USA > Pennsylvania > The history of Pennsylvania : from its discovery by Europeans, to the Declaration of Independence in 1776 > Part 23
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The plan having been communicated to the British govern- ment, was warmly approved. Warren was commanded to repair to Boston, and to render all possible aid to the views of Shirley. He did not arrive, however, until after the pro- vincial fleet had sailed with six thousand men, commanded by Mr. Pepperel, a trader of Piscataqua. The application to Pennsylvania was renewed by Shirley and Warren. But the assembly, though unable longer to doubt the approba- tion of the king, resolved to consider the enterprise as a pri- vate one, until they should receive instructions from the ministry. This covert served them for a short time only. The duke of Newcastle's letter arrived at the close of July, directing them to furnish men, provisions, and shipping, on the requisition of commodore Warren.
The governor and assembly now understood each other. The one knew he should in vain press any measure having the undisguised aspect of war. The other had discovered that their principles could be preserved from open violation, only, by free contributions of money; and they no longer hesitated to resort to the " only expedient hitherto found to remove the difficulties" arising from conscientious scruples; " that of demonstrating their loyalty and affection to the crown, by giving a sum of money to the king's use." They
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resolved, therefore, to grant the sum of four thousand pounds to trustees, to be expended in the purchase of bread, beef, pork, flour, wheat, or other grain,* to be purchased in the province, and to be shipped for the king's service, as the governor should think fit.
The enterprise against Louisburg terminated honourably for those who had projected and executed it. After two months' siege, during which the provincial forces displayed courage, activity, and fortitude, that would have distinguished veteran troops, the town surrendered.t The English officers and historians have made a shameful effort to take from the colonies this early trophy of their spirit and capacity. Smol- let is guilty of an equivocal statement of the facts by which Warren is brought on the scene before the departure of the provincial troops from Boston, when in truth they sailed without any expectation of his assistance, having a knowledge of his refusal to join them. The British ministry, though sufficiently forward to sustain the exclusive pretensions of their officers, was compelled by the merits of the provincials to distinguish their leader, Pepperel, with a baronetcy of Great Britain.
The Shawanese Indians, on the Ohio, who had long shown symptoms of disaffection to the English, and subserviency to the French cause, now openly assumed a hostile charac- ter. Peter Chartier, a half blood and trader, was a French spy, who dwelt chiefly in Philadelphia. In 1743 he endeav- oured to engage the Shawanese in war with the Six nations. This offence was overlooked by the Pennsylvania govern- ment, from an apprehension that his punishment would serve as a pretext for violence to their traders; but being repri- manded by governor Thomas for some other impropriety, he became alarmed, fled to the Shawanese, and persuaded them
* Dr. Franklin assures us, that the words " other grain" were intended to cover the application of part of the money granted to the purchase of gunpowder; and that governor Thomas actually expended a part of it for this black grain, and was never accused of mis-appropriating the fund. t Smollet. Memoirs of the late war in America. Hutchinson.
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to declare for the French. Soon after, at the head of four hundred of their warriors, he lay in wait on the Allegheny river for the provincial traders, captured two of them, and exhibiting a captain's commission from France, seized their property to the value of sixteen hundred pounds .*
The policy of the French had been long directed to seduce all the Indian tribes from the English interest. Their efforts at this juncture upon the Six nations, produced great alarm in Pennsylvania. Commissioners were despatched to a con- vention at Albany, with presents to support their fidelity, but the officers who conducted the conference on the part of the English, were desirous to induce these nations to take up the hatchet against the French, and become parties in the war. They justified this barbarous policy by the example of the enemy, and the impossibility of restraining the Indians from blood, whilst they beheld it flowing round them; for, if not engaged by their friends, they would strike against them rather than not participate in the war ; and they urged that the tomahawk of the savage had already been dyed in the" blood of the border settlers in the neighbouring colonies, and that the prospect of indiscriminate massacre was opened along the whole frontier. But their instances were unavailing, as had been those of a like nature frequently made by New York and Massachusetts. The Six nations showed no disposition to engage in the contest. They felt their importance, and flattered themselves that they might incline the balance of power between the parties at their pleasure; but, they held it impolitic to turn the scale for either, for whilst they re- mained neuter, they were caressed and paid by both. If either obtained the sole possession of the country, they would cease to be considered, and finally would be compelled to submit to the will of the conqueror.
Governor Thomas prudently prepared to resist the inroads of the Shawanese, by organizing and disciplining the militia of Lancaster county, and despatching Conrad Weiser, the Indian interpreter, to the Delawares, at Shamokin, with or-
* Votes. 1
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ders to watch the march of the enemy, and to attack him should he advance, and, if pressed, to fall back upon the frontier inhabitants for protection.
The assembly acquiesced in the military measures of the governor, except those for making the Indians parties to the war. This they earnestly and sincerely deprecated, whilst they professed their entire readiness to furnish money for further presents, should it be necessary to preserve the Indians faith- ful to the British crown .*
The ministry having resolved to attempt the conquest of Canada by a combined European and colonial force, forward- ed their instructions to the provincial governors at the close of the month of May. In pursuance of these, Mr. Thomas summoned the assembly, and demanded funds to arm and support such forces as might be raised in Pennsylvania. The house did not object to appropriate money for this purpose, but on the plea of an exhausted treasury, they endeavoured to obtain the governor's concurrence in the increase of their paper currency to such an amount, that the sum they should give might be paid from the interest on the balance of the new emission in some stated time; but when satisfied that his hands were completely tied by the royal instructions, they voted five thousand pounds, in bills, redeemable from the excise in ten years. With this money the governor raised four companies, which he sent to Albany; a further expense of twelve hundred pounds in their equipment was subse- quently paid by the assembly. Though the attempt on Canada was abandoned, the troops were retained nearly eighteen months at Albany, with the view of over-awing the Indians, and protecting the northern frontier; but they were main- tained by the crown, the assembly of Pennsylvania refusing further contribution.
On the fifth of May, the governor communicated to the house the death of John Penn, one of the proprietaries, and his own resolution, on account of ill health, to resign the
* Votes.
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government. His parting with the house was distinguished by mutual cordiality and respect.
Governor Thomas was active, industrious, and capable; at- tached to the province, but more devoted to the proprietaries and the king. In his zeal for his majesty, he overlooked the principles and character of the people he was called to govern. He believed himself sufficiently strong in polemical contro- versy, to shake the opinions for which their ancestors had broken the tender charities of kindred and country, and which they themselves cherished with enthusiasm. Failing in this, he endeavoured to intimidate men, who, though declining to exhibit military courage, were no respecters of persons, and had never displayed political cowardice. When experience had taught him properly to appreciate the Quaker character, and to determine how far, and in what manner, their loyalty could be shown, unchecked by their consciences, he drew from them, without difficulty, whatever he could in propriety demand. His moderation, and considerate forbearance to- wards the Quakers, during the latter years of his administra- * tion, were rewarded by the esteem of the people, and the confidence of the legislature.
Few laws of general nature were enacted during his admi- nistration. Three only merit particular attention: 1, An act extending the privilege of taking an affirmation instead of an oath, to persons not Quakers. This act was repealed by the king in council. 2, "An act for naturalizing such protestants as are settled or shall settle within the province, who, not be- ing of the people called Quakers, do conscientiously refuse the taking of an oath." Prior to the act of 13 Geo. II., for the naturalization of persons settling in American colonies, aliens were naturalized in Pennsylvania by special bills. By that act it was provided, that all persons residing seven years in the colonies, taking an oath, or, if Quakers, an affirmation, of allegiance and abjuration, and professing the Christian reli- gion as prescribed by the act of the first of William and Mary, should be considered as natural born subjects. The Dunkards, Moravians, and Menists, now numerous in the province, were excluded from the benefit of this act, by their scruples in
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regard to oaths. For remedy of this, the above act was passed in 1742, when all parties were desirous to conciliate the Germans. 3, " An act for the speedy trial of capital offences committed by the Indians, in the remote parts of the province." This act empowered the supreme court, and the court of oyer and terminer of the county of Philadelphia, to try all such offences, as if they were committed in that county.
No laws were necessary to dispose of the funds of the pro- vince; a simple resolution of the assembly, only, was suffi- cient. This power they acquired by a clause inserted in the currency and excise bills, the effect of which seems to have escaped the notice of the governor, though it entirely excluded him from this important branch of legislative authority.
During the administration of governor Thomas (1742), a convention of deputies from the Six nation and Delaware Indians, was held at Philadelphia, for the purpose of termi- nating some dispute which had arisen between the latter tribe and the proprietaries, relative to a cession of lands. A tract, lying in the forks of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers, extending back into the woods as far as a man can go in a day and a half, denominated the walking purchase, had been sold to William Penn by the Delawares, in 1736, and confirmed by the same tribe by their deed, dated twenty-fifth of August, 1737. The lines of this purchase having been traced by very expert walkers, and, including more land than the Indians expected, increased the dissatisfaction which had prevailed among them in relation to the grant of 1736. The Indians complained that the walkers, who outstripped them, ran, and did not pursue the course of the river, as they anti- cipated. The chief, Nutimus, and others, who signed the treaty of 1737, refused to yield peaceable possession of these lands, and declared their intention to maintain themselves by force of arms. Under these circumstances, the proprietaries invoked the interposition of the Six nations, whose authority over the Delawares was well known. Upon this invitation, a deputation of two hundred and thirty from these powerful tribes visited Philadelphia, where they were met by dele-
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gates from the Delawares, who had also been invited. Having heard the complaints of the governor against the latter, for their retention of the purchased lands, and their misconduct, in writing rude and abusive letters to the proprietaries, Ca- nassatago, on the part of the Six nations, told the governor, " That they saw the Delawares had been an unruly people, and were altogether in the wrong: that they had concluded to remove them, and oblige them to go over the river Dela- ware, and quit all claim to any lands on this side for the future, since they had received pay for them, and it is gone through their guts long ago."* Then, in the tone of a con- queror and master, he reprehended the Delawares for their perfidy, and commanded them to remove, either to Wyoming or Shamokin, and forbade them to interfere in the sales of land.(1)
* Smith's Laws of Pennsylvania.
(1) See Note I. 2, Appendix.
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CHAPTER XIII.
Presidency of Anthony Palmer .... Insults from the enemy in the Delaware bay .... Indian transactions. ... Military efforts .... Peace ···· Disputes between the council and assembly .... Governor Hamilton ···· Indians .... Removal of settlers from unpurchased lands ···· French encroachments .... Indian ex- penses .... Dispute with the proprietaries .... Death of John Kinsey ···· Benjamin Franklin member of assembly ···· Penn- sylvania hospital ···· French proceedings on the Ohio ···· As- sembly refer their consideration to the governor of New York ···· Paper currency .... Imports and exports of Pennsyl- vania ···· Disputes between the governor and assembly on the money bills .... Washington's journey to Venango. ... Instruc- tions of the British ministry to the colonies .... Conference with the Six nations at Albany .... Lands purchased .... Con- federacy of the colonies proposed ... Its fate .... Subterfuge of the assembly to avoid military appropriations. .. Advance and defeat of colonel Washington .... French remarks on his attack of Jumonville .... The governor attempts in vain to obtain funds from the assembly .... Resigns. ... Character of his administration ···· Laws enacted.
ON the departure of governor Thomas, the government de- volved on the council, of which Anthony Palmer was elected president. Deprived by law of legislative power, his duties were limited to the supervision of the affairs of the province, and the recommendation of such measures to the assembly as required pecuniary aid.
The unprotected state of the Delaware bay attracting the enemy's privateers, they captured many vessels; and, some- times, ascending the river almost to Newcastle, their crews landed and plundered the inhabitants; and, contemning the peaceable disposition of the assembly, their commanders
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threatened to assail the city itself. The assembly was urged in vain to adopt defensive measures. Resolute to maintain their principles, they extenuated the injuries done by the enemy, reiterated their own inability to defend the bay and river, and affected to rely upon the protection of the crown, of whose aid they feared to be deprived by demonstrations of their own power.
The propriety of even a defensive war greatly agitated and divided the people. The Quakers, the Moravians, Mene- nists, and Shwenckfelders, earnestly required the people to submit themselves entirely to the dispensations of the Deity, in whose hands they were; whilst the episcopalians, baptists, and presbyterians, as zealously advocated the necessity of employing those means of defence with which the Deity had already provided them. Both parties, the bellicose and anti- bellicose resorted to the press, which teemed with pamphlets in German and English on this subject. The clergymen from their pulpits taught the lawfulness of war, and excited the people to arm. Among the ministers, (shall we say of peace ?) Mr. Gilbert Tennent was most distinguished for his zeal, learning, and industry. In three long sermons, from Ezra, xv. 5, " The Lord is a man of war," he sought to demon- strate, that war is approved by God, and discriminated such as received his approbation. *
To the danger of Indian hostility, the house continued highly sensible. Resisting every attempt to engage the sa- vages in war, they endeavoured to render them impervious to French influence, by providing them with such necessa- ries as would render them content at home. It was no easy task to keep them at peace : they had to resist, not only the impetuosity of their youthful warriors, but the continued ef- forts of the New York and Massachusetts governors, who had wrung a reluctant assent from the elder chiefs of the Six nations to combat in the Canada expedition, from which they were deterred by evil omens, by the small-pox, and an epi- demic fever, which made great ravages among them.t The
* Pamphlets.
+ MS. letter of Weiser to R. Peter.
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Indians were well disposed to make the most of the fears of their good friends, the whites; and, by continual suggestions of their inability long to resist the French, who endeavoured to intimidate them by threats, and to seduce them by pro- mises, they gave occasions for new conferences, which were always accompanied by presents. Distant and vagrant tribes, also, sent their ambassadors, proffering their friendship and soliciting the bounty of the province.
Some Indians, on the banks of the Ohio, connected with the Six nations, visited Philadelphia, to tender their homage, and to invite the province to send commissioners to a council fire, at which the neighbouring nations were to be present. Impressed with the importance of such a conference, the council invited the governments of Maryland and Virginia to send their agents, and to unite in preparing a suitable present. On the part of Pennsylvania, goods were provided to the value of one thousand pounds, and Conrad Weiser was select- ed as envoy. The instructions given to him display pretty fully the provincial policy at this time. He was charged to obtain a perfect knowledge of the numbers, situation, disposi- tion, and strength of the Indians of the vicinity, whether friends, neutrals, or enemies; what reliance might be placed upon them to protect the province against the French; to learn the designs of the latter; to state the king's inten- tion to send a large present, to be distributed at Albany, and that a fear lest their distance from that place, should pre- vent their receipt of a proper share of the king's beneficence, had partly formed the inducement of the present mission and donation. He was to represent in the strongest light the friendship and ability to assist them, which the English, especially the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, had ever shown; to expatiate on the ancient hostility of the French against the Indian nations, established by some recent instances, in Canada, of cruelties against Indian captives. But as the disposition of the assembly with regard to war was well known, and as they only could dispose of the public funds, he was not to urge the savages to hostilities, unless in defence of themselves ; yet he was to take care that his exhortations to
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peace should not cool their affections towards the English ; but if he found them eager to become parties to the war, he was to refer them to the governors of New York and Massa- chusetts, to whom the conduct of the war had been confided. And lastly, he was instructed to inform them, that though the preliminaries of a general peace had been signed, yet the province had not forborne to send them a rich present .*
During this year, another treaty was made with the Twightees, a nation residing upon the Wabash; their chiefs representing twelve towns, which were desirous to enter into the provincial alliance.
The treaty of peace of Aix-la-chapelle was not actually signed till the first day of October. It is not within the scope of this work to examine critically all the articles of this treaty, which did not increase the diplomatic honours of the mother country. We may, however, be permitted to ob- serve, that the great object of the war was totally lost sight of; as the right of the British to navigate the American seas free from search, was altogether unnoticed. The island of Cape Breton, with Louisburg, its capital, so dearly pur- chased by provincial blood and treasure, was given up; and the Americans had great cause to condemn the indiffer- ence or ignorance which exposed them to future vexation and renewed hostilities, by neglecting to ascertain the boun- daries of the French and English territories on the American continent.
The council and assembly, though mutually dissatisfied, had exhibited much forbearance towards each other. But when the executive duties of the former were about to ter- minate, they appealed to the public for its approbation of measures which they had recommended, but which the house had negatived. In this appeal they animadverted with much asperity on the refusal of the assembly to fit out a sloop of war, and provide for the general defence. That body made a long reply, rebuking the council severely, and charged them with perversion and calumny. A verbose and lengthen-
* Minutes of council. Votes.
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ed quarrel was prevented, by council prudently declining to consider the reply of the house.
In the month of May, the city and the counties on the De- Jaware were thrown in great consternation by the arrival of a Spanish privatecr, of fourteen guns. Mr. Palmer endeavoured to prevail on captain Ballet, of the king's sloop of war the Otter, then lying in port, to seek the enemy, but this vessel being unfit for sea, the captain refused to weigh anchor. Batteries were erected to defend the city, and Mr. Kinsey, speaker of the assembly, assured council of the disposition of the assembly to provide for such expenses as might be in- curred for defence, though the expense might happen in such an instance as the assembly would not have advised. But these assurances did not give sufficient confidence to monied men, and council were unable to borrow the necessary sum to fit out a vessel to attack the enemy. The privateer ap- proached sufficiently near to Newcastle to exchange a few shots with the town, and having remained in the bay several days, quietly got to sea.
On the twenty-third of November, James Hamilton, son of Andrew Hamilton, returned from Europe, bearing the commission of lieutenant-governor.
The progress of the white population towards the west continued to alarm and irritate the Indians. The new settlers, impatient of the delays of the land office, or unable or unwill- ing to pay for their lands, or in search of richer soils, sought homes in districts to which the Indian title had not been ex- tinguished. The intruders, consisting chiefly of Irish and Germans, seated themselves on the west of the Susquehan- nah, on the Juniata river, and its tributary streams, in the Tuscarora valley, in the greater and less coves formed by the Kittochtinny and the Tuscarora hills, and at the Big and Little Connolloways. These settlements were commenced in 1740, and rapidly increased in despite of the com- plaints of the Indians, the laws of the province, and the proclamations of the governor. The Six nations having con- sulted in council on this subject, sent a grand deputation from
* Minutes of council.
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every tribe to Philadelphia, to present their remonstrances. The Senecas arrived first, and having been attentively heard, were dismissed, with a present of one hundred pounds, and with instructions, should they meet their compatriots, to re- port what they had done, and to persuade them to return. But the Senecas either did not meet the other deputies, or were unable to change their determination. They arrived soon after in the city, and after a short conference, were dis- missed with a present of five hundred pounds. Upon their return, the effect of the rival attentions of the Europeans was plainly visible upon the Indians. Their respect for the whites was much diminished, and their conduct was marked with wantonness and insolence. They killed the cattle of the inhabitants as they passed, and mischievously wasted their orchards. Even the property of Conrad Weiser, who was personally known to, and esteemed by, them, was not re- spected by the Tortuloes; who were, on his complaints, driven off by the Seneca chiefs .* The depredations they committed along their route were repaired by the assembly, that the people, satisfied with their indemnity, might bear more pa- tiently the insolence of their visiters.
The threats of the Indians to do themselves that justice they despaired to receive from the government, produced prompt and decisive measures. The secretary of the province, Mr. Richard Peters, and the interpreter, Mr. Weiser, were directed to proceed to the county of Cumberland, in which the new settlements lay, and to expel the intruders. They were joined by the magistrates of the county, the delegates from the Six nations, a chief of the Mohawks, and Andrew Montour, an interpreter from the Ohio. The commissioners met with little resistance in the execution of their duty, a few only of the settlers, under an apprehension of imprisonment, making a show of opposition. All readily entered into recog- nisance for their appearance at the next sessions, and many aided to reduce theirown habitations to ashes in the presence of the magistrates and attendant Indians. Mr. Peters displayed on this occasion great prudence and humanity. To the needy
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