USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 76
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Claim of not having their Money Bill Amended. This offer has had some good effect here, & I hope will enable you to set the mat- ter in a proper light at home. If you are to be taxed, I wish for your sake that it may be by Act of Parliament, where you may meet with Justice; but if that power is ever given into the hands of the people here they will use it without Mercy. One Very good argument against your being Taxed at all is the great Expence you are at in administering the Government, especially since the As- sembly have refused the Governor's salary, which you will be obliged to pay.
"Since Mr. Franklin has put himself at the head of the Assem- bly they have gone greater lengths than ever, and have not only discovered the Warmth of their Resentment against your Family but are using every means in their Power, even while their Country is invaded, to wrest the Government out of your hands, and to take the whole powers of it into their own. To which end Mr. Franklin and others have sent Arms and Ammunition into the several countys and distributed them to such People as they thought proper without my knowledge or consent. This I esteem a very extraordinary measure, as the people will be thereby taught to depend upon an Assembly for what they should only receive from the Government, and if it is not criminal I am sure it ought to be so.
" They have also given presents to the Indians without my privity or Consent, and by a Bill they have sent me this Session, under pretence of regulating the Indian Trade, they propose not only to take that whole Trade into their own hands and manage it by a Committee, but to take the Indians entirely out of the hands of 'the Government, and least the trade itself should not give them all the Influence they may have occasion for, the profits of it are to be given by the Assembly in presents to the Indians.
" I sent you by way of Ireland Copies of the Quakers' address and the Representations of the Inhabitants of Philadelphia to the As- sembly, upon which I need not make many observations. I think that of the Quakers a very rash thing and a dangerous use of their Influence at such a time as this, when it becomes every good sub- ject and true lover of his Country to further his Majesty's mea- sures rather than obstruct them. But this their address will shew whatever their pretences and professions have been that they never intended to do any thing in defence of their Country, and that the Bill they now propose and insist on, is intended only to save appearances, as they have put it in such a shape that it is not pos- sible for me to consent to it, & have refused to agree to the method proposed by me for taxing your Estate upon the Idle pretence of not suffering a Money Bill to be amended.
" Upon my word, Sir, I am much at a Loss what to do in the present situation of Affairs, or what to advise you to do. It is very
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apparent to me that if some measures be not soon taken at home for regulating matters here, that this Province will be either over- run by the Indians & French, or thrown into Internal and Civil Commotions, the end of which no one can venture to foretell. The people have lost all sense of Obedience to Government and are countenanced by the Assembly who have their own Scheme in view & make use of the people to gain their points.
"The Quakers indeed do not wish you to part with the Govern- ment because they will have much less power under the Crown, but would willingly throw as much weight as possible into the Assem- bly. Franklin has views that they know nothing of, and tho' they submit to him in the Assembly, the more sensible part of them are not heartily satisfied with his attachment to them. The truth, I be- lieve, is that he is courting them in order to distress you, and at the same time leading them into measures that will in the end deprive them of any share in the administration.
" If, therefore, the Quakers in England have any Influence upon their Friends here, and have a mind to save this Country where they enjoy so many advantages, they should use it at this time to induce their Brethren to put money into the hands of the Government for the King's use that the Country may be de- fended, or give up their seat to those that will do the Dutys of the Station.
" Yesterday and to-day three Vessels are arrived from Nova Sco- tia, and a fourth is coming with Neutral French that Governor Lawrence has sent to remain in this Province. You have one of his Letters to me relating to them herewith, and also Copy of what I wrote to General Shirley upon that Subject, who I hope by this time is at New York.
"I own that had we a regular Militia these people might be an advantage by adding to the number of useful Inhabitants, but under our present Circumstances I am fearful they may prove more in- jurious here than they could possibly have done at Nova Scotia ; however, when I have General Shirley's thoughts upon the head I shall endeavour to dispose of them in the manner most consistent with the security of the Province.
" You will observe by one of the Assembly's Messages herewith, they mnean to throw the odium of the present Indian War upon you, by insinuating that you have not paid the Indians for their Lands, and tho' nothing can be more false and wicked yet such is the pre- sent temper of the people that it will be too generally believed. However, to prevent as much as may be any such Impressions, I have referred that Message to a Committee of Council, who will report to me the several Treatys and Transactions with the Shaw- onese Indians, which I shall send to the Assembly and have pub- lished in the next Paper.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
"Herewith I send you the copy of a most curious Militia Bill that I have this day received, which you must be sensible can answer to no good purpose, and is really intended to amuse the people who call aloud for a Law to establish military order, without which they seem convinced that nothing effectual can be done for their defence, and tho' I am convinced that it will do no good yet I believe I must consent to it in the present Circumstances of the Province, if it be only to shew that I am willing to do any thing that has even a chance of contributing to the defence of the Province, and thereby to avoid the resentment of a Mob that I am informed will be in Town from the back Countys in a few days, and as the Assembly have more Engines to employ than the Government, and scruple not to propagate any falsehoods that suit them, it is more than pro- bable that these people, when they come, notwithstanding any thing I can do, may think me the cause of all their sufferings and act accordingly. The people from York and Cumberland Counties I am told are to come down in a body and petition for a greater number of Representatives, as they have not their due proportion, & a body of five hundred dutch from Berks are to demand Laws for immediate defence.
" This manner of applying is extremely dangerous, and I am satisfied will be productive of mischief of some sort or other, but time alone must shew where it will fall.
"I must think that the Government at home have too long ne- glected the internal Conduct of these Colonies, and have suffered Assemblys to go such unwarrantable lengths in almost every one of them, that they have for some time thought themselves without Superiors, and if they do not by some means or other give a check to that factious spirit that too generally reigns in these Provinces, they will soon find it more difficult to keep their own Colonys in order than they at present imagine. I never can think it right to punish a whole Country or to lay it under peculiar dis- advantages, nor indeed is it necessary; for if the Supreme Gov- ernment would attend to the Conduct of the Subordinate ones, and take care to discountenance and punish particular men that are bold enough to transgress the Laws & to favour and en- courage those of whose principles and attachment they can be well assured, it would infallibly keep the Provinces in good order.
" If I can possibly in my present hurry and confusion write to the Secretary of State I shall put it under the same Cover with this, but if I should not, I must beg you will lay these matters before him and make my Excuses for not writing by this oppor- tunity.
" I have only to add that I have besides Mr. Lardner named
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MINUTES OF THE
Benjamin Chew, Thomas Cadwalader, and John Mifflin, Esq'rs. of the Council, and find great assistance from them.
" I have the Honour to be, Sir, " Your most Obedient humble Servant,
" ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS. " The Honble. THOS. PENN, Esq"."
Another Letter to the Honble. Thomas Penn, Esqr- from Governor Morris.
" PHILADELPHIA, Novembr., 22nd, 1755.
" Sir :
" Since closing a long Letter to you of this day I am favoured with yours of the fourth of October by way of New York inclosing an Order for five thousand Pounds. I have only time to give you «my hearty thanks for the sentiments you are so good as to enter- tain of my Conduct, and to assure you that I shall continue to exert my best abilities in discharging the Duties of the Station you have honoured me with. You will give me leave to add that noth- ing could come more critically than your generous & free Gift, which will enable me to shew you to the people in a proper light, and I am in hopes will in great measure get the better of the Malice of those who have gone great lengths to injure you in their opinion. Few of your friends know of the offer as yet, but I shall send a Message on Monday to the House upon the head, As soon as they meet, and this is Saturday night. I would not let this Vessel go without acknowledging the receipt of that Letter; and can only add that I am,
" Sir, Your most faithful and obedient Servant, "ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS.
"The Honble. THOMAS PENN, Esq"."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, in the State House, Thursday 27th Nov", 1755.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esq"., Lieuten- ant Governor, &ca.
Robert Strettell,
William Till, C Esqrs.
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner,
Thomas Cadwalader,
Mr. Peters and Mr. Lardner having compared the Bill entituled
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" An Act for striking £60,000," &ca, The Speaker and the whole House waited on the Governor and presented it to him, and it was enacted into a Law, and Doctor Cadwalader was ordered to see the Great Seal affixed to it and lodged in the Recorder's Office.
The Indian Trade Bill was again considered, but as it required a great variety of Amendments the Governor in answer to a Message sent by the House to know whether he was come to any Resolution thereon, Acquainted them that he was not and did not know when he should.
November 28th, 1755.
A Bill entituled " An Act for the Relief of George Croghan & William Trent for the space of Ten Years " was presented to the Governor for his Concurrence by two Members, who at the same time delivered the following Message :
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please the Governor :
" As the Bill for regulating the Indian Trade by employing sober and discreet Persons to reside among those Nations that remain Friends to this Province for the purpose of furnishing them with the necessary Goods in Exchange for their Peltry at reasonable and easy .rates on account of the Publick, and thereby securing them to our Interest, seems to us a Bill of great Importance at this Junc- ture, we are very desirous of bringing it to a conclusion as soon as possible, and, therefore, once more earnestly request the Governor would be pleased to let us know his Sentiments upon it, and com- municate the Amendments he is pleased to say he thinks needful, that we may consider them. The Bill has already laid before him above two weeks, and we fear if something of the kind is not imme- diately gone into we shall lose our few remaining Indians on Sas- quehannah, for as none of our Traders now go among them, and they dare not come down to our Settlements to buy what they want for fear of being Mistaken for Enemies, there seems to be the greatest Danger of their being necessarily driven into the Arms of the French to be provided with the means of Subsistence.
" Signed by Order of the House.
" ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker. "November 28tlı, 1755."
To which on the 29th the Governor returned the following Answer :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
"Since your Bill for regulating the Indian Trade has been
·
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MINUTES OF THE
before me my Time has been so much taken up with the variety of Business that the circumstances of this Province made necessary to be dispatched without delay, that I have not been able to give it the Consideration a Bill of that Nature requires, nor to examine the Laws of the neighbouring Provinces upon that Subject. But as the Indian Trade is now at a stand, I cannot conceive it will be at all Dangerous to the Publick to defer the compleating of this Act till the next sitting, especially as it will be necessary to call in and confine our Friendly Indians to certain Limits, to prevent their being mistaken for and killed as Enemies, where they must be sub- sisted. This will hinder them from hunting, so that they will have no Skins to trade with.
"ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS.
" Philada-, Novem". 29th, 1755."
The Governor being informed by Mr. Hockley that he had no notice of the application of the Bill for the relief of Mr. Croghan & Trent, tho' he had been in partnership with them, & he was by far the Largest Creditor, he was indulged with the perusal of the Bill, and proposed an Amendment, which the Governor approving, it was sent to the House with the Bill, and the House acquainted the Governor that they had agreed to said Amendment.
At a Council held at the State House on Tuesday the Second of December, 1755.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor, &ca.
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters, Esq".
The Speaker and the whole House waited on the Governor & presented the Bill Entituled "An Act for the relief of George Croghan & William Trent," and the Gov" having enacted it into a Law, the Great Seal was affixed thereto & it was lodged in the Roll's Office.
The Governor being advised by Mr. Weiser that we had still some friendly Indians left on the Sasquehannah, and that it would be for the Publick Service to invite them to a Conference, he sent Yesterday the following Letter to the Provincial Commissioners :
A Letter from the Governor to the Provincial Commissioners.
" PHILADA., 1st December, 1755.
" Gentlemen :
" Upon considering the state of our friendly Indians on the River
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Sasquehanna, I think it necessary that Messengers should be imme- diately sent to convene them to come down to Harris' Ferry, in order to concert measures with this Government upon the present Circumstances of affairs, when it may be proper to communicate to them such parts of the General Plan of operations as they may assist in the execution of.
"I am, Gentlemen, Your most humble Servant,
" ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS.
" To ISAAC NORRIS, JAMES HAMILTON, JOHN MIFFLIN, &ca .. Esqrs."'
The Governor having received a Letter from General Shirley, pressing him to attend a Congress to be very soon held at New York; he communicated the same to the House with the following Message :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" General Shirley, pursuant to his Majesty's Orders for that pur- pose, has requested me to meet him at New York, in a Congress he has there appointed, as you will observe by the Extract of a Letter from him upon that Subject which the Secretary will lay before you. At that Meeting business of the greatest Consequence to his Majesty's Service and the safety of these Colonies will be consid- ered and concluded, and the success of the next Year's operations may in great measure depend on the timely resolutions of that Council.
" I have lately received such Intelligence as to the State of In- dian Affairs as will make it necessary for the Colonies to join in some General Treaty with those People, as well to the Southward as to the Northward, which can no way so well be resolved on as at the Congress now already met.
" And on the other hand the late Incursions of the Enemy, and the necessity there is of putting this Province into a posture of de- fence, as well as carrying into Execution the several matters now in Agitation, call for my presence and the Authority of the Gov- ernment. Under these Difficulties I find myself at a loss which service to prefer, and desire you will give me your Sentiments on this momentous & pressing occasion.
"ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS. " Philada. December 2nd, 1755."
December the 3rd, 1755.
The following Message of Assembly in answer to the Governor's
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MINUTES OF THE
Message which he laid before them, the Report of Council relat- ing to the Claims of the Shawonese Indians, &cª", was this day de- livered to the Governor :
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please the Governor :
" We have considered the Report of the Committe of the Gov- ernor's Council, to which he is pleased to refer us for an Answer to our Enquiry relating to a Claim of the Shawonese Indians on the Lands near Conedoguinet. We are far from desiring to Justify those Indians in their late outrages and Murders committed against the People of this Province, in violation of the most solemn Treaties. We believe that great care has generally been taken to do the Indians Justice by the Proprietaries in the purchases made of them, and in all our other publick Transactions with them. And as they have not the same Ideas of legal property in Lands that we have, and sometimes think they have Right when in Law they have none, but yet are cheaply satisfied for their supposed as well as Real Rights, we think our Proprietaries have done wisely, not only to purchase their Lands, but to 'purchase them more than once,' as the Governor says they have done, rather than have any Difference with them on that head, or give any handle to the Enemies of the Province to exasperate those people against us. It appears indeed from the Report, that they could have but a slender Foundation for a Claim of Satisfaction for those Lands. We are, however, con- vinced by original Minutes taken by one of the Commissioners at the Treaty of Carlisle, now lying before us, that the Shawonese Chiefs mentioned that Claim of theirs to the Lands in Question at that Time, and were promised that the matter should be laid before the Proprietaries. It was after the publick general Business of the Treaty was over, and was not inserted in the printed account of the Treaty, perhaps because it was thought to relate more particularly to the Proprietary than to the Province, & one of the Commissioners being himself concerned in the Proprietarie's Affairs, there was reason to believe he would take care to get it settled, & doubtless he would have done so, had he not, as appears by the Report, en- tirely forgot the whole Transaction. We are sorry it was not done, tho' probably the Instigations, present situation and power of the French, might have been sufficient nevertheless to have engaged those Indians in the War against us.
" Sign'd by order of the House. "ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
" Philada, 3rd December, 1755."
And at the same time another Message was delivered- in answer
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
to the Governor's of yesterday with a verbal one, that the House inclined to adjourn to the first day of March.
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please the Governor :
" We think the present Circumstances of this Province calls strongly (as the Governor observes) for his presence here, & for the whole authority of the Government. But as the necessity of his attending the Congress at New York is best known to the Gov- ernor, who is acquainted with the Business there to be con- sidered & concluded on, the particulars of which are not com- municated to us, and he can therefore best judge whether his absence from that Congress or from his Province, will at this time be most prejudicial to his Majesty's Service in general. We must therefore leave it to his Judgement and Prudence which Service to prefer.
"But if Commissioners appointed by the Governor can in any degree supply his place at that Congress, either in concluding on the matters proposed by the Crown, or concerting Measures for a general Treaty with the Indians, & the Governor should sit to ap- point some Gentlemen to that service, we shall have no objection on account of any reasonable Expence that may attend it or that may be necessary to be defrayed on the part of this Government towards the proposed general Treaty. For as this Province always has been, so we still are ready to join with the neighbouring Colo- nics in any Treaty with the Indians that may conduce to the general advantage of the British Interests, as well as at our own Charge, to make such as tend particularly to our own Peace and Security.
"Signed by order of the House.
"ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
" Philada., December 3d, 1755."
The following Address of the Bethlehem Indians and the Gov- ernor's Answer were read and ordered to be entered:
" To the Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania and Coun- ties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware, dcr.
" The humble Address of the Indians, late residing in Gnadenhut- ten, at their Instance taken from their own mouths as followeth, to wit :
"First, we present our Love, Respect, & Duty to the Honble. the Gov". of Pennsylvania, Because we are not able to express our-
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selves as it should be. We beg therefore that the best construc- tion may be put upon what we have to lay before him.
"We have been heretofore poor Heathen, who knew nothing of God but lived in blindness and abominable Sins.
"The Brethren have told us words from Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, who became a man for us and purchased Salvation for us with his Blood.
"We have heard these words, taken them to heart, received them in Faith, & are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
"The Brethren since that time have faithfully cared for us, and not only further instructed us in God's word, but have also per- mitted us to live upon their Land and plant our Corn, at the same time instructing our Children.
"It is now a great many Years that we have lived in Quiet & Peace under the Protection of the Government of this Province, so that we have not been burthensome to none, nor has any body molested us. But now it has come to pass that wicked People who serve the Devil have committed horrible Murthers & inhumanly butcher'd even our own Brethren. 1
"We well knew that we had nothing better to expect at their hands as long as we continued with the Brethren under this Govern- ment. For which Cause we sought to save our Lives by Flight, leaving every thing behind which we had in Gnadenhutten, that is not only our Habitations but also our Cloathing & Provisions, fleeing in the dark night naked & empty away with our Wives & Children.
"Now we are here in Bethlehem with our Brethren, willing rather to suffer and live with them as heretofore. We cannot but declare to our Honourable Governor, Ist. That we are thankful from the bottom of our Hearts for the Protection & Peace that we have hitherto enjoyed in this Province.
"2dly. That none of us have any hand in the abominable Mur- thers lately committed by the Indians, but we abhor and detest them.
" 3rdly. It is our desire, seeing that we are persuaded that our lives will be principally sought after, to put ourselves as Children under the Protection of this Government. We cannot say other- wise but that we are intirely devoted to the English Government, & wish success & prosperity to their Arms against their and our Enemies.
"We hope that our Honourable Governor will give us a gracious answer to this our humble Petition, & provide for our future Welfare & Security.
749
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
his
JOSHUA, the Mohickon, D mark. his
AUGUSTUS, Delaware,
mark.
his
JACOB, Mahickan,
mark. his
ANTON, Delaware, X mark.
his
JONº. PETER, Wamponas,
mark.
his
JOSHUA, Delaware, X
mark.
his
ANDREAS, Wamponas, 0 mark.
his
MICHL., Menesink, mark.
his
JONATHAN, Delaware, A mark. his
PHILLIPPUS, Wamponas, O mark.
his
JNº., Mahickan, X mark.
his
JNOº., Delaware, 0 mark.
bis
DANL., Mahickan, X mark. his
MARK, Mahickan, ₦
mark.
" Personally appeared before me, Timothy Horsefield, Esq., one of the Justices in and for the County of Northampton, the 30th day of Novembre, 1755, Bernard Adam Grube, John Jacob Schmick, & John Okely, all of Bethlehem, in the said County, Gentlemen, & upon their solemn affirmations according to Law did respectively declare & depose that they were present and did see the foregoing
"And the foregoing being read and explained to them in their own Tongue they unanimously confirmed & fixed their Marks to the same in the presence of us the subscribing Witnesses.
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