OTIS,
JAMES

(February 5, 1725–May 23, 1783), was a colonial lawyer, statesman and brother to the American poet Mercy Otis Warren (1728–1814). He graduated from Harvard College and in 1756, became the King’s advocate-general of the vice-admiralty court at Boston. In 1761, he was elected as a representative of Boston to the Massachusetts General Court. His efforts led to the Stamp Act Congress of 1765. In 1764, James Otis cited the reason for government in “The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved”:

The first principle and great end of government being to provide for the best good of all the people, this can be done only by a supreme legislative and executive ultimately in the people or whole community where God has placed it. …

All power is of God. Next and only subordinant to Him in the present state of the well-formed, beautifully constructed British monarchy, standing where I hope it ever will stand, for the pillars are fixed in Righteousness, and Truth, is the King and Parliament. … 660

Though permanently injured from an attack by British revenue officers, James Otis’ contribution to the rise of American was instrumental. He once said:

The people’s safety is the law of God.661