First and Second Pages of the North Carolina Gazette—March 24, 1775

First and Second Pages of the North Carolina Gazette—March 24, 1775

An opinion piece addressed to King George from the anonymous Tribunus, criticizing the Crown's policies towards the Colonies. Mr. Cruger's speech, printed in the March 24, 1775 North Carolina Gazette, delivered on December 16, 1774 to the "Great Assembly on American Affairs," likely based out of London.

The March 24th edition of the North Carolina Gazette, North Carolina's principal newspaper between 1759 and 1778, includes, among other political and commercial articles, the entirety of a speech delivered by Mr. Cruger describing the rebels' grievances, and urging the British Crown recognize the legitimacy of their concerns. Cruger recognized the effect of the Stamp Act in generating revolutionary fervor, the importance of the American colonies to the strength and prosperity of the British Empire, and the importance of quelling revolutionary, anti-Crown activity. He urged the British Crown recognize American grievances "hurried not by a rebellious spirit, but by that generous spirit of Freedom." He concluded by criticizing the Crown's taxation policies, which worked to transform their previous "obedience and subjection" into "turbulence and opposition."

Sunaina Danziger

March 24, 1775.

America's Historical Newspapers

Physical newspaper, printed on paper.

English

Speech printed in a newspaper.

late-eighteenth-century