James Otis speaks against writs of assistance (1761)

In February 1761, Boston attorney James Otis announced a five - hour speech on the use of aid order in Massachusetts (a general search warrant). This excerpt contains a summary of Otis's claim to aid order.

"Every day we die, we oppose all these forces of slavery, and all the forces and talents God has given me for these aids, in my opinion this is the worst tool.In British law The power seen in the book, the most devastating and fundamental principle of British freedom

The general situation of prayer in this petition is illegal. This is the power that all small officials have the freedom of all. I said that I acknowledge that I can provide a special assistance service to a specific oath to help me search for a special place. But I now deny that a warrant of prayer is accepted

First, the warrant is universal and is directed to "all and a single judge, sheriff, police officer and all other officials and subjects"; in other words, it is the king's rule It is directed at every subject of. Anyone possessing this warrant may be a tyrant; if the committee is legal, a legitimate tyrant can dominate, imprison and murder someone in every field.

In the following places this is permanent and will not return. People are not responsible for his actions. Everyone can dominate his small tyranny and spread fear and bleak emotions around him until the Archangel 's Archangle evokes various feelings in his soul. Third, during the day, people with this warrant can enter into all houses, shops etc. at will and instruct everyone to help him. Fourth, through this warrant, not only proxies but even their humble servants are allowed to rule us.

One of the most important parts of Britain 's freedom is one freedom. The man's house is his castle; he is quiet, he is protected like the prince of the castle. This warrant will completely eliminate this privilege if it should be declared legal. Customs officials can enter our house at any time; we are ordered to allow them to enter. Their humble servants may enter and they may break rock, bars, and everything they have; whether it breaks through malicious or revenge, there is no one, the court I can not ask. Suspicion without an oath is sufficient. "

On Tuesday, February 24, 1761, James Otis made a five-hour speech at the Old State House in Boston, where John Adams witnessed this. James Otis considers the outcome of aid to be unconstitutional. His lawsuit is based on the rights guaranteed by the UK common law. Read the text and short sentences of "Objects against Aid"

In 1761, James Otis handled the legitimacy of 'written notes with advice' on behalf of the Boston merchant so that their owner enters colonial houses and buildings without prior warning or justification I got the right. I will help the British search. He opposed the constitutionality of aid writing from the standpoint of a faithful British subject, but after all it was admired as a pioneer of exercise and eventually produced the American Revolution ten and a half later.

In 1761, Boston lawyer James Otis announced the most important speech for British aid association - it allowed unauthorized search of private property - Presentation speech by founder John Adams was " The child was born independently at that time. "Another pioneering event that brought about a revolution outside the townhouse on March 5, 1770 - Boston massacre (see page 6). After the independence of the United States, the townhouse became the Legislature who became a seat of the Massachusetts State Council until the new State Capitol was completed in Beacon Hill in 1798. Since 1830, it has served as a Boston City Hall for a while - Boston officially became a city in 1822 - and since it was in a devastated state, later set various businesses

Along with the death of King George II in October 1760, all aid obligations expired on April 25, 1761 and a new warrant must be obtained from the new king. A group of 53 Boston businessmen represented by James Otis challenged the hatred of aid warrants and the legitimacy of the king's search and seizure power. British customs official James Paxton filed a lawsuit, which was known as "Paxton incident". The case was tried on Tuesday, February 24, 1761. James Otis believes that British customs officials have aid letters.