Justin Hitchcock's Remarks and Observations

71

show itself and the Government complainee of
as the cause tho it was evident they did all they
could to ease the people of their burdens but
they had not the power to do it. They made a
tender act and many a debt which ought to
have been paid in Money was paid at the [ ]
of an execution in pine boards bulls and slags a
they were prised off to the creditor

1785 I was for the first time called to
serve on the Jury of tryals at Northamton the court
sat in Febbrary this year

discourgging Congress / Our public affairs were
comestly recomended to
all the States to [ tag? ] a duty of five pr cent
on imported goods. Some of the States complied
espeically Massachusetts but New York laid
no duty And Congress had no power to en
=force their recomendations. The event proved that
that it turned all the trade to New York. As they
could go their free from duty. Massachusetts
was obliged to repeal their law in self defence
in order to obtain their share of the trade
Govenment being so defective of power to raise
any reverse the whole ballance of trade was
against us And in favour of other Nations who
required us to pay a duty upon the goods we
bought of them Their was much complaining and
uneeasness And proposals for County Conventions
and other popular meetings to advis what
was best to be done Those however did no good
but served to inflame the public mind
A spiret of revolt often discouvered itself
and Sheriffs and Constables were sometimes