Tea and economics = results!

Monday – May 23, 2011

Tea and economics = results!

On today’s date, in 1774, tea was dumped into the Chester River in Chestertown, Maryland.
The Chestertown Tea Party was a protest against British excise duties which, according to local legend, took place on May 23, 1774 in Chestertown, Maryland as a response to the British Tea Act. Chestertown tradition holds that, following the example of the more famous Boston Tea Party, colonial patriots boarded the brigantine Geddes in broad daylight and threw its cargo of tea into the Chester River.

In 1767, in an effort to raise money for England by taxing the thirteen colonies, Parliament passed the Townshend Act. The Townshend Act placed taxes on several important items in the Colonial economy including paper, paint, lead, glass and tea. Reaction to the Townshend Act in the thirteen colonies was so negative that on March 5, 1770, Parliament decided to repeal most of the duties; however, they decided that the tax on tea would remain.

As a result, many colonists refused to buy tea that came to America from England. Instead they smuggled in tea from other countries or made their own tea from local spices. Soon merchants in England began to lose money, especially the East India Company. In order to keep this company from going bankrupt, Parliament passed the Tea Act of 1773. For reasons of economics and social liberty, the colonists were outraged and the seeds of dissent began to grow.

When news of the closing of the port of Boston reached the Chesapeake Bay port of Chester Town, (now Chestertown) on the Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the spring of 1774, town leaders called a meeting to discuss what actions should be taken. The local chapter of the “Sons of Liberty” boldly put forth a list of grievances, which became known as the “Chestertown Resolves”. These stated that it was unlawful to buy, sell, or drink tea shipped from England.
The “Resolves” are a matter of historic record, reported in the Maryland Gazette, shortly after these resolves were printed, word came to the citizens that a ship in the local harbor, the brigantine Geddes, had come to port with a shipment of tea.

As the story is told, on May 23, 1774, a small group of men (unlike their brethren in New England, in broad daylight and without Indian disguise) forcibly boarded the ship and threw its cargo into the Chester River.

The action that took place 237 years ago was the result of actions by Parliament. The actions of Parliament would have had a dramatic impact on the local economy of the colonies. There is no difference from what our government does to us today with our tax policy and the needless burden that government imposes on us because of the cost of the Federal Bureaucracy and the impact of entitlements and federal programs. King George had to pay for the costs of his Parliament and the cost of his decisions.

Our President is on a grand tour of Great Britain this week. 237 years ago Great Britain was turning into a foe to the original 13 colonies. Great Britain was on the road to war and did not know then how the original thirteen colonies would eventually win their independence.
The fight for Independence was a result of bad policy and a King that could not see the forest through the trees. Great Britain is now an ally and friend to the U.S. and not just to the President. The Office of President is what is respected and the pomp and ceremony that will accompany his visit is the tradition that Great Britain can so aptly put on display.

Our President is, once again, in a foreign visitation mode. Last week he was lectured in the Oval office by an ally, this week he will visit the Queen. I do not think the Queen will lecture him, but she will expect the formality that comes with being Queen. Long live the Queen!

Presidential elections are all about results. The field of Republicans is deep and will provide what I hope will be a tough campaign for the Democrats. I hope the Republicans will run a truthful campaign so that the American people will be able to judge for themselves the affects of the Obama results versus the promise of what I hope will be a Republican year in 2012.

Like the “Chestertown Resolves” of 1774, it is once again up to a group of patriots to clearly define the differences and clearly define who will be the best leader. The President is beatable, it will take a determined candidate who is not afraid to speak up and make it a resolve to win. After all this is why we pick a candidate!

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: We will begin the countdown to the Presidential election very soon. We will have a front runner. The cost of Tea in 1774 is no different from the price of a gallon of gas or a gallon of milk. The price of these items reflects a strong or a weak economy. The results of the economy will equal who will get the vote!