USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time : including a brief historical account of the first discoveries and settlement of the country, Vol. I > Part 34
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To enforce these resolutions, Congress recommended the appointment of committees in the several counties and towns, which was accordingly done, and they became efficient instru- ments in aiding the progress of the revolution.
On the 11th of January, 1775, the New Jersey delegates re- ported the proceedings of Congress to the assembly of the colony, who unanimously approved of the same.
They also resolved, that the same gentlemen should represent the colony in the future Congress, and report their proceedings to the assembly at the next session. That they should propose and agree to every reasonable and constitutional measure, for the accommodation of the unhappy differences subsisting between the mother and her colonies.
The joint action of the colonies was especially obnoxious to the royal government; and the governors of the respective colonies threw every obstacle in their power in the way of its accomplishment. To this end, Governor Franklin refused to summon the assembly of New Jersey, notwithstanding the petitions of the people ; and the first delegates to Congress in- stead of being appointed by the house, were elected by the people in convention. Although not legally elected they nevertheless acted, and had a powerful influence in the legislation of the state.
On opening the assembly in January, 1775, Governor Frank- lin observed. " It would argue not only a great want of duty to His Majesty, but of regard to the good people of this province, were I, on this occasion, to pass over in silence, the late alarm- ing transactions in this and the neighboring colonies, or not en- deavor to prevail on you to exert yourself in preventing those
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mischiefs to this country, which, without your timely interposi- tion, will, in all probability, be the consequence."
He further set forth that it was not for him to decide on the particular merits of the dispute between Great Britain and her colonies, and that he did not intend to censure those who, con- ceiving themselves aggrieved, had aimed to redress those grievan- ces. He adverted in severe terms against the convention of the people, who had appointed the delegates to the Congress, that they had usurped the powers which alone belonged to the assem- bly, and that it was the duty of that body not to allow such things to go unrebuked.
That any grievances they might feel disposed to set before the King would be properly attended to, and have greater weight coming from each colony in its separate capacity, than in a channel, the propriety and legality of which there might be much doubt.
He goes on further to say: "You have now pointed out to you, gentlemen, two roads-one evidently leading to peace, happiness, and restoration of the public tranquillity-the other inevitably conducting you to anarchy and misery, and all the horrors of a civil war. Your wisdom, your prudence, your re- gard for the interests of the people, will be best known, when you have shown to which road you give the preference. If to the former, you will probably afford satisfaction to the moderate, the sober and discreet part of your constituents. If to the latter, you will perhaps give pleasure to the warm, the rash and incon- siderate among them, who, I would willingly hope, violent as is the temper of the present times, are not even now the majority. But, it may be well for you to remember, should any calamity hereafter befall them from your compliance with their inclina- tions, instead of pursuing, as you ought, the dictates of your own judgment, that the consequences of their returning to a. proper sense of their conduct, may prove deservedly fatal to your- selves."
These persuasions were powerless with the assembly, who unanimously approved and adopted the very measures condemned by the governor, and in their address to him they were un- equivocally set forth.
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The language of the council, however, was in a different tone, and as loyal as the governor himself could desire.
When the proceedings of the congress was received in Lord don, it appeared to have a momentary beneficial effect upon their cause.
Theadministration was staggered, and the opposition triumphed in the truth of their predictions, that the measures pursued by the ministry would unite ali the colonies in resistance. The petition of congress to the King, was declared by the secretary of state, after a day's perusal, to ha decent and proper, and was received graciously by His Majesty, who promised to lay it before his two houses of parliament. But the ministry had resolved to compel the obedience of the provinces.
In vain did the merchants of London, Bristol, Glasgow, Nor- wich, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and other places, by petition, pourtray the evils which must result from such determi- nation, and predict the dangers of the commercial interests of the kingdom. In vain did the planters of the sugar colonies, resi- dent in Great Britain, represent, that the profits on British property in the West India Islands, amounting to many millions, which ultimately centered in Great Britain, would be deranged and endangered by the continuance of the American troubles. In vain did the venerable Earl of Chatham,* raised from a long retirement, by the danger of losing these colonies, which his own measures had protected, and, seemingly, assured by the parent state, apply his comprehensive mind, and matchless eloquence, to arrest the fatal course of the administration. In vain, from a prophetic view of events, did he demonstrate the impossibility of subjugating the colonies ; and urge the immediate removal of the troops collected by General Gage, at Boston, as a measure indis- pensably necessary to open the way for an adjustment of the differences with the provinces. In vain, when undiscouraged by the rejection of the motion, did he propose a bill for settling the troubles in America.
The period of American emancipation had approached, and the power which might have delayed it, was providentially stultified.
* William Pitt.
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The King in his opening speech to the newly elected parlia- ment, declared " that a most daring spirit of resistance and dis- obedience to the laws, unhappily prevailed in the province of Massachusetts, and had broken forth in fresh violences of a very criminal nature; and that these proceedings had been countenanced and encouraged in his other colonies. Parliament put forth an address, echoing the royal speech, which was carried by large majorities in both houses, against which lords Richmond, Portland, Rockingham, Stamford, Stanhope, Torring- ton, Ponsonby, Wycombe, and Camden, from the minority, issued a spirited protest.
But both houses joined in an address to the King, declaring, " that they find a rebellion actually exists in the province of Massachusetts." This was followed by an act for restraining the trade and commerce of the New England provinces, and pro- hibiting them from carrying on the fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland, which was subsequently extended to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, and the · counties of Delaware.
Before the continental congress again met on the roth of May, 1775, hostilities between the colonists and the British troops in America, had commenced. The battle of Lexington was fought April 19th, and Ticonderoga captured May 8th, and soon after, June 17th, the ever memorable battle of Breed's Hill, gave con- fidence to the colonists ; and the British army, under General Gage, was beseiged in Boston.
Peyton Randolph was chosen president of congress, but being speaker of the House of Burgesses of Virginia, John Hancock, of Boston, was unanimously elected his successor.
Congress promptly proceeded to further measures of offence and defence, They prohibited exports to such parts of British America, as had not joined the confederacy ; forbade the supply of provisions or other necessaries, to the English fisheries on the coast ; to the army and navy in Massachusetts, and to vessels employed in transporting British troops and munitions of war ; and interdicted the negotiation of bills of exchange, drawn by British officers, agents or contractors, and the advance of money to them, on any terms whatever.
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To secure the colonies against the forcible execution of the late obnoxious acts of parliament, they resolved to put them im- mediately in a state of defence, reccommending to them, severally, to provide the munitions of war ; to prepare the militia, so classing them, that a fourth of their number might be drawn into action, at a minute's warning ; and to form a corps for con- tinual service ; authorizing each colony, apprehensive of attack, to levy one thousand regulars at the expense of the confederacy. They organized the higher departments of the army, framed reg- ulations for its government, and issued three millions of dollars, in bills of credit, for its maintainence. In an address to the army and the people, they reviewed the conduct of Great Britain, exposed the enormity of her pretensions and the dreadful alter- native she had created, of unconditional submission or resistance by arms, in which they asserted the justice of their cause, and the competency of their means to maintain it, with their free de- termination to employ, at every hazard, the utmost energy of the powers granted them by their Creator, in order to preserve their liberties.
They concluded this stirring appeal in the following language : " In our native land, in defence of the freedom which is our birthright, and which we always enjoyed until the late violation of it, for the protection of our property, acquired solely by the honest industry of our forefathers and ourselves, against violence offered, we have taken up arms ; we shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors, and all dan- ger of their being removed, and not before."
In the congress, Colonel George Washington, of Virginia, was nominated by the delegates of Massachusetts, as the most proper person for commander-in-chief, and was unanimously elected to that important position. He was at that time, a dele- gate in the congress, a man of high character, and splendid for- tune, who had pledged his life in the contest.
He was at that time, of mature age, and well known for his military talents, his sound judgment, firm temper, spotless integ- rity, and dignified person and demeanor. The southern and middle districts possessed no man having superior claims to pub- lic confidence. His commission, dated June 15th, 1775, gave
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him full power and authority to act as he should think best for the country and welfare of the service, subject to the rules of war and the orders of congress. They also passed a resolution declaring, " that for the maintenance and preservation of Amer- ican liberty, they would adhere to him with their lives and fortunes."
The reply of Washington, when apprised of his appointment by the president of congress, showed in a high degree, his modesty, devotion to the cause of the country, and that disinterestedness for which he was in the most eminent degree distinguished. And to show that it was not out of any pecuniary motive that he assumed the dangerous honor, he declined all compensation for services, and declared that he would accept only the reimburse- ment of his actual expenses.
Congress, soon after the nomination and appointment of the commander-in-chief, created and filled the offices of subordinate generals. Artemus Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler and Israel Putnam, were appointed major generals ; Horatio Gates, adjutant general, and Seth Pomeroy, Richard Montgomery, Daniel Wooster, William Heath, Joseph Spencer, John Thomas, John Sullivan and Nathaniel Green, brigadier generals.
Although determined upon resistance to the uttermost, against the tyranny of the parent state, the colonies had given no public indication of their desire-to become independent of her govern- · ment, though among many, it was thought the result of the con- test would be independence ; while perhaps, some wished it and sought for it, none publicly avowed it The American people were proud of their descent from Great Britain, and exulted in being connected with a country so great. And even while they were making warlike preparations, they determined to put forth renewed efforts to propitiate the British government and people, and it was determined to send another petition to the king, which met with some opposition by several members of congress, under the supposition that it would be of no avail. But, through the influence of Mr. Jonathan Dickinson, who proposed and wrote the petition, it was adopted.
This address was filled with professions of duty and their at- tachment to the mother country and His Majesty, and stated,
2 C
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" that they not only most fervently desired the former harmony between Great Britain and the colonies, to be restored, but that a concord might be established between them upon so firm a basis, as to perpetuate its blessings uninterrupted by any future dissen- tions, to succeeding generations in both countries. They there. fore, besought His Majesty to direct some mode by which the united applications of his faithful colonists to the throne, in pur- suance of their common counsels, might be improved to a happy and permanent reconciliation." These professions of three millions of his subjects, were treated with contempt by the king. The petition was presented through the secretary for American affairs, on the Ist of September, by Messrs. Richard Penn and Henry Lee, and on the 4th, Lord Dartmouth informed them, that " to it, no answer would be given."
Finding they could get no redress from the king, and while preparing for the contest, from respect to their fellow subjects, congress deemed it proper to put forth their motives in addresses to the people of Great Britain and to those of Ireland, as well as to the assembly of Jamaica. They also published a declaration to the world, setting forth the necessity of assuming arms and re- iterating the injuries they had sustained. They said : " We are reduced to the alternative of choosing an unconditional submis- sion to the tyranny of irritated ministers, or resistance by force. The latter is our choice. We have counted the cost of this con- test, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery."
General Washington, immediately after his appointment to the chief command, repaired to the army before Boston. With his small army he found it difficult to maintain a show of force to confine the British troops to that town from the month of June until the following March, when the Americans, having seized and fortified Dorchester Heights, which overlooked and com- manded the place, General Howe, who had succeeded General Gage, on the Ioth of October, abandoned it and sailed with his command for Halifax.
The provincial congress of New Jersey re-assembled on the 5th of August, 1775, and engaged in devising further means for the collection of the tax they had imposed and for the organiza- tion of the militia. They directed fifty-four companies, each of
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sixty-four minute-men, making in all three thousand four hun- dred and fifty-six effective men, to be organized ; and to each they allotted a specific number, and to the respective county com- mittees, the duties were allotted of appointing their officers.
The following engagement was entered into by them :
" We, the subscribers, do voluntarily enlist ourselves as min- ute-men in the company of- -, in the county of --; and do promise to hold ourselves in constant readiness, on the shortest notice, to march to any place where our assistance may be required, for the defence of this and any neighboring colony ; as also, to pay due obedience to the commands of our officers, agreeable to the rules and orders of the continental congress, or the provincial congress of New Jersey, or during its recess, of the committee of safety."
These troops were formed into ten battalions ; in Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, Morris, Sussex, Hunter- don and Burlington, one each; in Gloucester and Salem, one, . while in the counties of Cumberland and Cape May, were inde- pendent light infantry and rangers. They took precedence of the other militia, and were entitled to be relieved at the end of four months, unless in actual service. Congress also, resolved, that two brigadier generals should be appointed, but named at the time, only Mr. Philemon Dickinson to that command ; Mr. William Livingston, soon after received the other command.
In regard to the Quakers, a number of whom resided in the province, who were opposed to bearing arms, they declared that they intended no violence to their religious scruples, but earn- estly recommended them to contribute the more liberally to the relief of their distressed brethren, and to do all other services to their oppressed country, consistent with their religious profes- sion.
They ordered that the inhabitants in each county, qualified to' vote for representatives in the general assembly, should meet to- gether, (at places designated,) on the 21st day of the following September, and elect, not exceeding five substantial freeholders, as deputies, with full power to represent such county in provin- cial congress, to be held at Trenton, on the 3d day of the fol- lowing October. That during the continuance of the present
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unhappy disputes between Great Britain and America, there be a new choice of deputies in every county, yearly, on the third Thursday of September ; that on the said Thursday in every year, such inhabitants shall choose a sufficient number of freeholders, to constitute a county committee of observation and correspondence, with full power as well, to superintend and direct the necessary business of the county, as to carry into execution the resolutions and orders of the continental and provincial congresses ; that the inhabitants of each township so qualified, do immediately choose a sufficient number of freeholders, to constitute a township com- mittee, and that on the second Tuesday of March, thereafter, they make a like choice, to act as a committee of observation and correspondence, in the townships respectively, with power within their precincts, similar to that conferred upon the county com- mittees.
CHAPTER XVIII.
1775-1776.
Appointment of provincial treasurer-Committee of safety-Acts passed preparing for war-Delegates to continental congress -- Provincial congress of New Jersey-Governor Franklin's proc- lamation-Governor Livingston's prediction-Virtual declara- tion of independence-Governor Franklin's arrest-Opposition to the measures of congress.
T HE provincial congress appointed Jonathan D. Sergeant, the treasurer, and a committee of safety, to act during the recess, after which they adjourned to the 20th of September.
The committee of safety were Hendrick Fisher, Samuel Tucker, Isaac Pearson, John Hart, Jonathan D. Sergeant, their treasurer, Azariah Dunham, Peter Schenk, Enos Kelsey, Joseph Borden, Frederick Freelinghausen and John Schureman. The council of safety of 1777, was composed of a number of gentlemen selected from different parts of the state, to advise with the gov- ernor, in order that the state might the better be enabled to meet the exigencies of war, the calling together of the assem- bly being too tedious and difficult And from this council of safety, came the council of the state, afterwards the state council. It first met at Haddonfield, March 18th, 1777, and consisted of twelve persons and the governor. The first selected were judge John Cleves Symes, William Patterson, (afterwards governor,) Theophilus Elmer, Silas Condict, John Hart, John Mehelm Samuel Dick, John Combs, Caleb Camp, Edward Weatherby and Benjamin Manning, all of whom afterwards held prominent positions in the state.
A number of prisoners taken to Salem were ordered transferred
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to Bordentown, and hundreds of suspected persons were exam- ined, but most of them took the oath of abjuration and allegiance, while a few were sent to different prisons, for treason against the state.
The council finally found it necessary to summon the members of the general assembly on the 7th of May, in order to address them upon the importance of filling the prescribed quota of men. This was their first meeting with the general assembly and the original joint meeting of the New Jersey legislature.
During the year 1777, flags of truce were respected, and par- ties in this state were permitted in certain cases, to visit their sick relatives within the British lines.
The council was possessed of full powers to send guilty per- sons to jail, and ordered respectable persons to keep within one hundred yards of their respective houses.
The order to send dangerous persons into the enemy's lines, was issued July, 11th, 1777. By this order nearly fifty families were transported as disaffected, the wives and children of most of them following by a similar order. The disaffected district was about Hackensack, South River and Tappan neighborhood. We forbear to mention their names, as their descendants now comprise some of the most respectable people of the vicinity, they having returned (most of them) after the close of the war. At a subsequent meeting of the council, citations were issued to about one hundred persons, who were summoned to appear to take the oath of abjuration.
At the session held in September, no business of importance was transacted. The council met again in October and appointed as the committee of safety, Samuel Tucker, president ; Hendrick Fisher, vice president; Abraham Clark, secretary ; Azariah Dunham, Ruleoffe Van Dyke, Augustine Stevenson, John Pope, John Hart,* Joseph Holmes.
At this session, they modified the act regulating the militia, and an act was passed for collecting such munitions of war as could be found in the country, to be ready for the struggle which they saw was inevitable. Persons who were accused of disaffec-
*John Hart was one of the signers of the declaration of independence.
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tion to the country, were summoned before them, fined, impris- oned, or held to bail ; and if an officer of the government, he was suspended. In order to transact other business, they sum- moned the congress to meet at New Brunswick, on the 3Ist of January.
To procure arms and ammunition, was a labor of great diffi- culty, in consequence of the continental congress in their war with the ministry, having prohibited the importation of these in- dispensable articles, the consequence of which was, the country was almost bare. On the 6th of February, 1776, the convention appointed William Livingston,* John Hart, Richard Smith, John Cooper and Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, as delegates to the continental congress.
This congress, like the previous ones, exercised the whole power of the state, controlling its funds and directing its armies. Their first endeavors were to protect such points as were most exposed to the ravages of the British ships of war, and supposing New York to be well protected, they concentrated their forces for the protection of Perth Amboy and Swedesborough, on the Delaware. They were requested to procure two battalions and two companies of artillery to guard these exposed points, but congress was unable to procure more than twelve small cannon, and two companies of artillery. They modified their act in re- gard to bearing arms to meet the religious scruples of the society of friends, by enacting that all whose religious scruples would not allow them to bear arms, could sign with the following proviso : " I agree to the above association, as far as the same is consist- ent with my religious principles."
Those who refused to sign this, it was ordered that all arms be taken from them, and they were required to give security for their peaceable behaviour. They were empowered to arrest all persons who might prove dangerous to the common cause.
All persons between the ages of sixteen and fifty years, were required to attend in proper accoutrements, and bear arms, at the times and places appointed for general muster, and for failure so to do, a fine of ten shillings was imposed, to be recovered by war-
* Afterwards governor of the state.
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rant of distress. And to encourage enlistments, the soldiers were granted exemption of person and goods from execution for small debts.
Upon the invasion of New York, that city was filled with alarm, and many of its inhabitants fled into the neighboring counties of New Jersey. This emigration became so numerous that congress passed an act requiring all who were able to bear arms, and who had fled from other colonies, to immediately re- turn to the same, and aid in its defence, unless they had permits from the committee of the precinct from which they removed to reside in this colony, or unless such residence appeared necessary for the support of the resident's family, or he had no visible means of support from whence he came and could procure such support in this colony.
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