USA > New York > The history of New York from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 9
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"We were mightily rejoiced when we heard our great queen had resolved to send an army to reduce Canada, and immediately, in token of. friendship, we hung up the kettle, and took up the hatchet, and with one consent assisted Colo- nel Nicholson in making preparations on this side the lake; but at length we were told our great queen, by some important affairs, was prevented in her design at present, which made us sorrow- ful, lest the French, who had hitherto dreaded us, should now think us unable to make war against them. The reduction of Canada is of great weight to our free hunting; so that if our great queen should not be mindful of us, we must, with our families, forsake our country and seek other habitations, or stand neuter, either of which will be against our inclinations."
When he had closed, the orator presented the queen with belts of wampum, in proof of the
1710.] HUNTER APPOINTED GOVERNOR. 145
sincerity of the Five Nations. He received a gracious reply, and the audience was ended.
On the 14th of June, Brigadier Robert Hun- ter arrived at New York, bearing the commission
of governor. A native of Scotland, Hunter first entered upon the business of life as apprentice to an apothecary; but running away from his mas- ter, he enlisted in the army as a common soldier. His fine talents, handsome person, and graceful address, won him the friendship of Swift and Addison, and the hand of Lady Hay. Married to a peeress, military promotion soon followed. His first colonial appointment was in 1707, as lieutenant-governor of Virginia ; but being cap- tured by the French while on his voyage to that province, he was commissioned, on his return to England, to succeed Lovelace in the government of New York and New Jersey.
Hunter brought over with him, at the expense of the crown, three thousand Germans, who had taken refuge in England the year previous, from the wars which had laid desolate their homesteads on the Rhine. Many of these immigrants settled in the city of New York. Of the remainder, some ascended the Hudson River, where they commenced cultivating a tract of several thousand acres on the manor of Livingston; while others, migrating into Pennsylvania, wrote from thence such favourable accounts of the country to their friends abroad, that the latter came flocking over
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146
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1710.
in numbers so great as to form extensive agricul- tural communities in the western parts of that province.
Hunter met his first assembly in September, 1710; but following out instructions similar to those which had been given to his predecessor, he soon found himself threatened with a controversy in relation to a permanent revenue, which he only avoided by a prorogation of the house until the following spring.
While this discussion was at its height, the New England states were vigorously prosecuting the conquest of Acadia. Thirty transports, bear- ing four provincial regiments, supported by six English vessels, having on board five hundred marines, sailed from Boston in September, and toward the close of the month cast anchor in the harbour of Port Royal. The command of this expedition had been given to Colonel Nicholson, formerly lieutenant-governor of New York under Sloughter. It proved signally successful. The French garrison, feeble in numbers, and already mutinous from a scarcity of food, being more dis- posed to desert to the besiegers than to offer an ineffectual resistance, Subercase, their comman- der, capitulated on the 12th of October, and on the 16th, evacuated, with his ragged and half- famished troops, one of the strongest fortresses in all North America. The inhabitants of the surrounding districts immediately submitted to
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147
CANADA AGAIN INVADED.
1711.]
the conquerors, who, in retaliation for the suffer- ings which their own countrymen had experienced at the hands of the French, treated them with but little mercy. Vetch, the second in command to Nicholson, being left with four hundred men to occupy the fortress, the remainder of the forces returned in triumph to Boston.
The bloodless acquisition of Acadia, still further stimulating the desire of the English colonies to obtain possession of Canada also, Nicholson, at the instance of the provincial governors, repaired to England, and urged upon the ministry an im- mediate prosecution of the long contemplated enterprise.
His appeal being strongly supported by the secretary of state, St. John, subsequently known as Lord Bolingbroke, seven regiments of regulars and a battalion of marines were ordered to be embarked on board a fleet of fifteen ships-of-war and forty transports, the command of the land forces being given to Brigadier-general Hill, while that of the squadron was intrusted to Admiral Sir Hovenden Walker. The fleet reached Boston on the 25th of June, 1711, where a month was wasted in embarking the colonial forces, and in providing supplies.
In the mean time, fifteen hundred provincials and eight hundred Indians, commanded by Nichol- son, assembled at Albany, preparatory to an attack on Montreal. But with the usual fatality
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148
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1711.
which had attended every attempt to conquer Canada, the fleet which was destined to operate against Quebec, did not commence ascending the St. Lawrence until the middle of August. The wind blowing fresh, Walker put into the Bay of Gaspe, until the 20th, when he again set sail. On the evening of the 22d, a thick fog setting in, the pilots advised that the vessels should lie-to, with their heads pointing to the southward. The admiral, inefficient and self-willed, countermanded the order and directed that the fleet should head north. The consequence was that, during the mist and darkness, eight of the transports were wrecked among the Egg Islands of the St. Law- rence, with a loss of eight hundred and eighty- four men. Alarmed at a disaster brought about in a great measure by his own incompetence, Walker now put back into Spanish River Bay, where he called a council of war. Acting upon their advice, which was evidently in accordance with his own wishes, he concluded to abandon the expedition and return home, congratulating him- self that by the loss of a part of his troops, he had been saved from hazarding the lives of the remainder.
Fully aware of the danger by which he was menaced, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, with that · remarkable energy which seems to have been a characteristic of the French governors in Canada, made every preparation in his power to meet it.
1711.] FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION. 149
He called around him his faithful allies, and having strengthened Quebec and the posts below on both sides of the river, sent out trusty spies to watch for the first appearance of the British squadron. When he became aware from the in- telligence which reached him that Quebec was no longer threatened, De Vaudreuil hastened at the head of three thousand men to Chambly, in order to protect Montreal against the advance of the provincial army under Nicholson. His apprehen- sions of an attack in the latter quarter were, however, speedily put to rest. Nicholson no sooner heard that Walker had set sail for Eng- land, and that the colonial transports had been sent home, than he disbanded his forces and de- parted from Albany, leaving the inhabitants of that city in great alarm lest De Vaudreuil should advance from his camp at Chambly and carry on a frontier war of retaliation.
To New York the shameful failure of this ex- pedition was peculiarly unfortunate. An expense of ten thousand pounds had been incurred to no purpose; the frontiers still lay open to the in- cursions of the enemy ; while the Five Nations, beginning to regard with contempt a people whose projects always ended unsuccessfully, evinced a disposition to form a treaty of alliance with the French, whose good fortune, spirit, and energy had won their admiration.
In England, the inglorious return of Walker
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150
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1711.
roused the public indignation. The regular offi- cers defended themselves, by attributing the failure of the expedition to the detention at Bos- ton while waiting for supplies; and charged the delay upon the New England people, whom they denounced as being selfish, ill-natured, sour, hypocritical, and canting. The latter retorted by asserting the enterprise to have been a tory device intended to fail, and gotten up for the sole pur- pose of fleecing and disgracing the eastern pro- vinces. Parliament next took up the quarrel, and Harley, separated from his former colleagues, accused St. John and the Chancellor Harcourt of having contrived the project, for the purpose of putting twenty thousand pounds into their own pockets. "No government," said Harcourt, "is worth supporting that will not admit of such ad- vantageous jobs."
While this controversy was raging, Governor Hunter was contending with a refractory assem- bly. The latter, abiding by their previous de- termination to make no appropriations for a longer term than one year, refused to pass the bills as altered by the council. Warm discussions ensued. The council contended that, as a co- ordinate branch of the legislature, deriving, in like manner with the assembly, their authority from "the mere grace of the crown," they had a right to make such amendments as they thought proper. The delegates replied boldly: "The
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151
1712.] DIFFERENCES WITH THE ASSEMBLY.
inherent right the assembly have to dispose of the money of the freemen of this colony, does not proceed from any commission, letters patent, or other grant from the crown; but from the free choice and election of the people, who ought not to be divested of their property, nor justly can without their consent. Any former conde- scensions of other assemblies, will not prescribe to the council a privilege to make any of those amendments; and, therefore, they have it not. The assembly are sufficiently convinced of the necessity they are in, not to admit of any en- croachments so much to their prejudice."
Another cause of complaint at this period was the erection of a court of chancery, and the as- sumption of the chancellorship by Hunter him- self. The assembly disputed his authority to establish such a court without their consent, and contended that the fees exacted under such cir- cumstances were contrary to law. They appealed to the Lords of Trade, but met with a pointed rebuke, the act of Hunter and his council being fully sustained.
At the session of 1712, Hunter again vainly endeavoured to prevail upon the assembly to grant a permanent revenue. They would allow no more than an annual appropriation, specifically applied. Nothing could be more gloomy than the aspect of affairs at this period. The assem- bly, governor, and council were at issue; the
152
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1713.
Iroquois, tempted by French emissaries, were wavering in their allegiance ; an invasion was an- ticipated by sea ; and, to add to the general alarm, a negro insurrection broke out in the city of New York, by which several persons lost their lives. It was speedily suppressed, however, and nine- teen of the real or supposed conspirators were executed. During this year, the Tuscarora In- dians, having been defeated in an attempt to exterminate the English in North Carolina, took refuge among the Iroquois, by whom they were received into the confederacy, which became known thenceforth as the Six Nations.
At length, in 1713, the second intercolonial, or Queen Anne's war, was terminated by the peace of Utrecht. France, humbled by the suc- cessive victories of Marlborough, coded to Great Britain the territory of Hudson's Bay, the whole of Newfoundland and Acadia, and the island of St. Kitts in the West Indies. The subjection of the Five Nations to the English crown was also acknowledged; but as neither the bounda- ries of the Iroquois territory, nor those of Louisi- ana and Acadia were defined by the treaty, they became, in after years, a fruitful source of dis- pute, which engendered repeated acts of hostility, and kept the frontiers of the English colonies in almost continual warfare, until the conquest of Canada was finally consummated by General Wolfe.
153
1719.]
GENERAL PROSPERITY.
But though the close of the war relieved New York from the pressure of an active enemy, the province still continued agitated by the differ- ences existing between the governor and the assembly. Finding, after several successive ses- sions, that neither threats nor blandishments, nor the decision of the Lords of Trade, could move the delegates to grant a revenue in the manner demanded by the crown, Hunter resorted to arti- fice to obtain his ends. Personally a favourite with all parties, and ably supported by Colonel Morris, his confidential adviser, a gentleman of great influence in the province, he at length suc- ceeded, by intrigue and concession, in accom- plishing the orders of his superiors.
At the session of 1715, "a well-disposed ma- jority" granted a revenue for five years; and two years afterward, authorized a new issue of paper money to the amount of forty-eight thou- sand pounds, for the alleged purpose of liqui- dating long outstanding public debts, which had not been provided for previously.
From this period until the return of Hunter to England in 1719, every thing worked harmonious- ly. Victorious on the only important point at issue, the governor, always disposed to conciliate matters, could well afford to be generous. permitted the naturalization of the Dutch inhabi- tants, a privilege which had previously been de- nied; consented that British imported goods
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1719.
should be taxed for the benefit of the colony, and to the imposition of tonnage duties on foreign vessels. The failure of his health demanding a change of climate, Hunter surrendered the go- vernment of the province into the hands of Colo- nel Schuyler, and embarking for England on the . 31st of July, 1719, carried with him, from the respective assemblies of New York and New Jer- sey, testimonials expressive of their high appre- ciation of his public services, and of his private virtues.
155
ARRIVAL OF BURNET.
1720.]
CHAPTER XII.
Arrival of Governor Burnet-His character -- Old assembly con- tinued-Sale of Indian goods to the French prohibited-Mer- cantile opposition-Petition to the king-Reply of Colden and Alexander -- Activity of the French-Indian policy of Burnet -Fort Oswego built-Administrative difficulties-Alienation of Schuyler, Philips, and Delancey-New assembly demanded by the people --- Removal of Burnet to the government of Mas- sachusetts -- Montgomery appointed governor-Harmonizes with the assembly --- Meets the Indians in convention at Alba- ny-Fort Oswego threatened-Burnet's Indian policy repu- diated-Boundary fixed between New York and Connecticut -Scizure of Crown Point by the French-Cosby succeeds Montgomery-Ingratiates himself with the assembly-A free school established- Violent and arbitrary conduct of Cosby -- Political quarrels-Imprisonment of Zenger, printer of the Weekly Journal-His trial-Defended by Hamilton, of Phila- delphia-Liberty of the press vindicated-Illegal career of Cosby -- His sudden death-Bitter party feuds-Clarke ap- pointed lieutenant-governor.
SCHUYLER administered the government of the province with great prudence and honesty for thirteen months. On the 17th of September, 1720, he was superseded by William Burnet, a son of the celebrated bishop. Though a gentle- man of fine literary acquirements, and an indus- trious student, he was nevertheless of a lively and social disposition. By no means averse to mend- ing his shattered fortunes, which had been greatly reduced by the bursting of the South Sea bubble, he exchanged with Hunter the comptrollership
156
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1720.
of the customs at London, for the government of the colonies of New York and New Jersey. De- sirous of conciliating the affections of the people, Governor Burnet rendered himself accessible to all; while, in his frequent visits to the principal families, whose friendship he assiduously courted, he delicately avoided every appearance of parade or ostentation. Such conduct was well calcu- lated to win the strong personal esteem with which he soon came to be regarded, and tended in a great degree to soften the political asperi- ties by which his administration was subsequently distinguished. As Hunter had taken the pre- caution to prevent a dissolution of the "well-dis- posed" assembly during his absence, Governor Burnet, contrary to custom, continued it in cx- istence after his arrival, and obtained thereby, through the influence of Colonel Morris, a re- newal of the grant of a revenue for five years.
But if this retention of the old assembly was of service to Burnet in one respect, it unfortu- nately lost him the support of Schuyler and Philips, both of whom, as members of the coun- cil, had strenuously advocated the propriety of a new election.
In this measure, however, Burnet only con- formed to his instructions; but he acted from his own just and enlarged views, when he procured from the same assembly the passage of a law pro- hibiting the sale of Indian goods to the French.
157
ACTIVITY OF THE FRENCH.
1722.]
As the principal commodities required in the In- dian trade were of British manufacture, the re- taining of those commodities in their own hands, was not only of vast benefit to the province in a pecuniary point of view, but it was also well cal- culated to effect a political change in the relations previously existing between the Canadians and the distant Indian tribes, who, subsequently, could only obtain their customary supplies at the hands of English traders.
The act, however, being productive of great opposition from interested parties, and eliciting a memorial to the crown praying for its repeal, Barnet was soon after called upon to answer the objections of the petitioners. A long and able report was accordingly drawn up by Colden and Alexander, two members of the council, which triumphantly justified the course pursued by the governor, but entailed upon its authors the last- ing enmity of those merchants who had formerly carried on a lucrative traffic with the French.
Indefatigable as ever, the latter were making every effort to extend the dominion of France, from Canada westwardly, by ingratiating them- selves with the Indian tribes of those regions, through the influence of their traders and mis- sionaries. Penetrating their projects, and well acquainted with the geography of the country, Burnet sought to intercept the intercourse be- tween the Canadians and the Indian tribes settled
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158
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1722.
on the great lakes and the numerous tributaries of the Mississippi, by building, during the year 1722, a trading-house at Oswego, which he sub- scquently strengthened by a fort erected at his own expense; thus extending the limits of the province of New York to the south shore of Lake Ontario. The situation was judiciously chosen, and the Miamis, the Hurons, and unknown tribes from the distant west, soon became frequent and profitable visitors.
But while the wisdom of Burnet's Indian policy was regarded with approval by all those who were most nearly interested in the prosperity of the province, his domestic administration was a turbulent one. The old dispute respecting the chancellorship was revived. This was touching the governor nearly, for he prided himself greatly upon the exercise of the office of chancellor, as it afforded favourable opportunities for the display of his erudition. His integrity was unquestion- able; but whether he was altogether suitable for a judge may be doubted, as his rapid decisions gave him but little time to reflect upon the merits of the cause. "I act first, and think afterward," said he; a dangerous admission, which, doubtless, had its weight in the scale of opposition.
But he had other sources of annoyance. Unaccus- tomed to dissemble his thoughts, his free speech had alienated Schuyler, Philips, and Delancey, all three persons of influence in the province ;
1728.] MONTGOMERY APPOINTED GOVERNOR. 159
while the continuance of an assembly, which had already existed for eleven years, was regarded by many as unconstitutional. The assembly themselves, changed by the deccase of old, and the election of new members, were also becoming insubordinate. In 1726 they refused to grant a revenue for a longer period than three years. The people were clamorous for a new election, and Burnet reluctantly yielded to the general wish.
The new assembly, which met in 1727, con- sisted of members wholly disaffected to the go- vernor. His decrees in chancery, his conduct in relation to a dispute in the French church, and the prohibition of the Canada trade, being made subjects of severe animadversion, he took the earliest opportunity of summoning the delegates into his presence and dissolving them.
The commission of Governor Burnet expiring by the decease of George I., his opponents ex- erted their influence to procure his removal, on the plea that his longer continuance in office would be dangerous to the public tranquillity. Their efforts proving successful, Burnet was trans- ferred to the government of Massachusetts Bay, and was succeeded on the 15th of April, 1728, by John Montgomery.
Educated to the profession of arms, Governor Montgomery had subsequently occupied the more peaceful post of gentleman of the bedchamber to
160
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1729.
George II., prior to that monarch's accession to the throne. His abilities were very moderate, and preferring a life of ease to the turmoil of politics, he won the favour of the assembly by conceding their right to regulate salaries, and by declining to sit as chancellor until specially directed to do so by orders from England. Even then he obeyed with reluctance, and only as a matter of form, as he confessed himself unquali- fied for the station.
Having procured from the assembly the grant of a revenue for five years, he proceeded to Al- bany, where he held a council with delegates from the Six Nations, and bestowed upon them the presents with which he was charged. At this council he succeeded in renewing the ancient league, and in engaging the Indians to assist in ' defending the fort at Oswego, in case of its being attacked by the French.
This judicious arrangement was well-timed; for, during the spring of 1729, Governor Mont- gomery received intelligence from the vigilant Burnet, that an expedition was organizing in Canada for the purpose of destroying the obnox- ious trading-post. The garrison was immediately reinforced by a body of men taken from the in- dependent companies, and the Six Nations having proclaimed their determination to join in repel- ling the enemy, the prospect of success being thus rendered doubtful, the Governor of Canada
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161
FORTRESS AT CROWN POINT.
1731.]
broke up his preparations, and abandoned his design.
Unfortunately, at this period the wise policy of Burnet was repudiated by the king, who, through ignorance or intrigue, repealed the acts prohibiting the Canadian trade, and thereby re- stored to the French those advantages of which they had been deprived by the judicious but un- popular measures for which Burnet, trusting to time for his justification, had willingly incurred so much odium.
In the month of May, 1731, the long disputed boundary question between Connecticut and New York was finally settled. On the 1st of July following, Governor Montgomery dying, the ad- ministration devolved upon Rip Van Dam, presi- dent of the council. In the short period during which Van Dam held the office of acting gover- nor, the French, in defiance of previous treaty stipulations, entered the territory of the Iroquois, and seizing upon Crown Point, proceeded to build a fortress there. This daring and dangerous en- croachment, which secured the command of Lake Champlain, and laid open to the enemy the fron- tiers of New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, was regarded with singular apathy by the assembly of New York. No attempt was made to counteract it until 1737, when a scheme was projected for settling a body of Scotch High- landers on Lake George, to serve as a military
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162
HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1732.
colony in the defence of the province. It was partially carried out, but owing to the selfishness and ill faith of the provincial government, was finally abandoned.
In August, 1732, William Cosby arrived at New York, commissioned to succeed Montgomery in the government of the province. The charac- ter of Cosby had preceded him. Previously Governor of Minorca, he was charged with having illegally seized and confiscated the property of a Spanish merchant, evading a judicial inquiry into his conduct by secreting the papers which would have enabled the owner to prove the crimi- nality of the act. Having, however, been active in opposing the measures brought forward in Par- liament the preceding year for the encourage- ment of the sugar islands, the assembly evinced their gratitude by continuing the revenue for five years, by fixing his salary at two thousand pounds a year, and by presenting him with the sum of seven hundred and fifty pounds for the assistance he had rendered their agents in London. Indig- nant at receiving so small a remuneration for his services, he broke out into violent abuse of the assembly, and sarcastically asked Morris, one of the members, why they did not add pounds, shil- lings, and pence ? "Do they think I came from England for money ?" said he. "I'll make them know better." This display of temper gained . for him an addition of two hundred and fifty
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