USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. II > Part 11
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commonalty at an advance of another hundred, or so, CHAP. according to the demand. On liquors, which are subject
VII. to great leakage, they exact more. A third class of traders, 1649. who purchase from the smaller merchants, have recourse to so much fraud, that goods at third hand sell at three hundred and more advance. Every contrivance is applied to realize gain and profit, but no plan thought of to settle the country.
The local Directors, at a distance from their superiors, looked sharp to their own interests, always under the pre- tence of the public good. They invariably demeaned themselves as if they were sovereigns of the country. As they willed, so must it be; as they ordered, so it was. The Company are masters in Fatherland, but here, say they, we are masters ; as we understand it, so shall it be. There is no appeal from that. On this principle it was easy for them to act, for the people were few in number, mostly poor and inexperienced, and few among them being intelligent, or able to act for themselves, could not, at first, see through the dark and subtle policy of those in power. The latter succeeded, therefore, in many instances. Di- rector Kieft maintained that he was as much a sovereign in his government as the Prince in Netherland. The present Director claims also the same, for his axiom is, " The prince is above the law !" Having all power at their disposal, these Directors have done, and can do, whatso- ever they pleased. Whatsoever they did must be right, because they willed it.
The petitioners, having thus given a general view of their discontents, next proceeded to particulars, and detailed with much preciseness the errors of Kieft's administration. They premised, however, their utter inability to de- scribe its manifold subterfuges, so cunningly and so dis- semblingly were these practiced. Nevertheless, they will "furnish some idea of the lion by his claw." They then enumerate the expedients to which he had recourse for the erection of the church, censuring him at the same time for locating it in the fort, whereby, though erected by the commonalty, it became the property of the Company. As
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HISTORY OF
BOOK for the revenue of the church, they knew of none. No 1V. pains were taken, either by the Director or the Company, 1649. to create any. There had been a great deal said about a common school, "which was built by talk," though the first stone was not yet laid. The funds collected for this object had all been either wasted or misapplied. No pro- vision had been made for the poor, who had to depend entirely on the charity of the congregation and a few fines and offerings. But the great part of even this sacred fund had found its way into the Company's hands, on interest it was pretended, but as yet neither principal nor interest was forthcoming. There were some flying reports about an orphan asylum, an hospital for the sick and aged, but nothing had been hitherto done for either of these, nor for the conversion of the Indians or Company's slaves. The origin of the excise was next explained. It was at first only a temporary impost established until the arrival of a new Director or the conclusion of a general peace. This tax was the cause of all the trouble and discontent which since distracted the community. It introduced party spirit, and exposed even innocent persons to suspicion. On the proclamation of peace, it was expected that the impost would be removed, but it was continued until the arrival of the present Director-general, who only imitated the policy of Rehoboam ;1 instead of removing the excise on beer, he imposed another on wine, and added, besides, other insufferable burdens. The people's complaints were received with jeers instead of sympathy, and in this way burthens were imposed on the community until the revenue rose, it was estimated, from sixteen thousand to thirty thousand guilders per annum. Promises were held out that these were to be expended on public works. But during Kieft's administration nothing of that sort had been accomplished, except the church. The revenue was squandered in making friends or silencing enemies. Even negroes were sold for pork and peas, but the proceeds of these sales "dripped through the fingers."
1 See Ist Book of Kings, xii., 13, 14.
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The faulty composition of Kieft's Council is next ani- CHAP. madverted on in severe terms, and the remonstrants then VII. pass to the administration of Director Stuyvesant. His 1649, first coming was, like that of a peacock, pompous and stately, and he was to remain but three years. The title of " Myn Heer Generaal " was never known until he came. His whole time was occupied in issuing proclamations, the majority of which he never enforced. In the dispensation of justice he always supported one party with all his might, not like a judge, but an advocate, so that few durst bring any suits before his court, unless they stood well with him; "for whosoever was opposed to him had both sun and moon against them." A complaisant and obliging majority was always ready to endorse the conclusions of the long and prosy opinions, which he submitted with, "Gentlemen, this is my advice; if any think differently, let him speak." But if any did think differently, and ex- pressed his thoughts, "his Excellency flared up, and made such faces that it was frightful ; yea, he frequently berated the Council in language which suited better the fish market than the council-hall ; and though all this was submitted to, yet would he not rest until he had his will." The pro- ceedings against Kuyter and Melyn proved him to be so partial, that many immediately formed their opinions of him, though few to his advantage ; for every one saw that all favor was shown to Kieft, and that one Director pleaded for the other, as Stuyvesant's language plainly indicated, for he said, " Those cur-dogs will hereafter endeavor to knock me also down, but I shall now so manage it, that they shall have their bellies full for all time to come." The result proved the fact ; for they were fined and banished, and Melyn was afterwards significantly told, that if the Director had anticipated that he would have brought his judgment before their High Mightinesses, Stuyvesant would have had him hanged on the highest tree in New Netherland ! "But as this happened in pri- vate, it cannot be known, and may not be true." A subse- quent occurrence, however, rendered it probable ; for when Van Hardenbergh mentioned his intention to enter an
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BOOK appeal, as curator to a vacant estate, the Director warned IV. him, that if people thought of appealing during his ad- 1649. ministration, he should make whomsoever did so " a foot shorter." "O cruel words ! what more could a king do ?" Hitherto the Heer Stuyvesant had, they represented, been mostly engaged in building, brick-making, and such like occupations, on the Company's account, though little to its advantage, for more was expended on some things than they were worth. At first he completed the church, and next erected a wooden wharf; but, with the exception of these, they knew of nothing useful that had been done, or that could be called public work. The revenue, they contended, was sufficient, and justified further improve- ments, yet men, "like dropsical patients, were still crying out for more." This had increased public discontent, and had been followed by divers protests against the waste and extravagance which prevailed. But all was of no avail. The more people endeavored to push ahead and better the state of the colony, the worse it was. Pride ruled all, and men decided right opposite to the advice they received, as if every suggestion should proceed from one head. Before the 23d July of this year, no order had passed for the regulation of weights and measures. The public had been told that some should be issued in the succeeding month of August, but this was as much as to say, "he'd give drink to pigeons." Weights and measures remained unmarked. Some, whose consciences are large, have, it is believed, two sets, though this could not be proved ; and even the Company's corn measure has always been suspected. But who dare speak against it ?
No regularity existed in regard to the wampum currency, which formed the circulation of the country, though the se- lect men demanded it, and laid down a plan for that purpose. But there had always been some objection, and the pro- posals were met by evil and spiteful words. Even those whose office impelled them to speak on the subject were scolded as rascals, bear-skinners, &c.
The fort, which was to serve as a shelter to the people, lay like a ruined molehill ; not a single gun-carriage or cannon in
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good condition. It was at first proposed to have five angles CHAP affixed to the fort, and it was to be finished on a magnifi -~ cent scale. The select men were requested to supply funds, 1649. but they excused themselves as the people were poor. Every person was, moreover, discontented, and feared that if the Director-general had the fort at his back, he would become more oppressive. For these reasons it was allowed "to stick." He, no doubt, would throw the re- sponsibility on the people, who were innocent, for he insisted that he had orders to call on the commonalty for the money. But had he applied the fourth part of the funds collected in his time to that work, certain it is there would have been no lack of means, as the excise on wine was levied expressly for that purpose. The fact, however, is that a thousand ways are invented "to shear the sheep, and the wool remains yet unwashed." In regard to public works, there is little difference between Director Kieft and Director Stuyvesant.
Having thus disposed of the President of the Council, the petitioners reviewed the conduct and characters of the other members of that body. The Vice Director had evinced for a considerable time great dissatisfaction, and protested on divers occasions against the Director-general and his Council. This, however, was only of late, and when others had evinced opposition to their course. He had, at first, been so confounded by fear that he could, or durst, do nothing against the Director. He was, in con- sequence, obliged to allow many things to pass unnoticed, to which he afterwards declared he had been opposed, as contrary to law. But he saw no other means to obtain peace, for the Director stated in council that if he did not do as he was ordered, he should treat him even worse than he had been treated by Wouter van Twiller. Mons. La Montagne cannot act independently, for he is indebted to the Company. It is well known, however, that he disap- proved of the war. Brian Newton is an Englishman, totally ignorant of the Dutch language, and but little acquainted with law; he is moreover incapable of giving a written opinion, fears the Director-general, whom he
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HISTORY OF
BOOK honors as his benefactor, and is able and willing only to IV. say-yes. Adrian Keyser hath not forgotten much law. 1649. He says nothing, and finding that he prospers well by that policy, remains silent. The ship captains, when ashore, have a voice in the Council. What knowledge of law these people possess, who have passed all their lives at sea, and have been brought up on ship board, every one can understand. They are under obligations to the Director- general, and cannot oppose him. Fiscaal Van Dyck had been excluded by Stuyvesant twenty-nine months from the Council, on pretence that he had no vote-that his duty consisted only in publishing the resolutions of the board. He had frequently designated him as a rascal, a villain and a thief, but Van Dyck bore it all. "What more could be expected from a man whose head was not right, and in whom a screw was loose ?" Cornelis van Tienhoven's character was drawn with a few strokes of the pen. He was crafty, subtle, intelligent and sharp-witted. From his long residence in the country, he was thoroughly acquainted with every man's circumstances, both Christians and Indians. With the latter he was an Indian ; ran about dressed like them, through lechery, to which he was so excessively addicted, that the Director was unable, either by threats or punishment, to wean him from it. He was an adept in dissembling. When he laughed heartiest, he bit worst. Where he hated most, he pretended the warmest friendship. He always made warm professions and large promises, yet assisted no one. In words and dealings he was loose, false, deceitful and lying ; promising every one, but when they came to the point, " he was not at home." The war was at- tributed entirely to him, for Director Kieft was swayed by his falsehoods, and this is the belief both of right-minded Indians and Christians. "Now, if, according to the estab- lished rule, the voice of the people be the voice of God, nothing good can with truth be said of this man, nor can any evil be concealed. The whole land (the Director and his friends excepted) cry out against him, as a cheat, a murderer and a traitor, who must quit the country before peace can abide therein." Director Stuyvesant, they added,
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was well aware of all this, yet retains him in the public CHAP. service, and confides everything to him ; so that he can do ~ VII. more than if he were President. It was to be hoped that he 1649. would not exercise the same influence over others.
Having constructed his Council of such materials, Stuy- vesant's object, they now pretended, evidently was, to maintain his fancied sovereignty. With this view Nine Men were chosen to represent the commonalty, with com- mission, that whatever they should conclude, would be the act of the whole people. This, indeed, was the case when it comported with the opinion and sentiments of the Director- general. But when it happened otherwise, they were " rascals, extortioners and rebels."
The proceedings against Schermerhorn, Reyntsen and De Bakker, were next animadverted on in strong terms, and their prosecution, for selling arms to the Indians, con- trasted with Stuyvesant's own conduct in secretly import- ing guns to be distributed among the savages. The pro- pensity to confiscation was, they repeated, highly injurious to the country's prosperity, as it diverted trade to other colonies at the expense of New Netherland. They again complained of the weight of taxation, and the absence of all sympathy on the part of the Company, " who during the war never enquired whether New Netherland sank or swam;" never afforded help or assistance, nor up to the present hour, caused any enquiry to be instituted as to its origin, nor evinced any disposition to punish those who commenced it, who, though they failed to protect, knew right well how to tax the people.
The efforts to obtain the Director-general's co-operation in sending a mission to Holland are next detailed, as well as the rupture which ensued between them and Stuyvesant in consequence. They acquaint their High Mightinesses of the exceptionable means the Director-general adopted to obtain possession of Van der Donck's papers-of the latter's arrest under a charge of high treason-his impris- onment, examination and final expulsion from the Council. " And this is the common practice. Those who meddle with public affairs do well so long as they minister to the
120
HISTORY OF
BOOK IV. General's appetite and pleasure. If they fail in that, they are prosecuted, indicted, cast into prison, guarded by 1649. soldiers so that no person can speak to them, outrageously abused, threatened with this and that, and everything per- petrated and committed against them that can be invented. Had it not been for their love of country and truth, (which thus far hath long slept in the grave,) the petitioners avow that they had been borne down by all the persecution and anxiety they have experienced. Yet all these had not so much afflicted them as the sad condition of New Nether- land, "now lying at its last gasp ;" for it is useless to expect that it will ever flourish under the Company. On the contrary, it will most undoubtedly wither and decay, and even the Company will not receive any benefit from it. Far better and more profitable would it be for that body to surrender it, and transfer what is left of it to other hands. They again urge that provision be made for the support of religion and the propagation of the gospel ; for the diffusion of education, " so that in such a wild country the youth may be well instructed and trained not only in reading and writing, but also in the knowledge and fear of the Lord." No regularity existed in keeping school. It is kept as this or that one pleases, and just so long as he thinks fit. The country must be provided with a moral, honorable and intelligent Governor, neither too indigent nor too exacting ; for " covetous rulers make poor subjects," and the government, as at present administered, is an intolerable oppression to the country, for no man is unmo- lested or safe any longer than it pleases the Director- general. Increase of population would follow good gov- ernment ; and though free passages may be at first considered expensive, they would, when the results are looked to, be considered a wise provision, were boors, servants and other necessary persons introduced thereby into the country. Prosperity would then ensue, settlers be encouraged, navigation and trade attracted ; and with the pleasantness, salubrity and fertility of the country, crowds would be allured thither, and New Netherland become, in a few years, a brave place, useful to the Dutch
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nation, and, with thanks to its benefactors, would richly CHAP. VII.
repay all disbursements.1
A distinct petition accompanied this remonstrance, in 1649. which the colonists specified the several reforms they demanded. These were, 1st. A burgher, or municipal gov- ernment suitable to the province, and "resembling some- what the laudable institutions of Fatherland ;" 2d. Freedom from customs, tenths, and other burthens ; 3d. The abolition of the export duty on tobacco; 4th. Liberty to export their produce to the West Indies, and all countries at peace with the United Provinces ; 5th. The encouragement of emigration and of the fisheries; and 6th. The settlement of the colonial boundaries.2
These papers were referred to a committee composed of the Hon. Van der Capellen, Van Aersbergen, Van der Holck, and other deputies, with instructions to receive evidence on the charges which it contained, and to report thereon with all convenient speed. The Directors at Amsterdam and the agents of the colonial administration were not, in the mean time, idle. Van Tienhoven pre- pared without delay, " a brief statement in reply to some points contained in the written deduction of Adriaen van der Donck and associates," which was, he averred, “ a tissue of assertions without any proofs." This reply was, however, confined exclusively to those parts containing accusations either against the Company or its Director.
The assertion that land was refused to the Dutch was absolutely contradicted, and as to the encroachments of the English, the orders of the Company were to act on the defensive, "as they were unable to resist their hypocritical friends," and could maintain their rights only by protest. Trade had been for a long time free to all. No person's goods or property had been confiscated unless for violation of contract or written engagements. That some skippers dread confiscation, and therefore do not come to New Netherland, is very probable, for none can visit that province without license. Whoever is provided with this, and has duly
1 Van der Donck's Vertoogh ; Hol. Doc. iv., 71-207.
" Hol. Doc. iv., 28-36.
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IV.
entered his goods, need not fear confiscations, " unless they
be interlopers and sail under double commissions." If 1649. Christians are treated by merchants like Indians, that is not the fault of the Company or its Directors. The majority of the remonstrants are themselves traders or factors, and therefore are to blame ; for they charge for what they get in Europe for one hundred florins, in some cases two to three hundred per cent. Hence, these people lay at the doors of the Directors and their officers, faults of which they themselves are guilty. The government cannot prevent people monopolizing, and deriving a profit from goods, especially as the trade, both great and small, is open to every one. The allegation that the Director usurped sovereign power, is vague and general. The refusal of appeal was founded on the clause in the exemptions which constituted the island of Manhattans the capital of New Netherland, to which, as the supreme court of the country, all appeals lay. There was, moreover, no precedent of their High Mightinesses' having ever received an appeal from that province. It would be a strange thing, indeed, that the Company's officers had not the power to banish any person out of the country. No man is admitted into New Netherland except on condition (not that he shall have anything to say, but) that he shall acknowledge himself subject to the sovereignty of their High Mighti- nesses the States General, and the Lords Dirctors, as their Lords and Patroons, and obey the Director and Council for the time being, as good subjects are bound to do. The authorities of Rensselaerswyck, which is a subaltern juris- diction, absolutely banish from the colonie those whom the public good demands to be thus punished, and surely the supreme government itself cannot but possess the same right.
The Directors never had anything to do with the prop- erty of the church. A subscription was entered into in Kieft's time to aid in the erection of that building, which, however, was not paid. " The Company paid the work- men." The consistory was satisfied at the time that it should be located in the fort ; but these people considered
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NEW NETHERLAND.
the Company's fort not worthy the honor of a church. CHAP. It is true the new school-house had not been built, but this VII. 1649. was not the fault of the Director, who is busy collecting materials, but of the churchwardens, who had charge of the funds which the commonalty subscribed. In the mean- while, a place for a school had been provided and held. Other teachers keep schools in hired houses, so that the youth are furnished with the means of education, accord- ing to the circumstances of the country. "Tis true there is no Latin school nor academy ; those of the commonalty who require such, can look to it and supply the funds. The deacons are accountable for what concerns the poor. They can tell where the money is gone, and who have had it from time to time on interest. The Director never administered these funds. Director Kieft borrowed all the small fines and penalties imposed by the court, and placed in the poor's box. "He opened the box with the consent of the deacons, and took the contents" on interest. The sum was of small amount.
The complaints against the excise were entirely unjusti- fiable, and the petitioners had no cause to complain ; " for the trader, buyer and boor may lay in as much beer and wine as they please free of excise, being only bound to make a return of the quantity. Tapsters alone are ex- cepted from this ; but what they pay returns to them from those who resort to their taverns, and from travellers from New England, Virginia and elsewhere. This is the only internal tax the commonalty pay. In addition, exported beavers pay eight per cent. Some complain, notwith- standing, that the Dutch are taxed heavier than the people of New England. It is true that there are no duties either on exports or imports in the latter plantations, but the property of each inhabitant is assessed, and he is obliged to pay according to his means. In this way he is taxed to build and support churches and schools ; to maintain preachers and schoolmasters ; to erect public buildings in cities and villages ; to construct and repair all highways and bridges ; to support governors, magistrates, constables, and other officers of justice ; and to pay the several officers
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of the militia. There is, moreover, in each province of
1649.
New England a quarterly meeting of all the magistrates resident in such province, and a General Assembly of all the provinces once a year. All the expenses, allowances and wages of these are also a public charge. It is hence apparent that the New England people are more heavily taxed than the Dutch.
The assertion that the revenue contributed by the com- monalty in Stuyvesant's time amounted yearly to thirty thousand guilders, was without foundation. "Nothing was received except the beer and wine excise, which pro- duced at the Manhattans about four thousand guilders a year." Little or nothing was received from the outside villages, " as there are no taverns except one at the Ferry (Breukelen) and one at Vlissingen," or Flushing, L. I.1 It was very questionable whether the Company was bound to undertake any public buildings for the commonalty out of the customs. These were granted by their High Mightinesses for the maintenance of garrisons and to de- fray other expenses, and not for the erection of hospitals, orphan asylums, churches and school-houses. The asser- tion that the public property has been squandered to make friends was likewise unfounded. The provisions obtained in exchange for the negroes were partly sent to Curaçoa and partly consumed at the Manhattans. " But all these are things which concern not the people."
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