USA > Michigan > History of Michigan, civil and topographical, in a compendious form; with a view of the surrounding lakes > Part 13
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The Hudson Bay and the North-west Company, formed in 1737, soon came into active and desperate collision. The struggle was founded on mercantile rivalry, and disputes re-
* Mackenzie. f Ibid.
17
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HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
garding the lines of demarkation bounded by their charters. Lord Selkirk placed himself at the head of the Hudson's Bay Company, for the purpose of establishing what he con- ceived to be their rights ; and finally succeeded in amalgamat- ing the stock, and quieting the claims of his rivals. The con- test was waged by the North-west Company after they had transferred all their rights and posts south and west of the lines of debarkation to the American Fur Company, organiz- ed by the mercantile veteran, John Jacob Astor. This last- named company has continued its trade up to this period, hold- ing important establishments on the north-western lakes .*
The dress of the traders, most of whom had been employed under the French government, consisted of a blanket coat, a shirt of striped cotton, trowsers of cloth, or leather leggins similar to those of the Indians, moccasins wrought from deer- skins, a red or parti-colored belt of worsted, which contained suspended a knife and tobacco-pouch, and a blue woollen cap or hat, in the midst of which was stuck a red feather. Light- hearted, cheerful and courtcous, they were ever ready to en- camp at night among the savages, or in their own wigwams to join in the dance, or to awaken the solitude of the wilder- ness with their boat-songs as they swept with vigorous arm across the bosom of the waters.
Even as late as 1810 the island of Mackinaw, the most ro- mantic point on the lakes, which rises from the watery realm like an altar of a river god, was the central mart of the traf- fic, as old Michilimackinac had been for a century before. At certain seasons of the year it was made a rendezvous for the numerous classes connected with this traffic. At those sea- sons, the transparent waters around this beautiful island were studded with the canoes of the Indians and traders. Here might then be found the merry Canadian voyageur, with his muscular figure strengthened by the hardships of the wilder- ness, bartering for trinkets at the various booths scattered along its banks. The Indian warrior, bedecked with the most fan- tastic ornaments, embroidered moccasins, and silver armlets ;
* Sec Washington Irving's Astoria.
131
ENGILSH AND AMERICAN FUR TRADE.
the north-westers armed with dirks-the iron men who had grappled with the grizly bear, and endured the hard fare of the north ; and the south-wester also put in his claims to de- ference .*
Fort William, near the Grand Portage on Lake Superior, was also one of the principal posts of the North-west Compa- ny. It was the place of junction when the leading partners from Montreal met the more active agents of the wilderness to discuss the interests of the traffic. The grand conference was attended with a demi-savage and baronial pomp. The partners from Montreal, clad in the richest furs, ascended an- nually to that point in huge canoes, manned by Canadian voyageurs, and provided with all the means of the most lux- urious revelry. 'The council-house was a large wooden building, adorned with the trophies of the chase, barbaric or- naments, and decorated implements used by the savages in war and peace. At such periods the post would be crowded with traders from the depths of the wilderness and from Mon- treal ; partners of the company, clerks, interpreters, guides, and a numerous host of dependents. Discussions of grave import regarding the interest of the traffic, made up the argu- ments of such occasions ; and the banquet was occasionally in- terspersed with loyal songs from the Scotch Highlander or the aristocratic Briton, proud of his country and his king. Such were the general features of a traffic which constituted for a century, under the French and English governments, the commerce of the north-western lakes. It was a trade abounding in the severest hardships and the most hazardous enterprises. This was the most glorious epoch of mercantile enterprise in the forests of the north-west, when its half-sa- vage dominion stretched upon the lakes for an hundred years over regions large enough for empires ; making barbarism contribute to civilization.t
Consult Irving's Astoria.
t The American Fur Company, now in existence, and extending its opera- tions from the shores of the lakes to those of the Paci 'c, modelled in its opera- tions somewhat after the old French and English companies, has its trading es- tablishments scattered through the forests. They have connected with them the
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HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
The administration of the law under the English domina- tion, although more systematic than that under the French, was yet crude and undigested. The powers of the governors' jurisdiction who were the commandants of the forts, and the rights of the governed, were not clearly defined. There were no regularly organized courts, and no separate jurisdictions marked out. How could such courts be organized, when only a sparse and migratory population were scattered upon the fron- tier? The commandant of the posts was the executive officer in bringing subjects of litigation before a magistrate of his own ap- pointment, and also the organ through which sentence was to be executed upon the offender. The Quebec act was passed in 1774. By this act the boundaries of Canada were establish- ed, and they embraced Canada under its present limits, a vast region of country on Lake Erie, including Michigan, extend- ing to the Mississippi and the Ohio, and north from the St. Lawrence to the latitude of 52º, to the lands of Hudson's Bay The act ordained that all the subjects of Canada, who professed the religion of the church of Rome, might exercise their religious faith, subject to the English crown ; and that the clergy should hold their franchises with respect only to such persons as professed the Catholic religion ; while it was made lawful for the crown to make such provision as they might think proper out of these franchises, for the support of the Protestant religion .* By that act, the body of the Cana- dians, with the exception of the religious orders, were secured in their property, with the right of recourse to the French laws of Canada in all controverted matters ; but not extending to lands granted by the crown in common soccage or fee-simple.
fishery. A large amount of Mackinaw trout, white fish, and other products of the lake, is packed in barrels and shipped abroad. The progress of emigration has driven the fur trade from Lake Erie to the banks of Lake Huron and Lake Su- perior. The most important point of the traffic is, however, on Lake Superior. The American side of the lake is occupied by the American Fur Company as well as individual traders ; and the English side by that of Hudson's Bay, which was amalgamated with the North-west Company in 1821. The furs were formerly shipped to England or China, A large amount now find a market in the cities of our own country.
* McGregor's British America,
133
ENGLISH ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAW.
The criminal laws of England were introduced. It prescrib. ed a council, with the power to make ordinances with the Governor's consent, but not to impose taxes except for making roads. It also reserved to the crown the power of establishing courts of civil, criminal, and ecclesiastical juris- diction. This act continued until the year 1791, when another act was passed through the agency of Mr. Pitt, which was denominated the Constitutional Act.
Under the Quebec act, rank injustice sprang up in the posts of Michigan, from a want of legal knowledge and a proper system in the legal administration. One example will exhibit the mode in which this law was administered. Governor Ha- milton, a rude officer, the Governor and commandant of Detroit, ordered Philip Dejean, a respectable emigrant from France, and a magistrate of the colony, to try certain criminals for their offences. M. Moran, a prisoner, had before been tried in the same mode, and executed. When the circumstances of the trial, which is contained in the subjoined record-a trial which was conducted against the common rules of law-reached Quebec, it was regarded with the utmost indignation. Lord Dorches- ter and the Chief Justice of the King's Bench conceived it to be their duty to cause warrants to be issued against Hamilton and Dejean, before whom the prisoners had been condemned. Governor Hamilton, as well as Dejean, had left Detroit for Vincennes before the warrants arrived at Detroit, and they were both taken prisoners. The friends of the parties endea- vored to make interest for Hamilton and Dejean, but they ne- ver returned to Canada, and never visited England. Hamil- ton died in the West Indies, where he was appointed to some station ; and Dejean afterwards resided at New London in Connecticut, where it is stated that he was appointed consul for France. The record of a criminal trial in 1776 throws light on the general administration of the law at that period .*
" Detroit, ss.
" The jurors for our lord the king, upon their oaths present that Jean Contencinau, a Canadian, formerly a servant to * This record was found in the possession of Judge May. He knew the judge and jury who tried the cause.
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HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
Messrs. Abbot and Finchley, the 24th day of June, and in the fourteenth year of our sovereign lord the king aforesaid, at Detroit aforesaid, eight pounds of beaver skins, two otter skins, and some raccoon skins, to the value of four pounds sterling, of the goods and chattels of the said Abbot and Finchley, subtilly, privily, craftily, and without the knowledge of the said Abbot and Finchley, then and there did steal, take, and convey away, against the peace of our lord the king, his crown and dignity. And that Ann Wyley, formerly slave to said Abbot and Finchley, did steal, or was accessory to steal- ing, a purse containing six guineas, the property of James Abbot aforesaid, which purse and money were found on the person of the said Ann Wyley. The prisoners of the bar being indicted for attempting to set fire to the house of the said Ab- bot and Finchley, the jurors have not found sufficient proof of the same, though the circumstances are very much against them.
" Given under our hands at Detroit, this 18th day of March, 1776.
" James Sterling,
Gregor McGregor,
Thomas Williams, Joseph Gamelin,
D. Baby, Henry Bostwick,
B. Chapoton,
Calapierre,
James Bannerman,
Colton Andrews,
Jacques Campeau, The Judgment.
Beaufort."
" The jurors agreeing, and having brought in their verdict, Guilty, the prisoners were set to the bar, and received sen- tence to be executed on Tuesday the 26th inst., on the king's domain."
On the back of the above record, the following appears in the hand-writing of Philip Dejean, the justice before whom the prisoners were tried. It is in the French language, and the following is a literal translation :-
" The jurors for our sovereign lord the king, report that John Contencinau, a Canadian, lately a domestic to Abbot and Finchley, did, on the 24th of June, in the fourteenth year of the reign of the king, subtilly, privily, craftily, and secretly steal,
135
ENGLISH ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAW.
against the peace and dignity of our sovereign lord the king, eight pounds of beaver, two otter, and several raccoon skins ; the whole appertaining to the said Abbot and Finchley, amounting to four pounds sterling. Ann Wyley, formerly slave to the said Abbot and Finchley, stole, or was accused of having stolen, a purse containing six guineas, belonging to the said Abbot and Finchley, which said purse was found upon her.
" The prisoners of the bar were accused of having set fire to the house of the said Abbot and Finchley also. The jury did not find the proof sufficient, although the circumstances were very strong against them. The jury having made theiraforesaid report, it is evident that the said prisoners are guilty of a do- mestic theft, and for the aforesaid theft have received sentence of death, pronounced in the following terms :- You shall be hanged-hanged-hanged, and strangled until you be dead, on the king's public domain (the common), the 26th inst., precisely at twelve o'clock ; and the Lord have mercy upon your souls."
" You see, my dear brother, that it is neither the jury nor myself that has condemned you to death-it is the law that you have violated. It is for a domestic theft that you are now going to lose your life. According to the English laws, a do- mestic who steals a shilling, or the value thereof, merits death ; and according to the laws of France, a domestic who steals five sous (about four cents) also forfeits his life. Now, I ask you, my dear brother, where was at that moment the fear of God, which you ought to have had before your eyes ? Can you perceive, then, that it would be just to pass this crime with impunity, unpunished ? Sooner or later you would be disco- vered. Blame yourself for the death you are going to suffer, and say with me, ' Yes, my God, I acknowledge myself cul- pable ; and I suffer without murmur the punishment which the law pronounces against my crime. Pardon me, my God ! and deign to give to me the strength and courage that is necessa- ry for my situation. Iexhort all those that hear me, and that are here present, particularly those who are obligated to act as servants, to take an example with me, poor unfortunate man, who is going to suffer so terrible a death. Keep always
136
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
the fear of God before your eyes, nor ever abandon him ; be- cause he says positively, those who abandon him he will abandon them. You will always bear in mind the laws which are engraved on the tables of your hearts, and do not follow any bad example. If your masters are wicked enough to show them to you, understand that God and the laws will not excuse you, and say with me the Lord's Prayer and Ave Maria."
In conjunction with the fur trade, numerous projects were commenced to discover the precious metals in the region of the north-west, especially upon the shores of Lake Superior. It was originally supposed that this region abounded in va- luable mines ; and as early as 1772, Mr. Norburg, a Russian, who accompanied Henry the trader in a part of his expedition, found upon the shore of Lake Huron a mass of silver imbed- ded in other ore, which produced the pure metal in the pro- portion of sixty per cent. This mass was contained in a fragment of eight pounds weight. The silver was carried to England, and deposited in the British Museum .*
In 1773 a more important, project was commenced for the pur- pose of working the copper-mines of Lake Superior. For that object a charter was granted in England to a company, the partners of which consisted of the Duke of Gloucester, Mr. Secretary Townsend, Sir Samuel Tutchet, Bart., Mr. Baxter, Consul of the Empress of Russia, Mr. Cruickshank, Sir Wil- liam Johnson, Bart., Mr. Bostwick, and Alexander Henry, the trader. A sloop was purchased, and the miners commenced operations and blasted thirty feet into the solid rock. It was soon found, however, that the expense of blasting and of ex- portation would not warrant the enterprise ; and the sloop being sold and the miners discharged, it was soon relinquish- ed. Soon after the conquest of Canada, a company of adven- turers from England had commenced excavating the copper, and transporting it ; but that project was also given up on ac- count of " the distracted affairs in America."t
The causes of the American revolution are well known. The people of the Colonies had proclaimed that taxation with- * Consult Henry's Travels, and also Carver. + Henry.
137
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
out representation was unjust ; that their petitions for the re- dress of clear and acknowledged grievances had been rejected ; and they threw themselves for redress upon their arms. But the struggle was enacted without the bounds of Michigan. The people of Canada, within which Michigan was then included, were removed from the moreimmediate causes of war, and they did not, therefore, join the Atlantic states inthat struggle. They were, on the contrary; united with England against the cause of revolution. That monarchical spirit, which had grown strong under the old French regime and the British crown, continued firmly leagued with aristocratic doctrines ; while the iron men of New-York and New England, and the chi- valrous sons of the south, who had fled from the very shadow of the British monarchy, bore the brunt of the rebellion. The French habitans, who had been accustomed to the restraints of a monarchy, had colonized the country for the purposes of trade and aggrandizement ; and the English portion of the population had emigrated to the Canadian territory in the em- ployment of the British crown, or to secure the advantages which were afforded by its trade. It is not extraordinary, therefore, that the Canadians, English as well as French, should have been found opposed to the Atlantic colonies dur- ing that struggle. Michigan, although removed from the seat of war, was the rendezvous of hostile bands of Indians, who were sent out against the American wilderness, and the bloody mart where the price of scalps was paid. War parties were constantly going out from Mackinaw and Detroit, and re- turning with these scalps, for which they were paid at the old council-house in Detroit.
One expedition at that time despatched from Detroit, was led by Captain Byrd. His force was composed of a body of En- glish troops, militia and a large force of Indian warriors. This force left Detroit in boats well manned and supplied, and they ascended the Maumee to Ohio. The design of the expedition was to attack Louisville; but the high water having prevented, he crossed over to Kentucky, and appeared suddenly before " Ruddle's Station." Exhibiting a force that could not be en- countered with success by that garrison, it surrendered on 18
138
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
promise of protection from the Indians. This promise, how- ever, was disregarded, and the garrison was massacred. Byrd afterwards captured a small stockade in that quarter, called Martin's Station, and his advance spread the utmost consterna- tion through the country. Before, however, a sufficient force could be organized against him, he withdrew his forces from that region .* €
Another expedition was also sent out from Detroit, under the command of Henry Hamilton, the governor of this post. Gen. George Rogers Clark, a brave and energetic officer, had been despatched by the Governor of Virginia for the defence of the Kentucky frontier, which was then feeble and exposed. Believing that the most direct means of accomplishing that object was to capture the posts in the Illinois, he descended the Ohio, reduced Kaskaskia,Cahokia, and several other small set-
tlements in this region. When Governor Hamilton, who was then at Detroit, received information of his success, he collected all the force which could be obtained, comprised of regular troops, militia, and Indians, and proceeded to Vincennes for the purpose of dislodging him. There he halted, in order to commence operations as soon as the season would permit. It was his purpose to recover the posts which had been taken, to destroy the force of General Clark, and to devastate the in- fant settlements of that territory.
Clark, who was watching his movements, was advised by a Spanish merchant that Hamilton, who was careless in his operations, had despatched a part of his force to the Ohio River, to watch that stream and harass the settlements along its banks ; and he immediately secured a small armed boat and supplied it with provisions for his troops. Ordering this boat to proceed down the Wabash, a short distance below Nashville, and to permit nothing to pass that river, he set out with one hundred and thirty men, the only force he could procure, he started for that place in mid-winter. During this campaign the force of Clark suffered extraordinary hardship, and was sixteen days in crossing the country, five of which
Cass's Discourse.
139
EXPEDITIONS FROM DETROIT.
were employed in wading through the overflowed banks of the Wabash. During five of these, his detachment marched with water reaching to their breasts. Suddenly he appeared be- fore Vincennes, with a tree shaped like a cannon ; by which stratagem he persuaded Hamilton that he had brought with him artillery. The post was immediately surrendered. Ha- milton, who had been active in inciting the barbarity of the savages, was put in irons and sent to Virginia, while the mili- tia who accompanied him were permitted to return to Detroit .*
During the period of the Revolutionary war, the Indians upon the lakes were the subject of much anxiety to the En- glish government, and it was their policy to enlist all the In- dian strength which they could excite against the cause of the colonies. At the commencement of the contest, a mes- sage was received from the British king, calling upon them to preserve the terms of peace. Among those most favorable to neutrality were the Delaware chief Netawatwees, and White Eyes. As early as 1776 a message was received from the Hurons in the vicinity of Detroit, requesting the Delawares to keep their shoes in readiness to " join the warriors." This message Netawatwees would not receive, but despatched se- veral belts of wampum to the chief of the Hurons at Detroit, admonishing them to remain quiet, and to remember the mi- sery which they had brought upon themselves by engaging in the former wars between the French and the English. This message was delivered to the chief of the Hurons at Detroit, in presence of the English commandant De Peyster. His rage was ungovernable, as he had hoped to engage the as- sistance of the Indians in behalf of the British king. He cut the belts in pieces, cast them on the ground before the In- dian messengers, and commanded them to depart within half an hour from that part of the country.t
There is evidence to show, that in 1778, as well as at a later time, the Delawares and the other Indian nations in this
* See Cass's Discourse.
t See Loskiel's History of the Missions of the United Brethren ; London. 1794.
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HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
quarter were urged by promises and threats to embark against the American colonies in behalf of the British Government.
All the avenues were secured by which the British com- mandant could attain his end. Certain Moravian missionaries, who were established on the Muskingum, were believed to exercise their influence over the Indians in favor of the colo- nists ; as it was alleged that they had received a message from · the Congress of Philadelphia, couched in the kindest terms, and stating that an Indian agent would be appointed, and that the Indians of the missionaries should correspond with him on all public concerns. In consequence of the reports made by the enemies of the missionaries that they had influenced the Indians, an officer marched from Detroit, as early as 1779, with the avowed object of taking the most influential of these . missionaries ; on the ground that if he was removed the De- lawares and the other tribes would join the British .*
On these suspicions the English commandant at Detroit determined, if possible, to remove the pacific influence of the German missionaries. For that object, the English agent of Indian affairs was sent to Niagara to attend a grand council of the Iroquois at that place, and request them to remove the missionaries and their Indian congregation. The plan was arranged ; but the Iroquois not wishing to undertake the ac- tive agency of the matter themselves, sent a message to the . Chippewas and Ottawas with a belt, stating that they made them " a present of the Indian congregation to make soup of." This request was declined by those tribes, and in consequence the same message was sent to the half-king of the Hurons, and accepted by him, backed by Captain Pipe, the Delaware chief.
In November, 1781, four of these missionaries, among whom was Heckewelder, reached Detroit, and were soon brought before the English commandant De Peyster. Ko- guethagechton, called by the Americans White Eyes, was the head chief of the Turtle tribe in Ohio; while Captain Pipe, of the Wolf tribe, was an avowed friend of the British against
· Sce Loskiel.
141
SPEECH OF CAPTAIN PIPE.
the Colonies. A council for their trial was held at the coun- cil-house at Detroit ; Captain Pipe was present with his Wolf warriors. The tribes were ranged around the hall, which was filled with the concourse. On each side of the comman- dant a war-chief of each of the two divisions held a stick in his hand of four feet in length, strung with American scalps which they had just taken. Captain Pipe was called upon for his sentiments, and he arose and delivered the following speech :-*
" Father !" he began ; and here he paused, turned round to the audience with a most sarcastic look, and then proceeded in a lower tone, as addressing them-" I have said father, though indeed I do not know why I should call him so, I have never known any father but the French. I have only considered the English as brothers. But as this name is imposed upon us, I shall make use of it, and say-Father" --- fixing his eyes again on the commandant-" some time ago you put a war-hatchet into my hands, saying, ' Take this wea- pon, and try it on the heads of my enemies the Long-Knives, and let me know afterwards if it was sharp and good.'
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