USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 67
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From this day the History of Pennsylvania becomes more particularly your own. If I had not already tres- passed too much upon your patience, I would with de- light pass in review before you, some more at least of the interesting traits with which this history abounds, and which an abler pen than mine, will, I hope, at no distant day fully delineate. Above all, I should love to dwell on the great character of our immortal founder, and to point out, by numerous examples, that astonish- ing ascendency over the minds of the mass of mankind, which enabled him to raise a flourishing and powerful commonwealth by means of all others the most appa- rently inadequate.
To acquire and secure the possession of an extensive country, inhabited by numerous tribes of warlike sa- vages, without arms, without forts, without the use or even the demonstration of physical force, was an expe- riment which none but a superior mind would have conceived, which none but a master spirit could have successfully executed. Yet this experiment succeeded in a manner that has justly excited the astonishment of the whole world. "Of all the colonies that ever existed," says Ebeling, "none was ever founded on so philanthro- pic a plan, none was so deeply impressed with the cha- racter of its founder, none practised in a greater degree the principles of toleration, liberty, and peace, and none rose and flourished more rapidly than Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of the British colonies established before the eighteenth century, but it was not long before she surpassed most of her elder sisters in population, agriculture, and general prosperity."* This ourauthor justly ascribes to the genius of William Penn, who dis- daining vulgar means, dared to found his power and his commonwealth on the nobler feelings of man.
But I must leave it to the future historian to delineate the character of a legislator who never had a model, and who, though crowned with success, will probably never have an imitator. He will describe the state of this country, during the two years of that great man's resi- dence here after his first arrival; he will tell us how a legislature was formed and assembled within six weeks at most after his landing, whose first act was to recognize as brethren all who believed in one God, the upholder and ruler of the universe; how a code of laws was enacted in three days, founded on the genuine principles of religion, justice, and morality;t he will show the territory which now forms the state of Dela- ware, united to this province in legislation as well as in government, the friendship of the Indians secured, large territories obtained of them by fair and honorable pur- chase, a noble city founded, and its walls rapidly rising as it were by enchantment, the country increasing in population and wealth, and enjoying undisturbed peace, prosperity, and happiness, until his absence showed how
. The Claypoole family are lineally descended from the protector, Oliver Cromwell.
+ Their original name was Swenson.
# Originally Bengtsen.
§ Lars or Lawrence Cock, corrupted into Lacy Cock.
! The same whom we call St. Tammany. For his character, see Heckewelder's History of the Indian Na- tions, chap. xi. In 1692, we find him by the name of King TAMINENT, a party to a deed of release of a tract of land lying between Neshaminy and Poquessing, on the river Delaware, and extending backwards to the utmost bounds of the province This land he, with others, had previously sold to William Penn. In 1697, he, by the name of the great Sachem TAMINENT, with his brother and sons, signed another deed for lands be- tween Pemmopeck and Neshaminy creeks. See Smith's Laws of Pennsylvania, vol. ii. pp. 111, 112. I Voltaire.
* Geschichte von Pennsylvania, p. 1.
* This code was called the Great Law, and well de- serves the name. The Historical Committee is in pos- session of a copy of it, extracted by our associate, Mr. R. Conyngham, from the archives of the state. It has never yet been printed entire.
4
1833.]
A DISCOURSE DELIVERED BY PETER S. DU PONCEAU, LL. D.
229
much all these things were due to the immediate opera- tion of his powerful mind.
For during the fifteen years which followed his de- parture, until his next return in 1699, history will have to picture far different scenes. The territories separat- ed from the province, a schism in the church, and fac- tions in the state, carried to such a degree of violence as to afford a pretext to the British ministry to take into their hands the government of the country, and ignomi- niously annex it to that of a neighboring colony. The historian will tell how William Penn rose superior to all these difficulties, recovered his former authority, and by his presence liere, silenced all factions, re-united the lower counties, and restored the land to its former una- nimity and peace. It was then that after four different constitutions had been successively tried and found in- continued in force until the revolution, and which the people received with expressions of gratitude too soon afterwards forgotten. Unfortunately, this charter con- tained the seeds of that d'vision between the province and territories, which after his departure broke out again, never to be healed.
A single trait will be sufficient to show what evils would have been averted from Pennsylvania, if William Penn had remained here to the end of his days. Nine years after his departure, when his country was again rent by intestine divisions, and a factious legislature, taking an unmanly advantage of the misfortunes which had of late fallen heavy upon him, were striving by eve- ry means to wrest power from his hands, a letter from him to that assembly, in which he tenderly expostulated with them for their ungrateful conduct, produced an entire and a sudden change in the minds of the deluded people, and at the next election his enemies were hurled from the seats which they had disgraced. A truly na-
*William Penn went to England towards the end of 1701, to prevent the passage of a bill which had been brought into Parliament, for the purpose of depriving him of the government of his province, and vesting it in the king. When he arrived at London, he found that the danger was over, and there appears to have been nothing at that time to have prevented his coming back immediately. It was his intention, when he departed from Pennsylvania, to have left his wife and daughter here as a pledge for his speedy return, but they could not be prevailed upon to remain, at which he appears to have been much grieved, and in the pains which he took to quiet the minds of the inhabitants on this occa- sion, it is easy to perceive førbodings in his mind which the event but too certainly realized. This is one among the many curious historical facts which are contained in the valuable correspondence of the Honorable James Logan with William Penn, collected and enriched with interesting notes, by a lady whom I shall presently have occasion more particularly to mention.
tional answer, says his biographer Clarkson, and we may add, the strongest proof that can be given of the powerful ascendency of this great man over minds of an inferior stamp.
It will be the duty of the historian to trace the origin, and mark the rise and consequences of those unhappy feuds which so long agitated Pennsylvania, and embit- tered the whole life of our illustrious founder. He will find much to be ascribed to the weakness or wickedness of the different lieutenant governors, who ruled the province while William Penn lived, and for some time after his death. With a faithful and impartial pencil, he will delineate the characters of those who successive- ly filled that important station. He will describe EVANS, a rash, intemperate, and licentious young man, ignorant of the people he was called upon to govern, efficient, he gave to Pennsylvania that charter, which ! and entirely unfit for the trust committed to him; Gook- IN, an open hearted, honest old soldier, better calculated for the field than for the cabinet; and KEITH, a despe- --- rate intriguer, who courted the favour of the people by the sacrifice of his duty to his patrons, and whom that people justly rewarded, in the end, with their contempt and neglect. With the same correct and steady hand, he It will ever be a source of regret that William Penn did not, as he had contemplated, fix his permanent resi- dence in his province, and that, after the lapse of a short year, he again embarked for England, whence it had been decreed by Providence that he never should re- turn. There is too much reason to believe that in this he yielded to the influence of his wife, and of his daugh- ter Lætitia, who do not appear to have been pleased with a residence in the country." Yet Hannah Penn was a woman of great merit, and her name will shine conspicuously, and with honor, in our history. But when we consider her rank, education, and fortune, and the situation of Pennsylvania at that time, we need not wonder that she preferred the society of her friends in her native land to a life of hardship and self-denial in a newly settled colony. And it is easy to conceive how William Penn's return may have been postponed amidst efforts to conquer her reluctance, until other circumstances intervened which prevented it altoge- ther. will pourtray the other prominent characters, who figur- ed in these scenes. In DAVID LLOYD, he will show a man of strong, natural, and acquired talents, bred in a revolutionary school, skilled in the dangerous art of dividing and leading popular assemblies, tenacious of his ends, too little scrupulous about the means, and in- dulging his personal resentments against the proprietor, at the expense of the happiness and welfare of his coun- try; while in his antagonist, JAMES LOGAN, he will have to describe a character of a far different stamp; a man of profound learning, skilled in the useful as well as in the elegant sciences; one possessed of a strong and cor- rect judgment, faithfulto his trust, and of unshaken in- tegrity, but whose stern Roman virtue could not stoop to defeat by similar means, the intrigues of his adversa- ries; therefore the world misjudged him; but his great patron knew him well, and appreciated his worth, and he preserved his confidence and that of his family to the last day of his life. History will do him justice, and destroy the unfounded prejudice which a too celebrat- ed book * has excited against him.
With such opposite characters, we need not wonder that David Lloyd obtained, more than once, unmerited success over his adversary. In popular governments, as well as in others, the arts of the politician too often triumph over integrity and virtute. Yet, though David Lloyd's political conduct was marked by unjustifiable intrigue, there appears no reason to suppose that his mind was naturally base or corrupt. He was hurried by the violence of his passions, and by resentments for some supposed injustice, which he thought had been done to him by the proprietor, into a system of opposi- tion to his government. Thus he was imperceptibly led into an abuse of his popular talents, which, no doubt, when his feelings became more calm, he afterwards re- gretted.
We find him at a late period, assisting James Logan, in ascertaining the proprietor's title to the lower coun- ties, and those two great men, acting harmoniously to- gether, for the public good. "It is soothing," says the eloquent annotator to Logan's correspondence, to whom we are indebted for this interesting fact; "it is soothing to observe, in the characters of men who, like these, hitherto have been swayed by prejudice or passions, that when the evening of life advances, the storms which have agitated them subside, and the soul, like the sun of the natural world, emerging from the clouds which have obscured it, illuminates the horizon with its parting beam, and the day closes in serenity and peace."
In this short quotation, gentlemen, you have already recognized the elegant and feeling language of our re-
* The Historical Review, aseribed, perhaps unjustly, to Dr. Franklin.
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MONONGAHELA RIVER
[OCTOBER
vered friend, Mrs. DEBORAH LOGAN, in whom the histo- rian that Pennsylvania calls for would soon be found if she could but be persuaded to trust her exquisite talent. But, alas! her mind, that mind formed to instruct and delight the world, is now only tuned to sorrow. Histo- ry has lost its charms, while her soul is concentered in the thought of the irreparable loss which she and the country have suffered, and which our Society so justly laments.
And art thou gone, LOGAN? friend of man ! friend of peace! friend of science! Thou whose persuasive ac- cents could still the angry passions of the rulers of men, and dispose their minds to listen to the voice of reason and justice! Thou whose life was devoted to the cause of humanity, and to the promotion of harmony and con- cord between nations! What though party spirit has in vain endeavored to obscure thy virtues, they will live in the faithful page of history, and thy name will be handed down with honor to posterity .*
We, gentlemen, particularly the members of your Historical Committee, can never forget the powerful aid which, in the pursuit of our literary objects, we have received from our lamented associate. Other sci- entific institutions also have just cause to regret his loss. I could not, on this occasion, pass him over in silence, nor dispense with scattering a few humble flowerets upon his tomb.
I had designed to have extended this discourse a little further, and to have spoken to you of the errors of the descendants of William Penn, and of the violence of their opponents, whose over heated zeal did not even spare his venerated memory; I would have traced the rapid rise of this country, of this city in particular, and its various public institutions, many of which, and our Society among others, were established before the pe- riod of the American Revolution; but after touching on a mournful theme like that which we have just left,. neither your minds nor mine are disposed to wander again in the fields of History. I quit them, nevertheless, withi regret, deeply impressed as I am with the import- ance of our domestic annals, and the interest which their narration would possess, if drawn by the pen of an able writer. If by the few traits that I have ventured to sketch with an unskilful hand, I have succeeded in exciting a more general desire to become particularly acquainted with our colonial history; if, above all, it were not too presumptuous in me to expect that this weak attempt will stimulate some person of adequate talents to undertake the honorable task of giving it to the world, then I might indulge the hope that you would not think that I have trespassed so long on your time and attention in vain.
From the Pittsburg Gazette. MONONGAHELA RIVER.
GREENSBURG CONVENTION .- On Tuesday, Septem- ber, 25th, 1833, Delegates from the counties of Mo- nongalia, Harrison, and Lewis in Virginia; and from Allegheny, Washington, Greene, Fayette, and West- moreland, in Pennsylvania, assembled at the Lutheran, and Presbyterian Church, in Greensboro, Greene coun- ty, to deliberate upon the subject of the improvement of the Monongahela.
The Convention was organized by calling Joseph Johnson, Esq. of Harrison county, Virginia, to the Chair, and appointing Thomas Sloane, of Fayette coun- ty, Pennsylvania, Secretary.
On motion of Mr. Haymond, of Monongalia, it was Resolved, That a committee, consisting of one member from each county, represented in this Convention, be appointed to select and recommend officers to act in this Convention, and Messrs. Haymond, Davis, Findly, from Washington, Plummer, Prider, Davison, John- ston, and Newlin, were appointed.
*Dr. George Logan died on the 9th of April last, at his family seat at Stenton, near Germantown.
On motion of Mr. Haymond, it was Resolved, That a committee of one member from each county be appoint- ed to examine and ascertain who are entitled to seats in this Convention, and Messrs. Christie, Love, Ray, Burden, Sangston, Barns, Kincheloe, and Cox, were appointed.
On motion, it was Resolved, That this Convention have a recess for one hour.
Afternoon Session, 2 o'clock, P. M .- The Convention met. Mr. Plummer, from the committee appointed to select and recommend officers to preside in the Conven- tion, reported that they recommend the following per- sons.
President-Joseph Johnson, Esq. of Harrison county, Virginia.
Vice President-James W. Nicholson, of Fayette county.
Secretaries-Wm. Eichbaum, of Allegheny county, Pa .; Thomes P. Ray, Esq. of Monongalia county, Va.
Upon motion, the report was unanimously concurred in. The President,in a pertinent and eloquent address, expressed his grateful acknowledgments for the honor conferred upon him.
The committee appointed to ascertain the names of persons entitled to seats in this Convention reported the following list of persons appointed as delegates.
VIRGINIA-Monongalia county.
Matthew Gav, Wm. Lazier,
John Evans, jr. T. S. Raymond,
Robt McGee, Joseph F. Harrison,
*George McNeely, * Leonard Lamb,
John Rogers, Thomas P. Ray.
Lewis county.
Philip Cox, jr.
Hezekiah 1). Sharp,
Wm. Newlin, Peyton B. Byrne.
Harrison county.
Joseph Johnson, Wm. A. Sandy,
Wm. Johnson, Wilson Shinn,
Daniel Kinchelo,
Benj. Reeder,
Beverly Roy, Geo. J. Davison,
Augustin J. Smith.
PENNSYLVANIA-Allegheny county.
* Andrew N. McDowell, *Henry M. Watts,
*John M. Snowden,
*Charles Avery,
*W. W. Fetterman, Robert Christy,
John D. Davis, Wm. Eichbaum,
Neville B. Craig,
*Robert. Burke,
John Walden,
John Arthurs,
*Humphrey Fullerton,
*John Walker,
* Samuel Frew,
* Thomas Warren,
* Adam Hays.
Washington county.
Robert Findley, Robert Love,
David Shebondy, *John Jackman,
Wm. K. Vankirk, Saml. Hill,
*Caleb A. Alexander, Shesbaziel Bentley.
Westmoreland county.
John Powers, Robert Cunningham,
Joseph Budd, Joseph Finley,
Menassa Rives, John F. Beazel,
Alexander Plummer, William Campbell,
Solomon Spears,
Isaac Shipler. .
Fayette county.
Andrew Stewart, James L. Bowman,
Cephas Gregg, Thomas Sloane,
George Rider,
Joseph Heaton,
James Sangston, Michael Crow,
Wm. Morris,
Ephraim Walters,
James W. Nicholson,
James Simonson,
Zephaniah Carter.
1833.]
MONONGAHELA RIVER.
231
Greene county.
Joseph Davison,
James Barnes,
Thomas Lucas, Eli Bailey,
Thomas Hughes,
Isaac Bursen,
Benj. F. Bl.ck, Daniel Boughner,
George Reppart,
Thomas Maple,
*Benjamin Campbell.
Those marked thus (*) were not present.
Mr. Haymond, from Monongalia, offered the follow- ing resolution-
" Resolved, That a committee of two members from each county here represented, be appointed, whose du - ty it shall be to report, as soon as practicable, the man- ner in which the object of this convention can be best effected."
Mr. Stewart offered the following resolutions as amendments.
" Resolved, That a committee of eight persons be appointed to report the best plan for the improvement of the Monongahela river."
After considerable discussion, the above resolutions were adopted,and the following committees appointed. On the first resolution, Messrs. Haymond, Gay, Sandy, Kincheloe, Cox, Byrne, Arthurs, Davis, Hill, Findley, Black, Boughner, Nicholson, Bowman, Powers, and Plummer. On the second resolution, Messis. Sloan, Arthurs, Plummer, Findley, Barns, Ray, Johnson, and Sharp. On the third resolution, Messrs. Stewart, Craig, Beazel, Love, Hughes, McGee, and Newlin.
The convention adjourned to meet to morrow morn- ing, at 9 o'clock.
Wednesday, Sept. 26 .- The convention assembled in pursuance of adjournment. The names of the Dele gates were called over.
On motion of Mr. Black, Messrs. Trons and Stone, were admitted as delegates to supply vacancies in the delegation from Greene county, and on motion of Mr. Gay, the report of Dr. Howard was read.
On motion of Mr. Christy, Edgar C. Wilson, member of Congress, elect, from Virginia, was admitted to a seat inthis convention.
Mr. Haymond, from the committee appointed to re- port the manner in which the objects of this meeting can be best attained, reported the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted.
" We, the representatives in the convention here as- sembled, having been called together by the sponta- neous voice of the people whom we represent, feeling a deep interest in common with the people living upon the Monongahela river, and its tributary streams, a country already advancing to a high state of improve- ment,increasing in agricultural productions and manufac- turing institutions, with a valley extending from Pittsburg about one hundred and fifty miles into Virginia, with a soil capable of great improvement, sustaining a rapidly increasing population, possessing inexhaustible beds of Iron Ore, Stone Coal, and other valuable minerals, the use and manufacture of which may be extended to any amount; having, too, immense forests of the finest timber on the western waters, used, in the present im- perfect navigation of the river, altogether for building boats that ply upon the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, the transportation of which can now only be effected in times of high water.
For transportation down the river, we have the pro- ductions of our agricultural pursuits, and our lumber, our immense beds of coal, our manufactured iron, glass, and paper, the gross value of which may be estimated at one million of dollars annually.
gether with a considerable portion of our dry goods, which articles are now carried, in times of freshets, ir Keel and Steamboats, as high up the river as Morgan. town, in Virginia.
This convention, conceiving the improvement of the Monongahela river to be a work of great national im- portance, and from the present flourishing state of the finances of the country, and belicving the time has ar- rived when they may succes fully ask of the government of the United States, an appropriation of money for carrying into effect so desirable an object, have come to the following resolutions:
Resolved, by this Convention, That the improvement of the navigation of the Monongahela river, is a subject of deep interest to the people we represent, as well as to the whole surrounding country, and that in our opinion, it is of sufficient national importance to justify the Government of the United States in making an im- mediate appropriation to complete the improvement of so much of the said river as the survey, plan, and esti- mate, may require."
Resolved, That the President of the United States be earnestly requested to direct a continuation of the sur- vey, plan, and estimate, for improving the Monongahe- la river to such points on the said river, as may be sus- ceptible of improvement, and the interests of the coun- try may require.
Mr. Sloan from the committee appointed to report the best plan for improving the Monongahela river, made the following report.
" The committee appointed to report a plan for the improvement of the Monongahela river,have taken that subject under consideration, and report to the Conven- tion-That the best mode of improving the navigation of that river will be by Locks and Dams."
On the adoption of this report, Mr. Stewart asked for a division of the House, which was granted; when the ayes were 46, noes 6.
Mr. Stewart, from the committee to prepare a memo- rial, reported the following, which was unanimously adopted :-
MEMORIAL.
To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Represent- atives of the United States, in Congress assembled:
The petition of the undersigned citizens of the west- ern parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectfully re- presents:
That as friends of a general and diffusive system of national improvement, extending alike to all parts of our common country, they contemplate with high satis- faction, the period as at hand, if not actually arrived, when the extinguishment of the national debt must leave a very large surplus of revenue, applicable to ob- jects of national improvement, uniting and binding more firmly together the distant parts of our happy Union, by the strong and enduring bonds of mutual dependence, resulting from mutual intercourse, and advancing at the same time the commercial prosperity of our country in peace, its strength and security in war. That among the objects of improvement having just claims to a par- ticipation in the national bounty, the undersigned feel warranted in presenting the Monongahela river as one worthy of your favorable consideration, and the more especially, when it is considered that this will be in fact but an extension of an improvement already in progress, under the act of 1824, for the improvement of the Ohio and Mississippi to a higher practical point, and to which point this improvement must and will, we trust, be ultimately extended-and here your memorialists. beg leave respectfully to state some of the considera- tions which would indicate the present as the proper period for such extension.
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