Restriction of Paper Money （1763）.-Among the many complaints filed before the board of trade were vigorous protests against the issuance of paper money by the colonial legislatures.The new ministry provided a remedy in the act of 1763,which declared void all colonial laws authorizing paper money or extending the life of outstanding bills.This law was aimed at the "cheap money"which the Americans were fond of making when specie was scarce-money which they tried to force on their English creditors in return for goods and in payment of the interest and principal of debts.Thus the first chapter was writ-ten in the long battle over sound money on this continent.
Limitation on Western Land Sales.-Later in the same year （1763）George III issued a royal proclamation providing,among other things,for the govern-ment of the territory recently acquired by the treaty of Paris from the French.One of the provisions in this royal decree touched frontiersmen to the quick.The contests between the king's officers and the colonists over the disposition of western lands had been long and sharp.The Americans chafed at restric-tions on settlement.The more adventurous were continually moving west and "squatting"on land purchased from the Indians or simply seized without au-thority.To put an end to this,the king forbade all further purchases from the Indians,reserving to the crown the right to acquire such lands and dispose of them for settlement.A second provision in the same proclamation vested the power of licensing trade with the Indians,including the lucrative fur business,in the hands of royal officers in the colonies.These two limitations on American freedom and enterprise were declared to be in the interest of the crown and for the preservation of the rights of the Indians against fraud and abuses.
The Sugar Act of 1764.-King George's ministers next turned their atten-tion to measures of taxation and trade.Since the heavy debt under which Eng-land was laboring had been largely incurred in the defense of America,nothing seemed more reasonable to them than the proposition that the colonies should help to bear the burden which fell so heavily upon the English taxpayer.The Sugar Act of 1764was the result of this reasoning.There was no doubt about thepurpose of this law,for it was set forth clearly in the title:"An act for granting certain duties in the British colonies and plantations in America ...for applying the produce of such duties ...towards defraying the expenses of defending,pro-tecting and securing the said colonies and plantations ...and for more effectu-ally preventing the clandestine conveyance of goods to and from the said colo-nies and plantations and improving and securing the trade between the same and Great Britain."The old Molasses Act had been prohibitive;the Sugar Act of 1764was clearly intended as a revenue measure.Specified duties were laid upon sugar,indigo,calico,silks,and many other commodities imported into the colonies.The enforcement of the Molasses Act had been utterly neglected;but this Sugar Act had "teeth in it."Special precautions as to bonds,security,and registration of ship masters,accompanied by heavy penalties,promised a vigorous execution of the new revenue law.
The strict terms of the Sugar Act were strengthened by administrative measures.Under a law of the previous year the commanders of armed vessels stationed along the American coast were authorized to stop,search,and,on suspicion,seize merchant ships approaching colonial ports.By supplementary orders,the entire British official force in America was instructed to be diligent in the execution of all trade and navigation laws.Revenue collectors,officers of the army and navy,and royal governors were curtly ordered to the front to do their full duty in the matter of law enforcement.The ordinary motives for the discharge of official obligations were sharpened by an appeal to avarice,for naval officers who seized offenders against the law were rewarded by large prizes out of the forfeitures and penalties.
The Stamp Act （1765）.-The Grenville-Townshend combination moved steadily towards its goal.While the Sugar Act was under consideration in Par-liament,Grenville announced aplan for a stamp bill.The next year it went through both Houses with a speed that must have as-tounded its authors.The vote in the Commons stood 205in favor to 49against;while in the Lords it was not even necessary to go through the formality of a count.As George III was temporarily in-sane,the measure received royalassent by a commission acting as a board of regency.ProtestsStamp Act Warning Posted on Doors of Every Public Office and on Corners of Streets in New York Cityof colonial agents in London were futile."We might as well have hindered the sun's progress!"exclaimed Franklin.Protests of a few opponents in the Com-mons were equally vain.The ministry was firm in its course and from all ap-pearances the Stamp Act hardly roused as much as a languid interest in the city of London.In fact,it is recorded that the fateful measure attracted less notice than a bill providing for a commission to act for the king when he was incapaci-tated.
Stamp Act Stamps
The Stamp Act,like the Sugar Act,declared the purpose of the British government to raise revenue in America "towards defraying the expenses of defending,protecting,and securing the British colonies and plantations in America."It was a long measure of more than fifty sections,carefully planned and skillfullydrawn.By its provisions duties were imposed on practically all papers used in legal transactions,-deeds,mortgages,inventories,writs,bail bonds,-on licenses to practice law and sell liquor,on college diplomas,playing cards,dice,pamphlets,newspapers,almanacs,calendars,and advertisements.The drag net was closely knit,for scarcely anything escaped.
