Good evening. Perhaps youve heard of me. Ive been a shoemaker most of my , but as an old man i am a paraded around in my colonial clothing is the last surviving participant in the boston tea party. How strange it is to think of what i have seen here in boston it, how i witnessed a nation torn of protest. I was no student of history or politics myself. Of ancation consisted understanding of reading and writing. I belonged to no associations but participated in no government. Our war for before independence, i became a staunch liberty boy. Continually reflecting upon the unwarrantable suffering inflicted on boston by the tyranny of great written, and my mind is excited by a desire to aid in chastising the king. Here here. Hall after this very the bloody massacre on king street in march of 1770 and again for the meetings of the body of the people in 1773 when we decided the fate. I came into this building a shoemaker. I left a true citizen. Tonight, i ask you to indulge my memory and join me in a voyage to 1773. Ime, 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 shifts of tea floating in the harbor. Stroll toill take a the harbor perhaps. Well said, sir. Thank you. I would like you to imagine what on december 16, 1773. You have all gathered at Old South Meeting House. It is the largest building in the town and with 5000 colonists , its the largest political meeting ever held in boston. Here for overed two weeks to try to decide what to do about the three shiploads of tea in boston harbor. Landed, we must a attacks upon it. Meeting determined that the team must not the landed for we will not pay that tax the royal authorities affirm that the tax must be paid in the team must be landed before midnight tonight. We are at a crisis. To return theorts tea to england without unloading it have failed. Tonight, we will make one last attempt to find a legal way to refuse this tea. Now, tonight, we meet as the body of the people, which means even the lower ranks, journeyman and tradesman like me, may participate in the debate. Even you all may lend your voice. And in in your programs, yes, you have a card. Take it out. If that card is blue, you will be arguing tonight as a loyalist. Huzzah a friend of parliament if, however, 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. Now 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 speaker, you should shout huzzah well done. Now lets warm it up. On my count, 1, 2, 3 huzzah now 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, shall we . On my mark, 1, 2, 3 huzzah ah, much better. You can also show your disapproval and disdain for the speaker by shouting why try that. 1, 2, 3 why well done. Just between you and me, i hear that the sons of liberty are in the hall tonight, and they may have a secret plan that they will put into action if it is needed. [laughs] you are asked to follow the instructions of your meeting moderator. He will alert you when the meeting is adjourned, and when our procession may begin. So, let us go back in time. There i am. [laughs] yes, a younger man. Oh, my. One marked by the qualities of economy, temperance, integrity, and industry. Yes, a younger man. And i see that my meeting moderator has arrived. So let us join the meeting. 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 South Meeting House since at 29 to decide the fate of the cargo ttea. 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. Huzzah secondly, that a virtuous and steady opposition to the ministerial plan of governing america is absolutely necessary to preserve even the shadow of liberty, and it is a duty in which every free man in america owes to his country, himself and his posterity. Here, here thirdly, the east India Company sends out there to use is a violent the attack upon the liberties of america. And fourthly, it is the duty of every american to oppose this attempt. We have made every effort to. Peaceably prevent the landing of the tea and the paying of the duty. Mr. Francis wrote. Roche. Good evening, sir. Good evening. You are asked earlier to get clearance to leave bostons harbor without unloading its cargo of tea. 10 men, including samuel adams, accompanied you as witnesses. Sir, can you tell the assembly what has taken place . Yes, mr. Savage. The commissioner of customs, mr. Richard harrison, he confirmed to his superior whose opinion it was that mr. Harrison could not grant the dartmouth a pass until the duties have been paid upon all the articles on board. Here, here. Then gentlemen, with our assistance, mr. Roach he too applied to the naval officer in charge of safe passage past the castle. He too said his hands were tied until mr. Roach gave him clearance. The chair recognizes mr. Paul revere. I move that mr. Roach protest against the Customs House and prepare a path for the governor that he on this day set sail with his vessel to london no, no i cannot. 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 . No, i cannot. Order we have order on the floor. All in favor of the motion to send mr. Roach, one more time, to governor hutchinson to get a pass to take his ship out of the harbor, please say aye aye motion carried. Mr. Roach, this body requests that you carry your protest to governor hutchinson and to ask for a pass to safely take your guns to the castle. I will make one final attempt. I leave for milton immediately. Oh, no. A sham. I fear this may be our last hope to peacefully return the tea to england. We will await captain roachs safe return to the meeting house. The chair recognizes mr. John hancock. Sir. We have adopted the resolutions set forth in philadelphia regarding this oppressive act. Every town in the province must appoint a committee of inspection, so this tea is never landed. Here, here the chair recognizes mr. Clark. Sir. My uncle winslow and i encourage the merchants to stand firm and pursue 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 mr. 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 cover of darkness like a thief in the night order order gentlemen, please, let us maintain civility. The chair recognizes mr. John copley. Sir. 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, mr. Richard clarke, and the other consignees were very much desirous to see peace restored 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 assure said committees that no tea would be sneaked off and be sold. But this body refused those concessions. And so with the consensus of the consignees, as they were not involved in introducing the tea to the town, they would not at all interfere with the people in the procedure of the same. The consignee mr. May, youre out of order. The consignee mr. May, you will wait until i recognize you, sir. We will have an orderly house tonight. Mr. May, you may now speak. The consignees desire to lay the blame upon the people of boston entirely. The consignees are under the direct and immediate influence of the governor as his pawns. Let us not forget order then who of the seven consignees are governor hutchinsons son . His friends and inlaws, mr. Copley. It is the governor himself who has devised this devilish plan. Ben. The consignees must be excused. All this talk, as though the consignees were the passive instruments of the kings well. It was not so long ago that i and mr. Clark stood with one voice against the kings taxes. Just last week, he proposed out refused outright an invitation for myself and other sons of liberty to discuss these matters in a civil fashion. By this blunt refusal did the consignees show themselves to be as guilty as parliament itself [pandemonium] order mr. Molineaux, you speak as if you and your ruffian compatriots are the gentleman in this debate . Here, here mr. Clark and the other consignees are only trying to protect themselves and their families from the likes of you, sir here, here well said, sir. By refusing to show their face, even in a Public Meeting such as this wit 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 . Here, here was it not you, mr. Molineaux, who not too long ago led a mob that ransacked the home of our governor . I believe i should not call you sir, but by your more fitting nickname. Knave. M the n order, order shall i, sir, name of a few of the other names that have been called by me . Gentlemen by god, we will have order in this house gentlemen, let us remember the issue at hand. Dr. Warren, sir. Thank you. Gentlemen, the issue here tonight is much greater than this tax. We must demand our right to representation, because these duties are an infringement of our natural and constitutional rights. We must defend our right to representation, on us stands the fortunes of america here, here order. The chair recognizes mr. May again. What good would representation do us if we were to send 13 representatives to 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 politicians of parliament. Here, here. The chair recognizes dr. Gardner. I am distressed that someone seeks to delude us about this wholesome and legal beverage. If there is a poison about it, it is that which flows from the lips who insight the mob. Here, here i it is a mere threepence tax worth the destruction of trade in this town . The chair recognizes mr. Samuel adams. Sir. Governors have no right to speak and take what they please. Instead of being content with the station assigned them, that of honorable servants of society, they instead become absolute masters desperate as a private man has a right to say what wages he will pay in his private affairs, so has the community to determine what it will give of its substance for the administration of public affairs. Here, here. The chair recognizes mr. Archibald wilson. You have the floor. Mr. Savage, i apprehend that the application of a modicum of decency and civility to this assembly will have no ill effect. As i suppose mr. Adams would have us drink his healthy new england rum or good english tea. [laughter] i fear any excesses of parliament far less than the petty tyrants and despots in this town who hide behind noble titles, king hancock, and wish to destroy all those who oppose them. I strive to serve my customers of all political persuasions. Here, here. Dissent is the lifeblood of the body politic, but when it interferes with my right to carry on my business, it defiles the very principles it purports to 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. Come, come now. We have had many who wish to speak thus far. Clearly, we have a few more. The chairman recognizes the young gentleman to my left on the main floor. Sir . My name is adam colson. I think parliaments taxes are ruining the lives of those of us who live in the colony. Here, here [pandemonium] i think it is mans right to be free and to live with a just ruler, not an unfair tyrant like king george order the chair recognizes the speaker to my right in the balcony. My name is jonathan. 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 end . Let us pay this small tax and be done with it. Here, here why i recognize my speaker to the right on the floor. I see ships come in and out of the harbor, and i see many of the towns merchants. If only seven men are allowed to sell tea, what happened to the other ones . Here, here the chair recognizes the speaker to my left and the balcony. I am a wig maker. You loyalists think that this issue is over threepence, but it is not. We are fighting over representation in parliament, a right of all english men. Here, here. Here, here. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left on the main floor. My name is john cochran. I sell wine, not tea. What is stopping parliament from taxing any item it chooses . We need representation here, here the chair recognizes my speaker to the right. I go for the peaceable route. Parliament has removed all other taxes. Why not just go for the two pence, drink our tea and enjoy it . [pandemonium] the chair recognizes the speaker to my right in the balcony. My name is nathaniel russell. I have friends that are both patriots and loyalists, but i am caught in the middle of his tax this tax issue. But since the patriots have begun a campaign that includes threats and violence, i can no longer remain neutral. [groaning] careful what you say, young sir. The loyalists claim the sons of liberty are not dishonest for not following the law. However, the law does not equal justice. We must do what is right here, here the chair recognizes the speaker to my right. My name is james brewer. I understand that you loyalists are upset by some of the violence of the patriots. If it takes violence to make the king listen to us, then i support the patriots in whatever method of protest they choose. Order chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the floor. Under the tea tax, british east India Companys tea is cheaper than smuggled dutch or french tea. I encourage my colonists to purchase british made goods. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left on the floor. 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. This chaos must stop. Let us return to our orderly lives. The chair recognizes the speaker to my right in the balcony. What will happen if we continue to divide parliament . It could close the harbor. Is this protest against the tea act really worth risking our freedom . The chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the floor. Sir. My name is isaac williams. 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. Here, here. The chair recognizes 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. Here, here why not leave well enough alone . Order the chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the balcony. I feel that 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. I too am a simple merchant. 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 being stubborn and refusing to send tea back to england, the tea merchants are causing even more problems in boston. Here, here the chair recognizes the speaker to my right. I am a baker, and i believe that we must follow the good laws passed by parliament. Laws protect us and keep the colony strong. Order the chair recognizes my speaker to my right in the balcony. My name is nicholas. I am very angry that i am not being allowed to sell tea. Our businesses are losing money. The kings laws are preventing us from providing for our families. Here, here. The chair recognizes the speaker to my left in the document. The balcony. I, too, am a simple merchant. I pride myself on providing quality goods for fair prices. Since the tea act, i cannot sell tea, and i feel like i am punished. For what . For the right to speak your mind. The chair recognizes this speaker to my left on the floor. I am a weaver of this town. I know that too much strain can woven cloth to unravel. We must not push too hard against king and parliament, or the cloth of our community may also unravel. The chair recognizes the speaker to my right on the balcony. My name is joseph nichols. 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. Well said the chair recognizes my speaker to my left in the balcony. My name is samuel. The loyalists say 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. They still havent listened, and they are not going to listen. The time to talk with them is over. The time for action is now. You all have the opportunity to speak. 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 yeah 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 like secondclass citizens. Until england gives us the respect we deserve, i will smuggle dutch tea into the colonies be careful about your public statements, young lady the speaker recognizes the person to my right in the balcony. Whoe are all englishmen must 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 help of the british soldiers to win it. Why must we pay our troops we never asked for . Why . I recognize the speaker to my left on the floor. Gentlemen this man has the floor. Sir, you may speak. As a schoolmaster, i understand that the loyalists are upset by the violence. I think that sometimes violence is the only way to make important changes. If it takes violence to make the king listen to us, then i support the patriots and what other methods they