james otis the pre-revolutionist-第14章
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o impetuous； your opponents； though they cannot meet you in argument； will get the advantage by interrupting you； and putting you in a passion。〃 〃Well；〃 said Otis； 〃if you see me growing warm； give me a hint； and I'll command myself。〃 Later on when a question of some importance arose； Otis and this friend were on the Boston seat together。 Otis said he was going to speak； and his companion again warned him against being irritated by interruptions from the opposition。
He soon rose； and was speaking with great fluency and powerful logic； when Timothy Ruggles interrupted him； he grew warm in reply； and his friend pulled his coat slightly。 Otis scowled as he turned round； but taking the hint moderated his tone。 Soon afterwards； Mr。 Choate； of Ipswich； broke in on him again。 This aroused his temper； and his coat was pulled a second time； turning round quickly he said in an undertone to his monitor； 〃Let me alone； do you take me for a schoolboy？〃 and continuing his address with great impetuosity he overwhelmed his opponent with sarcasm and invective。
Without doubt James Otis was a strong man；a man of strong and positive character； whose friends and enemies were equally strong in their feelings of like and dislike。 The men who were ranged as his enemies have for the most part been relegated to a second place on the page of history （this does not apply to Thomas Hutchinson； who in his official capacity was Otis's chief political opponent； but who did not exhibit the personal enemity of Bernard and others）； while those who were his friends stand out boldly among the notable characters of the past。 As Otis himself remarked concerning Charles Lee； we are not at a loss to know which is the highest evidence of his virtuesthe greatness and number of his friends； or the malice and envy of his foes。 But friends and foes alike agree in ascribing to him a very ardent temperament； though with the latter it is unjustly regarded as violent。 There is a great contrast between the estimate of Otis given by Hutchinson （quoted below） and that exhibited in the following extract from a long letter written by Governor Bernard to Lord Shelburne； near the end of the year 1766； which is entirely filled with a review of Otis's career and character； and is a curious specimen of studied calumniation。 The introductory remarks show sufficiently well the spirit of the whole。 〃I would avoid personalities； but in the present case it is impossible。 The troubles in this country take their rise from； and owe their continuance to； one man； so much； that this history alone would contain a full account of them。 This man； James Otis； Esq。； was a lawyer at Boston when I first came to the government。 He is by nature a passionate； violent； and desperate man； which qualities sometimes work him up to an absolute frenzy。I say nothing of him； which is not known to be his certain character； confirmed by frequent experience。〃
While sympathy for Otis made the public commonly ascribe the alienation of his reason chiefly to the injuries received during his encounter with Robinson in the British Coffee House； it is fairly certain that the commencement of the disease dates further back； and that the blows on the head hastened and aggravated an already incipient malady superinduced by very different causes。
In the ardor and assiduity of his devotion to the colonial cause Otis had overtaxed his mental powers。 His fine faculties that had been exerted so strenuously； and with such striking effect； in the service of his country； were sinking under the excitement and the effort which had sustained them in the heat of action。 For ten years he had abandoned the ordinary practice of his profession and renouncing all recreation had given his entire time and thought； himself； verily； to the 〃great argument〃 which involved the welfare of the Colonies； and as we now see it； of the world。 To allow one idea exclusive occupancy of the mind and constantly to ponder a single topic； is a very frequent and almost sure cause of mental distress。 It was his highest merit and at the same time his greatest misfortune； that Otis permitted this political controversy to have such an absorbing and despotic command of his attention that melancholy consequences gradually appeared and left little hope of his final restoration。 His excitable and passionate temperament allowed the fire to be soon kindled； and nourished the flame in which his intellect； strong as it had been； was ultimately destroyed。
Otis's mental malady first appeared in a form which was mistaken for mere eccentricity of humor； and some time elapsed before his oddities of fancy and conduct deepened into acknowledged insanity。 An incident which might have aroused the suspicions of his friends occurred during the legislative session of 1769； when at the close of a powerful and ingenious speech by Brigadier Ruggles in which he had made a deep impression； Otis at once arose and in an impassioned tone and manner which struck awe upon all those present； exclaimed； 〃Mr。 Speaker； the liberty of this country is gone forever； and I'll go after it；〃 and turning round immediately left the House。 Some members stared； some laughed； but none seemed to suspect the true cause of this odd behavior。
How； after the encounter with Robinson； this mental disease made inroads on his fine powers； we best know from John Adams； who on September 3； 1769； wrote： 〃Otis talks all； he grows the most talkative man alive； no other gentleman in company can find space to put in a word。 He grows narrative like an old man。〃 On September 5th occurred the encounter with Robinson； one of the Commissioners of Customs； at the British Coffee House； which greatly aggravated his mental disorder。 From this time on he was a subject of some perplexity to the Whig leaders； though the spell with which he influenced the people was long in breaking。 On January 16； Adams again wrote： 〃Otis is in confusion yet； he loses himself； he rambles and wanders like a ship without a helm； attempted to tell a story which took up almost all the evening。 * * * In one word； Otis will spoil the club。 He talks so much； and takes up so much of our time； and fills it with trash； obsceneness； profaneness； nonsense； and distraction； that we have none left for rational amusements or inquiries。 * * * I fear； I tremble； I mourn； for the man and for his country； many others mourn over him with tears in their eyes。〃
In connection with Otis's charge against Hutchinson as to rapacious office…seeking the following extract from John Adams's diary is of curious interest。 After detailing certain detractions of which he had been the victim； the diarist breaks out testily： 〃This is the rant of Mr。 Otis concerning me。 * * * But be it known to Mr。 Otis I have been in the public cause as long as he； though I was never in the General Court but one year。
I have sacrificed as much to it as he。 I have never got my father chosen Speaker and Counselor by it； my brother…in…law chosen into the House and chosen Speaker by it； nor a brother…in…law's brother…in…law into the House and Council by it； nor did I ever turn about in the House； and rant it on the side of the prerogative for a whole year； to get a father into a Probate office first Justice of a Court of Common Pleas； and a brother into a clerk's office。 There is a complication of malice； envy； and jealousy in this man； in the present disordered state of his mind； which is quite shocking。〃 （Oct。 27； 1772。）
In this incapacity of Otis； who at last had to seek confinement； Samuel Adams came to the front of the opposition to Hutchinson as representing the government policy； and in nothing did he show more adroitness than in the manner in which he humored and exploited the colleague； whom； though sick； the people would not suffer to be withdrawn； as is shown by the following resolution：
RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT A TOWN MEETING IN BOSTON； MAY 8； 1770。
〃The Honorable James Otis having； by advice of his physician； retired into the country for the recovery of his health； Voted； That thanks of the town be given to the Honorable James Otis for the great and important services； which； as a representative in the General Assembly through a course of year
