Writs of Assistance - early 1760's
Writs of assistance were court orders that authorized customs officers to conduct general searches of premises for illegally obtained products. (Malone, 1954) The exact nature of the materials being sought did not have to be detailed, nor did their locations.
The writs were first introduced in Massachusetts in 1751 to strictly enforce the Acts of Trade, the governing rules for commerce in the British Empire. Merchants in much of New England were skillful at evading the system and many had become masters of smuggling.
The new court orders enabled Royal officials to inspect not only shops and warehouses, but also private homes in an effort to catch violators of the customs laws. It quickly became clear to many colonists that their homes were no longer their castles.
In 1761, James Otis represented Boston merchants in their challenge to the renewal of the writs. He failed to convince the court, but gained public prominence in arguing that the writs violated the colonists’ natural rights. (U-S-History.com, 2012)
Picture: http://www.goodbooksinthewoods.com/pages/books/48397/james-otiss-speech-against-the-writs-of-assistance-1761-virginia-stamp-act-resolution-1785
The writs were first introduced in Massachusetts in 1751 to strictly enforce the Acts of Trade, the governing rules for commerce in the British Empire. Merchants in much of New England were skillful at evading the system and many had become masters of smuggling.
The new court orders enabled Royal officials to inspect not only shops and warehouses, but also private homes in an effort to catch violators of the customs laws. It quickly became clear to many colonists that their homes were no longer their castles.
In 1761, James Otis represented Boston merchants in their challenge to the renewal of the writs. He failed to convince the court, but gained public prominence in arguing that the writs violated the colonists’ natural rights. (U-S-History.com, 2012)
Picture: http://www.goodbooksinthewoods.com/pages/books/48397/james-otiss-speech-against-the-writs-of-assistance-1761-virginia-stamp-act-resolution-1785