USA > New York > New York City > History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York : to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Vol. I > Part 50
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IMPRESSMENT OF SEAMEN.
Kelly, an oysterman, and Kitchener, a tavern-keeper, having informed against the mate of a vessel who had invested the savings of his wages in a few casks of wine, and had secretly landed them, the populace of New York, after a long search, (for the informers secreted themselves,) seized both the poor wretches, bound them with cords, placed them in carts, and paraded them through a great part of the city-many thousands attending them with insults, huz- zas, and sprinkling of tar and feathers. They besmeared their faces and clothes with tar, and showered feathers on them. The magistrates in vain interposed ; these wretched men were not released until the populace had in some measure satiated their resentment.
A person who arrived at Boston, from Rhode Island, having informed the custom-house officers that the sloop in which he came had a cask or two of wine in her, and caused her seizure, was himself seized by the populace, placed in a cart, stript, and his naked skin well tarred and feathered. He was carried from the town hall to the liberty-tree, bearing in his hand a large lan- tern, that people might see the doleful condition he was in .*
But notwithstanding the statute of the sixth year of the reign of Queen Anne, (1707) by which, for the encouragement of trade in America, it was enacted, that " no person serving as a mariner on board any privateer or trading vessel should be impressed, unless such person shall have deserted from a ship of war," another source of constant irritation existed, by captains of men-of-war impressing Americans ; who had no redress, as the governours and judges had no knowledge of the existence of this statute, made by England in consequence of the necessity of protecting the American trade.
Four fishermen who supplied the New York market, in the month of June, 1764, were seized by a press-gang, in the harbour, and carried on board a tender to be taken to Halifax, for his majesty's service. But the captain of the tender, thinking that he had done his duty, and either not knowing that the people of the town had heard the fate of their fishermen, or, perhaps, little dreaming that they would dare oppose his majesty's officer, went on shore in his barge with the usual man-of-war imposing appearance. But no sooner had he landed, than the populace (I will not call them mob) seized the boat, without offering any injury to the captain or crew. The gallant officer found that he was off (if not out of ) his ele- ment, and offered to restore the fishermen. But the people were now up, and away they went with the barge. The officer, probably by the advice of some gentlemen of the town, repaired to the coffee- house and wrote an order for the release of the impressed men,
* The newspapers of the time.
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which was delivered to some one present ; and a party went from the coffee-house, took a boat, boarded the tender with the captain's order, and returned in triumph with the four prisoners. While this peaceable transaction was going on at the coffee-house, which was near the bottom of Wall street, the people had dragged the boat to the green in the fields, where the Park is now, and there they kindled a fire and burnt her. The magistrates met ; but before they could interfere, the poor barge was sacrificed to liberty. In the afternoon, the court assembled to take cognizance of the affair ; but they were not able to discover any of the persons concerned in the mischief.
On the 24th of April, 1764, the ship Prince George arrived from Bristol, and finding that there was a man-of-war in the harbour, the sailors took the command of the vessel from the officers, (probably with the captain's consent,) and steered up our beautiful bay, pre- pared to resist any attempt to enslave them. As they expected, on came a boat, strongly manned, from the Garland man-of-war, and soon came alongside of the merchantman, thinking to board ; but they found the crew armed and forbidding the visit. The officer's orders were disregarded, and his efforts to gain the deck in vain : he and his men were beaten off, while the Prince pursued her way. Seeing this opposition to his gracious majesty's pleasure, the cap- tain of the Garland fired on the merchantman, and sent another boat to aid the first ; but the rebellious sailors kept on their way, and the baffled press-gangs returned, after following almost to the wharves of the town-where they saw indications of a reception that induced them rather to brave the frowns of the disappointed captain of the Garland. But the affair in Boston harbour was one of more consequence ; and resistance was there made which ter- minated in death to one of the invaders of the people's rights. An attempt ensued on the part of the English officers of government on shore, to sanction the invasion, and punish the legal and autho- rized defenders of their liberty, by the sentence due to murderers.
Mr. John Adams, then a young lawyer, and long the friend and servant of his country, has recorded the transactions in a letter to the Rev. Doctor Morse. A lieutenant, a midshipman, and a press gang, were sent from an English frigate called the Rose, lying in Boston harbour, as the Garland did in that of New York, to board a ship coming in from sea. This was an American ves- sel, and they boarded her and ordered all the crew to appear on deck. The lieutenant doubting that all were before him, ordered a search, and the midshipman and gang found four men in the fore peak. These Americans seeing their invaders armed with pistols and cutlasses, gave them warning by their spokesman, Michael Corbett, that they would resist-it was in vain ; pistols were fired, and Lieutenant Panton fell dead, shot by the man who had warned
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IMPRESSMENT OF SEAMEN.
him to desist from the attempt. A reinforcement was sent for from the frigate, the four American seamen were overpowered and made prisoners, one of them bleeding from a pistol ball. A spe- cial court of admiralty was called to try these four American sea- men for piracy and murder. All the great officers of Great Britain were arrayed against them : the governours of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Bernard and Wentworth; with Auchmuty, judge of the admiralty ; the commodore of the station, Hood ; the noted Hutchinson ; and counsellors from several provinces. Some pa- triotick lawyers volunteered to defend them, and John Adams stood ready with the book of statutes at large, showing, by the act of parliament above mentioned, that the assault on these men was illegal and the killing Panton justifiable. But the court seemed afraid of the trial, although apparently ignorant of the law relative to impressments in America. They adjourned, again and again -held secret conclaves, and at length the prisoners were placed at the bar. The facts were stated by an English sailor, and were not denied by the Americans. Mr. Adams stood ready to produce the statute of Anne, expressly prohibiting the impressment of sea- men in America. He told the court that the action of killing Lieu- tenant Panton could only be construed into justifiable homicide. At these words, Hutchinson again started up and moved that the prisoners be remanded ; the court adjourned to the council room, sat all that day, and the next the prisoners were again brought to the bar. The town and country rushed around the court, and when the excited multitude expected the solemn trial to proceed, Bernard arose, and pronounced that the opinion of the court was, that the act amounted only to justifiable homicide. Auchmuty said such was the unanimous opinion of the court. The prisoners were pronounced to be acquitted, and accordingly discharged. Such was the conduct of the officers of Great Britain in the colo- nies both before and after the passing and repeal of the stamp act.
Every one was delighted at the acquittal ; but no one knew upon what ground the court proceeded. The only copy of the statute, above mentioned, that was in the colonies, was in the possession of Mr. Adams, and on the table, but he had not been sufferred to speak or to open the book-all was decided by these king's officers in private-no one ever knew their motives for deciding in favour of those who had been brought up to the bar by them as for pre- determined condemnation. No trial had ever drawn together such crowds or so excited the fears of the people .*
1769 We will now go back to the regular history of New
* See Doctor Morse's History of the Revolution.
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STATUE OF GEORGE III.
York, in the year 1769, the time of quiet .* John Adams did not think so. He has written and authorized these words to be published : " the resistance in America was so universal and determined, that Great Britain, with all her omnipotence, dared not attempt to enforce her pretensions-she saw she could do nothing without her Chatham ; he was called in to command the forlorn hope ; and at the same time to invent the ruse de guerre." The stamp act was repealed, and the statute passed, that parliament was sovereign over the colonies, in all cases whatsoever. The repeal of an act, by which they were taxed for stamps upon all legalized contracts, blinded them to the asser- tion which announced that they were slaves of the people of Great Britain. Mr. Adams says of Chatham, " he died a martyr to his idol. He fell in the house of lords, with the sovereignty of parlia- ment in his mouth."
The American people, as has been told, were so delighted with the success of their opposition to the stamp act, that they could not see the meaning of the declaration that the British parliament had a right to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever; their triumph dazzled their eyes, and they saw in Mr. Pitt and his master, two friends and benefactors. The assembly of New York voted money for an equestrian statue of the king, and a pedestrian representa- tion of his minister. About three years after the statues of Pitt and his royal master were ordered, they arrived. The necessary preparations were made for erecting them, and the place of honour, the Bowling Green in front of Fort George, was selected for his sacred majesty's image, on the spot where the people had burnt the effigy of Governour Colden. It was pompously announced that this monument was intended to perpetuate the memory of the gratitude of his loyal subjects to the best of kings. It lasted five years. I suppose all was not ready on the 4th of June, the day annually celebrated as the happy epoch of his birth, therefore the 21st of August, 1770, was selected for placing the horse and rider on the pedestal prepared for their reception. His majesty's health and other royal toasts were drank, under a discharge of thirty-two pieces of cannon from the Battery, accompanied with a band of . musick. This beautiful statue was made of metal.
This equestrian statue of George III stood until the summer of
* The commissioners for settling the boundaries between New York and New Jersey, were duly convened at the city of New York. For New York appeared John Cruger, Henry Holland, Frederick Phillipse, John Morin Scott, William Bay- ard, and Benjamin Kissam : for New Jersey, Jolm Stevens, James Parker, Henry Cuyler, junior, William Donaldson, and Walter Rutherford. The surveyors were Captain John Montresor, Messrs. Bernard, Ratzer, and Archibald McLean.
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STATUE OF GEORGE III.
1776, and then was overthrown, and tradition says converted into musket balls by the provincials to resist his majesty's soldiers. I saw this statue in 1775, and the pedestal stood in the centre of the Bowling ' Green, as a kind of monument of departed royalty, and of the plain platform simplicity of democracy, for some years after the revolu- tion ; and I wish it had remained there still, that the memory of the statue it once bore, its elevation, and its fall, might have been recalled by the question of every stranger, " what is the meaning of that vacant pedestal. ? "*
* Colony Laws from January 1, 1770, as noted by Chancellor Kent.
Act of 27th January, 1770, appointing commissioners to meet commissioners from other colonies, to fix on a general plan for the regulation of the Indian trade
Act of 16th February, 1771, for emitting £120,000, in bills of credit, declares that the loan officers of each county should be for each county one body politick and corporate.
. Act of 8th March, 1773, appointing commissioner to settle the line between New York and Massachusetts.
Act of Sth February, 1774, posthumous children to take estates limited in remain- der on the lawful issue, and as if born in their father's lifetime.
Act of 9th March, 1774, contains severe penal provisions against tumultuous and riotous assemblies, and unlawful and daring violence and rebellion against law and magistracy in some parts of Albany and Charlotte counties. (Bennington at this time was held to be in the county of Albany.)
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GRIEVANCES OF THE COLONIES.
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CHAPTER XXIX.
Refusal to grant more than £200-Philip Schuyler, George Clin- ton, and N. Woodhull-The Tea-Committee of fifty-one- Congress of 1774.
1769 MEN of discernment saw the declaration of parliament of their sovereignty over the colonies, and right to " bind them in all cases whatever," hanging like the sword of Damocles over their heads,suspended by a hair. Charles Townsend cut the hair, and the sword fell in the shape of an act of parliament levying duties on painters' colours, and several other articles, and taking off the du- ties on teas in England, which had there been a source of revenue, and levying three pence per pound upon all kinds that should be in future purchased in the colonies. To add to the alarm occa- sioned by this additional taxation, the colonists found that their governours and judges appointed by England, were to be paid from the revenue raised from Americans, without their consent, and thus made independent, as it respected salaries. Another grievance, which had been partly submitted to, was increased ; this was the quartering of troops on the provinces. A denial to obey the orders of the ministry, promulgated by Sir Henry Moore, caused an act of parliament suspending New York from all powers of legislation, until she complied.
Sir Henry Moore had declared his instructions, and repeated messages and answers had passed to and fro, when on the 23d of June, 1769, the assembly told the governour that they would fur- nish the barracks of New York and Albany with bedding, firewood, . candles, and utensils for cooking, for two battalions, not exceeding five hundred men each, and they would do no more. The gover- nour wrote to the ministry expressing his surprise that, instead of the gratitude he expected for the signal favours they had received, the assembly of New York evaded the demand made upon them for the troops, and only complied in part, " through fear of the ill- consequences which would attend their refusing." The ministry wrote to Sir Henry Moore, requiring cheerful obedience to the act of parliament for quartering his majesty's troops. Sir Henry re- peated his demand upon the assembly, and was answered that they had done as much as they could do. So, early next year the bill was passed to punish New York for disobedience, prohibiting the
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SIR HENRY MOORE'S ADMINISTRATION.
enactment of any law whatsoever in the colony. The consequence of this was, universal alarm through all the colonies, and resolu- tions not to import European goods.
A notice appeared in the newspapers censuring the assembly for granting £200 for quartering troops, and calling a meeting of the people. Accordingly, on the 18th of December, about four- teen hundred of the people met in the fields; resolves were read to them by Mr. John Lamb, (afterward a captain in the expedition under Montgomerie, and long known here as General Lamb,) and they announced their dissatisfaction with the grant of money above mentioned ; and further `they would not grant any thing for the quartering and supporting troops among them. On the 20th, Mr. Colden issued his proclamation, saying that the assembly had, by resolve, declared the paper published on the 16th instant, calling the meeting of the 1Sth, to be an infamous libel, and offering a re- ward of £50 for the discovery of the author. Philip Schuyler was alone in the minority on this question ; he then took a stand that he never quitted. At the meeting in the fields a committee was appointed to wait upon the representatives of the city, in the general assembly, and to communicate these resolutions to them ; Mr. Lamb, Mr. McDougal, and Captain Sears were on this committee. They executed their office, were received civilly, but were told that the majority of the people approved the act of the legislature ; and it was too late to reconsider it. Meantime Mr. Lamb was ordered to appear before the house of assembly, to answer for having proposed the resolutions in the fields. The committee immediately announced that they were all equally answerable, and Mr. Lamb was dismissed. It was well known that Alexander McDougal was the writer of the offensive paper ; and he was subsequently called before the assembly to answer to this charge. He refused, as the house had already declared the writing a libel. This was construed a contempt, and he was committed, that is, put in jail ; and re- mained in prison several months.
During all these troubles, Sir Henry Moore was governour ; that is, from 1765 to September the 1st, 1769, at which time he died ; and although he, as a matter of course, endeavoured to carry into effect the orders of his masters in England, he conducted him- self with a degree of prudence that caused his death to be regretted, especially as Lieutenant-governor Colden was very unpopular, and the government again devolved on him. It was soon after this, that Mr. MeDougal was put in prison for calling the people to- gether in the fields, when they censured the assembly for voting £200 to find accommodations for the English soldiers. In this affair Captain Sears was a prominent man, and to punish him, he was accused of neglecting his duty as inspector of potash. He
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TRYON, GOVERNOUR.
desired to be heard in his defence, but the majority in the house of assembly refused to attend to his petition. Philip Schuyler, George Clinton, and Nathaniel Woodhull acted in his favour, but as a great majority of the house were against them, their votes ex- culpating Mr. Sears were of no avail. In consequence, he pub- lished several affidavits, contradicting the charges made against him, and resigned the office of inspector of pot and pearl ashes. 1771 - Lord Dunmore having been appointed governour in 1770, the assembly of New York on the 17th of January, 1771, voted £2,000 as his salary for the year ensuing, and he returned a message refusing it: saying that "the king had ap- pointed him a salary out of his treasury, and he wished this allow- ance omitted." It was not intended that England should pay this. What is called his majesty's treasury, was to be filled by taxes im- posed upon the colonists. They were to pay his majesty's servants, who were to be their masters. The same offer was afterward made to Tryon and other colonial governours, and the same answer returned. Governour Tryon arrived here the Sth of July, 1771, with his wife and daughter, who were very much beloved in North Carolina. The people of New York received him with the usual formalities. The magistrates went in procession to the city hall ; his commission was read ; and the usual feasting and illuminations took place. And soon after, Lord Dunmore departed to govern Virginia.
Governour Tryon issued a proclamation in December, say- ing that disorderly persons had defied the authority of New York, pretending claims to lands within seventeen miles of Hud -. son's River, to the east : that they had burnt houses, and driven away persons who were seated on farms held by titles from New York. That these violent persons pretended authority from the governour of New Hampshire, although he had " disclaimed such allowance, and recommended implicit obedience to the laws." Tryon states the limits of the province, and calls on justices and other officers to keep the peace.
1773 On the 2d of September, 1773, Governour Tryon laid the first stone of the New York Hospital. This building was then far out of town. A part of the present hospital was that commenced in 1773. Before it was completed, an accidental fire destroyed the interiour, and retarded the work for a considerable time.
On the 16th of December, an advertisement appeared, sta- ting that " the members of the association of the Sons of Liberty, are requested to meet at the city hall to-morrow, (being Friday) on business of importance ; and every friend to the liberties and trade of America are hereby most cordially invited to meet at the same place." Accordingly, on the 17th, a numerous company assem- bled, and Mr. John Lamb addressed them. He said several letters VOL. I 57
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had been received from the committees of correspondence of Boston and Philadelphia on the subject of the East India Company's tea. The letters were called for and read. They invited the colonies to unite in resisting the insidious intentions of Great Britain. A committee of fifteen was chosen to answer these letters. The ob- ject of the association was explained to the publick, and the inten- tion of the parliament in imposing the duty on tea. It was stated that the captains of the American ships had refused to take this obnoxious article ; but that the East India Company had chartered vessels to receive it, and that it might be soon expected to arrive ; therefore the subscribers had associated to support their rights, under the title of " The Sons of Liberty of New York," and had - resolved, that whoever aided in the introduction of tea into the country, in any way whatsoever, should be considered as an enemy. The persons assembled were invited to join in the resolution ; and the question being put by Mr. Lamb, it was adopted unanimously. In this stage of the business, the mayor and recorder entered, and announced a message from the governour. The citizens agreed to hear it. Whitehead Hicks, esquire, the mayor, assured them from the governour, that on the arrival of the tea, it would be taken into the fort at noon-day ; and pledged his honour that it should continue there until the council should advise it to be delivered out, or until the king's order, or the proprietor's order, should be known : and then it should be delivered out of the fort at noon- day. They had made up their minds that it must be returned forthwith in the ships that brought it. And when the mayor asked, "Gentlemen, is this satisfactory to you?" there was a unanimous answer of "No! No! No!" Mr. Lamb read the act of parlia- ment, and pointed out that the duty must be paid, if the article was landed. The question was put, " Shall the tea be landed !" and answered in the negative. Resolutions were then passed, approv- ing the conduct of the people of Boston and Philadelphia ; and the meeting adjourned "till the arrival of the tea-ship." In the meantime, another event happened, that must be remembered as belonging to the history of our good city.
After the governour's house was burnt, in 1741, it was rebuilt, and there Governour Tryon's family resided. While the town was free from agitation, or even noise, at the hour of midnight, the governour's house was discovered to be on fire. This happened on the 29th of December. So sudden and furious was the confla- gration, that Mr. Tryon and his wife with difficulty escaped from the flames through an unfrequented door, on the east side of the building, which led to the ramparts of the fort. Their daughter saved herself by leaping out of a window of the second story. The house and furniture were destroyed; and the adjoining buildings,
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within the fort, were only saved owing to their roofs being covered with snow, and by the strenuous exertions of the citizens. But they did not save what was of more worth : a servant girl, of sixteen ' years of age, either too timid to follow the example of Miss Tryon, or sleeping in an upper chamber, perished miserably, without the possibility of rescue. The name of this girl, Elizabeth Garret, is preserved. Two days after the fire, the great seal of the province was raked out of the ashes, and found to be uninjured. On the 12th of January, 1774, the governour, in his speech to the assem- bly, tells them, that " with the utmost agony of mind for the safety of his family, lie lately beheld his own interest and the province- house involved in one common ruin." Particularly, he says, after their liberal grant for the repairs of the building. He tells them that the boundary line between New York and Massachusetts had been settled by the commissioners appointed for that purpose ; but with Canada, it had not yet been determined. He likewise in- formed them that, in consequence of the outrages committed by the New Hampshire men on the settlers under the New York government, he had been ordered to England.
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