For the next three years, Samuel Adams was on a crusade against peace-and-quiet, but during those years, it seemed to Adams (now 48 years old) that peace-and-quiet was winning. Across MA and New England, and perhaps in most of the Colonies, attention had drifted and the overall mood had lightened. Hutchinson relished in the belief that finally Adams and his crowd were left to “gnash their teeth in silence”, and many in London thought the disputes in the Colonies were over. It was so calm in Boston that Hutchinson accepted his appointment as the Royal Governor of Massachusetts without hesitation in early-March 1771, with Andrew Oliver his Lt. Governor. Adams, in a departure from tradition, made sure that the MA House did not officially congratulate either man. Boston’s ministers (Congregationalists, started by the Pilgrims in 1620) avoided endorsing Hutchinson, but they let him know that they had many expectations of him.
British warships were in Boston Harbor, Preston was in Britain, and Hutchinson, earning 2000 pounds/yr as MA Governor, believed the madness that had gripped Boston was in the past. Adams pursued the elected position of Registrar of Deeds, which paid 90 pounds/yr, but he was crushed in a landslide against a wealthy conservative incumbent, who publicized Adams’ long-standing debt problems. The registrar and his friends were not gracious winners, and both Samuel and John Adams felt gutted, and no doubt betrayed. John Adams was so upset that he bid farewell to politics in Boston, moving back to Braintree (roughly 12 miles south) to focus on his law practice and his small farm.
British warships were in Boston Harbor, Preston was in Britain, and Hutchinson, earning 2000 pounds/yr as MA Governor, believed the madness that had gripped Boston was in the past. Adams pursued the elected position of Registrar of Deeds, which paid 90 pounds/yr, but he was crushed in a landslide against a wealthy conservative incumbent, who publicized Adams’ long-standing debt problems. The registrar and his friends were not gracious winners, and both Samuel and John Adams felt gutted, and no doubt betrayed. John Adams was so upset that he bid farewell to politics in Boston, moving back to Braintree (roughly 12 miles south) to focus on his law practice and his small farm.
By April 1771, James Otis had recovered from the attack, but to everyone’s surprise he was now an avowed Tory (Loyalist). Adams first round of business in the MA House was to relocate from Cambridge (roughly 8 miles northwest, across the Charles River) back to Boston, but Hutchinson in effect told the chamber to “suck it up, Buttercup”. Otis, both from jealousy of Adams and his newfound conservatism, worked overtly and covertly to undermine Adams at every turn. On the MA House floor, Otis spoke out against Adams desire to move the chamber back to Boston, and shockwaves went through the large room. A little over a year after the Boston Massacre, Adams was bruised and battered by the acquittals of the redcoats, non-importation coming apart at the seams, and the reality that he was on his own “Ideological Island”, fighting the battle with very few in his corner. Adams’ secret weapon was that he truly didn’t care what others thought of him; he was determined to stay the course as a true patriot.
During June 1771, Adams traded Vindex for the pseudonym Candidus in the Gazette. Adams went back to a tried-and-true strategy, resurrecting old injustices, since there wasn’t a current injustice on which to rail against. Candidus was Adams’ longest run under one pseudonym, writing 18 editorials over 6 months. Adams tried to reawaken the desire in the masses to defend their liberties, to return to “Manly Opposition”. Adams wrote that the enemies of our liberties love it when people have been lulled to sleep, and Colonists must resist the spell and return to a state of vigilance. Adams kept referring to the Circular Letter, replayed the Stamp Act Crisis and the arrival of the British regulars, reviewed the Spring of 1768, and of course reminded all of the tragic event on 5 March 1770.
During June 1771, Adams traded Vindex for the pseudonym Candidus in the Gazette. Adams went back to a tried-and-true strategy, resurrecting old injustices, since there wasn’t a current injustice on which to rail against. Candidus was Adams’ longest run under one pseudonym, writing 18 editorials over 6 months. Adams tried to reawaken the desire in the masses to defend their liberties, to return to “Manly Opposition”. Adams wrote that the enemies of our liberties love it when people have been lulled to sleep, and Colonists must resist the spell and return to a state of vigilance. Adams kept referring to the Circular Letter, replayed the Stamp Act Crisis and the arrival of the British regulars, reviewed the Spring of 1768, and of course reminded all of the tragic event on 5 March 1770.
By the Summer of 1771, Boston was almost drowning in imported merchandise,
non-importation was basically dead-in-the-water. Adams kept going after Hutchinson, referring to him as a puppet of his masters, that the Royal Governor of Massachusetts was a “Royal Toadie”. Adams pointed out that the most desirable, powerful, and lucrative positions in the MA government went to Hutchinson’s relatives and minions. Adams stated that Ancient Rome was proof that Native Sons such as Hutchinson could become tyrants, and Adams insisted that smooth subtle tyranny was already in place in MA. Adams wrote that it would be beyond-wise for the Colonies to frequently communicate with each other once again in the face of this quiet, rising tyranny.
Hutchinson kept sending Adams’ diatribes to London (he knew Adams was Candidus), hoping to awaken the powers-that-be to the rhetoric of a radical. Hutchinson tried to get it through the collective brains in London that while the Adams-led faction was dying, it was dying hard. Hutchinson consoled himself that it was just Adams that was the remaining skunk in his garden party. Hutchinson told London that he believed that all of the Colonies would remain loyal (and quiet) if the hammer went down on the MA House and Adams.
During the early-1770s, the Colonial demand for British tea was off-the-charts, beyond what the British East India Tea Company (BEITC) and the British government had ever imagined. Almost all of the tea that entered the Colonies was illegal in the eyes of Britain, so it made sense to lower the duty on tea in order to lower the price of BEITC tea to reduce the demand of smuggled Dutch tea. Combined, Boston and Charlestown (a separate township; today it would be in the Greater Boston Area) consumed 340 chests of tea each day, and the MA countryside consumed more tea than did Boston.
Tea was consumed by all social classes, and Hutchinson calculated that MA consumed 2400 chests of tea a year, which was a staggering total. Hutchinson knew the “tea totals” since most of his huge salary as MA Governor was from duties on tea. By Hutchinson’s estimate, Britain lost over 75,000 pounds of revenue each year in the Colonies due to tea smugglers. As Colonists consumed huge amounts of tea, John Adams had withdrawn to Braintree, and Otis reverted to heavy drinking. Otis was eventually declared insane, forced to be under the care of an appointed guardian.
non-importation was basically dead-in-the-water. Adams kept going after Hutchinson, referring to him as a puppet of his masters, that the Royal Governor of Massachusetts was a “Royal Toadie”. Adams pointed out that the most desirable, powerful, and lucrative positions in the MA government went to Hutchinson’s relatives and minions. Adams stated that Ancient Rome was proof that Native Sons such as Hutchinson could become tyrants, and Adams insisted that smooth subtle tyranny was already in place in MA. Adams wrote that it would be beyond-wise for the Colonies to frequently communicate with each other once again in the face of this quiet, rising tyranny.
Hutchinson kept sending Adams’ diatribes to London (he knew Adams was Candidus), hoping to awaken the powers-that-be to the rhetoric of a radical. Hutchinson tried to get it through the collective brains in London that while the Adams-led faction was dying, it was dying hard. Hutchinson consoled himself that it was just Adams that was the remaining skunk in his garden party. Hutchinson told London that he believed that all of the Colonies would remain loyal (and quiet) if the hammer went down on the MA House and Adams.
During the early-1770s, the Colonial demand for British tea was off-the-charts, beyond what the British East India Tea Company (BEITC) and the British government had ever imagined. Almost all of the tea that entered the Colonies was illegal in the eyes of Britain, so it made sense to lower the duty on tea in order to lower the price of BEITC tea to reduce the demand of smuggled Dutch tea. Combined, Boston and Charlestown (a separate township; today it would be in the Greater Boston Area) consumed 340 chests of tea each day, and the MA countryside consumed more tea than did Boston.
Tea was consumed by all social classes, and Hutchinson calculated that MA consumed 2400 chests of tea a year, which was a staggering total. Hutchinson knew the “tea totals” since most of his huge salary as MA Governor was from duties on tea. By Hutchinson’s estimate, Britain lost over 75,000 pounds of revenue each year in the Colonies due to tea smugglers. As Colonists consumed huge amounts of tea, John Adams had withdrawn to Braintree, and Otis reverted to heavy drinking. Otis was eventually declared insane, forced to be under the care of an appointed guardian.
Behind the scenes, Hutchinson gained an informer in Reverend Thomas Church (37 years old), who had actually contributed editorials to the Journal of Occurrences. By the end of 1771, Hutchinson discovered that John Hancock had severed ties with Adams. Hutchinson did his best to exploit the rift between the two, reminding Hancock how politically and economically costly his alliance with Adams had been for him; Hutchinson dangled an available seat on the Council in order to envelope Hancock into his fold. Hutchinson actually boasted to others that he had succeeded in permanently separating Hancock from Adams. By June 1772, as far as Hutchinson was concerned, it was “Mission Accomplished” with Hancock, which left Adams as the only remaining pest in his increasingly idyllic landscape.
Hutchinson’s efforts at using Hancock as a wedge against Adams resulted in Hancock launching a campaign in 1772 to remove Adams from the MA House, as well as launching an official inquiry into Boston’s lotteries, something of which Adams (and others) had managed. This was the first time that Samuel Adams had been seriously challenged since 1765, and in 1772 it appeared that Hutchinson and his allies held the upper hand. Instead of being on the attack, Adams had to play defense in order to try and solidify his shrinking base of support. In the elections in the Spring of 1772, Adams lost one-third of his vote total from 1771, receiving the fewest votes of any MA House member; it seemed that Adams was on the descendancy.
Hancock refused a seat on the Council, but accepted a commission as captain of a ceremonial guard (that position, in his mind, convinced Hancock that he was the logical choice to be the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in June 1775). Ironically, Adams and Hancock still spent time together: for example, Hancock would give Adams a ride to the MA House in his stately carriage - but once in the MA House, they were political opposites.
To the MA House, the most immediate item on the agenda by the Summer of 1772 was to return to Boston, having been in Cambridge for nine months. Hancock, serving as Hutchinson’s tool, advised the MA House that they would be moved back to Boston if they officially stated that the main reason was inconvenience instead of a violation of their liberties; Hutchinson wanted the MA House back in Boston, but only on his terms. Hutchinson believed that once the MA House was back in Boston, he would be able to launch a “Charm Offensive” via dinner parties to win over a critical mass away from Adams. However, Adams outmaneuvered Hutchinson again, covertly winning back John Hancock.
Hutchinson’s efforts at using Hancock as a wedge against Adams resulted in Hancock launching a campaign in 1772 to remove Adams from the MA House, as well as launching an official inquiry into Boston’s lotteries, something of which Adams (and others) had managed. This was the first time that Samuel Adams had been seriously challenged since 1765, and in 1772 it appeared that Hutchinson and his allies held the upper hand. Instead of being on the attack, Adams had to play defense in order to try and solidify his shrinking base of support. In the elections in the Spring of 1772, Adams lost one-third of his vote total from 1771, receiving the fewest votes of any MA House member; it seemed that Adams was on the descendancy.
Hancock refused a seat on the Council, but accepted a commission as captain of a ceremonial guard (that position, in his mind, convinced Hancock that he was the logical choice to be the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in June 1775). Ironically, Adams and Hancock still spent time together: for example, Hancock would give Adams a ride to the MA House in his stately carriage - but once in the MA House, they were political opposites.
To the MA House, the most immediate item on the agenda by the Summer of 1772 was to return to Boston, having been in Cambridge for nine months. Hancock, serving as Hutchinson’s tool, advised the MA House that they would be moved back to Boston if they officially stated that the main reason was inconvenience instead of a violation of their liberties; Hutchinson wanted the MA House back in Boston, but only on his terms. Hutchinson believed that once the MA House was back in Boston, he would be able to launch a “Charm Offensive” via dinner parties to win over a critical mass away from Adams. However, Adams outmaneuvered Hutchinson again, covertly winning back John Hancock.
In August 1772, MA learned that the colony’s justices, like the MA Governor, would be paid directly from the Crown via revenue duties, which meant that the MA courts were under the control of Britain rather than the people of MA. To Adams, the MA Governor being a catspaw of Britain was one thing, but the MA judiciary was a very different beast. Adams had something specific in mind for his response, deciding on playing the long game. On 5 October 1772 in the Gazette, Adams tried to build enthusiasm for the creation of a committee that would list the rights of the Colonies and publish them, even abroad. Adams was attempting to create a MA coalition, and then a Colonial coalition, whereas Hutchinson wanted separate feuding Colonies to continue their feuding ways. However, at this point in time, there was at best lukewarm support for what Adams envisioned.
Despite the tepid support, Adams was able to create the Committees of Correspondence (C of C). The C of C sounded harmless, but it was a daring venture, in that it was a news service and an alarm system, originally designed to spread throughout MA and then New England. To some in Adams’ orbit, the C of C smacked of treason, and those such as Hancock begged off. Others worried that the new venture would not be accepted by the rank-and-file colonist, so, they figured, why even bother with the C of C. On 3 November 1772, 21 men met in Boston and created the (secret) C of C; little did anyone realize that Adams had just wired the continent for rebellion. The C of C would serve as the “engine” of revolution, as well as a propaganda machine and an intelligence-gathering service. The C of C would turn the 13 separate Colonies into 13 interacting Colonies, communicating and cooperating with each other.
Despite the tepid support, Adams was able to create the Committees of Correspondence (C of C). The C of C sounded harmless, but it was a daring venture, in that it was a news service and an alarm system, originally designed to spread throughout MA and then New England. To some in Adams’ orbit, the C of C smacked of treason, and those such as Hancock begged off. Others worried that the new venture would not be accepted by the rank-and-file colonist, so, they figured, why even bother with the C of C. On 3 November 1772, 21 men met in Boston and created the (secret) C of C; little did anyone realize that Adams had just wired the continent for rebellion. The C of C would serve as the “engine” of revolution, as well as a propaganda machine and an intelligence-gathering service. The C of C would turn the 13 separate Colonies into 13 interacting Colonies, communicating and cooperating with each other.
Otis was back, released from his guardian’s care, and Adams welcomed the unpredictable Otis back in the fold. While Adams was sowing the seeds of future revolution, Hutchinson saw the C of C as a foolish scheme that would never work. On 20 November 1772, the Boston C of C produced a 47 page draft outlining its mission, affirming natural rights, identifying violations of liberties, and including an appeal for outlying areas in MA to form their own C of C’s. Six hundred copies of the pamphlet were published and distributed in MA, but very few towns and areas in the colony created their own C of C.
Samuel Adams wanted John Adams to give the oration for the third anniversary of the Boston Massacre on 5 March 1773. John wasn’t just Samuel Adams’ first choice; Adams knew there was no wiser person to give the speech than the lawyer that defended the redcoats after the massacre. A stunned John Adams declined, citing health concerns, as well as his decision to stay out of Boston politics. John Adams was mostly afraid that he would be crucified in the public eye, since he was still viewed by many as a Tory. Despite the efforts of Samuel Adams, John Adams dug in and refused; John was one of the few in the orbit of Samuel Adams that could resist his entreaties.
During early-1773, several towns in MA had created their own Committees of Correspondence, and Samuel Adams was working with people in Rhode Island to create additional C of C’s. To Hutchinson, the C of C’s, which were laughable in the Fall of 1772, were now a “dangerous plot” by the Winter of 1773.
Samuel Adams wanted John Adams to give the oration for the third anniversary of the Boston Massacre on 5 March 1773. John wasn’t just Samuel Adams’ first choice; Adams knew there was no wiser person to give the speech than the lawyer that defended the redcoats after the massacre. A stunned John Adams declined, citing health concerns, as well as his decision to stay out of Boston politics. John Adams was mostly afraid that he would be crucified in the public eye, since he was still viewed by many as a Tory. Despite the efforts of Samuel Adams, John Adams dug in and refused; John was one of the few in the orbit of Samuel Adams that could resist his entreaties.
During early-1773, several towns in MA had created their own Committees of Correspondence, and Samuel Adams was working with people in Rhode Island to create additional C of C’s. To Hutchinson, the C of C’s, which were laughable in the Fall of 1772, were now a “dangerous plot” by the Winter of 1773.