History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 14

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Publisher: W. Taylor
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USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 14

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HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTER XI.

JOHN PENN, 1763-71 -JAMES HAMILTON, 1771-RICHARD PENN, 1771-73-JOHN PENN, 1773-76.

A DIFFERENCE having arisen between the Governor and Assembly on the vexed question of levying money, the Assembly passed a series of reso- lutions advocating that the " powers of government ought to be separated from the power attending the immense proprietary property, and lodged in the hands of the King." After an interval of fifty days-that time for reflection and discussion might be given-the Assembly again convened, and adopted a petition praying the King to assume the direct government of the province, though this policy was strongly opposed by some of the ablest members, as Isaac Norris and John Dickinson. The Quaker element was generally in favor of the change.

Indian barbarities still continuing along the frontier, Gov. Penn declared war against the Shawanese and Delawares in July, 1765, and sent Col. Bouquet with a body of Pennsylvania troops against them. By the 3d of October, he had come up to the Muskingum, in the heart of the most thickly peopled Indian territory. So rapid had been the movement of Bouquet that the savages had no intelligence of his advance until he was upon them with no preparations for defense. They sned for peace, and a treaty was entered into by which the savages agreed to abstain from further hostilities until a general treaty could be concluded with Sir William Johnson, the general agent for Indian affairs for all the colonies, and to deliver up all English captives who had been carried away during the years of trouble. Two hundred and eight were quickly gathered up and brought in, and many others were to follow, who were now widely scattered. The relatives of many of these captives had proceeded with the train of Bouquet, intent on reclaiming those who had been dear to them. Some were joyfully received, while others who had been borne off in youth had become attached to their captors, and force was necessary to bring them away. " On the return of the army, some of the Indians obtained leave to accompany their former captives to Fort Pitt, and employed themselves in hunting and carrying provisions for them on the road."

The great struggle for the independence of the colonies of the British crown was now close at hand, and the first sounds of the controversy were be- ginning to be heard. Sir William Keith, that enterprising Governor whose head seemed to have been full of new projects, as early as 1739 had proposed to lay a uniform tax on stamped paper in all the colonies, to realize funds for the common defense. Acting upon this hint, Grenville, the British Minister, notified the colonists in 1763 of his purpose to impose such a tax. Against this they remonstrated. Instead of this, a tax on imports, to be paid in coin, was adopted. This was even more distasteful. The Assembly of Rhode Island, in October, 1765, submitted a paper to all the colonial assemblies, with a view to uniting in a common petition to the King against parliamentary taxation. This was favorably acted on by the Assembly of Pennsylvania, and Franklin was appointed agent to represent their cause before the British Par- liament. The Stamp Act had been passed on the 22d of March, 1765. Its passage excited bitter opposition, and a resolution, asserting that the Colonial

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Assemblies had the exclusive right to levy taxes, was passed by the Virginia Assembly, and concurred in by all the others. The Massachusetts Assembly proposed a meeting of delegates in New York ou the second Tuesday of October, 1765, to confer upon the subject. The Pennsylvania Assembly adopted the suggestion, and appointed Messrs. Fox, Morton, Bryan and Dickenson as delo- gules. This Congress met according to the call and adopted a respectful pe- tition to the King, and a memorial to Parliament, which were signed by all the members and forwarded for presentation by the Colonial Agents in En- glund. The Stamp Act was to go into effect on the Ist of November. On the last day of October, the newspapers were dressed in mourning, and suspended publication. The publishers agreed not to use the stamped paper. The people, as with one mind, determined to dress in homespun, resolved not to uso imported goods, and, to stimulate the production of wool the colonists cov- enanted not to eat lamb for the space of one year. The result of this policy was soon felt by British manufacturers who became clamorons for repeal of the obnoxious measures, and it was accordingly repealed on the 18th of March, 1766.

Determined in some form to draw a revenue from the colonies, an act was passed in 1767, to lay a duty on tea, paper, printers' colors, and glass. The As- sembly of Pennsylvania passed a resolution on the 20th of February, 1768, instructing its agent in London to urge its repeal, and at the session in May received and entered upon its minutes a circular letter from the Massachusetts Assembly, setting forth the grounds on which objection to the act should be urged. This circular occasioned hostile feeling among the ministry, and the Secretary for foreign affairs wrote to Gov. Penn to urge the Assembly to tako no notice of it; but if they approved its sentiments, to prorogue their sittings. This letter was transmittod to the Assembly, and soon after one from the Virginia Assembly was presented, urging union of all the colonies in opposing the several schemes of taxation. This recommendation was adopted, and committees appointed to draw a petition to the King and to each of the Houses of Parliament. To lead public sentiment, and have it well grounded in the arguments used against taxation, John Dickinson, one of the ablest of the Pennsylvania legislators at this time, published a number of articles purporting to come from a plain farmer, under the title of the Farmer's Letters, which became popular, the idea that they were the work of ono in bumble life, helping to swell the tide of popularity. They were republished in all the colonies, and exerted a commanding influence. Alarmed at the unanimity of feeling against the proposed schemes, and supposing that it was the amount of the tax that gave offense, Parliament reduced the rate in 1769 to one sixth of the original snm, and in 1770 abolished it altogether, except three pence a pound on tea But it was the principle, and not the amount that was objected to, and at the next session of the Assembly in Pennsylvania, their agent in London was directed to urge its repoal altogether.

It would seem incredible that the colony of Connecticut should lay claim to any part of the territory of Pennsylvania, but so it was. The Now En- gland charters gave limitless extent westward even to the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and south to the northern limits of the tract ceded to Lord Baltimore- the territory between the 40th and 46th degrees of north latitude, and from ocean to ocean. To encroach upon New York with its teaming popu lation was not calculated to tempt the enterprise of the settler; but the rich virgin soil. and agreeable climato of the wide Wyoming Val- ley, as yet unappropriated, was likely to attract the eye of the explorer. Accordingly, at the general conference with the Indians held at Albany

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in 1754, the Connecticut delegates made a purchase of a large tract in this valley; a company, known as the Susquehanna Company, was formed in Connecticut to promote the settlement of these lands, and a considerable im- migration commenced. The proprietors of Pennsylvania had also made pur- chase of the Indians of these identical lands, and the royal charters of Charles and James covered this ground. But the Plymouth Charter antedated Penn's. Remonstrances were made to the Governor of Connecticut against encroach- ments upon the territory of Pennsylvania. The answer returned was under- stood to disclaim any control over the company by the Connecticut authorities; but it subsequently appeared that the Government was determined to defend the settlers in the possession of their lands. In 1768, the proprietors of Penn- sylvania entered into treaty stipulations with the Indians for all this tract cov- ered by the claim of the Susquehanna Company. Pennsylvania settlers, attracted by the beauty of the place, gradually acquired lands under Penn- sylvania patents, and the two parties began to infringe on each other's claims. Forts and block-houses were erected for the protection of either party, and a petty warfare was kept up, which resulted in some loss of life. Butler, the leader of the Connecticut party, proposed to settle their differences by per- sonal combat of thirty picked men on each side. In order to assert more direct legal control over the settlers, a new county was formed which was called Northumberland, that embraced all the disputed lands. But the Sheriff, even with the aid of the militia, which he called to his assistance, was unable to execute his processes, and exercise legal control, the New Englanders, proving a resolute set, determined to hold the splendid farms which they had marked out for themselves, and were bringing rapidly under cultivation. To the re- monstrances of Gov. Penn, Gov. Trumbull responded that the Susquehanna Com- pany was proceeding in good faith under provisions secured by the charter of the Plymouth Colony, and proposed that the question be submitted to a com- petent tribunal for arbitrament. An ex parte statement was submitted to Council in London by the Connecticut party, and an opinion was rendered favorable to its claims. In September, 1775, the matter was submitted to the Continental Congress, and a committee of that body, to whom it was referred, reported in favor of the Connecticut claim, apportioning a tract out of the very bowels of Pennsylvania nearly as large as the whole State of Connecticut. This action was promptly rejected by the Assembly of Pennsylvania, and a final decision was not reached until 1802, when Congress decided in favor of the integrity of the chartered rights of Penn.

Richard Penn, son of the founder, died in 1771, whereupon Gov. John Penn returned to England, leaving the President of the Council, James Ham- ilton, at the head of the Government. John Penn, eldest son of Richard, suc- ceeded to the proprietary interests of his father, which he held in conjunction with his uncle, Thomas, and in October of the same year, Richard, the second son, was commissioned Governor. He held the office but about two years, and in that time won the confidence aud esteem of the people, and so much attached was he to the popular cause, that upon his return to England, in 1775, he was intrusted by Congress with the last petition of the colonies ever presented to the King. In August, 1773, John Penn returned with the commission of Governor, superseding his brother Richard. Soon after his arrival, the Gov- ernor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, issued his proclamation, laying claim to a vast territory in the Monongalia Valley, including the site of the present city of Pittsburgh, and upon the withdrawal of the British garrison, one Con- nolly had taken possession of it in the name of Virginia. Gov. Penn issued a counter-proclamation, calling on all good citizens within the borders of Penn-

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sylvania, to preserve their allegiance to his Government, seized and imprisoned Connolly, und sent Commissioners to Virginia to effect an amicable settlement. These, Dunmore refused to hear, and was preparing to assert his authority by force; but his Council refused to vote him money for this purpose.

To encourage the sale of tea in the colonies, and establish the principle of taxation, the export duty was removed. The colonies took the alarm. At a public moeting called in Philadelphia to consider the subject, on the 18th of October, 1773, resolutions were adopted in which it was declared : "That the disposal of their own property is the inherent right of freemeu; that there can be no property in that which another enn, of right, take from us without our consent; that the claim of Parliament to tax America, is, in other words, a claim of right to levy contributions on ns at pleasure." The East India Company now made preparations for sending large importations of tea into the colonies. The ships destined for Philadelphia and New York, on approaching port, and being advised of the exasperated state of public feeling, returned to Engiand with their cargoes. Those sent to Boston came into the harbor; but at night a party disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded the vessels, and breaking open the packages, emptied 300 chests into the sea. The ministry, on being apprised of this act, closed the port of Boston, and subverted the colonial charter. Early in the year, committees of correspondence had been established in all the colonies, by means of which the temper and feeling in each was well un- derstood by the others, and concert of action was secured. The hard condi - tions imposed on the town of Boston and the colony of Massachusetta Bay, aroused the sympathy of all; for, they argued, we know not how soon the heavy hand of oppression may be felt by any of us. Philadelphia declared at a pub- lic meeting that the people of Pennsylvania would continue firmly to adhere to the cause of American liberty, and urged the calling of a Congress of dele- gates to consider the general interests.

At a meeting held in Philadelphia on the 18th of June, 1774, at which nearly 8,000 people were convened, it was decided that a Continental Congress ought to be held, and appointed a committee of correspondence to communi- cate with similar committees in the several counties of Pennsylvania and in the several colonies. On the 15th of July, 1774. delegates from all the counties, summoned by this committee, assembled in Philadelphia, and declared that there existed an absolute necessity for a Colonial Congress. They accordingly recommended that the Assembly appoint delegates to such a Congress to represent Pennsylvania, and Joseph Galloway, Samuel Rhoads, George Ross, Edward Biddle, John Dickinson, Charles Humphries and Thomas Mifflin were appointed.

On the 4th of September, 1774, the first Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia. Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, was called to preside, and Charles Thomson, of Pennsylvania, was appointed Secretary. It was resolved that no more goods be imported from England, and that unless a pacification was effected previously, no more Colonial produce of the soil be exported thither after September 10, 1775. A declaration of rights was adopted, and addresses to the King, the people of Great Britain, and of British America were agreed to, after which the Congress adjourned to meet again on the 10th of May, 1775.

In January, 1775, another meeting of the county delegates was held in Philadelphia, at which the action of the Colonial Congress was approved, and while a restoration of harmony with the mother conntry was desired, yet if the arbitiary acts of Parliament were persisted in, they would at every hazard defend the "righta and liberties of America." The delegates appointed to

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represent the colony in the Second Congress were Mifflin, Humphries, Biddle, Dickinson, Morton, Franklin, Wilson and Willing.

The government of Great Britain had determined with a strong hand to compel obedience to its behests. On the 19th of April, 1775, was fought the battle of Lexington, and the crimson fountain was opened. That blow was felt alike through all the colonies. The cause of one was the cause of all. A public meeting was held in Philadelphia, at which it was resolved to organize military companies in all the counties. The Assembly heartily seconded these views, and engaged to provide for the pay of the militia while in service. The Second Congress, which met in May, provided for organizing a continental army, fixing the quota for Pennsylvania at 4,300 men. The Assembly adopted the recommendation of Congress, provided for arming, disciplining and pay- ing the militia, recommended the organizing minutemen for service in an emergency, made appropriations for the defense of the city, and offered a pre- mium on the production of salt peter. Complications hourly thickened. Ticon- deroga was captured on the 10th of May, and the battle of Bunker Hill was fought on the 17th of June. On the 15th of June, George Washington was appointed Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, supported by four Major Generals and eight Brigadiers.

The royal Governors were now an incumbrance greatly in the way of the popular movement, as were also the Assemblies where they refused to represent the popular will. Accordingly, Congress recommended that the several col- onies should adopt such government as should " best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular and America in general." This meant that each colony should set up a government for itself independent of the Crown. Accordingly, a public meeting was held in Philadelphia, at which it was resolved that the present Assembly is "not competent to the pres- ent exigencies of affairs," and that a new form of government ought to be adopted as recommended by Congress. The city committee of correspondence called on the county committees to secure the election of delegates to a colonial meeting for the purpose of considering this subject. On the 18th of June, the meeting was held in Philadelphia, and was organized by electing Thomas Mckean President. It resolved to call a convention to frame a new con- stitution, provided the legal forms to be observed, and issued an address to the people.

Having thus by frequent argumentation grown familiar with the declara- tion of the inherent rights of every citizen, and with flatly declaring to the government of Great Britain that it had no right to pursue this policy or that, and the several States having been recommended to absolve themselves from allegience to the royal governments, and set up independent colonial govern- ments of their own, it was a natural inference, and but a step further, to de- clare the colonies entirely independent of the British Government, and to or- ganize for themselves a general continental government to hold the place of King and Parliament. The idea of independence had been seriously proposed, and several Colonial Assemblies had passed resolutions strongly recommending it. And yet there were those of age and experience who had supported independ. ent principles in the stages of argumentation, before action was demanded, when they approached the brink of the fatal chasm, and had to decide whether to take the leap, hesitated. There were those in the Assembly of Pennsylvania who were reluctant to advise independence; but the majority voted to recommend its delegates to unite with the other colonies for the com- mon good. The convention which had provided for holding a meeting of del- egates to frame a new constitution, voted in favor of independence, and au- thorized the raising of 6.000 militia.

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On the 7th of June, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, introduced in Congress the proposition that, "the United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved " It was impossible to mistake or misinterpret the meaning of this language. The issuo was fairly made up. It was warmly discussed. John Dickinson, one of the l'ennsylvania delegates, and one who had been foremost in speak- ing and writing on the popular side, was not ready to cut off all hope of rec- onciliation, and depicted the disorganized condition in which the colonies would be left if the power and protection of Britain were thus suddenly re- moved. The vote upon the resolution was taken on the 2d of July, and re- sulted in the affirmative vote of all the States except Pennsylvania and Delaware, the delegates from these States boing divided. A committee con- sisting of Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Livingston and Sherman had been, some time previous, appointed to draw a formal statement of the Declaration, and the reasons "out of a decent respect to the opinions of mankind." which led to so important an act. The work was intrusted to a sub-committee consisting of Adams and Jefferson, and its composition was the work of Mr. Jefferson, though many of the ideas, and even the forms of expression. had been used again and again in the previous resolutions and pronunciamentoes of the Colonial Assem- blies and public meetings. It had been reported on the 28th of June, and was sharply considered in all its parts, many verbal alterations having been made in the committee of five; but after the passage of the preliminary resolution, the result was a foregone conclusion, and on the 4th of July it was finally adopted and proclaimed to the world. Of the Pennsylvania delegation, Franklin, Wilson and Morton voted for it, and Willing and Humphrey against, Dickin- son being absent. The colonial convention of Pennsylvania, being in session at the time, on receiving intelligence that a majority of its delegates in Con- gress had voted against the preliminary resolution, named a new delegation, omitting the names of Dickinson, Willing and Humphrey, and adding othere which made it thus constituted-Franklin, Wilson, Morton, Morris, Clymer, Smith, Taylor and Ross. An engrossed copy of the Declaration was made, which was signed by all the members on the 2d of August following, on which are found the names from Pennsylvania above recited.

The convention for framing a new constitution for the colony met on the 15th of July, and was organized by electing Franklin President, and on the 28th of September completed its labors, having framed a new organic law and made all necessary provisions for putting it into operation. In the mean- time the old proprietary Assembly adjourned on the 14th of June to the 26th of August. But a quorum failed to appear, and an adjournment was had to the 23d of September, when some routine business was attended to, chiefly providing for the payment of salaries and necessary bills, and on the SSth of September, after a stormy existence of nearly a century, this Assembly, the creature of Penn, adjourned never to meet again. With the ending of the Is- sembly ended the power of Gov. Penn. It is a singular circumstance, much noted by the believers in signs, that on the day of his arrival in America, which was Sunday, the earth in that locality was rocked by an earthquake, which was interpreted as an evil omen to his administration. He married the daughter of William Allen, Chief Justice of the colony, and, though at times falling under suspicion of favoring the royal canse, yet, as was believed, not with reason, he remained a quiet spectator of the great struggle, living at his country seat in Bucks County, where he died in February, 1795.

The titles of the proprietors to landed estates were suspended by the action

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of the convention, and on the 27th of November, 1779, the Legislature passed an act vesting these estates in the commonwealth, but paying the proprietors a gratuity of £130,000, " in remembrance of the enterprising spirit of the Founder." This act did not touch the private estates of the proprietors, nor the tenths of manors. The British Government, in 1790, in consideration of the fact that it had been unable to vindicate its authority over the colony, and afford protection to the proprietors in the enjoyment of their chartered rights, voted an annuity of £4,000 to the heirs and descendants of Penn. This annuity has been regularly paid to the present time, 1884.

CHAPTER XII.

THOMAS WHARTON, JR., 1777-78-GEORGE BRYAN, 1778-JOSEPH REED, 1778-81- WILLIAM MOORE, 1781-82-JOHN DICKINSON, 1782-85-BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 1185-88.

TH HE convention which framed the constitution appointed a Committee of Safety, consisting of twenty-five members, to whom was intrusted the government of the colony until the proposed constitution should be framed and put in operation. Thomas Rittenhouse was chosen President of this body, who was consequently in effect Governor. The new constitution, which was unanimously adopted on the 28th of September, was to take effect from its passage. It provided for an Assembly to be elected annually; a Supreme Ex- ecutive Council of twelve members to be elected for a term of three years; As- semblymen to be eligible but four years out of seven, and Councilmen but one term in seven years. Members of Congress were chosen by the Assembly. The constitution could not be changed for seven years. It provided for the election of censors every seven years, who were to decide whether there was a demand for its revision. If so, they were to call a convention for the pur- pose. On the 6th of August, 1776, Thomas Wharton, Jr., was chosen Presi- dent of the Council of Safety.

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Author: Publication date: Publisher: W. Taylor Number of Pages: 1280

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher: W. Taylor
Number of Pages: 1280