USA > Pennsylvania > Lives of the governors of Pennsylvania : with the incidental history of the state, from 1609 to 1873 > Part 9
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On the 10th of July, 1694, Thomas Lloyd, after a sickness of a malignant fever of only six days' continuance, died in the fifty-fourth year of his age. He was born in Montgom-
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UNDER THE CROWN OF ENGLAND.
eryshire, North Wales, and being of ancient and respectable family, was in the way of advancement, when he became a Quaker, and attaching himself closely to this sect, came to America with Penn, with the design of making it his home. Though disinclined to politics, he was made a chief councillor, and upon the departure of Penn, became in fact Governor, which position he held, with slight interruptions, until his death. ITis learning, wisdom, and moderation enabled him to exert a most healthful influence over the infant Colony, and to shape the government to beneficent ends. It was at a period in the history of governments, when popular rights were little known, and the chief danger to be apprehended was from pushing liberty to the license of extravagant acts, unchastened and unrestrained by exalted moral principles and a degree of moderation rarely found in an inexperienced popular assembly. The character of Lloyd was well suited to such an emergency. Void of arbitrary or ambitious views, devoted to the principles of truth and justice in the abstract, he, nevertheless, was so well schooled in the practices of human nature, as to realize that the nearest approach to ab- solute verity in the conduct of affairs, is attained by an accommodating policy, and that there is danger of losing all by an arbitrary one. In his controversy with Keith, the su- periority of his own reasoning and judgment was apparent, and his final triumph was most fortunate for the Colony, and honorable to himself. IIe died in great peace of mind. In his last hours he said : " Friends, I love you all; I am going from you. I die in unity and love with all faithful friends. I have fought a good fight; I have kept the faith; which stands not in the wisdom of words, but in the power of God; I have fought, not for strife and contention, but for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the simplicity of the gospel ; - I lay down my head in peace, and desire you may all do so. Friends, farewell all."
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CHAPTER IV.
WILLIAM PENN, PROPRIETOR, 1695-1718.
W ILLIAM MARKHAM, Deputy Governor, March, 1695, to December, 1699. - Lords Rochester, Ranelagh, and Sidney, countenanced and assisted by Lord Somers, the Duke of Buckingham, and Sir John Trenchard, in an interview which was granted them for the purpose, sought of King William an acquittal of the false charges which had been brought against Penn, and a restoration of his Province, showing most conclusively his innocence of any criminal action or design, or even desire, inimical to his Majesty's government, at the same time pointing to the great injury and loss which he had sustained in being prevented from leaving the country to administer the affairs of his Colony. The King frankly told them in reply that Penn was his old acquaintance, and that he should consider himself discharged from all accusations, and at liberty to pursue his inoffensive way of life. Whereupon Penn, by invitation, visited the Secretary, and received formal assurance of his freedom, and on the 20th of August, 1694, the government of his Province was restored to him by royal commission.
In the preamble to this patent the ostensible reasons for depriving Penn of power and intrusting it to Governor Fletcher are thus set forth: "Upon information that, by reason of great miscarriages in the government of our Province of Pennsylvania in America, and the absence of the Proprietor, the same was fallen into disorder and con- fusion, by means whereof, not only the public peace and administration of justice was broken and violated, but there was also great want of provision for the guard and defense
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of our said Province against our enemies, whereby it was apprehended that our said Province and the adjacent Colonies were much in danger of being lost from the crown of Eng- land, &c." It is probable that these were the reasons set forth by the enemies of Penn, and were the ones upon which the royal action was taken; but, as was afterwards conclu- sively shown to the King, they were groundless. Hostility to all friends of the deposed monarch, and a determination to compel the Province to contribute for the common defense of all the American colonies, which was despaired of under Quaker rule, were, in reality, probably among the most potent of these causes.
Penn commissioned Markham on the 24th of September, 1694, as his Deputy Governor, who, on the 20th of the fol- lowing April, met the Council, and, on the 10th of September, the Assembly. In calling the Assembly, Markham disre- garded the organic law, assuming that the suspension of the Proprietor had annulled it, and that he was invested with supreme power until a new constitution was framed. The Assembly quietly acquiesced in this view, as there were some provisions in the old instrument which they were clamorous to have changed. Accordingly, when the money bill came to be acted on, a new bill of settlement or constitution was attached to it, and passed. This was approved by the Gov- ernor, and was immediately put in operation, being the third frame of government adopted, which continued in force until 1701. By this instrument the Council was made to consist of twelve members, two from each county, and the Assembly of twenty-four in like manner apportioned.
While hostilities between France and England lasted, the French had many privateers upon the ocean. After peace was concluded, some of the privateersmen paid no heed to its conditions, but continued their forcible seizures, which now was piracy. Taking advantage of the pacific policy of the Quaker Province, they were accustomed to run into the Dela- ware for safe harbor. To break up this dangerous and most dishonorable practice, the Governor and Council issued a
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proclamation, calling upon the magistrates and all good citizens to join in preventing it. It was charged by the enemies of the Proprietor that evil-disposed persons in the Colony were privy to these practices, and that the inability of the Province to prevent them was a proof of the impotence of a government which eschewed force. Penn felt keenly this reproach, and urged the exercise of constant vigilance for its removal.
WILLIAM PENN, Proprietor and Governor, December, 1699, to November, 1701. - In July, 1699, Penn, with his family, set sail for America, and, after a wearisome voyage of three months, arrived in the Colony. IIe had now come with the design of making it his final abiding place. To settle a stable government which should exert a benignant influence over his people; to renew pledges of friendship and ever-during peace with the Indians; to secure marital and civil rights to negro slaves, and to provide for their spiritual teaching ; and to secure for his beloved city of Philadelphia a liberal and just charter, -were the first objects of his care and solici- tude. For eighteen months the new constitution was under consideration, and the subject of long debate in the Assembly. It was finally adopted on the 28th of October, 1701. By a supplementary article, evidently wrung from him with great reluctance, it was provided that the Province and the Terri- tories might, at any time within three years, dissolve their union. This privilege was granted as the only method of pacifying a long and uncompromising controversy.
ANDREW HAMILTON, Deputy Governor, November, 1701, to April, 1703. - In the midst of his arduous labors, sin- cerely devoted to the good of his Colony, Penn received intelligence that a bill was before the British House of Lords for changing the proprietaryship to royal governors, and a message from his friends urging his immediate return to defend his rights. Though fatal to his fondly cherished purpose of spending the remainder of his days with his
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Colony, he determined to go, and urging the Assembly to the dispatch of business, finally completed the charter and other affairs of importance, called together the Indians, with whom he had lived on the most intimate terms, feasting in their wigwams, and often entertaining their chiefs at his mansion, to bid them a final farewell; and having selected Andrew Hamilton to be his Deputy Governor, and James Logan Provincial Secretary and Clerk of the Council, he took his departure on the 1st of November, 1701. Hamilton had been one of the proprietors of East Jersey, and Governor of East and West Jersey. Logan had accompanied Penn to the Province in this last visit, and seems to have enjoyed his unlimited trust.
Through the interposition of the friends of Penn, the House of Lords was prevailed on to postpone action upon the question of appointing royal governors, and soon afterwards, on the 18th of May, King William died. He was succeeded by Princess Anne of Denmark, and Penn soon became fixed in the royal favor, taking up his residence at Kensington, that he might be near to Court. The danger of losing the immediate control of his Colony was now past; but there was still a strong party in Parliament opposed to the liberal government which he was striving to found. The party of the Established Church showed itself particularly inimical, alleging that in time of war a Province under Quaker rule would invite invasion and conquest, and would furnish a re- treat for privateers; that the solemnity of an oath should be required in civil and criminal jurisprudence uniformly throughout all her Majesty's dominions. These views were urged, and so far prevailed as to induce the Parliament to pass an Act requiring that the appointment of deputy governors should have the royal assent. Factious opposition was made to the confirmation of Governor Hamilton, it being alleged that he had been engaged in illicit trade. The validity of his acts until confirmed was also questioned. Thus was a most harassing system of opposition to the Proprietor's govern- ment kept up, every fault being exaggerated, and many mere
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EDWARD SHIPPEN.
reports and rumors, void of any foundation in truth, being magnified before the eyes of the Queen. The appointment of Hamilton finally received the royal confirmation ; but so persistent was the opposition to the interests of the Proprietor, that he was obliged either to keep an agent, or remain him- self near the court, to answer the hurtful charges constantly brought against his Province and his rule.
In the October session of the Assembly, the representatives of the Territories refused to meet those of the Province, claiming the privilege of separation by the supplementary article of the new charter, and expressing their firm deter- mination to remain apart. Hamilton strongly urged the ad- vantages of union, and brought every influence that he could devise to bear, in order to secure this result; but without effect. He also made preparations for the defence of the Colony, by organizing a military force, of which George Lowther, subsequently attorney-general, was the first captain. On the 20th of April, 1703, Governor Hamilton died sud- denly while on a visit to Amboy, where his family were then residing.
EDWARD SHIPPEN, President of Council ; April, 1703, to February, 1704. - By the death of Hamilton, the exercise of executive power devolved upon the Council, of which Ed- ward Shippen was president. To the Assembly of 1703, the people, approving the action of the Lower Counties, elected double the number of representatives, as required by charter, provided the privilege of separation was claimed; but little was accomplished, the Council interposing objections to the order of business, alleging that the new charter conferred no power upon it to join in the enactment of laws. In this assembly it was finally settled that the Province and the Ter- ritories should ever after act separately in a legislative capa- · city. This separation proved final, the two bodies never again meeting in common.
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JOHN EVANS, Deputy Governor, February, 1704, to Feb.
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ruary, 1709 .- The choice of a Deputy Governor, to succeed Hamilton, fell upon John Evans, of Welsh origin, only twen- ty-six * years of age, of good natural abilities, but volatile. He was not a Quaker, nor even a man of exemplary morals. He was doubtless selected out of deference to the views of the party at Court, who believed that a stable and efficient government could not be administered upon the peace prin- ciples of the Quakers. Indeed, Governor Fletcher had de- clared in 1693, in one of his communications to the Assem- bly : " The constitution of their Majesties' government, and that of Mr. Penn, are in direct opposition, one to the other." Evans arrived in the Colony in February, 1704, and with him came William Penn, Jr., the second and only surviving son of William Penn by his first marriage. Evans was expected and had indeed promised to be much influenced and guided by the advice of Logan, in whom the Proprietor continued to place entire confidence. The number of the Council was by him increased, and the son of the Proprietor selected as one of the new members.
The first care of the young Governor in a public capacity was to endeavor to secure the union of the Territories and the Province in the Assembly. Such arguments were presented to the representatives of the Territories, that they seemed willing to return; but the representatives of the Province were now unwilling to receive them back; and further at- tempts to bring about a reunion were abandoned. This sep- aration finally resulted in the erection of the Territories into the State of Delaware. The obstinacy of the Provincial As- sembly in opposing this reunion was the beginning of dis- cords between it and the party that adhered to the Governor, which continued throughout the entire period of his rule. A bill confirming the late provincial charter, granted by Penn, was passed by the Assembly, which contained provisions that the Governor believed unwarrantable, and from which he accordingly withheld his sanction. Whereupon the
* Watson, in his Annals of Philadelphia, says twenty-one; but Gordon, in his History of Pennsylvania, twenty-six.
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Assembly appointed a committee to draw up an address to the Proprietor, asking a redress of grievances, the address to be based upon certain resolutions passed by the As- sembly. It was drawn by Joseph Wilcox; but instead of being governed by the temperate resolutions of the Assembly, he launched out into a torrent of abuse of the Governor, and even of the Proprietor. This paper was not approved by the other members of the committee, to only four of whom was it shown. It was signed by David Lloyd, Speaker of the House, who headed the party in opposition to the Governor and Secretary Logan, Logan and Lloyd were the real heads of the two opposing factions, both men of ability and learn- ing; the one a fast friend and representative of the Proprietor, both in his public and private interests; the other the cham- pion of the popular party.
The Assembly of 1705 was largely composed of the same elements as the preceding one, of which Lloyd was again elected Speaker. The quarrels of the former session were per- petuated, and the Governor, despairing of any useful legisla- tion, dismissed it. The people finally became alarmed by the fruitless proceedings of these two sessions, and elected to the next House a majority of members friendly to the Proprie- tor, only eleven of the former House being returned. Joseph Growden was elected Speaker, and the business of the session was transacted with eminent success and dispatch.
Evans had little respect for the religious principles of the Quakers. Disregarding their convictions, he, for the first time in the history of the Province, made a call for militia by public proclamation. The defence of the Colonies against the invasion of the French and Indians, who had assumed an attitude of hostility, had borne heavily upon those Colonies most exposed. Little assistance had ever been rendered by Pennsylvania. This call for militia was made by Evans in good faith, with the desire of rendering such aid in the com- mon defence as was rightfully claimed and expected by the other Colonies. But the call met no response; and the Gov- ernor, disappointed by this lack of spirit, and embittered by
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his previous quarrels with the Assembly, formed a most discreditable plan for testing the steadfastness of the Quaker faith.
On the day of the annual fair at Philadelphia, Evans, by previous agreement with accomplices at New Castle, arranged to have a messenger dispatched with great haste and appear- ance of consternation to the Governor, bearing intelligence that a French fleet had arrived in the Delaware, and was laying waste the territory, and would soon arrive before the city. This intelligence was instantly published, and the Gov- ernor, mounting his horse, rode through the streets with a drawn sword, commanding and entreating the people to rush to arms, regardless of sect, party, or religious opinion, and hasten to the public defence. The wildest consternation prevailed. The shipping and small boats were run up the river, and into the small creeks, the large craft being carried above Burlington. Plate and valuables were thrown into wells ; many hid themselves in trepidation ; others betook themselves to the forests; and several women were said to have been untimely delivered of children, through fear. Before nightfall, however, the ruse was discovered, and the authors of the cruel farce were glad to seek safety in flight.
This contemptible experiment was entirely futile in se- curing the result which the Governor sought. It was the day on which the Quakers held their Weekly Meeting; and regardless of the tumult and the consternation which pre- vailed, they met as though nothing unusual was occurring, and engaged in their appointed devotions.
By this despicable conduct, the Governor drew upon him- self the contempt of all right-thinking men. Besides, many . of his official acts were unjustifiable, or little calculated to secure the confidence of his people. HIe had caused the erection of a fort at New Castle, before which all shipping ascending the river was brought to, and tribute demanded,- a practice unauthorized by charter, and vexatious to com- merce. It was only by the stern resistance of prominent citizens that this unlawful procedure was broken up. A
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bitter quarrel sprang up between the Governor and Lloyd, Speaker of the Assembly, because the latter, in a personal conference, refused to stand when addressing the Governor. Charges and counter-charges were also brought against Lloyd and Logan, as the leaders of the two parties; and thus, in acrimonious and fruitless contentions, his administration was passed. IIe was relieved in February, 1709. Possessed of a good degree of learning and refinement, and accustomed to the gay society of the British metropolis, he found in the grave and serious habits of Friends a type of life and char- acter which he failed to comprehend, and with which he could, consequently, have little sympathy. How widely he mistook the Quaker character is seen in the result of his wild and hair- brained experiment to test their faith. His general tenor of life seems to have been of a piece with this. Watson says : " The Indians at Conestoga complained of him, when there, as misbehaving himself to their women ; " and that, in 1702, "Solomon Cresson, going his round at night, entered a tavern to suppress a riotous assembly, and found there John Evans, Esq., the Governor, who fell to beating Cresson."
COLONEL CHARLES GOOKIN, Deputy Governor, Feb- ruary, 1709, to May, 1717. - When it became evident to the Proprietor that he would be obliged to recall Governor Evans, the old difficulty of finding a suitable person for a successor was experienced. He had thought of pro- posing his son, who was already in America; but from this he was dissuaded by his friends, on account of his son's youth and inexperience. Colonel Charles Gookin was finally selected, because of his grave and thoughtful demeanor, and his supposed wisdom and moderation, and his appointment received the royal assent. But it finally appeared, by his own testimony before the Council, in defence of certain charges brought against him near the close of his term of office, that he had been subject to fits of derangement. This was, how- ever, unknown at the time of his selection, and remained a secret, except so far as his own erratic conduct throughout his administration disclosed it.
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The giddy conduct of Evans had brought reproach upon the Government, both at home and abroad, and his suc- cessor shared the opprobrium of his devious course, his quarrels being in a measure entailed upon Gookin, who had no sooner arrived in the Colony than charges were preferred against the late Governor of high crimes and misdemeanors, and Gookin was asked to institute criminal proceedings against him. This he prudently declined, but a fierce contention over the subject arose between the Council, which was charged with being accessory to the misdeeds of Evans, and the Assembly, which was clamorous for the prose- cution. Finding the Governor little inclined to give heed to its demands, the Assembly was stimulated to new endeavors to find causes of complaint against him. IIe had been guilty, as they alleged, of a breach of official etiquette by visiting New Castle during the sitting of the Assembly; of assuming to grant marriage licenses and pardons; of discontinuing prosecutions; of appointing one person to several offices; and the like petty offences.
Early in his administration the Colony was called on for men and money to aid in an expedition against Canada. At the instance of the Governor, instead of men, an equivalent of money was agreed to, and the Assembly was solicited to appropriate four thousand pounds. But this body, which had ever displayed an ingenuity most fruitful in framing excuses for voting away the people's money, drew a bill for barely five hundred pounds, and even hedged that about with impracticable provisos. And now commenced anew a series of most vexatious counter-charges and prosecutions between Lloyd and Logan. In the midst of these, Logan, after having demanded and failed to obtain a trial, returned to England, where he laid before the Proprietor a full account of the changes and growth in the Colony since his departure, and drew a most affecting picture of the troubles and contentions by which the Government had been rent and the entire Province filled with discord. The Proprietor was greatly moved by this recital, and wrote a long letter to his people,
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" CHARLES GOOKIN.
commencing in the following strain : " It is a mournful con- sideration, and the cause of deep affliction to me, that I am forced, by the oppressions and disappointments which have fallen to my share in this life, to speak to the people of that Province in a language I once hoped I should never have occasion to use. But the many troubles and oppositions that I have met with from thence, oblige me, in plainness and free- dom, to expostulate with you concerning the causes of them." In a kindly but most earnest tone, he endeavored to reconcile their differences, and, with the voice of paternal tenderness, to recall them to a sense of duty. Finally, that they might be prepared for a change in their relations to him, should he be compelled to adopt it, he tells them, that if, after a fair election, a plurality of the Assembly persist in their opposi- tion to his government, he would then, without further sus- pense, know what he had to rely upon. 1
But before this letter was received, an election was held, at which not one of the members of the former Assembly was returned, the people having become thoroughly disgusted with the dissensions which had prevailed. The weight of the Proprietor's expostulations, when his letter was received, was also felt, and, at the succeeding session, the utmost harmony was preserved, the course of legislation being uninterrupted, and directed to questions of vital interest to the Province. A subject was brought before the Assembly at this session which marks the initiation of a policy that, steadily growing in importance, has since rocked the nation of which the Colony came to form a part, from centre to circumference, and was near rending it in twain. This was the question of African slavery. An Act was passed staying the further course of the nefarious traffic in negroes; but this most humane and wise enactment was annulled by the Crown, the importation of these unfortunate people being regarded by the home gov- ernment with much favor as a source of revenue and pros- perity to the Colonies.
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