USA > Virginia > Historical collections of Virginia : containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating to its history and antiquities ; together with geographical and statistical descriptions ; to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia. > Part 10
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The hospitality of the Virginians became proverbial. Labor was valuable; land was cheap ; competence promptly followed industry. There was no need of a scramble ; abundance gushed from the earth for all. The morasses were alive with water-fowl : the forests were nimble with game ; the woods rustled with covies of quails and wild turkeys, while they sung with the merry notes of the singing birds ; and hogs, swarming like vermin, ran at large in troops. It was "the best poor man's country in the world." " If a happy peace be settled in poor England," it had been said, " then they in Virginia shall be as happy a people as any under heaven." But plenty encouraged indolence. No domestic manu- factures were established; every thing was imported from England. The chief branch of industry, for the purpose of exchanges, was tobacco planting ; and the spirit of invention was enfeebled by the uniformity of pursuit.
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CHAPTER V.
BACON'S REBELLION-HOSTILE DESIGNS OF THE FRENCH.
Indifference to change in England .-- Navigation Act .- Convicts .-- Conspiracy detected. -- Discontents .- Cessation from tobacco planting for one year .- Royal grants .- Virginia's remonstrance .- Success of deputies .- Indian hostilities-Army raised and disbanded by governor .- People petition for an army-elect Bacon commander -he marches without commission and defeats Indians-pursued by gorernor, who retreats on hearing of rising ut Jamestown .- Governor makes concessions .-- Bacon prisoner-is pardoned .- People force commission from governor .- Bacon marches to meet Indians-hears he is declared a rebel by Berkeley ---- marches to meet him --- he flees to Accomac .- Convention called and free government established .- Bacon de. feats the Indians .-- Berkeley obtains possession of the shipping, and occupies James- toren -- is besieged by Bacon, and driven out .- Jamestown burnt -Death of Bacon- character of his enterprise .- Predatory warfare-treaty between governor and his opponents .-- Cruelty of Berkeley .-- King's commissioners-Departure of Berkeley, and his death .-- Acts of Assembly passed during Bacon's influence .-- Conduct of king's commissioners .- Culpeper governor .-- Discontents .- Conduct of Beverly .- Howard governor .- General conduct of Virginia and progress of affairs .- Plan of Callior for dividing the British colonies.
As Virginia had provided for herself a government substan- tially free, the political changes in England could have little effect upon her repose, provided no attempt was made to interfere with the freedom of her trade, or her local government. She seemed content to be under the protection, rather than control, of what- ever power the people of England thought proper to place at the head of affairs, provided that power did not seek to extend the conceded authority. In this mood she had adhered to Charles I. until the Parliament, by its commissioners, promised a preserva- tion of all her privileges; she acknowledged Cromwell upon a similar promise, and his son Richard under the same idea; upon his resignation she held herself aloof, thus proving how perfect and how independent was her own local government, until the voice of England should declare who should rule ; and upon the accession of Charles II. she gave in her allegiance to him. As in all these British changes she remained unconcerned and unmoved. so the last caused neither extraordinary joy nor regret. The colo- nists, thus free from external sources of uneasiness, proceeded to legislate upon internal matters; providing rewards for the en- couragement of silk and other staples ; negotiating with Carolina and Maryland for the adoption of uniform measures for the im- provement of tobacco, and diminishing its quantity ; and provid- ing for the erection of public buildings, the improvement of James- town, and other subjects of general utility.
While the colonists were proceeding in this useful occupation. 1663. they were alarmed. by the intelligence of the re-enaction
of the navigation act. odious with new prohibitions, and armed with new penalties. The Virginians had long enjoyed a very beneficial trade with other countries besides England, and had early perceived its advantages, often urging the propriety of
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its continuance, and contending that "freedom of trade was the life of a commonwealth." But the object of the navigation act was to confine its trade exclusively to England, for the encourage- ment of English shipping, and the emolument of English merchants, as well as the promotion of the king's revenue ; without regard to the gross injury done to the colony by depriving her of the benefit of competition in her harbors. The colony remonstrated in vain. and continued boldly her trade with all such foreigners as would venture to encounter the risk of being taken by the English crui- sers, and encountering the penalties of the act.
It appears to have been for some time the practice to send felons and other obnoxious persons to the colony, to expiate their offences by serving the planters for a term of years. At the restoration many of the veteran soldiers of Cromwell, to whom it was antici- pated the return of the ancien regime would not be particularly palatable, were shipped to Virginia to work off their spleen in the cultivation of tobacco. It appears that this new business was not as agreeable to them as they had found the psalm-singing and plundering of the royalists, under the command of their devout leader; and they accordingly quickly organized an insurrection. by the operation of which they were to change places with such of their masters as were left alive by the process. But this out- breaking, which seems to have been well planned and extensively organized, was prevented by the compunction of one of their asso- ciates, who disclosed the whole affair to the governor the evening before it was to have gone into effect ; and adequate means were taken to prevent the design. Four of the conspirators
Feb. 13. were executed. But this evil of importing jail-birds, as they were called, increased to such an extent that it was prohib- ited by the General Court, in 1670, under severe penalties.
The increase in the amount of tobacco raised by the increase of June 5, 1666. the colony and the settlement of Maryland and Carolina, far outstripped the increase of taste for it, rapid as that was, and caused such a glut of the commodity that its price fell to an amount utterly ruinous to the planter. In this the exclusive privilege of purchase which England enjoyed, not- withstanding the extensive contraband trade, no doubt largely contributed ; but this the planters could not prevent, and their only remaining resource was in diminishing the amount of tobacco raised. To effect this various schemes had been devised, but they were all liable to be evaded, and were, if successful, too partial in their operation to effect the object desired. Nothing could be efficient, short of a total cessation from planting for one year, and this was at last accomplished after long negotiations with Mary- land and Carolina.
Many other staples had been recommended from time to time to the planters, and even encouraged by bounties and rewards, and this year, it was thought, would give them more leisure to attend! to the subject. But it is not probable that many engaged in the
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occupations proposed, which required the investment of capital, the acquisition of skill. and the aid of time to render them profit- able ; and the year's leisure only served to increase the growing discontent, especially as towards its end Maryland began to be suspected of bad faith.
There were other causes of discontent which probably prevailed between different classes of society. Loud complaint was made of the manner in which taxes were levied, entirely on persons without regard to property, which, as there must have been a very large class of poor free persons now existing, from the frequent emancipation, and expiration of the terms of those who came over as servants, besides those who were free but poor when they came to the country, must have created considerable excitement. An effort was made to remedy this evil by laying a tax on property, but ineffectually ; the only result being a small export duty on to- bacco, in aid of the general revenuc.
While the taxes bore thus hard upon the poorer portion of the community, they also had just reason to complain of exclusion from the right of suffrage by an act of 1670, and from the Legis- lature, to which none but freeholders could be chosen ; as well as of the enormous pay which the Burgesses appropriated to them- selves, of one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco per diem, and one hundred for their horses and servants. The forts were also complained of as a source of heavy expenditure, without any benefit ; their chief use, indeed, being rather injurious, as they kept off' traders who violated the navigation acts.
But these evils in domestic legislation were trivial, compared with those produced by the criminal prodigality of Charles, who wantonly made exorbitant grants to his favorites of large tracts of lands, without a knowledge of localities, and consequently witli- out regard to the claims or even the settlements of others. To cap the climax of royal munificence, the gay monarch. in, perhaps. a merry mood, granted to Lords Culpeper and Arlington the whole colony of Virginia, for thirty-one years, with privileges effectually royal as far as the colony was concerned, only reserving some mark of homage to himself. This might be considered at court, perhaps, as a small bounty to a favorite, but was taken in a very serious light by the forty thousand people thus unceremoniously transferred. The Assembly, in its extravagance, only took from them a great proportion of their profits ; but the king was filching their capital, their lands, and their homes, which they had inherited from their fathers, or laboriously acquired by their own strenuous exertion.
The Legislature sont three deputies to England, to remonstrate with the king against these intolerable grants, to endeavor to pro- cure his assent to some charter which might secure them again -: such impositions for the future ; and if they should fail in the first of these objects, to endeavor to buy out the rights of the patentees. To bear the expense of these three deputies, Mr. Ludwell, Mr.
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Morryson, and Mr. Smith, the enormous annual tax of fifty pounds of tobacco was laid upon every titheable person for two years, which, though it was for a popular object, was considered as of itself an intolerable grievance, at which we cannot wonder when we reflect that many who had to pay this tax did not own, a foot of land, The amount can only be accounted for, by supposing much of it was to be used as secret service money, with such of his majesty's minions as could only see justice through a golden medium.
These deputies exerted themselves with remarkable success, and procured from the king an order for a charter, precisely in conformity to the petition which they presented, and providing against the grievances of which they complained; especially grants from the crown without information from the governor and council in Virginia that such grants would be of no injury ; de- pendence immediately upon the crown of England, and not on any subfeudatory ; and exemption from taxation without consent of the Grand Assembly. His majesty ordered the solicitor-general and attorney-general to prepare a bill embodying these and the other matters embraced in their petition, in due legal form, for his signature ; but the matter, notwithstanding the most assiduous attention of the deputies, was so long delayed in going through the official forms that it was finally stopped, before its completion, in the Hanaper office, by the news of Bacon's Rebellion.
Soon after the deputies left Virginia, the difficulties of the colony had been increased by the addition of an Indian war, which, al- though not now, as formerly, a matter causing danger of destruction to the whole colony, and requiring all its strength to repel it, was yet a subject of great terror and annoyance to the frontier.
A standing army of five hundred men, one-fourth of which was Mar. 7, 1675. to consist of cavalry. was raised by the Legislature,
and every provision made for their support and regu- lation ; but after it was raised, and in a complete state of prepa- ration to march against the Indians, it was suddenly disbanded by the governor without any apparent cause. This was followed by earnest petitions to the governor from various quarters of the coan- try, to grant a commission to some person to chastise the Indians, the petitioners offering to serve in the expedition at their own ex- pense. This reasonable request was refused, and the people, see- ing their country left defenceless to the inroads of a savage for. assembled of themselves in their primary capacity, in virtue of their right of self-defence, to march against the enemy. They chose for their leader Nathaniel Bacon. junior, a young gentleman of highly respectable family and education, who, although he had returned to Virginia but three years before, from the completion of his studies in England, had already received the honor of a colonel's rank in the militia, and a seat in the Legislature for Heu- rico, in which county his estate lay,-exposed by its situation to the fury of the Indians. He stood high in the colony, and was
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possessed of courage, talent, and address, which fitted him well for such an enterprise. After Bacon had been selected by this volunteer army as their leader, his first step was to apply to the governor for a commission, in order, if possible, to have the sanc- tion of the legitimate authorities for his conduct. The governor evaded this rational and respectful request. by saying that he could! not decide upon so important a matter without his council, which he summoned to consult, at the same time artfully hinting to Ba- con the injury which he might probably do himself by persevering in his course. Bacon dispatched messengers to Jamestown to receive the commission, which he did not doubt would be ult - mately granted ; and as public impatience would not abide the dilatory proceedings of the governor, and he was probably ne :- tied at the insinuations addressed to his selfishness, in the gov- ernor's communication,-he proceeded on his expedition, authori; - ed only by the will of the people, the danger of the country. and the anxious wish of those who trusted their lives to his control.
Sir William Berkeley, (whose conduct, notwithstanding the high encomiums bestowed upon him, seems to have been marked in ordinary times only by a haughty condescension, which in his excellency was called suavity of manners, and in those times of difficulty, by vacillating imbecility.) after temporizing in the most conciliating manner with Bacon until his departure, now denoun"- ed him and his followers as mutineers and traitors, for daring to defend their country after his excellency had refused them a com- mission ; and gathering together such forces as he could collect. consisting principally of the wealthy aristocrats in the settled country, who probably liked the mode of taxation which was least injurious to them, and who suffered little from Indian incur- sions upon the frontier, he marched to put down the rebellions troops. He had not proceeded further than the falls of James River, when he received intelligence of a rising in the neighbor- hood of Jamestown of a more formidable nature than Bacon's, which compelled him to retreat and take care of affairs at home. This new ebullition of feeling was headed by Ingram and Walk- late. and was probably produced by the indignation of the common people at the absurd conduct of the governor in first refusing a commission to Bacon. and then marching to destroy him, while engaged in so useful an occupation. Be this as it may, we find them insisting upon dismantling the forts, which were intolerably oppressive, without producing any good effect against an enemy whose progress was by stealth, whose onset was sudden and furious, and whose retreat was immediate. Against such an en- emy active operations in the field were require i. and the vigorous prosecution of the war in his own country. The forts, probably, were regarded by the poor as instruments of power in the bandy of the rich ; which they kept up by oppressive acts, while the. took measures to put down Bacon's operations, which constituted
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the only hope which the people had for protection. The governor was obliged to yield to the storm. The forts were ordered to be dismantled, and the obnoxious assembly was dissolved, and write issued for a new election, in which, for the first time, freemen, as distinguished from freeholders, were elected.
In the mean time, Bacon had been very successful in defeating the Indians, destroying their towns, and taking them captive ; and was returning leisurely to Jamestown when he heard of the revolution there. This induced him to leave his little army, and. with a few followers, embark for Jamestown ; but he was taken on his voyage by Gardiner, who was cruising to intercept him. and sent a prisoner to the governor. Bacon had been elected a mem- ber for Henrico in the new legislature, and was pardoned and per- mitted to take his seat upon his confessing the impropriety and disobedience of his conduct, praying pardon of the governor, and promising future obedience. Credible report says, that he was induced to make this full and humiliating acknowledgment upon a promise by the governor, not only of pardon, but of a commis. sion : and, indeed, without supposing it the result of a compro- mise, it is difficult to account either for this act or his subsequent conduct. The causes which induced his next step are not suffi- ciently explained by the historians of the times, but it was proba- Uly produced by the solicitations of his friends in the legislature, who found that they could gain no redress of grievances. He collected troops in the country, and marched to Jamestown ; he surrounded the state house with his enraged soldiers, demanding a commission for him; which, by the earnest solicitation of the council and assembly, was at length obtained from the governor. together with a full act of indemnity for his present conduct, and a letter, highly applauding his designs and his proceedings, ad- dressed to the king, and signed by the burgesses, the council, and the governor.
Thus relieved from all former sources of fear, and provided against future contingencies, Bacon again sallied forth towards the frontier. But the governor had not long been relieved from his presence before he dissolved the assembly, and retiring into Glou- cester, again declared Bacon a rebel, and his army traitors, and raised the standard of opposition. Upon being informed of this, Bacon immediately fell back by forced marches upon Gloucester, and compelled his puissant excellency to retreat with precipitation to Accomac. This county was at that time considered as a distinct territory, although under the control of Virginia, and Bacon, taking advantage of this against an unpopular governor. called a con- vention for the purpose of settling the government, declaring that the governor had abdicated. This convention met at Middle Plan. tation on the 3d of August, 1676, and declared that the govern- ment was vacant by the abdication of Sir William Berkeley, and that, by invariable usage. the council or the people might till the vacancy until the king's pleasure should be known. Writs were
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then issued by five* members of the council for a new election of burgesses. The convention next declared Sir William Berkeley guilty of aiding and abetting certain evil disposed persons in fomenting and stirring up the people to civil war; and that they would aid in discovering all such evil disposed persons, and op- posing their forces, until the king be fully informed of the state of the case ; and that they would aid Bacon and his army against the common enemy, and in suppressing the horrid outrages and mur- ders daily committed by them.
Bacon having now provided a regular government for the coun- try, proceeded once more against the Indians, who had formed a confederacy and gained several advantages since his retreat. He destroyed the Pamunky, Chickahominy, and Mattaponi towns and their corn, in retaliation of the late excesses. The Indians retreated before him, with occasional skirmishes, until they reach- ed their place of general rendezvous near the falls of James River. Hle there found their whole force posted on an eminence over- hanging a stream, which, from the sanguinary nature of the con- flict, has been since called Bloody Run. They were protected by a stockade fort. which was stormed by the impetuous ardor of Bacon and his followers, who made great slaughter among them, encumbered as they were with their old men, women, and children.
In the mean thine, Berkeley had not met with that warm recep- tion which he had anticipated among the loyalists of Accomac ; but, on the other hand, he had been presented with a strong and spirited remonstrance against the objectionable acts of Parliament, and a requisition that they should be suspended, at least so far as regarded that portion of the country. How the matter termi- nated we are not informed.
The governor was not allowed to remain undisturbed in Acco- mac, until he could again succeed in raising a forec which might give trouble. Bacon's party was in possession of all the vessels in the colony. and two of his friends, Giles Bland and William Carver, went with their force to cut off supplies from the governor. or, as his friends surmised, to surprise him. But if such was their object they were defeated, for Captain Larimore, from whom one of the vessels had been taken, gave intimation to the governor's friends that he would betray his vessel into the hands of a party sufficiently strong to keep possession. The proposal was acceded to, and at midnight six and twenty men, obeying Larimore's signal, were along side of his ship. and had possession almost before the crew were aroused from their slumbers; the other vessels were then easily taken. Thus, Sir William finding himself in posses- sion of the whole naval force of the colony, while Bacon was absent on his expedition against the Indians, he collected together
# Burke, vol. II, p. 179, says, " by Bacon and four other members of the council," but the member of the council was Nathaniel Bacon, sen., and the general was V. thaniel Bacon, jun., delegate for Henrico .-- Hening, vol. II. p. 514-5.
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a force of some six hundred men, consisting mostly of aristocratic gentlemen and their servile dependents, and took possession once more of Jamestown. As usual, his first act in returning to power, was to disavow his acts in favor of Bacon as made ginder duress, and again to deciare him a rebel, and his soldiers traitors.
Bacon was on his return from his successful campaign when this news reached him ; most of his followers had dispersed, but he hastened on with the remainder, without regard to their fatigues in the recent campaign. He arrived before Jamestown late in the evening, fired his artillery and sounded a defiance, and then coolly dismounted and laid off his trenches. His men that very night, by the aid of trees, earth, and brushwood, formed & tolerable breastwork, and the next morning advanced to the pali- sadoes of the town, and fired upon the guard, without loss. Sir William Berkeley, well knowing that time would increase the force of his adversary, while it diminished his own, next resolved to try the effects of a sally ; and some of his men at first behaved with some show of courage, but the whole body soon retreated in disorder before the well-directed fire of Bacon's men, leaving their drum and their dead as trophies to the victors. Bacon would not allow the victory to be followed up. as it would have placed his men under the range of the guns of the shipping. To prevent the use which might be made by this auxiliary, he planted several great guns so as to bear on the ships, which served also to alarm, though they could not annoy the town.
Now the marked difference which existed between the charac- ter of Bacon's troops and those of the governor was exhibited, and that, too, in a manner well calculated to exhibit the character of Bacon's proceedings. Berkeley's troops, consisting principally of mercenary wretches, whom he had scraped together by the hopes of plunder, deserted every day when they found that the governor was determined to defend the place, and that they were likely to get more blows than booty in the contest, until at last the governor was left with little more than twenty gentlemen, whose sense of honor would not allow them to desert his person. Bacon's troops, on the other hand, were daily reinforced by accessions from the country people, who clearly considered him as an intrepid sol- dier, who had delivered them from the butcheries of the savages : and a patriot, who was now endeavoring to put down an odious and oppressive government.
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