USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. II > Part 10
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June 5. Governor Winthrop delayed not, on receiving Director Stuyvesant's letter, to express his happiness at the prospect of a termination of all differences, and the re-establishment of a friendly understanding with the English colonies. It was his opinion, however, that the projected meeting could not be held before the ensuing September. The charge June 8. brought against the Dutch of exciting the Indians, gained very little credit, he assured him, with Governor Eaton ; and if the Director-general had suffered in any way from it, he entreated him to consider what provocation those of New Haven might apprehend from him when he laid claim to their town, and cut a ship out of their harbor. June 10. Governor Eaton, himself, wrote also about the same time to Director Stuyvesant, assuring him of his being favor- ably disposed towards the projected meeting ; which, how- ever, did not take place. Mr. Bradford's bodily infirmities :
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the necessity of his consulting the commissioners, who CHAP. were to assemble at Plymouth in September; and the ~ V1. want of time to make new arrangements, rendered the 1648. meeting at Connecticut impossible. Under these circum- stances, June of the next year was proposed for the Aug. 5 wished-for consultation, if that should suit the entire con- venience of the Director-general. With this arrangement he could not help being satisfied. Yet he was sorry it was so. He had written to the Company, informing them Aug. 12. that he was about to meet the English commissioners ; now he would be obliged to send advices to the contrary. He reiterated his desire for peace, and hoped that none would think of war; and he assured the commissioners that it Aug. 26. would be his aim to practice all loving correspondence towards those of New Haven and other places. To the former he had already recommended friendly intercourse : Aug. 20. a cautious abstinence from everything like encroachment on one another's pretended rights ; and a continuation of the statu quo until an amicable, just and fair settlement be concluded.
The anxiety which Director Stuyvesant evinced, in the whole of this correspondence, to be on good terms with the English ; the desire he exhibited for peace, when there was no probability of war; and the urgency with which he pressed a settlement of the boundary line, seem to have contributed to mar the accomplishment of his wishes. They were regarded as betokening weakness, not only in the United Provinces and West India Company, but in the Dutch colony. The first had passed through a long and exhausting war with Spain ; the Company had experienced severe losses, which rendered immediate supplies from Holland doubtful ; and the colonists and Indians of New Netherland had begun to evince an unruly disposition. The English considered that a neighbor thus embarrassed, could very well afford to wait their leisure.1 No commu- nication was therefore received from them until the fall, when the Commissioners of the United Colonies renewed
1 Letters in Director Stuyvesant's time. Winthrop's New England, ii., 311, 313, 316, 321, 325, 329, 330. Hubbard, 437, 438.
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1648. Sep. 26.
BOOK the correspondence. They again complained of the sale IV. of arms and ammunition by the Dutch to the Indians, in consequence of which the Mohawks had become insolent and dangerous. The tariff had neither been abolished nor modified, and customs were extorted from English traders who were only passing the Manhattans. They expressed themselves dissatisfied with the pretensions to the country from Cape Henlopen to Cape Cod, and having reviewed the communications to Governors Winthrop, Eaton and Bradford, and Deputy Governor Goodyear, during both the past and present years, they demanded if he were com- missioned by his principals, to leave the differences on both sides to arbitration ; if so, to whom, and whether the title to land and other questions propounded by Governor Eaton, were to be embraced in such reference. If he would explain himself on these matters, it would enable them to see more clearly their future course. In the mean time they gave notice, that it was their intention hereafter to enact that traders within any of the Dutch plantations, should in future receive no more liberty, within any of the harbors belonging to the English colonies, either as to anchorage, customs, searching, fines, seizures, &c., than English merchants experienced at the Manhattans, or within its jurisdiction ; that all guns and munitions of war intended for the Indian trade, found on board any Dutch traders, may be seized until full enquiry and satisfaction be afforded ; that whatever restraints, penalties and confiscations may be put by the government at Fort Amsterdam, on the English colonies or their merchants, for trading with the Indians within its jurisdiction, the same should be placed on the Dutch within the English limits ; and lastly, if hereafter the Director-general should carry any ship, vessel, or goods out of any harbor within English jurisdiction, or seize elsewhere any property belonging to any merchant or mariner, of whatsoever nation, admitted to be a planter or inhabitant of any of the United Colonies, such damages would be repaired, and their rights vindicated by the English by all suitable means. But they suspended the enforcement of these regulations, until they learned the
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determination of the Director-general on the matters em- CHAP. braced therein. If he refused, or delayed a satisfactory VI. answer, he should be held responsible for the consequences.1 1648.
Director Stuyvesant did not fail to send an early reply to this communication. He was duly sensible of the bad consequences of the contraband trade with the Indians, and had done all in his power to prevent it, as well as to punish those who were found engaged in it. He wished them to understand that no other customs were imposed at the Manhattans than those exacted in his predecessor's time. All commodities raised in New England (malt or beer ex- cepted) were as favored as those raised by the Dutch-nay, the English paid six per cent. less than the latter, and were treated with " all lenitie and gentleness ;" having never been subject to fines or seizures except in one case, where the person was guilty of contempt of an order with which he was well acquainted, and had once before transgressed. Confiscation was only resorted to in case of contraband, such as guns, powder, &c. He frankly acknowledged that all these things were the greatest hindrance to the settlement of the country, and he had, therefore, long since written to his superiors concerning them. It would afford him real pleasure to gratify the English traders in all their wishes, which he should most readily do as soon as authorized. He, there- fore, hoped that the commissioners would not place any impediments in the way of freedom of trade, further than the maintenance of their government demanded. He would most readily second their proposition to institute a thorough search for arms and ammunition intended for the savages. He regretted that they had expressed themselves dissatisfied with his pretensions to the territory from Cape Henlopen to Cape Cod, but he begged them to understand that the place called by the English Cape Cod, was Cape Mallabarre with the Dutch; not however the same as that so denominated by the English, but another which they called Point Judith. He again expressed himself desirous for the proposed meeting, "that we might have some
1 Hazard's State Papers, ii. New York Hist. Soc. Coll. i., 202-206.
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BOOK agitation in way of preparing our superiors at home for IV. determining the limits betwixt us, that all future causes of 1648. contestation betwixt us and our posterity here might be removed, and a firm Christian union settled." His com- mission from his sovereign would, he assured them, be found as large and as ample as they should desire. The instance in which he had exacted recognitions from a vessel passing the Manhattans, occurred only in the case of an English vessel that had traded at the South River, which practice had, however, been since abandoned. He concluded by remarking that they had committed an error in calling New Netherland, a "plantation." The States General had entitled and invested it with the liberties and privileges of a province, and so acknowledged it in all their commissions.
The internal condition of England was now such as to offer an insurmountable obstacle to the settlement in Europe of the various differences between the English and Dutch colonists in America; a course which Stuyve- sant strenuously recommended to the Directors at Amster- dam. " We are unable to find anybody properly author- Dec. 23. ized for that purpose," the latter replied. "The King is detained by the army under General Fairfax and his lieu- tenant, Cromwell. Several of the members of Parliament 1649. are prisoners or fugitives. The Prince of Wales and Duke Jan. 27. of York have fled hither, and it appears as if the lowest will get the sway, and that an entire new mode of govern- ment will be adopted in that kingdom." The best policy for General Stuyvesant was, they considered, " to endeavor to live with his neighbors on the best terms possible ;" the rather, as the English were much too strong for the Dutch, and a war, for that reason, was by no means advisable.1
Governor Eaton having received the Director-general's answer to the letter from the Commissioners of the United April Colonies, returned a reply in due season, from which Stuy- 21. vesant learned that his explanations were still deemed unsatisfactory. Desirous, however, to settle all difficulties,
1 Alb. Rec. iv. 15.
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those authorities consented to a meeting in the last week CHAP. of June, or the first in July. As the Governors of Massa- VI. chusetts and Plymouth were advanced in life, and unequal 1649. to any long journey, Boston was considered the fittest place to arbitrate. Meanwhile the English would not submit to the duties and burthens imposed at the Man- hattans. If not speedily removed, they could not be blamed if they provided a remedy against them. This letter con- veyed, also, the melancholy intelligence of the death of Governor Winthrop. Director Stuyvesant was much May 4. affected by " the sad loss of one whose wisdom and integ- rity might have done much in composing matters between us." As it was, he objected to Boston as the place of meeting, and again urged Connecticut as the more con- venient point. If such an arrangement were concurred in, he was willing to attend at the time appointed. If not, he should nevertheless visit New Haven, where he proposed to converse with Governor Eaton, in the hope of removing all mutual mistakes or misapprehensions.
The Governor's reply discouraged any such visit. "Re- May 10. membering what passed, not only formerly in Mons. Kieft's time, but, more lately, since," he submitted whether, "after a public treaty had been so often proposed," in which other colonies were interested, it would be proper on the one side, or comely on the other, " to resolve it without their satisfaction or consent, into a private visit and confer- ence." In discharge of his duty to the crown of England, his engagements to his own jurisdiction, and in reference to the complaints of some private persons, he would be obliged to propose and press questions, to which the Di- rector-general alone knew whether he was prepared to give satisfactory replies ; and if not, whether it was prob- able their meeting would be productive of any good effects. In frankly submitting these doubts, he hoped no miscon- ception or censure would be put on his open and plain dealing. He next stated that he had learned that the customs and other duties imposed by the Dutch had been taken off, " and the hand taken down;" at least that all the vessels belonging to the English colonies may
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BOOK anchor "where they themselves see good," whence he con- IV. ceived that " they shall find the Manhatoes, in all respects, 1649. both in trading there and in passing to and fro, as open and free as the English harbors have hitherto been to the Dutch." If this information were unfounded, he wished to be corrected, as he may be questioned on the subject. May 26. The Director-general, in reply, acquainted him that the ten per cent. heretofore levied on goods imported by the English from New England was suspended for the present, and would not be demanded until further orders. The guide-post designating the anchorage ground had been blown down, and should not again be erected.
The New Haven Governor, who seems to have been authorized to treat with the Dutch Director in the interval of the sittings of the United Colonies, now advanced in his June 17. demands, and insisted that the English passing from Vir- ginia, the Delaware, &c., and trading at the Manhattans should be free " from all recognitions, imposition or charge, by what name soever called, both on goods imported and exported." He likewise enquired what duties were still retained, what confiscations they must submit to, and on what grounds these were enforced, " so that the merchant, seeing his way, may walk safely, and the commissioners may order their councils and courses accordingly."
July 2. Stuyvesant had made as many concessions as courtesy could require. Beyond this he was not prepared to go. He had already granted as much as he could or dared to grant until he had further orders from his superiors, and was not responsible to any but them, nor would he be regulated by any other power.
The meeting at Connecticut was now, again, postponed ; ostensibly because of Gov. Bradford's indisposition and Mr. Dudley's advanced years, but more probably on account of an extraordinary session which the delegates from the Aug. 2. United Colonies held at Boston in consequence of the alarming aspect of affairs with the Indians. At this meeting Gov. Eaton proposed that effectual measures be immedi- ately adopted for the settlement of Delaware Bay. A number of New Haven merchants had purchased extensive
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tracts on both sides of that river. The fertility of the soil, CHAP. the healthfulness of the country, the convenience of the VI. ~ several streams, and the inducements to trade in that 1649. quarter, afforded great encouragements to enterprising settlers. The intention to make this move had, however, reached Director Stuyvesant's ears some time previously, and he had taken an early opportunity to call the attention of Governors Endicott and Bradford, and of Gen. Gibbons of Massachusetts, to it, and to the fact that the South River belonged of right to the Dutch, both by lawful commission from the States General, and lawful purchase from the natives. This right he was bound to maintain. He, there- fore, hoped, that if anything happened otherwise than as expected, and the project should be persisted in, they, and not the Dutch, should be considered the cause of the trouble.
When Gov. Eaton's proposal came up, the commission- ers gave it a prudent quietus. The circumstances of the colonies were such as to render it, in their opinion, imprudent at that time to encourage, by any public act, such a settlement. Exclusive of the difficulties with the Dutch, and the danger of involving the colonies in war, they had, they considered, an insufficient number of men for their own defence, and for the prosecution of the necessary business of their respective plantations. The merchants and gentlemen of New Haven were, therefore, recommended to dispose of their lands as to them seemed best ; and the commissioners resolved, that if any persons in the United Colonies attempted to make settlements thereupon, without their consent, or to do aught injurious to the rights of the purchasers, they should neither own nor protect them in their unjust attempts. They, however, wrote to Director Aug. 16. Stuyvesant asserting the right of the English to the lands in question, as well as to all the English plantations and their appurtenances to Cape Cod, and informed him that they considered his reply to their letter of the preceding September, defective in sundry respects. It was wholly silent on the subject of trade carried on with the Indians at Fort Orange, and within the English jurisdiction; it
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BOOK afforded no information how far the merchants were free of IV. customs, inward and outward; or whether these burthens 1649. were utterly abolished, or only temporarily suspended ; what restraints on trade were continued, or in what cases English goods were liable to seizure. All these difficulties might, in their opinion, have been put into a shape to be sent to Europe, had the Director-general attended the meeting at Boston, according to invitation. But as this course was not convenient, they were now constrained to provide for their own safety, and " to write after his copy." In keeping with this conclusion, they resolved, " That after due notice thereof, it shall not be lawful for any French- man, Dutchman, or any person of any foreign nation, or any Englishman living among them, or under the govern- ment of any of them, to trade with any Indian or Indians within this jurisdiction, either directly or indirectly, by themselves or others, under the penalty of confiscation of all such goods and vessels as shall be found so trading, or the true value thereof, upon just proof."1
By this resolution, the Dutch were excluded from a very important and very valuable trade, of which they had been in the enjoyment since the first settlement of the country. The confusion which followed was necessarily very great, and tended considerably to increase the popular clamor in the colony against the administration, whilst by the Direct- ors in Holland, Stuyvesant was charged with having been the main cause of all the difficulty. "We cannot," said they, "pass in silence your imprudent trade in guns with Vastrick, without our order or knowledge, whereby we have been calumniated, although we were surprised at the transaction, and considered your excuses very paltry, which as such were set aside by this department. You have placed your reputation, by such traffic, in jeopardy, more especially as it is now followed by the complaints and threats of our English neighbors. . . If we, through similar transactions, are compelled to a rupture with the English, we question not but the deputies of their
1 New York Hist. Soc. Coll. i., 208-210, from Hazard's State Papers, ii.
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High Mightinesses will take it amiss, especially as the CHAP. delegates have left nothing untried to persuade that college, VI. that you will be the cause of such a war."1 1649.
Of the efforts of these delegates to obtain a reform in the government of New Netherland, it is now our duty to speak. 1 Alb. Rec. iv.
1
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CHAPTER VII.
The delegates from New Netherland present their petition to the States General -Peculiarity of its plan-Commences with the discovery of the country -- Describes its physical character and productions-The aborigines and their manners-The backwardness of the colony-Causes thereof-Misgovern- ment-Discouragement of emigration-Useless expenditure-Obstruction of free trade-High prices of merchandise-Lofty pretensions of the Directors- Who claim sovereign power-Maintain to be above the law-Errors of Kieft's administration-Church affairs-Schools-No provision for the poor, the or- phans and sick-Origin of the excise-Party spirit-Stuyvesant imitates Re- hoboam-Estimated revenue-Negroes-Kieft's Council-Van Tienhoven the cause of the war-Stuyvesant's administration-He is accused of haughtiness, partiality, imperiousness-Denies the right of appeal-Threatens those who attempt to exercise it-Public discontent-Weights and measures-Cur- rency-Fort-The sheep are sheared, but the wool is unwashed-Characters of Stuyvesant's Councillors-The Nine Men rascals-Further complaints against the Company-Efforts to accomplish this mission-Seizure of Van der Donck's papers-Dangers incurred by those who meddle with public affairs-Motives for making this remonstrance-Concluding demands- Petition referred-Van Tienhoven's reply-Regulations of trade-Appeal refused conformably to the Exemptions-Directors have a right to banish- Explanation about the church and school-house-No Latin school-Deacons responsible for the poor money-Complaints against the excise not justifiable -Dutch not taxed as heavily as those of New England-Revenue from the excise-Stuyvesant's character defended-His motives for furnishing the In- dians with guns-Was always favorable to a mission to Fatherland-Impris- onments during his time-The demand that the Company should surrender New Netherland, frivolous-The people should provide such public buildings as they require-A new clergyman for Fort Amsterdam.
BOOK IV. ON the arrival of the New Netherland delegates at the Hague, they immediately laid before the States General 1649. the remonstrance with which they were entrusted. This document was as peculiar in its plan, as it was interesting in its details. Commencing with the discovery of the coun- try, its boundaries and latitude, it proceeded to describe its climate, soil, rivers, mountains, seasons and productions ; its wild and domestic cattle ; its fowls, fishes and reptiles, plants and minerals ; its aboriginal inhabitants ; their con- formation, habits, manners, customs and mode of living, both in peace and war. Passing afterwards to the incor-
Oct. 13.
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poration of the Dutch West India Company, it recapitu- CHAP. lated the several forts erected by that association, when it VII. took possession of the province, and then referred to the 1649. differences between the Dutch and the neighboring English, whose encroachments at the east were commented on with honest severity. The Delaware, or South River, was next described ; its capaciousness and advantages in a naval point of view ; the fertility of its lands, and the benefits it offers to traders and settlers ; and the usurpations of the Swedes in that quarter are strongly complained of, whilst Dutch colonists were refused lands thereabout. Whose fault this was-whether the Director-general's or the Com- pany's-the petitioners pretended not to say. "One shoves the blame on the other, and between them both all goes to ruin. Foreigners who settle in the country thrive right well and scoff at us. They enjoy free privileges, with which if we, Netherlanders, were invested, we should doubtless flourish as well, if not better, than they." The Company, or their servants, were the main obstacles to the improvement of the country, which must continue to fare ill, so long as it remained under their management. " That noble province" could, they protest, serve as a refuge for all the poor of Holland, "for it is much easier for men, who can labor, to procure food there than in Fatherland." Why the colonists, with all these advantages, should complain of poverty and want; why they should demand reforms, diminution of burthens, increase of population, and bewail their sorrowful condition, the peti- tioners next proceed to explain, "as correctly, honestly, and truly as it is possible to do; and according as they have seen and heard."
The first of these causes, they maintained, was the mis- government to which the province had been subjected. " This is the sole and true foundation of the ruin and destruction of New Netherland." In the infancy of the colony, the Company's Directors laid their bad plans, looked on the population in a self-interested light, rather than in reference to the prosperity of the province, and believed plausible rather than good councils. This was
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IV.
corroborated by the unnecessary expenses incurred ; by
the heavy accounts from thence ; by the Directors under-
1649. taking colonies ; by their embarking in trade when it was opened, and, finally, by the neglect to promote population. For instead of encouraging this, they made great outlays on things unnecessary ; such as " building the ship New Netherland at a heavy expense ; the construction of three large mills ; tile making ; tar burning ; manufacturing salt ; clearing land ; and many other speculations, which, by mis- management, came to nought, though they cost a great deal. Had all this been expended in peopling the country and importing stock, the province had now been in high repute ; for it is more favorably situated, and better, in every way, than that occupied by the English, who, even now, would not so far surpass the Dutch, were not self- interest and private traffic regarded over much." But instead of advancing population, the Company absolutely discouraged Dutch settlers, many of whom were refused land on the East and South Rivers, whilst foreigners were allowed to establish themselves thereupon. Nothing was done to prevent this. Garrisons were never maintained conformably to the exemptions, so that those in Holland were as blameworthy as those in New Netherland, for the wretched condition of the colony. "Trade, without which no country can prosper, was likewise so diminished, that it was almost annihilated by onerous duties and all the searches and trouble accompanying it." To rigorous searches, when directed against articles of contraband, and impartially enforced, they had no objection ; but this was not the case. The duties were too high, and these, together with visits and seizures, drove away lawful trade, except a small portion which is carried on pro forma, and to cover smuggling. The Christians were treated, in the mean time, almost like Indians, especially as regarded the purchase of indispensable necessaries, creating, as a conse- quence, great complaints, suffering and poverty. Dry goods, which are subject to little or no damage, are sold by the merchants on credit, at an advance of one hundred per cent .; others, with small means, retail them to the
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