108 NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



the question of the supremacy of the colonial assemblies 

 in judging matters of internal taxation, while James Otis, 

 in arguing upon the writs of assistance, had assumed the 

 natural right of the colonists to independence from external 

 control. Other issues arose that provoked discussion at 

 the time, but, says one famous historian, "the promulga- 

 tion of none of these theories of abstract rights accounts 

 for the general outbreak in 1765. Its most potent influence 

 was the enforcement of the navigation acts in the great 

 commercial centres, and the ruin threatening New England 

 through the breaking up of trade with the French West 

 Indies and the Spanish Main by the modification of the 

 Sugar Act in 1764. f>1 



The interest in the measure was not confined to the 

 northern colonies. When the news of the passage of the 

 act reached America "the strongest apprehension arose 

 from the publications of the orders for the strict execution 

 of the Molasses Act, which is said to have caused a greater 

 alarm in the country than the taking of Fort William 

 Henry did in the year 1757. " 2 From the pen of John 

 Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, came a strong protest to this 

 and other acts. In his pamphlet Dickinson's object was 

 to show that, as all the profits from the monopoly that 

 would confine American trade to English islands went to 

 British merchants, it was the height of folly for those is- 

 lands to give up the trade. America had submitted quietly 

 to all extortion because the British trade connection was 

 valuable to them. 3 



When the time came for the Act to be enforced the cus- 

 tom house officers were called to their posts, other officers 

 were appointed, and the strictest orders were given that 

 they should pay close attention to their duty in enforcing 



1 Winsor, VI, pp. 24-25. 



2 Minot, II, p. 140. 



3 Works of John Dickinson, I, Political Writings. (Ford.) 



