USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 20
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Ordered also that the Journal of the Assembly be Inspected, and all minutes in any wise relating to the Letters of Remonstrance be Copied out.
And then adjourned till to morrow, Nine in the morning.
No Council in the Morning.
At a Council held at Philadia, 10, 3 mo., 1705, P. M.
PRESENT :
The Honble JNO. EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr. Edwd Shippen, Richd. Hill,
Griffith Owen,
Samll. ffinney, Esq'rs. Jos. Pidgeon,
James Logan.
Caleb Pusey,
The Govr Caused to be read to the Board what he designed to speak to the assembly, desiring their advice, and it was approved.
Capt. ffinney and Caleb Pusey were sent in a message to the House to require their attendance upon the Govr forthwith, and returning they reported that the Assembly was risen, but that they had met with the speaker, who acquainted them that they were adjourned to ten in the morning, not being a full House this afternoon, and that then they would be ready to attend the Governr.
Ordered that notice be given to the two Indians from Conestogoe, as also to Peter Bezalion, to attend to morrow at 9 in the morning, to which time the Board adjourned.
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At a Council Held at Philadelphia, 11th 3 mo., 1705.
PRESENT :
The Honble JOHN EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Edward Shippen, )
Richd. Hill,
Griffith Owen,
Wm. Trent,
Caleb Pusey,
Esqrs.
Joseph Pidgeon,
Samll. ffinney,
James Logan.
Jasper Yeats,
A message from the House of Repts. to the Govr, Informing that they were mett and waited to know if the Govr had any thing to Lay before them.
The Govr ordered them to inform the House that he required their attendance Immediately.
Accordingly the Speaker and the whole House attending, the Govr spoke to them ye following words, and at the Speakers Desire delivered ye same in writting, Viz :
GENTLEMEN : Difficulties dayly arising from your proceedings before our last parting, & being necessarily called away to attend the Business of Govermt Elsewhere, I deferr'd your meeting for so Long a time that I might have the sentiments of the Proprietr in matters of such Importance as were laid before me, which is now very sea- sonable arrived.
The propr., Gentlemen, is far from agreeing with you in opinion in these matters ; that he is greatly surprized to see, Instead of Suit- able supplies for the Maintainance of Govermt and Defraying Publick Charges for the Publick safety, Time only Lost (while his Constant Expences run on) in Disputes upon heads wch he had fully settled before his Departure as Could on the best Precautions be thought convenient or Reasonable, Even at a time when he was leaving you in doubt whether it would be possible to divert the Bill then moving In Parliamt, for annexing all these Govermts to the Crown, which being now diverted and himself secure in the possession of his Rights so long as his Circumstances shall render the administration of it Practicable ; He is the more astonished to find you for who's sake Chiefly and not his own, he has undergone his late fatigue & Ex- pensive troubles in maintaining it, express no greater a sense of Gratitude than has hitherto appeared. The Propts. also further as- sures us that had these three Bills (of which Copies were sent home) been past into acts here, the they had Certainly been vacated by her Majesty, being looked on by men of skill, to whom they have been shewn as very great absurdities.
But what I must not be silent in is, that he Highly resents that heinous Indignity and most scandalous treatmt he has met with in the Letters directed not only to himself, but to be shewn to some other persons disaffected to him in the name of the assembly and People of this province, of which I formerly demanded a Copy, but was denied it, under pretence (when it was too late) that it should be recalled. If that Lettr was the act of the People truly represented, He thinks such proceedings are sufficient to Cancel all obligations of
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care over them, but if done by particular persons only, and 'tis an Imposture in the name of the whole, he expects the Country will purge themselves, and take Care that due satisfaction be given him. GENTLEMEN :
What I have now to lay before you is, That you have long In- joyed a happy state of Peace and Tranquility, without any such Charge or Oppression as is too Common to some other places, of which, if you Expect the Continuance under the Proprietrs adminis- tration, you must resolve to take measures that will answer the End of Government, and recommend you to the Consideration of the mi- nistry at home, England, our General mother, who will always think she has Reason to influence and Direct the affairs of all her depen- dent Dominions not only at all times, makes ample provision for the Support of the Regency, but all this Jncture is deeply Engaged in a most Expensive and Dangerous War, for maintaining the Balance of Europe, While here for some years past, there as not been one penny of publick money raised, Either for the subsistence of the Govrmt, or to defray the Charges of so much as a message or Scout upon any important occasion, tho wee are so manifestly surrounded wth dan- gers from Enemies, both by sea and Land. How this will recom- mend us to our Superiors, or the tolerable opinion of any Considerate man, I need not, I suppose, spend time to make you further Sensible. But this I can assure you, that unless you Lay these things to heart & for your own sakes, if not for his, make a speedy and suitable Provision, the Proprietr will withdraw his Care, and no Longer Contend with the many oppositions he has perpetually mett with, to his vast trouble and Charge, for Continuing to you the Privileges you have hitherto happily Enjoyed.
We are alarmed on all hands at this time, with the account of Pri- vateers Intending to Visit our Coasts, and the Indians, Especially to the Southward, are Certainly affirmed to be in a Genrll. Commotion, and therefore it requires our Immediate Care to secure our own and neighbors, By Treaties, which as they always Carry a Certaine Charge with them, so they must be Considered. I have hitherto been very ready, and always shall while duly Incouraged, to do all for the Publicks safty that lies in my power ; but without some ne- cessary funds for it, 'tis Impossible for me to proceed. Trade like- wise labors under great Inconveniences, as ye merchts. frequently Complain, & Call for a Regulation by some wholesome Law, that after the prudent Examples of other Govrmts. might render it more advantageous to those of the place, a Care of which might not only answer this good and more Immediately aimed at, but likewise be made a Branch of such a proportionable Revenue as is necessary to all Governments ; & this, with the other heads mentioned before, to- gether with the Regulation of Courts of Judicature, I must seriously Recommend to you.
To sum up what I have to say I conjure you, Gentlemen, as you will answer it to God and the Country you represent, to Consider and seriously lay to heart your present Condition. You Contend and Raise Continual scruples about your Privileges, which have not
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been attempt'd to be violated, but seem to neglect what is truly so and of the Greatest Importance to you : Lett it not be hereafter told that what the more open Enemies of this Govmt. Could not hitherto Effect, You have been made Instruments in the Hands of Designing men to bring to pass of yorselves. The Proprietor who tis well Know has hitherto supported the Govmt. upon such Treatmt. as he has mett with is frequently sollicited to resign and throw up all with- out any further Care. But his tenderness to those in the place whom he knows to be still True and Honest, prevails with him to give the People yet an Opportunity of Shewing what they will doe before all be Brought to a Closing Period ; methods have been taking to pro- voke him to this that there might be the greater Shew of Blame for it when done, though it Could not be avoided. But assure your -. selves he will be Justified by all Reasonable men for withdrawing the Exercise of his Care over those that being so often Invited to it would take so little of themselves. The Queen's Most Gracious Majesty will doubtless be Indulgent to all her loving Subjects, but a People that Contributes nothing to support the Burthen of affairs at home will in vain Expect from the ministry Greater Privileges at such a Distance than those Enjoy more Immediately under her Care who pay's towards her Majesty's Service an Equal Share with all others. No Petticular Privileges can be hoped for or depended on here but what are Grounded on the Royall Charter to ye Proprietr. and to obtain these successfully requires a more Powerfull Interest & stronger Intercession than any in the parts can pretend to make. Those who Pretend to Perswade you to the Contrary will be found to amuse you to no purpose, and your Eyes may be opened when it is to Late. You are therefore now to Consider your own Interest, which Chiefly lies at stake, while you have an opportunity let not any artifices prevail to make you forfeit it.
I have told you the only methods can be used to recommend you successfully to ye Crown, Viz : a Suitable provision for the support of Government and safety of her Majestie's subjects ; if you neglect to put them in practice, what Ever the Event may be, it will lie at yor own doors.
This I am Constrained as well for her Most Sacred Majesties Service, as in Duty to the Proprietr., to lay before you, and Expect a Suitable answer not in words only, but such Effects as becomes the Trust reposed in You.
The Speaker acquainted the Govr. that having lost some of their members there would be occasion of Writts for Electing of others in their Stead, and the Law prescribing no Certain Rull for giving notice, he thought that it was sufficient if any member of the County where they were wanting should inform the Govr. of it, & that the House desired to know at what time the Govr. would be pleased to make the writts returnable that they might adjourn themselves to the same time.
The Govr. answered that they now appeared to him a full House, & were Certainly sufficient to go on with bussiness, therefore they must not think of delaying it, and they Departed.
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Ordered that a message be sent to the House requiring a more Perticular acc't. of what members are wanting, and that the Speaker sign it under his hand.
Ordered That Richd. Hill and Wm. Trent, Carry the said mes- sage forthwith.
Ordered that Edward Shippen, Griffith Owen, Caleb Pusey, Jas- per Yeats, & Richd. Hill, demand this afternoon of the Clark of the Assembly and Inspection of their Journall, and that they take a Copy from the first Original Draught of all minutes and Entries that in any wise relate to the address or Remonstrance to ye Pro- prietr., signed by David Lloyd and sent to England by Robert Barber, and that the said Copy be Drawn Exactly according to the said first Originall. Adjourned till 4 in the afternoon.
POST MERIDIEM.
PRESENT :
The Honble JOHN EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Edward Shippen, Richd. Hill,
Griffith Owen, Esq'rs. James Logan.
Caleb Pusey,
A message from the assembly by three members waiting on ye Govr., by Order of the House, Informed him two of the representa- tives of the County of Bucks, viz : Richard Hough and Peter Wor- ral, were dead, and therefore that house requested the Govr. to Issue his writts for Electing others to serve in their steads, and de- sired to be Informed on what day he would be pleased to make it Returnable.
The members where order'd to withdraw, and the said message being debated, it was ordered, that an answer should be sent in writing, which was done as follows.
The Govrs. answer to ye Assemblie's Message, The 11th of the 3 mo., 1705. Post Meridiem.
To day being the first time the Govr. has had due notice of the Loss of Two members or Representatives for the County of Bucks, He will issue his writt without delay, and will order the Sherif, as 'tis usual in the Parliamt. of Engld. in like Cases, to return the writt forthwith when Executed, and that the members to be Chosen with all Convenient speed, repair to the service of the House. But if tis designed by this message. to know a Certaine day to which the House may adjourned, as was mentioned this morning at the Coun- cil Board, by ye Speaker. The Govr. Informs the House, that he Conceives the matters recommended to them in his speech to be of such importance that they will not admitt of any Delay, and the House being now sufficiently full to goe on with any business if they are Inclinable to it, and the Govr. being also Obliged to be at New Castle, on the 23d of this month, He Expect the house will forth- with, without any further loss of time, apply themselves to the Con-
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sideration of what is laid before them, and will not Consent to an adjournment untill they have taken some due notice of the same.
The Govr. further requires, that such members of the Council as he appoints for that purpose have access to the Journal of the house, and that they may have Copies of such parts of it as are or shall be thought convenient by them to be taken.
Adjourned.
(12th.) An answer was delivered to the above & is No. No Council : Indians.
Manangy, the Indian Chief on Skuylkill, Came to wait on the Govr. in behalf of the Ganawense or Piscataway Indians, settled in this Province near the head of Polomock, being now reduced by sickness to a small number, and Desirous to quitt their present habi- tation, (where they settled about 5 years agoe,) with the proprietrs Consent, the Conestogoe Indians then becoming Guarantees of a Treaty of friendship made between them, and shewing a belt of Wampum, they had sent to the Skuylkill Indians to Engage their friendship and Consent, that they might Settle amongst them near Turpyhockin, Request of the Governeur that they may be permitted to settle in the said place, which if he pleased to agree to, they will come and wait on him themselves with a suitable present.
Th Govr. gave them a kind Invitation, by the said Menangy, to come and settle as near us as they should think fitt, Provide they would take Care and Live peaceably, & that he said Manangy, & ye Indians of that place wth him would appear, & Engage they should behave themselves well and Dutyfull to this Government.
Two Indians from Conestogoe also waited on the Govr., Informing him that they had been alarmed by the people of Maryland, and were told that they had Design to Come and take or Cutt them off, upon account of an Injury done to some of that Province by some of the five nations, of which they were wholly Innocent, and therefore de- sired this Govmts. Protection, that as they had behaved themselves well and Peaceably, they might still Continue to live in quietness and unmolested.
The Govr. assured them, that if they were Clear of the violences done lately upon a family of the English, in Maryland, and would not Espouse the Cause of or Shelter any who should Committ any Injuries against the Queens Subjects, they should always Be Pro- tected.
The 15th.
The four members of Assembly waited on the Govr. out of Coun- cil, and Del'd. the following address, in answer to his Speech, Viz : To John Evans, Esq., Governor of Pennsilvania. May it please the Governor :
The speech thou wert pleased to make unto ye assembly on the tenth Instant, hath been Read in the House, and after Deliberated and mature Debate thereon, We humbly returne the answer fol- lowing.
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We are truly sorry that our proprietary & this House should Dis- agree in opinion in the matters of our Proceedings in Assembly, and his being surprized is no little surprize unto us, Considering that to pursue our own Interest and to answer the Trust reposed in us, Our part is to maintain a Constant Respect and Due Regard of ye Pro- prietary, both Honour and advantage, Where at the same time we Preserve the Rights and Privileges of the Queens subjects, the Free- holders of this Province which wee are of opinion ought not to be withstood, and we hope that a Right understanding in him and thy self, of our true meaning and due Respects towards both, and our desire of advancing the safety of the People under your Government, will Create better opinions of our intentions & actions, Which Con- sideration duly taken up by all Concerned, will Lead us to Concord, and a friendly Concurrence in doing what shall Conduce to ye Hon- our of the Governour, and happiness of the People, and that to Ef- fect this according to our Earnest Desire, our misunderstandings of Explanations, Coments and Constructions of Laws and Charters on both sides, in short time will be removed by fair Discussion. And that in the meantime, Charitable thoughts and Love may be Respec- tively Embraced.
We Should Gladly know what three Bills those were of which Copies were sent home and Looked by man of Skill as Great ab- surdities, and what the Proprietarys Objections are unto them. If those three Bills be the same we Imagiene them to be, Wee are of the mined The Interfering of the Proprietaries Commission Granted unto thee with the Charters Granted to be freeholders, Occasioned such Clause as seemed absurdities to men of Skill who might not be well aprized of our Charter of Privileges, and if one of the Three be yt Concerning attestations, we shall be almost astonished that it wanted the Proprts approbation, and his utmost Endeavours to pro- cure the Royall allowance.
As to ye Representation or Letters sent to the Proprietary by or- ders in the name of the former assembly which he takes, it seems as an Indingnity, & Resents it accordingly. It not having been done by this House, butt being the act (or in the name) of the former. As we are not Intituled to the affront, (If any be,) neigther are we Concerned in answer it. Our part is to Lamt., (as we Really do) that there should be true Occasion for such Representation, or if none, that it should be offered our Proprietary, whom We both Love & Honour. And Therefore, We hope his Obligations of Care over us and the People of this Province, by no such means shall be Can- celled.
As We must acknowledge the Peace We have a Long time En- joyed Since we here Settled, we must also acknowledge, with Great Humility, that it is Chiefly Owing to divine Providence; Neverthe- less We are willing (as in some measures we have done) to Contribute for support of Government by all such due means as are fitt to be Taken, according to our Circumstances & Religious Perswasions, and being Inclined to take Care of Trade, We are Willing to Receive
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what the merchants shall think fitt to Lay before us, and to take due Consideration of it.
And as to the Regulation of Courts, it has been under Considera- tion of this House, and a Bill almost ready to be present for the Govemts. assent.
And to Conclude as we have, under the Proprietors administration hitherto Enjoyed great Tranquility, we are truely Desirous of a Con- tinuation of the same administration, and shall be willing to pay unto thee, his Lieut., Due Respect in thy Great Station, not only by words, butt such Effective acts and actions as should Demonstrate unto the world, & our Loyalty to ye Queen, Honour to the Proprietary, & true Love to thyself.
Signed in the behalf of the House.
per DAVID LLOYD, Speaker.
The 16th of 3 mo.
A message from ye House came to the Govr., desiring to know what accot. he had to receive of the Laws already sent home, and whether he would be pleased to proceed upon the Bills laid before him ye last sessions, to which the following was drawn up and sent by Wm. Trent and Richard Hill, who were sent for for that purpose.
The Govrs. Message to the Assembly, 16th May, 1705, as to the Laws sent home in the year 1701, (or soon after) the Governr can only inform the Proprietr, has advised That they long lay before ye attorney Generll., for want of a Large fee to obtain his Report to the Lords of Trade, that the Proprit. having already, since his Last arrival, Expended about £2000 in London, where absent from his family, he has spent most of his time in attending ye affairs of this Governmt., found and still finds it an unsupportable hardship to advance the necessary summs to carry business forward, But that at Length notwithstanding they are reported.
As to the Bills that were Lying before him the Last sessions, The Governr. is much discouraged from proceeding any further, or spend- ing more time, Considering how much has already been Lost on one of them to very Little purpose, he believes that the obligation be- tween the Proprietr. and the People to be Equal on both sides; that at the same time they desire a perpetual Law to secure them Effec- tually in all things they can crave Either in Liberty or Property, they ought to take the same Care to make the Proprietr. as easy in his affairs. That tedious Bill of Property is fitted so Intirely for the Peoples Interest, with not only no regard to Propr., (whatever is pretended,) but so manifestly to his Injury, that it seems strange how reasonable men could, without some Confusion offer it, and not think at the same time of an Equivalent on the other side, which ought always to arise in the House and not from the Governor. This Equivalent, the Govr. is of opinion, ought to be a settled Revenue for the support of Governmt. and Defraying all Publick Charges, by such a provision as his made in all other Trading Eng- lish Colonies, Where ye Yearly Emoluments of the. Govmt. are Generally Sufficient to support it. Whereas, there is nothing here
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but to ye Scandal of the place, all is done at ye Proprietrs. Charge, Nor can the Gov. believe that such a Provision is any favour or Bounty to the Proprietr. all he craves is that would support your selves, Now you are more able to doe it yn He who as to Long bore the Charge, and then you will not want his favour and Protection to the Utmost.
What as hitherto been given to the Propietr. has been very poor- ly paid, and even some of the Psnt. House have Contemptuously & obstinately opposed ye Collecting of it, and yet this was for the time past only since, which there are now above four Years Elapsed with- out any further provision, tho' ye Publick Charge has Constantly run on.
The Govr. therefore letts the House know, that if they shall think fitt to take in Consideration such a settlement as is before mention- ed, that the Country may bear its own Charges, and show such a Hearty Inclination as may induce him to believe they are in Ear- nest, he will at the same time be ready to Confirm all things to the People that Can be thought In any wise due to them in Equity or Justice. Always having an Equal Regard to the Proprietrs. just Interest.
At a Council Held at Philadia, 22d 3 mo., 1705.
PRESENT :
Ye Honble JOHN EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr. Griffith Owen, 2
Ge. Roche, Samll. ffinney, Esq'rs. Jos. Pidgeon,
Caleb Pusey,
James Logan,
Capt. ffinney Complained to the Board that the Bridge of ffranc- ford, on the Queens road, were entirely out of order and repair, and neglected by those who ought to take Care of them, & there- fore crave an Order from this Board, to oblige the persons Con- cerned to discharge there duty about them. But upon Inquiry, it appeared that the Care of repairing all roads whatsome Ever, and all Bridges, unless it stands on the Marches of Counties belong solely to the respective County Courts, to wch therefore this busi- ness is referred.
At a Council held at Philadia., ye 23 of May, 1705.
PRESENT :
The Honble JOHN EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Edward Shippen, r Jasper Yeates, Griffith Owen,
Esq'rs. Wm. Trent, Samuell ffinney, Caleb Pusey,
Jos. Pidgeon, James Logan.
An address being yesterday presented to the Govr. from the As- sembly it was read to the Board in in these words, Viz :
To John Evans, Esqr., Lieutent. Governr. of the Province of Pen- silvania, &c.
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The address of ye ffreemen of the said Province in Assembly mett, the 21st day of the month, Called May, 1705. In all humble manner sheweth :
That thy writting Message or answer to ye Assembly, sent to this House ye Sixteenth Instant, being duly weighed and Considered by us, Wee are sorry to hear that the Laws should be so long before the attorney Generall for want of a fee to obtain his report to the Lords of Trade since ye Proprietr. when Last in this Country was pleased to undertake in hand as agent for the People, to obtain ye Royall sanction to our Laws, and make good Terms for us if he was forced to surrender the Governmt., and if he had found that the money he had & was to have, by the two thousand Pound act had not been sufficient to Defray the Charges of Negotiation in yt be- half, Wee doubt not but the former assembly (had been acquainted therewith) would have took Effectual Care to supply such defects, and if this assembly were favourd with an account of the Perticular summs that the Proprietary had Disbursed in getting our Laws past or in diverting the Bill formerly moved in Parliament for annexing this Government to the Crown. We assure the Governour that wee would Cheerfully Contribute thereunto, so fare as [in honour and Duty we are obliged to doe.
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