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 22
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for great efforts and sacrifices. The tax ordered for this year (1788) was 220,000 dollars; and a great part of those for 1785, 1786 and 1787, re- mained to be paid by many towns .*
Congress appointed an agent to examine the ac- counts which Massachusetts had prepared against the United States, for expenses incurred by the Commonwealth for the general welfare, and which were not considered exclusively as the debt of the state. These, indeed, gave a great sum; as the defence of the state was not allowed to be carried to the national account. Of the former claims, two millions and an half of dollars, of specie value, were admitted, without hesitation or objection : and also eight millions of the old currency, which had greatly depreciated. Besides these sums, other accounts were offered of six millions, which were not then allowed, as the instructions of the agent did not authorize it ; and which were, there- fore, referred to a future settlement.t But the greater part of it was afterwards admitted.
In the course of this year, a quantity of copper was issued from the mint, which had been esta- blished by order of the legislature in 1786. It was also proposed to have silver coined; but Con- gress advised against the measure, upon the belief, that coining money was the prerogative of the United States collectively considered, and that uni- formity would be for the greater convenience of the people in all parts of the union. Only a small
The amount of arrears of former taxes was about a mil- lion of dollars.
1 Hon. Nathan Dane, then a member of Congress, was very attentive to the claims of Massachusetts, and rendered great service to the state.
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amount was coined ; and the next year, on the es- tablishment of the federal government, the mint in Massachusetts was discontinued.
The legislature discovered a disposition in fa- vour of manufactures ; and governor Hancock, as his predecessor had done a year before, recom- mended, that public encouragement be given to such as promised to be useful, and for which the state afforded materials. A duck manufactory was established in Boston, and a cotton manufactory in Beverly; both of which received pecuniary aid from the General Court, the former in the way of bounty upon the duck manufactured, and the other by a grant of eastern lands. But these establish- ments were very limited in their effects, and did not long continue in operation. The manufacture of pot and pearl ashes increased to a great extent in the interior of the state, and supplied those who traded to England with a valuable article of ex- portation. There were two hundred and forty es- tablishments of this kind in the state, at this pe- riod. Nails were also manufactured, in some towns, in large quantities. The state was much benefited by this employment : for the demand was great for the article, and it saved the specie to the coun- try, which would otherwise have been sent abroad in exchange for it.
A law was passed in the month of March 1788, forbidding all the citizens of the state from having any concern in the slave trade. Massachusetts had, indeed, always condemned the practice as un- christian, and inconsistent with the common rights of humanity. It had, also, before this period, abolished the odious custom of slavery through the state. If any of the citizens had been concerned VOL. II. 42
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in such inhuman traffic, it was unknown to the civil authority and to the public. The occasion of the law, at this particular time, was the seizing of three people of colour by the captain of a vessel in Boston, and taking them by force to the West Indies, with anintention to make sale of them. The person engaged, in thus forcibly taking or detain- ing any negro, for the purpose of transportation as a slave, was subject to a heavy penalty; the own- ers of the vessels were made liable in a large sum ; the insurance was to be void; and the relations of the persons kidnapped, if these were sold in a dis- tant country, were allowed to prosecute for the crime.
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CHAPTER XV.
Mr. Hancock governor ... His popularity ... Dispute respecting the Cap- taincy of the Castle and of the salary of the lieutenant governor ... Representatives to Congress ... Number and mode of chosing Electors of President and Vice-President ... Address to the President ... Two brass field pieces. . . Mr. Hancock governor, May 1789. . . His speech . .. Law for Public Schools ... Finances ... New Counties in Maine ... Washington's visit . .. Effects of Federal Government.
IN 1788, Mr. Hancock was again elected gover- nor of the Commonwealth by a very general vote, and without much opposition. It was not to be expected, that all would prefer him; and as he had been placed in the chair, the year preceding by the influence of those, who disapproved of the measures adopted by Mr. Bowdoin, there were many in the state who could not give him their cordial support. But his administration for the year past had not been such as to justify the fear- ful anticipations of his opponents. If he had not the firmness to oppose popular errors, or to act with suitable decision and energy in a time of ge- neral dissatisfaction and commotion, such as had prevailed in the time of Mr. Bowdoin, he was not disposed to compromit the dignity of government by any acts of weak indulgence towards the insur- gents. Perhaps, no man in the Commonwealth had talents better fitted to maintain the tranquillity of society and the necessary authority of the govern- ment, when he took the chair, as successor to Mr
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Bowdoin. General Lincoln was chosen lieutenant governor for this year, though there were several others proposed as candidates for the office, at the time of the elections. He possessed the most es- timable qualities as a man, and was celebrated as a brave and judicious officer in the war of the re- volution. He had also repeatedly been elected to the legislature and to the council board. His de- cision and prudence in conducting the militia raised by government to suppress the insurrection, had in- creased the public confidence in his character.
The conduct of the governor, this year, in rela- tion to the captaincy of the castle, by which it was believed he manifested an unfriendly feeling to- wards general Lincoln, was a subject of public dis- cussion ; and, in a portion of the community, of se- vere censure. By some, indeed, the course he pursued was considered arbitrary and unconsti- tutional. By his particular recommendation, an establishment had been made by the legislature, for the castle, by which it was provided, that the executive should appoint a captain for that for-
tress. The lieutenant governor had long held that office ; and received for it certain fees and perqui- sites, which amounted to upwards of a thousand dollars. These, Mr. Cushing, the predeces- sor of general Lincoln, had always received ; and no other allowance was made for him by the legis- lature. General Lincoln received none of these perquisites, and no salary was annexed to the office. In the month of November, of this year, 1788, nearly six months after the election of gene- ral Lincoln, as lieutenant governor, the house in- quired, why he had not been appointed to the command of the castle, having a reference chiefly
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to the subject of compensation, which they believ- ed he ought to receive. The governor sent a message to the General Court, in which he not only claimed the right to fill an office, at such time as he might think proper; but explicitly declared it his opinion, " that he might justly, as chief magis- trate, refuse to carry into effect a resolve of the General Court, if he judged it would involve the state in an unnecessary expense ;" which he said he supposed would be the case, in having a captain of the castle with so large a compensation as had been then received. It was the doctrine advanced by the governor, rather than the omission of appoint- ing a captain to the castle, which was condemned ; though many failed not to charge him with a de- sign also to deprive the lieutenant governor of the stipend, which his predecessor had always received. A committee was appointed by the General Court, at the winter session, to consider what allowance the lieutenant governor should have for his ser- vices; and their report gave occasion to an anima- ted debate on the conduct of the governor. The discussion continued several days, in the course of which, resolutions were offered, disapproving of the sentiments of the governor expressed in his mes- sage of November; but they were not acceptable to the majority of the house, and were therefore rejected. It was admitted by those who advocat- ed the resolutions, that the governor had a right to decide as to the proper time for making appoint- ments; though even in this, there might be an un- justifiable delay, for which he was responsible to his constituents and to the state ; but it was con- tended, that he could not justly prevent the ope- ration of a law, which the legislature had passed.
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The committee reported a thousand dollars, as a compensation to the lieutenant governor; but the house reduced it to five hundred and thirty-three.
A difference of opinion was manifested between the two houses of the General Court, in adopting an answer to the governor's message. communica- ted at the beginning of the session. It was the practice, at that time, for the two houses to unite in the address to the governor, in reply to his pub- lic speeches. But on this occasion, the senate and house could not agree in an answer; and the re- presentatives voted to prepare a separate address. The subject of disagreement was, at this session, relative to several questions which came before them; particularly with reference to the payment of the public debt. The senate were decided for some provisions, by which the interest would be punctually paid, and for a larger tax, with this view, than the representatives thought expedient to assess.
There was also a proposal by the senate, for strik- ing out a paragraph in the original draft adopted by the house, in which it was proposed, as the states of Virginia and New York had done, to call a new convention, for the purpose of incorporating the amendments proposed to the constitution, into the instrument, before any general government was organized under it. The senate were opposed to such a measure, as of fatal tendency ; and agreed with the governor, in the opinion he expressed in his speech, that all which was proper for the le- gislature to do, was to present the proposed amend- ments to the Congress, and to instruct the repre- sentatives from the state to that body to use their efforts to have them recommended and adopted.
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Until this period, the delegates to Congress had been appointed by the General Court. According to the federal constitution, they were now to be chosen immediately by the people. For the first Congress, Massachusetts was to have only eight representatives. The state was divided into that number of districts, for the purpose of electing one representstive in each. This number was de- termined by the new constitution; but was not perfectly agreeable to the ratio fixed by that in- strument, for future years, which was one repre- sentative for 30,000 inhabitants. The population of Massachusetts, at that time, entitled her to more than the number above mentioned ; but no census had been then lately taken, and the number of in- habitants was not precisely known to the conven- tion .* At the first trial, only four representatives were elected; these were Fisher Ames, George Partridge, George Leonard, and George Thatcher. Afterwards, Elbridge Gerry, Benjamin Goodhue, Jonathan Grout, and Theodore Sedgwick, were chosen. The first board of electors, in Massachu- setts, of president and vice president, were Wil- lim Cushing, William Shepard, William Sever, Walter Spooner, David Sewall, Caleb Davis, Fran- cis Dana, Samuel Henshaw, Samuel Phillips, jr. and Moses Gill.
The mode prescribed by the legislature at this time, for the appointment of electors, was as fol- lows-Two persons were to be voted for in each district, and the General Court to select one of the two who should receive the highest number ยท of votes ; and two others were chosen immediate-
* The number was supposed to be 370,000 or 380,000.
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ly by the legislature. These met in Boston, on the first Wednesday of February, 1789, and gave in their votes for general WASHINGTON to be presi- dent, and Hon. JOHN ADAMS to be vice president, of the United States.
Soon after general Washington was inducted into the office of president of the United States, the legislature of Massachusetts forwarded him the following public address.
"Sir,-Your acceptance of your present exalted and important station, affords universal joy to the people of Massachusetts. They have long felt the most grateful sentiments for your character, and attachment to your person. And they reflect with pleasure on the ardour which your presence inspired in the alarming and novel circumstances of a war within their country and against their civil security, so soon restored by the discipline and success of the army under your command.
" The unanimity of the suffrages of these states in your election, is no less a testimony of your merit, than of the gratitude of this extensive com- munity. They have declared, by investing you with the powers of their president, their confidence in you, from their experience of your wisdom and virtues, and they delight to honour you. For your services, in their estimation, will yet far ex- ceed their rewards.
" The union of the states, by a form of govern- ment, intended to secure the blessings of liberty, is rendered more perfect under you, as their chief. All the advantages of that government, of our na- tional independence and civil liberty, may be ra- tionally expected under your administration. From you, we shall receive those examples of public and
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private economy, of prudence, fortitude and patri- otism, of justice, morality and religion, which, by the aid of divine providence, insure the welfare of a community.
" To express the voice of our constituents, we join in the congratulations of United America, on this great event, and we earnestly implore the protection of Almighty God upon your person and family ; that he would afford you his divine aid in the duties of your important station, and would long continue you a blessing to the United States."
On the application of the governor, Congress ordered two brass field pieces to be restored to Massachusetts, which were a part of the FOUR that composed the whole American field artillery, at the commencement of the revolutionary war. Con- gress ordered the following inscription to be put upon them; on one-" HANCOCK-sacred to liber- ty. This is one of four cannon which constituted the whole train of field artillery, possessed by the British colonies of North America, at the com- mencement of the war, on the 19th of April 1775. This cannon and its fellow, belonging to a number of citizens of Boston, were used in many engage- ments during the war. The other two, the pro- perty of the government of Massachusetts, were taken by the enemy." On the other, the inscrip- tion was " ADAMS," with the same explanation and statement as on the former one.
Mr. Hancock was elected governor again in April 1789; but received greater opposition than in 1788. There was no particular accusation pre- ferred against him for improper measures, during the former political year, except his conduct with regard to general Lincoln, the lieutenant governor ; VOL. IF. 43
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which, by many, was considered not only unfriendly to that eminent patriot, but arbitrary in itself, and inconsistent with the nature of the government. His most zealous adherents proposed Mr. Samuel Adams for lieutenant governor, instead of general Lincoln; and this circumstance led the friends of the latter to support Mr. Bowdoin for governor, and to oppose Mr. Hancock and Mr. Adams, with more than ordinary warmth. The various pub- lications in the newspapers, relating to the elec- tion, contained personal allusions and bitter crimi- nations, unknown on any former occasion. Mr. Adams was elected lieutenant governor for this political year. Many of his former friends were surprised, that he and Mr. Hancock were on the same ticket, as they had differed on some public measures within a few years. . But these were not on material points; their 'general views and opi- nions were similar; and they had long been asso- ciated in the political affairs of the state and the nation.
The governor in his message,* communicated soon after the General Court was organized, hav- ing spoken with great approbation of the federal government, from which he said important and permanent benefits might justly be expected, ob- served-
" But it ought ever to be remembered that no form of government, or mode of administration can make a vicious people happy ; and that there- fore the public felicity will in a great measure de- pend upon the practice of the social and private
* Indisposition prevented his attending the legislature in person during this session.
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virtues by the people of this extensive republic .- That this Commonwealth, which constitutes an important part of the general government, may increase its own prosperity, while it promotes that of the Union, we must support and encourage the means of learning, and all institutions for the edu- cation of the rising generation ; an equal degree of intelligence being as necessary to a free govern- ment, as laws are for an equal distribution of pro- perty.
" Our wise and magnanimous ancestors, impress- ed with this idea, were very careful and liberal in the establishment of institutions for this purpose ; among which, that of our university in Cambridge, and grammar schools in the several towns were be- lieved very important. Every necessary attention will certainly be paid to the former: and I cannot but earnestly recommend to your inquiry, the reason why the latter is so much neglected in the state .* Should any new laws be wanting on this subject, you cannot do your country a more essential ser- vice than by providing them."
A law was passed at this session, requiring all towns with two hundred families, to support a grammar school, agreeably to former usage in the province. Towns with that number and upwards, were ordered to employ for instructers of youth, those who had been educated at some college, and were able to teach the Latin and Greek languages. In towns where the inhabitants were less, it was
* It is a matter of regret with many, that, since the time when governor Hancock gave the above opinion and advice, the provision by law for grammar schools has been, in a great measure, virtually annulled.
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required, that such as were qualified to teach the English language correctly, should be engaged in the business of education. Great benefits were derived from this and former laws, containing simi- lar provisions, to the people of Massachusetts. In later periods, the laws of the Commonwealth have only required instruction in the English language; which has not only obliged those who desire a knowledge of the Greek or Latin, to go to dis- tant places in order to acquire them ; but has low- ered the character and qualifications of instructers ; the evils of which are apparent to those who compare the present with past times.
The preamble to this law, "providing for the instruction of youth and the promotion of good education," was as follows-" Whereas the con- stitution of this Commonwealth hath declared it to be the duty of the General Court to provide for the education of youth ; and whereas a general dissemination of knowledge and virtue is necessary to the prosperity of every state, and the very ex- istence of a Commonwealth." The governor had expressed similar sentiments in his speech, at the beginning of the session. From the earliest set- tlement of the country, the benefits arising from affording the means of information to youth of all classes and conditions were acknowledged ; and it was also admitted, that, to such as desired it, the opportunity should be furnished of gaining an ac- quaintance with ancient literature.
During this session (June 1789,) a committee of finance was appointed to " inquire into the several expenditures, and see if any savings can be made ; to inquire into the state of all outstanding taxes and of all debts due to the Commonwealth ; into
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the state of the revenue arising from impost and excise ; and to see what deductions will be conse- quent, upon the treasury, by the operation of fede- ral laws : and to devise means for increasing the public revenue." A few days after, this committee reported, " that the debt of the state was 1,400 o00l., the interest to which the Commonwealth was liable, annually, was somewhat more than 100, 000l. This, it was stated, would be reduced by receipts on the sales of the lands in New York 300,000l. ; by a year's interest, then due on that sum, and by the sale of continental certificates, 90,000l .; which had then recently been given by Congress as evidence of claims, to that amount in favour of the Commonwealth, already settled. According to this exhibit, the amount to be pro- vided for was about 1,081,000l .; the interest of which was 64,000l. To this was to be added 15,000l. estimated as necessary for the civil list.
It was believed that the excise would give half this sum; and it was recommended, that the other moiety should be raised by a direct tax. And the committee stated, that this amount was less by 10,000l. than was assessed upon the pro- vince from 1763 to 1770. Several members ob- jected to any direct tax, at this time, on account of the taxes laid in several former years and then re- quired by the General Court to be immediately collected. Some of the representatives appeared to have little concern for the credit of the Com- monwealth, and were chiefly anxious for the relief of their constituents, who were still complaining loudly of the public burdens.
The county of Lincoln, which included the east- erly part of the district of Maine, a large territory,
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extending on the sea-coast, two hundred miles, from the river Kennebec* to St. Croix, the boundary between the United States and the British pro- vince of New Brunswick, was divided into three shires. The two new ones formed were called Han- cock and Washington. The separation of Maine was again proposed by a convention at Portland, in 1788, which presented a petition to the legislature to further the design. The petition was before the General Court some time, but it was not grant- ed; for it did not appear that the majority of the people were desirous of becoming a distinct state. The dispute still continued, as to the true bounda- ry of the state on the east ; and the national go- vernment being now formed, the legislature re- quested the governor to make application to the president of the United States to take measures for ascertaining the line of division, according to the treaty with Great Britain in 1783. The dis- pute was afterwards amicably settled, under the authority of the federal government.
In the month of October of this year, president Washington made a tour through the northern states ; and his reception in Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, both by the citizens of the town and by the supreme executive of the Common- wealth, were such as had never before been given to any individual. All classes of people were re- presented in the procession, formed to meet and escort him into the town; and the highest officers in the state united in this expression of respect to the truly illustrious character of the nation's civil
* The county of Lincoln included some towns on the west of this river.
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and military chief. The people were universally animated with all those sentiments of gratitude and veneration for their distinguished benefactor, which a sense of his eminent virtues and services was calculated to inspire; and manifested their feelings by every suitable demonstration of joy and exultation. The visit of Washington gave great satisfaction to the people ; but it was scarcely pos- sible to increase the esteem and admiration in which his character was already held. The lieu- tenant governor and members of the executive council, the selectmen of Boston and other munici- pal and state officers, with an immense number of citizens, met the president at the bounds of the town, to bid him welcome, and to accompany him to his place of residence. After his arrival, he re- ceived an affectionate and respectful address from the selectmen, in the name and behalf of the inha- bitants of Boston; to which he replied, in a style complimentary to the patriotism and virtue of the citizens of that ancient town. The following ad- dress was also presented him by the governor and council.
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