james otis the pre-revolutionist-第28节
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rried Benjamin； the eldest son of the distinguished General Lincoln。
28。 In 1761； when he was thirty…six years of age his great political career began； by his determined opposition to the 〃Writs of Assistance。〃
29。 He said with an eloquence that thrilled every heart； 〃A man's house is his castle； and while he is quiet； he is as well guarded as a prince in his castle。 This Writ； if it should be declared legal； would totally annihilate this privilege。〃
30。 〃I am determined to sacrifice estate； ease； health； applause and even life； to the sacred calls of my country in opposition to a kind of power； the exercise of which cost one king his head and another his throne。〃
31。 In 1762 he published a pamphlet entitled； 〃The Rights of the Colonies Vindicated；〃 which attracted great attention in England for its finished diction and masterly arguments。
32。 In this production he firmly took the unassailable position； that in all questions relating to the expenditure of public money； the rights of a Colonial Legislature were as sacred as the rights of the House of Commons。
33。 Some of the Parliamentary leaders in England spoke of the work with contempt。 Lord Mansfield； the great English legal luminary； who had carefully read it； rebuked them for their attitude towards it。
34。 But they rejoined； as quoted by Bancroft； 〃The man is mad！〃 〃What then？〃 answered Mansfield。 〃One mad man often makes many。 Massaniello was madnobody doubted ityet for all that he overturned the government of Naples。〃
35。 In June； 1765； Mr。 Otis proposed the calling of a congress of delegates from all the colonies to consider the Stamp Act。
36。 In that famous Congress which met in October； 1765； in New York； he was one of the delegates； and was appointed on the committee to prepare an address to the Commons of England。
37。 In 1767 he was elected Speaker of the Massachusetts Assembly。 Governor Bernard took a decidedly negative position against the fiery orator； whom he feared as much as he did the intrepid Sam Adams。
38。 But Bernard could not put a padlock upon the lips of Otis。 When the king； who was greatly offended at the Circular Letter to the colonies； which requested them to unite in measures for redress demanded of Bernard to dismiss the Assembly unless it should rescind its action； Otis made a flaming speech。
39。 His adversaries said； 〃It was the most violent； abusive and treasonable declaration that perhaps was ever uttered。〃
40。 In the debate which ensued upon this royal order； Otis said： 〃We are asked to rescind； are we？ Let Great Britain rescind her measures； or the colonies are lost to her forever。〃
41。 Otis carried the House triumphantly with him； and it refused to rescind by a vote of ninety…two to seventeen。
42。 In the summer of 1769 he attacked some of the revenue officers in an article in 〃The Boston Gazette。〃 A few evenings afterwards； while sitting in the British coffee…house in Boston； he was savagely assaulted by a man named Robinson； who struck him on the head with a heavy cane or sword。
43。 The severe wound which was produced so greatly aggravated the mental disease which had before been somewhat apparent； that his reason rapidly forsook him。
44。 Otis obtained a judgment of L2；000 against Robinson for the attack； but when the penitent officer made a written apology for his irreparable offense； the sufferer refused to take a penny。
45。 In 1771 he was elected to the legislature； and sometimes afterward appeared in court and in the town meeting； but found himself unable to take part in public business。
46。 In June； 1775； while living in a state of harmless insanity with his sister； Mercy Warren； at Watertown； Mass。； he heard； according to Appleton's 〃Cyclopedia of American Biography；〃 the rumor of battle。 On the 17th he slipped away unobserved； 〃borrowed a musket from some farmhouse by the roadside； and joined the minute men who were marching to the aid of the troops on Bunker Hill。〃
47。 〃He took an active part in that battle； and after it was over made his way home again after midnight。〃
48。 The last years of his life were spent at the residence of Mr。 Osgood in Andover。 For a brief season it seemed as though his reason was restored。 He even undertook a case in the Court of Common Pleas in Boston； but found himself unequal to the exertion demanded of him。
49。 He had been persuaded to dine with Governor Hancock and some other friends。 〃But the presence of his former friends and the revived memories of previous events； gave a great shock to his broken mind。〃 He was persuaded to go back at once to the residence of Mr。 Osgood。
50。 After his mind had become unsettled he said to Mrs。 Warren； 〃My dear sister； I hope； when God Almighty in his righteous providence shall take me out of time into eternity； that it will be by a flash of lightning；〃 and this wish he often repeated。
51。 Six weeks exactly after his return； on May 23； 1783； while standing in the side doorway during a thunder…shower； with his cane in his hand； and telling the assembled family a story； he was struck by lightning and instantly killed。 Not one of the seven or eight persons in the room was injured。 〃No mark of any kind could be found on Otis； nor was there the slightest change or convulsion on his features。〃
52。 His remains were brought to Boston and interred in the Granary Burying Ground with every mark of respect； a great number of the citizens attending his funeral。
53。 James Otis sowed the seeds of liberty in this new world without living to see the harvest； and probably without ever dreaming what magnificent crops would be produced。
54。 When the usurpations of un…English parliamentarians and their allies at home； became as burdensome； as they were unjust he defended his countrymen； in whose veins flowed the best of English blood； with an eloquence whose ultimate influence transcended his own sublime aspirations。
55。 He taught； in the ominous words； which King James's first House of Commons addressed to the House of Lords； immediately after the monarch had been lecturing them on his own prerogative； that 〃There may be a People without a king；； but there can be no king without a people。〃
56。 〃Fortunately for civil liberty in England and America； in all countries and in all times；〃 as Edward Everett Hale says； 〃none of the Stuarts ever learned in time what this ominous sentence meansot James I； the most foolish of them； nor Charles I； the most false； nor Charles II； the most worthless； nor James II； the most obstinate。〃
57。 It could be said of Otis as Coleridge said of O'Connell； 〃See how triumphant in debate and action he is。 And why？ Because he asserts a broad principle； acts up to it； rests his body upon it； and has faith in it。〃
PROGRAMME FOR A JAMES OTIS EVENING。
1。 Music 2。 Vocal Music〃Remember the Maine。〃 3。 Essay 〃The True Relation of England as a Nation to the Colonies。〃 4。 Vocal or Instrumental Music。 5。 Essay〃Writs of Assistance； and Otis' Relation to Them。〃 6。 Music。 7。 A Stereopticon Lecture； illustrating the Famous Buildings and noted features of BostonThe Old North Church； The Old South； Copp's Hill； Bunker Hill； North Square； House of Paul Revere； Site of the Old Dragon Inn； The Old State House； Faneuil Hall； etc。 8。 Singing 〃America。〃
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW。
Where is the Granary Burying Ground？ Why so named？ What distinguishes it？ Can you give the names of some eminent persons buried there？ In what tomb was James Otis interred？ What interesting particular was noted when his body was disinterred？
What names are given to the pre…revolutionists； the revolutionists； and the post…revolutionists？
Who is assigned the first place among the protagonists of freedom？ Who the second？ What is the remarkable thing about the lives of many great men？ Will you expand the thought？
When and where was James Otis born？ What offices did he fill？ When was James Otis； Jr。 born？ What did he inherit from his father and grandfather？ What were transmitted to other members of the family？ Give the name of one of these members and her peculiar gifts。 What was the name of one of the brothers； and what is said of him？
By whom was James Otis prepared for College？ When did he enter College？ What is the tradition concerning him？ What is said of his College course？ What of his excitable temperament？ What anecdote is recorded of him？ When； and under what distinguished lawyer did he begin his legal studies？ What is said of his preceptor？
When and where did he begin to practice law？ What are some of the incidents of his early legal career？ What is said of the defense by Otis of citizens in connection with the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot？ What is the history of the Gunpowder Plot？ When was the first period of his Boston practice？ What is said of the non…preservation of the legal pleas and addresses of James Otis？ What does tradition say of him as an orator？
When and whom did Otis marry？ What is said of the Cunnningham family？ What is said of Mrs。 Otis？ Who comprised the family of Mr。 and Mrs。 Otis？ What is said of the marriage of the elder daughter？ What of the younger daughter？
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