History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 4

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell
Number of Pages: 604

USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 4

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Colonel Brodhead, at about the same time, went on an expedition against the Indians on the west branch of the Allegheny and destroyed the crops and villages there, and cut off a party of forty who had started on an ex- pedition to the frontier of Westmoreland county.

LATER REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS-TRANSACTIONS WITH THE INDIANS.

CHAPTER VI.

LATER EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION-WAR WITH THE WESTERN INDIANS-CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.

D GURING the year 1780 much difficulty was ex- perienced on account of the depreciation of the paper currency, which the exigencies of the war had made it necessary to issue. Ef- forts were made by the Assembly to relieve the State from this embarrassment, with only partial success. In 1781, in accordance with a plan of Robert Morris, who justly earned the title of "the financier of the Revolution," the Bank of North America was chartered by Congress, and charters were also granted to it by Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The effect of this measure was immediately beneficial to the com- mercial and financial interests of the country. The Pennsylvania charter was revoked by the Legislature in 1785, but was restored in 1787.

During 1780 the Legislature enacted a law reorganizing the militia system of the State, in order that any sudden emergency might be promptly met. In view of the exi- gencies of the times authority was vested in the execu- tive to declare martial law during the recess of the As- sembly, so far as should be necessary under circumstances that might arise. It was resolved, also, that in extraor- dinary efforts that were found necessary to obtain sup- plies, discrimination might be made between the friends of the country and those who had shown themselves to be otherwise. To guard against spies, authority was given to arrest all suspicious persons and prevent the ad- mission of strangers indiscriminately. The horses and other property of domestic enemies were seized, and the houses of Quakers were searched for arms.

The entrance into New Jersey of the British army under Sir Henry Clinton was the cause of great alarm, but this army did not advance on Philadelphia. Soon afterward four thousand of the militia were ordered out to assist in a projected attack on New York, but by rea- son of the non-arrival of the French troops the project was abandoned, and the militia force, which had its ren- dezvous at Trenton, was disbanded.

The treason of Benedict Arnold occurred in the autumn of 1780. While in command at Philadelphia in 1778 General Arnold became allied by marriage with a distinguished tory family in that city, and the intimacy with British officers into which this relation threw him, together with the sting which his sensitive nature received by being court-martialed for some irregularity, may have led him to his fatal error. Soon after the receipt of the news of his treason in Philadelphia, his effigy was paraded through the streets and hanged, his wife was ordered to leave the city within fourteen days, and his estate was confiscated. Still more rigorous proceedings were insti- tuted against the tories and Quakers, one of whom was convicted of high treason and hanged.

In January, 1781, a revolt occurred among the Penn- sylvania troops, who were in winter quarters at Morris- town, under command of General Wayne. About thir- teen hundred of the disaffected left the camp and estab- lished their quarters at Princeton. The causes of this mutiny were depreciation of the currency in which the men were paid, arrearages of pay and suffering for want of money and clothing, and the retention in the service of some beyond the terms of their enlistment. There was nothing treasonable in their revolt. On the contrary, two emissaries who were sent to them with large offers from the commander of the British forces were seized, delivered to General Wayne, tried as spies, convicted and executed. An investigation was instituted by General Wayne and President Reed, their grievances were re- dressed, and they returned to their duty.

In the spring of 178r the Pennsylvania troops under General Wayne joined the force of La Fayette, and marched to join the force of General Greene. Fearing an attack upon Philadelphia by the troops from New York, Congress recommended the calling out of three thousand militia. They were ordered to rendezvous at Newtown, in Bucks county, where they remained till the departure of the British troops from New York for the relief of Cornwallis allayed all fear for the safety of Philadelphia, when they were disbanded.

In October, 1781, the army of Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, thus virtually ending the war of the Revo- lution. Pending the negotiation of a treaty of peace, which was signed November 30th, 1781, the Assembly of Pennsylvania unanimously adopted a resolution disap- proving of a reunion with Great Britain on any terms; against the conclusion of a treaty of peace with England without the concurrence of France, and against the re- vival of the proprietary family privileges. Such had been the bitter experience of the people of Pennsylvania under the proprietary government and the British yoke that they were determined to guard against everything that could lead to a recurrence of that experience.

Although the chartered boundaries of Pennsylvania Tere settled before the termination of the Revolutionary war, the Indian title to all the territory within those limits had not been extinguished. Purchases from the Indians had been made in 1736 and previously, in 1749, in 1758 and in 1768. These amounted to about two- thirds of the chartered territory. The balance, lying in the northwest part of the State, was purchased from the Iroquois at the treaty of Fort Stanwix in October, 1784, and the purchase was confirmed by the Delawares and Wyandots at Fort McIntosh in January, 1785. Not- withstanding this purchase the Delawares and Wyandots kept up a barbarous warfare against the settlers, and in addition to the expeditions that had been sent against them, among which was that of the ill fated Crawford in 1782, Harmar in 1791 and Wayne from 1792 to 1795 conducted campaigns against them. The last in August, 1795, concluded a treaty with them which terminated hostilities. "Besides these expeditions," says Sherman Day, "there was an undercurrent of partisan hostilities

OUTLINE HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

constantly maintained between the white savages on the frontier and the red, in which it was difficult to say on which side was exhibited the greatest atrocity."

It has been said that a State constitution was adopted in 1776 to supersede the proprietary government. Under this constitution an assembly elected annually was the legislative department; a council of twelve persons was chosen .or .hree years and by joint ballot of the assem- bly and council a president was elected, which consti- tuted the executive department. It also provided for the choice septennially of a council of censors to revise the doings of the Legislature and the executive, pass cen- sures, recommend repeals, etc. This constitution was defective, though an improvement on the proprietary government.

In December, 1779, the royal charter was annulled by an act of Assembly, and the proprietaries were granted £130,000 sterling to compensate them for their lost privileges, they retaining their real estate and rents. In 1780 the act for the gradual extinction of slavery was passed. In recommending this action the executive council said: " Ilonored will that State be in the annals of mankind which shall first abolish this violation of the rights of mankind. '

In 1787 the convention which framed the constitution of the United States sat in Philadelphia. It concluded its labors on the 18th of September, and on the 12th of the following December a convention called for the pur- pose by the Assembly ratified it, thus placing Pennsyl- vania first on the list of States which adopted it. After the adoption of the federal constitution the defects of the State constitution of :776 were more than ever be- fore apparent. Chief Justice Mckean had said of it: "The balance of the one, the few and the many is not well

poised in the State; the Legislature is too powerful for the executive and judicial branches. We have now but one branch; we must have another branch, a negative in the executive, stability in our laws and permanency in the magistracy before we shall be reputable, safe and happy."

In accordance with a resolution of the Assembly, dele- gates were chosen at the October election in 1789 to frame a new constitution. They assembled in November of the same year, and after a long session completed their labors, and the constitution which they formed was adopted in September, 1790.

In chi: the general ptan of the Federal constitution was followed. The executive department was vested in a governor, elected by the people; the legislative in a Senate and Assembly, while the judicial system was not greatly changed, except that the tenure of office of the judges of the higher courts was during good behavior in- stead of seven years, as before. The supreme executive council and the council of censors were of course abol- ished.

of the powers of the Legislature, the taking away of nearly all executive patronage and an extension of the elective franchise.

Another revision of the constitution was made by a convention for that purpose in 1873, and the amended constitution was adopted the same year. This constitu- tion abolished special legislation, changed the time of annual elections, altered the tenure of the judiciary, mod- ified the pardoning power, provided for minority repre- sentation, for biennial sessions of the Legislature, for an increase in the number of both branches of the Legisla- ture, and made other important changes.

In 1794 an attempt was made to lay out a town where the city of Erie-then called Presque Isle, from the penin- sula which shelters the excellent harbor at that point- now stands. The small triangle necessary to secure this harbor was purchased from the Indians in 1789, and from the United States in 1792. Resistance to this settlement by the Seneca Indians was apprehended, by reason of a misunderstanding on the part of the latter, and the mat- ter was postponed to the next year, by which time mat- ters were arranged with them. The western tribes were at that time hostile.

CHAPTER VII.

THE PENNAMITE WAR-WHISKEY INSURRECTION-"MOLLY MAGUIRE " OUTRAGES-THE RIOTS OF 1877.

W HAT has always been known as the Penna- mite war, arose out of the conflicting claims of the colonies of Connecticut and Pennsylvania to the territory included be- tween the forty-first and forty-second parallels of latitude-now in this State.

In 1662 King Charles the Second confirmed to the colony of Connecticut the title which it had previous- ly acquired to this territory; and in 1681 the same monarch granted a portion of the same territory to Wil- liam Penn. In 1762 settlers from New England took possession of lands in the Wyoming valley, and during that and the succeeding year made some improvements there; but in the autumn of 1763 they were driven away by the Indians.

They returned in 1769, but about the same time par- ties claiming titles under the Pennsylvania grant took possession of a portion of the same territory. An attempt was made by the Connecticut settlers to forcibly eject these, and thus was inaugurated a contest and a series of conflicts, which, though they were suspended during the Revolutionary war, were renewed afterward, and were not finally settled till about the year 1800.

In 1837 the constitution was revised by a convention assembled for that purpose, and the changes which were What has usually been termed the whiskey insurrec- tion assumed somewhat formidable proportions in 1794. recommended were adopted the next year. Among these were alterations in the tenure of offices, an abridgment | In 1684, 1738, 1744, 1772 and 1780 duties had been

WHISKEY INSURRECTION-MOLLIE MAGUIRES-THE GREAT STRIKE OF 1877.

imposed on domestic spirits by the Assembly of the province, but after a time the acts imposing these duties were repealed. In 1791, by an act of Con- gress, an excise of four pence per gallon was laid on all distilled spirits. This tax weighed heavily on the people of western Pennsylvania, where in some districts a sixth or fifth of the farmers were distillers, and nearly all the coarse grain was converted into spirit and this sent across the mountains or down the Ohio river to market. A majority of the inhabitants of this region were Scotch- Irish or their descendants, and their recollections or tra- ditions of resistance to the excise laws in the " old coun- try " inclined them to follow here the examples of their fathers. In the year of the passage of the act resistance to its enforcement commenced, and meetings were held, at which resolutions were passed denouncing all who should attempt the enforcement of the law, and excise officers were tarred and feathered and otherwise maltreated. This resistance continued during the succeeding two or three years. People who were suspected of favoring the law were proscribed, socially and otherwise, and open resistance to its execution, by violence to the persons and injury to the property of those attempting to execute it, was practiced. This was the condition of things in the counties of Allegheny, Fayette, Washington and West- moreland. In 1794 Congress amended the law, but noth- ing short of absolute repeal would satisfy the malcon- tents, whose successful resistance had greatly emboldened them. Armed and organized mobs assembled, attacked the houses of excise officers and burned their buildings, and several persons were killed in these riots. Finally a large force assembled and marched on Pittsburg, de- termined to burn the house of an excise officer there; but by adroit management they were prevented from doing any harm beyond burning a barn. These lawless pro- ceedings were reported to the authorities, and the Presi- dent of the United States and the governor of the State issued proclamations commanding the insurgents to dis- perse, and calling for troops to suppress the insurrection. In obedience to this proclamation a force of about 13,000 was raised in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Penn- sylvania, and under the command of Governor Henry Lee, of Virginia, marched to the insurrectionary district. This awed the insurgents into obedience and no further trouble was experienced.

In 1798 the Fries insurrection, or "hot water war," as it was called because of the method adopted by the women in resisting the collection of the "house tax," occurred in Bucks and Montgomery counties. Troops were called out ; Fries and others-leaders-were ar- rested, tried, and convicted of treason, but subsequently pardoned.

The Erie Railroad war, which occurred in the winter of 1853-4, is still fresh in the recollection of many. This arose out of the opposition of the people of Erie to the action of what is now the Lake Shore Railroad Company in laying a track of uniform width through the city. The track was torn up and bridges were destroyed by a mob encouraged by the city authorities, and travel was em-

barrassed during several months. Order was finally re- stored, and Erie has since been widely known as the " peanut city."

About the year 1862 a reign of terror was inaugurated in some portions of the mining regions in the State of Pennsylvania, by the discovery that there existed among the miners an organization of desperadoes who set the law at defiance, and aided and protected each other in the blackest crimes known. This organization is popu- larly known as the Mollie Maguires, and it was trans- planted in this country about the year 1854 from Ire- land. It was an organization for resistance to the land- lords in that country, and took its name from a des- perate woman, who was very active and efficient in shoot- ing landlords' agents. In this country it is said that it never existed as a distinct organization, but that the se- cret acts of lawlessness and crimes that had characterized the Mollie Maguires came to be tolerated and even sanc- tioned and abetted by the "Ancient Order of Hibernians," a benevolent institution which had long existed and which, in some States, was incorporated. When they first attracted attention they were termed " Buckshots," and, although troublesome, they were not considered very dangerous. Their crimes came to be more frequent and audacious. They resisted the enrollment for the draft in 1862. Arson, and the assassination of those who in- curred their displeasure, came to be more and more com- mon, and were perpetrated with entire impunity, for an alibi was always proved; and during the twelve or thirteen years following the influx of foreign miners into the coal regions, which began soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion, they came to be a real terror in those regions. At length a skillful detective succeeded in gaining admis- sion to their order and obtaining a knowledge of its secret workings, and of the perpetrators of the many murders which had been committed. The result was that many of these murderers were brought to justice, and the order was rendered impotent by the exposure of its dangerous character.

In the summer of 1877 what is known as the great strike occurred. This commenced in the city of Balti- more, among the employees of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, and rapidly extended the entire length of the road. Three days later, July 19th, certain em- ployees of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company also struck, or refused to work. The immediate cause or pretext for the strike at Pittsburg was an order from the superin- tendent of the road extending the trip of a "crew ; " thus -as it was said-rendering a smaller number of men necessary and depriving a portion of their employ- ment.

The exigencies of the war of 1861-65 brought about an unhealthy condition of things throughout the country. The currency was inflated; business acquired an abnor- mal activity; the prices of produce, of manufactured arti- cles, and of labor, were greatly enhanced, and a general expansion took place. This engendered among all classes a degree of reckless extravagance unknown before, and when, after the lapse of a few years, business gradually

OUTLINE HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

came to be established on a more healthy basis, people found it difficult to adapt themselves to their changed surroundings, to practice the more rigid economy which those surroundings necessitated, and to appreciate the increased and steadily increasing value of a dollar. When, therefore, by reason of a depreciation in the prices of produce, a lessened demand for manufactured goods, and a consequent reduction of the profits of manufacturers, it became necessary to reduce the price of labor, many laborers, finding it hard to submit to these inevitable changes, and failing to appreciate the necessity for them, sought by the exercise of lawless force to com- pel producers, manufacturers, or carriers to continue the prices which they paid in more prosperous times.

Such was the condition of things at the commencement of this strike. At first certain railroad employees, who considered themselves aggrieved, refused to work, and sought by intimidation and force to prevent others from doing the work which they refused to do. At Pitts- burg these were joined by the idle, vicious and reck- less who were not in the employ of the railroad com- pany, and at once became more and more disorderly and defiant. The authorities were called on to protect the company's property, but the force failed to control the mob. The militia were called out, and some of the soldiers fraternized with the rioters, and others proved inefficient by reason of a mistaken aversion to firing on them, and finally allowed themselves to be driven from their position. The citizens took no measures to repress disorder, but rather looked on approvingly.

Under such circumstances the crowd constantly aug- mented, and became more and more desperate. In- cendiarism and pillage came to be the order of things, and property to the amount of millions of dollars was destroyed. Proclamations were issued by the governor, more militia were called out, and at last the citizens awoke from their apathy when they became aware that the city itself was in danger of destruction, and the riotous pro- ceedings were finally quelled.

Meantime the strike had extended until it had become general along the Pennsylvania Railroad. Violence was resorted to and property destroyed at various places along the line of the road, but nowhere was there such a reign of terror as at Pittsburg. At Philadelphia the authorities took such ample precautions, and the police acted so promptly and efficiently when the riot broke out there, that it was at once put down. The governor visited riotous localities along the line of the road in person, accompanied by troops, and regular soldiers were furnished by order of the President and Secretary of War, on application of Governor Hartranft, to aid in restoring order.

At Reading riots broke out on the 22nd of July. The militia were called out, but proved inefficient, though one regiment, without orders, poured a volley into the assail- ing crowd, killing ten and wounding forty and scattering the rioters for the time. The presence of 300 regular troops finally awed the mob and restored order

By the 24th the strike had extended to the mining re-

gions, and was extensively participated in by the miners. Riots occurred at Pottsville, Shamokin, Bethlehem, East- on, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and elsewhere. Work in the mines was arrested, some mines were flooded, railroad property was destroyed and many lives were sacrificed in the riots and the efforts to quell them. The greatest destruction of property, however, was at Pittsburg, where the citizens have since been punished for the tacit en- couragement which they at first gave the rioters, by being compelled to pay for the property destroyed.

CHAPTER VIII.

HARRISBURG MADE THE CAPITAL-THE WAR OF 1812- INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS-SCHOOLS.

HE project of removing the capital of the State to a more central location began to be agitated during the last decade of the eighteenth century. In 1795, 1796 and 1798 efforts were made to accomplish such re- moval, but they failed for the want of concurrent action in the two branches of the Legislature. Carlisle, Reading, Lancaster, Wright's Ferry and Harris- burg were unsuccessfully proposed. In 1799 Lancaster was selected, and the Legislature met there for the first time in December of that year. By an act of the Legis- lature in 1810 it was in 1812 removed from Lancaster to Harrisburg; and the sessions of the Legislature were held in the court-house at that place till the completion of the public buildings in 1821.

The war of 1812 had its origin in aggressions against the United States by Great Britain, which were contin- ued during many years, notwithstanding the earnest pro- tests of this nation. The rights of the United States as neutrals were disregarded during the Napoleonic wars, and among other encroachments the English government claimed the right to board and search American vessels, and authorized its officers to examine their crews, seize all those whom they chose to regard as British subjects, and force them into their service. All remonstrances were unavailing. The English in enforcing this right of search committed great outrages, and the practice became so obnoxious as to demand some decided measures for its suppression. Under these circumstances there ap- peared no alternative but war; and Congress having authorized it, war against Great Britain was declared on the 19th of June, 1812. The measure was not univer- sally sustained. The Federal party, then in the minority, opposed it; and their political opinions being apparently stronger than their patriotism, they loudly denounced it. The Federalists in New York and New England were most prominent in their opposition, and if they did not directly aid the enemy their conduct was discouraging

WAR OF 1812-INTERNAL IMPROVEMEMTS.

and injurious to those who were periling their lives in their country's cause. This opposition was, however, quite impotent in Pennsylvania.

At the commencement of the war Governor Snyder issued a patriotic call for fourteen thousand volunteers; and such was the alacrity of the response that three times the number required tendered their services, and money was readily offered for the places of those who were ac- cepted.

During this war Pennsylvania was not the scene of hos- tile operations, although her frontier was threatened. A force of British and Indians appeared on the north shore of the lake, opposite to Erie, in July, 1812; but the prompt measures that were taken for the defense of the port prevented an attack. The mouth of the Delaware was blockaded in 1813, and most of the foreign commerce of Philadelphia was cut off; but the river had been placed in such a state of defense that it was not invaded. A thousand men were sent to protect the shores of this river, and an equal force sent to guard the harbor of Erie, where vessels of war were in process of construction and equipment. The brilliant victory of Commodore Perry on the 10th of September, 1813, was the result of the fitting out of this naval force.

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History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 4

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell Number of Pages: 604

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell
Number of Pages: 604