USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 59
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A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" My Time has been so taken up in preparing Dispatches to the Earl of Loudoun representing to His Lordship the Distresses of this Province, occasioned by the long Continuance of the Embargo, and other Matters of a Public Nature, that I have not had Time to consider the Militia Bill laid before me on Thursday last with the Attention that is due to a Bill of so great Importance. I am, there- fore, under the Necessity of desiring that you will not adjourn this Evening, as I was informed by two of your Members you intended ; And I hope to be able to return you my Answer to that Bill on Monday next.
"June 18th, 1757."
"WILLIAM DENNY.
Captain Sampson Mifflin offering to go Express with the Dis- patches to Lord Loudoun, the Governor embraced this Opportunity of Answering his Lordship's Letter of the 5th Ultimo; and ac- cordingly wrote the following Lre. to His Lordship, and another to
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Sir Charles Hardy, in Answer to one sent by him to the Governor, acquainting him with his being appointed Admiral of the Blue.
Letter from the Governor to the Earl of Loudoun. " PHILADELPHIA, 18th June, 1757. · " My Lord :
"I have the Honour, tho' late, to acknowledge your Lordship's Letter of the 5th May, which came to my Hands at Lancaster, amidst the Indian Conferences ; An Account of which, I make no doubt, has been already transmitted to you by Mr. Croghan, whose Secretary, only, was allowed to take the Minutes.
"I immediately issued Writs to call the Assembly, and they shou'd have met on the 30th May, but a Quorum not attending, An Adjournment was made to the 6th Instant, When I laid be- fore them your Lordship's Letters, and those of the Secretary of State, pressing them to yeld Obedience thereto. They deliberated till Yesterday, and then returned me a negative Answer, refusing to raise The Five Hundred additional Men demanded, assigning their Reasons for it, on which I need not make any observations. Copies of my Message and their Answer, are inclosed. That rude Paper obliges me to detain Your Lordship longer than I cou'd wish.
" In justice to my other small Government, I acquaint Your Lordship, that last Year they raised £2,000 for the King's Use, and wou'd have made a further Grant at their stated Annual Meet- ing in October last, had I not been oblige to dismiss them, in Order to expedite the King's Business in this Province ; Where I was in hopes the Assembly wou'd have dispatch'd the Supplies and pro- vided for their Defence by a good Militia Law ; having earnestly recommended these Things to them when they first met, but instead of doing their Duty in these Two Important Articles, they trifled away their Time till January, and then offered me such a Supply Bill, as they knew I cou'd not pass ; and so continued sitting till Your Lordship came here in March. I have the Pleasure to inform Your Lordship, that out of their small Funds they have begun to build a Battery and Barracks at Newcastle, and I shall call them together as soon as the Assembly rises.
" As to the Assembly's endeavouring to lay on me the Blame of not sending the Detachment stipulated for the Defence of South Carolina, I must, in my own Vindication, set forth to your Lord- ship, that I was actually writing a Message to the House at the latter End of their last Sessions, when some of their Members acci- dentally coming in told me, that such a Message was unnecessary, for the Commissioners wou'd readily supply what shou'd be wanted on my Application. In Truth, my Lord, the same Obstruction that made impossible to spare such a Number of Men out of the Pro- vincial Forces, subsists to this Day ; most of the Provincials, as I
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told your Lordship in my last Letter, were enlisted only for a Year, which expiring about the Time these Forces were wanted for South Carolina, I pressed the Commissioners to offer a Bounty, and to give proper Encouragement to the Officers who were employed in the recruiting Service, but notwithstanding the Exigency of the Occa- sion, they obstinately refused to allow any Bounty, or to pay the Officers their Recruiting Expences. At last they offered a Dollar Bounty, and since that a Pistole, but still refuse to allow the Offi- cers their Charges, by Means whereof the Number of Provincials, as your Lordship will see by the Copy of the enclosd. Return of the Commissary of the Musters, does but now amount to about 900 Private Men.
"Your Lordship will observe how highly the Assembly resent the good Advice you was pleased to give them, to desist from all further Treating with the Indians.
"The Assembly, in the Close of their Message, complain that Parties have not been sent out, which is not true, there being stand- ing Orders for constant Patrolls. And the Measures settled by Your Lordship with me, in the Presence of Colonel Clapham and Lieuteut Colonels Armstrong and Weiser, for the Defence of the Frontiers, and the Number of the respective Garrisons having been complied with as far as is practicable.
" Colonel Stanwix encamped at Carlisle the 30th of last Month, and writes that He sends out frequent Scouting Parties.
" The News of your Success in the intended Expedition, will give infinite Pleasure to him, who is, My Lord, with the highest Esteem and Affection,
" Your Lordship's most obedient " And most humble Servt., " WILLIAM DENNY.
"' 'To the Earl of LOUDOUN."
The Governor's Letter to Sir Charles Hardy. " PHILADELPHIA, 18th June, 1757. .“ Sir :
"I was honoured with Your Letter of -, at Lancaster, during a Conference with the Six Nations; And a sudden Attack of the Enemy Indians obliged me to go from thence to the Fron- tiers. Those Affairs have prevented my writing sooner, and I am not a little uneasy, lest You shou'd imagine I had wilfully delayed congratulating your Excellency on hoisting Your Flagg. . Permit
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me to wish you joy of the late Honour conferred on You, with the Warmth and Sincerity of a Friend. I am, Sir,
" Your Excellency's most obedient " And most humble Servant,
" WILLIAM DENNY.
" To Sir CHARLES HARDY."
At a Council, on Saturday the 18th June, P. M. Present, as before, with Benjamin Chew, Esquire.
The Bill, Entituled, "an Act empowering the Governor to dis- charge his part of the Operations of this Campaign, stipulated, in Behalf of this Province, between His Excellency, John, Earl of Loudoun and the Governors of the Southern Colonies," being com- pared and found agreable to the Governor's Amendment, was en- acted into a Law in the Presence of the Speaker and House, who attended for that Purpose, And the Great Seal affixed to it; after which the Bill was lodged in the Recorder's Office.
The Assembly's long Message was again read over, and an An- swer being thou't Necessary, the following was wrote in Council :
A Message from the Governor to the House.
" Gentlemen :
" The first Part of your Message containing nothing more than Excuses why you will not comply with the Demands made on this Province by His Majesty, in the Letters of the Secretary of State and my Lord Loudoun, to raise an additional Number of Forces, I shall, therefore, take no further Notice of it than to inform You that I have already transmitted your Message to His Lordship, and shall take the first Opportunity of sending it to the King's Ministers, who will judge how well those Excuses are founded.
"It is evident that Lord Loudoun is not satisfied with what has been already done by this Province, or he wou'd not have de- manded the raising of an additional Five Hundred Men-A De- mand founded in the highest Wisdom and Prudence; since, having no Militia, these extended Frontiers should not be left exposed to different Attacks, and the doubtfull Events and Chances of War ..
"I was in hopes a Nobleman of His Lordship's distinguish'd Merit and Abilities, in whom His Majesty has reposed so high a Confidence and Trust, wou'd have escaped your Censures. Who- ever knows His Lordship's indefatigable Industry, and Application to Business, and the strict Attention he gives to the Conduct of this and the other Colonies, must clearly be convinced of the In- justice of your Insinuation, that his pressing you for an additional Number of Forces is owing to the Want of duly weighing the
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large Sums of Money already granted, and His Lordship's Igno- rance of the Circumstances of this Province.
" It will be endless to enter into a Dispute about the Militia Bill. How far it was at first, or is, with the Alterations since made, adapted to the Circumstances and Defence of the Province, must be submitted to Our Superiors to determine. I shall only mention Two Things : First, That the late Bill which passed the House of Commons subjected the Militia, in Time of Insurrection or Inva- sion, to the Penalties of Death, or such other Judgment as a Court Martial shou'd inflict. Secondly, That the Law repealed by His Majesty constituted a Court Martial for the Trial of Offenders, which the Bill before me has not done ; not to mention the loose Manner and pernicious Consequences of giving Liberties to evil-dis- posed Persons of pretending they are actual Members of certain Congregations when they are not ; and only declare themselves so occasionally in order to avoid defending their Country, which good and Loyal Subjects are always ready so do; by which Conduct the best and bravest of the People will be obliged to expose their Per- sons for the Defence and Protection of the whole, and even of the worst.
" For the above weighty Reasons, I cannot withdraw any of my Amendments, and am obliged to reject your Militia Bill as being injurious to the equal Privileges of the People, as well as incon- sistent with the just Rights of Government, the Safety and Se- curity of the Province, and our Duty to His Majesty.
"I am sorry you do not think the Militia Act of the Lower Counties worthy of your Imitation. It is certainly thought a good one by the Lords of Trade, who have rejected a warm Application made against it; Whereas the old Law of this Province was re- pealed on their Lordships' Report by the King in Council, and your present Bill is worse than that, and liable to more Objections.
" In Answer to your Charge of Partiality in favour of the Lower Counties, I wou'd observe that, before my Arrival, it is well known they gave for the King's use as much as their Circum- stances wou'd permit, and no doubt they wou'd have since that shewn the same Spirit of Loyalty and Duty to His Majesty if an Opportunity had been given them. But your sitting prevented the Continuance of their first Meeting, and since that my Attention has been so much engaged by the Business of this Government, the Indian Conferences, your long Sessions of Assembly, and the Great. Affairs to be transacted with the Comander-in-Chief, that I cou'd not attend their Adjournment; so that the Imputation attempted to be cast on Me, as well as the Lower Assembly, you know to be unjust, and without the least Foundation.
" Your being pleased to find Fault with that Assembly for keep- ing their Transactions from Publick view, gives me to hope that You will for the future favour me with regular Copies of your
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Minutes, in Conformity to the constant Practice of the House of Commons, whose Votes are published daily. This I further de- mand of You, because You profess your Determination of laying your Transactions before the King's Ministers, which I very much approve of.
" As to your apprehensions of being Loaded with the Defects of the Assembly of the Lower Counties, I wou'd observe, that your Proceedings are too well known, both in America and Great Britain, to admit of any Doubt. You need not, therefore, be under any Concern about the World's mistaking the Conduct of any other Assembly for Yours'.
"You seem surprized that I did not lay before you my Stipula- tions with my Lord Loudoun, which relating to a secret Expedition cou'd not at first with Propriety be communicated to the Assembly. And besides this, as the Detachment I stipulated for was to be draughted out of the Provincial Forces, I saw it was impossible to spare any. till such Time as these Forces shou'd be compleated, of which there was no kind of Prospect at that Time.
"My Duty, therefore, was to urge the Commissioners to encourage the Recruiting Service by giving a proper Bounty to each Recruit. That Affair hung too long on hand; at first only a Dollar, Levy Money, at last a Pistole; and without any other Allowance to the Oficers than half a Dollar per Man, which has since been taken away.
"The Assembly has met, and may meet often again without seeing the Complement of Troops raised, as the Commissioners have Yes- terday notified their Resolution of allowing Nothing to the Officers.
" The Method, if it be ever intended to compleat the Levies, will be to give the same Bounty Money as is allotted in His Majesty's Service, which is founded on Reason and Experience. We have no real Soldiers to be depended on for any Time, but such as are en- listed on the New Establishment. As such uncommon Bounty Money was offered in Jersey, and such great Encouragement given to inlist in the King's Troops, it became absolutely Necessary to offer even more than the Pistole. Several of our Men, whose Times were out, having actually inlisted either with one or other of them; And this was still the greater Misfortune, as One old Soldier was equal to Three New Recruits.
" What is to be understood from the Paragraph of my Message on Indian Affairs is, I think, not hard to conceive. It being my Duty to deliver His Majesty's Order, signified by my Lord Loudoun, with regard to Indian Treaties, you are to consider them as such, and not as his Lordship's or Mine. It grieves me to tell You that what you call Reflections published with Pleasure by me, respecting the Conduct of the People of this Province, are Observations of the Commander-in-Chief on their past Measures, which I cou'd not
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answer keeping secret; therefore, it is too delicate a Matter for me, who am not personally concerned, even to attempt to answer your Objections. However, you will remark that Lord Loudoun expressly says, 'That the People of this Province have obstinately insisted in carrying on Negotiations with the Indians, and have even sent to negotiate with them separately in the King's Agent's own House;' which was very particular, when the Governors themselves were strictly forbid to meddle with Indian Treaties in any Shape what- soever.
"Nothing shall be wanting on my Part, in Conjunction with the King's Agent, to settle any Differences subsisting with the Indians. Numbers have been Witnesses to my Candour and Impartiality in the late Transactions for that purpose, and particularly some of your own Body. How can you then presume to insinuate a Doubt to the contrary ?
" As a Judge I can never suppose an Accusation proved before it be heard, even against the lowest Person of the Country; nor ought I when the First and highest are misrepresented and black- ened. Which of you, Gentlemen, wou'd like such Treatment ? And what wou'd you say, if a Chief Magistrate acted such a Part in Matters relating to your Character and Property ?
"The Proprietaries who have the Government under the King's Charter are ready to make ample Satisfaction to the Indians, in Case . any Fraud, with Respect to Purchases, appears to have been committed by their Agents; but the Charge is so heinous against Gentlemen in their high Station, that it will be a particular Plea- sure to me to right their Honour, and at the same Time do the In- dians Justice, in Case it appears that their Complaints are well founded.
"What you have, therefore, so confidently affirmed to be the Chief Cause of the present Indian Ravages, is far from being so evident as to admit of no Contradiction. Teedyuscung at the last Conferences At Easton, openly and honestly declared that the sup- posed fraudulent Purchase was not the real Cause, tho' the Blow fell heavier on that Account. How then can it be asserted that the Hostilities arose on Account of other Purchases, whereof he has never made any Mention ? Nay you know further, that the Depu- ties of the Six Nations made no Complaint of this Nature, tho' the Question was put to them in the most public and solemn Manner during the late Conferences at Lancaster, whether they had any Thing to complain of against this Province, with Regard to Land ' Purchases, or any other Account whatsoever ?
" Purchases from the Indians have always been approved of by this Province as the most equitable and satisfactory Method of settling the Country, which you know the Proprietaries, in Com- pliance with the Royal Grant, are under the strongest Obligations to do ; Wherefore, if there be Nothing to complain of in the Manner
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of making such Purchases, there can be no Objection to the extent of them, whilst so necessary for the Security of the Inhabitants, especially when it is represented to Me that the settled Part of the Province is not One-Eighth Part of the whole, and the other Seven Eighths are yet open to the Indians.
" In the Conclusion of Your Message you mention great Neglects in the Recruiting and other Parts of the Military Service. I agree with you that what relates to Recruiting has been too much neglected, and never was worse carried On in any Country in the World. Of that I have spoke above, and long since offered a Remedy. As to the Rest, constant Patroles and ranging Parties have been ordered Out, but even this Service has been materially checked when the Soldiers wanted both Pay and Necessaries, and more particularly when the very moderate Demands of Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong were refused, who had Instructions to encamp with Three Hundred Men the latter End of March or the beginning of April in an ad- vanced Post, to cover that Frontier. The Attacks of the Enemy might either have been prevented or they cut off in their Retreat ; many Murders consequently wou'd not have been committed, and many Prisoners not led into the worst of Slavery, if my reasonable Application had been complied with, which wou'd have put the Publick to very little Expence ; And the Remainder of the Proprie- tary Present was more than a sufficient Fund for that Expedition. As to the Assertion of the Numbers of each Battalion not being kept up, it has been shewn to have been owing to the determined Resolution of the Commissioners to retard the Recruiting Service. Standing Orders were given on my first Coming to re-inlist Men whose Times were expired, and to compleat the several Companies. The Two Battalions of the Pennsylvania Regiment have been gene- rally compleat, which, all things considered, is to be looked upon as next to a Miracle.
" With Respect to the Augusta Regiment, about Three Months ago the Men were ready to mutiny for want of Pay. The Com- manding Officer expected to be besieged every Hour; the Garrison was very weak, and the Works not finished. It was absolutely Necessary that the Officers shou'd remain there for the Defence of the Place, and they were ordered to use their utmost Endeavours to quiet the Men, who loudly demanded their Pay and Discharges, and engage them to re-enlist, nor cou'd they be spared to go a Recruiting till Money was sent to pay the Regiment. I was even under a Necessity to reinforce the Garrison with Three Companies of an- other Battalion and their Officers, And even more were ordered for the Defence of that important Place, who refused to march for want of Pay and Necessaries.
"You do well to inform me of the Misconduct of Persons em- ployed in the Service of the Government; but you wou'd have done better to have mentioned their Names; I have commissioned none
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such. Bring your Proofs, and they shall be removed. General Aspersions have a very bad Appearance, and too frequently are ill grounded and malicious.
"The whole of these Transactions will be transmitted Home as soon as possible.
"Thus I have endeavoured to answer your most extraordinary Message with Temper and Moderation. If you chuse in Public Business to lay aside Decency, it does not become a Gentleman in my Station to want Manners.
"WILLIAM DENNY."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Tuesday, 21st of June, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honble. WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Richard Peters, Esquire, Secretary,
With the following Indians, vizt. :
Nathaniel, Zacharias, and Christian,
with 3 Indians from Bethlehem.
Pumpshire, Interpreter.
Yesterday the Governor receiv'd the following Letter from Mr. Horsfield and one from Mr. Parsons, by the above Indians, Two of which were the Messengers who had been sent with the Governor's Message to Teedyuscung.
A Letter to the Governor from Mr. Horsfield. "BETHLEHEM, June 19th, 1757.
" May it please your Honour :
"Last Night returned the Indians, Nathaniel and Zacharias, who I dispatched with your Honour's Message to 'Teedyuscung.
" Agreable to Your Honour's Commands, I now send the Bearer, Theiter and Auga. Frank, to conduct them to Philadelphia. I gave Directions to Theiter, that when they came within Ten or Twelve Miles of the Town he shou'd go before and give your Honour No- tice of their Coming. The Indians inform . me That they left Teedyuscung 8 or 9 Days ago, at a Place about 100 Miles above Diahogo; That He, with a great Company of Indians, wou'd set off about This Time for Easton.
" This Morning arrived the Indians, Paul and Jonathan ; They went from here Nineteen Days since, in Company with Tapeuscung, Jo. Peepy, &c". with a Message from this Government to Teedyus- cung, by Direction from Mr. George Croghan, from whom I re-
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ceived a Letter, desiring I wou'd dispatch them with Provisions, &cª. for their Journey. (I secrete from Paul & Jonathan That Jo. Peepy is gone to Sir William Johnson) ; that they left Tapacung (who I observed was particularly charged with the Message) with Teedyuscung, and was coming down with him.
"I am, with all due Respect,
"Your Honour's Most obedient humble Serv"
"TIMO. HORSFIELD.
"To The Honble. WILLIAM DENNY, Esq"."
The Indians were kindly received, and met with an hearty well- · come from the Governor, who desired them to relate the Proceedings of their Journey, wch. They did in the following Speeches :
Minutes of the Proceedings of Nathaniel & Zacharias, Two Indians employed by this Government to carry a Message to Teedyus- cung.
" Brother :
" According to your Writing, and Orders that came to the Brethren at Bethlehem, we were employed to carry them to Teedy- uscung, And We proceeded on Our Journey.
" Brother :
" After We set out, we were Eleven Days before we arrived at Diahoga, And then were obliged to go to Passekawkung; there we came to Teedyuscung's Habitation, and were Twenty-six Days in performing Our Journey.
" Brother : 1
"Teedyuscung kindly received Us and your Message. He had been diligent in his Business, according to his Authority.
"In Answer he returned these Words :
" Brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania :
" When I look toward my Brother, the Governor of Pennsyl- vania, I am grieved at my Breast, for I think he must be out of Patience at my long stay, And so am I. I have gone all round to my Uncles, as I promised, but they cou'd not bring their Matters to bear so soon as I wou'd have had them. I received but lately the last of their Answers.
" Brother :
'" You may well remember that at the last Council that we had I gave you good Tobacco, the same that was smoaked by Our Grand- ' fathers. I lightd. your Pipe with it. I told you at that Council I wou'd light a Candle to look down the Road leading to you, And if two or Three Warriors, or more, shou'd travel it in Order to attack you, and it was in my Power, I wou'd send you word of it, And you promised to reward me for it.
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" Brother :
"I have seen no Body marching in it, tho' I am told Mischief has been done to your Inhabitants. It is done by Strangers. I know Nothing of it."
Here the Messengers paused, and said as follows :
" Whilst We were at Passekawkung, We saw Three Companies of Indians, who live close by the French, that were coming against the English, And Teedyuscung stopped them, and turned them back. In the first Company were Nine, In the second Five, And in the Third two."
Afterwards they proceeded with Teedyuscung's Answer as follows : " My Brother :
" Now I rise up from my Seat, and I go; And all that I have collected together, according to my Promise, have agreed to set out on a certain Day.
"I desire my Brother wou'd be so kind as to believe my Mes- sengers, according to what they shall say in my Name. If they arrive safe, I shall certainly be with you at such a Time; I desire, therefore, that, as the Governor has that good Tobacco, he may be ready, and that I may see him at the Council Fire, when I come, with John Pumpshire and Titamy. I wou'd not have him so long in Coming as he was before.
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