USA > New York > The history of New York from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 14
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236
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1759.
Preparations for besieging the city were im- mediately commenced by Townsend, but on the seventeenth of September, before any of the batteries were constructed, the garrison capitu- lated. With the fall of Quebec ended the French dominion over Canada. During the following spring, a daring attempt was made by De Levi to retake the city, which, for a time, promised to be successful ; but the opportune arrival of an English fleet finally frustrated the enterprise ; and Montreal being taken by Amherst early the ensuing September, the conquest of Canada was completed.
237
1760.]
CANADA RETAINED.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
Retention of Canada determined upon -- Spain joins France against England-Treaty of Fontainebleau-Death of De- lancey -Administration of Colden -- Monckton appointed governor-Ordered to Martinique-Independence of the Ju- diciary struck at -- Alarm of New York-Difficulties between New York and New Hampshire-Financial embarrassment of England-Action of the ministry-Stamp-tax passed-Its reception in New York-Colden burned in effigy-Stamp- tax repealed-Townsend's scheme of taxation-Action of the colonies-Pusillanimous conduct of the New York Assembly -Alexander McDougal-His imprisonment and popularity- Rapid increase of New York in population and wealth-Dun- more appointed governor-Removed to Virginia-Transfers the government to Tryon-Regulators in North Carolina- Their defeat-Disturbances respecting the New Hampshire grants-Resistance to state authority-Tea sent to America -Proceedings of the colonies-Congress at Philadelphia- Battle of Lexington.
THE expulsion of the French forces from Ca- nada, and its occupation by the British, created a general joy throughout the provinces. The merits of Wolfe, Amherst, and their subordinate officers, were extolled in the highest terms. Con- gratulatory addresses poured in upon Pitt from all quarters. . France, impoverished and humili- ated, desired peace at almost any sacrifice. In view of this event, the American colonies were unanimous in their desire to retain Canada as an English possession. Pitt, and most of the other members of the cabinet, entertained similar sen-
238
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1762.
timents ; and Choiseul, the French minister, bent upon putting an end to a war so inglorious for his country, was not disposed to insist upon its restoration. Pitt, however, while lending a fa- vourable ear to propositions for peace, stead- fastly persevered in his preparations for a con- tinuance of the war. Choiseul desired to retain a harbour in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the freedom of the fisheries. These concessions Pitt refused, and, while negotiations were still pend- ing, sent out a powerful fleet, which captured Belle Isle. A third party now entered into the quarrel.
Aggrieved by the establishment of English commercial posts in the Bays of Honduras and Campeachy, and conscious of being too weak to obtain redress single-handed, Spain, during the summer of 1761, entered into a secret treaty with France, under the title of the Family Com- pact; and, although differences in the English cabinet led at this juncture to the resignation of Pitt, war soon after broke out afresh. The Bri- tish forces proving everywhere victorious, nego- tiations were again proposed, and on the 3d of November, 1762, peace was finally ratified by the treaty of Fontainebleau.
By the sudden death of Delancey, toward the close of July, 1760, the administration of the government of New York had devolved upon Cadwallader Colden, as president of the council.
239
1762.] ATTEMPTS ON THE JUDICIARY.
Appointed the following year lieutenant-governor, he was superseded in the chief magistracy soon after by General Monckton; but the latter had scarcely presented his commission as governor, before he was ordered to take command of an expedition against Martinique, and Colden again assumed the reins of government.
In the mean time, the Board of Trade, in pur- suance of their determination to attempt the re- storation of the royal prerogative in America, had struck at the independence of the colonial judiciary by making the tenure of the judicial commissions subject to the king's pleasure, in- stead of during good behaviour, as formerly. The office of chief-justice of New York having become vacant, the appointment of Pratt, a Boston lawyer, was made the first test of colonial obedience. The subordinate judges, whose commissions were supposed to have expired at the death of George II., having also reluctantly consented to continue to serve, subject to the same restriction, the as- sembly became alarmed at the dangerous charac- ter of the innovation, and resolved to resist it, by refusing to grant the customary salaries. Equally determined to carry out the measures they had projected, the Board of Trade, in June, 1762, recommended to the king that the salaries of the provincial judges should be paid out of the royal quit-rents. The advice was adopted, and the system of a judiciary wholly dependent upon
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240
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1767.
the crown, as established in New York, was di- rected also to be applied to the other provinces.
During this period of anxiety, serious difficul- ties had arisen between the governments of New York and New Hampshire, in respect to grants made by the latter of lands lying between the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain. Both provinces claimed this territory-since known as the state of Vermont-to be within the limits of their respective jurisdictions ; but a royal order, promulgated on the 17th of June, 1767, decided the dispute in favour of New York. Had the government of the latter province been content to exercise the authority thus conceded without interfering with the grants previously issued by New Hampshire, and for which the settlers had already paid, the controversy would have ceased. But the greater portion of the territory in dis- pute being already covered by the New Hamp- shire grants, most of the sturdy pioneers refused to purchase their lands a second time, and or- ganized themselves into parties for the purpose of resisting the ejectments which the executive officers endeavoured to enforce.
But a mightier quarrel was at this time begin- ning to engross the attention of the American people. The long-contemplated project of draw- ing a revenue from the colonies at length ap- proached maturity. The remarkable series of victories which had exalted the power of Eng-
241
STAMP ACT PASSED.
1765.]
land, and secured to her, by the treaty of Fon- tainebleau, a vast accession of territory, had, at the same time, by the enormous expenses of the war, plunged the nation into a condition of the most alarming financial embarrassment. As this distress arose in part from the heavy charges incurred in protecting the American colonies, the ministry sought to rid themselves of so great a burden for the future by attempting to draw a revenue from the provinces sufficient to defray the cost of their support and defence. By ob- taining this revenue through the action of parlia- ment, the power of the provincial assemblies . would be so curbed and restricted as to be easily subordinated to the royal authority. Accord- ingly, in 1763, Grenville, the chancellor of the exchequer, notified parliament, in addition to minor measures devised for the same purpose, of his intention to bring forward a bill by which all bonds, deeds, notes, and various other neces- sary business papers used in America, should require to be drawn upon stamped paper, to be issued by the British government, and sold only by agents duly authorized.
At the ensuing session of 1764 parliament formally avowed the right to tax the colonies ; and in March, 1765, the Stamp Act passed both houses with but little opposition. In addition to this, an act called the Quartering Act was passed, by which the ministry were authorized to keep
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242
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1765.
up a standing army in America, the respective colonies being required to furnish quarters for the troops, together with firewood, soap, bed- ding, drink, and candles. No sooner did the passage of these acts become known to Virginia and Massachusetts, than, impressed with their dangerous character, they took the lead in oppo- sition. The other provinces speedily followed their example. Committees of correspondence were formed, and a call for a colonial congress was responded to by a convention of delegates at New York during the month of October. The session continued for three weeks. A declara- tion of rights was agreed to; a petition to the king, and a memorial to both houses of parlia- ment, all of them able and eloquent papers, were drawn up and signed by a large majority of the members. The principle of taxation without re- presentation was indignantly repudiated, and everywhere combinations were formed to resist the introduction of the stamped paper.
In New York the denunciation of the stamp- tax was both fierce and vehement. Copies of the act were publicly hawked about the streets, un- der the title of " The folly of England and ruin of America;" and the excitement finally rose to so high a pitch, that the stamp distributor re- signed his appointment, and when the stamps arrived, toward the close of October, refused to have any thing to do with them. Colden being
243
"SONS OF LIBERTY."
1765.]
thus in a measure compelled to assume charge of the obnoxious papers, they were by his orders conveyed into the fort for safe keeping.
On the evening of the 1st of November, the day appointed for the Stamp Act to go into ope- ration, a party of citizens, many of whom had organized themselves under the name of " Sons of Liberty," broke open the stable of Colden, ad- joining the fort walls, and seizing his carriage, marched with it in procession through the prin- cipal streets, until they reached the common. After hanging Colden in effigy, they returned with great parade to the Bowling-green, where, under the muzzles of the fort guns, they burned the carriage and effigy together. The excite- ment continuing for several days, Colden became alarmed, and finally agreed to surrender the stamps to the city authorities. In the midst of these disturbances Sir Henry Moore arrived, and took upon himself the functions of governor.
Up to this time, most of the wealthier inhabit- ants had not openly taken part in the quarrel ; but emboldened by the success which had at- tended the efforts of their sturdier fellow-citi- zens, many of them now publicly joined the ranks of the disaffected. On the 6th of Novem- ber they held a meeting, which resulted in the formation of a committee to correspond with the other provinces, and an agreement to import no
244
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1766.
more goods from Great Britain until their griev- ances were redressed.
Opposition to the Stamp Act being universal throughout America, and a change having already taken place in the British ministry, great hopes were entertained that the tax would be repealed at the ensuing session of parliament. Nor were those hopes fallacious. Pitt rose in his place, and denied the right of parliament "to levy a tax on the colonies ;" and although Gren- ville strove to defend the bill, and charged the Americans with being in open rebellion, on the 19th of March, 1766, the Stamp Act was an- nulled.
But the gratification which was felt through- out America at this result was only of brief du- ration. Basing their repeal of the obnoxious act upon the ground of expediency rather than of justice, parliament reasserted their right to tax the colonies; and, in accordance with this assertion, Charles Townsend, the new chancellor of the exchequer, on the plea of regulating trade, brought forward a bill imposing duties on tea, paints, paper, glass, and lead. About the same time, an act was also passed to compel the as- sembly of New York to comply with the provi- sions of the Quartering Act, and forbidding them, in the mean time, to legislate for any other purpose.
The determination evinced by parliament to
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245
DUTIES REPEALED.
1769.]
raise a revenue without the concurrence of the colonial assemblies was opposed at once by the latter. Committees of correspondence again be- came active, and resolutions were very generally adopted not to import any goods from Great Britain but such as the wants of the people ren- dered absolutely necessary. The assembly of New York declining to make provision for the troops, that body was twice dissolved; but, sup- ported in opposition by the popular voice, ex- hibited no inclination to submit to ministerial dictation.
Townsend's insidious scheme of taxation, though adopted under the pretence of regulating commerce, soon proved as complete a failure as the Stamp Act by which it was preceded. Oppo- sition throughout the colonies growing more in- tense and vehement, the English ministry, be- coming alarmed at the storm they had evoked, addressed, in 1769, a letter to the colonies, pro- mising a repeal of all the duties imposed under Townsend's act, with the exception of that upon upon tea,-a promise which was carried into effect the following year.
At this period, distressed by the increasing differences concerning the New Hampshire grants, and rendered uneasy by the dissolution of two successive assemblies, and by the rapid growth of republican sentiments, many of the wealthier inhabitants of New York sought to re-
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246
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1770.
trace their steps and confirm their loyalty by the election of members to a new assembly whose political sentiments should partake of a more conservative character. In this effort they suc- ceeded after a sharp contest; and under the in- fluence of a triumphant majority the moderate party, as they were styled, consented to accept the conditions of the Quartering Act, and made provision for the troops.
Outraged by this pusillanimous course of con- duct, Alexander McDougal, a prominent leader of the Sons of Liberty, called a public meeting of the citizens, denouncing the acts of the assem- bly as a betrayal of the trust reposed in them. So bold an address roused the indignation of the assembly, who declared it false and seditious, and ordered the imprisonment of MeDougal. This rigorous exercise of power did but inflame the more the ardour of the patriotic party. McDou- gal was extolled as a martyr to the cause of liberty ; while the soldiery, who undertook to become the champions of the assembly, were not unfrequently brought into collision with the populace.
Notwithstanding this untoward condition of things, the province of New York increased in population and wealth with almost unexampled rapidity. In the year 1770 it contained more than one hundred and sixty thousand inhabitants, many of whom were sturdy pioneers, who, push-
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247
TRYON MADE GOVERNOR.
1770.]
ing out into the forest, cleared settlements along the borders of the Mohawk, Wood Creek, and the head of Lake Champlain.
After exercising the gubernatorial authority for four years, Sir Henry Moore died, and Col- den, now extremely old, again assumed the ad- ministration of the government. The following year, 1770, he was superseded by Lord Dunmore; but the latter, after exercising the office for a few months, was commissioned as governor of Virginia, transferring the chief authority in New York to William Tryon, who, as governor of North Carolina, had distinguished himself by the energy with which he had put down the Regulators-men who had banded themselves together, in the first instance, to resist the exac- tion of oppressive fees and the payment of taxes but too frequently appropriated to the personal use of the authorized collectors. Growing bolder with increase of numbers, these Regulators began to indulge in excesses which justly rendered them amenable to the laws of the province. Discoun- tenanced by the assembly, and persevering in the commission of various outrages, Tryon placed himself at the head of a body of militia from the lower counties, and marched against them. The Regulators at once assembled in force, and gave battle to Tryon at Alamance, near the head waters of Cape Fear River. After a sharp con- test, they were signally defeated, leaving some
248
HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
[1774.
two hundred of their number dead upon the field.
Removed to New York, Tryon was soon called upon to exercise his abilities in a more difficult field of action. The conduct of the settlers hold- ing lands under the disputed grants from New Hampshire had become, year by year, more firm and decided, while that of the New York officials was equally pertinacious. The lands of many who refused to take out new patents were sold over their heads, and the sheriff's received orders to place the new purchasers in possession. Armed combinations were immediately formed, headed by men of great energy and determina- tion of character ; one of the principal leaders being Ethan Allen, soon to be favourably known through his intrepid seizure of Ticonderoga.
All negotiations proving ineffectual, and the controversy threatening to break out into civil war, the assembly, at the session of 1774, passed an act declaring armed resistance to the go- vernment a capital offence. At the same time, Tryon offered a reward for the apprehension of Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and some six other prominent offenders. But neither legislation nor proclamation availed to subdue the spirit of the mountaineers. Repudiating the title of rioters; they yet resolved, in general convention, to resist by force of arms all attempts at ejectment which might be made under the orders of the authori-
249
1774.] CARGOES OF TEA REJECTED.
ties ; while the leaders, for whose arrest a reward had been offered, publicly proclaimed their de- termination to kill any person or persons who should attempt to take them prisoners.
But the long- pending controversy between Great Britain and the American colonies, by di- recting public attention to evils of greater mag- nitude, was soon to put an end to all civil dissen- sions. Firmly resolved to resist taxation in any shape, except such as emanated from the action of their own representatives, the people of America very generally agreed to abandon the use of tea, so long as it came to them burdened with a duty ; and although that duty was merely nominal, they declined, for the most part, to pur- chase it, as involving in an insidious form the prin- ciple against which they had so long contended. The British government, with a view of carrying their point, having offered a drawback equal to the amount of duty, the East India Company, believing that the point at issue would now be abandoned, instantly despatched large shipments of tea to the various colonial ports. But the un- yielding temper of the Americans was not so to be conciliated. In some of the ports they per- mitted the tea to be landed and stored. In others, the ships were compelled to return to England without being allowed to discharge their cargoes. At Boston the vessels were boarded by a party disguised as Indians, and the tea thrown
250
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1775.
overboard. At Annapolis, the people assem- bled in open day, and compelled the owner to set fire to the ship containing the obnoxious article. In New York, the tea-ship was ordered to anchor off Sandy Hook, and finally forced to return home. A private adventure belonging to the captain of another ship was treated less ceremoniously ; the chests, fourteen in number, were seized and thrown into the river.
These daring proceedings no sooner became known to the ministry, than a bill was passed shutting up the port of Boston, and removing the seat of government to Salem. The tidings speedily reached America. Public meetings were called at various points, at which it was recommended that delegates from the several provinces should assemble at a stated time and place, and take upon themselves the duties of a Continental Congress. These recommendations met with an almost unanimous response. On the 1st of September, 1774, delegates from twelve provinces met at Philadelphia, and after many long and grave debates, drew up a declaration of colonial rights, a petition to the king, a memo- rial to the inhabitants of British America, and an address to the people of Canada.
In the mean time, the first serious prelude to the Revolution was rapidly approaching. On the 19th of April, 1775, and while the congress was still in session, tidings were received that Gene-
251
BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
1775.]
ral Gage, the governor of Massachusetts, having learned that a quantity of military stores were deposited at Concord, had sent out a strong force from Boston to seize and destroy them. At Lex- ington this detachment, consisting of eight hun- dred men, fell in with a small party of militia, which were fired upon and routed, with the loss of cight killed and several wounded. The regu- lars then marched to Concord, and destroyed such stores as were found there. The alarm speedily spreading, numbers of minute men came pouring into the village, and a smart skirmish ensued, during which several of the regulars were killed. Finding themselves hard pressed, the troops, greatly harassed by the way, retreated rapidly to Lexington. At the latter place they were reinforced by Lord Percy, who, with nine hundred men, and two pieces of cannon, had been sent by Gage to their relief. Falling back in good order, though closely pressed by the ex- asperated provincials, they succeeded in reaching Charlestown about sunset in the evening, having lost in killed and wounded two hundred and seventy-three men. The loss of the provincials amounted to eighty-eight. The exhausted regu- lars, after encamping on Bunker Hill for the night, crossed over to Boston the following day.
252
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1775.
CHAPTER XIX.
Effect of the battle of Lexington-Doubtful position of New York-Ticonderoga and Crown Point seized-Descent of Arnold upon St. John's-War formally declared-Acts of the Provincial Congress-Opposition of the loyalists-Washing- ton appointed commander-in-chief of the American forces- Other appointments-Battle of Bunker Hill-Congress de- termines upon an effectual blockade of Boston-Washington assumes the chief command-Return of Governor Tryon to New York-State of political parties-Seizure of military stores at Turtle Bay-Removal of guns from the Battery at New York-Unpopularity of Tryon-He takes refuge on board the Asia man-of-war-Invasion of Canada-Surrender of Forts Chambly and St. John-Capitulation of Montreal -Montgomery forms a junction with Arnold-Assault of Quebec-Death of Montgomery-Evacuation of Canada- Disturbances in New York - Rivington's Gazette-Lee ordered to assist in defending the city-Disaffection of the Johnsons-Joseph Brant-Declaration of Independence.
THE battle of Lexington was the unsheathing of the sword. War, though not formally pro- claimed, was recognised to have commenced in earnest. Within twenty days expresses had car- ried tidings of the affray to every important point in all the colonies between Massachusetts and South Carolina. Volunteers soon encompassed Boston to the number of twenty thousand men. The committee of correspondence at New York, notwithstanding the Tory predilections of a con- siderable portion of the inhabitants, adopted a plan of association for the defence of colonial
253
TICONDEROGA SEIZED.
1775.]
rights, and issued an address to the county com- mittees recommending the appointment of dele- gates to a provincial congress. These measures were not carried without meeting with consider- able opposition, and party differences at length grew to such a height, that it was thought expe- dient to send a body of Connecticut troops to within marching distance of the city, in order to awe the loyalists into submission.
On the 10th of May, the fortress of Ticonde- roga was surprised by Ethan Allen at the head of a party of Green Mountain boys, the British commander having been summoned to surrender " in the name of Jehovah and the Continental Congress." In this expedition Benedict Arnold took part as a volunteer. A detachment led by Seth Warner took undisputed possession of Crown Point the same day. Two hundred pieces of cannon, together with a large amount of am- munition and military stores, fell into the hands of the Americans. Being joined soon after by some fifty volunteers, who had already signalized themselves by the capture of Skenesborough, and the seizure of a schooner at that place, Arnold descended Lake Champlain, surprised the post at St. John's, boarded and carried an armed sloop, and with his prizes, laden with valuable stores, returned in triumph to Crown Point.
On the 26th of May, Congress formally re- solved that war had been commenced, although
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254
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1775.
the idea of a declaration of independence was not at this period very generally entertained. Four days previous to this, the provincial congress which met at New York adopted resolutions for raising four regiments of militia, and for erect- ing fortifications. They also agreed to furnish supplies to the Connecticut regiment under Hin- man, which was already in garrison at Ticonde- roga. These measures were not carried without embarrassment, for the royalist party through- out the province, tenaciously averse to severing all connection with Great Britain, succeeded in carrying, in spite of warm opposition, a plan for conciliation.
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