Writ Of Assistance Rhetorical Analysis
A writ of assistance is a written order issued by a court instructing a law enforcement official, such as a sheriff or tax collector, to perform a certain task. The writs of assistance that James Otis challenged were general warrants allowing officials to search for smuggled material within any suspected premises. James Otis was Advocate-General when the legality of these warrants was attacked, but promptly resigned his office when called upon to defend that legality. Boston merchants then retained him as their counsel to oppose the writs before the Superior Court of Massachusetts. Otis refused the fee they offered, saying that in such a cause he despised all fees. In a five-hour speech, which was witnessed by a young John Adams, Otis argued