Papers of John Adams, volume 1

Address to Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson Seeking a Recess, 15 June 1770 JA Cushing, Thomas Hawley, Joseph Adams, Samuel Sheaffe, Edward Massachusetts House of Representatives Hutchinson, Thomas Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony Address to Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson Seeking a Recess, 15 June 1770 Adams, John Cushing, Thomas Hawley, Joseph Adams, Samuel Sheaffe, Edward Massachusetts House of Representatives Hutchinson, Thomas Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony
Address to Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson Seeking a Recess

15 June 1770. MS not found. Printed: Mass., House Jour. , 1770–1771, p. 38. Prepared by a committee appointed and reporting the same day, composed of Thomas Cushing, Joseph Hawley, Samuel Adams, Edward Sheaffe, and JA.

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On 13 June the Representatives heard the Council's address to Hutchinson which reiterated the determination of the House to conduct no business in Cambridge (same, p. 32–36). Hutchinson's reply to the Council reaffirmed his position and was presented to the House on 15 June. The committee described above was then named to prepare a message to the Lieutenant Governor restating the lower chamber's decision “not to enter upon Business out of the Town of Boston” and adding the prayer that if Hutchinson was “determined not to remove the Assembly there, he would be pleased to give Leave to the Members to retire to their respective Homes” (same, p. 37). Upon the adoption of the report, JA was named to the committee which delivered the message to Hutchinson. It was not until 25 June, however, that Hutchinson recessed the intransigent legislators (same, p. 38, 47).

Printed (Mass., House Jour. , 1770–1771, p. 38).

Reply to a Speech of Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson, 31 July 1770 JA Cushing, Thomas Hancock, John Leonard, Daniel Adams, Samuel Denny, Thomas Gallison, John Massachusetts House of Representatives Hutchinson, Thomas Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony Reply to a Speech of Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson, 31 July 1770 Adams, John Cushing, Thomas Hancock, John Leonard, Daniel Adams, Samuel Denny, Thomas Gallison, John Massachusetts House of Representatives Hutchinson, Thomas Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony
Reply to a Speech of Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson

31 July 1770. MS, fair copy, in the hand of Samuel Adams (MB). Printed: Mass., House Jour. , 1770–1771, p. 63–71. Prepared by a committee appointed 26 July, composed of Thomas Cushing, John Hancock, Daniel Leonard, Samuel Adams, JA, Thomas Denny, and John Gallison (same, p. 62).

The second session of the General Court began 25 July with a speech from Hutchinson to both houses. He pressed his arguments for maintaining the legislature in Cambridge and urged House and Council to reconsider their decision not to proceed to business until back in Boston (same, p. 58–61). The following day the House voted to adhere to the resolution of 6 June (see calendar entry for 7 June, above) and to refuse to conduct business in Cambridge. The committee described above was named to draft an answer to Hutchinson's speech and to notify him of the representatives' decision to stand by their earlier policy. Before acceptance, the report was recommitted, and when resubmitted it was debated paragraph by paragraph (Mass., House Jour. , p. 62–63). On 3 August, despairing of any cooperation from the General Court, Hutchinson prorogued the legislature to 5 September (same, p. 78).

MS , fair copy, in the hand of Samuel Adams (MB). Printed (Mass., House Jour. , 1770–1771, p. 63–71).

Committee Report on Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson’s Speech, 28 September 1770 JA Cushing, Thomas Adams, Samuel Foster, Jedediah Denny, Thomas Hancock, John Godfrey, George Warren, James Hobson, Humphrey Massachusetts House of Representatives Committee Report on Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson’s Speech, 28 September 1770 Adams, John Cushing, Thomas Adams, Samuel Foster, Jedediah Denny, Thomas Hancock, John Godfrey, George Warren, James Hobson, Humphrey Massachusetts House of Representatives
Committee Report on Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson's Speech

28 September 1770. MS not found. Prepared by a committee appointed 27 September, composed of Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, Jedediah Foster, Thomas Denny, JA, John Hancock, George Godfrey, James Warren, and Humphrey Hobson Mass., House Jour. , 1770–1771, p. 82.

The third session of the 1770–1771 General Court, continued by prorogations, met in Cambridge on 26 September. The following day Hutchinson delivered a speech to the Council and House meeting jointly in which he catalogued matters requiring the legislature's attention and urged proceeding “with all Diligence” (same, p. 80–82). On 28 September, Cushing “reported as their unanimous Opinion, That it is for the Interest of the Province, that this House still adhere to their former Resolution, viz. That it is by no Means expedient to proceed to the public Business” (same, p. 82). For House action on the report, see calendar entries for 4 and 6 5 October, below.

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