USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 9
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" Freemen cannot be taxed but by themselves or by their representatives," was the declaration of the New Jersey house of assembly to the king. " This privilege we esteem so invaluable that we are fully persuaded no other can exist without it. Duties have lately been imposed upon us for the sole and express purpose of raising a revenue. Yet, that we are represented in Parliament we not only cannot allow, but are convinced from our local circumstances we never can be."
More effective steps were presently taken. The former non-importation agreements were re- newed. As the direct imports of New Jersey were light, she could do little in the matter but encourage her commercial neighbours. At one time a few of the New York traders were in- duced to violate their voluntary pledges. Some of these persons soon after visiting New Bruns- wick and Woodbridge to dispose of their goods, the indignant populace fell upon them and drove them with violence from their respective towns. At other places public meetings were held, at
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1770.
which the recusants were held up to the scorn of all true friends of liberty, and bitterly de- nounced as foul traitors to their country.
At length, as on the previous occasion, the manufacturers and traders of England began to suffer. In their troubles they pressed the repeal of Townsend's obnoxious bill. . As it had been almost impossible to enforce that act, nothing scarcely in the shape of revenue had accrued from it, while every day the indignation of the colonists was growing in strength and storminess. Consequently, and moved rather by their fears than by a sense of justice, the ministry procured the repeal of the Revenue Act, in April, 1770, reserving, however, a trifling duty on the single article of tea.
Meanwhile local difficulties had sprung up in New Jersey, which at length led to alarming disturbances. The appearance of extraordinary prosperity occasioned by the late war, had been followed by a period of great and general dis- tress. Bankruptcies and suits-at-law became numerous. Debtors were unable to settle their accounts, while the creditor bold enough to pro- secute, together with his attorney, was subjected to the ill-will of the debtor and his exasperated friends. Finally the' lawyers became particu- larly obnoxious. Charging the whole legal fra- ternity with being a band of extortioners, the people of Monmouth county, in January, 1770,
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POLITICAL CALM.
1770.]
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assembled at Freehold, where the court was then holding its session, tumultuously entered the court-house, drove the judges from their benches, and thus put a stop to further judicial proceed- ings. An attempt at a similar design in Essex county was frustrated by the vigilance of the public officers, assisted by the well-disposed citi- zens. To meet this crisis, a special meeting of the assembly was called. By the adoption of judicious measures, quiet was at length restored, though not until the passage of a law against excessive costs in the recovery of debts under fifty pounds.
For nearly four years after the partial abro- gation of the Revenue Act, nothing of marked historical importance occurred in New Jersey. There, as in most of the other colonies, the pe- riod was one of political calm. But Parliament, by retaining the duty on tea, seemed to have es- tablished by precedent the right to tax Ame- rica. As it was the assertion of this right alone that had provoked the resistance of the colonists, the continuance of the tea-duty was a measure as insulting as it was weak. Pecuniarily insig- nificant, it was momentous in a political point of view. Yet, for a time, the colonists were content with a mere modification of their non- importation agreements so as to include tea only. By this means the tax on tea, as an as-
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
[1770.
sertion of parliamentary right, was rendered almost unavailing.
Parliament at length determined upon a new attempt to draw a revenue from America by means of the reserved duty on tea. The colo- nists having steadily refused to import, seventeen millions of pounds of the obnoxious commodity had collected in the East India Company's ware- houses. To force a large quantity of this into the provinces might at once relieve the company from its embarrassment, and bring about the ministerial ends. Removing the export duty, and relieving the company of certain existing restraints, arrangements were made for shipping several cargoes of tea to the chief ports of Ame- rica, where it was expected it would be received willingly, and readily purchased, now that the duty was only a nominal one.
But the colonists were vigilant. From New Hampshire to Georgia the cry of imperilled free- dom was again heard. Immediate steps were taken to avert the danger that so insidiously presented itself. In some places the tea was permitted to be landed and stored, but not to be sold. At Boston, when the tea-ships arrived, they were boarded by a party disguised as In- dians, and their cargoes cast into the sea. As the vessels were approaching New York and Philadelphia, they were stopped and compelled to return home. At Annapolis, the owner was
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1774.] SYMPATHY WITH MASSACHUSETTS.
forced to set fire to the vessel containing the tea. The cargo of a ship landed and stored at Greenwich, New Jersey, late in 1774, was seized upon by the populace, and publicly burned to ashes.
This bold overthrow of their plans goaded the ministry wellnigh to fury. Upon Massachusetts fell the heaviest stroke of their indignation. Stringent acts were hurried through Parliament, directed especially against the people of that province. Among others, bills to shut the port of Boston, and to subvert, in effect, the charter of the colony. The tidings speedily reached America. . Sympathizing with Massachusetts, the colonies at once rose in her behalf. With their commerce annihilated by the Port Bill, the people of Boston soon stood in need of assist- ance. Contributions flowed into them from all parts of the country, and from no province more freely than from New Jersey. Forwarding their first « present," the inhabitants of Monmouth exhorted their Boston brethren " not to give up, and if they should want a further supply of bread to let them know." The people of Eliza- bethtown were equally liberal, and from Salem one hundred and fifty pounds were sent to " the distressed and suffering poor of Boston."
Matters were now approaching a crisis. Tho- roughly aroused by the recent action of the mi- nistry and of Parliament, the colonists prepared
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
[1775
for active and determined resistance. A nation- al Congress was recommended, to be composed of delegates from the several provinces. This recommendation met a hearty response from all
sides. On the fifth of September, 1774, dele- gates from twelve colonies convened at Philadel- phia, and, after a long and anxious session, adopt- ed a petition to the king, a declaration of rights, a memorial to the people of England, and an address to the inhabitants of Canada.
The proceedings of this Congress were laid before the New Jersey assembly, on the 24th of January, 1775. Notwithstanding the strenuous endeavours of Governor Franklin to prevent it, the house approved of the report unanimously, save that the Quaker members excepted to such portions as seemed to look toward forcible re- sistance.
From this period the aspect of affairs continued to grow more and more troubled ; and at length by the battle of Lexington, on the 19th of April, the War of Independence was fairly opened. Little hope was now left of a peaceful adjust- ment of the difficulties existing between the colo- nies and the mother country.
1775.]
ACTIVITY OF THE PROVINCIALS. 157
CHAPTER XIII.
Affair of Lexington-Military activity of the provincials-Pro- ceedings of Congress-Ticonderoga surprised by Ethan Allen -Lord North's conciliatory plan rejected by New Jersey- Organization of the militia-Battle of Bunker Hill-Evacu- ation of Boston by the British-Declaration of Independence -State of New Jersey formed-Livingston elected governor -New York menaced by Howe-Activity of Washington -Battle of Long Island-New York evacuated by the Ame- ricans-Capture of Fort Washington by the British-Re- treat of Washington across the Jerseys-Condition of his troops-Meeting of the first state legislature-The Ameri- can army crosses the Delaware-Capture of General Lee- Surprise of the Hessians at Trenton.
THE affair at Lexington kindled a spirit of re- solute resistance throughout the country. In New England especially, extraordinary zeal was displayed by the provincials .. Within two days after the fight an irregular volunteer force of twenty thousand men had beleaguered Boston. In the middle and southern colonies a spirit scarcely less active and prompt was displayed, and every thing betokened that an earnest and determined struggle was at hand.
To the Continental Congress, which met in May, public attention was anxiously directed. Declaring that hostilities were already begun by Great Britain, they prepared to put the colonies
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1775.
in a posture of defence. As no general idea was yet entertained of independence, a firm but respectful petition to the king was resolved upon, while memorials were addressed to the people of England, Ireland, and Quebec ; in which, boldly stating the rights of the colonies, Congress spiritedly vindicated its former course and its present designs.
While the National Congress was thus engaged, a party of provincials, led by Ethan Allen and Seth Warner, had captured the fortresses of Ti- conderoga and Crown Point. Artillery, and a large amount of ammunition and military stores thus fell into the hands of the needy colonists.
Five days afterward, on the 15th of May, the New Jersey assembly, at the call of Franklin, convened to consider the specious but unconces- sive " conciliatory plan" of Lord North. Though recommended earnestly by the governor in an elaborate address, the house firmly and solemnly declined assenting to the proposition. Finding them immovable, Franklin ordered an adjourn- ment. Subsequently a few days, a Provincial Congress convened at Trenton, and agreed upon an association for the defence of colonial rights against the aggression of the British ministry. Declining to authorize a levy of regular troops until some general plan should be formed, they adopted measures for organizing the militia, and
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REGULARS ENLISTED.
1775.]
ordered the issue of ten thousand pounds in bills of credit, to defray expenses.
At length the battle of Bunker Hill, on the 17th of June, wellnigh brought all hope of re- conciliation to an end. In the mean time, the National Congress had made arrangements for a continental army, at the head of which was George Washington of Virginia. Washington presently took command of the provincials in- vesting Boston. While he was busied in organ- izing these brave but untrained troops, Congress engaged itself in providing for their support, pay, and government.
On the fifth of August the Provincial Congress of New Jersey again met, and made further pro- vision for organizing the militia, to command which they appointed Philemon Dickinson and William Livingston, both persons already cele- brated for their patriotism. Having chosen a provincial treasurer and a committee of safety, the congress adjourned. Meeting again on the third of October, they ordered the enlistment of two regiments of regulars, the command of one of which was given to William Maxwell, and of the other to William Alexander, commonly called Lord Stirling. Thirty thousand pounds were issued in provincial bills, to defray the expenses thus incurred.
Meanwhile Franklin had been active in his opposition. Convening the general assembly on
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1776. .
the sixteenth of November, he complained to the members that " sentiments of independence had been openly avowed, and that essays had appeared, ridiculing the people's fears of that horrid measure." In reply, the house declared that they knew "of no sentiments of indepen- dency openly avowed," and that they " approved of no essays tending to such a measure." They remained in session, transacting their ordinary business, until the 6th of December, when they were prorogued for a brief period. But they never again met.
To meet a requisition for additional troops, the Provincial Congress assembled at New Brunswick, on the 31st of January, 1776. An attack upon the colonies through Canada having been planned by England, the Continental Con- gress determined to thwart it by a counter- movement. In this exigency, New Jersey order- ed the enlistment of another regiment, and made a further appropriation of twenty thousand pounds.
Meanwhile Washington had maintained a close investment of the British in Boston. Wearied · out at length, they evacuated the city in March, when the triumphant provincials took immediate and joyful possession.
For nearly a year the colonists had been in arms against the mother country. Entire inde- pendence, however, had not as yet been asserted.
161
LIVINGSTON ELECTED GOVERNOR.
1776.]
But on the seventh of June, it was at length . moved in the National Congress, " that the United Colonies are, and ought to be, free and inde- pedent states; and that their political connec- tion with Great Britain is, and ought to be, dis- solved." The resolution passed by a small ma- jority. The delegates from New Jersey had been expressly instructed against it. Presently, however, a new set was chosen, with directions to cast their suffrages for independence. On the fourth of July following, a formal declaration to that effect was adopted by the Continental Congress, and signed by most of the members present.
Already the Congress of New Jersey had pre- pared and adopted a new and independent con- stitution ; and, having presently agreed to the national declaration, they assumed the style and title of the "Convention of the State of New Jersey." On the 31st of August following, William Livingston, commander-in-chief of the militia, was elected the first governor of the state-Franklin, the old colonial executive, having been made prisoner some time previously for corresponding with the enemy. Removed to Connecticut, Franklin was there kept in close confinement until the end of the war, when he sailed, a voluntary exile from the country of his birth, to England.
Meanwhile the arms of the provincials had 14*
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1776.
met with a series of disasters. The campaign against Canada, which opened with the most brilliant prospect of success, had terminated in the precipitate retreat of the American forces to Crown Point, and subsequently to Ticonde- roga.
Early in July, General Howe, with the late garrison of Boston, and other troops from Hali- fax, landed on Staten Island, from which he threatened an attack on the city of New York. Calling upon New York and New Jersey for troops, Washington immediately hastened to de- fend the beleaguered city. In a month's time, by dint of extraordinary exertions, he was enabled to swell his army to about twenty thousand sickly, ill-equipped, and half-trained soldiers. His opponent, meanwhile, had received numerous reinforcements, raising his force to nearly twen- ty-four thousand of the best troops in the British service.
At length Howe began to move. Advancing cautiously by the way of Long Island, he suc- ceeded, after subjecting the Americans to a dis- astrous defeat, in encamping in front of their lines at Brooklyn, on the night of the 27th of August. Washington presently retreated across the East River. Howe followed on the 13th of September, and landed three miles above New York, putting to dastardly flight the provincials stationed to oppose him. The city was imme-
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RETREAT OF THE ARMY.
1776.]
diately abandoned by the Americans, and the British took possession.
Washington intrenched himself on Harlem Heights. After a series of cautious movements on the part of both generals, Howe seemed to threaten New Jersey, when the main body of the Continental army crossed to the west bank of the Hudson, under the immediate direction of Washington himself. On the 16th of November, Fort Washington, with its nume- rous garrison and immense stores, fell into the enemy's hands. Fort Lee, on the Jersey shore of the Hudson, was hastily evacuated by the Americans. Washington, whose army was now reduced to four thousand men, took ground on a level plain between the Hackensack and Passaic, but a superior British force under Cornwallis advancing against him, he was com- pelled to commence a rapid retreat across the Jerseys.
This retreat was accompanied by almost every circumstance that could harass and depress the spirits. The severity of winter had already set in. Depressed by a succession of disasters, the little army of Americans moved wearily on, illy clad, without tents, and with scarcely a blanket to protect them from the rigor of the season. Pressing them closely was the force of Cornwal- lis, flushed with previous good fortune, wanting none of the necessaries of camp, and dazzling
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1776.
by the brilliancy of their equipments. It is scarcely to be wondered, then, that the militia of New Jersey, upon contrasting the different appearance of the two armies, exhibited a re- luctance to take the field, though every exertion was made by their new and popular governor to induce them to rally in defence of their country and its liberties.
The first legislature under the lately-formed constitution was still in session at Princeton, when the flying Americans made their appear- ance. They immediately broke up, to assemble again at Burlington; but the tide of war advanc- ing upon them there, they retired to Pittstown, and finally to Haddonfield, where they presently dissolved.
Washington having reached Trenton, was there reinforced by fifteen hundred Philadelphians. Finding Cornwallis pause at Brunswick, he de- tached twelve hundred men to Princeton, in the hope of checking the British advance. But the English general pressed on with a superior force, and no alternative was left but to fight or to cross the Delaware. An engagement was not to be thought of ; the latter course was accord-
ingly adopted. As the American rear-guard pushed from the Jersey shore, the van of the British came in sight. Washington having taken the precaution to secure all the boats on the Delaware, Cornwallis was unable to pursue the
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CAPTURE OF LEE.
1776.]
retreating Americans ; upon which he deter- mined to close the campaign, and go into winter quarters, occupying various points above and below Trenton. Washington rested on the western bank of the river, keeping a vigilant watch over the fords by which the enemy might be expected to cross.
The American general was in the mean time strenuously endeavouring to augment his force. During his hasty and anxious retreat, he had repeatedly ordered Lee to pass the Hudson and unite with the main army; but apparently anxious to retain his separate command, that ambitious officer had tardily obeyed. Oppos- ing the judgment of Washington, he proposed to take stand at Morristown. Ordered again to march, he moved reluctantly toward the Delaware, by a road some twenty miles west of that pursued by the British. Having in- discreetly quartered at a distance from his troops, information was given by a countryman to Colonel Harcourt, who, with a body of British cavalry, formed and executed the design of making him prisoner. Unaware of the enemy's approach, and protected by but a slight guard, Lee was easily captured. Lee's services had been estimated highly, and the misfortune of his capture cast a deeper shade upon the despond- ency of the Americans.
The cause of American independence seemed
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
- [1776.
now to be utterly hopeless. The little army under Washington could with difficulty be held together. But the American general was watch- ful of every opportunity. In the dispersed situa- tion of the British troops, he quickly perceived an exposure to successful attack, and formed a plan to assail, simultaneously, the posts along the Delaware. About fifteen hundred Hessians were stationed at Trenton. The capture or de- struction of these was the chief object of the American commander's daring design. The night of the twenty-fifth of December was fixed upon for the movement. Washington proposed to recross the Delaware about nine miles above Trenton, with two thousand five hundred troops, and march down in two divisions, one by the river, and the other by the Pennington road. General Irvine was to cross at the Trenton ferry and secure the bridge below the town, while General Cadwallader was to pass at Dunk's Ferry, and surprise the enemy's posts at Mount Holly.
The night of the twenty-fifth of December was cold in the extreme. The river was fill- ed with floating ice; and snow, rain, and hail were falling heavily. It was nearly three o'clock before Washington reached the Jersey shore. The two columns took up their respect- ive lines of march, and at about eight o'clock in the morning, drove in the outposts of the
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1776.] TRIUMPH AT TRENTON.
surprised and startled enemy. Rallied by their commander, they made a brief but inef- fectual resistance. So vigorously did both American divisions press forward, that the Hes- sians could only look around for the safest road to retreat. The light-horse and a portion of the infantry succeeded in escaping by the Bordentown road. The main body fled along the road to Princeton, but were checked by a regiment of Pennsylvania riflemen. Their six field-pieces had been captured early in the action, and now, surrounded and dispirited by the sudden attack, one thousand Hessians laid down their arms and became prisoners of war.
In securing this brilliant and unexpected tri- umph, the Americans had lost but two privates killed, two frozen to death, and one officer and three or four privates wounded. Of the enemy, about twenty were left dead upon the field, among these was Colonel Rawle, their commander.
But the plan of Washington was not wholly successful. Generals Irvine and Cadwallader were unable to cross the river in consequence of the quantity of ice. Thus the road to Bordentown was left open, and the post at Mount Holly escaped attack. Nevertheless, the success of Washington was of itself sufficient to cheer the hearts of the Americans. Its mate- rial results were considerable, but its moral
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1777.
effect, both upon the British and the colonists, was astonishing. The British were suddenly shown that their task was not so nearly complet- ed as they had imagined, while the Americans were as quickly raised from the gloom of de- spondency to the light of a glorious hope.
CHAPTER XIV.
Washington takes post at Trenton-Cornwallis advances against him-Perilous situation of the American commander -His daring scheme to escape-Attacks and defeats the enemy at Princeton-Subsequent movements of the con- tending armies-Washington goes into winter- quarters at Morristown-Inspiriting effect of the late victories-Out- rages committed by the enemy-New Jersey militia take the field-Skirmishes near Springfield and Hillsborough-Wash- ington's proclamation to the disaffected inhabitants-Ex- ceptions taken to it-Legislature convenes-Difficulties in framing a new militia law-Non-resistance principles re- spected-Dissatisfaction of Livingston-" Council of Safety" appointed-Its extraordinary powers-Bill to confiscate the estates of Tories-Its favourable conditions-Plundering ex- peditions of the Tories from New York.
RECROSSING the Delaware, Washington sent his prisoners to Philadelphia. Startled by the sudden and unexpected stroke they had received, the British broke up their cantonments along the river, and fell back to Princeton, where a large army was soon concentrated under the
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PERILOUS POSITION.
1777.]
command of Cornwallis. Informed of this move- ment, Washington once more crossed the Dela- ware to Trenton, with the determination of en- deavouring to recover the Jerseys. Here he was joined by General Mifflin, with a considerable reinforcement of Pennsylvania volunteers ; but even with this addition his army did not number more than five thousand men, of whom one-half had never before been in the field. What was still more disheartening, in that number were the New England regiments, whose term of ser- vice was in a few days to expire. By the per- suasions of their officers, however, and the pro- mise of bounty, they were induced to re-engage for a further period of six weeks.
Scarcely was this difficulty surmounted, when Cornwallis, on the second of January, 1777, with a force fully equal to Washington's in point of numbers, and far superior to it in discipline, made a sudden advance toward the American lines. As he approached, Washington withdrew across the Assunpink, a small stream flowing into the Delaware at Trenton. The different passages being vigilantly guarded by his artil- lery, the British were unable to follow; and after a brisk cannonade, which lasted until dark, the belligerents kindled their fires and encamped.
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