USA > Massachusetts > History of Massachusetts, for two hundred years: from the year 1620 to 1820 > Part 2
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CHAPTER XXIV.
Slavery discountenanced in Massachusetts --- Supreme Judicial Court decide against it --- Jolin Lowell an advocate for its abolition --- General Court request an adjustment of accounts and claims on the United States --- And object to the appointment, by Congress, of any of its Members to lucrative offices --- Requisitions of Congress --- Military Peace Establishment --- Terms of Treaty and Peace with England --- Massachusetts objects to some of the conditions --- Time of complaint for high taxes --- Gov. Hancock resigns --- James Bowdoin chosen Gov- ernor --- His political opponents --- Parties forming --- Public discontents --· Great debt, and no system to discharge it --- Speech of Gov. Bow- doin, on the occasion --- Proposes to pay off the debt, and to enlarge the powers of Congress to regulate Foreign Trade --- Immense public debt --- Difficult to provide for it --- People complain, and resort to force --- Punishment for crime. 305
CHAPTER XXV.
The Governor urges payment of part of the debt, and a system to main- tain public credit --- The General Court do not respond to his advice -- Conventions of the People, complaining of the Courts of Law --- of Le- gal processes for collecting debts, and of laying so large taxes --- Ex- tra session of General Court, in September, 1786 --- Conventions of People increase --- Open opposition to Law --- Proclamation and ener- getic measures of the Governor --- Militia called out to protect the Court --- Measures for the relief of the People, but not satisfactory to them --- Lenity to the Insurgents, and an Address to the People --- In- surgents continue their opposition, and attempt to stop the Courts --- They assemble at Springfield to prevent the sitting of the Court --- Militia called out under Gen. Lincoln, and marched to Worcester and Springfield --- Insurgents flee from Springfield, and are pursued to Hadley, Amherst and Petersham, where many are taken, and the residue flee --- Affairs in Berkshire. . . 313
CHAPTER XXVI.
Boundary Line between Massachusetts and New York settled both on West and East of Hudson River --- Delegates to a General Conven-
298
xi
CONTENTS.
tion to revise the confederation-Mr. Hancock chosen Governor in 1787 --- Objections to Mr. Bowdoin unjust --- The most intelligent were his supporters --- Produce a tender for debts --- Governor's salary re- duced --- Domestic Manufactures encouraged --- Attempts to pay off the public debt --- Federal Constitution formed and presented to the States for adoption --- Objections to Constitution ; a subject of great discussion --- Small majority in its favor --- Amendments proposed by the Convention. . 324
CHAPTER XXVII.
Federal Government favorable to Commerce --- Assumes the debt of the State in part --- Debt and Taxes-Public Credit restored --- Slave Trade prohibited --- Conduct of Mr. Hancock towards the Lt. Governor --- New York and Virginia propose another Convention --- Massachusetts disapproves the plan --- Members of Congress --- Address of the Gen- eral Court to President Washington --- The Brass Field-Pieces, Han- cock and Adams --- President Washington's Tour --- Address to him -- Reply of Washington.
331
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Opposers of the Federal Constitution --- Federal Officers declared ineligi- ble as Legislators of the State --- Debt of United States --- Congress as- · sumed the Debts of the States --- Expenses of War to Massachusetts Public Taxes --- Lotteries disapproved --- Gov. Hancock's views of Federal Government --- Prosecutions against persons concerned in the Slave Trade --- Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court --- Plan for a Theatre --- Canal proposed across Cape Cod --- Internal Improvements --- Laws for keeping Lord's Day --- The suability of a State --- Death of Gov. Hancock --- Samuel Adams Lieutenant Governor --- His opinion of the Federal Government.
338
CHAPTER XXIX.
Dispute with France ;--- and with England --- Formation of parties --- At- tachment to France --- Antipathy to England --- Censures on the con- duct of the Federal Executive --- Treaty with England, 1794 --- Objec- tions to it --- Causes of party opinions --- Views of Federalists and of Anti-Federalists --- Gov. Adams --- His political opinions --- His recom- mendations of support for Schools and Teachers of Religion. 348
CHAPTER XXX.
Mr. Adams President of United States --- Political parties continue ; and party feelings strong --- Mr. Adams' opinions and character -- Gov- ernor Adams declines --- Judge Sumner elected --- State of public opin- ion --- Gov. Sumner rechosen --- Difficulties with France --- Measures of defence. 355 .
CHAPTER XXXI.
Legal provision for Public Worship, and Religious. Teachers --- Com- plaints by minor sects of the Constitution on the subject --- A law in 1800, more favorable to religious liberty --- Reference to law of 1811 -- Complaints of Alien and Sedition Acts --- Resolutions of Virginia, condemning them --- General Court of Massachusetts disagrees to Resolutions of Virginia --- Death of Gov. Sumner --- Gov. Strong --- His character and opinions --- Death of General Washington --- Gov. Strong re-elected --- His Conciliatory Speech. 359
CHAPTER XXXII.
Gov. Strong continued in office several years --- Mr. Jefferson President --- His Policy and Measures --- Political opinions and Parties --- Finan- ces of the State --- Public Debt --- Electors of President and Vice Presi- dent --- Gov. Sullivan --- His Character and Opinions --- Political Parties
xii
CONTENTS.
Policy of General Government --- Non-intercourse and embargo --- Let- ter of Mr. Pickering --- Complaints of the Embargo --- Additional Act, affecting the Coasting Trade.
366
CHAPTER XXXIII.
New Embargo Act --- Very obnoxious --- Gov. Gore --- His Character --- Charge against Federal Leaders as friends of England --- Mr. Gerry chosen Governor --- His political character and Views --- Measures of the Democratic Administration --- Political intolerance and proscrip- tion in 1811 --- Party spirit increases --- The Governor denounces Fed- eralists as enemies to the Country ; and directs an examination of Newspapers for libels --- Complains of the Opinions of the Judicial Court.
374
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Gov. Strong, 1812 --- His political opinions --- Political Character of the House --- Bitterness of party feelings --- Memorial against War --- Gov- ernor's Speech --- War declared against England --- Call for the Militia --- Objections to the War --- And to ordering out the Militia --- General Order of the Governor, for the Militia to be in readiness to repel in- vasion --- Extra session of the General Court --- The Governor's state- ment.
382
CHAPTER XXXV.
Gov. Strong re-elected --- Measures of defence against invasion --- Arms provided by the state for the People in the Seaports --- Regular Troops ordered out of the State --- Opinions of Political Parties --- Public De- clarations of a distinguished Federalist --- Senate of Massachusetts --- Resolutions in New York --- Senators commissioned as Officers in the Army --- Speech of Gov. Strong --- Disapproves of the War --- Party De- clarations and Opinions --- Governor's Speech --- Answer of Senate and House --- Militia called out for defence, in 1814 --- Dispute with Military Officer of the United States --- Castine taken by the British --- Extra Session of the General Court --- Governor's Speech --- Answer of Rep- resentatives --- Resolutions of General Court --- Convention at Hartford General Orders of Gov. Strong repeated, for the Militia to repel in- vasions --- Who defended the State by his Orders.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Hartford Convention-Its Proceedings --- Approved by the General Court of Massachusetts --- Objects of the Convention --- Act of Con- gress to authorize a State to employ the Militia for Defence --- Intelli- gence of Peace --- Controversy touching the right to call out the Mili- tia --- Governor's Speech on the subject --- Mr. Gore's opinion on State Rights --- Terms of Peace --- Manufactures --- Mr. Strong again Gov- ernor, in 1815.
407
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Gov. Brooks --- His character and Political opinions --- Extracts from his public speeches --- Candid and magnanimous --- Recommends the inter- ests of Education and Religion ; and a veneration for the Republican Institutions of the Commonwealth --- State Prison --- Separation of Maine --- Revision of the Constitution --- Society of Cincinnati -- Claim of the State on the United States. . 417
APPENDIX. . 429
389
HISTORY
OF
MASSACHUSETTS:
CHAPTER I.
.
Discovery of North America-Causes of Emigrating to America-Character and Adventures of the Plymouth Pilgrims-Claim to America by Kings of England-Patents and Grants-The Native Indians-Civil Compact at Cape Cod-Settlement of Wessaguscus and Mount Wollaston-Morton, Lyford, Oldham, Conant, Blaxton, Cape Ann, Salem, Endicott, Charles- town, Sprague-Arrivals in 1629-Higginson, Skelton-Salem Church- Opinions of the Errors of Church of England-Buildings at Salem-State and Number of Indians-Arrival of Winthrop and Company at Charles- town, Johnson at Boston, Saltonstal at Watertown, Pynchon at Roxbury, Wilson and Phillips, Warham and Maverick-Settlement of Boston-Tax on the several Plantations-Death of Johnson-Eminent Females- Friendly Connexion with Plymouth-Patent, Formation of Company in England-First Court of Governor and Assistants at Charlestown- Church Government-Purchases of Indians-Fortified Town-Early Sickness in the Colony-Execution for Murder in Plymouth-Power and Influence of Clergy, of Assistants and Freemen-First Vessel built by Gov. Winthrop-Tax on the Colony and Committees, or Deputies -- Watertown objects-Dudley Governor-A few Disaffected-Character of First Settlers, and love of Liberty.
IN 1497, about four years and a half after Columbus first dis- covered the West India Islands, and before he visited the Con- tinent, John and Sebastian Cabot sailed from England, and made the coasts of North America, in latitude 45 north. They proceeded northward to the 60th degree, and south to the 38th. But it is not certain that they landed on, or dis- covered any part of the country included in what is now Mas- sachusetts .* Bartholomew Gosnold was, probably, the first
* According to Ramusio, Cabot stated, "that, having proceeded as far north as 56° under the pole, and despairing of finding a passage, (to India,) he turned back to search for the same towards the equinoctial, always with a view of finding a passage to India, and at last reached the country called Florida." This was Sebastian Cabot, and in his second voyage, 1498. And he might have entered some bays on the coast.
1
14
HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
European who landed on its coasts, which was in the year 1602. He visited the Elizabeth Islands, in Buzzard's Bay, and the Vineyard, and probably, also, the main land, which is within the limits of the present town of Dartmouth. The whole country, from Florida to Newfoundland, was then known by the name of Virginia ; and the part still so called was first settled by the English in 1585. At first, Gosnold proposed a permanent settlement on these islands; but his men soon became dissatisfied with the plan, and he returned to England the same year. In this voyage, Gosnold also discovered the southeastern parts of Cape Cod.
In the Spring of 1603, Martin Pring and William Brown, under the direction and by the permission of Sir Walter Raleigh, in two vessels, one of fifty tons, and one of twenty-six, with thirty men in the largest, and thirteen in the smaller, fell in with the coasts of North Virginia, in latitude 43; and thence, sailing south, visited Cape Cod, and passed round it to latitude 41, where they landed and remained several weeks, in the month of June, and then returned to England.
Captain George Weymouth was employed by Lord Arundel to visit North Virginia in 1605, who discovered the coast in latitude 41. 30. And Henry Challons was sent out soon after to make discoveries, but was attacked by the Spaniards, and his vessel and property confiscated. Afterwards, in 1614, Captain John Smith, whose exploits in Virginia have been often celebrated, and who had been a great traveller in the ex- treme eastern parts of Europe, sailed along the coasts of Mas- sachusetts, and made more discoveries of the islands and har- bors than any one had done before. On his return, soon after, and at his suggestion, the name of New England was given to this part of the country, hitherto called North Virginia, by the Prince of Wales, afterwards Charles I. king of Great Britain. There is no proof, however, that Smith entered many of the harbors, in this voyage.
Four years later Thomas Dermer was sent to the coasts of New England, by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, in a ship of two hundred tons; and with him, Squanto, (or Tisquantum,) an Indian native of the country, who had been decoyed and car- ried to England by one Hunt, formerly in the employment of Captain Smith. It is probable, that in his second voyage, in 1619, Captain Dermer visited Boston and Plymouth harbors. The country was then thinly inhabited ; it being only two or three years after the prevalence of a very mortal disease among the natives.
The great design of these voyages was the acquisition of
15
HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
wealth and territory ; but it was also an object, from the first, to find a fit place for a colony of Englishmen, for the propaga- tion of the gospel among the ignorant and debased aboriginal inhabitants. And in this benevolent plan, the members of the Episcopal Church were the principal, if not the sole, actors. Afterwards, indeed, when the first permanent settlements were made, particularly in New England, the enterprise was projected and accomplished by the puritans, dissenters from episcopacy, on account of alleged corruptions and usurpations by the hierarchy and its friends, and of the imposition of unscriptural forms and ceremonies on the members of the church.
The most serious objections of the puritans and dissenters were to the different orders of ministers and officers in the church, with greater or less powers ; to the luxury of the higher grades of the clergy ; to the claims set up to impose any rites and forms they should choose to prescribe, whether re- quired by Christ and his Apostles, or not ; and to the alliance of the church with the civil power of the state .* For these ob- jections, and their consequent refusal to comply with unscrip- tural forms and ceremonies, which were justly considered of merely human authority, the puritans were grievously op- pressed and persecuted, fined and imprisoned ; which led them to look for some foreign land, where they might live in the quiet enjoyment of their rights, as disciples of Christ, their in- spired master ;; and where they might also find a residence for their posterity, free from ecclesiastical domination, and unchris- tian forms of worship. They had also a strong desire to be instrumental in diffusing a knowledge of the gospel among the unhappy pagans of America. This, in truth, was scarcely a secondary object with them; nor did they afterwards omit any efforts to accomplish this benevolent purpose.
The men, to whom reference is now made, were also dis- tinguished for their regard to the interests of civil liberty. While struggling for their christian privileges, and examining the foundation of religious liberty, they perceived the benefits of political freedom, and soon became eminent for their zeal in its support. One, who was an apologist for high monarchical
* See note A of Appendix.
Though less tolerant than the celebrated Mr. Locke, who lived at a subsequent and more enlightened period, they possessed the strong love of religious truth which he manifested, when he said, " that he should take his religion from the Bible, let it agree with what sect it might ; for it would be inquired of him at the last day, not whether he had been of the Church of England, or of Geneva, but whether he had sought and embraced the truth." This was the principle of the dissenters from the established church in Eng- land, though they would tolerate none who differed from them.
16
HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
principles, acknowledged, " that the spark of civil liberty, dur- ing the reign of the Stuarts, was kept alive chiefly by those who were called puritans in the church."
So sincere and powerful was the attachment of these men to religious liberty, that they made great sacrifices of property, and endured sufferings and persecutions several years, for their con- scientious non-conformity ; and many of them, particularly those, who afterwards were the first settlers of Plymouth colony, leaving their native country, removed to Holland in 1607, and in several following years, residing first at Amsterdam, and afterwards at Leyden. They remained in Holland till 1620, when a portion of them embarked for America; and landing on Cape Cod in November, soon after (December 22d) made a permanent settlement at Patuxet, since called Plymouth. The greater part of the residue emigrated to Plymouth in 1624 and 1628, where, for many years, their privations and sufferings were much more severe than they endured in Holland, or when persecuted in their native land ; and yet those were very great, or they would not have subjected themselves to the dangers and distress attending a settlement in the wilderness.
Another and much larger company of English puritans set- tled at Salem and Charlestown in 1628 and 1629; and Boston, Watertown, Dorchester, and Roxbury, in 1630. These were the first settlements made in New England, which proved to be permanent. A settlement was begun near the mouth of the river Kennebec in 1606-7, but was deserted the following spring. And small settlements were made a few years after Plymouth, at Weymouth and Braintree, which were soon abandoned.
The first settlement at Plymouth numbered one hundred and one, consisting of men, women and children ; but, by their great privations and exposure, they suffered severe sickness, and nearly one half of the company died within five months after they landed. They endured similar privations and suf- fering, occasionally, for several years, till they were able to build comfortable houses, and to cultivate the earth with profit. The danger from the savages was long imminent; and their fears, on this account, were a constant diminution of the com- mon enjoyments of life. They found some mitigation for these fears, however, in the friendship of a powerful Sachem, not far distant from their settlement. In 1630, when the colony of Massachusetts Bay dates its origin, as then a large company arrived and settled Charlestown, Boston, and vicinity, the in- habitants of Plymouth were estimated at three hundred. The principal men of the colony were William Bradford, Edward
17
HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Winslow, William Brewster, Miles Standish, Isaac Allerton, Thomas Prence, John Alden, Samuel Fuller, and John How- land; to which may be added, John Carver, the first governor, who died in five months after their landing; and Robert Cush- man, who was a short time in the colony, in 1621, but who soon returned to England, and did not again visit America.
William Bradford was Governor of the colony from the Spring of 1621, when Carver died, to 1657, (the year of his death,) except two years, when Edward Winslow was elected to that office, and one, in which Thomas Prence was called to the chair. It appears by his letters and manuscripts, that he was a man of considerable literary attainments. William Brewster, who sustained the office of elder in the church, and was the oldest of the company, had the benefit of a university education ; and was some time in public life in England, during the reign of Elizabeth. Miles Standish was of a noble family, and possessed a high and indomitable spirit. Samuel Fuller was a deacon of the Plymouth church, and a physician of some eminence. He was sent for to Salem in 1629, in a season of great sickness; and to Charlestown in August 1630, to attend the sick, soon after the arrival of the large company, under Governor Winthrop. Isaac Allerton and Stephen Hopkins were men of good estates and numerous families. They, with Brewster, Bradford, Winslow, Standish and Alden, and Shirley, Andrews, Hatherly, Beauchamp, Collier and Thomas, who still remained in England, were the undertakers, and became responsible for the debts of the company. Hatherly, Thomas and Collier, afterwards came over and settled in the colony. Without the aid and accountability of Shirley and Andrews the plantation might have failed, for want of funds and credit. They also assisted in procuring a second charter in 1629, on the discovery of the selfish plans of Pierce, in whose name the first had been issued, though he was only an agent in pro- curing it.
In July, 1620, some merchants, and other opulent gentlemen in England, were incorporated, by the name of "The Council for the affairs of New England, or North Virginia;" and it was proposed to make a settlement within their patent, and under their protection. But that patent not being definitely settled, the Leyden company resolved to go for some place south of New England, near Hudson River. In this, however, they were deceived. The captain of the Mayflower carried them farther North, and they entered the harbor of Cape Cod. This has been considered a favorable circumstance, though de- plored at the time ; as the Indians were then numerous in that
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18
HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
part of the country ; while the territory about Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay was almost depopulated by a recent mortal sickness.
Before the settlements at Salem and Boston, the people of Plymouth were constantly struggling for existence, and guard- ing themselves against the hostile attacks of the natives, a suf- ficient number of whom remained to harass and alarm them. Though Massasoit was friendly, other chiefs on Cape Cod and in Massachusetts were plotting their ruin. But by the pru- dence and wisdom of Bradford and Winslow, the bravery of Standish, and the religious influence of Brewster, under the protecting providence of God, they survived, they increased and prospered. Though destitute of an ordained minister for several years, their learned and pious elder faithfully performed the duties of spiritual teacher and guide.
Civil authority was also maintained with equal moderation and firmness. On their first arrival, in the harbor of Cape Cod, they formed themselves into a political body, for the maintenance of civil government; and at the same time ac- knowledged themselves the subjects of the crown of England. They had then no charter from King James, or the English government, to exercise civil and political authority ; nor had they, as yet, any patent or grant of the territory, where they landed and proposed to remain. But they knew that their king claimed the country, in right of discovery by the subjects of England; and they had indeed his express promise that they should be unmolested in the enjoyment of their religious opin- ions and mode of worship. They were fully aware of the ne- cessity of assuming and exercising political powers; and in the compact which they adopted, they declared their great object to be the advancement of the christian religion ; and their uni- form professions and declarations were to the same effect. This short constitution recognises the equal rights of every member of the company, and implies that the object was the equal benefit of each and all. And their first, as well as fu- ture governor, was chosen only for one year. Their language was, "that by this settlement, they hoped the honor of God, of their king and country, would be advanced, without injury to the native inhabitants; that they intended not to take ought but what the Indians were willing to dispose of; not to interfere with them except for the maintenance of peace among them, and the propagation of christianity." The first places settled, after JPlymouth, were Duxbury, Marshfield, Scituate, Taunton, Barns table, Sandwich, Eastham, Rehoboth, Bridgewater, Dart- mouth. and Swansey.
19
HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
In the summer of 1622, a settlement was began, at a place called Wessaguscus, now Weymouth, by some English people, under the direction and support of Thomas Weston, an enter- prising merchant of London. The number of persons who were of this company has been stated to be upwards of fifty ; and two vessels were employed in the enterprise. They were a very different people, in their character and views, from the settlers at Plymouth ; and their chief object was gain. Weston had given some aid to the Leyden company, by endeavoring to obtain a patent for them early in 1620, and by promising to furnish vessels and funds for the enterprise ; but his aim was mercantile speculation and profit ; and they soon found that they could not justly rely on his support.
The people of Weston's company treated the Indians with great injustice, and in their intercourse with them used muclı deceit and fraud. In their general conduct, as a society, they were indolent, extravagant and immoral. They called on Ply- mouth for protection against the natives, whom they had pro- voked by their oppressions and insolence ; and Captain Stand- ish was sent to their relief. He slew several of the hostile Indians, who threatened them; and the Governor of Plymouth supplied them with provisions from his scanty stores. The following year they wholly abandoned the settlement.
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