USA > Connecticut > The history of Connecticut, from the first settlement to the present time > Part 27
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Many of the inhabitants of New-London had fortunately been able to escape up the river in vessels before the enemy's arrival, with much of their valuable moveables : but the destruction of property was great. The fire of the buildings on the shore was communicated to the vessels at the wharves, and numbers of them were burned. A committee of the Legislature, in 1793, stated the losses of the town at $485,980. It appeared that 65 dwelling-houses were burned, which had con- tained 97 families, besides 31 stores, 18 shops, 20 barns, and 9 public and other buildings, comprising the courthouse, church, and jail.
After the peace, 500 acres of land in the Con- necticut Reserve, in Ohio, were granted to New. London in consideration of these losses.
In June of the same year, about 150 men landed at Leet's Island, in Guilford, from two armed brigs and a schooner. They burned the house and two barns of Mr. Leet, but were attacked and driven off, leaving six or seven muskets, and having wounded five men, two of them mortally.
On the 22d of July, during public worship (it be- ing the Sabbath), a party of enemies, chiefly refu- gees, surrounded the meeting-house in Middlesex, now Darien, and took the men prisoners, with the
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1782.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
pastor, Dr. Mather. They tied them together in couples, and, marching them to the shore, con- veyed them to Lloyd's Neck in boats. Thence they were soon marched to New-York, where they were imprisoned. Some never returned, and others suffered from the smallpox. Dr. Mather was confined in the Provost prison (now the Hall of Record in New-York), under the charge of the notorious jailor Cunningham, who persecuted him with his characteristic brutality, and often told him he was to be executed.
On the 3d of January, 130 men, who had been prisoners in New-York, were landed at New-Lon- don in a deplorable condition ; and these, like many others who arrived at different times, were dis- eased, filthy, and covered with vermin. Numbers of persons died of the infectious disease which they communicated in the houses where they were re- ceived.
But to return to the operations of the armies :
Washington was soon throwing up trenches be- fore the enemy's position at Yorktown in Virginia, while the Count de Grasse blockaded them with a French fleet in the Chesapeake. Early in Octo- ber, the place was stormed by the Americans under Colonel Hamilton, and the French troops under Lafayette; and, after an unsuccessful attempt to cross the river, Cornwallis surrendered himself and his army. The English nation and Parliament, after this great American victory, determined to put an end to the war, although the king was disposed to persevere ; and, in the spring of 1782, proposals were made for peace.
In the United States the news of the victory
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400
THE NEWBURGH LETTERS.
[1782.
caused great rejoicings ; and public thanksgiving was rendered to the God of armies, who had dis- posed events so mercifully for the country. The proposition for a treaty of peace was received with general satisfaction ; and Congress appointed John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens commissioners to treat on the subject, while Mr. Oswald was appointed by the king of Great Britain. Conferences were held in Paris, and preliminaries were agreed on in November, but were not signed that year, on the ground that it was proper to wait until Great Britain should be at peace with France, the ally of the United States.
Congress determined to dismiss on furlough the troops enlisted for the whole war, not thinking it prudent to disband the army until a definitive treaty should be formed. They offered to allow the troops full pay for five years, instead of half pay for life; which had been promised them ; and this full pay was to be given to them either in money or in securities at interest, at the choice of the re- spective state lines.
At this period, however, a dark and portentous cloud overhung the country. The people of the United States, perhaps, have never passed a more dangerous crisis. Some officer addressed to the army (which was concentrated at Newburgh, on the Hudson River) some incendiary letters, inveigh- ing against the government for breaking its prom- ises, and exhorting the soldiers not to lay down their arms until they should obtain some more sub- stantial return for their long and arduous services. The danger of revolt and a military despotism was imminent, and this would doubtless have been the
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
1781.]
consequence with an army in such circumstances in almost any other country, where soldiers are less intelligent, virtuous, and patriotic, especially as the author of the letters was probably an officer of pretty high rank, viz., Colonel Wilkinson. But America had a general such as Europe never yet has been blessed with ; and Washington, who was happily on the spot, exerted all his influence, and displayed all his exalted character, in arguing and remonstrating with the troops as fellow-citizens, fellow-labourers, and fellow-sufferers, urging the noble considerations with a sincerity and eloquence worthy of himself. Such influence had he with the army, that he prevented the display of any insubor. dination ; and the soldiers quietly departed on their various routes for their homes, many of them taking the roads to Connecticut. It was not, how- ever, until the latter part of June that the army was entirely dispersed. In November it was dis- banded by proclamation by Congress, as the state of affairs with England was such as to prove that the war was entirely at an end.
Perhaps no act in Washington's life has pro- duced a stronger impression than his interference in this case; and the people of Connecticut, per- haps, as deeply as any admired the virtue he dis- played, while they appreciated the importance of the results. Their local situation naturally led them to regard the occasion with deep solicitude.
Connecticut, lying near the scene of action, would have been exposed to devastation had the army consented to reap with their swords the har- vest they had planted. Good men, who love to re- member in all things the superintendence of the LL2
402
WASHINGTON'S RESIGNATION. [1781.
Creator, saw and must see great reason for grati- tude at the turn of affairs at that important crisis, on which the fate of the country seemed to be sus- pended.
On the 8th of June, Washington informed Con- gress that he was now prepared to resign the com- . mand of their armies, which he had received with such diffidence almost seven years before, and had exercised with such a combination of ability, self-denial, and disinterestedness as no other gen- eral ever displayed. His spontaneous relinquish- ment of such authority is worthy of the unqualified approbation of the good, and is likely to have a salutary influence, as an example, as long as his- tory shall be read and virtue esteemed.
Washington, on laying aside his power, recom- mended four objects as in his opinion of primary value to the country :
1st. A federation among the states ;
2d. A sacred regard to justice ;
3d. The establishment of peace ; and,
4th. The exercise of disinterestedness in the gov- ernment and the people.
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1781.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
403 .
CHAPTER XLV. 1781-1806.
The Debt of the Country and of Connecticut at the Close of the Revolutionary War .- Mr. Jay's commercial Treaty with Great Britain .- Effects in Connecticut .- Various Branches of In- dustry and Enterprise .- New Settlements .- Revival of the Fisheries .- General Hamilton's Plan for the Encouragement of Manufactures .- Importance of Mr. Whitney's Invention of the Cotton-gin .- Other Inventions .- The commercial Trea- ty of 1806 .- American Commerce with Great Britain.
PEACE found the United States with an immense amount of debt, and in a state of deep depression. Bills of credit for three millions were issued by the United Colonies in 1775, and considerable sums by particular colonies. In 1778 the amount was above one hundred millions. In 1776 the colonies were called upon to raise five millions by sums apportioned. Connecticut had $600,000 of this to raise, while Massachusetts had only $820,000, Pennsylvania $620,000, Virginia $800,000, New. Jersey $270,000, North Carolina $250,000, New. Hampshire and New-York $200,000 cach, Mary. land 8520,000, South Carolina $500,000, Georgia $60,000, and Rhode Island $100,000. Connecti- cut had the fourth sum in amount.
Connecticut, having suffered her full share in the expenses and trials of the war (excepting that none of her territory was ever long in possession of the enemy), had to endure a heavy part of the debt which it left upon the country. By an estimate made by Congress at the close of the war, it ap-
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404 BRITISH COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. [1783.
peared that it had cost about one hundred and thir- ty-five millions ; and that the debt amounted to forty-two millions, of which eight millions consist- ed of money due to France and Holland. Con- gress proposed that $1,500,000 should be paid by the states, each taking its quota, and raising it in any manner it might prefer. A committee was appointed to draw up an address to the people, recommending this plan. It consisted of Messrs. Madison, Hamilton, and Ellsworth of Connecticut. The portion allotted to Connecticut was $132,000, that state being placed seventh on the list. This plan, however, failed ; and it was not until 1786 that duties and imposts on foreign goods imported were appropriated to the payment of the national debt, by the consent of all the states.
In 1783 Mr. Jay formed a treaty with Great Britain, which allowed, for a term, to American ves- sels and goods, in England, Ireland, and Scotland, the same freedom enjoyed by those of England. Mr. Pitt endeavoured to get the principle extended to the colonies : but, instead of this, the famous or- ders in Council were passed, by which American vessels were not allowed to go to the British West Indies, and beef, pork, &c., were not permitted to be taken thither from this country, even in Eng- lish vessels. It was then supposed in England that our government could not long exist, and that im pediments to our commerce would the sooner bring back the country to seek the aid and protection of Great Britain. In 1783 Parliament confirmed those orders by its own acts. These measures gave a heavy blow to New-England, as was intend- cd. The carrying-trade was what England was
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HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
1783.]
now very jealous of, and wished to secure to her- self. At the time, the ministry thought that re- strictions upon it would soon cause a counter rev- olution : calculating on self-interest as more power. ful than patriotism. But in this they were disap- pointed. In 1789, the exports from all the colonies amounted to about thirteen millions of dollars, and the imports to about twelve. Not far from one quarter of the imports and exports are to be set down to New-England. In that year the imports into Connecticut from the south of Europe amount- ed to only about $1100, while the exports thith- er were $11,000. From the West Indies the imports were $240,000, and the exports thither $320,000. Besides this, a considerable trade was carried on with Great Britain, the amount of which is not specified. We only know that the imports for all New-England were about $910,000, and the exports $640,000.
To show how American commerce increased, we have but to turn to the reports for 1791, when we find that the exports from the United States amounted to $19,000,000, of which Connecticut had $710,000. And the great amount was annu- ally swelled, by a nearly regular increase, until the year 1797, when it decreased. The year before, viz., 1796, the exports of Connecticut amounted to $1,450,000. It may easily be perceived, from these facts, that the people of Connecticut must naturally have felt some interest in all measures affecting trade.
According to the treaty made with Great Britain in 1783, our commerce with England, Ireland, and Scotland was free : but that with the West Indies
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406
WEST INDIA TRADE.
[1783.
was left subject to the navigation and alien laws of that empire, somewhat relaxed. Parliament au- thorized the king and council to regulate the trade for a term, which was extended in succeeding years. On the 23d of December, 1783, an order in council was passed, which virtually forbade our vessels to trade with the West Indies : although, at the same time, and until 1791, we were allowed to send to England, Ireland, and Scotland, for the same duties as the British American colonies, all manufactured goods, pig and bar iron, pitch, tar, rosin, turpentine, pot and pearl ashes, masts and spars of American growth or production. The products of the fish- eries were excepted ; and these were to pay the lowest duties required of foreign countries. Such regulations were also made, that many articles were admitted into England, Scotland, and Ireland without duty : as iron, wood, all lumber, flaxseed, and ashes ; and, in times of scarcity, grain also.
The third article of that treaty acknowledged the right of the Americans to fish on the Banks of Newfoundland : but that fishery was a source of no great wealth to the country until 1790. It was, for many years, almost confined to the people of Massachusetts.
, By an order in council, passed in 1783, vessels were permitted to take to the West Indies Amer- ican lumber, cattle, poultry, beef, pork, live provis- ions, and grain, and to export in return the produc- tions of the islands, on the same terms as in the commerce with British colonies.
These arrangements had their effects in Con- necticut ; and great activity in her numerous ports, large and small, was the result. Vessels of differ-
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1783.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
ent sizes were built on the river ; and a great va- riety of exports was furnished from her well-tilled farms and multiplying workshops. Horses were sent to the West Indies in great numbers, and the raising of mules was attended to for the same pur- pose, to keep up the stock of those useful animals in countries unfavourable to their increase. In re- turn, the productions of the islands were abundant and cheap; and, as the commerce and the carrying. trade were both enjoyed by the active northerners, the profits were great. Unhappily, however, vast moral evils were introduced with the vast quanti- ties of rum which formed a large part of the re- turn cargoes ; and, for a time, it seemed as if in- temperance would bring total ruin.
The first direct tax was laid by Congress in 1798 ; and this mode of raising a revenue has been since resorted to three times. To avoid the odium which direct taxes naturally excite against rulers, other means of supplying the treasury were resorted to ; and the plan of General Hamilton was adopted, which provided for a revenue from duties on imports and the avails of public lands.
In 1798 it was ordered that two millions should be raised; and that amount was apportioned among the states according to the valuation of houses, land, and slaves between twelve and fifty years of age. The apportionment of Connecticut was $129,766, 0 cents, and 2 mills. The land in the United States was 163,746,636 acres, valued at nearly 480 mill- ions of dollars; there were 276,659 houses, val- ued at 140} millions. Of these amounts Connec- ticut had 2,649,149 acres, valued at above 40 mill. ions of dollars, and 23,565 houses, valued at about I
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SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST. [1783.
eight millions. Connecticut, therefore, was then the fifth state with respect to the number of houses, and the sixth with respect to their value.
The average amount of tonnage owned in the United States in 1799, 1800, and 1801, was 131,123. The population in 1790 was 3,929,326, exclusive of the territory northwest of Ohio, which contain- ed 35,691. Connecticut had 237,946 inhabitants, of whom 60,523 were free white males of 16 years old and over ; 54,403 under 16; and 117,448 free white females. The other free persons (that is, Indians) amounted to 2808.
After the close of the war, the people of Connec- ticut began to apply themselves with energy to cv- ery branch of business which afforded encourage- ment. There was more inducement offered to them to devise a variety of employments than to the peo- ple of most other states, as they had but a small territory for their numbers, and generally an indif- ferent soil. They were now no longer forbidden to manufacture what they pleased; and some began to seek employment on the seas, while others thought of settlements in other parts of the country. Many of the land titles given to the soldiers were sold : but settlements in Ohio were hardly commenced un- til General Meigs removed from Middletown to Ma- rietta, and formed one of the first settlements in the territory of that state. The middle and western parts of the state of New-York were almost a wilderness when Mr. White left Middletown with his axe on his shoulder, and chose a place for him- self at Whitestown, on the north bank of the Mo- hawk. Since that time an unknown multitude of
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1783.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
men, women, and children have left Connecticut, and assisted, in an important degree, in forming the population of all the new western states. In some places, especially within a few past years, considerable communities have emigrated in com- pany, and settled together in distinct townships or districts, transplanting all their habits and man- ners, and inculcating them on their descendants. Many persons born in that state have long been inhabitants of other states ; and, in consequence of the general diffusion of education, have carried many happy influences with them.
" During the six years which preceded the rev- olutionary war in America," says Dr. Dwight, "religion experienced no very material change ; and it may be doubted whether it gained or lost ground. But in the progress of this war it suf- fered far more than in that of 1755. All the evils which flowed from the former were multiplied in the latter. The foreigners with whom they had intercourse were not so numerous, perhaps, as in the war of 1755; but many of them were of far more dissolute characters. They were French- men ; disciples of Voltaire, Rousseau, D'Alembert, and Diderot ; men holding that loose and unde- fined atheism, which neither believes nor disbe- lieves the existence of God, and perfectly indiffer- ent whether he exists or not." * * * "To aid in the work of ruin, the paper currency of the coun- try operated in the most powerful and malignant manner." The same writer adds, in enumerating the evils produced by the war, that " the influ- ence resulting from a weak and fluctuating gov- ernment on the morals and happiness of mankind, M M
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410
MANUFACTURES ENCOURAGED.
[1791.
is, to say the least, not less malignant than that of a settled despotism." This, unhappily, was the nature of the Confederation.
The Constitution of the United States was form- ed by a Convention held in New-York, Connecti- cut being represented by three members : Will- iam Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman, and Oliver Ellsworth.
The Congress allowed the accounts presented by the different states for expenses paid for the war. All the southern and middle states were in arrears, except New-Jersey, South Carolina, and Georgia. New-York alone was in arrears $2,074,846. Connecticut had paid $9,285,737, 92 cts., and the balance due her from the United States was $619,121.
In 1790 Congress gave a great impulse to the cod fishery, by allowing a drawback on exported fish, which met the duty on salt. The people of Massachusetts embarked again in the business, and soon derived as great profits from it as before the Revolution, when they furnished a large share of the 4000 men then employed in it. The whale fishery also began to recover itself about this time ; for in 1789 there were 91 American vessels en. gaged in the northern branch of it, with a tonnage of 5820, and in the southern 31 vessels, of 4390 tons and 1611 seamen. Connecticut, within a few years, has engaged to a considerable extent in the whale fishery.
This year Mr. Hamilton, the secretary of state, made a celebrated report in favour of encouraging and protecting manufactures. Attempts had been made, without much success, in 1763. Manufac-
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411
1792.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
tories of cotton and wool existed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New-Jersey ; and Colonel Jer- emiah Wadsworth had one in Hartford, at which a suit of clothes was made, in which General Washington was dressed when he delivered his speech to Congress in January, 1790. As the wars in Europe gave much occupation to the Americans, little was done with manufactures un- til 1807, under our own restrictive system. Mr.
Gallatin, secretary of the treasury, estimated the manufactures of the Union in 1810 at 120 mill- ions. The returns of the marshals who made the census show that Connecticut made in a year 4,086,898 yards of cloths of various kinds, valued at $2,139,826, and had 16,132 looms. This was supposed to be about a quarter less than the true amount.
Only seven states gave larger returns. Massachusetts was less, and Rhode Island more. Cotton manufactories had been introduced at Provi- dence by Samuel Slater some time after the war, and gradually extended. In Connecticut were now 14 factories, with 11,893 spindles. In 1831 there were 94 cotton-mills or factories, with 235,753 spindles, and 5773 looms, which made 37,121,681 yards, from 10,414,573 lbs. of cotton, employing 1731 males, at $5 22 cts. a week, and 3297 females, at $2 20, besides 3472 children under 10 years of age, at $1 50. The capital employed was $2,825,000.
In 1792 the exports of the United States to Great Britain and her dominions amounted to $9,363,416; and the imports from them to $15,285,423. By the treaty of 1794, liberty of commerce was secured with England, Ireland, and Scotland, the ships of both countries having to pay
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412
[1792.
THE POLICY OF WASHINGTON.
no higher duties than those of the most favoured nations, and Great Britain retaining the right of laying as high a tonnage duty as the United States. This treaty (except the first ten articles) expired in 1803. The West India trade was closed to us, except when occasionally opened to supply the wants of the islands. This was done for a time by the proclamations of the governors, and after- ward by the king in council.
In 1806 a treaty was formed : but the West In- dia trade was still at the control of England. Our tonnage was nearly the same in amount in 1805, '6, and '7, as it had been for several preceding years.
While the ports of England, Ireland, and Scot- land were open to our vessels, our exports gener- ally exceeded our imports, and the profits of the trade were chiefly enjoyed by our countrymen. The principal exports thither were cotton, rice, and tobacco ; and sometimes wheat and flour, flax seed, naval stores, ashes, and whale oil. The in- ports were manufactured goods. Connecticut fur. nished some of the latter articles, and much ship- ping.
It was a prominent point in the policy of Wash- ington to guard our country against " entangling alliances" with foreign nations ; and it is impossi- ble to calculate all the forms and degrees to which it has influenced us. That policy prevailed ; and his administration and that of John Adams did not incline to take part in the disputes of other pow- ers. Though there were constant wars in Eu. rope, our country had no share in the contests ; and our merchants furnished ships for a great part of the carrying trade. Bonaparte at length deter-
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1792.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
mined that no nation should stand neutral ; and Mr. Jefferson seemed disposed to have the United States co-operate with France. The mission of Citizen Genet (which is hereafter to be mentioned) appeared to have such an object directly in view ; and, if so, the exertions of his opponents in Con- necticut probably had an important influence on the subsequent state of the Union.
Connecticut has been distinguished for the num- ber of its inventors. One of the most distinguish- ed inventors in the United States was Mr. Eli Whitney, a native of Massachusetts, who spent many years of his useful life at New-Haven, Con- necticut. In 1791 he invented the cotton gin, which was soon brought into general use in the Southern States, and rendered upland cotton a prof- itable crop, by separating the seeds from the fibre in a cheap and expeditious manner. He received from South Carolina $60,000 for his patent in that state : but this, in consequence of large expenses incurred in vainly seeking remuneration in several of the states, was a very inadequate reward for his most useful machine. He invented great improve- ments in making muskets, and established a very successful manufactory at New-Haven.
The manufacture of tin ware was first begun in Meriden ; and for many years the United States were chiefly supplied from that place, by wagons which were sent out in all directions. The tin plate was imported from England. Numerous manufactories now exist in different parts of the Union. Several useful inventions were made in East Haddam soon after the Revolution, particu- larly a machine for cutting out iron screws.
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