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to the interest of his royal master； yet it makes it evident that it could never be intended； that if stamps were not to be had； it should put a stop to all justice； which is； ipse facto； a dissolution of society。
It is a strange kind of law which we hear advanced nowadays； that because one unpopular Act can't be carried into execution； that therefore there shall be an end of all law。 We are not the first people who have risen to prevent the execution of a law； the very people of England themselves rose in opposition to the famous Jew…bill； and got that immediately repealed。 And lawyers know that there are limits； beyond which； if parliaments go； their acts bind not。
The king is always presumed to be present in his courts； holding out the law to his subjects； and when he shuts his courts； he unkings himself in the most essential point。 Magna Charter and the other statutes are full； 〃that they will not defer； delay； nor deny any man justice〃； 〃that it shall not be commanded by the Great Seal； or in any other way； to disturb or delay common right。〃 The judges of England are 〃not to counsel； or assent to anything which may turn to the damage or disherison of the crown。〃 They are sworn not to deny to any man common right； by the king's letters； nor none other man's； nor for none other cause。 Is not the dissolution of society a disherison of the crown？ The 〃justices are commanded that they shall do even law and execution of right to all our subjects； rich and poor； without having regard to any person； without letting to do right for any letters or commandment which may come to them； or by any other cause。〃
ANECDOTES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF OTIS； ETC。 OTIS AND HIS FELLOW PATRIOTS。
Professor Hosmer draws the following pictures of Otis and his contemporaries：
〃The splendid Otis； whose leadership was at first unquestioned； was like the huge cannon on the man…of…war； in Victor Hugo's story； that had broken from its moorings in the storm； and become a terror to those whom it formerly defended。 He was indeed a great gun； from whom in the time of the Stamp Act had been sent the most powerful bolts against unconstitutional oppression。 With lashings parted； however； as the storm grew violent he plunged dangerously from side to side； almost sinking the ship； all the more an object to dread from the calibre that had once made him so serviceable。 It was a melancholy sight； and yet a great relief； when his friends saw him at last bound hand and foot； and carried into retirement。
〃Bowdoin； also； was not firm in health； and though most active and useful in the Council； had thus far done little elsewhere。 Hawley； far in the interior； was often absent from the centre in critical times； and somewhat unreliable through a strange moodiness。 Cushing was weak。 Hancock was hampered by foibles that some times quite canceled his merits。 Quincy was a brilliant youth； and； like a youth； sometimes fickle。 We have
seen him ready to temporize； when to falter was destruction； as at the time of the casting over of the tea； again in unwise fervor； he would counsel assassination as a proper expedient。 Warren； too； could rush into extremes of rashness and ferocity； wishing that he might wade to the knees in blood； and had just reached sober； self…reliant manhood when he was taken off。
〃John Adams showed only an intermittent zeal in the public cause until the preliminary work was done； and Benjamin Church； half…hearted and venal； early began the double…dealing which was to bring him to a traitor's end。 There was need in this group of a man of sufficient ascendency； thorough intellect and character； to win deference from allwise enough to see always the supreme end； to know what each instrument was fit for； and to bring all forces to bear in the right waya man of consummate adroitness； to sail in torpedo…sown waters without exciting an explosion； though conducting wires of local prejudice； class sensitiveness； and personal foible on every hand led straight down to magazines of wrath which might shatter the cause in a momenta man having resources of his own to such an extent that he could supplement from himself what was wanting in othersalways awake； though others might want to sleep； always at work though others might be tireda man devoted； without thought of personal gain or fame； simply and solely to the public cause。 Such a man there was； and his name was Samuel Adams。〃
OTIS AND ADAMS。
Professor Hosmer thus compares Otis and Adams：
〃Otis' power was so magnetic that a Boston town meeting； upon his mere entering； would break out into shouts and clapping； and if he spoke he produced effects which may be compared with the sway exercised by Chatham； whom as an orator he much resembled。 Long after disease had made him utterly untrustworthy； his spell remained。 He brought the American cause to the brink of ruin； because the people would follow him； though he was shattered。
〃Of this gift Samuel Adams possessed little。 He was always in speech； straightforward and sensible； and upon occasion could be impressive； but his endowment was not that of the mouth of gold。
〃While Otis was fitful； vacillating and morbid； Samuel Adams was persistent； undeviating； and sanity itself。 While Samuel Adams never abated by a hair his opposition to the British policy； James Otis； who at the outset had given the watch…word to the patriots； later； after Parliament had passed the Stamp Act； said：
〃'It is the duty of all humbly and silently to acquiesce in all the decisions of the supreme legislature。 Nine hundred and ninety…nine in a thousand will never entertain the thought but of submission to our sovereign； and to the authority of Parliament in all possible contingencies。'〃
OTIS AS AN AUTHOR。
In 1762； a pamphlet appeared； bearing the following title： 〃A Vindication of the Conduct of the House of Representatives； of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay： more particularly in the last session of the General Assembly。 By James Otis； Esq。； a Member of said House。
〃Let such； such only； tread this sacred floor； Who dare to love their country and be poor。 Or good though rich； humane and wise though great； Jove give but these； we've naught to fear from fate。
Boston； printed by Edes and Gill。〃
Instead of copious quotations from this patriotic work； we present the following judgment upon its merits by one best qualified to estimate its worth。 〃How many volumes；〃 says John Adams； 〃are concentrated in this little fugitive pamphlet； the production of a few hurried hours； amidst the continual solicitation of a crowd of clients； for his business at the bar at that time was very extensive； and of the first importance； and amidst the host of politicians； suggesting their plans and schemes！
〃Look over the Declarations of Rights and Wrongs issued by Congress in 1774。
〃Look into the Declaration of Independence in 1776。
〃Look into the writings of Dr。 Price and Dr。 Priestley。
〃Look into all the French constitutions of government； and to cap the climax； look into Mr。 Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense； Crisis； and Rights of Man；' what can you find that is not to be found in solid substance in this Vindication of the House of Representatives？〃
THE TOWN MEETING。
Another important feature in the unfolding of our free institutions； was the system of town meetings which began to be held as early as 1767。
〃The chief arena of James Otis' and Sam Adams' influence；〃 as Governor Hutchinson wrote to Lord Dartmouth； 〃was the town meeting； that Olympian race…course of the Yankee athlete。〃
Writing to Samuel Adams in 1790 John Adams； looking back to the effect of these events； says：
〃Your Boston town meetings and our Harvard College have set the universe in motion。〃
One held in October of 1767 was presided over by James Otis； and was called to resist new acts of British aggression on colonial rights。 On September 12； 1768； a town meeting was held； which was opened with a prayer by Dr。 Cooper。 Otis was chosen moderator。
The petition for calling the meeting requested； that inquiry should be made of his Excellency； for 〃the grounds and reasons of sundry declarations made by him； that three regiments might be daily expected；〃 etc。
A committee was appointed to wait upon the governor； urging him in the present critical state of affairs to issue precepts for a general assembly of the province； to take suitable measures for the preservation of their rights and privileges； and that he should be requested to favor the town with an immediate answer。
In October several ship…loads of troops arrive。
The storm thickens。
Another town meeting is called； and it is voted that the several ministers of the Gospel be requested to appoint the next Tuesday as a day of fasting and prayer。
The day arrives； and the place of meeting is crowded by committees from sixty…two towns。
They petition the governor to call a General Court。 Otis appeared in behalf of the people； under circumstances that strongly； attest his heroism。
Cannon were planted at the entrance of the building； and a body of troops were quartered in the representatives' chamber。
After the court was opened； Otis rose； and moved that they should adjourn to Faneuil