3 and 4. "The Two Quartering Acts."—The first of these acts had been passed in 1765, after the close of the war against the French in Canada, which resulted in the conquest of that country from France, greatly to the advantage of the northern colonies. It was intended to quarter troops on the colonies for their protection against the Indians and was in accordance with the views of the elder Pitt, who intimated that the colonies ought to bear a portion of the burthen of a war made for their benefit. By the terms of this act, the colonial authorities were required to furnish quarters, firewood, bedding, drink, soap, and candles to the troops sent into the colonies. It had been resisted or evaded and had been allowed to expire.
The second of these acts was a re-enactment of the first, in consequence of the disturbance at Boston.
5. "The Tea Act."—This act imposed a duty of three pence a pound on tea imported into the colonies, and allowed a drawback of the duty of a shilling a pound on the tea imported into England, when re-shipped to the colonies; the practical effect of which was to lower the duties paid by the colonists.
6. "The Act Suspending the New York Legislature."—This act was passed in consequence of the continued refusal of that legislature to comply with the terms of the quartering acts.
7 and 8. "The Acts For the Trials in Great Britain of Offences Committed in America."—These acts were passed in consequence of the resistance of all British authority at Boston.
9. "The Boston Port Bill."—This act was passed in consequence of the forcible destruction of tea in Boston Harbor.
10. "The Act For Regulating the Government of Massachusetts."—This Act was passed in consequence of the continuous disturbances by the people of that colony.
11. "The Quebec Act."—This act was for the government of Canada, and the other colonies had no right to complain, except so far as it extended to the country south of the lakes and west of those colonies.
It is well to keep these causes of complaint in mind, when considering the causes for the secession of the Southern States previous to the late war, and the course pursued towards those States.