USA > New York > The history of New York from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 6
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1664.
ever, after much contention, and aided by the good offices of Winthrop, the aged governor of . Connecticut, Stuyvesant was driven to consent to a capitulation. The other settlements on the Hudson and Delaware swore allegiance to the English soon after, and the conquest of New Netherland was completed.
CHAPTER VII.
New Netherland becomes New York-Colonel Nichols gover- nor-Meeting on Long Island-Incorporation of the city of New York-Arbitrary system of government established- Lovelace appointed governor -- War with the Dutch-New York reconquered-Administration of Colve-Retrocession of New York-Government of Andros -- Difficulties with Connec- ticut -- Spirited conduct of the Puritans-Disaffection of the people -- A representative government demanded-Reply of the Duke of York-Description of the province-Its prosperity -City of New York, its population and public buildings- Character of the people-Andros recalled-Dongan appointed governor-Concession of political privileges-Indian affairs- Convention at Albany-Designs of the French-Instructions of the Duke of York-Conduct of Dongan-Invasion of the Five Nations by the French-Peace solicited-Speech of De la Barre -- Reply of Garrangula.
NEW NETHERLAND having thus, without blood- shed, become subjected to the English crown, Colonel Sir Richard Nichols took upon himself the government of the conquered province as deputy-governor, and in honour of the proprie-
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THE CITY INCORPORATED.
1665.]
tary, that portion of the territory retained by him, together with the little capital of New Am- sterdam, acquired the name of New York.
All the tract of land previously belonging to New Netherland, which was bounded by the Dela- ware Bay on the west, by the ocean and the Hudson River on the east, and by the present state of New York on the north, having been . granted by the duke to" Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, became henceforth a sepa- rate and distinct jurisdiction, under the name of the province of New Jersey.
During the short period that Nichols remained governor of New York, commissioners, appointed for that purpose, determined the boundary be- tween the latter province and Connecticut, and under their decision the whole of Long Island was included within the territory of the new pro- prietary.
On the 1st of March, 1665, a convention of delegates was held at Hempstead, on Long Island, for the purpose of adjusting the limits of their respective townships, and the appointment of proper local officers. Three months later, the city of New York was incorporated, the exercise of municipal authority being intrusted to a mayor, five aldermen, and a sheriff; but the people them- selves derived no political privileges from a change of rulers. The governor, and a council devoted to his interests, retained the sole right
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1673.
to impose taxes, and to enact or modify such laws throughout the province as they thought proper. This arbitrary mode of government was produc- tive of the usual discontent; but Nichols, busied for the most of the time in confirming the ancient Dutch grants, paid no heed to the murmurs of "factious republicans."
Returning to England in 1667, he was succeed- ed by Francis Lovelace, who, following out the system adopted by his predecessor, took upon himself both the executive and judicial functions, and instructed his deputy on the western shore of the Delaware to repress all disaffection in that quarter, by laying such taxes upon the people as might give them " liberty for no thought but how to discharge them."
Adopting this principle as his rule of action, Lovelace imposed a duty of ten per cent. upon all imports and exports. But this high-handed measure was met by a vigorous protest from eight of the Long Island towns, who boldly expressed their aversion to all taxes levied under the sole authority of the governor and council, and de- manded a participation in the government of the province by means of an annual assembly. Love- lace and his subservient subordinates responded to the protest by ordering it to be publicly burned by the common hangman.
The affairs of the province continued to be ad- ministered in this despotic manner until 1673,
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1673.] RECAPTURED BY THE DUTCH.
when Charles II., having been drawn by the in- trigues of Louis XIV. into a war with the Dutch, a small squadron belonging to the latter, and commanded by Cornelius Evertsen, anchored, on the 30th of July, in the vicinity of Staten Island.
Lovelace appears to have been absent at this time, and Manning, the commandant of the fort, no sooner received a summons to surrender, than he sent a messenger to arrange the terms of ca- pitulation. Not a blow was struck. The people of New Jersey quietly returned to their old al- legiance, and the Swedes and Fins followed their example. The whole territory of New Nether- land having thus quietly submitted to the arms of the States General, Anthony Colve was ap- pointed governor-general, and Lovelace obtained permission to return to England in the Dutch fleet. Manning was subsequently tried by court- martial for treachery and cowardice, and found guilty. Having, however, in the mean time, made interest in England with the king and the Duke of York, he escaped being sentenced to death, but was adjudged to have his sword publicly broken over his head, and to be incapable of serving the crown for the future in any civil or military ca- pacity.
Governor Colve retained his office but a short period, for at the close of the war, which took place in February, 1674, it was agreed by treaty mutually to restore all conquests. To re-
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1674.
move any disputes which might subsequently arise in respect to his title in consequence of the pre- vious surrender of the province, the Duke of York obtained from the king a new patent, covering the same lands which had been granted him in 1664. On the 1st of August, two days after this patent was executed, the duke ap- pointed Major Edmund Andros to receive pos- session of the province at the hands of the Dutch authorities, and to renew the absolute authority of the proprietary. On the 31st of October, this was quietly accomplished. Hoping to obtain some concessions from the new governor, the in- habitants petitioned to be allowed an assembly, and Andros favoured the prayer ; but it was dis- approved of by the proprietary. The settlers of the eastern portion of Long Island, preferring the jurisdiction of Connecticut to that of New York, also petitioned Andros to be allowed to unite themselves with that colony; but, instead of their wishes being acceded to, the governor soon afterward organized an expedition for the purpose of asserting the claim of the Duke of York to all that territory embraced within his patent as far as the Connecticut River. As soon as these intentions were made known to Laet, the deputy-governor of Connecticut, he called the assembly together, who promptly ordered Captain Bull, in command of the colonial troops at Say- brook, to resist the advance of Andros. The order
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SHORT-SIGHTED POLICY.
1679.]
reached Saybrook almost simultaneously with the appearance of Andros before the town.
Hle summoned the fort to surrender, and the sturdy Puritan commandant responded by hoist- ing his flag. Conscious that his force was too weak to carry the place by assault, Andros re- sorted to persuasion; but when he directed his commission and the duke's patent to be read in the hearing of the colonial troops, he was ordered to desist. Finding neither threats nor expostu- lations of any avail, he suffered himself to be escorted to his boat by the armed provincials, and set sail for New York.
The exercise of his authority being continually clogged with difficulties, especially by the people of Long Island, many of whom were of Puritan descent, Andros strongly urged upon the Duke of York the policy of conceding to the people a representative form of government. To this wise and judicious counsel, the duke replied by letter, dated the 1st of January, 1679 :-
"I cannot but suspect that assemblies would be of dangerous consequence ; nothing being more known than the aptness of such bodies to assume to themselves many privileges which prove de- structive to, or very often disturb the peace of government when they are allowed."
Such being the decision of the short-sighted proprietary, Andros was too obsequious a servant to persist in urging the popular demand. The
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
- [1679.
province continued to prosper notwithstanding. It consisted at this time of twenty-four towns and villages, in six precincts, ridings, or courts of sessions. The number of its militia amounted to two thousand men. Its annual exports consisted of sixty thousand bushels of wheat, besides peas, beef, pork, tobacco, and furs.
The city of New York contained some three thousand five hundred inhabitants, and about three hundred and fifty houses, almost all of which presented their gables to the streets, the most important public buildings being erected in the foreground, so as to be the more readily seen from the river. The chief part of the town, at this period, lay along the East River, and on the slope of the ridge forming the line of Broadway. In front of the town were constructed three half- moon forts, called Rondeels, which were erected at equal distances from each other, between Coenties Slip and Wall Street, the latter deriving its name from the line of palisades which stretched from that point to the junction of Grace and Lumber Streets, where the North River limits terminated · in a redoubt.
Apart from the unhappy dissensions arising from the denial of the right to govern themselves, the inhabitants of the province of New York were both peaceful and prosperous. Having but few wants, and simple in their tastes, "a wagon gave as good content as in Europe a coach, and their
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1683.] COLONEL DONGAN, GOVERNOR.
home-made cloth as the finest lawns. The doors of the low-roofed houses, which luxury never entered, stood wide open to charity and the stranger." A merchant worth five thousand dol- lars was accounted an opulent man; and a farmer worth half that sum in personal property was regarded as rich; but the merchants were not many, the slaves were few, and servants greatly in demand.
But the consciousness of being deprived of those political rights which were enjoyed by all the other English colonies was a constant source of unhappiness and disaffection, especially among the people of Long Island, who had struggled for many years to obtain the same liberty of self- government which was exercised by their kindred of Connecticut. It was therefore with feelings of the utmost gratification that they hailed the recall of Andros in 1682, and the appointment of Colonel Dongan as governor of the province.
Repeated importunities and petitions having at length convinced even the obtuse mind of the Duke of York, that his narrow provincial policy was fast bringing his authority into contempt, and alienating the affections of the people, he con- descended to take counsel of William Penn, and instructed Dongan to convene a general assem- bly. After many delays, the new governor reached New York on the 27th of August, 1683, and almost immediately afterward issued a pro-
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1683.
clamation to the frecholders, empowering them , to clect delegates to the legislature.
On the 17th of October, 1683, the first assem- bly met. It consisted of the governor, his coun- cil of ten, and seventeen members chosen by the people, to form the house of representatives. The most important act of the session was the adoption of a declaration of rights. This charter proclaimed that, "Supreme legislative power shall for ever be, and reside, in the governor, council, and people, met in general assembly. Every . frecholder and freeman shall vote for representa- tion without restraint. No freeman shall suffer but by judgment of his peers; and all trials shall be by a jury of twelve men. No tax shall be assessed on any pretence whatever, but by the consent of the assembly. No scaman or soldier shall be quartered on the inhabitants against their will. No martial law shall exist. No per- son professing faith in God by Jesus Christ shall at any time be any ways disquieted, or questioned, for any difference of opinion." Such was the language of the earliest popular charter of New York. The despotism under which the people had so long groaned had taught them a just con- sideration for the liberty of others.
The spirit of discontent being appeased by the concession of political privileges, Governor Don- gan next turned his attention to Indian affairs. For a long series of years the French in Canada
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INDIAN AFFAIRS.
1684.]
had vainly endeavoured to break down the power of the Iroquois, and detach them from their alli- ance, at first with the Dutch, and subsequently with the English. But neither hostile invasions nor the preaching of Jesuit missionaries could win those proud and independent warriors to ac- knowledge the supremacy of France. But even while disposed to maintain a friendship with the English, they were not insensible of the neglect which they had met with at the hands of Love- . lace, and in their war-parties along the frontiers of New York, Maryland, and Virginia, had re- sented the aggressions of the whites. Soon after the commencement of Dongan's administration, the principal chiefs of the Five Nations were in- vited to meet in grand convention at Albany, for the purpose of renewing the old treaty of peace, and putting an end to this desultory warfare. In the mean time, the French, under De la Barre, were organizing a large army, with the avowed purpose of utterly exterminating the Five Na- tions, and Governor Dongan received instructions from the Duke of York to throw no obstacles in their way. Too conscientious to regard any such ruthless orders, Dongan warned the Indians of the impending danger, and promised them assistance.
In accordance with their previous agreement, deputies from the Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas, and Senecas, met the governors of New York and Virginia at Albany, on the 13th
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1684.
of July, 1684, where a treaty of peace was made with the offending tribes, the Mohawks and Sene- cas, " never having broken the ancient chain," being witnesses to the same.
The warriors had scarcely dissolved the coun- cil and returned to their villages, before De la Barre invaded the Iroquois territory with an army of seventeen hundred men. Bad provisions, however, and the miasma arising from the marshes of Ontario, had so weakened his troops by sick- ness, that, after a delay of six weeks at Fort Frontenac, he crossed the lake, and invited the chiefs of the Five Nations to meet him and con- clude a treaty of peace.
The Mohawks and Senecas, acting under the advice of Dongan, refused to attend; but the Oneidas, Onondagas, and Cayugas, influenced by the Jesuit missionaries, concluded to visit the French governor in his camp, and hear what he had to say.
Two days after their arrival a council was held. Addressing himself to Garrangula, an Onondaga chief, De la Barre said: "The king, my master, being informed that the Five Nations have often infringed the peace, has ordered me to come hither with a guard, and to send Ohguesse to the Onondagas to bring the chief sachems to my camp. The intention of the great king is, that you and I may smoke the calumet of peace to- gether ; but upon this condition : that you promise
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DE LA BARRE'S SPEECH.
1684.]
me in the name of the Senecas, Cayugas, Onon- dagas, Oneidas, and Mohawks, to give entire satisfaction and reparation to his subjects, and for the future never to molest them.
"This is what I have to say to Garrangula, that he may carry to the other chiefs the declara- tion which I make. The king, my master, does not wish them to force him to send a great army to Cadaracqui Fort, to begin a war, which must be fatal to them. He would be sorry that this fort, which was the work of peace, should become the prison of your warriors. We must endeavour, on both sides, to prevent such misfortunes. The French, who are the brethren and friends of the Five Nations, will never trouble their repose, provided that the satisfaction which I demand be given, and that the treaties of peace be hercafter observed. I shall be extremely grieved if my words do not produce the effect which I expect from them; for then I shall be obliged to join with the Governor of New York, who is command- ed by his master to assist me, and burn the cas- tles of the Five Nations, and destroy you. This belt confirms my words."
Unmoved by the threat with which De la Barre had closed his address, the proud Onondaga chieftain, perfectly aware of the weak condition of the army which had marched so exultingly from Canada to exterminate his people, walked five or six times round the circle, and then, halt-
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
[1684.
ing before the French governor, who was seated in an elbow chair, he answered with the most sar- castic irony :-
"Yonnondio, I honour you, and the warriors that are with me likewise honour you. Your in- terpreter has finished his speech; I now begin mine. My words make haste to reach your ears: hearken to them. Yonnondio, you must have believed, when you left Quebec, that the sun had burnt up all the forests which render our castles inaccessible to the French; or that the lakes had so far overflowed their banks that they had surrounded our castles, -and that it was im- possible for us to get out of them. Yes, Yonnon- dio, surely you must have dreamed so, and the curiosity of seeing so great a wonder has brought you so far. Now you are undeceived, since I and the warriors here present are come to assure you that the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Oneidas, and Mohawks are yet alive. Hear, Yonnondio. I do not sleep. I have my eyes open; and the sun, which enlightens me, discovers to me a great captain at the head of a company of soldiers, who speaks as if he were dreaming. He says that he only came to the lake to smoke the great calumet with the Onondagas. But Gar- rangula says, that he sees the contrary; that it was to knock them on the head, if sickness had not weakened the arms of the French."
Continuing his speech in the same strain of
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REPLY OF GARRANGULA.
1684.]
fierce sarcasm, he told De la Barre that the Great Spirit had saved the lives of the French by afflicting them with sickness; for if they had not been thus stricken down by a higher Power, the very women, and children, and old men of the Iroquois would have stormed the heart of the French camp. In answer to the accusation of being subject to the English, he said proudly: "We are born free; we neither depend upon Yonnondio nor Corlear. We may go where we please, and carry with us whom we please; and buy and sell what we please ; if your allies are slaves, use them as such. This belt preserves my words." When he had justified the wars of the Five Nations with the Indian tribes friendly to the French, he thus concluded :
" Hear, Yonnondio. What I say is the voice of the Five Nations. Hear what they answer ; open your ears to what they speak. The Sene- cas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Oneidas, and Mohawks say, that when they buried the hatchet at Cada- racqui, in the presence of your predecessor, and in the middle of the fort, they planted the tree of peace in the same place, to be there carefully pre- served; that instead of a retreat for soldiers, the fort might become a rendezvous for merchants; that in place of arms and munitions of war, beavers and merchandise should only enter there.
"Hear, Yonnondio. Take care for the future, that so great a number of soldiers as appear there do not choke the tree of peace planted in so small
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1684.
a fort. It will be a great loss, if, after it had so easily taken root, you should stop its growth and prevent its covering your country and ours with its branches. I assure you, in the name of the Five Nations, that our warriors shall dance to the calumet of peace under its leaves, and shall remain quiet on their mats, and shall never dig up the hatchet till their brother Yonnondio or Corlear, shall, either jointly or separately, endeavour to attack the country which the Great Spirit gave to our ancestors. This belt preserves my words; and this other, the authority which the Five Na- tions have given me."
Then turning to Le Main, the interpreter, he said: "Take courage, Ohguesse; you have spirit, speak; explain my words; forget nothing; tell all that your brethren and friends say to Yon- nondio, your governor, by the mouth of Garran- gula, who loves you, and desires you to accept of this present of beaver, and take part with me in my feast, to which I invite you. This present of beaver is sent to Yonnondio on the part of the Five Nations."
And so ended this remarkable speech, one of the finest examples of barbarous eloquence to be found in any language. Utterly confounded by the bold reply of the Onondaga chieftain, De la Barre hastily accepted a treaty, the terms of which he was not in a condition to dispute, and retired with his shattered forces to Montreal.
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CANADIAN AFFAIRS.
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1685.]
CHAPTER VIII.
Canadian affairs-Denonville supersedes De la Barre-Pre- pares for war-Marches against the Iroquois-Is attacked- Retires into Canada-Fate of the French garrison at Niaga- ra-Retaliation of the Iroquois-Negociations for peace- Reply of Governor Dongan-Speech of Garrangula-Coun- cil at Montreal-Stratagem of the Dinondadie Indians-Re- newal of hostilities-Dreadful massacre of the French- Affairs of New York-Disaffection in England-Landing of William, Prince of Orange-Flight of James-Revolution in the provinces-Dongan recalled-Agitation in New York -The fort seized by Leisler-William and Mary proclaimed -Leisler governor-Count Frontenac appointed governor of Canada-Negotiates with the Five Nations-War between England and France-Burning of Schenectady-Difficulties in New York.
THE unsuccessful expedition of De la Barre and its disgraceful termination were no sooner made known in France, than a reinforcement of troops was ordered into Canada, and the Marquis Denonville appointed to supersede De la Barre in the government of that province. An energetic soldier, extolled for his courage, uprightness, and piety, Denonville speedily sought to retrieve the honour of the French arms. In order to control the Iroquois, and, at the same time, command the fur trade of the lakes, he suggested to the French government the propriety of establishing a fort at Niagara. In the mean time he prepared for active operations against the Five Nations, by
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1687.
pushing forward extraordinary supplies to Fort Frontenac.
Penetrating at once the design of the new French governor, Dongan wrote to warn him, that any attack upon the Indian confederacy would be resented by the English, whose allies they were. Affairs remained in this disturbed condition until 1687, when the Miamis being threatened with war by the Iroquois, Denonville determined, by invading the latter, to force them to forego their purpose. Collecting at Montreal two thousand troops and six hundred friendly Indians, he sent orders to the commanders of out- posts to meet him with reinforcements at Niaga- ra, for an expedition against the Senecas. The Five Nations immediately prepared for war. Embarking his whole army in canoes, Denonville set out from Fort Cadaracqui on the 23d of June, and sailing down the lake in two divisions, land- ed at Tyrondequait, and marched against the principal town of the Senecas, seven leagues dis- tant. In the mean time, Monsieur Companie, with an advance party of some three hundred Canadians, had surprised two villages of the Onondagas, who, reposing upon the good faith of the missionary Lamberville, had settled them- selves peacefully about cight leagues from the lake. To guard against their giving the alarm to their countrymen, these Indians were ruthless- ly seized and carried to the fort. Reserving
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BATTLE WITH THE SENECAS.
1687.]
thirteen of the principal warriors to be sent as galley slaves to France, the remainder were tor- tured at the stake, where, singing their death- song to the last, they died heroically.
Throwing forward a detachment of traders and friendly Indians as scouts, Denonville followed with the main body, which was composed of the regulars and militia. On the second day of the march, the vanguard reached the vicinity of the town. Seeing no one, and supposing the place to have been deserted, they quickened their pace to overtake the fugitives. Suddenly, five hun- dred Senecas sprang from their ambush, and, raising the war-cry, charged upon the advance, and upon the main body which hastened up to its support. In a moment all was confusion. Rolled back upon each other by the unexpected- ness of the attack, the French retreated in disor- der, and took refuge in the neighbouring woods. The firmness of the Indian allies alone retrieved the fortunes of the day. Gathering courage from the example of the latter, the regulars under De- nonville were rallied, and again led to the attack, which finally ended in the repulse of the Senecas.
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