A Vindication of the Conduct of the House of Representatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay

A Vindication of the Conduct of the House of Representatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay was a pamphlet published in 1762 by James Otis. This work defended the Massachusetts House of Representatives' rebuke of the governor. The governor had requested funds from the assembly to pay for ships that were not authorized by them, though these ships were intended to protect New England fisheries from French privateers.1

James Otis was a prominent American political activist in the years leading up to the American Revolution. He is known for his arguments against the British-imposed writs of assistance, which were general search warrants. Otis argued that such writs violated natural law and fundamental English constitutional law, asserting that "Taxation without representation is tyranny". He also served as a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress in 1765.12