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 36
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Governor Franklin at once joined with those who were op- posed to taking up arms. He sought to control the torrent of public opinion, but he found it too strong for him to attempt to turn its course, and was, therefore, compelled to stand by, an almost idle spectator, while it swept away all the powers which lately pertained to him, the abandonment of which he used his utmost endeavors to prevent, but in vain. Before the new gov- ernment had been formally adopted by this state, the whole* political power had passed, by the voice of the people, to their delegates in convention, which became the government de facto ; and the powers of royal authority were at once suspended, by the exercise of those derived from the people. The governor strove to prevent this, by endeavoring again to set in action what little was left of His Majesty's government.
Of the thirty members of the assembly, only seven were mem- bers of the convention, and the governor knowing that some of these were distinguished as royalists, sought to array one popular assembly against another. He therefore, on the thirteenth of May, issued a proclamation, in the name of the King, summon- ing the house to meet on the twentieth of June.
As soon as this proclamation was issued, the provincial con- gress saw the mischief it was likely to accomplish, and at once prepared to defeat it, and resolved by a vote of thirty-eight to eleven, that the proclamation of William Franklin, late governor,
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ought not to be obeyed, and on the sixteenth of June, they re- solved by a vote of thirty-five to ten, that by such proclamation, he had acted in direct contempt, and violation of the resolution of the continental congress of the fifteenth of May, and had proved himself an enemy to the liberties of the country, and by a vote of forty-seven to three, they further resolved, that all pay- ments of money, on account of salary, or otherwise, to him, as governor, should thenceforth cease; and that the treasurers of the province should account for the moneys in their hands to the provincial congress, or to the future legislature of the colony, and that measures should be immediately taken to secure his person.
Congress immediately issued an order to Colonel Nathanial Heard of the first battalion of the Middlesex militia, to cause his arrest, at the same time enjoining upon him, to conduct the necessary business, with all the delicacy and tenderness which its nature could possibly admit. A written parol was sent to Colonel Heard, with a blank space for him to fill up, and at the choice of Mr. Franklin, with the name of Princeton, Bordentown or his own farm at Rancocas, as the limits in which he was to abide. In case he signed the parol, congress was willing to de- pend upon his honor for its faithful performance. But in case. he refused to sign, he was to be put under strong guard, and kept in close custody until further orders.
On the seventeenth, Colonel Heard and Major Jonathan Deare, waited on the governor at Amboy, to get him to comply with the order of congress, and sign the parol. This he refused to do, upon which they surrounded his house with a guard of sixty men, and immediately sent a messenger to report their pro- ceedings, and receive further instructions from congress, then in session at Burlington, who ordered that Mr. Franklin should be immediately brought to that place.
The further proceedings relative to his case, and the final action thereon, has been more fully detailed in a previous chap- ter.
The patriots at first manifested the most lenient measures to- ward the disaffected, and all taken with arms, were treated as prisoners of war, and those not in arms but who were known as
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opposed to the measures inaugurated, were treated with no more severity, than was sufficient to prevent them from committing the mischief they meditated. On the 2d of January, 1776, con- gress passed resolutions recommending to the several township and county committees, as well as other friends of the cause, to explain to the honest and misguided, the nature of the contro- versy, as well as the many, but fruitless efforts that had been made to bring about a reconciliation, but to proceed vigorously against all active partizans from whom danger might be appre- hended, disarming them, and keeping them in safe custody, or binding them with sufficient sureties for their good behaviour. Congress had great faith in the power of reason and gentle treat- ment, on the presumption, that those who were among the disaffected, were generally misinformed.
In New York and New Jersey the British were received in open arms by the disaffected, as their deliverers from oppression.
The articles of association of 1775, was the entering wedge of division, between the parties of New Jersey, as well as in other parts of America. Those who refused to sign, or after having signed, disobeyed their requirements, were considered as ene- mies to their country, and as such, where not only denounced by the township and county committees, but were fined and imprisoned by the order of such committees, as well as that of the provincial convention and committee of safety. Notwith- standing these measures, counter associations were attempted, who resolved to pay no tax levied by order of the provincial con- gress, nor to purchase any goods distrained for such taxes, or for non-attendance at militia musters.
These, as well as other demonstrations of a like measure, manifesting hostility, induced the committee of safety of the province, on the 15th of January, 1776, earnestly to recommend to the several county and town committees, the prompt execution of the resolutions of the continental congress, adopted on the 2d of that month, recommending due moderation and prudence, and requesting all officers of militia to lend their assistance.
In accordance with this resolution, several persons from different parts of the state, were brought before the committee of safety, and the continental congress who continued their
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sitting from the thirty-first of January, to the second of March, 1776. Most of the prisoners confessed their faults, craved par- don, and were either dismissed without further punishment, or subjected to a small fine, or ordered to give security in various sums for their future good behaviour.
Congress again assembled on the roth of June, at which time memorials were presented from several counties, complaining of the hostile intentions and proceedings of the disaffected, particu- larly in Monmouth, Hunterdon, Bergen and Sussex counties, at which the county committees were ordered to summon those charged to appear before the convention. Having heard on the 26th of June, of several insurgents in the county of Monmouth, who were using all their endeavors to contravene the acts of congress, and to oppose the cause of American freedom, there- upon they directed Colonel Charles Reade, to take to his aid two companies of Burlington county militia, and proceed with- out delay, to the county of Monmouth, and apprehend such in- surgents as were designated to him by the president of the com- mittee.
At the same time information was received of persons in the county of Hunterdon, who had united together to oppose the measures of congress, and had even gone so far as to com- mence acts of open daring and violence, that they had plundered the house of a Captain Jones, beaten, wounded and in other ways abused the friends of freedom in the county, and publicly declared, that they would take up arms in behalf of the King of Great Britain.
To effectually check this combination, which assumed so hos- tile and dangerous a character, Lieutenant Colonel Abraham Ten Eick and Major John Berry were directed, with the militia of the counties of Hunterdon and Somerset, to apprehend these insurgents, and on the first of July the provincial congress re- solved, that the several colonels of the counties, should, without delay, proceed to disarm all persons within their district, who, from religious principles, or other causes, refused to bear arms. Two days after, an additional order was given to Colo- nel Charles Reade, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Forman and Major John Haight, to take two hundred militia of Burlington,
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and the same number from Monmouth county, and proceed with- out delay, to quell an insurrection in Monmouth, and to disarm and take prisoners all whom they should find assembled, with the intent to oppose the friends of American freedom, and to adopt such measures as they should think necessary to accom- plish the object.
On the 4th of July, congress resolved, " that as divers persons in the county of Monmouth, who had embodied themselves in opposition to its measures, had expressed their willingness to re- turn to their duty, upon assurances of pardon, alleging, that they have been seduced and misled by the false and malicious reports of others ; such persons as should, without delay, return peacea- bly to their homes, and conform to the orders of congress, should be treated with lenity and indulgence, and upon their good behaviour, be restored to the favor of their country ; providing, that such as appeared to have been the leaders and principals in these disorders, and who, to their other guilt, had added that of seducing the weak and the unwary, should yet be treated accord- ing to their demerits.".
The refugee royalists frequently perpetrated their outrages against the persons of the distinguished patriots of the state. Among their first successful attempts, was that on Mr. Richard Stockton, of Princeton. On the entrance of the British army into New Jersey, after the capture of Fort Washington, that gentleman withdrew from congress, in order to protect his family and property, at his seat near Princeton. He removed his wife and younger children into the county of Monmouth, about thirty miles from the supposed route of the British army.
On the 30th of November, he was, together with his friend and compatriot John Covenhoven, at whose house he resided, dragged from his bed at night, stripped and plundered, and carried by way of Amboy to New York.
At Amboy he was exposed to severe cold weather in the com- mon jail, which, together with subsequent barbarity in New York, laid the foundation for disease, that terminated his existence in 1781. His release was probably owing to the interference by congress in January.
From the actual assumption of political independence, to that
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of a formal declaration, the interval could not be long. The same day the resolution recommending to the colonies a change in their form of government, was adopted, the convention in Virginia resolved unanimously, that their delegates in congress should propose to that body, to declare the united colonies free and independent states, absolved from all allegiance to, or de- pendence on the King and parliament of Great Britain. The public mind was now fully prepared for the measure, in fact were looking forward anxiously for it.
The assemblies of Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York, which had displayed the greatest reluctance and held out the longest, at length assented to it. The proposition was made in congress, on the 7th of June, 1776, by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, and seconded by Mr. John Adams, of Massachusetts, " that the united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, and that all political connexion between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dis- solved." The resolution was referred to the committee of the whole congress, where it was daily debated. Messrs. Lee and Adams were the most distinguished speakers in favor of the resolution. Adams had been characterized as " the ablest advo- cate," of independence. Mr. John Dickenson, author of the "Farmers Letters," which had signally served to awaken the resistance of the people to British oppression, opposed it. Mr. Dickenson's views were those of a sincere, yet timid patriot.
He afterwards discovered that his fears were groundless, and was among the most ardent in aiding to mature and perfect the institutions of independent America.
In resisting the declaration of independence, he was honest in his views, being apprehensive for his country. At this period, no man could be more obnoxious to British statesmen, than the author of the Farmers Letters, who was now in possession of a colonel's commission, and was, in the month of July, 1776, upon the lines of New Jersey and New York.
The same thing which weighed upon his mind affected the minds of others ; among whom were Wilson of Pennsylvania, R. R. Livingston, of New York, E. Rutledge and R. Laurens of South Carolina, and William Livingston of New Jersey, who,
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although they did not doubt the absolute inexpediency of the measure, considered it premature.
On the first of July, the resolution declaratory of independence, was approved by the committee of all the colonies except Penn- sylvania and Delaware. Seven of the delegates from the former were present, four of whom voted against it. Mr. Rodney, one of the delegates from Delaware was absent, and the other two, Thomas McKean voted for and George Read against the resolu- tion. The further consideration of it was postponed until the next day, when the resolution was finally adopted and entered on the journals.
Pending this memorable discussion, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and R. R. Livingston, was appointed to prepare the declaration of independence. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Jefferson and Adams, were appointed, whose special duty it was to prepare the draft, which was made by the former. It was adopted by the chief committee without amendment, and reported to congress on the twenty-eighth of June. On the fourth of July, having received some slight alterations, it was sanctioned by the vote of every colony.
The delegation in congress from New Jersey, was Messrs. William Livingston, John DeHart, Richard Smith, John Cooper and Jonathan Dickenson Sergeant. These were elected by the ยท convention on the 14th of February, 1776. After the proposi- tion of May 15th, for organizing provincial governments, it would seem that nearly all these gentlemen were reluctant to assume the responsibility of adopting measures, which event- ually led to independence. On the twelfth, Richard Smith, by alleging indisposition resigned his seat; on the 13th, John DeHart resigned, and on the 21st of June, Mr. Sergeant re- signed. Mr. Cooper does not appear to have taken any part in the proceedings, although his name with that of Mr. Sergeant, appears on the minutes of the state convention, from the roth of June to the 4th of July. Mr. Livingston was withdrawn on the 5th of June, being appointed brigadier general of the militia of New Jersey.
Messrs. Richard Stockton, Abraham Clarke, John Hart,
7
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Francis Hopkinson and Dr. John Witherspoon, were substituted for the previous delegation, on the 21st of June, and were all of them present at the time the final vote was taken upon the resolution, and the declaration of independence, and affixed their signatures to that important document, by instructions from the provincial congress of New Jersey, empowering them to declare the united colonies independent of Great Britain.
On the 17th of July, the provincial congress resolved, that, " Whereas, the honorable, the continental congress have de- clared the united colonies free and independent states. 'We, the deputies of New Jersey, in provincial congress assembled, do re- Solve and declare, that we will support the freedom and in- dependence of the said states, with our lives and fortunes, and with the whole force of New Jersey.'" And on the succeeding day they changed the style and title of the " provincial con- gress of New Jersey," to that of the " Convention of the state of New Jersey."
CHAPTER XIX.
1775-1776.
Our people divided on the war question-First blow at Lexing- ton-Opposition to the claims of the British parliament-Cap- ture of the Hessians-Death of Colonel Rahl-Washington re- crosses the Delaware.
W 7E have now arrived at the most serious and important part of the history of our country, when without a government, and with no money, or munitions of war, and when even the people themselves were divided in sentiment upon the ex- pediency of the measure, it was resolved to take up arms against the best organized, most powerful and wealthiest nation in the world, and to either carry out the principles of the declaration of independence, adopted in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on the 4th of July, 1776, or perish in the attempt.
The first blow had been struck at Lexington in Massachusetts, on the 19th of April, 1775, which had aroused the whole country, and at which eight Americans had been slain by the British army, under Major Pitcairn, with a large body of the flower of the English army, against only seventy minute-men. This occa- sioned intense and burning indignation, throughout the length and breadth of the land. On the 17th of June of the same year, was fought the ever memorable battle of Bunker Hill, on the Heights of Charleston, which caused the people in every direc- tion to fly to arms. The husbandman, changed his plow for a musket, and about 15,000 men from Massachusetts, New Hamp- shire, Rhode Island and Connecticut, at once rushed to the vicinity of Boston, and placing themselves under General Ward,
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were ready to cope with the disciplined and well equipped British troops, under Generals Gage, Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne, Pigot, and others, then occupying Boston.
"Blood had been shed at Lexington, and cried aloud from the ground for vengeance, and volunteers had hastened hither, towards the scene of action, and within a few days Boston was besieged by the outraged people. Stark of New Hampshire, in ten minutes after the news reached him, was on his way to join the patriot force. Israel Putnam, of Connecticut, at this time in the sixtieth year of his age, was peacefully occupied in plowing, when the tidings of the battle arrived ; he left his plow in the field, and without even going to his house, sped on his way to the camp."*
"Early in July, 1775, Georgia entered into the opposition made to the claims of the British parliament to tax America, chose delegates to congress, after which the style of ' The thir- teen united colonies,' was assumed, and by that title the English provinces, confederated and in arms, were thenceforth desig- nated."" Ticonderoga, in the state of New York, was captured by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, with a force of eighty- three men, on the morning of the roth of May, taking the whole garrison of the fort prisoners, before they had even time to array themselves in their clothing, having been aroused from their beds, by three hearty cheers from the Green Mountain boys, as they hurried up the sally-port. Captain DeLaplace, who was in command of the fort, was still in bed. Allen knocked at the door with the hilt of his huge sword, and in stentorian voice, ordered him, instantly to appear, or his entire garrison would be put to death. He made his appearance at the door, half dressed, his pretty wife peering over his shoulders in affright, and gazing at Allen in bewildered astonishment, half awake, inquired by whose authority he acted ; whereupon, that veteran flourishing his long sword, and with an oath exclaimed : "In the name of the Great Jehovah, and the continental congress."
Seeing there was no other alternative, DeLaplace surrendered,
* Spencer's history of the United States, p. 352.
t Ibid. p. 365.
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and in two days after, Crown Point, twenty miles distant, was surprised and taken, by which more than two hundred pieces of artillery, with a large and valuable supply of powder and muni- tions of war, which was greatly needed, fell into the hands of the Americans.
The second continental congress met on the 10th of May, in Philadelphia, and in order to meet the expenses of the campaign, voted three million dollars in continental money, to bear the in- scription of " THE UNITED COLONIES," the faith of the con- federacy being pledged for the redemption, and towards the close of June they issued an additional sum of three millions. At this time the actual force of the American army was about fourteen thousand.
"The American army with about fourteen thousand men were posted on the heights around Boston, the British occupied Bunker and Breed's Hill, and Boston Neck."* Montreal was surrendered by the British on the 3d of November, and was soon after occupied by the American troops.
General Montgomery, with three hundred men, then marched upon Quebec, expecting to meet Arnold there with his detach- ment, who were to penetrate that province by the way of Maine.
Arnold had started with one thousand men about the middle of September, and after sustaining almost incredible hardships, he arrived on the 9th of November, at Point Levi, opposite to Quebec, crossed the St. Lawrence on the night of the 13th, but from the hardships he had endured during the march, his army was reduced to seven hundred men. He then marched towards Quebec, intending to surprise it, but being convinced that the enemy were ready to receive him, he was obliged to re- tire, and on the 18th he marched to join Montgomery, at Point aux Trembles.
Montgomery was killed on the 31st day of December.at Que- bec, Captains Cheesman and McPherson, his aides-de-camp, as well as several soldiers in front of the army, were wounded. See- ing the odds were so strongly against them, the continental army were obliged to retreat. Arnold advanced to the attack with
* Spencer, p. 362.
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desperation, and in assaulting the first barrier, he received a severe wound in the leg, obliging him to quit the field. Had this wound have been mortal, and the brave Montgomery saved instead of Arnold, the latter instead of being disgraced, as sub- sequently occurred, would have died a martyr to his country, and found a soldier's and a patriot's grave, beneath the rock- built walls of Quebec; but it was ordered otherwise-the patriot Montgomery was slain, and the traitor Arnold was spared.
And as Mr. Irving says-" His name, like that of Montgomery, would have been treasured up among the dearest, though mourn- ful recollections of his country, and that country would have been spared the single traitorous blot that dims the bright page of its revolutionary history." .
After this defeat the American army was driven out of Canada, Carleton having surrendered, Morgan, upon whom the command fell after Arnold was wounded, and four hundred and twenty-six of Morgan's command were obliged to surrender, Carleton having with his detachment got in his rear, there was no other alternative left him.
On the first of January, 1776, Norfolk, in Virginia, was bom -. barded by the British fleet, under Lord Dinmore, and property to the value of three hundred thousand pounds was destroyed.
Sir Henry Clinton attacked Charleston, South Carolina, on the . 28th of June, but was unsuccessful, and was obliged to retire with his fleet, from whence he sailed to New York.
Our army was in no condition at this time to cope with so powerful an enemy. They had met with several reverses, the most serious of which was on Long Island, from which place they were compelled to withdraw for want of means to render their position tenable. After frequent remonstrances from the commander-in-chief, and soon after the defeat on Long Island congress became awake to the condition of affairs, and proposed a permanent army, enlisted for the war, to be composed of eighty battalions, to be raised by the states, in proportion to their ability ; these were apportioned as follows : New Hamp- shire, three ; Massachusetts, fifteen ; Rhode Island, two; Con- necticut, eight ; New York, four ; New Jersey, four ; Pennsylva- nia, twelve; Delaware, one : Maryland, three ; Virginia, fifteen ;
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North Carolina, nine ; South Carolina, six; and Georgia, one; making a total of eighty-eight. They also held out as induce- ments to enlist, a bounty of twenty dollars to each recruit, and portions of vacant land was promised to each officer and soldier. To a colonel they promised five hundred acres ; lieutenant-colo- nel, four hundred and fifty; major, four hundred ; captain, three hundred ; lieutenant. two hundred ; ensign, one hundred and fifty ; and to non-commissioned officers and privates, one hundred acres of land.
General Washington established his army at Forts Washington and Lee, on the Hudson river, for the purpose of preserving the navigation of that stream.
By having possession of both sides of the river, it essentially checked the movements of General Howe, who lay above that point, and who deemed the complete possession of the entire island of New York an object of great importance, and deter- mined to effect it at the first favorable moment.
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