History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 14

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288

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HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

point at the distance of two miles. In 1849, the stone at the northeast corner of Maryland having been removed, a resurvey of the line was ordered, and suryeyors were appointed by the three States of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, who called to their aid Col. James D. Graham. Some few errors were discovered in the old survey, but in the main it was found to be accurate.

John Penn, grandson of the founder, and son of Richard, had come to the colony in 1753, and, having acted as President of the Council, was, in 1763, commissioned Governor in place of Hamilton. The conspiracy of Pontiac, though abortive in the results contemplated, left the minds of the Indians in a most dangerous state. The more resolute, who had entered heartily into the views of their leader, still felt that his purposes were patriotic, and hence sought, by every means possible, to ravage and destroy the English settlements. The Moravian Indians at Nain and Wichetunk, though regarded as friendly, were suspected of indirectly aiding in the savage warfare by trading firearms and ammunition. They were accordingly removed to Philadelphia that they might be out of the way of temptation. At the old Indian town of Conestoga there lived some score of natives. Many heartless murders had been com- mitted along the frontier, and the perpetrators had been traced to this Con- estoga town ; and while the Conestoga band were not known to be impli- cated in these outrages, their town was regarded as the lurking place of roving savages who were. For protection, the settlers in the neighboring districts of Paxton and Donegal, had organized a band known as the Paxton boys. Earnest requests were made by Rev. John Elder and John Harris to the Government to remove this band at Conestoga ; but as nothing was done, and fearful depredations and slaughter continued, a party of these Paxton rangers attacked the town and put the savages to the sword. Some few escaped, among them a known bloodthirsty savage, who were taken into the jail at Lancaster for pro- tection ; but the rangers, following them, overpowered the jailer, and breaking into the jail murdered the fugitives. Intense excitement was occasioned by this outbreak, and Gov. Penn issued his proclamation offering rewards for the apprehension of the perpetrators. Some few were taken ; but so excellent was their character and standing, and such were the provocations, that no convic- tions followed. Apprehensions for the safety of the Moravian Indians induced the Government to remove them to Province Island, and, feeling insecure there, they asked to be sent to England. For safety, they were sent to New York, but the Governor of that province refused them permission to land, as did also the Governor of New Jersey, and they were brought back to Philadel- phia and put in barracks under strong guard. The Paxton boys, in a consider- able body, were at that time at Germantown interceding for their brethren, who were then in durance and threatened with trial. Franklin was sent out to confer with them on the part of the Government. In defending their course, they said : "Whilst more than a thousand families, reduced to extreme dis- tress, during the last and present war, by the attacks of skulking parties of Indians upon the frontier, were destitute, and were suffered by the public to depend on private charity, a hundred and twenty of the perpetrators of the most horrid barbarities were supported by the province, and protected from the fury of the brave relatives of the murdered." Influenced by the persua- sions of Franklin, they consented to return to their homes, leaving only Matthew Smith and James Gibson to represent them before the courts.

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 sued 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 on 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 dele- gates. 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- gland. The Stamp Act was to go into effect on the 1st 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 use 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 clamorous 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 take no notice of it; but if they approved its sentiments, to prorogue their sittings. This letter was transmitted 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 one in humble 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 sum, 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 repeal 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 New 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 climate 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 and 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, and 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 meeting 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 freemen; that there can be no property in that which another can, 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 us 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 England 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 Massachusetts 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 country was desired, yet if the arbitiary acts of Parliament were persisted in, they would at every hazard defend the "rights 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 issue was fairly made up. It was warmly discussed. John Dickinson, one of the Pennsylvania 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 being 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.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 14

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1288

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288