USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 3 > Part 38
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it was fifteen thousand two hundred and eighteen. The first beginnings of settlements in countries overspread with woods are very slow, and do not progress rapidly till a lapse of some years. This remark has been exemplified in all the settlements made in the United States. At first, the emigrants have to draw their subsistence from a distance. The early settlers of the western country had to draw theirs from the Mohawk country .-
The latter country was thinly settled. West of the Little Falls, on the river Mohawk, there were only a few families without the valley, and these were not in a condition to furnish many emi- grants with provisions, their farms being much neglected in consequence of the calamities of the war. We have already remarked, that the Mohawk country was nearly desolated by the tories and Indians, in their several inroads. The inha- bitants, who had been so fortunate as to escape the tommahawk, han but just rebuilt their habitations, and were beginning to enjoy the sweets of repose. Again, roads had to be opened through the woods to all the settlements, and by individuals. The go- vernment did nothing. Every thing depended upon individual exertion and enterprise. If a road was wanting or a bridge to be made, and all these were wanting, individuals had to make them. After the pioneers had constructed a road through the woods from Whitestown to Canandaigua, the emigrations became more considerable, and increased with the improve- ments made from year to year on that road, and the settlements formed on and near to it. The winter was the season usually chosen for removing from New-England to the western country. Then. as the country was shaded by forest trees, there was common' enough of snow for sleighing.
In the year 1796, the British yielded up the forts Oswegatchie, Oswego, Niagara, and Schlosser, which they had held to that time, although in convention to the terms of the peace con- cluded with the United Stans, at Paris, in 1783. Immediately after the evacuation of these ports, settlements were begun at Oswego and Owegatchie.
In the years 1797 and 1798, sutlements were commenced at Lowville, Watertown and Brownviln, in the counties of Lewis
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and Jefferson. The counties of Lewis, Jefferson and St. Law- rence were then included in the county of Herkimer.
As the emigrants flowed into the western country like a torrent, · the settlements were extended on all sides. New roads were opened, and new settlements formed. The road leading from the Mohawk to Canandaigua was prolonged, first to the river Genesee, then to 'Tonawanta Creek, and lastly to Buffalo, near the outlet of Lake Erie. The settlements along the great road leading from the town of Utica to Genesee river, were mostly connected, by the year 1800. Several villages and many ham- lets had sprung up, and not a few of the settlers had acquired a degree of affluence. In 1800 the western country began to attain consequence in the councils of the state.
But the emigrations during the same period were not confin- ed to the western country. Crowds flocked yearly into the counties situated in the basins of the Hudson and Delaware, : more particularly, however, to those lying in the basin of the former river. The counties of Columbia, Rensselaer and Wash- ington, on the east side of the Hudson and Green, Albany, Sara- toga, Montgomery, Herkimer and Schoharie, on the west side of that river and on the Mohawk, may be specially instanced. To these might be added Otsego, which is mostly in the basin of the Susquehannah.
The reader, by looking at our view of the progressive popu- lation of the state, in volume second, pages 58 and 59, may form an idea of the numbers who migrated. The cities of Hudson and Troy, and the villages of Catskill Lansingburgh and Waterford were founded in the same period, that is, be- tween 1784 and 1800. Other villuges of minor importance might be enumerated. The -nes of New-York, Albany and Schenectady were ent ged. The population of the two former was more than svubled.
The copling of the state since the revolution, although un- -exampled in the annals of colonization, has nevertheless been slower than it otherwise would have been, had not the state go- vernment thrown obstacles in the way. It has been noticed, that all the settlements were commenced and made by individu-
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als without any assistance from government. 'In general, the settlers had to purchase the lands at extravagant prices from large land-jobbers, and being for the most part poor, labonred under great discouragements. The original disposition of the public lands, and their falling into the hands of particular in- dividuals, who seldom or never settled on them, are so extraor- dinary that we should do injustice to the public, were we to pass them over in silence. We shall, therefore, give the leading facts, leaving the full investigation to some individual possessing more leisure and means than we do.
On the fifth of May, 1786, the legislature of the state of New- York, passed an act for the speedy sale of the unappropriated lands within the state, and for other purposes therein mentioned. The reader will remember, that this is the title of the act. The ostensible object, however, was to sell the public lands in large parcels to particular individuals, to the end that they might sell them at large profits to actual settlers. . At the time this famous act was passed, upwards of two-thirds of the lands in the state were unappropriated, that is, they belonged to the state. The residue, comprising nearly one-third of the state, was in the hands of actual settlers, landholders and patentees, mostly, how -. ever, in the hands of the two latter descriptions of men.
The Dutch founded New-York and Albany in the year 1614, and continued in possession of the country for about fifty years thereafter. The English dispossessed them in 1664 and held the country, if we except about one year from that time, to 1775. The whole time that the Dutch and English were mas- ters of the country, comprehends a period of one hundred and sixty-one years, still, howeve .. not one-third of the lands of the state were disposed of during that period. We have not men- tioned the time which the Dutch and Engich held the country, and the probable extent of the grants made us the colonial governors, to show that impolitic and extravagant grain were not made, because facts would disprove it. Loud complaints were made at times, and censures bestowed on account of large grants made by some of the colonial governors to their favour- ites, to the detriment of the province.
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Smith, the historian, who wrote nearly one hundred years ago, remarks, " Many have been the discouragements to the settlement of this colony (New-York). The French and Indian irruptions, to which we have always been exposed, have driven many families into New-Jersey. The British acts for the transportation of felons, have brought all the American colonies into discredit with the industrious and honest poor, both in the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland. The bigotry and ty- ranny of some of our governors, together with the great extent of their grants, may also be considered among the discourage- ments against the full settlement of the province (New-York). Most of these gentlemen, coming over with no other view than to raise their own fortunes, issued extravagant patents, charged with small quit-rents, to such as were able to serve them in the Assembly ; and these patentees, being generally men of estates, have rated their lands so exorbitantly high, that very few poor persons could either purchase or lease them." Such were the complaints spoken of by Mr. Smith, in his time ; and those in relation to the lands granted were the most serious, and mainly impeded the rapid settlement of the state.
In New-England and Pennsylvania, the wild lands were either granted or sold to actual settlers. This led to the rapid population of those countries, although neither can boast of such extensive tracts of rich land, and such a noble river as the Hud- son. The former, in the year 1784, had a population five times as great as that of New-York, and the latter twice, although not settled in reality before the year 1682.
Most of the grants complained of by Mr. Smith were made prior to the year 1698. Under the administration of Colonel Fletcher sundry extravagant grants were had. These were of such extent as to threaten the destruction of the colony. Tracts embracing enough of territory for a large county, were incon- siderately made to individuals, on which the rent reserved for the crown did not exceed four or five beaver skins per annum.
On the arrival of Lord Bellamont, the successor of Colonel Fletcher, representations were made to him in respect to these grants, and their pernicious tendency. His lordship, after
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taking them into consideration, recommended their repeal. Accordingly the Assembly, in the year 1699, enacted a law, vacating the grants made by Fletcher. The same law pro- vided that no grant or grants should thereafter be made, unless to actual settlers. In the recommendation, his lordship stated, among other reasons, that extravagant grants impeded settle- ments, and were subversive- of the best interests of the colony. Anterior to the passage of this law, the governors could make such grants as they pleased. But an evasion of this law was attended with much difficulty, and no small expense. Sir Wil- liam Johnson, and some others who evaded it, were under a necessity of getting cultivators to petition the governor and council for grants on which the petitioners proposed settling. Letters patent were granted to the petitioners in the first place. In these all the petitioners were named. but the deed was made out to one or more, and he or they were bound to release to the others. Hence, before large tracts of land could come into the hands of certain individuals, letters patent had to be granted, and deeds of release made out, and then conveyances from the several applicants. But, as such grants were contrary to the tenor and meaning of the law, being an evasion, and liable to be cancelled, few attempted to evade it.
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On the adoption of the constitution, in the year 1777, and the organization of the state government, this wise law; the enactment of which had been upon the recommendation of Lord Bellamont, was abrogated, and the door thrown open to certain governmental agents and their friends.
We have already remarked, that the law under which the unappropriated lands were frittered away, was made on the fifth of May, 1786. In about eight years after the passage of this law, nearly twenty millions of acres of lands were sold, ceded and disposed of, which belonged to the people of this " state, and for sums which were barely nominal. We shall state such parts of the law, as have application to the sales, for it is not, we believe, in the latter editions of the revised laws.
The law, that authorized the sale of the public lands, created a board of commissioners, which consisted of the governor,
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lieutenant-governor, the speaker of the assembly, the secretary of the state, the attorney-general, treasurer and auditor. It established an office, called the land-office. The commission- ers were to direct the disposing and granting of the unappro- priated lands, according to such powers and directions, as should, from time to time, be prescribed by the legislature. Any three of the commissioners, provided the governor was one, were to constitute a board for the transaction of business. Such is the outline of the provision of the first section of the act.
The second section, however, of the same act, made it law- ful for the commissioners, from time to time, to direct the sur- veyor-general to cause surveys of such of the unappropriated lands, as they might deem proper for sale, to be made.
By the first section, the commissioners were to sell according to such powers and directions, as the legislature should from time to time give to them. By the second section of the same act, the commissioners might, without orders or directions from the legislature, sell when they chose, as they thought proper, and any number of acres, with this remarkable limitation, that they should not sell for less than one shilling per acre. The unsuspecting reader might have supposed that this board was under the direction of the legislature. No such thing. The members were under no. restraint whatever, they might cut and carve.
But we will go on, and state the farther prominent provisions. The act provided, that when the lands were laid off into lots, pursuant to the direction of the commissioners, that they should be advertised in three newspapers, for not more than forty days nor less than thirty, and then sold at vendue to the highest bidder. The commissioners, as there was no restraining clause ! In regard to the number of acres to be put up, might sell in large or small parcels, as best suited their interest, if they had any, convenience or caprice. But be this as it may, the unap. propriated lands were in general sold in townships, half-town- ships, and quarter-townships. A township contained one hun- dred square miles, or sixty-four thousand acres, enough of
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land for three hundred and twenty farms of two hundred acres each. The lands usually being put up in large parcels, very few actual settlers were able to buy ; hence, nearly the whole so sold by the commissioners, passed into the hands of a few wealthy individuals, and their friends and connexions. Such is the manner in which the public lands were sold. In this way, a few persons became possessed in a short time, of the greater part of the state. This is the occasion of such large . tracts of land in various parts of the state, being vacant at this day. This has retarded in no small degree the settlement of . the state. In general, the proprietors of the wild lands hold them so high, that enterprising emigrants, and even our own citizens, cannot, unless they have considerable money, pur- chase them. These people, therefore, in general, pass through the state, or leave it and go to Ohio, Michigan, or Upper Ca- nada, where lands can be obtained on moderate terms. Tens of thousands have seated themselves in those countries, that would have seated themselves in this state, could they have done it on terms as advantageous to themselves. These would have increased our population, and added to the wealth and consideration of the state. The strength of states consists in the number of their inhabitants, their improvements and wealth, and not in a thin population and vast forests. But cupidity rarely looks beyond its own interest. The flourishing state of Vermont was lost to this state, in consequence of the cupidity and obstinacy of a few persons.
" As to the facts in relation to the dispute between this state and Vermont, the reader is referred to the journals of Congress and the legislature of this state, and to Williams' History of Vermont.
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CHAPTER XIV.
Religion-Literary institutions-Schools-Origin of the go- vernment of the United States-Adoption of the constitution -Rise of parties-Government of the state-List of gover- nors, &c.
Religion .- The constitution of this state, as well as that of the United States, allows the free exercise of religion to all denominations. The following comprise the different denomi- nations, which are in the state, so far as we are acquainted ; to wit : Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed, Seceders, Congregation- alists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, Quakers, Universalists, Roman Catholics, Moravians, Unitarians, Sha- kers, Jews and Deists. There are, perhaps, some other de- nominations, but if there are, their numbers are very small.
The ministers, or public teachers, of the several denomina- tions, are paid by voluntary contributions, the amount depend- ing on the wealth and liberality of the contributors. The clergy, in general, are, we believe, but moderately compensat- ed. Ministers of the gospel are excluded from holding offices. Most of our literary institutions are under the superintendence of the clergy.
. Churches, and places of public worship, are not commensu- rate with the population of the state. This is occasioned by the sudden growth of the country. In the old settlements the numbers, with few exceptions, are perhaps correspondent with the number of the inhabitants.
Literature .- There are seven colleges in this state, to wit : Columbia College, in the city of New-York ; Union College, at the city of Schenectady ; Hamilton College, in the town of Kirkland, in the county of Oneida ; the Western College, at Geneva, in the county of Ontario; the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Fairfield, in the county of Herkimer ; and the VOL. III. 55
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College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New. York ; and Rutger's College, in the same city.
Columbia College, originally called King's College, was founded in the year 1754, and is the oldest institution of the kind in the state. It has a president, five professors, and about one hundred and twenty students.
Union-College, which was incorporated in the year 1794, has about one hundred and fifty students. There is a presi- dent and four professors. The situation of this flourishing seminary is both healthy and beautiful.
Hamilton College is about eight miles southwesterly of Utica. The buildings stand on a commanding eminence, a little westwardly of Oriskinny Creek, and are extensive and commodious. This institution was founded in 1812. The students have heretofore amounted to from. ninety to one hundred. It has a president and three professors. We are unable to say how many students attend at this time. Local differences, which is not our province to mention, but which too often injure public institutions among us, have nearly bro- ken up this seminary. Hamilton College is situated in a fertile part of the state.
The Western College was incorporated in the year 1825. It stands on the eminence, on which the flourishing village of Geneva is built.
The courses of studies pursued at these institutions are, the languages, geography, logic, natural philosophy, mathematics, chemistry, &c.
The Medical College of Physicians and Surgeons of the city of New-York, was incorporated in 1906, and modified in IS13. It has a president and five professors, and about one ' hundred students. Anatomy, surgery, materia medica, physi- ology, obstetrics, chemistry, natural history, &c., are taught in it.
Rutgers' College, in the same city, is also a medical institu- tion. The same branches are taught in it. It has the same number of professors, and about a like number of students.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons at Fairfield, in the
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county of Herkimer, has the same number of professors as the preceding, and about two hundred students.
Since the establishment of these seminaries, medicine, surgery, &c., have been successfully cultivated; and the profession of a physician and surgeon is becoming respectable.
Academies .-- These amount to about thirty-six ; and are lo- cated at Albany, Fairfield, Utica, Paris, Auburn, Cayuga, Cortlandt, Geneva, Canandaigua, Onondaga, Pompey, Low- · ville, St. Lawrence, Johnstown, Schenectady, Grenville, Balls- ton, Lansingburgh, Troy, Cherry Valley, Hartwick, Hudson, Middlebury, Cambridge, Montgomery, Newburgh, Catskill, Poughkeepsie, North Salem, Flatbush, New-York, &c.
The whole number of students, according to the official re- turns, exceeds four thousand; but the reader, if he desires to preserve the proper meaning to words, must needs make very large deductions, since many are returned as students who nei- ther know nor understand any thing beyond reading, some writing and arithmetic. The objects in view for making such extravagant returns, are, we understand, to make a parade, and then draw more money from the state than ought to be drawn.
This, however, the regents might casily prevent, were they inclined. In making these remarks, we would not be under- stood as applying them to all the academic institutions, since some are flourishing and highly creditable to the state. The - Albany and Fairfield academies might be instanced.
Schools -We are unable to state with certainty the number of common schools in the state. In 1823, according to Dr. Il. G. Spafford's Gazetteer, there were 7,382. The present num- ber must considerably exceed this. The number of children between the ages of five and fifteen, that attended these schools, was 373,008.
Under the school system, every town in the state is divided into districts, in each of which there is a school-house. In the year 1823, about eighty thousand dollars, growing out of the school fund, was distributed among the several counties, accord- ing to the population, and then distributed among the separate school districts. The sum now distributed exceeds in amount the foregoing.
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The school system, were it corrected, in certain respecte would prove much more useful.
Formation of the Federal Government .- The American peo- ple formed themselves into a body politic, while they were co- lonies of Great Britain. We shall state, briefly, the steps which were taken from time to time, in order to bring it to that im- proved condition, in which it is at present. In the month of October, 1765, a Congress composed of delegates from nine of the British colonies convened at the city of New-York. The first measure that they adopted after being organized, was a declaration of rights and grievances. In the declaration they stated, among other things, that the inhabitants of the colonies were entitled to all the rights, privileges and immuni- ties of natural subjects, within the kingdom of Great Britain, and that they had the exclusive power of taxing themselves. This Congress, after having made arrangements for another meeting, should exigencies require it, adjourned.
On the fourth of September, 1774, the second Congress con- Vened at Philadelphia- Deputies from eleven of the colonies auended. They chose a president, and proceeded to business: Committees were appointed to state the rights claimed by the colonies, which had been invaded by the British Parliament, prepare a petition to the King and addresses to the people of Great Britain. Congress, at this meeting, among other things, passed a resolve, declaratory of rights,, and then adjourned. Previous to their adjournment, they recommended that another Congress should convene on the tenth of May, 1775. .
In the meantime, the proceedings had by this Congress were . laid before the American-people for their consideration.
In May, 1775, the third Congress assembled, pursuant to the foregoing recommendation, and commenced the organiza- tion of a government. They organized the higher departments of the army, emitted bills of credit, framed articles of war, and published a manifesto. These measures were in accordance with the wishes of the people. The Congress, in addition, re- commended to the several colonies to constitute governments, and take such other steps as would conduce to their safety and welfare.
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On the fourth of July, 1776. Congress published the decla- ration of independence. From this time they assumed all the powers of sovereignty. They managed every thing in relation . to the internal and external. concerns of the nation. Articles of confederation had been made as early as the eleventh of June, in the preceding month. These were preparatory to the declaration of independence. The states, in their individual character, ratified the articles of confederation and other acts, done by Congress. But the powers of Congress, after all, amounted to little more than recommendations. In the articles of confederation, there was no provision which enabled it io add a sanction to its laws. The states might ratify them or not, this being optional with them. This was a great defect in these articles. One state would comply and another not. Delinquencies in one state occasioned delinqu ncies in an- other. The army on which the safety of the country depended, was imperfectly supplied and paid. National engagements were not fulfilled, and public confidence was lost. Congress endeavoured to obtain from the several states, the right of lay- ing on a general tax, for the maintenance of the arnas, the payment of the debts, and the restoration of public credit. But this was found impracticable. The states declined to unite in a measure which tended so much to their general safety. The . finances of the nation became more and more deranged, and every thing conspired to destroy the confederation. After
the peace with Great Britain, each state in its turn, withdrew its support, till the union was on the verge of dissolution. Each state was a distinct sovereignty. Great diversity of sentiment prevailed, in regard to the manner, in which the affairs of the confederacy ought to be conducted. The people of the Ameri- can confederation were divided into two parties. The one contemplated the Americans as a nation, and strove to cloth.e Congress with powers which would preserve the Union. The other looked on Congress with jealousy, and laboured to restrict its powers.
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