USA > Pennsylvania > The history of Pennsylvania : from its discovery by Europeans, to the Declaration of Independence in 1776 > Part 29
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The militia bill did not compel the inhabitants to arm, but encouraged and protected their voluntary association for de- fence. To promote this, Franklin wrote and published a dia- logue, stating and answering the objections to a militia law, which had great effect, and he was prevailed upon by the go- vernor to take charge of the north-western frontier, then much infested by the enemy. Full powers were given to him, with authority to commission such officers as he thought proper. His son, who had served in the army against Ca- nada, was his aid, and he, without difficulty, raised five hun- dred and sixty men. The troops were collected at Bethlehem, whence they marched to Gnadenhutten, on the Lehigh, twen- ty-five miles north-west of Bethlehem, which had been burned and wasted by the Indians. Bethlehem itself was prepared for defence by the Moravian brethren, who had surrounded it by a stockade, and had procured arms and ammunition from New York; even stones were collected between the windows of their high houses, for the women to throw upon the heads of assailants, and the brethren did regular garrison duty. These hostile preparations were remarkable, as the Mora- vians professed conscientious scruples against bearing arms, and had obtained an act of parliament, exempting them from
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militia duty in the colonies. On being questioned by Frank- lin on this subject, their bishop, Spangenburg, replied, " That it was not one of their established principles ; but that when they obtained that act, it was thought to be a principle among the people. On this occasion, they were surprised to find it adopted by very few." In the beginning of January, amid rain and frost, Franklin began to erect his forts, which were soon sufficient to resist the attacks of the Indians, unprovided with artillery. The progress of his labours was watched, but not interrupted, by the enemy ; who, finding an attack would be unavailing, drew off unobserved. He returned to the city, on the earnest request of his friends in the assembly, leaving colonel Clapham, a New England officer experienced in Indian warfare, in his command. The military association grew rapidly. Twelve hundred men were organized in the city, with a company of artillery; these were formed into a regiment, of which Franklin was elected colonel; and, such was his popularity, that the governor proposed to him to un- dertake an enterprise against fort du Quesne; but he, diffident of his talents for such a service, declined, and the project was altogether dropped .*
Governor Shirley, having been appointed commander-in- chief, on his return to Albany, summoned a convention of the governors of the northern and middle colonies, to settle the plan of the ensuing campaign. This council resolved to raise ten thousand two hundred and fifty men ; to attack Ni- agara, that the communication between Canada and Louisiana might be cut off; to reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, that the command of lake Champlain might be obtained, and New York freed from the apprehension of invasion; to be- siege fort du Quesne, on the Ohio, and to detach a body of forces by the river Kennebec, to alarm the capital of Canada. This plan was too extensive for the means which Shirley pos- sessed, and served only to dissipate the strength, which more concentrated efforts might have rendered serviceable.
* Votes. Gazette. Franklin's Life. Penn. Records.
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The Pennsylvania quota of troops was fifteen hundred; to raise which, extraordinary exertions were made. Great dis- satisfaction was given, by the encouragement held forth to indented servants and apprentices to enlist; since this colony had hitherto liberally afforded recruits in greater number than any other, and she now suffered for want of necessary la- bourers. But this was an additional calamity of the war, that was inevitable; neither the commander-in-chief, nor governor Morris, being at liberty to remedy the grievance.
The excise on wine and spirits, which had been imposed for ten years, being about to expire, a bill for its renewal was prepared by the assembly, and sent up for the governor's sanction. He proposed to amend it, by giving to the governor, or the president of the council, a joint power with the house, in the disposition of its proceeds; and communicated to the house his instructions, forbidding him to assent to any law raising money on the inhabitants of the province, without this provision. In these, the house discovered what they long believed the true cause of the governor's inveterate op- position to their several money bills. With their accustomed strength, they animadverted on their unconstitutionality, and their injurious effects on the province, and resolutely adhered to their bill.
Notwithstanding the hostilities committed by the Dela- wares and Shawanese, war had not been formally declared against them by the province. Several members of the as- sembly had still confidence in the influence of the Six nations over these people, and that it would be exerted for the re- storation of peace. They moved the house, therefore, to ad- dress the governor, to suspend his declaration of war; but the motion, after much debate, was postponed indefinitely. The feelings of the Quakers, however, were too deeply in- terested in this matter, to suffer them to remain quiet whilst any means were unassayed to prevent an evil they so greatly dreaded. Many of them attended the house, and, in person, prayed that body to join them in a remonstrance against the declaration; but the assembly also postponed indefinitely
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the consideration of this petition. The Quakers also pre- pared a remonstrance to the governor, which contained at length their views in relation to war, and the provincial po- licy towards the Indians. (1)
This appeal, though earnest and persuasive, did not stay the declaration of war, which was proclaimed by the governor, by the advice of his council-William Logan alone dissent- ing .* And we have to regret another instance of the deli- berate inhumanity which has distinguished the belligerents on the North American continent, in regard to their employ- ment of the Indians. The cruelty of the savage was stimu- lated by the promise of reward; and, by proclamation, a pre- mium was offered for the prisoners or scalps taken from the Indian enemy. This was rather an invitation to murder, than to take and protect prisoners. For, as the scalp was worth the living body, no considerations of religion or humanity induced the Indians to suffer the slightest inconvenience from their prisoners. t
The disposition which the province thus displayed towards the Indians, alarmed even those who continued friendly. These had been gathered in from the Susquehannah to the city, lest they should be mistaken for enemies; and now, without assigning any reason, they suddenly resolved to join the Six nations. Their departure relieved the city of a con-
(1) See note 2 Q, Appendix.
* Provincial Records, Harrisburg.
t See governor Clinton's Discourse before the New York Historical So- ciety, for a collection of instances of this execrable policy of the Europeans, vindicated by lord Suffolk, the British secretary of state. 2 Col. His. Soc. 57.
It is highly honourable to the proprietaries, that they discountenanced this savage practice. In a letter from T. Penn, (July 10, 1756, ) to governor Hamilton, he says, " When you wrote me last, you regretted that you were not at liberty to declare war against the Delaware Indians, that you might attack them in their towns. This inconvenience is, since that time, re- moved, and I wish people enlisted in pay could have been found to go in small parties and attack them, making prisoners of their wives and chil- dren, as a means to oblige them to sue for peace, rather than that rewards should be offered for scalps, especially of the women, as it encourages pri- vate murders."
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siderable burden, yet care was taken that they should depart in good humour, and that their leaders, Scarroyady and Mon- tour, should be amply rewarded for their services. No op- portunity was lost by the assembly to propitiate the Indians. Cayenquiloquoas, an influential chief among the Six nations, had placed two sons at Philadelphia to be educated, who were hitherto supported at the joint expense of the province and proprietaries. But, the latter refusing further to contri- bute, the former assumed the whole charge. The services of Montour and Scarroyady merited the acknowledgments of the whites. At the risk of their lives, they had, in December, visited the several tribes of Indians seated along the Susque- hannah, with a view to persuade them from assuming arms; and thence proceeded, as the deputies of the Six nation In- dians residing in Pennsylvania, to the great council at Onon- dago, to represent the conduct of the Delawares and Shawa- nese to the confederated nations. In consequence of their re- monstrances, the council despatched a party of their warriors, consisting of deputies from each of the Six nations, to the Sus- quehannah, to enjoin the Delawares and Shawanese to desist from hostilities; and, in case of their refusal, to declare war against them in the name of the Six nations. *
The assembly, being convened on the tenth of May, were urged by a message from the governor, then on the frontiers, to new model the militia bill; which, not being compulsory, was found inadequate, even where danger was most pressing, and was much disliked by the military association in the city : he recommended an embargo on provisions and warlike stores, which had been adopted in New York, that supplies might not be furnished to the French forces lately despatched from Europe; and, by statements, which the assembly deemed exaggerated, of the condition of the inhabitants on the fron- tier counties, endeavoured to excite the assembly to further exertions for their defence.
The house immediately passed an act, forbidding the ex- port of provisions and military stores until the fourth of
* l'enn. Gazette. Penn, Records.
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August ; but the legislature of the territories passed a simi- lar act, extending the prohibition only to the seventh of July. Subsequently they extended it to the twentieth of July, and from thence so long as the legislature of Pennsylvania should continue the law for the like purpose, not beyond the twenty- second of October. To run the provincial parallel with the territorial act, and under pretence of continuing the embargo as long as New York and New Jersey, the governor con- vened the assembly on the nineteenth of July, at the most inconvenient season of the year, in the height of harvest. Against this measure, the merchants, owners, and masters of ships protested. And the assembly, indignant at the unrea- sonable, and, as they demonstrated, unnecessary summons, refused to legislate further upon the subject; having originally given to their act the same duration as those of New York and New Jersey. They professed themselves disposed to remedy the faults which might be pointed out in their militia law, but the labour of amendment was saved to them, by the repeal of the act by the king in council. But they did not pass silently by the governor's representation of the pro- vincial state of defence. Their frontier was better defended than that of any colony on the continent: there were many associated companies ready, at the command of the governor, to march into the border counties, and the treasury was pro- vided with means to pay the necessary expenses. They recommended, however, that the governor should rather em- ploy permanent troops, as a cheaper and more efficient spe- cies of force than the militia, for the frontier service.
On the application of commodore Spry for seamen, the commissioners for disposing of the money granted to his ma- jesty's use, at the instance of the assembly, furnished a large and seasonable reinforcement, obtained by bounty from the province, and sent to the fleet at its expense.
The house entered upon the preparation of another act,* for raising supplies, but they suspended their progress, on re- ceiving information that sir William Johnson, through the
June.
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mediation of the Six nations, had succeeded in disposing the Shawanese and Delawares to an accommodation; and that these tribes had promised to refrain from further hostilities. On the part of the province, the governor suspended the war against the Indians, by proclamation, which he sent to the Indians at Diogo, on the Susquehannah, and the assembly cheerfully supplied the means for holding a treaty of pacifi- cation ; and earnestly pressed upon the governor, for his sanction, a bill for regulating the trade and intercourse with the Indians, by which they expected to allay whatever re- sentment the Indians might still feel, and to provide against future discontents.
The return of the Shawanese and Delawares to pacific dispositions, was greatly promoted by the conduct of the principal Quakers. Israel Pemberton and others invited some friendly Indians to their tables, and, in a free and social con- verse with them, through the instrumentality of Conrad Wei- ser, awakened their earnest wishes for peace. These Indians were despatched with a message from Scarroyady to the hos- tile tribes, communicating the desires of the Quakers that they should return to their early affections. This conference was held with the permission of the governor; but, by the advice of his council, the subject was left entirely to the ma- nagement of Friends .*
The governor, who had received no compensation from the house, since their first session after his arrival, believed the present gleam of peace afforded a proper opportunity of presenting his claims. He reminded the house that the trou- ble and expense of his administration had been greater than formerly; but they turned a deaf ear to his representations.
The Quakers, members of the assembly, had continued to participate in the labours of the house, even on military sub- jects, and had debated and voted, some of them negatively, on the money and militia bills. Upon mature reflection, James Pemberton, William Callender, William Peters, Peter Worrall, and Francis Parvin, were convinced that the nature
* Provin, Records.
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of the services required from them was incompatible with their religious principles, and therefore resigned their seats. This measure was novel, and occasioned considerable debate. By the constitution of the parliament of Great Britain, a mem- ber could not resign, but his acceptance of an office under the crown vacated his seat. But as this acceptance of an office was mere form, it was contended, that what might be done indirectly, was lawful to be done directly, and therefore the house accepted the resignation of the members, on condition that they delivered their reasons to the speaker in writing; and directed writs to be issued for holding elections to supply the vacancies. The governor refused to sign the writs, whereupon the speaker directed them immediately to the sheriffs of the respective counties.
Though France and England had been engaged in the warmest hostilities in America since 1754, the peace was not. openly and avowedly broken in Europe until May, of the present year. The events in America in 1754 had deter- mined each to despatch considerable reinforcements to the colonies. The French, understanding that orders had been given to Boscawen to intercept their squadron, declared they would consider the first gun fired as a declaration of war, and their minister was recalled in consequence of an attack upon their fleet by that admiral. The British government instant- ly issued letters of marque, under which a large number of French merchant-ships, and seven thousand French sailors, were captured, a blow which had great effect upon the sub- sequent operations of the war in Europe and America .*
In order to make the best use of the German and Swiss settlers in America, who, from their close union, and resi- dence near each other, formed a distinct people, preserving their original language and manners, authority was given by act of parliament to form a regiment, to be called the royal American regiment, of four battalions, cach of one thousand men. As it was necessary that the subalterns of this regi- ment should speak German, this act authorized the appoint-
* Smollet. Marshall.
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ment of foreign protestants who had served abroad as officers or engineers, to rank as such in America only.
The English ministry, either from want of confidence in the military talents of general Shirley, or that he might give them information on American affairs, removed him from the command, and summoned him to England. General Abercrombie succeeded him, and with him came out two additional regiments. But the chief direction of the war was soon after given to the earl of Loudon, who was appointed governor of Virginia, and colonel of the royal American re- giment. Abercrombie sailed for America in March, but Loudon did not embark until May. The governor commu- nicated these changes to the assembly of Pennsylvania in June, with the royal instructions, that they should appro- priate the funds raised for the public service, under the direc- tion of the commander-in-chief; and, that the American regi- ment might be speedily raised, to provide for the payment of the masters of such servants as should enlist. General Shir- ley, before his departure for Europe, addressed to the assem- bly a letter of acknowledgment for the services they had rendered towards the expedition to Crown Point, by their supply of provisions and clothing. They voted him a com- plimentary reply, in which they observed, that " the justice he had formerly done the assemblies of the province in a let- ter to one of their members, and this fresh instance of the same disposition of mind, was becoming his established cha- racter, and was the more acceptable to them, as they had fre- quently, though in vain, sought that justice where they undoubtedly had a right to ask and expect it."
Captain Newcastle, who had been sent to the Indians with a copy of the governor's proclamation, on his return, brought with him as far as Bethlehem a number of the Delaware In- dians, with their king, Teedyuscung, at their head, who waited there to enter upon a conference with the governor. He asked of the house four or five hundred pounds to pay the expenses of this treaty; but they granted him three hundred pounds only, and referred him to the proprietaries for such . further sum as might be required. He accepted this sum
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with an ill grace, expressing his conviction that the proprie- taries would contribute nothing, and declared his intention to remain at Bethlehem until his money should be expended, when he would mount his horse and ride to New York to meet lord Loudon. Attended by his council, and Isaac Nor- ris, Joseph Fox and William Edmonds, members of the as- sembly, the governor met the Indians at Easton, where their engagements with Sir William Johnson to lay down the hatchet were confirmed.
Much pains were taken by the governor and his party to misrepresent the principles and conduct of the assembly, at the court of St. James. Beside the official correspondence of the governor, his friends wrote letters for publication in the London newspapers. One of these, in which the assembly, and the Quakers generally, of the province were treated with much freedom and great indecorum, attributed to William Smith, provost of the Philadelphia college, was published in the London " Evening Advertiser," and a copy thereof was laid before the house. They voted that it contained wicked calumnies against numbers of sober and valuable inhabitants, . and infamous, libellous, false, and scandalous assertions against the two branches of the legislature. Smith was arrested by the sergeant-at-arms, and being brought before the house, and questioned by the speaker, whether he had written a letter containing the matter extracted in the journals, gave at first an evasive answer, and finally refused to reply to the speaker's questions. He was permitted to withdraw, fur- nished, at his request, with a copy of the order to the ser- geant-at-arms, and of the questions of the speaker, and his answers. The house then resolved, that " his replies were trifling and evasive, and plainly indicated him to be the author of the letter; but, that having matters of considerable moment before them at that time, and being able to stay but a little while together, further proceedings should be post- poned to a more convenient opportunity, and that he should be discharged from the custody of the sergeant-at-arms." The want of proof to convict Smith of having written this letter, alone prevented the house from proceeding with seve- .
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rity against him. The letter charged on Smith was printed in London, in a pamphlet form, and if, as the writer of a re- ply to it asserts, it contained the views of the proprietary party, the assembly was fully justified in their efforts to re- tain the power of the government in their own hands. This letter writer attributed to the Quaker policy not only the un- prepared state of the colony for war, but also the designs of the French, for occupying and garrisoning the western coun- try; and he proposed to remedy all the evils of which he complained, by stripping the Quakers, and their partisans, the Germans, of political influence. He suggested that an act of parliament should be passed, enacting, 1, That all mem- bers of assembly should take the oaths of allegiance, and sub- scribe a declaration that they would not refuse to defend their country against all his majesty's enemies; 2, That the right of the Germans to vote for members of assembly, should be suspended until they had acquired a competent knowledge of the English language and provincial constitution; 3, That protestants, ministers, and school-masters, should be settled among them, to reduce them into regular congregations; to instruct them in the nature of free government, the purity and value of the protestant faith; and to bind them to the province by a common language, and the consciousness of a common interest; 4, That all law writings should be void unless made in the English tongue; 5, That no newspapers, almanacks, or other periodical paper, written in a foreign lan- guage, should be printed or published, unless accompanied by an English version ; and, That further importations of Germans should be prohibited. And, in a second letter, supplementary to the first, the author proposed to give to the executive the power of dissolving the legislature, and of fixing at pleasure the day for the election of representatives .*
On the meeting of the assembly in August, the governor asked for further supplies of money, without which he could no longer retain the troops in service, now more especially necessary, since the late audacity of the enemy, who had
* Political Pamphlets.
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1 captured fort Granville on the Juniata river, was wasting the country west of the Susquehannah, and driving the inhabi- tants upon the interior settlements. Much of this picture of distress, the assembly declared, was drawn from fancy, and was part of the system adopted by the governor to magnify his own vigilance, and their neglect. He felt delight, they said, in the contrast of his own glowing descriptions, and the cool and cautious policy of the assembly. But the distress of the country could scarce be painted in colours too vivid. In the preceding year the country west of the Susquehannah possessed three thousand men fit to bear arms, and now, exclusive of the provincial forces, there were not a hundred; fear having driven the greater part into the interior of the province. The house immediately sent the governor a bill for raising forty thousand pounds, but as they adhered to their determination of taxing the proprietary estates, he refused to pass it. Another long and wordy contest was about to com- mence, when Mr. Morris was superseded by the arrival of governor Denny.
Governor Morris was bred a lawyer, was a man of educa- tion, and gentlemanly manners, eloquent, and fond of dispu- tation. He contended, in argument, for victory, against the plain dictates of common sense; and fancied that his own fluency was an overmatch for the strength and point of Frank- lin, who was the writer and champion of the assembly; and whom, in his angry mood, he accused, to the ministry, of using his office of postmaster-general to obstruct the king's service, and to the proprietaries, of the design of wresting from them the government. * Had he been at liberty to con- sult his own understanding, he would have conciliated, rather than provoked, the assembly. But, fettered by his instruc- tions, which he was required, too, to keep concealed, he was frequently compelled to resort to pretences for his refusal to sanction the acts of the house, which would not bear handling; and, for the want of argument, fell into reproaches and in-
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