Good. What do we document to. The suns of liberty speak tonight. Hey, hey. The town is getting real. Well, we got. The suns. The big welcome to the 249th anniversary. Boston tea party reenactments. Tonight, we relive meeting of the body of the people whose vigorous debates led to the destruction of the tea or what became known as the Boston Tea Party revolutionary spaces. Welcome to you into the room where the meeting occurred right here at Old South Meeting House. My name is j. L. Bell. I write about revolutionary boston, and tonight im to be one of the revolutionary spaces helping to bring you event. Now, i would like introduce the president and ceo revolutionary spaces, ladies and, gentlemen, dr. Nathaniel sheidley, you. Thank you, john. Good evening, everybody, and welcome to old south meeting for the 249th anniversary of the boston party. So here at revolution spaces, our mission is to bring people together in order to explore our nations unfinished struggle, to create and sustain a free society and its invoked in such a profound by this building that we are into which our organization cares for and by the old state house, just down the street and these places are so central to, the story of who we are and what better way for us to explore that mission and, translate it into dialog and fun, then to gather here in this room where the meeting of the body of the people happened. 249 years ago, the held here and, the dialog that folks in this building engaged in with colonial officials located just down the street in the Council Chamber of the old state or what was known as the townhouse. The time were the spark that led to the tea party and that drove the colonies. Boston, first and foremost down the road to revolution and and ultimately to independence. We remember the tea party because its a story about ordinary people can make change. But its also a very story. And the protest stars that stormed out of this building hundred and 49 years ago dressed as mohawks. And in doing that, they appropriated native identities as the new nation. They would create would appropriate native lands. And so as we begin tonight, i do to make a space for us first to acknowledge that the buildings that organization cares for the old statehouse and Old South Meeting House are complicated. They are places that are central to the story of the emergence of our core Democratic Institute oceans. But theyre also sites of conquest and stand as we tonight sit here in this building on the occupied and still unceded land of the massachusetts people. Revolution spaces supports our native neighbors and its committed through our work to understanding and dismantling the destructive legacies of settler colonialism that are embodied in the of our buildings. So want to pause now before we begin to honor and to respect the many native peoples who are connected to place and to shawmut past, present and future, including the massachusetts, the nipmuc and the wampanoag peoples and many. Thank you. We do have much to explore and much to celebrate tonight. And first and foremost, i just want to say how wonderful it is to be back this building we were last for this reenactment three years ago in december 2019. And it is so fabulous. Be able to gather with you all in this space in person again and want to thank all of you for continuing support as our organizer and and as the community that we are part of continues to emerge from the pandemic. So doesnt it good to be together again . Thank. And feel free. Shout a hosanna or a hazy if you agree. Im all right another thing i wanted to just touch on before i turn it to our fabulous living historians is to spill the tea on the big plans that we have for next year. So 2023 is the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party and its a signal opportunity to reach a wide audience to share this story and to reflect on to make meaning from the story together. So we have a huge year planned here at. Revolutionary spaces as many institutions as all around boston do for revolutionary spaces. Early in the year were going to open two new exhibit s over the old state house and one small exhibit here at Old South Meeting House. Those will explore the role of property violence in american protest from the tea to the present will explore petitions and other ways that people from the formal political process made their voices heard. We also organizing a rich slate of programs that will unfold across year and will, i hope, appeal to audiences all ages. So from raising a two day Music Festival will celebrate songs of protest that changed the world to a youth Poetry Program taking its inspiration, the african poet phillis wheatley, who was member of this congregation and would have worshiped from the upper balcony here, and whose poems were on one of the tea ships on the night of the Boston Tea Party to the premiere, the World Premiere of an immersive theatrical experience that reimagined the tea party debates, the meeting of the body of the people and connects them to the issues that still matter to us today. So theres truly something for everyone in the slate of programs. And i really hope that all of you will return and join us in making from this most important of american. So you can subscribe to our mailing list. You can follow us on our social Media Channels to get all the details about those exciting. For 2023. And finally, it is not really a tea party unless you also spill some tea. And so i would like thank our partner tea can company for their generous gift of tea tonight and we hope that you enjoyed some down stairs before the before the the the Program Began had a chance to to sample that. And now i would like to the winner of tonights tea can company tea basket giveaway. So im not sure that everybody who entered actually be in the room tonight so let me ask kenneth berkus are you yeah all right who. So kind of you can you can pick up the prize at after the program at the membership table down in the lower level after show. And its entirely up to you. You would like to drink the tea or throw it into the harbor, whatever you. Choose tonight you can say that you have been spilling the teas and 1773 and with that. With that my patriot and loyalist friends welcome to the meeting of the body of the people. Good ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Old South Meeting House. I must say, is quite jarring to see so many townspeople these pews now i do come to this building to worship on sunday as i sit right up there. And while we are in the town of bostons largest building, we have not tested capacity as we are tonight. Now, tonight we are not holding a religious service, but a meeting of people of boston and yes, this does has a church, but it is used by our community for the public and to discuss issues of the day when faneuil hall is far too small to hold all those who wish to attend for some time, the people of boston have been debating the issue of whether or not to unload of pounds of United East India Company t and this is all newly tax under oppressive British Parliament tonight, december 16, 1773 is the last night before these are legally required to be unloaded now. While i black and formerly enslaved woman. Im not to these types of meetings. I have been the conversation rather closely. And yes, among the chastity aboard one of these ships is my well, the First Edition of my newly book of poetry, which i am to share with all of you. Oh, goodness. Oh, my tears, please, to forgive me. Ive shared so with you in such a short amount of time. And yet have no idea who i am. My dears, my name is phyllis and i was enslaved. A family who worships here. But i more than that. I am a writer some suspect, a great writer, a genius, perhaps. And while i may not be privy to be amongst the men, engage in conversation about liberty, i definitely have my own thoughts on the topic. Now, like you, i was not invited to this meeting but if these people had taught us anything on this night is that anyone with the will to do so might have their say in this world. Now we will hear from others who also lived in boston in 1773, but were not permitted to be part of this meeting. People like me. And even though history did not record their words, our voices will be forgotten. This is in a fever of anxiety. The gray skies and damp mirror, its fearful mood. And so they do mirror my own. My married name is susanna copley and many of you here know my husband, mr. John singleton copley. Although even if you do not know him, you surely know his work for my husband is bostons finest portrait painter. But i born susanna clarke, daughter of richard clarke, and perhaps you know his name too, for my father. Together with my brothers isaac, jonathan are three of the seven merchants chosen to sell the east India Company. My young, my dear husband, our young children, my entire family are now living under a cloak of fear. We are under attack from these so socalled sons of liberty simply because my father and brothers continue to go about the business that has been entrusted them. Last month, mob stormed my fathers home, demanding that he resign as one of the two consignees fearing for his safety. He fled to castle island. Well, my brother isaac has attended the meetings here at old south. Discuss the matter of the tea that is still out in the harbor. My father remains in hiding from the mobs. And this town grows more anxious and nervous. The minute my husband, mr. Copley, is an artist, not a politician. But he has spoken out bravely here in the meetings at old south, trying to turn the people from the hatred that they bear towards my family. But i fear that the tide of Public Opinion has already turned too far against us. Curses the tea act and all of the divisions that it has brought to these shores. This should be the happiest of my life, for i am soon to be married to the man that i love. How i wish to celebrate. The day that i lucy flucker mary mr. Henry knox and become mrs. Knox to have found such a fine husband that only 17 years of age. But now i fear that my marriage. The prospect of my brings with it as much pain as it does joy because of the discord that this law has sown. My wedding threatens to tear me from the very family that raised me. My father is secretary this province. He is a royal official by all measures, a tory. And my henry, my humble henry. The bookseller is as much a patriot as my family is loyal to the crown. Three years passed, harry. As i call my henry was witness to the bloody massacre on king street. He even had to put himself physically into the crowd, protect them as the lobster bax fired upon us. And since then, as you can, he has held no tender feelings for redcoats. And now fear that soon i must choose, between my family and my fiancee. And i fear that tensions will only continue to rise tonight, no matter how this evening ends. I suppose there is only one thing that i can do and that is to wait. As a fellow woman, i too often feel that is little i can do to influence the ways of the world by. But i feel that at some point i will be called upon. And at that moment, i will act. Greetings. My fellow bostonians. My name is prince hall. As an africanamerican man in boston, question who to in these discussions of tea and representation . In just leadership i well, several years back was man, you made it by the individual who once held me as a slave for much of my life. And as a free man, i have experienced. A lack of rights. Due to virtue of the color of my skin skin. I have seen court nor legislator in these american colonies that will concede that i have any rights. Any rights whatsoever. Meanwhile meanwhile, king and parliament havent yet lifted finger to aid me or my less fortunate brothers and sisters still held in bondage throughout their colonial holdings. But if i do support patriot cause, perhaps ill be able to win their freedom and my peoples rights. My trade is leather dressing that is carrying Leather Goods to keep them soft and flexing. I pray that the white men who speak here tonight about freedom have the flexibility of mind and a vision to change their perspective. I hope that my patriot friends do understand that the only way to true justice and freedom is if all are free. Imagination. Who can sing by force. Who . The swiftness of their course. As a poet, i observe. Speak truth about the world we live in. And i also paint a picture through my. So listen now and imagine it is december 16, 1773. Gathered Old South Meeting House. Up to 5000 colonists. A large political meeting ever held in our boston town. Now i will guide you through this meeting as i got my readers through my verses and well documented in real time, its main characters and providing context along the way. Now the crowds have been gathering here and at faneuil hall regularly for over two weeks now, deciding what to do about the three merchant vessels that lie anchored in harbor. If the tea unloaded, a tax must be paid upon it. The earlier meetings have resolved that the tea must not be on loaded, for we will not pay that tax. But the royal authorities insist that the tea must be brought to shore by midnight tonight and a tax must be paid upon. The first of the three ships, the dartmouth arrived on november 28th. The people of boston have refused to allow crew to unload. There were even whispers of burning the ship and do remember my books were on board. But thankfully they did allow the crew to unload all the cargo except the tea. The law says that the owner of the dartmouth, mr. Francis roach, has only 20 days to leave the tea on board and he cannot go past that point for if he goes past this and delays any longer, the Customs Office will be able to the tea and collect taxes and seize the ship. Now this evening will be mr. Roachs last chance to do what the patriots asked. Send the ship and its tea back to england and not submit to the hated tea tax. And so a crisis at all the attempt so far to return the tea without having unload it have failed. Tonight is the final night to find a legal way to refuse tea. And tonight they meet as the body of the people, which means even the lower ranks are journeymen in the trades men. But not women or people of color, will be able to participate in the debate. But through a little creative license, you will all be able to lend voices. You have all received a small trinket. Yes. Yes. Excellent. It should be a card. You should. Excellent. Upon arrival at that. Now, of course if the card is blue and includes an image of the crown. You support the king and parliament. Tories will soon become later known as loyalist. But if is yellow and includes image of the liberty tree, you believe that only those who are elected by the people may impose taxes upon them. Now we will know them at this time as whigs, but history will remember them as patriot. Now, of course my friends, if you wish. Youre welcome to step up and have the chance to speak this evening as the individual on your card. And these are loud voices to be sure by impassioned bostonians. Do you remember those who are not welcome here but have strong opinions on the notions of freedom and liberty. With the stroke of my pen. And to the delight of your imagination. I bring more of them here to raise their voices. Now, some of these characters might be people who attended such meetings, or people who are simply out of doors like myself, mrs. Copley, miss flicker and mr. Hall. But tonight we will have all voices heard when moderator and the assistants in your seating invite you. You may step to one of the microphones you see on the floor in the balcony area when time is right, you can step up to the microphone with emma. You also step up to the microphone with sam. You may into a microphone with matt or you may up to microphone with live. And at the microphone you will receive a parchment of text and into a colonist. Now, if you do not get the to speak, you can still support fellow loyalists and patriots. But i do ask that you raise voices as my fellow colonists. So, my dears, if you do hear something said that you very agree with and just want to support your fellow colonists, i mean, excuse me, loyalists or patriots, you may yell out a huzzah hate you, h. So let us all try that together. My count of three. One, two, three. I know. I tried to get to my count of three. One, two, three. I did. Now, of course, my friends with any sort of public, theres something you may disagree with. And with that, you may yell out a fire at fire. So again, lets try that on my count of three, one, two, three, oh. Lets try that again. One, two, three. Well done. Well. Oh, goodness, my. And so it begins. Samuel savage of weston has arrived, and he will be our evenings. Pete. Excellent. Now, my dear, as we wait for this meeting to commence, will be sitting there in the shadows and i will provide enlightenment and guidance along the way. Mr. Adams. Good evening, christopher. Do you have. Clean. Necessary interest . Absolutely. We should have a peaceful, proper conclusion conclusion. In. We hope and pray that it will come out to. To our satisfaction. If you find you must do something, please be quick about it. And not delay the meeting. Thank you, sir. Mr. Hancock, i i wish you, you know, fair skies and following seas. And congratulations on the arrival of the liberty from amsterdam. It has indeed. May it serve you well well. Mr. Quincy. Mr. Scott, i am so pleased to you. I had heard rumors of your demise, sir from the wasting disease and. Indeed, sir, i. But i am. I am pleased you are with us. We have missed you over these last two weeks of discussion and hope you will be able to to your your voice of wisdom to to our assembly at the proper moment, i shall endeavor very well. You will be properly received. Mr. Revere. You are in charge of the guard over the two ships. Have you doubled them and make sure no mischief shall take . We have indeed not. One chest has been landed for very well. Well. It is the celebrated mrs. Warren. Madam, i trust you did not have to fatiguing journey up from plymouth. Well, we are. We are grateful for your company. Will you be merely observing as part of your. Your craft, or do do you wish to address this multitude shall tell. But this meeting may be some historical importance. It shall see, madam. Thank you. Oh, dr. Young. I trust you will probably have to say you always do that. And we will leave it at that. Sir. And i am grateful to our clerk for his efforts at providing a transfer report of our session this afternoon, and also the session from two days ago. We resume our meeting back in session for those gathering with us tonight. I will remind you, you are part of our boston meeting. The principal manner in which boston and other new england towns discuss matters. Ordinary and extraordinary in our common governance and vote on what to do. Aside our churches. This is perhaps our most sacred institution. This is how we decide on who lead us, how our shall be raised, how they shall be apportioned for various and sundry projects in our towns what we shall pay to the province. And tonight at this special meeting, what do about the three ships carrying tea that at anchor in the harbor harbor . I have been asked by this meeting to serve as moderator. My name is samuel savage. I am judge of the superior court of this province. So i hope i may be able rule with equanimity as i always tried to do. We have been meeting by continuation adjournment nearly every day since november 29th. Citizens of Good Standing and character may speak, but when called upon or. By the moderator. Speakers must address the matter at hand. We are not going to be talking whether the pigs shall be allowed to run at large. That is for town meeting. We have a time and place for that. So speakers must also refrain from personal on one another. That will not be tolerated. Deliberation requires us to hear many voices to arrive at a consensus. When a vote called for. I will ask for a second. And if i receive, i will call for a voice. Vote with all in favor of the motion i. All those opposed saying nay, please do be shy. We. I am told that we may upwards of 5000 people. And if the chair is in doubt. It requires a standing count and that could take all night. We do not wish to do that. So raise your voices and raise them loud when the time comes. Assured all voices will be heard tonight. You who have joined us from far away for tonights meeting. You will too will have an opportunity to speak at four special spots on the floor where the sound is the best due to some curiously rushed speaking devices. I have been told. Down here on the main floor, up in the corners of the gallery. You may wait there and the moderator will call upon you for your opportunity to speak. If you have a blue card or a yellow card that will determine how will take your posture in the address. Now onto the business at hand. We have met here it Old South Meeting House since november 29th. As said before to decide the fate of the tea. At those meetings we resolved four things. One that the duty imposed parliament upon tea landed in america is. A tax on americans without their consent. Secondly, that a virtuous and steady opposition to the ministerial plan of governing is absolutely necessary to preserve even the shadow of liberty and is a response ability which every freemen in america owes to himself, to his country, and to his posterity posterity. Thirdly, i think that the resolutions by the east India Company to send out their teas to america, subject to the payment of taxes being landed. Here is a vile attack upon the liberties of america. And lastly that it is the responsibility of, every american, to oppose this attempt. We have made every effort to peaceably prevent the landing of the tea and the paying of tax. Mr. Roach. Sir, master of the dartmouth, you are asked at our last session to go to and request permission your vessel, the dartmouth, to leave Boston Harbor without unloading its cargo of tea. Ten men, including mr. Samuel adams, accompanied you as witnesses. Could you please inform this meeting what has taken place since our last . Yes, mr. Savage. The collector of customs. Mr. Harrison conferred with his superior, whose opinion it was that mr. Harrison cannot grant my ship the dartmouth permission depart until taxes have been paid upon the tea. And that at our insistence, mr. Applied to the naval officer in charge providing safe passage in the harbor past castle, and he too said he could be of no assistance until mr. Obtained permission to leave from the custom house. I recognize that mr. Paul, sir, i move that mr. Roach protest against the Customs House and procure a pass of governor hutchinson and that he, on this day set sail with his vessel to london. Second on the motion, second on the bill. Go. No further discussion. I cannot. I it is impractical impulse liable. Indeed it is out of the question, sir. You promised to take your ship dartmouth out the harbor within 20 days of its arrival. Tomorrow is the 20th day. Will you give the order for your vessel to set sail this. I will not. I cannot advise you, sir. For london so motion on the floor. All those in favor of the motion to send. Try to make one last try at getting the gun. The ship out of the harbor safely say i owe those opposing. I believe the ayes have it one more time. All those in favor the motion say i owe those opposed. The ayes it. Mr. Roach. Mr. Roach, you are directed by this meeting to one last effort to obtain permission from. The governor. Sir, i will make one final attempt to gain permission from governor hutchinson and for safe passage. I depart immediately for the Governors State in milton. Thank you. See that . You do not mr. Roach, you will come back. A failure. I fear this may be our last hope to peacefully return to england. We will await mr. Roach. Safe passage from the meeting house. The chair recognizes mr. John hancock sir savage. We unanimously adopted resolution set forth in philadelphia regarding oppressive tea act. Every town in this province must establish a of inspection to ensure that the tea is not blended here. Mr. Speaker. The speaker chair recognizes mr. Isaac. Clerk. Thank you, sir. Michael winslow and i encourage the merchants to stand firm and pursue their right to sell this to the town. The tax is paltry and actually benefits commerce. Is that worth the bloodshed . The socalled sons of liberty seek to call upon us. No, no, no. I have the floor. My cousin imports good english tea in a legal manner. Unlike the smuggler of beacon hill. What he gives the. Im not just what he does on his gun. So down to your seats. We will have water in this hall. Jumped up. Nobody. Remember what we are about here today. While we await mr. Roachs return, are there others who wish to speak as the tea can is our part going now . Please get wait to be recognized, sir. The chair recognizes mr. Samuel scott by paul is here. Selectman. You have the floor. You, mr. Savage. The consignee these merchants given special to sell the tea are pawns of the governor and act under his immediate influence. It is not. Forget the tune of these seven merchants. Our hutchinson signed. His friends and in laws not here now the governor himself has set this devilish plan in motion to lay fault on the people of boston. Hear, hear. Here is. The leader of our colony here. Now, he was appointed by the crown. He then appointed his sons and friends as consignees. And will now. Well, they will now much be supported by others. Financial ruin and my dears, our community is small. We we do know these men and those they are living off legacies of their own fathers at the expense of our own neighbors, those who are not as fortunate, wellconnected. Is this right . Is this just. No. The chair recognizes mr. William molineux. Let us not be content to think these tea consignees are merely passive instruments of this ministerial plot. The governors rot and corruption is matched by the malice of schemers in our midst. There him not long ago, mr. Isaac clarke and. I spoke with one voice against taxation. Yet just last month he and his fellow conspirators refused to meet with me and the other sons of liberty to discuss these matters. A civil fashion. In that blunt refusal. Gentlemen, it is clear that these tory jackals are just as guilty of assaulting your liberties as parliament itself. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Wilson. Process mr. Wilfree fischer. Mr. You, sir. You as though you and your. Your fellow ruffians are the in this debate. Yes, sir. Mr. Clarke and the other tea merchants merely defending themselves and their families. The likes of you, sir. Heard this before. Was it not your followers that tried to break down the door of his warehouse . Was it not you that let them march to the house of the governor . I did not call you, sir, but rather a name more fitting. William. The main. William william williams, sir. William dont get me wrong. What do you want . Sit. Please. Please. Let us keep to the matter at hand. Let us not address each other in. Such vile terms. The chair recognizes dr. Joseph warren. Sir, you have the floor. Gentlemen the issue here tonight is so much greater than 0. 03 tax. I fear our country is in danger because the colonies are not represented parliament. These taxes are an infringement on our natural and constitutional right. And we must oppose. The torrent of oppression that parliament has unleashed upon us. We must defend our right to selfgovernment. I ask, gentlemen, depend the fortunes of america and. The chair recognizes simon scally once more. Well, what good would representative in parliament do us now, even if we were allowed to send 13 representatives to that unjust body . One for each colony. Or even two or three for each colony. What would it matter . We would easily be outvoted. Then we will have legitimized parliaments right to impose upon us whatever it wishes. There no representation in parliament. Its a straw man. I. We claim the right to raise our own taxes. And we will not surrender right to the corrupt politicians hands in parliament. Here is abraham. Here characterizes mr. Samuel adams. Sir. Governors have no to seek and take what they, please . Rather than being content with their assigned station, that of honorable servants of society. Instead they become absolute master despots and tyrant. Did we not draw high hopes for governor . Hutchinsons predecessor. And did he not allow in fact demand that british soldiers be quartered in our town . Leading to horrid, bloody massacre brought on by yourselves. And what of sir edmund andrews, who ruled, as our despotic governor in 1684. He took it upon himself to dissolve government and rule with an iron fist, forcing the people of massachusetts to rise up against him and demand the restoration of. Our charter rights as a private man made determined by right what wages he will give in private affairs. So a community to determine what it will give a bit substance in the administration of Public Affairs here. Here have sat down the chair recognizes mr. Archibald wilson sir. I suppose adams would prefer that we give up our english tea, and instead drink his insubordinate ideas. But have doubts. Perhaps his account. Me strong drink that would cause him to believe that the good, loyal british subjects amongst him us would believe this argument. Are you saying, sir, that i even feel the excesses of parliament far less. I fear the petty tyrants. This town who hired behind protected. Guards. That sounds like the floor. I strive to serve all my customers regardless of their political persuasion. The dissent is the lifeblood of the body politic. But when it interferes with my right to conduct my business, it defames the principles it purports, protect its citizens enough to line up with their purpose in which they employ. Are there others here who wish to have their voices . We welcome you to come forward and speak your mind. All voices be heard tonight. I will. Calling on the speakers who arise and line themselves up over in this corner. In this corner. In the corners of the balcony. Should you require assistance of townspeople who are familiar with the imaginations of town meeting . Well help. Please hand their card to them and they will assist. You remember may voice your support their positions by saying five or josie josie. This is draper pelham. I do you wish to address the assembly . Thank you, mr. Savage. Please. My name. My name is margaret draper. My richard is the editor of the massachusetts gazette and boston weekly. While we are the official publication person of the Royal Administration in massachusetts we do bring to our arguments from both sides of the aisle. As for my own personal beliefs because of course women are involved in the political discourse. Even if we are not allowed in the meetings. Well, for myself, i am a loyal english woman and i would be proud, fulfill my duty to the empire, paying a small on my. Dues. I do wonder how souls in this town would support the resolution of this meeting were they not threatened by the angry mob spurred by the sons of libertys more violent faction in the gentleman of this town may behave civilly in this hall, but outside there is a rabble of men and boys at their command who have been whispering some sort of attack on the ships for all the ways that they are their. Leaders speak to rights, to property and selfdetermination. These liberty boys will not hesitate to attack the house or destroy your reputation or physically assault their own towns men just to get what they want by having. The otis warren is with us tonight. You may speak, madam. My name is Mercy Otis Warren tories. Decry these socalled violence done by patriots. But what of the violence that has befallen patriots under the hands of tory . Hear, hear. Young christopher sider, shot by loyalist. The five men killed in the bloody massacre by the crown soldiers make. My own dear james otis jr, a brilliant legislator, a staunch defender of our natural rights with viciously beaten by crown officer and has never the same since. I stand with my family and others when i say that the tea act is the latest example of parliament denying us our rightful voice. And it must be repealed. Hey there. Well, i may not have the same public platform as my eloquent friends, mr. Hancock, m. A. Adams. I to find myself, inspired by this pivotal. I have written poems and pamphlets mocKing Parliament and our doctor whove shown that they care for the will of the people. I hope one day to write the story of how we defeated the tea act and defended our rights in the immortal words of my brother. Taxation without representation is tyranny. So here chair recognizes the speaker to right in the balcony. My name is benjamin nides. I point bostons leading whig newspaper, the boston gazette. When the stamp act was passed eight years ago in 1765. Replaced the sign of the king on the front page of my paper with the skull and crossbones to protest the tax. My paper speaks for the patriot cause every day i host good americans like samuel adams and james otis and their meetings in my print shop. That tax on my tea may be only three pences right now . But whats stopping the king from raising it to 0. 04 . £4 . £10 without without a representative in parliament . These taxes will continue to go up for. Speaker to my left on the floor. I am abigail adams. My husband. Maam. Miss adams has the floor. Hey. To often forget the struggles of women men. Men like dr. Warren and mr. Savage have talked about the great a great deal about english liberties and what their rights are in of parliament. But what are the english liberties to me. Only men get to participate in our politics. But women also live politics. We live it every day by spinning our clubhouse and by participate in boycotts on sugar cloth and tea. We have shown how much women can achieve and how one must we weigh until liberties and rights apply to all people like me . The fact. When will we, the ladies like . I have asked a multiple there. The speaker to my left in the balcony. My name is reverend william walter. Gentleman remember, we are all brothers. And a minister at trinity church. What i pray for is peace. The threats of violence in boston must end. No taxes important enough for men to lose their lives over. I pray that peace will come to this province, not war. Of terror. The speaker to my right on the floor. I am captain ebenezer macintosh. As captain of the liberty tree, i led the riot that destroyed governor hutchinsons house eight years ago. Im proud to that he had nothing to do with that. We have been talking to the King Parliament for almost ten years now, but they still to listen. We not pay the debts of the east India Company and we will not pay tax. We dont have a say in here. Yeah, well said. Its over. I say we threaten the tories with their light. Were down. We will have no dissolution of our meeting this way. The chair recognizes the speaker. My right in the balcony. My name. Please use caution in the words you say say. My name is edward compton. How . Im a rote maker, a laborer with no dreams of getting rich off tea. I disagree with this tea tax because i dont want to pay for the soldiers the king sent here during the french and indian war. We didnt ask them. We could have won the war without their help. They couldnt even. They couldnt even take on my fellow dockworkers at the brawls at grays roadblock before the horde massacred 1770. I say, king george, pay for those soldiers out of his own pocket. If he says he needs us to pay taxes, to pay tax hand over fist. I know another. Way of using my fist to pay him back. Now treason, sir. Watch your words. The charity goes with care. The speaker to my left in the balcony. Might aim is oliver wendell. I used be a tory, but now i side with the. I supported king george the parliament until their lost party ruining my business. The patriots are right. Parliament does not understand the life here. The colonies. We would do a better job ourselves. Here. Said recognizes the speaker. My left. My name is james. My sister mercy here tonight. I am a lawyer and im intimately familiar with the laws of england. I can tell gentlemen that as englishmen we have the right to have representation in parliament here in, the king and parliament have not changed. The stamp act was passed eight years ago. I led the protest against that dreadful tax and against right writs of assistance before that. And i think that one cannot be expected to pay a tax if they lack representation in the body created such tax. In the process. Chancellor, does the speaker my right on the floor. My name is james level. I am a teacher at the boston latin school. My father is the teacher there and he and i disagree over politics. I teach my students that they should stand up to unfair laws. This tea act is unfair. We did not get a vote on it. I think we should be able to tax so that the money can go directly to maintaining roads. School and life here in the colonies. Look here, here. Why not . Why not . What kind of example am i setting for my students . The leaders of this town, if i do not in life practice what i teach. Then, after all, is not world a campus and a teacher to desire to. Cherokee the speaker to my left on the floor floor. I am pompei fleet. I live and work in boston as printer under my enslaver mr. Fleet. I am standing here on the side of the tories because it is hard for me to take seriously the cause of liberty. Patriots keep repeating. Do you plan on freeing people like me . If you win this over the tax . Of course. I fear that you will never treat like me as equals when you cannot even treat your loyalist with dignity and respect. They do. I recognize the irony of my side with men like mr. Royal who owns the most enslaved people of anyone in massachusetts. But at least he shows his true face. Living in this town is becoming bearable. Peace is being disrupted. And our lives are now in danger. Because in this town feel entitled to. Everything they want. Dont claim to be enslaved to england. You dont own up to the slavery. You yourselves perpetrate. Mr. Savage. Its mr. He approaches. Hes been seen returning the governors escape. Thank, mr. Hughes. Gentlemen, am afraid we are running short on time. I could hear from one more person and. Then we will. Will need to move on to other portions of our meeting. I recognize the speaker to my right on the main floor. I am benjamin faneuil. One of the seven merchants chosen legally sell drugs. Sir, you may heard. We in this province lead a good life as subjects of england. King george, us. Well, i. We must my snigger. Speaker the floor a great loss of england and punish those who dont follow those laws. Why are you patriots causing so much trouble . You are criminals. You ransacked my. Well. You ransacked the lieutenant governors mansion. 1765. Whats you from doing . The same to the rest our homes. How long we live in fear for the safety of our families and property. This violence must stop. Then go. Chair recognizes the speaker to my left in the. Is there such. If there is not one. I recognized the speaker. Well, you better if youre going to speak. You better get up here. My name is jeremiah williams. Im a blacksmith making metal goods for the good people of boston. I do not mind paying taxes if it keeps our streets clean and helps keep order. Yet if we pay taxes to the king and parliament, the money goes straight to england and we dont see any of it. I think we should tax ourselves and the money supply support our local government here in the colonies . Yeah. Yeah. I make horseshoes, boston horses and nails for boston houses. If i must. I would make blades. Boston swords . Yeah. And done. But not sedition, sir. As i said before, please mind the words. Say. They are being recorded. The clerk. And they may be used against you at some future time. The chair recognizes the speaker. My right in the balcony. All right, all right right. This in store. Im friends with and do business. Both patriots and loyalists. Ill say that all this tax is no big deal. So we have to pay a small 0. 03 tax on t. Life could be a lot worse. If you asked me who gets to pick the ball. The principle of the bad order is big round or the king and parliament have already remove all other taxes. Why dont we show them our gratitude by paying small duty on t. Sir, you have one more. So our last speaker, sir, address those meetings. My name is john crane. You tories complain about violence and how violent we patriots are. Well, let me tell you violence. My father was drafted to fight in the french and indian war. But i went in his place. I was only 15 years old. I saw more bloodshed by the age of 16 than most of you will ever see in your lifetime. I detest violence now, but if violence is the only way to get the to sit up and take notice, then. Violence today. Gentlemen. Mr. Rochester will not returned in the event that the governor refuses his permission for darkness to set sail for england. Will this meeting abide our former resolution that the team shall be landed so moved . I have a motion from dr. Wah. Do i have a second on the motion . Seconded. Motion seconded by mr. Hancock. All those in favor of the motion not to allow the tea to be brought. Signify by, say. Oh, i all those opposing nay. Oh, youre a hard. All those in favor of the motion. Please signify by saying. I oh, all those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The result result it is a resolve by dr. Warren that the occurs ti shall never be brought ashore in the province, and to ensure this, every town must a member, a committee of inspection to prevent the tea coming into any town. The chair recognizes. Mr. Josiah quincy josiah quincy. Hes a very sick man and illness consuming his lungs. Im quite astounded hes here tonight. Oh, jack. Gentlemen, i urge caution at this perilous moment. The spirits within these walls cannot sustain us for the long term. The actions of this day will to events that will make a very different. Necessary for our salvation. Whoever supposes that, shouts alone will end the trials of the day entertains up childish, fancy hats. Popular resolves popular harangues, popular exclamations. Well, not vanquish our enemies. Let consider the issue from all angles. Let look to the. Let us weigh and consider before taking those actions, which lead to the most trying and to traffic struggle. Our country to the. Oh you his words. Personally perhaps i have less concern than any here among us with the crisis is coming. The seeds of dissolution thickly planted in my. And they must soon ripen. I feel how short is the day that is allotted to me . Frances. Pastor. Mr. Roach. So you have returned. We are glad for this. Youve come for requesting a pass from governor hutchinson to bring your ship back to england without unloading its cargo of tea. Please tell this meeting what has taken. Sir. His excellency. He told me that he was willing to anything in accordance with the law and his duties to the king. Five bucks that he would unable to grant any pass to any vessel that was not quite on the right side, that you shall not be liable. We shall not box across the floor please. But if it were a properly qualified, he would make no distinction between my ship and any vice. Obviously thats what my sophistry sophistry. Dr. Young, there a mob outside. Oh, a mob. Oh, there is mob outside. We know not what goes outside these walls. We have a meeting to to here. Dr. Young, you. You are recognizing, sir Francis Roach is a good man. He must suffer harm to his personal property. He has done everything in his power to satisfy us. Here. You, sir. Oh, mr. Roach. Under the present circumstances, will you order the dartmouth back to london with its cargo of tea . Sir, i apprehend that would be my ruin. If you will not order your vessel and cargo back to london. Will you attempt to land tea . I have no business it. But if properly instructed to do so, i would attempt comply with all the regulations very cordial orders with the laws. Its this meeting can do nothing more. Save the country. Let every man do what is right in his own life. Wasting your. Boston harbor will be a teapot tonight. Excellent revere. You mean going. This meeting is not dissolved. This is still in order. Mr. Adams. Thank you, mr. Moderator. I ask that dr. Thomas young be desired to address the meeting. Oh, yes, very, mr. Adams. The man. Time to alone. You. The floor. Thank you, george. Take your time, booker. Around. Thank you. I might have a few words, but always, sir, to say. This tea is really a slow and has a corrosive effect on those who handle it. I have given it up since it has become a political poison and find that i have since grown in fortitude and strength of constitution to nothing of value. Its use is improper and pernicious and leads to various disorders in silence. I trust you, fellow will also resolve to resist this. This boston distemper to fight your cravings for this wicked weed and for needless imported commodity is stopped by. We are a free and sensible people. Boston. We have gathered here tonight to redress of grievances, which is our right here. Here where this discord will end. I cannot. I make no probable conjecture. Will not anyway. But once the hand is at the plow, there must be no looking beady god will send you down. Give the man his time. Dr. Young has floor. God only knows why. Thank. Thank you. Mm. What measures will the king take in consequence of this refusal to bring the tea . Will we be punished . If so, how. By foreign troops in boston again . Never. I by knowing our colonial . No. By on. Of new taxes. By restraining trade. Oh, not a sacrifice. An individual wills. How . How . The question is whether our protest is. I say is absolutely and indispensable. So, yes, the resolute by friends. Be resolute. We must stand by each other in case any of us is called account for these proceedings. And may god us the virtue to resist all attempts to create commotion outside men heading towards griffith wharf with a darkness can be found. Just let the country move that the meeting be ended. Mr. Hicks, do you wish to frame that in the form of a proposed solutions at this meeting be ended . Mr. Speaker. I have a motion for dissolution. I have a second on the motion. Good i have a second on the motion for dissolution. All those in favor of dissolving this meeting tonight. Please say. Oh, i suppose they. Lets go ahead of the almighty. Oh, i was posted a the eyes have it came cascading except patience and caution have done everything in their power to preserve the tea without paying a tax on it or permitting it to be sold. We have endeavored in every way to send it back unharmed, to its owners and have been repeatedly and consistently obstructed by the tea consignees and their coatue. Therefore, this meeting is dissolved and. And so it has been decided. The mob head to the harbor and destroy the tea. Now tonights all voices were heard. Yours, yours and yours. But of course, our is will live on and inspire generations. But our story does end here. I trust that through imagination and our journey together, you transformed. You my friends are the next generation of revolutionaries. You are the bostonian to hold the torch of freedom in hearts. The next year will be 250th anniversary of tonights events. And my book, of course, we will amplify activism, revolution and change through joining together in community. We can find liberty in every human race. God has implanted a principle which we call love of freedom. It is impatient of oppression and pats for deliverance. The joy. Please join us in the expressing thanks to our observers. To our loyalists. To our patriots patriots. To ms. Phillis wheatley. To our moderator. And for this evening, mr. Samuel savage, western. To the crew and staff of revolutionary spaces. And finally, to you, the people boston and surrounding town for participate in this important event. We hope to see you next lets get to the main event. We