USA > Pennsylvania > Pennsylvania, colonial and federal : a history, 1608-1903, Volume Two > Part 15
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According to accepted authority, at the time of which we write the northern frontier of Pennsylvania was little more than a wilderness region, and all the supplies and artisans necessary to be employed in the construction of Captain Perry's fleet were brought overland from the Atlantic seaboard, while the timber for the larger vessels was cut "fresh from the forests adjacent to the
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little town of Erie." "In the face of a thousand obstacles," says Day, "Perry succeeded in getting his vessels ready to leave the harbor in the early part of August, though he was greatly in want of officers and men, particularly seamen. Leaving Erie, the fleet went up towards the head of the lake, where various maneuvers took place for some days between the two squadrons before a meeting took place. Perry had gone to Put-in-Bay on the 6th of September, and on the 9th determined to go out the next day and attack the enemy."
In accordance with his prearranged plans, Perry's fleet sailed out to meet the British on the morning of September 10, and on that day the memorable naval battle of Lake Erie was fought and won-won for the Americans, and was the great event of the year which turned the tide of victory in favor of permanent national independence on this side of the Atlantic ocean. Other notable achievements contributed to the defeat of the British cause, yet the battle of Lake Erie, famed in song and story, surpassed the others in importance and decisive results.
The details of the engagement and the several maneuvers of the battling fleets cannot be of special interest in this chapter-the victory itself is sufficient evidence of American prowess and the ability of a squadron of light American vessels, with a total of fifty-four guns, to overcome and defeat a British naval fleet with sixty-three guns and a full complement of trained seamen. Perry's fleet comprised three brigs, the Lawrence, carrying twenty guns and commanded by Perry himself; the Niagara, with twenty guns, commanded by Captain Elliott, and the Caledonia, with three guns, commanded by Lieutenant Turner; also five schooners, the Ariel, with four guns, under command of Lieuten- ant Packett ; the Somers, with two guns, under command of Mr. Almy; the Porcupine, with one gun, under command of Mr. Senatt; the Scorpion, with two guns, under command of Mr. Champlin, and the Tigress, with one gun, under command of Lieutenant Holdup.
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The opposing British fleet comprised six vessels, each well manned and equipped and in command of trained naval officers. These vessels were the Detroit, nineteen guns, under Captain Barclay; the Queen Charlotte, seventeen guns, under Captain Finnis ; the Lady Prevost, thirteen guns, under Lieutenant Buchan ; the Hunter, ten guns, under Lieutenant Bignall; the Little Belt. three guns, and the Chippewa, one gun, under Mr. Campbell.
In summing up the events of this memorable engagement a contemporary writer says: "Perry had manifested the best spirit and the most indomitable resolution not to be overcome through- out the trying scenes of this eventful day. Just before the action commenced he coolly prepared his public letters to be thrown over- board in the event of misfortune, glanced his eyes over those which he had received from his wife, and then tore them. He appeared fully sensible of the magnitude of the stake which was at issue, remarking to one of his officers, who possessed his confidence, that this day was the most important of his life. In a word, it was not possible for a commander to go into action in a better frame of mind, and his conduct in this particular might well serve for an example to all who find themselves similarly circumstanced. The possibility of defeat seems not to have been lost sight of, but in no degree impaired the determination to con- tendi for victory. The situation of the Lawrence was most crit- ical, the slaughter on board of her being terrible, and yet no man read discouragement in his countenance. The survivors all unite in saying that he did not manifest even the anxiety he must have felt at the ominous appearance of things. The Lawrence was effectually a beaten ship an hour before she struck ; but Perry felt the vast importance of keeping the colors of the commanding ves- sel flying to the last moment ; and the instant an opportunity pre- sented itself to redeem the seemingly waning fortunes of the day he seized it with promptitude, carrying off the victory not only in triumph, but apparently against all the accidents and chances which for a time menaced him with defeat.
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"His victory at once raised Perry from comparative obscurity to a high degree of renown before the nation. With the navy he had always stood well, but neither his rank nor his age had given him an opportunity of becoming known to the world. The gov- ernment granted gold medals to Perry and his second in com- mand, and the former was promoted to be a captain, his commis- sion being dated on the 10th of September, 1813. As he returned to the older parts of the country his journey was a species of triumph, in which warm, spontaneous feeling, however, rather than studied exhibition, predominated."
Although a Rhode Islander, Captain Perry was the recipient of honors from various States, but in none was there shown a more generous appreciation of his valorous deeds than from our own Pennsylvania, whose Assembly directed "that the thanks of the government be tendered to Captain Oliver Hazard Perry for the brilliant action through which he succeeded in capturing His Britannic Majesty's fleet on Lake Erie."
A gold medal was presented to Commodore Jesse Duncan Elliott of Pennsylvania, Perry's second in command, for heroic conduct in that engagement, and silver medals were voted "to those citizens of the State who nobly and gallantly volunteered on board of the American squadron on Lake Erie."
The closing scenes of the war were enacted in the regions of the country both north and south of Pennsylvania, and while the events of the last year had an important effect upon all interests within the State, calling for constant vigilance on the part of its military authorities and frequent requisitions for troops to serve in other parts, there was no threatened invasion of its territory. In the summer and fall of 1813 the British invaded and spread ruin along the shores of the Chesapeake and its tributary rivers, while to the northward, in the western part of New York State, the disasters of warfare disturbed the peace and progress of the entire region, extending even into the northern border counties of Pennsylvania. On August 24th, 1814, Washington, the
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national capital, fell into the hands of the British and was pillaged and burned, together with nearly all of the federal buildings. When the invaders had accomplished their work of destruction in the locality mentioned, the authorities of this State were appre- hensive of a similar visitation upon their own cities, and to guard
George III. King of Great Britain during the American Revolution and the period immediately preced- ing that conflict
against them Governor Snyder issued a general call to arms, urging especially the services of the militia forces of Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks, Schuylkill, York, Adams and Lancaster counties, and also a part of Chester county, which constituted the second brigade of the third division," and those corps particularly who, when danger first threatened, patriotically tendered their services in the field. These forces, urges the Governor, "are earnestly
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invited to rise superior to local feeling and evasives that might possibly be drawn from an imperfect military system, and to repair with that alacrity which duty commands, and it is fondly hoped inclination will prompt, to the several places of brigade or regimental rendezvous that shall respectively be designated by the proper officer, and thence march to the general rendezvous ;" and further : "Pennsylvanians whose hearts must be gladdened at the recital of the deeds of heroism achieved by their fellow citizen soldiers now in arms on the lake frontier, and within the enemy's country, now the occasion has occurred, will with ardor seek and punish that same implacable foe now marauding on the Atlantic shores of two of our sister States."
In accordance with the import of the proclamation, the sev- eral military camps previously mentioned were established, and a force of five thousand men was soon rendezvoused at York and was under the command of Major-General Watson and Brigadier- Generals John Forster and John Adams. When the British under General Ross attempted the capture of Baltimore, these loyal sons of Pennsylvania formed a part of the successful resisting force, and it fell to them in particular to accomplish the repulse of the enemy. In the same year other of the State's military forces ren- dered excellent services at Chippewa and Bridgewater, and thereby won the gratitude of the people of the entire country.
In writing of the events of the war, a recognized authority says that during the struggle this State at one time had " a greater number of militia and volunteers in the service of the United States than were at any time in the field from any other State in the Union, and as she furnished more men, so did she furnish more money to carry on the war." The militia and volunteers, during the course of the year, were actually engaged in Canada, on Lake Erie, at Baltimore and in other important localities, and also were always in readiness to assist in both offensive and defensive operations in New York and New Jersey. That they were ever loyal to the American cause. even under questionable
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circumstances, is evidenced in the fact that when General Van Rensselaer's four thousand New York militia refused to cross the line and carry the warfare into Canadian territory, General Tanne- hill's brigade of two thousand sturdy Pennsylvania soldiers did not hesitate to fight in the territory of the enemy; but then, we must consider that Pennsylvania was not subject to the Federal influences that prevailed in New York State. It was not so much the fault of the New York soldiery as of the influence controlling their actions that impelled them to refuse to cross the Canadian border. In this respect Pennsylvania was blessed with a greater unanimity of sentiment among influential men than prevailed in many other States, and the demand upon the authorities for men and moneys with which to carry on the war was not embarrassed with the Federalistic opposition that always manifested itself in similar cases in some of the eastern States.
The treaty of Ghent was concluded on December 24, 1814, but the closing acts in the tragedy of the war were the battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815, and the gallant capture of the British warships, Cyane and Levant, by Captain Charles Stewart's grand old frigate, "Constitution". A general conviction prevailed throughout the country after the peace of 1814 that the United States would not again become involved in war. It had twice defeated one of the strongest nations of the earth, and the feeling strengthened that foreign powers would hesitate long before pro- voking the republic to hostilities. This condition of the public mind exerted a widespread and beneficial influence upon the prog- ress of settlement in our own State, which had been seriously impeded by the war, and immediately after the conclusion of peace the long restrained tide of settlement again progressed, and an era of prosperity soon prevailed on every hand.
The revenues of the State were nearly sufficient to pay the expenditures incurred during the war, and only one small tem- porary loan was required. Business suffered not more than temporary interruption on account of occurring events, yet during
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the war period a cloud was gathering which soon was to have a serious effect on the financial situation in the State. In 18II the United States bank, after twenty years of honorable and useful life, came to an end, and that at a time when its services were needed more than ever to assist the government and the people. It had furnished an excellent circulation that was acceptable every- where, and its currency was always redeemable. Gallatin saw the unwelcome shadow of the war looming up in the distance and put forth every effort to save the institution, but in vain. The State banks were envious of the power of the larger institution, and in a failure to renew its charter their officers saw the oppor- tunity to advance their personal ends. Never was a battle for the renewal of a charter more evenly waged, but it was lost by a single vote in the House and a like majority in the Senate. After the failure to secure renewal of its charter, an attempt was made to procure a charter from the State legislature, and a bonus of half a million dollars was offered and a loan to the State of as much more. The eagerness shown by the shareholders to perpetuate their institution naturally excited the attention of the public, and especially of the inhabitants of some of the interior counties, who assumed that much of the prosperity of the cities was due to the establishing of the banks, and that, if this were the case, there was no reason why the country should not participate in their advan- tages. Such considerations as these, urged by the desire of ac- cumulating wealth without the exercise of labor, engendered a spirit of speculation. It was supposed that the mere establishing of banks would of itself create capital; that a bare promise to pay money was money itself, and that a nominal rise in the price of land and the commodities ever attendant on a large increase of money, was a real increase of substantial wealth. The Farmers' bank, with a capital of $300,000, was established in the county of Lancaster, early in 1810, and about the same time several others were opened in the city and in other parts of the State. These early symptoms of a mania for banking induced the legislature,
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on the 19th of March, 1810, to enact a law prohibiting banks that were not incorporated from issuing notes, or pursuing any of the operations of banks, but in defiance of its provision, the system was continued, and companies originally incorporated for the purpose of building bridges departed from the spirit of their char- ters, converted themselves into banks and issued circulating notes.
The Wharton House, Walnut Grove
Scene of the "Meschianza;" reproduced by courtesy of Miss Anna HI. Wharton
The war temporarily put a stop to the exportation of specie. and thereby checked the extravagant issues of paper money, and the consequent cessation of the returning notes for payment had the effect to tempt the banks to enlarge their issues. Large loans, also, were made to the government and to individuals. The increase of dividends, and the facility with which they appeared to be earned, extended the spirit of speculation, already so prev- alent in some counties. The apparent success of the Farmers' bank of Lancaster, which, from the enormous extent of its issues, was
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enabled to divide upwards of twelve per cent. per annum, and to accommodate its stockholders with loans to double the amount of their stock, had a powerful influence on the public mind. By many a bank was no longer regarded as an instrument for lending the surplus wealth of capitalists to their industrious fellow citizens, but a mint in which money could be coined at pleasure for those who did not possess it before. Under these delusive impressions, associations of individuals sprang up in every quarter, holding out inducements to the farmer, the merchant, the manufacturer and mechanic to abandon the pursuits of a laborious life for the golden dreams of a speedy fortune.
The liability, however, to individual ruin, attendant on un- chartered co-partnerships, in a degree restrained the banking mania and impelled the projectors to apply for legislative sanction. During the session of 1812 twenty-five applications were made for bank charters, with a combined capital of $9,525,000. Acts grant- ing charters passed both Houses by a small majority, but Governor Snyder cut them down with a veto, giving several sufficient rea- sons for his action : Because corporations are privileged institn- tions, vested with certain rights and immunities not enjoyed or to be exercised by the great body of the people; and whenever an association of individuals is legally vested with such peculiar pow- ers and privileges, it ought to be either called for by the general voice of the people or be so manifestly for the promotion of the public weal, and beyond the accomplishment of individual enter- prise and ability, as to satisfy the judgment, and thus receive the votes of an indisputable majority of the whole legislative Assem- bly. Because every objection which could be urged against corpor- ations generally gathers weight and strength when directed against moneyed institutions, the undue influence of which has often been the subject of well-founded complaint. To wrestle with and put down this influence new associations have been formed, applications for new charters for similar establishments have multiplied, and in proportion as they have been granted has
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been the multiplying of new applications. Because the banking capital was sufficient. The difficulty in distinguishing real from counterfeit bank notes. Because the history of all nations that have authorized an extensive paper currency, and the experience of our own country, have furnished melancholy examples of the disastrous consequences which flow from such a system. Because an existing condition of war was an unpropitious time in which to try experiments, particularly when they might seriously affect the finances of the Commonwealth, which then yielded a revenue from the bank stock which it owned more than equal to the cur- rent expenses.
Though his veto was effective for the time being, the next year the projectors returned to the legislature strongly reinforced and applied for forty charters. The effort was too strong for the Governor, and the bills were passed, notwithstanding his objec- tions ; and again was the State to be flooded with paper money, as it had been during the Revolution. The terrible consequence of that flood had been forgotten in the eagerness of the projectors to have their short day of delusive gain. The banks were soon organ- ized and the notes were put into circulation. The excess of issue and lack of faith in them was soon shown by rising prices. The banks thus organized had little or no specie for redeeming their notes. The projectors knew that the people did not understand banking: that the few banks then existing had been well managed and redeemed their notes whenever presented, and thus had pre- pared the way for them to take advantage of the confidence of the people. The whole system was an alluring one, but was none the less pernicious. The owners of the newly incorporated banks well knew that, unless they could get their bank notes into circulation, they could make no money, for, save in a few cases, they had no real capital. They therefore began a series of practices upon all classes, chiefly those engaged in farming pursuits, and many were utterly ruined as the result of misplaced confidence. But, on the other hand, when the bank-note holders presented their paper for
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redemption, many of the banks were without funds, hence were compelled to suspend and close their doors. Thus, through the efforts to establish a State banking system at the time of which we write, both the banking party and their victims were led into financial ruin.
In speaking of this element of Pennsylvania history so good an authority as Bemis has the courage to maintain that, although individuals were thus made bankrupt, the State was benefited by the results of the banking acts, for, says he: "The titles to land became more clear, settled and certain ; strangers were induced to purchase and come to Pennsylvania and settle." This is quite true, but it is a question whether to bankrupt the owners was not a costly way of clearing titles.
The eventual downfall of the iniquitous banking system was followed by general depression in all business communities, and many merchants, formerly prosperous, were forced into involun- tary bankruptcy. During the earlier days of the loose banking system the State became flooded with paper money, and large credits was easily obtainable, but after the currency value had depreciated the reaction was so great that all business interests suffered great loss, and many disasters were the natural result. It was an unfortunate period in Pennsylvania history, and was not a condition single to this State alone. The era of depression continued for several years, and until natural conditions were restored, through the determined efforts of prudent financial managers and wise measures on the part of the State legislature in inaugurating a money system based on sound principles, regardless of the selfish ends of unscrupulous corporations and grasping individuals. After normal conditions had been restored, there followed an era of progress which was not marred for many years, and during that time all the losses consequent upon the un- wise legislation of the former period were fully wipe dout.
Throughout the trying period referred to in preceding para- graphs, Governor Snyder exhibited many splendid traits of char-
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acter, and met every emergency with determined courage and the consciousness of having performed his full duty ; but the execu- tive, however strong and noble, was not always able to control the legislature. His conduct in trying to stay the deluge of pape money was one of the most noteworthy of his efforts. In many of his appointments he showed fearless in- dependence. He was the first Governor who raised his voice against slavery, as was clearly shown in his message in 1811. On that occasion he said: "Elevated as is her character for humanity, there is yet per- mitted to remain one other stain on the otherwise fair and benign features of her polity. The galling yoke of slavery is still felt by some of our fellow-creatures in dif- ferent parts of this Commonwealth, and its pressure is made the more severe by witnessing the happiness and freedom of surrounding multitudes. A recent act of cruelty which came under my notice and which awakened feelings of a painful and Margaret (Peggy) Shippen distressing nature will, I trust, excuse the introduction to your notice of a subject With " Meschianza" head dress. From pencil sketch by Major Andre, in posses- sion of Edward Shippen so interesting to the whole human family, and embracing facts and practices palpably inconsistent with the terms and spirit of that fundamental and immutable law of reason, that all men are born free and equal."
The time was drawing near to nominate Snyder's successor, and the question arose whether he should be nominated by a leg- islative caucus or by an independent convention. Prior to 1807 the method of nominating was by the members of the legislature during the session, but in August of that year the Republicans of Delaware county met and recommended that each county make choice of as many persons as they send representatives to the
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Assembly, to meet at some central part of the State, and there nominate such person as a majority of the Republicans may think most eligible to fill the office of governor. At a meeting held in Philadelphia not long afterward, the Delaware county plan was approved. This is said to have been a scheme of Duane to defeat the renomination of Snyder, but as the members of the legis- lature were strongly in favor of Snyder, the old method was sure to result in his renomination, while with a differently constituted convention the result might have been doubtful. County after county, however, declared in favor of Snyder and the old plan of nomination. On the 6th of January, 1808, the legislative caucus requested the counties not represented by Republicans in the legis- lature to send delegates in proportion to the number of their rep- resentatives, to meet at Lancaster jointly with the legislative caucus and make a nomination ; and this was done on the 7th of March.
The same plan was adopted in 1811, but was abandoned on the last renomination of Snyder, but as he was not eligible for a fourth term, the "Aurora" advocated a separate convention, from which officeholders should be excluded. The party leaders did not take kindly to the suggestion, doubting their ability to find citizens who would be willing to serve in such a convention with- out compensation, and advised that the people should either send delegates or appoint their members of Assembly. A convention was therefore called in this manner, which nominated Findlay, in which all the counties except two or three were represented. Of the one hundred and thirteen members, sixty-nine were not members of the legislature. To these proceedings not all were willing to submit. The other element in the party contended that such a body was an irregular caucus, and would be controlled by the officeholders; therefore, in 1816, this faction also held a con- vention at Carlisle and passed strong resolutions against the leg- islative caucus, and advised that a separate convention should meet in Carlisle in June the next year and nominate a candidate
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