USA > New York > History of the state of New York Vol I > Part 56
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* New Amsterdam Rec., i., 300-310 ; O'Call., ii., 255.
569
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.
sembled at Flushing, and opened a communication with CH. XVI. the municipal government of New Amsterdam .*
1653. 26 Nov. Meeting of delegates at New Anister-
This led to a meeting of delegates at the City Hall, to consider what could be best done " for the welfare of the country and its inhabitants, and to determine on some wise and salutary measures to arrest these robberies." dam. La Montagne and (Werckhoven attended on the part of the provincial council ; Kregier and Van der Grist repre- sented New Amsterdam ; Baxter and Hubbard came from Gravesend ; Hicks and Feake from Flushing ; and Coe and Hazard from Middelburgh or Newtown. An order from Stuyvesant was read, directing the delegates sev- erally to communicate, in writing, their opinions respect- ing the best means of protecting the country from robbers. But the English delegates, headed by Baxter, first required to know by what right Werckhoven, whose purchase at New Utrecht encroached upon Gravesend, sat in the con- vention. They would not recognize him as a delegate from the council, and refused to allow any representative of the provincial government to preside in their meeting. At the same time, they desired to continue in allegiance to the States General and the company, and to "enter into a firm union with the burgomasters and schepens." The New Amsterdam delegates, however, would not consent to such 27 Nov. an alliance until they had consulted with the provincial government and the several villages. "If the burgomas- ters and sehepens will not unite with us," replied the En- glish delegates, " we shall enter into a firm union among ourselves on Long Island, for the director general affords us no protection." Stuyvesant did not object to the New Amsterdam delegates co-operating with those from the En- glish villages ; but as the Dutch would be outvoted now, Proposed he announced his intention to incorporate Amersfoort, Breuckelen, and Midwout, "so as to possess with Fort Or- lages. ange, on all future occasions, an equal number of votes."
The New Amsterdam delegates at length recommended 29 Nov. a remonstrance to the West India Company ; and with a
* Alb. Rec., vìii., 53 ; Gravesend Rec., 9th Jan., 1651 ; 19th March, 1652 ; ante, p. 412.
incorpora- tion of the Dutch vil-
570
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CH. XVI. view of learning the opinions of the colonists on Long Isl- 1653. and and Staten Island, proposed an adjournment. It was, therefore, agreed to meet again on the tenth of December. A parting collation was given, to which Stuyvesant was invited, and he was informed in blunt terms "that they should meet again on the tenth of the next month ; he might then do as he pleased, and prevent it if he could." The city government also formally notified the director of the intention of the delegates to address the West India Company, and asked that he would summon the villages to send representatives to the proposed convention, to assist in the preparation of a remonstrance. 1
A conven- tion de- manded.
3 Dec. Stuyvesant assents.
8 Dec. " Landt- dag" or convention called.
Stuyvesant very reluctantly sanctioned the meeting, which he could not prevent. The conduct of the English delegates " smelt of rebellion, of contempt of his high au- thority and commission." He had done all he could to protect them from marauders; but the colonists had, con- trary to orders, scattered their dwellings, so that hundreds of soldiers could scarcely guard them from the robbers, " who often come as friends and neighbors, and are pro- vided with lodgings by the English." He had doubts whether the convention would be beneficial ; for the ad- ministration of his predecessor, as well as his own, had al- ready witnessed the evils of popular assemblies. - Never- theless, as he had nothing more at heart than the prosperity of New Netherland and the union of her people, "without any distinction of origin," he assented to the proposed meeting. It was, "under the direction of two of the coun- cil," to agree upon an address truly representing the con- dition of the country to the Fatherland ; but to do noth- ing to prejudice the action of the government in disapprov- ing the conduct of the former delegates., Writs to this ef- fect were soon afterward sent to the several neighboring villages, for the election of representatives to meet in a "Landtdag," or Diet, at New Amsterdam. The season was too far advanced to communicate readily with the colonists at Fort Orange and on the South River .*
* Alb. Rec., ix., 2, 5, 15-24, 35, 47 ; New Amst. Rec., i., 276, 315, 324, 335.
571
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.
The most important popular convention that had ever CH. XVI. assembled in New Netherland accordingly met at New Amsterdam. The metropolis was represented by Van Hat- 1653. tem, Kregier, and Van der Grist ; Breuckelen by Lubbert- sen, Van der Beeck, and Beeckman ; Flushing by Hicks tion. and Feake ; Middelburgh, or Newtown, by Coe and Haz- ard ; Heemstede by Washburn and Somers ; Amersfoort, or Flatlands, by Wolfertsen, Strycker, and Swartwout ; Midwout, or Flatbush, by Elbertsen and Spicer; and Gravesend by Baxter and Hubbard. Of the towns repre- sented, four were Dutch and four English ; of the dele- gates, ten were of Dutch and nine of English nativity. But as Baxter had probably most experience in preparing State Papers, the duty of drawing up the Remonstrance of the Diet was intrusted to him.
The next day, the delegates unanimously adopted and 11 Dec. signed the document in which Baxter had ably embodied their views. The authority of the States General and the tion. West India Company was distinctly recognized ; and the rights of the colonists were claimed to harmonize " in ev- ery respect with those of Netherland, being a member de- pendent on that state, and in no wise a people conquered or subjugated." " Composed of various nations from dif- ferent parts of the world, leaving at our own expense our country and countrymen, we voluntarily came under the protection of our sovereign High and Mighty Lords the States General, whom we acknowledge as our lieges; and being made members of one body, subjected ourselves, as in duty bound, to the general laws of the United Prov- inces, and all other new orders and ordinances, which by virtue of the aforesaid authority may be published, agree- ably to the customs, freedoms, grants, and privileges of the Netherlands." With this loyal preface, the conven- tion proceeded to declare its view of the evils which af- flicted New Netherland, and to demand redress. I. The fear of the establishment of an arbitrary government. New laws had been enacted by the director and council, with- out the knowledge or consent of the people. This was
10 Dec. Meeting of the conven-
Remon- trance of the conven-
572
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Statement of grievan- ces.
CH. XVI. " contrary to the granted privileges of the Netherland gov- 1653. ernment, and odious to every free-born man, and especially so to those whom God has placed under a free state, in newly-settled lands, who are entitled to claim laws, not .transcending, but resembling as near as possible those of the Netherlands." It was, therefore, contrary to the priv- ileges of the people of New Netherland to enact laws with- out their consent. II. As the provincial government does not protect the people against the savages, the people must look to their own defense. III. Officers and magistrates, without the consent or nomination of the people, "are ap- pointed to many places, contrary to the laws of the Nether- lands.". IV. Old orders and proclamations of the director and council, made without the knowledge or consent of the people, remain obligatory, and subject them to loss and punishment, through ignorance. V. Promised patents, on the faith of which large improvements had been made at Middelburgh and Midwout, and elsewhere, had been wrongfully and suspiciously delayed. VI. Large tracts of land had been granted to favored individuals, to the great injury of the province. "As we have, for easier reference, reduced all our grievances to six heads," concluded the delegates, "we renew our allegiance, in the hope that sat- isfaction will be granted to the country according to estab- lished justice, and all dissensions be settled and allayed."*
12 Dec. Character of the Re- mon- strance.
A copy of this paper was delivered to Stuyvesant, and a " categorical answer" to each of its heads was demand- ed. Though drawn up by Baxter, it was approved and signed by every delegate ; and it expressed the unanimous opinion of the convention. Its tone was as affectionately loyal to the Fatherland of the Dutch a's was the memorial , which Van der Donck had prepared in 1649. In the midst of the war between Holland and England ; with natural leanings toward the side of their countrymen; with hearts full of bitterness against Stuyvesant and his administra- tion, yet with an honest admiration of the government of
* Alb. Rec., ix., 28-33 ; Hol. Doc., xv., 168-175 ; Thompson's L. I., i., 111, 112 ; ii., 306- 308 ; O'Call., ii., 238-246, 263, 264 ; Bancroft, ii., 306.
573
PÉTER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.
the Republican Provinces, the representatives of the En- CH. XVI. glish villages desired not to ingraft on New Netherland the Puritan polity of Massachusetts and Connecticut, from 1653 the severity of which some of them had themselves fled, but they demanded laws "resembling, as near as possible, those of the Netherlands." The Dutch colonists had been taught, by the example of their forefathers, to rely on themselves. The convention itself was a " Landtdag," or Not of P' :: Diet, known in the Fatherland long before the first settle- gin. ritan ori- ment in New England, suggested by the burgomasters and sehepens of New Amsterdam, and called by the arbi- trary direetor whose government it censured.
This remonstrance was the severest blow which Stuy- 12 Dec. vesant had yet received. To weaken its effeet, he de- sant's an- Stuyve- elared that Breuekelen, Midwout, and Amersfoort had " no swer. right to jurisdiction," and could not send delegates to a popular convention. The other members were " a few un- qualified delegates, who assume, without authority, the name and title of commonalty." In that name they had no right to address the director or "any body else." "The most ancient colonie of Manhattan, particularly reserved on behalf of the company, the colonies of Rensselaerswyek and Staten Island, and the settlements at Beverwyck and on the South River, are too prudent to subscribe to all that has been projected by an Englishman ; as if among the Netherlands' nation there is no one sagacious and expert enough to draw up a remonstrance to the director and couneil." " It is very doubtful, indeed, if George Baxter, the author, himself understood what he meant." If the rights of the people of New Netherland were, as represent- ed, the same as those of the people in the Fatherland, they might then claim to send delegates to the assembly of their High Mightinesses. As to the demand for an ex- tension of franchises, "it must be observed that these En- glishmen, the actors, instigators, and leaders of these nov- elties, actually enjoy greater privileges than the New Netherland Exemptions allow to any Dutchman." The English, especially at Gravesend, not only nominate their
574
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1653. Stuyve- sant's an- swer.
CH. XVI. own officers, but absolutely " usurp their election, and actually appoint whatever magistrates they please, pay- ing no regard to the religion these profess." At New Am- sterdam, the magistrates are appointed by the director and council; and this policy would be continued until other orders from Holland. If the opposite rule "was to become a cynosure-if the nomination and election of magistrates were to be left to the populace, who were the most interested, then each would vote for one of his own stamp; the thief for a thief; the rogue, the tippler, and the smuggler for his brother in iniquity, so that he may enjoy more latitude in vice and fraud." The question which the convention had been called to consider-the protection of the province against pirates-had been pass- ed by, and the English delegates had declared their un- willingness to act against their countrymen. The large grants of land which had been complained of were made by order of the directors in Holland, who are not respons- ible to their subjects for what they do. If the English colonists would look at themselves, they would find that a large part of the territory claimed by Heemstede, Flush- ing, and Gravesend was neither settled nor improved ; but because the time for the payment of their debts was ap- proaching, they wish to repudiate them, and establish " a new form of government," on the ground that "the com- pany can not or will not protect them." And Stuyvesant concluded his earnest defense of arbitrary power by repri- manding the city government of New Amsterdam for seiz- ing " this dangerous opportunity to conspire with a nation so much suspected by them ; in whom they lately said no confidence could be placed ; who were ever hatching mis- chief, but never performing their promises; and who might to-morrow ally themselves with the North."
But the delegates were not to be thus silenced. In their rejoinder they appealed to the "Law of Nature," which permits all men to assemble for the protection of their liberties and their property; and declared that, in case the director refused to consider the several points of
13 Dec. Rejoinder of the con- vention.
575
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.
their remonstrance, they would protest to their common CH. XVI. superiors, the States General and the West India Company. 1653.
Stuyvesant had already exhausted argument. All that remained was to exereise his prerogative. The members of the convention were ordered to disperse, "on pain of 14 Dec. The con- our highest displeasure," in a farewell message which ar- vention rogantly declared that " we derive our authority from God and the company, not from a few ignorant subjects ; and we alone can call the inhabitants together." And letters were sent to Breuckelen, Amersfoort, and Midwout, or- 16 Dec. dering them to prohibit their delegates from appearing, for the present, in any meeting at New Amsterdam .*
dissolved.
The popular voice, however, was not stifled. The bur- gomasters and sehepens of New Amsterdam addressed a 24 Dec.
Letter of letter to the West India Company, declaring that Stuyve- burgomas- ters and sant's instructions of, the 2d of February were "too nar- schepens to row," and asking for municipal powers as nearly as possi- India Com- the West ble according to the form of government of the " beloved pany. city of Amsterdam," from which " we have received our name." The city sehout should be chosen by and from the burghers, and should not be the company's own fiscal. The whole of the excise, " without any limitation," should go into the city treasury ; and as that was insufficient to pay salaries and keep the public works in repair, the mu- nieipal government should have power to levy new taxes, More pow- and to farm out the ferry between New Amsterdam and ers asked. Breuekelen. The city should be empowered to ascertain its debts ; be enabled to convey lands ; have a seal sepa- rate from that of the province ; be granted a Stadt Huys, or City Hall ; and sufficient munitions of war should be provided for defense against the " unfriendly English."t
The Gravesend magistrates also sent a letter protesting 27 Dec. their allegiance to the States General and the company, Gravesend "under whose protection they had placed themselves, with- out any intention to revolt." Van Werckhoven's grant, however, eneroached on their patent, and was a sore griev-
Letter from
* Alb. Rec., ix., 34-56 ; O'Call., ii., 247-252; Bancroft, ii., 307 ; Thompson, i , 113.
t New Amst. Rec., i., 345-350 ; Alb. Rec., viii., 96-98.
576
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CH. XVI. ance. Such grants to, private persons, under the pretense 1653. of promoting colonization, could not contribute to the pros-
Letter from perity of the province. "As long as you see through the Gravesend. eyes of two or three persons, who perhaps have their own profit only in view, and are prompted by ambition, without regard to the interests of the commonalty or that of the company, so long you can not obtain a true account of the real condition of this province, nor of your own private concerns." . "We appreciate the high value of a lawful liberty which we claim, and for which, if granted, and if it please God, in his mercy, to reconcile the differences be- tween the two commonwealths, we shall not only feel grat- ified, but thankful." "For, if your honors should lose this country, though we sincerely wish to be long favored with your protection, it will be through the means of those who are intrusted with the chief command."
A letter of a similar tone, signed by Kregier, Baxter, 30 Dec. and others, was also addressed to the burgomasters and schepens of the city of Amsterdam. All these papers were intrusted to François le Bleeuw, an advocate, who Agent sent was dispatched as agent to Holland at the expense of the to Holland. city, with instructions to use every legitimate means to procure the reforms which the people demanded .*
Though the building of Fort Casimir had seriously em- barrassed the Provincial Exchequer, it embarrassed the South Riv- Swedes on the South River still more. Printz, finding er. his situation becoming every day more unpleasant, applied to his government for permission to return home. The Swedish colonists themselves seemed inclined to submit to the Dutch jurisdiction, and even made overtures to 6 October. Stuyvesant, who, however, declined to act until he had learned the views of the Amsterdam Chamber. His supe- riors, willing to protect all who were obedient to their laws, 4 Nov. wrote to the director, " The population of the country, that bulwark of every state, ought to be promoted by all means, so that the settling of freemen may not be shackled."
* Alb, Rec., iv., 136 ; viii., 53-58 ; Hol. Doc., ix., 256-260 ; xv., 165 ; O'Call., ii., 238- 256, 269.
577
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL
Without waiting for his leave to return, Printz exceuted CH. XVI. his design ; and leaving his son-in-law, John Pappegoya, 1653. in temporary charge of affairs, he, embarked for Holland, Departure bearing a private letter from Stuyvesant to the West India of Printz. Company "in favor of the late Swedish governor."* Law- rence Charles Lokenius, a Lutheran elergyman who had Lokenius. succeeded Campanius, remained with the people at Tinni- cum and Christina.
The government of Sweden had meanwhile placed the management of their interests on the South River in the hands of the " General College of Commerce." Prepara- tions were made to dispatch a ship with two hundred per- 11 October. sons to assist the colony, where there were now only six- teen men to garrison the three Swedish forts ; and John Rising, formerly secretary of the College of Commerce, 12 Dec. was commissioned as deputy governor under Printz. He pointed Rising ap- deputy was to endeavor to extend the Swedish jurisdiction on both governor. sides of the river, "but without a breach of friendship with the English and Dutch, or exposing to risk what we already possess." With respect to Fort Casimir, which the Dutch had just built, if he could not induee them, by remonstrances, to abandon it, he was to avoid resorting to hostilities, and rather to " suffer the Dutch to oceupy the said fortress, than that it should fall into the hands of the English, who are the more powerful, and, of course, the most dangerous in that country." Another Swedish fort should be constructed lower down the river ; but the mild- est measures should be pursued, as, " by a rupture with the Dutch, the English may seize the opportunity to take possession of the aforesaid fortress, and become, in conse- quenee, very dangerous neighbors to our possessions." With these instructions, Rising, accompanied by another clergyman, Peter Lindstrom an engineer, and a large mil- itary foree, set sail for New Sweden.t
* Alb. Rec., iv., 121, 138 ; lol. Doc., viii., 32, 84 ; S. Hazard, Ann. Penn., 139, 140, 14;, 148; Plymouth Rec .. ii., S7 ; ante, p. 484.
t Thurloe's State Papers, i., 524 ; Reg. Penn., iv., 374, 399 ; S. Hazard, Ann. Penn., 141-146 ; Acrelius, 414.
1
578
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAPTER XVII.
1654-1655.
CH. XVII. NEW AMSTERDAM had now enjoyed for a year its limited municipal government. But its burghers pined for the 1654. larger franchises of the cities of their Fatherland ; and the burgomasters and schepens, whose term of service was 27 January. about to expire, petitioned Stuyvesant for liberty to pre- sterdam af- sent a double set of names, from among which the magis- New Am- fairs. trates for the next year should be chosen. They also asked that the magistracy should receive salaries. The direct- or, however, "for pregnant reasons," declined a compliance 28 January. " respecting the nomination," but, " for the sake of peace and harmony," continued the old magistrates in office, and appointed Jochem Pietersen Kuyter and Oloff Stevensen van Cortlandt to fill two vacancies in the board of Sche- pens. The application for salaries was, however, granted. Salaries al- Each burgomaster was allowed three hundred and fifty lowed. guilders a year, and each schepen two hundred and fifty, as they were, "for the most part, such persons as must maintain their houses and families by trade, farming, or mechanical labor."*
Critical sit- uation of the prov- ince.
The situation of the province at the beginning of this year was extremely critical. Taking advantage of the continued hostilities between Holland and England, pi- rates and robbers infested the shores of the East River, and committed unrepressed excesses on Long Island and around New Amsterdam. The English residents began to mutter threats of mutiny, and many of them were sus- pected of communicating with the freebooters, who were * New Amst. Rec., i., 359, 373-375 ; Alb. Rec., vii., 279, 288; ix., 70, 71. On the 12th of January, the burgomasters and schepens allowed their secretary, Jacob Kip, a salary of two hundred guilders, as receiver of the city revenue.
579
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.
chicfly their own countrymen. Gravesend was notorious- CH. XVII. ly disaffected. Sir Henry Moody himself did not scruple to join in a certificate declaring that Captain John Man- 1654. Disaffec- tion at ning, who had been playing the spy while he was carry- Gravesend ing on an unlawful trade between New Haven and Man- hattan, "had tendered himself and vessel to serve the commonwealth of England."*
But New Amsterdam nobly maintained her loyalty. The city government recommended that a vessel be sta- 10 Feb. tioned at " Minnewit's Island," and likewise proposed to Stuyvesant to raise a militia force of some forty men among Militia the several villages and settlements, according to a ratable portioned. force ap- proportion.t John Scott, of Long Island, and others, were arrested and examined as suspected persons, at the instance 16 March. of the fiscal.' Brouckelen, Amersfoort, and Midwout were specially invited by the metropolis "to lend their aid at 23 March. this critical conjuncture, to further whatever may advance the public defense." The Dutch villages heartily agreed "to assist with all their might." Every third man was detailed to act as a minute-man, whenever required ; and 28 March. their whole population was pledged to be ready to defend 7 April. their firesides in case of invasion.
The provincial government immediately commissioned 8 April. several yachts to act against the pirates. A proclamation against pi- Measures was issued prohibiting all persons, under the penalty of rates. banishment and the confiscation of goods, from harboring the outlaws, for each of whom a reward of one hundred thalers was offered ; and all strangers without passports were directed to be detained until they gave satisfactory accounts of themselves. To prevent any misunderstand- 14 April. ing with the neighboring governments, Burgomaster Kre- gier and Fiscal Van Tienhoven were sent to New Haven, to explain that the only object of the Dutch proceedings
* New Haven Rec., 46-19 ; O'Call., ii., 264 ; Trumbull, 1., 213. Manning was arrested and tried at New Haven in April, 1654, and his vessel condemned and sold, " by inch of candle," as a lawful prize. See also post, p. 743.
t This proportion was, Manhattan, eight ; Heemstede, four ; Vlissengen, three ; Graves- end, three ; Middelburgh and Mespath Kill, three ; Breuckelen, the Ferry, and the Wal- loon quarter, four ; Midwout, two; Amersfoort, two ; Staten Island, two ; Paulus' Hook, one ; Beverwyck, four ; colonie of Rensselaerswyck, four .- New Amst. Rec., i., 378.
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