takes us seriously. We must stand up against the king. Chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the balcony. My name is benjamin simpson. I say it is unfair that kings say that king and Parliament Say we can only buy british goods. I think i should be able to drink french tea if i like. The chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the floor. I consider myself a proud english subject. I did not partake in the protests, but watched silently. I serve the crown asked by upholding her values. This means joining the protest. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left in the balcony. My name is joseph. Only seven merchants are allowed to sell east India Company t. We are at a disadvantage. We dont have our voices heard. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left. My name is edward. Now, butay be on tea what is stopping parliament from imposing a tax on wood, sugar, or cloth . We need to continue to boycott unfair laws. The chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the floor. Loyalists complain about violence and how violence we patriots are. Terrible, bute tyranny is worse. I say if violence is the only way to get them to stand up and take notice, then so be it. Violence is it. [gavel] order ormy name is alan, a cap keeper, and i say we are not children who throw fits when we do not get who we want. Get what we want. We must settle for negotiation. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left. My name is robert davis. I am tired of being told what to do by the government that has ignored us for years and knows nothing about our lives. If i have to pay taxes, i want to see where my money is going and know that it is helping my fellow townspeople. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left on the floor. , whatsked my compatriots will happen to this colony if we continue to defy the king . , taxes willthe king be the least of our problems. Order the chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the floor. Enough with the liberty t nonsense andre all english man subject to the kings laws. Order the chair recognizes the speaker to my left. My name is cooper. I teach my sons to respect their fathers words. We are not the sons of liberty. We are the sons of our father and our king who protects that. The chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the floor. We patriots must continue to protest. My name is john. I ask you, loyalists, who shall respond . I will ask in her name. I ask you, my brother, to join me, and together we shall fight for justice. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left in the balcony. A why should resupport government whose laws are hurting our economy . We must protest. Gentlemen, the night grows late. I realize we have many more who wish to speak that we have time to accommodate. The question may soon be called. I will ask the monitors to please select one more person who may speak this evening before we try to move to some resolution on this issue. My left . My name is john murray everyone here knows that 3 10 is a small price for the kings protection during the french and indian war. You are acting like spoiled children. [pandemonium] order order the chair recognizes the speaker to my left on the balcony. Why can we only by english only seveny were merchants chosen to sell this to a sell this tea . The tea tax is an insult to the people of boston. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left on the balcony. Keepingde myself in warm, dry, and well fed. Should we go away from the kings protection . The chair recognizes the gentleman to my right on the floor. I am a rope maker. Why do we allow the king to trample our rights as englishmen . We should read ourselves in the kings laws and create our own government ha za order order order this is a global assembly, treasonous or otherwise. Events that governor hutchinson refuses this provision, will this meeting abide by our former resolution . So moved. So moved . Second . Second. All in favor of the motion please say aye. The motion is carried. We have a notion that the tea shall never be landed in the province, and every town must appoint a committee of inspection to prevent the tea from coming into this town. All those in favor . Aye opposed . Nay. Doubt. Chair is in all those in favor . Aye opposed . Nay it is the resolution of this meeting that the tea shall not be landed. The chair recognizes mr. Quincy. Is not the spirit in these walls that will withstand us. The exertion of the stay will call forth certain events that will make a very different spirit necessary for our selfish and. Those who suppose that shouts will and the trials of the day entertain a childish fantasy. Let us look to the end. Let us way and consider before we moved to those motions that will bring forth the most trying and horrific struggle that this country ever saw. Mr. Roach. Mr. Roach mr. Roach, we have been waiting for you, sir. You have returned from requesting a pass from governor hutchinson. Shipped toour england with the tea without unloading it. Can you tell us what has happened, sir . Yes, sir. He iscellency said willing to grant anything consistent with the law, and his duty to our king the vessel passage until it had been properly cleared by the Customs House i will finish vessel you would make no distention distinction between my vessel or any other . Dr. Young. He must not suffer harm to his personal property. He has shown us today he is a good man who has done everything in his power to satisfy us. Thank you, doctor. Captain roach. Under the present circumstances, will you order the dartmouth back to london with its cargo of tea . I apprehend that will be my ruin. If you will not order your vessel with its cargo back to london, will you attempt to land the tea . I will have no part of the tea, but if properly called upon to do it, i will attempt to decline the regulations of the customer of the custom commissioner with my own security. The king can do nothing more to save the country. Mr. Adams, you are out of order. Mr. Hancock, you are out of order, sir. Order order this meeting is not yet adjourned. Keep to your seats. Mr. Adams. Mr. Moderator. , moved that dr. Thomas young who desired to address the meeting. Young, you away to be recognized by the chair, but you may be recognized by the chair and you may speak. Thank you, sir. Mr. Moderator, you are most kind as opposed to others like him over there. Poisona is really a slow that has a corrosive effect on all those who consume it. This meeting is not adjourned yet. Get your seat. Sir, you have the floor. Thank you, sir. Tea produces nothing of value. It is insidious and leads to various this tempers. Various distempers. Eschew decided to as this tea, and will resist your urges toward this wicked weed, and to all other needless imported commodities. A free and in boston generous people, and we have decided that to gather here today to exercise our right, longstanding right. Where this order will take us, i cannot rightly prognosticate, but mark my word. Now that the hand is on the plow, there must be order order mr. Young, you still may proceed. Thank you, sir. What measures will the ministerial government in london take . Meeting . Resent this will they dare to resent it . Who knows. What measures will they take against us . Will they punish us . How . By quartering troops on us . By annulling our charter . By laying on more duties . By restraining our trade . Or how . Who knows . Whether our is assembly and deliberations were truly necessary, and sir i believe they absolutely a positively are. And positively are. We must be strong and resolute in case any one of you here be called to account for being at this. And may god defend our right to freedom for this country order order manifestedhave exemplary patience, having done everything in their power to preserve the tea without paying duty on it and preventing it to be stalled. Be sold. Ting it to we have attempted in every way to send it back unharmed to its owners. Therefore, this meeting is resolved. We must go. Maybe harbor be a wash tonight, with tea. Announcer you are watching American History tv on cspan3. To join the conversation, like us on facebook. Each week until the 2016 election, road to the white house rewind brings you archival coverage of president ial politics. The 1980end, a look at campaign through interviews with the top for republican candidates in the race. They were recorded at Salem High School in new hampshire. Here is a preview. Pick out the three most effective leaders in history, and why you selected these three liters . Rep. Anderson i these three leaders . You hit me with that. It will take a lot of reflection. First, i think of general washington, who took that ragged, tethered and of men band of men. It was said that there were literally less than 500 people in the colonies who were willing to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor for the cause of the republic. He took that little remnant and made it into a force that was capable of defeating the better financed, better equipped, better trained British Expeditionary force. Clearly he was a leader. He was not only a leader in the military sense, but he was a man that had the kind of magnificent concept of freedom that enabled him to serve as the first. Resident of this republic next, i think of lincoln, who served during the most difficult period in our history next to that revolutionary hero, and he was able, despite all of the divisiveness of that civil war, to land the war and espouse the kind of principles and charity and humanity that enabled us to bind up the wounds after the war and remain a united country. Lincoln, clearly in my mind, because of his noble expression, his ungifted, absolutely limitless power of expression, i think, served as a great leader. I think thirdly, in our century, frequent Eleanor Roosevelt was a great leader. Franklin roosevelt was a great leader. He was not in my party, but i admire his ability to fulfill that requisite of leadership, the ability to consume to inspire confidence in a weary nation. He came along and said that we had nothing to fear but fear itself, and then went on to recommend in a very dramatic way a series of policies that enabled us to overcome some of the effects of the depression. When i look at our country, and obviously we could go european and World History and pick our great leaders, but those are three Great American leaders that i would admire. Announcer watch the entire interview on sunday on road to the white house rewind. Announcer