USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IV > Part 2
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EXTRACT
FROM THE
ANNUAL MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR,
TRANSMITTED TO THE
SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
READ JANUARY 8TH, 1851.
My attention has been called to the large body of original papers in the State Department, connected with the colonial and revolu- tionary history of the State, and their extremely exposed and perish- ing condition. These records are worth preservation, as containing authentic information of the action of our fathers in the struggle for national existence. In the Capital of Pennsylvania, and with the sympathies of her patriotic people, was independence matured and declared. Her soldiers were most numerous around the standard of the nation, and there were more battle fields on her soil than in the same area elsewhere. Every memorial of those days of devotion and trial should be faithfully preserved. There exists a single copy in manuscript of the minutes of the Revolutionary Executive Coun -. cil, a document by far too valuable to remain longer within the reach of accident or mutilation. It would be gratifying to a large body of our constituents if the Assembly would authorize the em- ployment of a competent gentleman to select and arrange for publi- cation these memorials of an interesting epoch in the history of the Commonwealth.
REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE.
Mr. Muhlenberg, from the Select Committee to which was refer- red so much of the annual message of the Governor as recommends the publication of the minutes of the Proprietary Government of VOL. IV .- 1.
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Pennsylvania, and the original records and papers in the Secretary's office, relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary history of this Com- monwealth, made a report, which was read as follows, viz .:
That they have examined the subject referred to them with that attention which its importance requires, and concur entirely with the recommendation of the Executive; in support of which, and as an explanation of the provisions of the bill accompanying this report, they beg leave to lay the following facts and arguments before the Senate :
The importance of the subject to which the attention of your committee has been directed, can scarcely be exaggerated. In it is involved the decision of the question, whether the history of Penn- sylvania shall be preserved and made public, or whether it shall re- main liable to all the accidents and risks incident to the preservation of manuscripts, which may at any moment be destroyed, and which the hand of time is slowly, but surely effacing. Should that prove to be the case, the early authentic history of this great State will be irrevocably gone, and our descendants, at some future day, will bitterly execrate the parsimony of their ancestors, who, to spare a trifling expense, which could easily have been borne, have con- demned them to remain in ignorance of the authentic history of their native State.
In the official records of a State only, can be found its true his- tory. Historians may have been careless and inexact, they may have been influenced by prejudice, or some preconceived theory, or they may have wilfully perverted the truth of history, and from any of these causes may have arisen opinions most opposite to truth, but which, from constant repetition, have become so indelibly im- pressed upon the public mind, that nothing can remove them. But from all these objections the official records of a country are free. They are, as it were, the daily records of the government, written down at a time when there is no temptation to make false entries, the desire to do which invariably springs from subsequent transactions. They are free from prejudice and the influence of false theories, and from the very necessity of the case, they must be as nearly in accordance with the truth as it is possible for fallible human nature to make them. Hence arises the great value which has at all times been placed upon records such as those now under consideration.
The States of this Union are peculiarly fortunate in this respect, that their history commenced at a period at which the doctrines of public liberty and the rights of the governed had already made such progress, that some form of a representative government was neces- sary, and that the wishes of the people should, in some degree at least, be consulted. A representative government necessarily im- plied a record of the transactions of that government; and hence while the early history of most other nations is lost, either from great antiquity, or from the fact that where the will of one man is law, there is no necessity of any record or precedent, the history of the various States of the American Union is preserved in the most
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SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE.
authentic of all shapes, the minutes of the acts and transactions of their government made at the time to which they refer. As, there- fore, the wisdom and love of liberty of our ancestors have preserved for us the early history of our country, does not a sense of duty to those who shall succeed us, dictate that the least we can do is to pre- serve what has been so carefully handed down? And does not the provision in the Constitution under which we live, directing the weekly publication of the acts of the present government, add an additional argument to the view here presented, by showing the im- portance which has ever been attached by the wisest and best to the publication and preservation of the true history of the Common- wealth ?
Your committee think that a brief reference to what has been done upon this subject by the governments of other countries and States, will bear them out in the view which they have taken of the import- ance of the action they recommend. The government of England is at this time engaged in the publication of her original records, commencing with her oldest original paper-the Doomsday-book of William the Conqueror-and many valuable and important discove- ries have already been made. The magnitude of this work, covering eight hundred years, filling several hundred printed folio volumes, and estimated to cost over a million sterling, shows the importance of which it is deemed by the enlightened statesmen who projected and continue the publication. The Academy of France, under the direction and at the expense of government, are engaged in a similar undertaking, which will doubtless be as extensive and costly as the work already referred to. The government of the United States, with commendable liberality, has appropriated large sums to the publication of the Journals of Congress during the Revolution, the American State papers, the early diplomatic correspondence of the government, and are now engaged in the publication of the Ameri- can Annals, a work comprising original papers referring to the revolutionary history of the country, which will prove of immense value to future historians, and will be a proud monument of the great liberality and enlightened views of the National Government. But the United States go no further back than the formation of the confederation; colonial history is the peculiar property of the re- spective States. Here, however, we are again met with bright ex- amples, which should induce us to emulate the wise, liberal, and patriotic example of our sister States. The States of New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and other members of the Union have commenced the publication of their Colonial and Revolutionary history. The State of Maryland, when engaged in this work, discovered that many portions of her history, originally entire and intact, had been destroyed by time, accident, or careless- ness, an irreparable loss, which should teach us to learn wisdom by experience of the misfortunes of others. Our neighboring State of New York, which seems destined to surpass us in all great enter-
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REPORT OF THE
prizes, has made most liberal provision for the preservation, collec- tion, and publication of her early history, sending agents, at great expense, to England and Holland, to examine and extract from the records of those countries, all papers throwing light upon the early history of that State, copies of which have been made for her use. Other States have taken similar steps, and the expense of one such mission would probably exceed the entire appropriation asked for in the accompanying bill.
Nor are we without similar examples in the prior history of this Commonwealth. In 1752, the Legislature of that year directed the publication of the Journals of the House, from 1684 to that time, which owing to the poverty of the colony, and the scarcity of print- ing materials, had that far remained in manuscript. It was a bold and expensive undertaking for a poor and thinly-populated colony, but it was accomplished, and to the wisdom and liberality of our ancestors, we owe the preservation of these journals, embraced in seven large folio volumes, and now in the State Library. The Co- lonial Records would doubtless have been published ere this, for the public men of those days had wise and enlightened views, but up to the Revolution they were looked upon in a great measure as State secrets, and their publication would not have been permitted. But the proceedings of the Council of Censors were published by the Legislature at a later period, and surely if, when this State was comparatively poor, it could afford to spend, what were to them large sums, in the preservation and publication of the Acts and Records of Government, it can now afford to expend an infinitely smaller sum, in proportion to resources and population, in carrying on a work of such importance.
In the opinion of the committee, Pennsylvania has lagged behind her sister States in the preservation and publication of the mate- rials for the true history of the United States sufficiently long, and it is now time that she should perform her fair share. In addition to this, the fact should be remembered, that Pennsylvania is one of the oldest States in the Union-that her local history is not the least interesting, and that a proper sense of State pride, as Pennsyl- vanians, should induce us to make public the struggles and trials of her early settlers, as well as the sacrifices and patriotism of her sons during the Revolutionary contest, the notorious neglect of which, in most of the published histories, should cause the cheek of every true-hearted Pennsylvanian to blush, the more especially as this neglect has been in a great measure caused by the omission of her Legislature to make public and accessible to historians the record evidence of those services.
In conclusion, the Committee desire to say a few words in expla- nation of the plan which they have adopted in the accompanying bill, for the publication of the records and papers referred to in the Governor's message, and to explain as briefly as possible the value of the said records and papers (to ascertain which a long and labo-
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SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE.
rious search has been necessary, and has been performed), in doing which, they beg leave to state here, that they think they have adopted the most economical plan possible, so much so, that the annual ap- propriation will scarcely be felt after the receipts from the sale of the works are deducted.
The plan adopted by the Committee contemplates the publication of two works: 1st, the continuation of the Colonial Records, and 2d, the selection of the most valuable of the original papers, and their publication, under the title of "Pennsylvania Annals." Both are to be published by contract, in which way it is believed that the price paid per volume will be very much less than that paid for the Colonial Records heretofore printed, while at the same time a pro- per fulfilment of the contract is carefully provided for. The edition of each work is directed to be the same as the number fixed in the Act of 1837, to wit: fifteen hundred copies, of which one thousand are to be sold, and five hundred distributed, as provided in the act. The price of the copies to be sold is reduced from one dollar and sixty cents to one dollar, which, in the opinion of the Committee, will ensure their sale, for the volumes of the Colonial Records already published, freely command one dollar and fifty cents per volume, and are not easily procurable even then; and of the imme- diate sale of the Annals no doubt can be entertained when the con- tents of those volumes are known. Their general interest through- out the country will be such that all persons will be desirous of possessing a copy. But, in affixing the price, the Committee were anxious to ensure as general a circulation as possible, by putting the works within the reach of all. The Colonial Records, as the Committee are informed, will probably make about eight additional volumes, of which two are directed to be published annually until the whole be completed, and the Annals will be embraced in not more than three volumes of the same size, which are to be published as soon as the selection and preparation is completed. The contract price, from the best information your Committee can procure, is estimated at from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars per volume, so that after deducting the estimated receipts, the nett cost of publica- tion to the Commonwealth will be but a few hundred dollars per volume. For further details of the plan, the Senate is respectfully referred to the Act itself.
Your Committee now beg the indulgence of the Senate while en- deavoring to give a brief sketch of the contents of the proposed works.
By the Acts of 4th April, 1837, and 14th April, 1838, the im- mediate publication of the Colonial Records was directed. Under the authority of those acts three volumes were published, when, owing to the monetary embarrassments of the Commonwealth, the publication was suspended. This, as an act of justice to the credi- tors of the State, was correct, but as our finances are now in a more flourishing condition than they have been for years, that reason can
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REPORT OF THE
no longer be advanced. But the cessation of the work at that par- ticular period was unfortunate, for the volumes published were the least interesting part of the whole series, as owing to the limited size of the infant colony, and the absence of any war or commotion, the whole attention of the government was confined to the domestic affairs of the settlements upon the Delaware. Afterwards, as the reader approaches nearer the French and Indian wars, the whole character of the work changes. It is no longer a dry record of the official proceedings of the Council upon matters of little general in- terest at this day, but is interspersed with letters from agents and officers, reporting Indian massacres on the frontiers, with the cor- respondence and requisitions of officers of the British forces, with journals of extensive journeys made through the untrodden wilder- nesses of the northern and western parts of what are now the State of Pennsylvania, with records of the raising and officering of Colo- nial regiments, and with minutes of the various Indian councils and treaties, in which the speeches of the chiefs, often highly eloquent, are reported at length. To specify all the contents of the later volumes would be impossible within the limits of this report, but in general it may be said, that with the wider sphere of action the general interest is proportionably increased, and that many matters of the highest local interest, now forgotten, will be again brought to light. The petitions, remonstrances, and sufferings of the early settlers will be there found, and as a matter of curiosity it may be mentioned that the original Indian names of tribes, towns, moun- tains, and rivers, now in many cases forgotten, are there, and there only preserved. In short, your Committee believe that the later volumes of the series will not only prove of general interest, but will be of such historical value, that some knowledge of their con- tents will be essential to every one professing to be conversant with the history of his native State.
It may also here be said, that the publication of this work would much foster and encourage the spirit of local inquiry now springing up throughout the State, as evidenced by the various county histo- ries already published, and in this manner incidentally much valu- ble information may be preserved ; and the encouragement of objects of this kind has ever been deemed a pleasing duty on the part of all liberal and enlightened governments.
As to the contents of the proposed Pennsylvania Annals, your Committee can scarcely find terms sufficiently strong to express their opinion of the value of those papers. Their other duties did not permit them to examine all the original documents in the Secretary's office, for that would be the labor of months; but many of the bun- dles were opened and their contents noted. Among the portion connected with the Revolutionary history of the Commonwealth, will be found many original letters from Generals Washington, Wayne, St. Clair, Sterling, Putnam, Arnold, La Fayette, Steuben, and others of the military chieftains of that day, from the Gover-
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SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE.
nors and Committees of Safety of New York, Massachusetts, Vir- ginia, and other States, and from distinguished civilians, such as Franklin, Hancock, Clinton, Adams, and others of the same stamp. These were found in the bundles examined by the Committee; what 'may still remain in others, no one can tell without examination, for the papers are in such disorder that the endorsements only serve to mislead. Among the Washington letters are two of particular value, one written shortly after the battles of Trenton and Princeton, in which the prompt aid afforded by this State is said to have saved his army, and the other, covering twelve or fourteen pages of fools- cap, in relation to the treason of General Arnold, then recently dis- covered. What seems to be the entire correspondence relative to St. Clair's expedition and defeat, is also among these papers.
Of papers referring to the Colonial and ante-revolutionary history of the Commonwealth, the collection is equally rich and rare. Your Committee found original letters to the Government of Pennsylva- nia from the great William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham, the Dukes of Argyle and Newcastle, the Earls of Halifax, Loudon,. and others, Lord Amherst, Gen. Abercrombie, Gen. Braddock, whose. whole correspondence, from his landing to his defeat, seems to be preserved, Governor Shirley, Sir William Pepperel, relative to the. capture of Louisburg, General Gage, Sir William Johnston, of John- ston Hall, the Governors Penn, the Governors of adjacent colonies, and many other persons of distinction, which doubtless contain im- portant historical facts. Besides these, there are a large number of letters from officers of the colony, containing facts of more imme- diate importance to the history of Pennsylvania. Among these may be mentioned numerous letters from Colonels Conrad Weiser, Hugh Mercer (who was killed at Princeton), John and George Armstrong, George Croghan, Major James Burd, and many other officers, con- taining reports of skirmishes, expeditions, the state of the country, &c., &c. There are also a large number of papers relative to the Connecticut settlers at Wyoming, which controversy forms an inter- esting and very important portion of our Colonial history. Among; the curiosities may be mentioned an autograph letter of Col. George: Washington, enclosing the original summons and terms of capitula- tion in the affair at Fort Necessity. In addition to all these there are many journals of expeditions through the wilderness, as early as from 1730 to 1740, either to examine the country purchased, or about to be purchased from the Indians, to inspect the various forts: erected to protect the frontiers from Indian incursions, or to make treaties with the Indians. Some of these journeys were so exten- sive as to reach the Ohio, and others crossed the New York line, and they are filled with highly interesting sketches of the state of the country and manners of the Indian inhabitants.
In short, your Committee are of opinion, that the Pennsylvania: Annals will prove one of the most interesting and valuable contri- butions to historical knowledge which has yet been given to the
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REPORT OF THE
public, for the remark heretofore made, as to the bundles not exam- ined, is equally applicable to this portion of these papers. But in their present condition they are useless, and indeed fast perishing, and neither your Committee, nor any officer of government, even if they possessed the necessary qualifications, can consistently with their other duties, find time to examine these papers properly, and report what portion of them should be published. They have, there- fore, provided in the bill herewith submitted, for the appointment of a competent person to examine, arrange, and prepare them for publication.
Your Committee would further remark, that although not com- petent to make a positive assertion to that effect, they are of opinion, from the slight examination they have been able to make, that the great mass of these papers have been hitherto unpublished, and probably scarcely known, a fact which adds very much to their value, and which, if correct, will certainly ensure the rapid sale of the copies authorized to be sold.
The papers themselves your Committee found in the greatest pos- sible state of disorder, as before remarked, the endorsements, where any exist, only serving to mislead. Many of them, too, are fast going to destruction, under the combined influences of age and ne- glect, so that if any action is to be taken, it must be speedy, for otherwise a few years more will probably seal the fate, of a consider- able portion at least. Some, too, have been mutilated, and others, doubtless, carried off. As an instance of the effect of these causes, it may be mentioned, that the paper on which the first volume of laws is written, has actually so far decayed that the volume is illegi- ble. Happily a copy has been preserved.
To prevent the further destruction of these valuable papers as far as possible, your committee would recommend that the proper committee increase the contingent fund of the Secretary's office, in the next appropriation bill, by such small sum as will be sufficient, after the papers are selected and arranged, to have them bound in a permanent manner. In this way only can the object be accom- plished.
In accordance with these views, the committee begs leave to re- port the accompanying bill :
An Act providing for the publication of the Colonial Records, and other original papers in the office of the Secretary of the Com- monwealth.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represen- tatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That the Secretary of the Commonwealth be, and he is hereby authorized
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SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE.
and required to continue the printing of the minutes of the Propri- etary Government and Council of Safety, down to the close of the Revolutionary war, in 1783, from the point at which the third vol- ume of the Colonial Records terminates, in the same size, shape, and style in which the volumes of the Colonial Records, already printed, are published ; and that the number of copies of each vol- ume shall be fifteen hundred.
SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Com- monwealth, immediately after the passage of this act, to invite pro- posals for the publication of the records aforesaid, giving public notice for at least one month, in two papers published in Philadel- phia, Pittsburg, and Harrisburg, which proposals shall state the price per volume, and shall include the faithful and literal tran- scribing of the records aforesaid, under the superintendence of the Secretary : the publication and binding in a manner uniform with, and not inferior, to the volumes of the Colonial Records already published, finding all materials, and the delivery of them to the Secretary of the Commonwealth; which proposals shall be opened at the time appointed by the Secretary, in the presence of the Governor, Auditor General, and State Treasurer, who shall then with the Secretary, proceed to allot the contract to the lowest and best responsible bidder : Provided, That before assigning the con- tract as aforesaid, the successful bidder shall enter into bond to the Commonwealth, with two or more sufficient sureties, in the sum of ten thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful fulfilment of his contract, which bond shall be approved by the Governor, Secretary, Auditor General, and State Treasurer, before being received.
SEC. 3. That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Com- monwealth to direct the publication of two volumes of the afore- said records, in each and every year, until the whole be completed; and so soon as the entire number of copies of any one volume shall have been delivered into his office, he shall certify that fact to the Governor, who shall then draw his warrant on the State Treasurer for the amount due the contractor, according to the contract, which shall be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise ap- propriated : Provided, That the Secretary shall not certify as afore- said, until upon examination he is satisfied that the contract has been carried out in accordance with the true intent and meaning of of this act, and especially, that the volume as published is a faith- ful and literal copy of the original.
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