USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Massachusetts from July 1775, when general Washington took command of the American Army at Cambridge, to the year 1789, (inclusive) when federal government was established under the present constitution, Vol 2 > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
In the course of the year, (1783) the troops were disbanded, and retired quietly to their re- spective homes. General Washington previously addressed them in a solemn and affectionate man- ner ; and while he acknowledged their past ser- vices, he exhorted them to demean themselves as obedient and useful citizens. When he took his final leave of the officers, he was much affected ; and they also were deeply penetrated by mingled sentiments of regret and esteem; which render- ed the parting interview most pathetic and in- teresting.
* General Knox, and colonel Brooks of Massachusetts were among those who exerted themselves to suppress this dan- gerous conspiracy.
221
The taxes had been so great for several years, and the public demands so urgent, that many indivi- dual debts had been neglected. Great indulgence had been generally granted ; but creditors at length began to call in earnest for their dues. Where small sums were to be collected, the costs amount- ed almost to the original debt. This became a subject of great complaint among the common people : and a law was made for the purpose of affording them relief, by authorizing justices of the peace to take acknowledgment of debts; and if the same were not paid within a stated period, to compel payment by execution. The usual costs of Court were thus avoided; but in some instances there was cause of complaint on the part of the creditor, that too much indulgence was granted by the magistrates, or that he suffered through their ignorance of the common forms and principles of law.
A tax of 200,0007. was laid early in the year (1782) but the collection was long delayed, and the wants of the army being very pressing, the legislature was obliged to borrow large sums, and to pledge the tax for the payment. In addition to the pay of the militia who were employed during the preceding year, and the interest due to those who had loaned their money to the public, the General Court had to provide for paying balances, to a large amount, to the continental soldiers belonging to the State. It was bound to pay them the real value of their wages ; and for two or three years, the depreciation of continental paper, in which they were paid, was very great : for the whole of their wages also, at one period, the State had to provide ; though the sum thus
222
advanced was to be passed to its credit, in a final adjustment with the continent. For 1783, the public tax was the same as the preceding year ; and new loans were obtained, by prevailing on those public creditors who were entitled to a part of the principal due them by the State, to receive new paper instead of specie. Had the creditors of the Commonwealth insisted upon payment when it was due, it would have been possible to comply with their demands, only by resorting to new loans to a great amount. Even the soldiers, destitute as they were, could only obtain a small part of their wages in cash ; and notes were given them, payable at different periods. Those who retained their certificates for several years, were fully paid ; but many were necessitated to throw them into the market, by which they suffered extreme- ly. During this year, the act was passed for raising money by impost, and it afforded great facility in discharging the demands upon the public treasury. The amount collected through the Unit- ed States was little short of a million annually, for several years. In compliance with a requisition of Congress, in the month of May, the General Court caused large sums to be remitted to the continental Financier, to enable him to pay the officers and soldiers then about to be disbanded, a part of their wages, which had been expressly promised them.
.
Some of those native Americans, who had joined the enemy when the war began, or afterwards, when the British army was most successful, pro- posed to return to the State at this time. The return of such characters was prohibited by a law of the General Court in 1778. There appeared
--
223
a disposition to disregard or to evade the law of the State ; and some individuals of this description, perhaps, might have been permitted to return and reside in the United States, without any dan- ger to the public tranquillity. But it was found difficult to discriminate. At a subsequent period, however, some of those who had not been active against America were granted liberty to come into the State ; and were justly esteemed as honest and useful citizens. The families of even those who were justly obnoxious to the patriots of Massachusetts, if they remained in the country, were treated with great indulgence, and allowed a reasonable part of the estate which belonged to their absent head.
It was stated by Congress, that the necessary expenses for 1783, including interest and instal- ments on the public debt, would amount to six millions of dollars ; four of which were to be bor- rowed in Europe, and two to be raised by the States. The proportion required of Massachusetts was 320,000. This sum was to be paid quarterly, and charged to the account of the United States. In the course of this year, Congress also recom- mended to the several States, to provide for raising their respective quotas of a million and half of dol- lars annually, for twenty-five years; the part as- signed for Massachusetts, amounted to 224,000.
Mr. Hancock was elected governor, and Mr. Cushing lieutenant-governor, (1783) for the fourth time, with great unanimity. Mr. S. Adams was again chosen president of the Senate, and Mr. T. Dalton, speaker of the House of Representatives. The delegates in Congress from Massachusetts, were Mr. Gerry, Holten, Partridge, Higginson,
224
Gorham, and Osgood. Two of the ministers of the United States at foreign courts, at this period, were citizens of Massachusetts. John Adams had been five years in that capacity ; and with Frank- lin, Jay, and Laurens, was specially empowered to make peace with Great Britain, agreeably to instructions given by Congress. Francis Dana was appointed minister to Russia in 1779, and returned to America towards the close of 1783. The next year, he was chosen one of the delegates to Con- gress, with Messrs. Gerry, Partridge, and Osgood; and in 1785, appointed a Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court.
The intelligence of peace was received with the greatest joy by all classes of people. The preli- minaries were agreed to early in 1783; but the definitive treaty was not signed till the 3d of Sep- tember. It secured to the United States the rich blessings of liberty and independence, for which they had maintained an arduous struggle during eight years. A great debt, indeed, was accumu- lated by the war; but, by the truly patriotic citi- zens, this was considered a price for civil freedom, which they were most willing to pay. The short- sighted complained, because of the immediate sa- crifices it required of them : but the more intelli- gent were satisfied of the abundant resources of the country, and perceived the high destiny which awaited it. The great majority of people, even in the United States, where the means of educa- tion are provided for all, are generally governed by their feelings rather than by reason; and are influenced in their opinions, by immediate calamity or prosperity, more than by the prospect of great but distant good. The burden of taxes was too
225
heavy to be endured without complaint, except by the virtuous and considerate part of the communi- ty : and envy had some influence in adding to the general discontent. It was pretended, that the officers of the army, especially if they should re- ceive half pay for life, or full wages for five years, after they had left the public service, would have a greater allowance than they could justly claim ; and that they would therefore probably consider themselves of a higher grade in society than their fellow citizens. It was also said, that if the offi- cers of the army had ably served the country and suffered much in its defence, the people who re- mained at home had been obliged to make great efforts to procure and pay men at various periods of the war. The argument was more specious than solid. For most of the officers had left their regular occupations in life ; and it was difficult to resume them. And they, more than any other class of people, suffered by the depreciation of the public paper.
The governor, in his public address to the Ge- neral Court, in October, the first session after the peace, felicitated the members on the auspicious event, and reminded them of the great obligations the country was under to provide for a just and full compensation to those who had been engaged in the war of the revolution. Their meritorious services, he said, should never be forgotten. . He also advised to immediate and effectual measures to maintain the public credit and to satisfy the de- mands upon the state. A tax of 140,000/. was soon after assessed upon the inhabitants of Massa- chusetts, for the sole purpose of paying that part of the notes formerly given to the officers and sol- VOL. II. 29
226
diers of the revolutionary army,* which were then due.
The legislature, at a succeeding session instruct- ed their delegates to obtain a resolve of Congress for settling the accounts of the state, for expenses incurred during the war. It was confidently be- lieved, that Massachusetts had made greater ad- vances towards the general expenses than its just share : and, at a later day, when an adjustment was made, it appeared that the opinion was not unfound- ed. The General Court of Massachusetts also pro- posed, that Congress should have power granted to it by the several states, to make laws for the gene- ral regulation of foreign commerce. Some of the states still omitted to pass a law for raising a reve- nue by duties on goods imported into the country as recommended. This led to an evasion of the laws for that purpose, in the states adjoining. Du- ring this political year a resolution was adopted by the legislature expressing an opinion of the impro- priety of the appointment by Congress, of any of its members to lucrative offices ; several instances had occured, and was considered contrary to the principles of a republican government.
A judgment of the Supreme Judicial Court in the course of this year, given in the county of Worcester, was a final decision unfavourable to the existence of slavery in Massachusetts. The case originated some time before, and was occasioned by a citizen beating and imprisoning his negro ser- vant, whom he considered a slave. Public opinion had, indeed, been long decidedly against the prac-
* The pay of the representatives for five sessions amounted only to 11,000l.
227
tice of holding any human being in involuntary sla- very. The odious and highly criminal traffic of human beings was never allowed in Massachusetts. A few years after the first settlement of New En- gland, the court ordered two Africans brought into the colony by the captain of a vessel, with the in- tention of being sold for slaves, and supposed to have been kidnapped on the coast of Africa, to be sent back to their own country. Many however were holden in bondage within the province, till the revolution. The inconsistency of such a prac- tice with the theory and the claims of the Ameri- cans was very apparent; and generally those ne- groes who wished for freedom were granted the indulgence by their masters. The first article in the declaration of rights, which is a part of the constitution of the state, adopted in 1780, acknow- ledges " that all men are born free and equal." This was inserted, no doubt, as a general axiom. But it was also said, at the time, that there was a reference to the condition of the Africans, which had been held in slavery in Massachusetts, and was still advocated in some other parts of the country, by the plea of necessity. The man who claimed to own the slave and pleaded a right to beat and imprison him, was adjudged guilty of an assault, and sentenced to pay a fine of forty shillings.
In the spring of 1784, the General court order- ed that the number of people should be ascertain- ed; and the return gave only 358,000. When a census was taken eight years before, it appeared there were 349,000. But there was a great ob- jection to the measure at the latter period, and many omissions in the returns at the former : an opinion prevailed that the number was much great-
228
er at both periods .* The small increase for these eight years may be accounted for by the fact, that some removed from the state during that period, to Vermont and New York; and that great num- bers perished in the field, in camp and in pri-
sons. Eight or nine thousand were lost to the state in these different ways. A great portion of these died in confinement when prisoners of war. The charge was repeatedly made, and probably with some truth, that the American soldiers and sea- men, when taken by the British, were not treated with that attention and humanity, which might have been expected from a civilized and christian nation. In the prison ships at New York, great numbers died through gross inattention.
In April 1784, Congress called upon the states to furnish five millions and an half of dollars, to meet demands against the continent, and necessary to be discharged in the course of the year: but a great part of this sum would be furnished by pay- ment of the arrears of three preceding years. Its requisitions for the three years were twelve millions of dollars; and the amount required of Massachu- setts was 1,800,000. The state was still in arrears for this sum, 730,500 dollars. No additional di- rect tax for the continent, therefore, was required this year ; but the amount of what was already due, besides the impostt and an appropriation by the state for the payment of a part of the wages, which had been before promised the soldiers, con- stituted a large sum, which it was exceedingly diffi-
* It was supposed the whole number was at least 400,000.
" The imposts collected for Suffolk for the year 1784, was $27,000 : for the whole state $57,000.
229
cult to raise. Many of the soldiers, discharged the preceding year, received notes payable in a few months, as there were no funds to pay them at the time, which now become due; Congress was un- able to obtain any new loans in Europe, this year, (indeed, the French minister informed Dr. Frank- lin that the interest and a part of the principal of the debt due to his nation would be expected) and a new requisition was confidentially made to the several states for the sum of 636,000 dollars to satisfy immediate demands, the share of which for Massachusetts to furnish was 95,000. There was an unwillingness to have the great necessities of the country publicly known.
The General Court appointed a committee to state the accounts of the Commonwealth for ex- penses incurred in defence of the country during the war, and to prepare for a settlement with agents to be chosen by Congress. An application was made to that body for such an adjustment. They requested an allowance also for the expenses attending the expedition against the British at Pe- nobscot; which, though projected by Massachu- setts, was designed for the general welfare, and was undertaken with the knowledge of Congress. At the same time, the delegates were instructed to have provision made for an allowance to the state, on account of the bounties it had given men to enlist in the continental army; and for an in- demnification to those citizens of Massachusetts who held the depreciated paper of the continent, and by which they must suffer, except Congress should allow them some compensation. When a recommendation was made to the states two years before, to call in their respective quotas of the
230
bills of the old emission, Massachusetts collected its full portion. It could not receive any more, but at its own loss, as there was no resolve of Con- gress to redeem them. Those individuals, there- fore, who were in possession of such bills, were believed to have a fair claim upon the continental government.
At a subsequent session of this political year, while Congress were considering the subject of a permanent military* establishment, the two houses ordered letters to be written to their delegates, to oppose any plan which should provide for main- taining a large force. They were opposed, from principle, to a standing army in time of peace ; and the consideration of the expense furnished a pow- erful objection. But Congress did not consider it proper to disband all the troops; for the British had not given up the posts on the northern and western frontiers ; and the Indians in some places, still discovered a hostile disposition.
The legislature likewise passed a resolve, in which they expressed an opinion, that interest ought not to be recovered on British debts, the validity of which the treaty had acknowledged, during the period of the war. They considered it unreasonable that interest should be required while the two countries were engaged in hostili- ties : and their feelings, probably, had some in- fluence in the opinion they formed on the subject, as many demands were made by those who had de- serted the country, when their aid and their services were necessary for its welfare. The property of
" The number proposed was four regiments of infantry, one of artillery, and one of engineers.
231
such persons had been declared forfeited to the state ; and their credits were justly liable to the same disposition. There was less objection to paying the debts due to British merchants, con- tracted before the revolution; but it was contend- ed that these even should not receive the usual interest during the time, when all connexion was suspended between the two countries.
The treaty of peace with Great Britain provid- ed, " that there should be no further confiscation of the estates of those Americans who adhered to the English government in the revolution :- that creditors on both sides should recover their bona fide debts-and that Congress recommend to the respective states to restore the property of all British subjects, living in the other provinces of Britain, or who had not borne arms against the United States. The legislature of Massachusetts did not immediately comply with all these pro- positions. A law was passed in 1784, in which, assuming and declaring its rights as a sovereign state, and consequently its authority to forbid the residence of aliens, and to decide what conduct would be proper for the state to pursue towards all such, it was enacted that those who had fled to the British for protection in the revolution were to be considered and treated as aliens, and not intitled to claim and receive any estate or pro- perty left within the state; that no property confiscated would be restored ; that the credits, as well as the real estate of the absentees, belong- ed to the Commonwealth; and that they would not be permitted to return to the country. They also provided by law for the judicial court to sus- pend judgment on actions brought . by any British
232
subjects until further directions from the legisla- ture, as they were of opinion the interest during the time of the war ought not to be recovered. This, perhaps, was an improper interference, on the part of the legislature, with the powers and duty of the judiciary. Congress afterwards de- clared, that the treaty ratified by that body, was binding in all its parts upon the several states, and enjoined a repeal of any laws repugnant to its stipulations. Massachusetts soon after passed a bill repealing all laws of the state which were contrary to, and inconsistent with, the articles of the treaty with England. The legislature had before ordered, that no further confiscations should be made, and allowed absentees of a certain des- cription, and who had not actually aided the Bri- tish in the war, to return and reside for a limited time, with the particular consent of the supreme executive of the state.
The General Court also passed a law in 1784, to excuse a debtor from paying interest on money, of which he had tendered payment before the first of January 1777. Many persons refused to receive the paper in circulation, at an early day, even before it had depreciated ; and it was deem- ed just by the legislature, that they should lose the interest afterwards. But many supposed the law was not sanctioned by the constitution.
Towards the close of this year, a representa- tion was made to the governor, that the British were making encroachments on the eastern part of the state adjoining to Nova Scotia. This might have been done without a design to trespass upon the American territory ; for it was a question, which was the true river St. Croix, intended in
233
the treaty, as the boundary between the British territory, and the United States, there being two, to which that name had been formerly applied. A committee was appointed to enquire as to the facts, both of the encroachments and of the true boundary ; and application was made to Congress for their advice on the subject. The next year, a report was made by the committee stating the uncertainty of the boundary line, and the proba- bility that the encroachments were not made from a hostile disposition. Commissioners were soon after appointed by Congress, and the bounds were amicably fixed.
During the winter session of the legislature in 1785, governor Hancock resigned the office of chief magistrate, giving as the reason the very in- firm state of his health. His constitution was never apparently very firm; and ten years of un- remitting public service, under circumstances of great anxiety and responsibility, had rendered him extremely feeble. He needed repose from politi- cal duties and cares, and there were some of his fellow citizens who complained of his administra- tion. It was a period of great discontent among the people of Massachusetts, on account of the extreme burden of the public taxes. Many were of opinion, the evil might have been lessened by more efficient measures for collecting the taxes within the year in which they were laid. But they had been suffered to accumulate for several years ; and the successor of Mr. Hancock was subjected to more than ordinary difficulties in his administration on this account.
The patriotism of Mr. Hancock was never doubted ; nor were his talents or fidelity even VOL. II. 30
234
called in question : but he was deficient, perhaps, in that uniformity and firmness, which are highly important in a chief magistrate. In a public officer, however, popularity is no certain proof of ability or honesty of purpose : and opposition is sometimes made to the most upright administra- tion. In their address to Mr. Hancock, in reply to his communication resigning his office, the General Court regretted both the event and the occasion of it; and expressed a high sense of his patriotic and useful services to the country .* Lieutenant governor Cushing filled the chair the residue of the political year.
At this session, an additional excise act was passed, " on paper, parchment and vellum," on which a fee was required for deeds, writs, policies of insurance, &c. to be paid over to a public officer for the use of the Commonwealth. A great quan- tity of British goods was imported this year into the state, and was the occasion of much uneasiness among the people. For the manufactures of the country were thereby checked, and the amount of specie in circulation was rapidly diminishing. The intelligent patriots lamented this eager desire for articles of foreign production ; and were anxious to restrain it by regulations on foreign commerce and on the importation of goods from other coun- tries. But they believed Congress could more ef- fectually provide against the evil by negotiation with foreign nations. The common people com-
Mr. Hancock was chosen a representative for Boston in May following. The legislature appointed him a delegate to Congress the same year ; when he was again chosen to pre- side over the deliberations of that body.
235
plained more loudly .* They saw British mer- chants and British agents crowding their goods into the state, many of which they considered as mere luxuries, for which nothing but gold and sil- ver was given in exchange: and yet many, who perceived and complained of the detriment which was afflicting the country, gave their sanction to these speculations, by purchasing the articles im- ported. But it is more common to detect and to censure a mischievous policy, than to practise that self denial which would prevent its deleterious ef- fects.
* Some of the importers of English goods were insulted by the populace.
236
CHAPTER. XI.
Mr. Bowdoin governor ... His opinions and Speech ... Proposes more power to Congress ... Embarrassments on commerce ... Plan to pay debt ... British captain's insolence ... Old taxes not collected ... New ones assessed ... Criminals confined to labour ... Convention in Maine ... Proposal to authorise Congress to regulate commerce ... Convention proposed for revising corporation ... Mr. Bowdoin governor 1786 .. Urges payment of debt.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.