glass” (Dickinson, John. Letters from a farmer II). The solution to this problem by Dickinson was “… we may ourselves manufacture the articles on which they are laid”. This was not possible with the Stamp act because they had to pay a tax on paper and it had to be stamped according to Dickinson. In 1768 the merchants and traders of Boston signed the Boston Non-Importation Agreement. They have “… taken into consideration the deplorable situation of the trade and the many difficulties it as preset labours under on account of the scarcity of money” King, Peter. Boston Non-Importation). The merchants and traders of Boston saw that if this Townshend Act continues it is going to drive the economy straight into the ground. They also feel that if this continued they would never be able to pay their debts back to Great Britain as stated in the Non-Importation agreement. The merchants stated that their economy has become much more unstable and that’s why they have now drafted an agreement. “The embarrassments and restrictions laid on the trade by the several late Acts of Parliament; together with the bad success of our cod fishery this season, and the discouraging prospect of whale fishery” (King, Peter. Boston Non-Importation). This goes to show that the economic stability of the Southeastern New England region was in great trouble because the American colonists went to the point of non-importation. They decided that they would not import from “January 1, 1769 to January 1, 1770” (King, Peter. Boston Non-Importation). The merchants and traders of Charleston also drew up a non-importation agreement. The people of Charleston were hit so bad that they eventually boycotted buying slaves too. The agreement stated; That we will not purchase any Negroes imported, or any goods or merchandise whatever, from any resident in this province, that refuses or neglects to sign ...
