History of the state of New York Vol I, Part 46

Author: Brodhead, John Romeyn, 1814-1873. 4n
Publication date: 1871
Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers
Number of Pages: 844

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spirit.

Party spirit ran high in Holland, as it ever will run high Party in countries where the expression of opinion is unrestrain- ed by arbitrary laws and sectarian despotism. From the time of the famous factions of the "Hoeks" and the " Kab- beljaus,"t the country was never free from political con- tentions. But these disagreements, though sometimes pushed into popular excesses, so far from retarding, stead- ily accelerated the cause of civil liberty, by interesting the minds of the masses of the people. The intelligent Temple, travelling, incognito, to the Hague, in 1667, re- marked, that the chief pleasure he had, was " to observe the strange freedom that all men took, in boats, and inns, and all other common places, of talking openly whatever they thought upon all public affairs."}

To proverbial industry, the Dutch united habits of thrift Economr.y and economy. These habits, in connection with their ity. large commercial resources, enabled them to sustain with

It was founded in 1408. The " Oude Kerk," or Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, was built before the year 1300.

* Davies, il., 665-669 ; McCullagh, ii., 287-292.

t These whimsical names are said to have originated, about the year 1346, in a dispute at a feast, whether the codfish (Kabbeljau) took the hook, or the hook took the codfish. Graver history, however, alleges that these household words among the Dutch early marked their independent spirit. The nobles who attempted oppression were compared to the codfish, which devours the smaller fry ; while the people were likened to the hook, because, though apparently insignificant, it can master the all-devouring eod. Whatever may have been their actual origin, these names continued, for nearly two centuries, to distinguish those rival parties, the feuds of which, while they temporarily distracted Hol- land, gave the Dutch that habit of free thought and action which has always characterized the nation.

+ Temple's Works, i., 286.

and fagyl

462

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

1648. CH. XIII. ease the enormous public expenses, which in some years amounted to three times the value of the whole produce of the land .* The direct taxes and excises, which con- stituted the chief revenues of Holland, were willingly paid, because there was no suspicion that they were misapplied. "No great riches," says Temple, " are seen to enter by public payments into private purses, either to raise fami- lies, or to feed the prodigal expenses of vain, extravagant, and luxurious men ; but all public moneys are applied to the safety, greatness, or honor of the state."t Among Hollanders, it was always a cardinal principle to live with- in one's income. "Every man spent less than he had coming in, be that what it would; and he would be thought to have lived a year to no purpose who had not realized a sum to lay by at the end of it."#

Yet, with all their economy and thrift, the Dutch were neither mean nor sordid. Their houses were richly fur- nished with pictures, and fine linen, and carved work, and plate ; and an overflowing hospitality always distinguish- Hospitality ed their kind-hearted and liberal inhabitants. Their be- nevolence was expansive; among civilized nations the Dutch early obtained celebrity for their kindness to the poor. The wealth which their industry gained was lib- erally expended in acts of humanity and charity. The thrifty habits of the working classes generally enabled them to support themselves in independence. But the sick, and aged, and poor, were always sure of finding com- fortable asylums provided for them by the large benevo- lence of their more opulent countrymen. The orphan was protected and reared, and the soldiers and the sailors, who won the laurels of Holland, were never forgotten.

Early es- tablish- ment of free schools. 1585.

Neither the perils of war, nor the busy pursuit of gain, nor the excitement of political strife, ever caused the Dutch to neglect the duty of educating their offspring to enjoy that freedom for which their fathers had fought. Schools were every where provided, at the public expense, with good schoolmasters, to instruct the children of all classes

* IIol. Mer., 1685, p. 107. t Observations, 136. # Ibid., p. 158.

and benev- olence.

463

MORAL QUALITIES OF THE DUTCH.

in the usual branches of education ; and the consistories of Cu. XIII. the churches took zealous care to have their youth thor- oughly taught the Catechism and the Articles of Religion .* 1648.

The purity of morals and decorum of manners, for which the Dutch have always been conspicuous, may, perhaps, be most justly ascribed to the happy influence of their women. The empire which the sex obtained Influence of was no greater than that which their beauty, good sense, women. the Dutch virtue, and devotion well entitled them to hold.t They mingled in all the active affairs of life, and were always consulted with deferential respect. Their habits of busi- ness enabled them to manage, with skill and advantage, the interests which their husbands confidently intrusted to their care. They loved their homes and their firesides, but they loved their country more. Through all their toils and struggles, the calm fortitude of the men of Holland was nobly encouraged and sustained by the earnest and undaunted spirit of their mothers and wives.#

Of all the moral qualities which distinguished the Dutch, Honesty of and to which their prosperity as a nation is to be attrib- the Dutch. uted, perhaps the most remarkable was their honesty. In their darkest hour of trial, none doubted their national credit. The interest on their loans was punctually paid. Their word was always faithfully kept, and the spirit of commerce, "honoring the people of whom it had honor," won for them the confidenee of the world. The very year the truce with Spain was signed, the Bank of Amsterdam was established on the basis of so high a credit as, by de- grees, to attract to its coffers a large portion of the wealth of Europe. The Dutch soon became the cashiers of the Old World; and the nation, which had been trained to la- bor and to liberty in the same school of experience, gath- ered the substantial rewards of integrity. Their high- minded and punctilious honesty, which " shamed out of countenance the poor prejudices of their age,"s became a proverb abroad, as their commerce expanded over every

* Davies, ii., 202 ; Decrees of Svnod of 1586, art. 17-19. The states of Friesland es- tablished the College of Franeker, in 1585, upon the free principle.

1 Beaumarchais, Let. sur Hol., 25.

# Davies, i., 487 ; iii., 381. · Verplanck.

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

CH. XIII. sea, and wealth flowed back upon them in a ceaseless tide. At home, their counsels, guided by good faith and 1648. mutual confidence, bound all ranks together by the stron- gest ties, and secured their well-deserved prosperity.

Firmness.

With integrity, the Dutch possessed the no less striking characteristic of firmness. Nature early taught them that the very existence of their country depended on their sleep- less vigilance and ceaseless toil ; and from sire to son the hereditary lesson was constantly repeated. The dikes which kept the ocean off their swampy soil were not more firm than the will of the men who built them, and of the posterity which kept them in repair. They calmly meas- ured their strength against their task, and what they calm- ly undertook they as resolutely accomplished. And they were as modest as they were undaunted. In prosperity and in adversity, in sunshine and in storm, they pursued their purposes with steadfast constancy ; and animated by a determination which no obstacles could discourage and no dangers dismay, " they acquired power in the struggle for existence, and wealth under the weight of taxation."*

Incorrupti- ble patriot- ism.

Honest and firm, the Dutch were universally patriotic and incorruptible. Their country was identified with themselves ; her glory, her honor, her greatness was their own. An ardent love of that country was one of their most distinctive traits. "The Fatherland" - that delightful word-always awakened the most dear and cherished associations, the most tender and sacred feelings. And thus the Dutch, loving their own land above all other lands, were universally incorruptible. During all the long war with Spain, not a solitary traitor was found to barter his country for gold ; and the most successful among the ad- mirals of Holland added enormous wealth to her treasury without soliciting the smallest portion for his own reward.t

Such was the Batavian Republic, and such were the people who made their Fatherland prosperous, great, and respected. The descendants of such an ancestry laid the foundations of New York.

* Gouverneur Morris.

+ Davies, ii., 657 ; ante, p. 184.

465

PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.

CHAPTER XIV.

1647-1648.

1647. mencement

WELL might Peter Stuyvesant describe New Nether- CH. XIV. land as in a "low condition" on his arrival. Excepting the Long Island settlements, scarcely fifty bouweries could Com- be counted; and the whole province could not furnish, at of stuyve- the utmost, more than three hundred men capable of bear- ministra- sant's ad- ing arms. The savages were still brooding over the loss tion. of sixteen hundred of their people. Disorder and discon- tent prevailed among the commonalty ; the public revenue was in arrear, and smuggling had almost ruined legiti- mate trade ; conflicting claims of jurisdiction were to be settled with the colonial patroons ; and jealous neighbors all around threatened the actual dismemberment of the province. Protests had been of no avail; and the deci- mated population, which had hardly been able to protect itself against the irritated savages, could offer but a feeble resistance to the progress of European encroachment .* Under such embarrassing circumstances, the last director general of New Netherland began his eventful government. 27 May.

The arrival of Kieft's successor was joyfully hailed by the people as their deliverance from a terrible evil. But Stuyve- the new director's supercilious bearing soon indicated the haughti- sant's character of his future government. His first coming ness. "was like a peacock's, with great state and pomp." Some of the principal inhabitants going to welcome him, were left to wait, " for several hours, bareheaded," while Stuyvesant himself remained covered, "as if he was the Czar of Mus- covy." When he took the direction from his predecessor, the whole community was called together to witness the

* Hol. Doc., xi., 213 ; Breeden Raedt, 19; Doc. Hist. N. Y., i., 689 ; iv., 105. GG

466

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

1647. Occur- rences at his inaugu- ration.

CH. XIV. ceremony. Kieft began by thanking the people for their fidelity to him, " which he much exaggerated, in hopes that the commonalty would unanimously have thanked him." But Kuyter and Melyn, both members of the board of " Eight Men," and several others, spoke out boldly that " they would not thank him, as they had no reason to do so." Stuyvesant "under the blue heavens loudly declared that every one should have justice done to him." The as- surance gladdened the commonalty; nevertheless, their di- rector's haughty carriage " caused some to think that he would not be a father."*

Organiza- tion of the council.

28 June.

Whatever Stuyvesant did, he did vigorously. His first care was to organize his council, which consisted of Van Dincklagen, the vice-director, Van Dyck, the fiscal, Com- missary Keyser, and Captain Bryan Newton, besides the experienced La Montagne, who was retained as a coun- selor, and Van Tienhoven as provincial secretary. Paulus Leendertsen van der Grist was appointed "equipage mas- ter ;" and Baxter, who had served as English secretary since 1642, was continued in that post, as none of the com- pany's officers "could tolerably read or write the English language."

31 May. Police reg- ulations.

1 July.

Proclamations were immediately issued with a zeal and rapidity which promised to work a "thorough reforma- tion." Sabbath-breaking, brawling, and drunkenness were forbidden. Publicans were restrained from selling liquors, except to travellers, before two o'clock on Sundays, "when there is no preaching," and after nine o'clock in the even- ing. To the savages no liquor was to be sold at any time. The revenue, which had been greatly defrauded by the smuggling of furs to New England and Virginia, for shipment thence to England, and by the introduction of foreign merchandise in vessels which ran past Fort Am- sterdam during the night, was protected by stringent reg- ulations, which soon excited a violent opposition. All ves- sels were required to anchor under the guns of the fort,

4 July. Revenue laws.

* Vertoogh van N. N., in ii., N. Y. H. S. Coll., ii., 308 ; Breeden Raedt, 27, 28 ; Doc. Hist. N. Y., iv., 108, 109; ante, p. 433.

467

PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.

near the " hand-board," which was ercoted on the water- CH. XIV. side. Further to replenish the treasury, an excise duty was now, for the first time, levied on wines and liquors. Wine ex- 1647. The people, who had looked for the abolition of Kieft's ob- cise. noxious beer-excise, murmured at the new imposition. It was "like the crowning of Rehoboam;" if their yoke was heavy under Kieft, it was still heavier under Stuyvesant. The export duties on peltries were increased and regula- ted. The outstanding tenths due from the impoverished 23 July. farmers were called in ; but a year's grace for the pay- ment was allowed them, in consideration of their losses by the war. Still further to aid the revenue, two of the com- pany's yachts were ordered to cruise in the West Indies, and capture, if possible, some of the rich galleons return- ing to Spain. The Court of Justice was also organized by Court of Justice. the appointment of Van Dincklagen as presiding judge ; but the director required that his opinion should be asked in all important cases, and reserved the right to preside in person whenever he should think fit. The municipal af- fairs of Manhattan were also attended to. At this time its aspect was unattractive; fences were straggling ; the public ways crooked, and many of the houses encroached on the lines of the streets. Proprietors of vacant lots were, 25 July. therefore, directed to improve them within nine months ; regulations Building and Van Dincklagen, Van der Grist, and Van Tienhoven Amster- at New dam. were appointed the first " surveyors of buildings," to reg- ulate the erection of new houses " within or around the city of New Amsterdam."*

Stuyvesant, who was a devout member of the Reform- ed Church of the Fatherland, and firmly attached to its doctrines and discipline, soon became a member of the Church in consistory of the church at Fort Amsterdam. The build- Fort Am- sterdam. ing was still unfinished ; and the director, as an elder and church-master, in association with Jan Jansen Dam and another colleague, undertook to complete the work in the course of the next winter. Bogardus, whose difficulties

* Alb. Rec., vii., 3-61. 290-297 ; New Amsterdam Records, i., 1-7 ; Vertoogh, ut sup., 295, 296, 304-308 , O'Call., ii., 21-24 ; Dunlap, ii., App. xxiv., xxv. ; ante, p. 394 ; App. Note Q.

468

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

1647. 22 July.

CH. XIV. with Kieft had produced disaffection in the congregation, and had become the subject of remark in the Classis of Amsterdam, now resigned his charge, with a view of pro- ceeding to Holland to meet his ecclesiastical superiors. Johannes Backerus, formerly the clergyman at Curaçoa, and who had accompanied Stuyvesant to New Netherland, was installed as the successor of Bogardus, at a yearly salary of fourteen hundred guilders .*

Bogardus succeeded by Backe- rus.

Temper of the people, director. The inherent sentiment of popular freedom, which had and of their exhibited its power during Kieft's unquiet government, moved the commonalty throughout Stuyvesant's more ar- bitrary administration. His military training made him imperious in his ideas of government. He looked upon himself as almost supreme in the far-off province. All at- tempts of the people to limit and restrain the abuse of his delegated authority he resisted with characteristic vigor and resolution. On the other hand, the colonists were con- stantly endeavoring to obtain for themselves the franchises and freedoms of their Fatherland. Affectionately loyal to the 'government of their native country, they felt that a participation in the liberties which their brethren enjoyed in Holland was their own birth-right in New Netherland.

Kieft's offi- cial con- duct ar- raigned.

The contest between the prerogative of the provincial government and the popular sentiment of the commonalty was reopened soon after Stuyvesant was installed ; and Kieft's reckless administration was made the subject of a formal complaint to his successor. Kuyter and Melyn, who had openly refused to join in a vote of thanks to their late director, now petitioned that the members of his coun- cil should be examined on searching interrogatories, which embraced the whole provincial policy from the imposition of the Indian tribute in 1639. The evidence thus obtain- ed they proposed to use with effect in Holland.

Stuyvesant sides with Kieft.

Stuyvesant instantly took the alarm. If the adminis- tration of Kieft were now to be judged at the demand of the people, his own acts might have to pass the same or- 1

* Corr. Cl: Amst. ; Alb. Rec., vii., 55 ; Rev. Dr. De Witt, in Proc. N. Y. H. S., 1844, 60, 61, 74 ; Breeden Raedt, ut sup. ; Moulton's N. Y. in 1673, 18 ; Vertoogh van N. N., 309 ; ante, p. 418.

469

PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.

deal. The precedent would be dangerous ; the preroga- CH. XIV. tive of the directorship must be sustained. He therefore " chose the side of Kieft ;" and looked upon Kuyter and 1647. Melyn, not as members of the former board of Eight Men, but simply as "private persons." Convening a special couneil, Stuyvesant, without waiting for the advice of his associates, announced his authoritative opinion. The pe- 14 June. titioners had not shown that they were "solicited by the citizens at large" to propose the examination of the late director and his council, by whom they had been consid- ered "disturbers of the public peace and tranquillity." " If this point be conceded, will not these cunning fellows, in order to usurp over us a more unlimited power, claim and assume, in consequence, even greater authority against ourselves and our commission, should it happen that our administration may not square in every respect with their whims ?" The officers of the provincial government should not be obliged to disclose the secret instructions of the West India Company on the demand of two private indi- viduals. In the opinion of the director, " it was treason to petition against one's magistrates, whether there was cause or not." Stuyvesant's decided tone swayed the Complaints opinions of his compliant couneil, and the petition of the dismissed. two " malignant subjects" was rejected.

It was only natural that the unsuccessful petitioners should pay the penalty of their temerity. Instead of Kieft and his council, Kuyter and Melyn were now ordered to be examined as to the origin of the Indian war ; and they were required to name its authors, and state whether their own demand for an investigation had been authorized by the home or provincial governments, or by the commonalty at large. If so, Kieft's instructions and dispatches might be communicated to them; if not, the accused must be sent to Holland with the recalled director, whom they had inculpated, to make good their complaints before the States General.

This decision was a triumph for Kieft. Finding that his successor was already prepossessed against Kuyter and

470

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

1647. 18 June. Kuytor a Melyn &c- oused by Kieft.

CH. XIV. Melyn, he determined to gratify his personal revenge, and accused them before Stuyvesant of being the authors of the memorial of the 28th of October, 1644, which the Eight Men had addressed to the College of the XIX., a copy of which the directors had sent to him, " that he might see his impeachment, and purge himself; but without any authority to molest the signers of the letter on that ac- count." That letter, he now charged, was false and ca- lumnious, and prepared and dispatched clandestinely ; and he alleged that the majority of its signers had been ca- joled into statements tending to bring their magistrates into contempt. The authors should be compelled to pro- duce copies of all their letters to the West India Company, and should be banished "as pestilent and seditious per- sons." Kieft's application was granted, and Kuyter and Melyn were ordered to answer in forty-eight hours.

22 June. Answers of Kuyter and Melyn.

In their defense, the accused produced evidence to sus- tain their charges against Kieft; toward whom they de- clared they had no vindictive feelings. In the heat of war they had indeed complained to the West India Company, " but not to strangers, nor to the enemies of the United Provinces." Between forty and fifty bouweries had been destroyed during the hostilities with the Indians, and it was only right that a searching inquiry should now be made. They had used no deception toward any of the Eight Men, or any of the commonalty. They were will- ing to go to Holland, not as "pestilent and seditious" per- sons, but as good patriots, who by the war had lost all that they had possessed in New Netherland. The four surviv- ors of the Eight Men, who had jointly signed the letters, should nevertheless accompany them, to verify their com- plaints before the States General.

4 July. Formal in- the ac- cused. In Stuyvesant's judgment, the frank answers of the ac- dictment of cused only aggravated their offense; and Fiscal Van Dyck was ordered to prosecute them vigorously. But the indict- ment which he prepared was thought so imperfect, that the director and council determined to act as both prosecutors 11 July. and judges. Melyn was accordingly charged with rebell-

471

PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.

ious conduct ; with having endeavored to entice the com- CH. XIV. pany's servants away from their employment; and with having deprived the Indians, before the war, of a part of 1647. their lands. Kuyter was accused of counseling treachery toward the savages ; of urging the mortgage of Manhat- tan to the English ; and of having threatened Kieft with personal violence, when he should "take off the coat with which he had been bedecked by the Lords his Masters." Both Melyn and Kuyter were charged with having fraud- ulently procured the signatures of the Eight Men to the " calumnious and scandalous" letter of the twenty-eighth of October, 1644, which it was also alleged the common- alty had not authorized them to write.

These charges were fully answered by the accused ; and 16 July. Kuyter for himself maintained that, as a member of the Kuyter and Defense of board of Eight Men, he had, in good faith, advised the Melyn. pledging of Manhattan to the English, as a measure of necessity. In a few days the prejudged case was decided, and sentence pronounced. Stuyvesant wished Melyn to be punished with death, and the confiscation of his prop- erty; and Kuyter to be subjected to an "arbitrary correc- tion," and pay a fine of three hundred guilders. But the 25 July. majority of the council modified the director's severe opin- ion ; and Melyn was sentenced to seven years' banish- Their con- ment, to pay a fine of three hundred guilders, and "to for- sentences. viction and feit all benefits derived from the company ;" while Kuyter was sentenced to three years' banishment, and to pay a fine of one hundred and fifty guilders. One third of both fines was to be given to the poor, one third to the Church, and one third to the fiscal. It was alleged that Melyn was accused more bitterly, and punished more severely than Kuyter, " because Kieft had formerly flattered him- self that he should have a part with him in Staten Island, and finding himself deceived, he had been obliged to make other conditions with other persons."*

The right of appeal to the Fatherland, which Kieft had

* Alb. Rec., vii., 9-17, 34-67 ; Hol. Doc., iii., 184-205 ; v., 31 ; Breeden Raedt, 28, 29; O'Call., ii., 24-34 ; Doc. Ilist. N. Y., iv., 109, 110; Vertoogh, 308 ; ante, p. 397-400, 416.

472

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

1647. Right of appeal de- nied to Melyn.

CH. XIV. denied to Doughty and to Van Hardenburg, was now again openly denied by Stuyvesant. "If I were persuaded," said the director, addressing Melyn, " that you would divulge our sentence, or bring it before their High Mightinesses, I would have you hanged at once on the highest tree in New Netherland." Not long afterward, upon leaving the Par- sonage house, where he had been attending a meeting of the consistory, Stuyvesant interrupting Van Hardenburg, who was relating Kieft's proceedings in his case, openly declared, "If any one, during my administration, shall ap- peal, I will make him a foot shorter, and send the pieces to Holland, and let him appeal in that way." Doughty, too, was again made to feel the abuse of provincial au- thority. His petition to be allowed to return to Europe was at first denied, and he was "threatened with this and that." He was finally permitted to depart, " provided he gave a promise under his hand that he would not, in any place to which he might come, speak or, complain of what had befallen him, here in New Netherland, from Directors Kieft or Stuyvesant."*

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History of the state of New York Vol I, Part 46

Author: Brodhead, John Romeyn, 1814-1873. 4n Publication date: 1871 Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers Number of Pages: 844

Author: Brodhead, John Romeyn, 1814-1873. 4n
Publication date: 1871
Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers
Number of Pages: 844