USA > Virginia > The history of Virginia, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 16
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echoed other burgesses. Henry turned his fine eyes, blazing with light, from one opponent to another, and then added: "and George the Third may profit by their example. If that be treason, make the most of it." After a warm contest, the resolutions passed by a small majo- rity. The next day the governor dissolved the assembly.
The news spread with astonishing celerity throughout the whole length and breadth of Ameri- ca. Similar resolutions were offered and carried in the other provinces, and the principle of resistance to taxation without representation, was universally established and recognised. Acting upon the recommendation of Massachusetts, deputies from nine provinces met in congress at Philadelphia, and agreed upon a solemn declaration of rights. Petitions and memorials to the King of England and both houses of Parliament were also unani- mously adopted, in which the invasion of ancient privileges, and the frequent violations of existing compacts, were complained of in language com- bining the tenderness of affectionate respect, with the firmness arising from a consciousness of in- jury. For a whole year the contest continued ; but the pertinacity of the British ministry was not equal to the unyielding resolution with which
275
1768.] DIFFICULTIES ON THE FRONTIER.
the scheme of imperial taxation was opposed. The stamps were every where refused. Pitt, Camden, Barre, Burke, and Conway openly jus- tified the Americans in their resistance. Finding the obnoxious act utterly ineffective for all prac- tical purposes, it was repealed by Parliament at the session of 1766.
The joy of the provincials' was, however, but of short duration. Their expressions of loyalty and gratitude had scarcely subsided, before Townsend, the new chancellor of the exchequer, sheltering himself behind the admitted right of Parliament to regulate commerce, framed a bill imposing certain duties on tea, paper, glass, and painters' colours. -
On the second of July, 1767, the act was passed. Justly indignant at this new and more insidious attempt to encroach upon their liberties, the Americans entered at once upon a spirited resist- ance. They contended, that when designed for purposes of revenue, there was no difference in principle between direct and indirect taxation.
Before the passage of the act was known in Virginia the death of Lieutenant-governor Fau- quier had again placed John Blair, president of the council, at the head of the government.
Difficulties having arisen between the people of the frontiers and the western Indians, the as sembly was convened a month earlier than usual. It met on the last of March, 1768. After adopt-
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HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1769.
ing such measures as were best calculated to quiet the border agitation, the burgesses pro- ceeded to consider the late acts of Parliament, and passed a series of spirited resolutions, in which they boldly asserted, " that no power on earth has a right to impose taxes on the people without their own consent." While still in ses- sion, Lord Bottetourt, the new governor-in-chief, arrived, and a dissolution immediately took place. As this was the usual course of procedure in such cases, it created no dissatisfaction.
In accordance with a previous summons to that effect, a new assembly convened in May, 1769; and, after listening respectfully to a conciliatory speech from the governor, entered upon an ani- mated discussion of grievances. The Parliament of December, 1768, having authorized the gover- nor of Massachusetts to be instructed to send to England for trial all persons charged with trea- sonable offences, the assembly of Virginia antici- pated the reception of similar orders by the adoption of several resolutions, in which they claimed the sole power to impose taxes, asserted their right to petition the crown for relief, either singly or in conjunction with other colonies, and denounced the transmission beyond sea for trial, of any persons suspected of treason or of any other crime whatsoever, as a violation of privi- lege, and an illegal departure from a fixed and known course of proceeding. These resolutions
277
PLEDGE NOT TO IMPORT.
1769.]
were ordered to be sent, without delay, to the speakers of the several houses of assembly on the continent, and disdaining any longer to appeal to an unfriendly Parliament, the burgesses agreed upon an address, to be presented by their colonial agent to the king in person. Although sincerely sympathizing with the colonists in their troubles, the governor, holding his office from the crown, could not suffer resolutions of so dangerous a character to pass without a pointed rebuke.
The following morning he dissolved the assem- bly. Undeterred by this censure, the members adjourned to a private dwelling, and solemnly pledged themselves to import no articles from England, or any part of Europe, except an enume- rated few, which were of absolute and primary necessity. Among the burgesses by whom this non-importation agreement was signed, were George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson ; the latter, a young lawyer newly elect- ed from the county of Albemarle, where he pos- sessed a handsome patrimonial estate.
Animated by the imposing example of Vir- ginia, such of the other colonies as had previously hesitated to commit themselves to measures so decided, now adopted resolutions of a similar character.
Alarmed at the fearful progress of a resistance which they themselves had provoked, the British ministry, at length, reluctantly retraced their
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278
HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1770.
steps, and in April, 1770, the obnoxious duties were repealed, with the exception of three pence a pound on tea. To render the latter acceptable to the Americans, a drawback of one shilling a pound was allowed on all tea exported to the colonies, so that they were, apparently, benefited by the change to the extent of nine pence a pound.
But the original ground of contest still re- mained. The right to tax one article involved the right to tax all; and though a relaxation of the non-importation agreement took place as soon as the duties on the other commodities were removed, the colonists determined to allow no tea to be landed in America, until the impost on that also was rescinded.
The death of their amiable and upright gover- nor, Lord Bottetourt, during the fall of this year, was a source of sincere regret to the people of Virginia. Engaging in his address, prompt in his attention to business, and of incorruptible in- tegrity, he yet more closely endeared himself to all, by the deep interest which he showed for the welfare of the province, and by the frank, bold, and energetic manner in which he defended those over whom he presided from the aspersions of their enemies. More than once he warned the British government of the danger that was likely to ensue from persisting in a course of policy that would inevitably prove as injurious to
279
STATUE TO BOTTETOURT.
1770.]
the true interests of England, as it was unjust to her colonies.
Acting under his instructions from abroad, he had, from time to time, given assurances to his council and the house of burgesses, which the ministry never intended to fulfil. Justly indig- nant at a deception, to which he had been made a party, the high spirited nobleman demanded his recall ; declaring, at the same time, his deter- mination never to suffer himself to be constituted the oppressor of an innocent and virtuous people.
Profoundly penetrated by the remembrance of his many virtues, the members of the house of burgesses ordered a fine marble statue, which still stands in the town of Williamsburg, to be erected to his memory.
280
HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
[1772.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Dunmore appointed governor-Arrival of Foy-Meeting of the assembly-Rebuke of Dunmore-His tart reply-Committee of correspondence organized-A continental Congress sug- gested-Journey of Dunmore to the Ohio-Appoints Conolly Indian agent-His designs unfolded-Troubles with Penn- sylvania-Action of the Virginia council-Cargoes of tea sent to the colonies-Proceedings in consequence-Destruc- tion of tea at Boston-Its port closed-Action of Virginia- The Continental Congress-Indian war on the frontier-An army raised-March of Dunmore-Colonel Lewis encamps at Point Pleasant-Battle of Point Pleasant-Suspicious con- duct of Dunmore-Negotiations for peace-Speech of Logan -Approaching crisis-Battle of Lexington-Dunmore con- veys the powder from the magazine at Williamsburg-Henry marches upon the capital-An assembly convened-Flight of Dunmore.
BY the death of the lamented Bottetourt, the duties of governor devolved upon William Nelson, president of the council, until the arrival of Lord Dunmore in 1772. The quartering of troops in Boston, the riots in that city during the spring of 1770, and the obstinate persistence of the British ministry in retaining the duty on tea, all tended to increase the agitation of the public mind. Slight events became causes of grave suspicion ; and while every one felt that a crisis was rapidly approaching, none knew upon which province the blow was first to fall. The delay of Dunmore, in New York, for several months after his appointment, was by no means favour-
281
1773.] FOY MADE SECRETARY.
able to his reputation in Virginia. The resigna- tion by Captain Foy of his office as Governor of New Hampshire, for the purpose of accepting the inferior post of private secretary to Dunmore, was regarded by many as originating in some latent purpose. Foy had obtained a brilliant military reputation by his conduct at the battle of Minden; and it was supposed, not without plausibility, that the British ministry intended to employ his talents in carrying out those measures of coercion which had already been devised. To provide an -adequate salary for his distinguished secretary, Dunmore had directed that he should receive a fixed sum of five hundred pounds a year, besides the lucrative emoluments arising from a list of fees established expressly for his benefit. This assumption of an authority vested in the assembly alone, received, at the first meeting of that body, a prompt rebuke ; and Dunmore, con- scious of the impolicy of creating an open rupture with the indignant burgesses upon a question of so little moment when compared with the one at issue between the provinces and the mother coun- try, consented to annul the new list of fees, and sought by his courtesy and condescension to efface the unfavourable impression his conduct' had created. For a brief period harmony was apparently restored, but before the assembly again met, in 1773, a forgery of colonial paper money to an alarming extent, while stimulating
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282
HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
[1773.
the governor to bring the supposed offenders to justice, had led him to overstep the strict limits of the law. Conscious that one uncensured illegal act might afford a pretext for others, the assembly resolved upon an address to Dunmore, in which they stated, that as a doubtful construc- tion, and various execution of the criminal code, would greatly endanger the safety of the innocent, they trusted that the proceedings in the case under notice might not be adduced in future as a precedent. Stung by the rebuke, Dunmore an- swered tartly, " In apprehending and bringing to justice the forgers of your paper currency, I little imagined, when I was endeavouring to punish the guilty, that my conduct could by any means be thought to endanger the safety of the innocent." This display of acerbity had no effect upon men who were sustained by the con- sciousness of having performed a duty which they owed to their constituents.
After having thus zealously defended the privileges of the subject, the burgesses proceeded to organize a committee of correspondence, for the purpose of keeping up a frequent communica- tion with the other colonies, and of obtaining the earliest intelligence from abroad. The subsequent movements of Dunmore were also subjected to the closest scrutiny.
During the summer he proceeded on a pleasure excursion to the back settlements. He remained
283
1773.] SCHEMES OF DUNMORE.
sometime at Pittsburg, examining the nature of the country, conciliating the inhabitants, and holding frequent interviews of a private nature with one Conolly, whom he had appointed Indian agent. This man, able and unscrupulous, was known to possess considerable influence, not only over the surrounding tribes of savages, but also with the hardy and unsuspicious borderers. The objects of Dunmore's journey soon became ap- parent. It was to create a territorial dispute between Virginia and Pennsylvania, and thus weaken the bond of union existing between the two provinces ; or failing in that, to divert the attention of Virginia from the designs of the British government by provoking an Indian war. He had scarcely set out on his return, before Conolly commenced the formation of settlements in Pennsylvania, under patents granted by Dun- more. These encroachments were immediately resisted, Conolly was seized and imprisoned by the officers of Pennsylvania, and the settlers secured and punished as outlaws. Dunmore instantly issued a proclamation, which was well calculated, by its violent and haughty tone, to increase the excitement already existing. Fortu- nately his scheme was foiled by the sagacity and moderation of his council, who firmly rejecting all violent measures, agreed to settle the contro- versy by arbitration.
In the mean while, the general adoption of the
284
HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
[1773.
non-importation agreement having had the effect of virtually annulling the tax upon tea, the Bri- tish government endeavoured to force its intro- duction into the colonies by offering the East India Company a drawback equal to the amount of duty. As the tax was by this means rendered merely nominal, the hope was indulged that re- sistance would cease, and the proposition was accepted by the company. But as the principle involved remained the same as ever, the people would not yield.
At Charleston, the tea was allowed to be stored, but its sale was expressly prohibited. The car- goes intended for Philadelphia and New York, were sent back at once to England. At Boston, the popular indignation displayed itself far more violently. On the evening of the 16th of De- cember, 1773, three ships, containing tea, were boarded by an organized party, disguised as In- dians, who forcibly broke open the chests con- taining the obnoxious commodity, and emptied their contents into the water. This bold act was no sooner known in England, than a bill was passed by Parliament, closing the port of Boston, and removing the seat of government to Salem.
The assembly of Virginia was in session when a rough draft of the bill reached Williamsburg. All other business was at once thrown aside. An order was passed forthwith, protesting against the conduct of the ministry as subversive of
285
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.
1774.]
American freedom, and setting apart that day week-the 1st of June, 1774-for the purpose of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. To put a, stop to proceedings so alarming, Dunmore sum- moned the members to the council chamber, and dissolved the assembly.
On the following day, the whole of the dele- gates repaired, by agreement, to the Raleigh tavern, where, after drawing up an address to the American people, they authorized a corre- spondence to be opened with the several co- lonial committees, suggesting the expediency of appointing delegates to meet in a general Congress. The proposal everywhere met with a favourable response. On the 1st of August, 1774, a convention was held at Williamsburg, which, after adopting, in a more stringent form, the old non-importation agreement, appointed seven delegates to the proposed Congress. Pro- minent among those chosen, were Randolph, Washington, Henry, and Jefferson.
The Continental Congress met at Philadelphia on the 4th of September following. It consisted of fifty-three delegates, the leading men of twelve provinces. Of this select assembly, Peyton Ran- dolph was chosen president.
But while the patriotism of Virginia was being thus honoured by her sister provinces, she was suffering all the horrors of an Indian war upon her frontiers. Preluded by a series of atrocious
286
HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
[1774.
murders, it suddenly burst in full fury upon the defenceless inhabitants. The parties of border militia which had assembled to check the pro- gress of the enemy, were swept away, and such settlers as did not seek safety in flight, were either barbarously massacred, or hurried into captivity.
No longer dreading the effects of French skill, superadded to Indian ferocity, large numbers of volunteers immediately took the field. An army of twenty-seven hundred men was speedily raised. Dunmore, to whom, by means of his agent Conolly, the war has been attributed, placed himself at the head of a division of fifteen hun- dred men, and marched against the Shawanese towns on the Scioto. The remaining division under Colonel Andrew Lewis, proceeded to Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the great Kanawha.
As a junction was to have been made at this place with the troops under Dunmore, Lewis halted his men and encamped until the first di- vision should arrive. On the 9th of October, orders were received from the governor for the troops to cross the Ohio and join him at, or near, the Shawanese towns. Early the next morning, while the men were actively engaged in preparing for their march, several wounded scouts came into camp with intelligence that the Indians had been discovered in great force at a distance of less than a mile from the point. The main body
287
BATTLE OF POINT PLEASANT.
1774.]
of the army was immediately ordered out under Colonels Charles Lewis, and Fleming. The ad- vance, under Lewis, had not proceeded more than four hundred yards before it was assaulted by the Indians, and the action commenced. At the first fire Colonel Lewis fell mortally wounded. Fleming being disabled soon after, the men fell back in some confusion toward the camp, but were speedily rallied under cover of a reinforce- ment commanded by Colonel Field. The engage- ment then became general, and was continued, with unabated fury, from sunrise until near the close of evening. A skilful manœuvre, executed under the orders of Colonel Andrew Lewis, at length decided the victory in favour of the Ameri- cans. Three companies, commanded by Shelby, Matthews, and Stuart, were directed to proceed secretly up the Kanawha, turn the position of the enemy, and suddenly fall upon their rear. This movement was successfully accomplished. Alarmed at being placed unexpectedly between two fires, the Indians were thrown into disorder, and about sunset commenced a precipitate re- treat across the Ohio to their towns on the Scioto. In this hard fought battle the Virginians sustain- ed a loss in killed and wounded of two hundred and fifteen.
As soon as the dead were buried, and arrange- ments made for the comfort of the wounded, Lewis pressed forward to form a junction with
288
HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1774.
Dunmore. While he was on his march, he was met by an express bearing orders for the troops to return at once to Point Pleasant. Suspicious of the motives by which the governor was actu- ated, Lewis continued to advance, until he came in sight of one of the Indian towns, where he en- countered Dunmore in person, who informed him that he had already consented to enter upon ne- gotiations for a peace.
At the treaty, which was concluded soon after, Logan, one of the principal chiefs, was not pre- sent. To avoid, however, any misconstruction of his motives, he sent, by General Gibson, the fol- lowing speech to Lord Dunmore : "I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat ; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advo- cate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed, as they passed, and said, «Logan is the friend of the white man.' I had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, mur- dered all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. There run not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it: I have killed many : I have fully glutted my
,
289
1775.]
BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
-
vengeance. For my country I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbour a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan! Not one."
The war was closed upon the frontier ; but a sterner, grander, and more prolonged contest was speedily approaching. Resolutions, addresses, and resistance, both passive and forcible, had fully aroused the spirit of the American colonies, and prepared them for the bloodier struggle which was to follow. The common cause, at first im- perfectly embraced, because imperfectly under- stood, was now sustained by an unanimity of action, as forcible as it was imposing.
In the early part of 1775, the various provin- cial governors received instructions from Eng- land, to check the disposition to rebellion in the colonies, by seizing upon all depots of arms and ammunition. Gage, of Massachusetts, was the first to undertake the fulfilment of this order, by an attempt to capture some cannon and military stores collected at Concord, a small town some twenty miles from Boston. Eight hundred troops were detached on this service, and on the nine- teenth of April, at sunrise, reached Lexington, where, for the first time, they came into collision with a body of continental militia. The regulars were at first successful, but were subsequently
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290
HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1775.
compelled to retreat to Boston, with a loss in killed and wounded of three hundred men.
On the 22d of April, two days only after the battle of Lexington, Dunmore secretly removed the gunpowder from the magazine at Williams- burg, to an armed vessel lying off York Town. This act was no sooner discovered than the volun- teers of Williamsburg assembled in arms, with the avowed purpose of seizing the person of the governor.
Restrained with difficulty from the immediate execution of their threat, they despatched a depu- tation to the governor, demanding a restitution of the powder. His reply was courteous, but evasive. In the midst of the excitement, news arrived of the fight at Lexington. The tidings spread like wild-fire throughout the province. Fifteen hundred men collected at Fredericksburg from the upper country, prepared to march at a moment's warning to the defence of the capital, which Dunmore had threatened to lay in ashes at the first signal of insurrection. By the influence of Randolph, and other patriotic gentlemen, this large force was prevailed upon to abstain from active hostilities until the continental congress should decide upon the proper course to be pur- sued. Firm in his belief that the time for action had arrived, Patrick Henry alone refused to con- sent to any proposition involving delay. Placing ' himself at the head of his own company of volun-
291
1775.] PREPARATIONS FOR RESISTANCE.
teers from Hanover county, he marched at once upon Williamsburg. By the time he had reached Doncastle's ordinary, sixteen miles from the seat of government, his force had swelled to five hun- dred men. As he approached the city he was met by deputies from Williamsburg, accompanied by Corbin, the king's receiver, who consented to give bills for the value of the powder taken away. The particular cause of quarrel being thus re- moved, Henry returned to Hanover county, and on the 4th of May disbanded his followers.
While the deputies were treating with Henry, Dunmore sent his family on board the Fowey man-of-war, and after fortifying his palace, gar- risoned it, in addition to his own armed servants, and the Shawanese hostages, with a party of ma- rines which he had ordered to his assistance from one of the ships in the river.
These preparations for resistance, joined to the threat made by Captain Montague, that if his detachment met with any interruption, he would open a fire upon the town of York, brought on a renewal of the excitement. A proclamation by Dunmore declaring Henry and his followers guilty of rebellion, added fuel to the flame.
Stimulated to increased activity, meetings were held in every county, and volunteers pledged themselves to be in readiness to march wherever their services might be required. In this threat- ening aspect of affairs, Dunmore, fearing to trust
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HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1775.
himself beyond the walls of his palace, called his council together and asked their advice. They suggested that the marines should be dismissed, and an assembly convened. The governor re- luctantly consented. A brief period of quiet succeeded, but confidence was not restored. It was rumoured abroad that a scheme was being arranged for the seizure of the newly-elected deputies, who were openly warned to come pre- pared. Undeterred by the mysterious danger with which they were menaced, the delegates fearlessly set out for the capital. Those from distant counties entered Williamsburg dressed in their hunting shirts, and bearing their rifles. Nearly all who attended were armed. They had scarcely reached the city before an attempt was made to break open the magazine. In the act of entering it, a spring gun exploded, wounding one of the persons engaged in the affair. An alarming riot followed, and Dunmore, fearful for his personal safety, fled secretly by night, and took refuge on board the Fowey.
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