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| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-04-16 14:17:40 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-04-16 14:17:40 -0700 |
| commit | ddcaf7f79a759310b66b07688f992608d93ed3c6 (patch) | |
| tree | 2e6bba06033326cbea074d8830d1f88431539e6b | |
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| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/78469-0.txt b/78469-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3427ab6 --- /dev/null +++ b/78469-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7639 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78469 *** + + + + + A HISTORY OF + THE AMERICAN PEOPLE + + BY + WOODROW WILSON, PH.D., LITT.D., LL.D. + + IN FIVE VOLUMES + + VOL. II. + Colonies and Nation + + + + +[Illustration: GEORGE WASHINGTON] + + + + + A HISTORY OF + THE AMERICAN PEOPLE + + BY + WOODROW WILSON, PH.D., LITT.D., LL.D. + PRESIDENT OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY + + ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS, MAPS, + PLANS, FACSIMILES, RARE PRINTS, + CONTEMPORARY VIEWS, ETC. + + IN FIVE VOLUMES + + VOL. II. + + [Illustration] + + NEW YORK AND LONDON + HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS + MCMVII + + Copyright, 1901, 1902, by WOODROW WILSON. + + Copyright, 1901, 1902, by HARPER & BROTHERS. + + _All rights reserved._ + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. COMMON UNDERTAKINGS 1 + + II. THE PARTING OF THE WAYS 98 + + III. THE APPROACH OF REVOLUTION 172 + + IV. THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE 223 + + APPENDIX 331 + + + + +NOTES ON ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + + GEORGE WASHINGTON _Frontispiece._ + + PLAN OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, ABOUT 1732.—From + plate 12 of Henry Popple’s _Map of the British Empire + in America_. London, 1733 3 + + NEW ORLEANS IN 1719.—Redrawn from an old print 5 + + SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN.—Redrawn from an old print 7 + + AN EARLY VIEW OF QUEBEC.—Redrawn from a view published + at London in 1760 12 + + COUR DU BOIS, XVII. CENTURY.—From a drawing by Frederic + Remington 14 + + AN ENGLISH FLEET ABOUT 1732.—From plate 11 of Henry Popple’s + _Map of the British Empire in America_ 16 + + MOALE’S SKETCH OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, IN 1752.—Drawn from + the original in the Maryland Historical Society 19 + + CHARLESTON, FROM THE HARBOR, 1742.—Redrawn from an old print 22 + + LORD BELLOMONT.—From an old engraving 25 + + WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE BEFORE THE FIRE, 1723.—Redrawn from + an old print 27 + + JOHN CHURCHILL, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.—From an engraving by R. + Cooper in the Emmet Collection, New York Public Library + (Lenox Building) 29 + + PRINCE EUGENE.—From an old engraving 31 + + FRENCH HUGUENOT CHURCH, NEW YORK, 1704.—Redrawn from an old + print 32 + + OLD SWEDES CHURCH, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.—From a drawing by + Howard Pyle 34 + + NEW YORK SLAVE MARKET ABOUT 1730.—Redrawn from an old print 36 + + BROAD STREET, NEW YORK, IN 1740.—Redrawn from an old print 37 + + OLD STATE HOUSE AT ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND.—Redrawn from an old + lithograph by Weber 39 + + NEW YORK, FROM THE HARBOR, ABOUT 1725.—Redrawn from an old + print 41 + + ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD.—Redrawn from the frontispiece in the + _Official Letters of Alexander Spotswood_, published by + the Virginia Historical Society 42 + + BRENTON CHURCH, WHERE GOVERNOR SPOTSWOOD WORSHIPPED.—From + Lossing’s _Field-Book of the Revolution_ 43 + + GOVERNOR SPOTSWOOD’S EXPEDITION TO THE BLUE RIDGE.—From a + painting by F. Luis Mora 45 + + COLONEL RHETT AND THE PIRATE STEDE BONNET.—From a painting + by Howard Pyle 46 + + PORTRAIT OF THE PIRATE EDWARD THATCH (OR TEACH).—From Capt. + Charles Johnson’s _General History of the Highwaymen_ [etc.]. + London, 1736. In the New York Public Library (Lenox Building) 48 + + SIR ROBERT WALPOLE.—From an old engraving 50 + + MAP OF THE COAST SETTLEMENTS, 1742.—From an old English map 53 + + POHICK CHURCH, VIRGINIA, WHERE WASHINGTON WORSHIPPED.—From + a sketch by Benson J. Lossing in 1850 55 + + TITLE-PAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE NEGROES.—Title-page + of the original edition of Daniel Horsmanden’s _Journal_ of + the so-called “Negro Plot” of 1741. From an original in the + New York Public Library (Lenox Building) 57 + + OSWEGO IN 1750.—Redrawn and _extended_ from a folded view in + William Smith’s _History of the Province of New York_. + London, 1757 60 + + JAMES OGLETHORPE.—From an old engraving 63 + + OGLETHORPE’S ORDER FOR SUPPLIES.—From Winsor’s _America_ 65 + + SAVANNAH IN 1734.—From an original engraving in the New + York Public Library (Lenox Building) 66 + + ALEXANDER HAMILTON.—From the bust by Palmer in + possession of the Honorable Nicholas Fish, of New + York _Facing p._ 66 + + JOHN WESLEY.—From an old engraving 68 + + OGLETHORPE’S EXPEDITION AGAINST ST. AUGUSTINE.—From a + painting by F. Luis Mora 69 + + GEORGE WHITEFIELD.—From an old engraving 70 + + THE ACTION AT CARTAGENA.—From Green’s _History of the + English People_ 72 + + WILLIAM PEPPERRELL.—Sir William Pepperrell. The original + painting is in the Essex Institute, at Salem, Mass.; + the artist’s name is not known 74 + + FACSIMILE OF THE NEW YORK WEEKLY _JOURNAL_.—First page + of the second number of John Peter Zenger’s newspaper, + from an original in the New York Public Library (Lenox + Building) 78 + + ROBERT DINWIDDIE.—After a phototype by F. Gutekunst which + forms the frontispiece to vol. ii. of the _Dinwiddie + Papers_, published by the Virginia Historical Society 80 + + MERCHANTS’ EXCHANGE, NEW YORK, 1752-1799.—From + _Reminiscences of an Old New-Yorker_. Emmet: New + York Public Library (Lenox Building) 83 + + THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM ON THE MORNING OF THE BATTLE.—From + a painting by Frederic Remington 86 + + MAP OF BRADDOCK’S DEFEAT.—Redrawn from plate 6 of Winthrop + Sargent’s _History of Braddock’s Expedition_, published + by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania 88 + + WILLIAM PITT.—From an old engraving 91 + + SIGNATURE OF JAMES ABERCROMBIE 92 + + THE CAPITULATION OF LOUISBOURG.—From a painting by Howard Pyle 93 + + JEFFREY AMHERST.—From an old engraving 94 + + JAMES WOLFE.—From a mezzotint by Richard Houston in the Emmet + Collection, No. 3217, New York Public Library (Lenox + Building) 95 + + WILLIAM BYRD.—From Wilson’s _Washington_ 101 + + PLAN OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, 1767.—From Janvier’s _Old New + York_, p. 48 103 + + EDMUND BURKE.—From an engraving after the painting by Romney 106 + + VIEW OF THE BUILDINGS BELONGING TO HARVARD COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, + NEW ENGLAND, 1726.—Partial reproduction of the earliest + print of Harvard College. What is believed to be the + only extant copy of this old engraving is owned by the + Massachusetts Historical Society 109 + + NASSAU HALL, PRINCETON COLLEGE, 1760.—Redrawn from an old + print 111 + + KING’S COLLEGE NEW YORK, 1758.—Redrawn from an old print 112 + + BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.—From the portrait by Duplessis in + the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass. _Facing p._ 112 + + THE BIRTHPLACE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, MILK STREET, + BOSTON.—Redrawn from an old print 113 + + BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.—From an old engraving 115 + + A PAGE OF “POOR RICHARD’S” ALMANAC.—From an original of + this almanac for 1767, in the New York Public Library + (Lenox Building) 117 + + BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IN A COLONIAL DRAWING ROOM.—From a + painting by H. C. Christy 119 + + MRS. BENEDICT ARNOLD AND CHILD.—From the portrait by Sir + Thomas Lawrence, in the Historical Society of + Pennsylvania 121 + + FRANKLIN’S OLD BOOK-SHOP, NEXT TO CHRIST’S CHURCH, + PHILADELPHIA.—Redrawn from an old print 123 + + GEORGE GRENVILLE.—From an old print 125 + + BOUNDARY MONUMENT ON THE ST. CROIX.—From a lithograph by + L. Haghe after a sketch by Joseph Bouchette, made in + July, 1817, and included in his _British Dominions in + North America_. London, 1832 127 + + PONTIAC, CHIEF OF THE OTTAWAS.—Redrawn from an old print 129 + + HENRY BOUQUET.—From a process-plate in New York Public + Library (Lenox Building) 131 + + BOUQUET’S REDOUBT AT PITTSBURG.—Redrawn from an old print 132 + + PATRICK HENRY.—From an old engraving 133 + + SIGNATURE OF ISAAC BARRÉ 134 + + FACSIMILE OF POSTER PLACED ON THE DOORS OF PUBLIC + BUILDINGS.—From Lamb’s _History of New York_ 135 + + JOHN DICKINSON.—From an old engraving 137 + + THOMAS HUTCHINSON.—From the painting attributed to Copley, + in the Massachusetts Historical Society 138 + + THOMAS HUTCHINSON’S MANSION, BOSTON.—Redrawn from an old + print 139 + + TABLE OF STAMP CHARGES ON PAPER.—From an original of this + broadside, in the Emmet Collection, No. 1802, in the + New York Public Library (Lenox Building) 141 + + LORD ROCKINGHAM.—From an engraving after a painting by Wilson 142 + + JAMES OTIS.—Redrawn from an old print 144 + + STAMPS FORCED ON THE COLONIES.—From a photograph of an old + document 145 + + OLD CAPITOL AT WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA.—From a painting by + Howard Pyle 147 + + GEORGE WYTHE.—From a painting by Weir, after Trumbull, in + Independence Hall, Philadelphia 149 + + GEORGE WASHINGTON, 1772.—From a portrait painted in 1772, + by C. W. Peale, now owned by General George Washington + Custis Lee, of Lexington, Virginia 155 + + LANDING TROOPS AT BOSTON, 1768.—From a heliotype in + Winsor’s _Boston_, after the engraving by Paul Revere 157 + + LIST OF NAMES OF THOSE WHO WOULD NOT CONFORM.—This is a + page from the _North American Almanack_ for 1770 + , published at Boston by Edes and Gill 159 + + HAND-BILL OF TRUE SONS OF LIBERTY.—From Winsor’s _America_. + The Massachusetts Historical Society possesses a copy + of the original broadside 162 + + THE BOSTON MASSACRE.—From a painting by F. Luis Mora 163 + + AFTER THE MASSACRE. SAMUEL ADAMS DEMANDING OF GOVERNOR + HUTCHINSON THE INSTANT WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH TROOPS.—From + a painting by Howard Pyle 165 + + INTERIOR OF COUNCIL CHAMBER, OLD STATE HOUSE, BOSTON.—From + a photograph 166 + + PROTEST AGAINST THE LANDING OF TEA.—Facsimile of a Boston + broadside, from Winsor’s _America_. An original is in + the Massachusetts Historical Society 167 + + ENTRY JOHN ADAMS’S DIARY.—From Winsor’s _Boston_ 168 + + CALL FOR MEETING TO PROTEST AGAINST THE LANDING OF TEA.—A + Philadelphia poster, from Winsor’s _America_. There is + an original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania 168 + + THE BOSTON TEA PARTY.—From a painting by Howard Pyle 169 + + BOYCOTTING POSTER.—From the original hand-bill in the + Massachusetts Historical Society 173 + + CIRCULAR OF THE BOSTON COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE.—From + the original in the Boston Public Library 175 + + GEORGE III.—From an engraving by Benoit 177 + + GEORGE MASON.—From a painting by Herbert Walsh, in + Independence Hall, Philadelphia 179 + + SEAL OF DUNMORE.—Redrawn from an impression of the seal 181 + + EARL OF DUNMORE.—Redrawn from an old print 182 + + THE ATTACK ON THE GASPEE.—From a painting by Howard Pyle 184 + + LORD NORTH.—From the engraving by Mote, after Dance 186 + + TITLE-PAGE OF HUTCHINSON’S HISTORY.—From an original in + the New York Public Library (Lenox Building) 188 + + GENERAL GAGE.—Redrawn from an old print 190 + + STOVE IN THE HOUSE OF THE BURGESSES, VIRGINIA.—From a + photograph of the original in the State Library of + Virginia 191 + + JOHN ADAMS.—From the portrait by Gilbert Stuart, in + Harvard University _Facing p._ 192 + + ROGER SHERMAN.—Redrawn from an old print 195 + + JOSEPH GALLOWAY.—Redrawn from an old print 197 + + JOHN DICKINSON.—From an engraving after a drawing by + Du Simitier 198 + + PEYTON RANDOLPH.—From an engraving after a painting by + C. W. Peale 200 + + WASHINGTON STOPPING AT AN INN ON HIS WAY TO CAMBRIDGE.—From + a painting by F. Luis Mora 203 + + THE LIBERTY SONG.—From _The Writings of John Dickinson_, + edited by Paul Leicester Ford, published by the + Historical Society of Pennsylvania 205 + + SIGNATURE OF JOSEPH HAWLEY 210 + + THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AS IT APPEARED IN 1741.—From a + drawing by Gavelot 214 + + PAGE FROM THE DIARY OF JOSIAH QUINCY, JR.—From Winsor’s + _America_. The original diary, kept while he was in + London in 1774, is preserved in the Massachusetts + Historical Society 216 + + PROCLAMATION OF THE KING FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE + REBELLION.—From an original of this broadside in + the Emmet Collection, No. 1496, in the New York + Public Library (Lenox Building) 218 + + GAGE’S ORDER PERMITTING INHABITANTS TO LEAVE BOSTON.—From + Winsor’s _Boston_. The handwriting is that of James + Bowdoin 220 + + NOTICE TO MILITIA.—From an original in the Massachusetts + Historical Society 224 + + AN ACCOUNT OF THE CONCORD FIGHT.—From Winsor’s _America_. + The original is in the Arthur Lee Papers, preserved at + Harvard College Library 225 + + SIGNATURE OF ETHAN ALLEN 226 + + RUINS OF FORT TICONDEROGA.—Redrawn from an old print 227 + + WATCHING THE FIGHT AT BUNKER HILL.—From a painting by + Howard Pyle 228 + + FROM BEACON HILL, 1775, NO. 1. (LOOKING TOWARDS DORCHESTER + HEIGHTS.)—From Winsor’s _America_ 230 + + FROM BEACON HILL, 1775, NO. 2. (LOOKING TOWARDS + ROXBURY.)—From Winsor’s _America_ 231 + + ORDER OF COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.—From Winsor’s _America_ 232 + + BOSTON AND BUNKER HILL, FROM A PRINT PUBLISHED IN + 1781.—Redrawn from a plan in _An Impartial History + of the War in America_ 234 + + RICHARD MONTGOMERY.—From an old engraving 238 + + BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AS A POLITICIAN.—From a painting by + Stephen Elmer 240 + + R. H. LEE’S RESOLUTION FOR INDEPENDENCE.—From McMaster’s + _School History of the United States_ 241 + + STATE HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA, 1778.—From a photograph of + the original drawing 242 + + SIGNATURE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON 243 + + JEFFERSON’S ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THE DECLARATION OF + INDEPENDENCE.—This facsimile of Jefferson’s + original rough draft, with interlineations by + Adams and Franklin, is from an artotype by Edward + Bierstadt, made from the original in the + Department of State, Washington, D. C. 244, 245, 246, 247 + + REAR VIEW OF INDEPENDENCE HALL.—From a photograph 248 + + THE PRESIDENT’S CHAIR IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL + CONVENTION.—From a photograph 249 + + MAP OF SULLIVAN’S ISLAND.—Redrawn from a plan in Johnson’s + _Traditions and Reminiscences of the American Revolution + in the South_. Charleston, S. C., 1851 250 + + WLLLIAM MOULTRIE.—From an old engraving 251 + + SIR WILLIAM HOWE.—From an old engraving 253 + + HOWE’S PROCLAMATION PREPARATORY TO LEAVING BOSTON.—From + the original in the Massachusetts Historical Society 255 + + EVACUATION OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS.—From a painting by F. + Luis Mora 257 + + CIRCULAR OF PHILADELPHIA COUNCIL OF SAFETY.—From the + original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania 259 + + OPERATIONS AROUND TRENTON AND PRINCETON. NUMBERS 76 + REPRESENT THE CAMPS OF GENERAL CORNWALLIS AND 77 + THAT OF GENERAL KNYPHAUSEN ON THE 23D OF JUNE, + 1777.—Redrawn from a sketch map by a Hessian officer 261 + + HESSIAN BOOT.—From a photograph 263 + + LETTER CONCERNING BRITISH OUTRAGES.—From the original in + the Historical Society of Pennsylvania 265 + + RECRUITING POSTER.—From Smith’s _American Historical and + Literary Curiosities_ 267 + + JOHN BURGOYNE.—From an old engraving 269 + + ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.—From an engraving after the portrait by + C. W. Peale 271 + + SAMUEL ADAMS.—From the portrait by Copley in the Museum + of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass. _Facing p._ 272 + + BENJAMIN LINCOLN.—From the portrait in the Massachusetts + Historical Society 273 + + SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON.—From a mezzotint by Spooner in the + Emmet Collection, No. 36, New York Public Library + (Lenox Building) 274 + + SIR JOHN JOHNSON.—From an engraving by Bartolozzi 275 + + JOSEPH BRANT.—From an engraving after the original + painting by G. Romney 276 + + PETER GANSEVOORT.—From Lossing’s _Field-Book of the + Revolution._ 277 + + FACSIMILE OF CLOSING PARAGRAPHS OF BURGOYNE’S + SURRENDER.—From the original in the New York + Historical Society 279 + + SCENE OF THE BATTLE OF THE BRANDYWINE.—From an old + engraving in the Emmet Collection, New York Public + Library (Lenox Building) 281 + + WASHINGTON’S PROCLAMATION.—From the original in the + Historical Society of Pennsylvania 283 + + BARON DE STEUBEN.—From an old engraving 285 + + FACSIMILE OF PLAY BILL.—From Smith’s _American Historical + and Literary Curiosities_ 287 + + CHARLES LEE.—From a mezzotint after the painting by + Thomlinson, in Emmet Collection, No. 1902, New York + Public Library (Lenox Building) 289 + + REDUCED FACSIMILE OF INSTRUCTIONS FROM CONGRESS TO + PRIVATEERS.—From Maclay’s _History of American + Privateers_ 291 + + CONTINENTAL LOTTERY BOOK.—From a photograph 292 + + REDUCED FACSIMILE OF THE FIRST AND LAST PARTS OF PATRICK + HENRY’S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS TO GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.—From + the _Conquest of the Northwest_, by William E. English 294 + + GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.—From a portrait by Jarvis in the + Wisconsin Historical Society 295 + + GEORGE CLARK’S FINAL SUMMONS TO COLONEL HAMILTON TO + SURRENDER.—From Winsor’s _America_ 297 + + CHARLES JAMES FOX.—From an engraving after the portrait + by Opie 299 + + JOHN SULLIVAN.—From a mezzotint by Will 301 + + CASIMIR PULASKI.—From an engraving by Hall, in Emmet + Collection, No. 3852, New York Public Library (Lenox + Building) 302 + + JOHN PAUL JONES.—From a painting by C. W. Peale, in + Independence Hall, Philadelphia 304 + + THE FIGHT BETWEEN BON HOMME RICHARD AND SERAPIS.—From + a painting by Howard Pyle 305 + + WASHINGTON AND ROCHAMBEAU IN THE TRENCHES AT YORKTOWN.—From + a painting by Howard Pyle 307 + + HORATIO GATES.—From an engraving by C. Tiebout, after the + painting by Gilbert Stuart, Emmet Collection, New York + Public Library (Lenox Building) 309 + + BENEDICT ARNOLD’S OATH OF ALLEGIANCE 310 + + BENEDICT ARNOLD.—From a mezzotint in the Emmet Collection, + No. 1877, New York Public Library (Lenox Building) 311 + + JOHN ANDRÉ.—From an engraving in the New York Public + Library (Lenox Building) 312 + + MAJOR ANDRÉ’S WATCH.—From a photograph 313 + + BENEDICT ARNOLD’S PASS TO MAJOR ANDRÉ.—From Lossing’s + _Field-Book of the Revolution_ 314 + + MAJOR ANDRÉ’S POCKET-BOOK.—From a photograph 315 + + VIRGINIA COLONIAL CURRENCY.—From a photograph 316 + + LORD CORNWALLIS.—From an old print 317 + + WILLIAM WASHINGTON.—From an engraving after a portrait by + C. W. Peale 318 + + BANASTRE TARLETON.—From a mezzotint in the Emmet Collection, + New York Public Library (Lenox Building) 319 + + FRANCIS MARION.—From an engraving in the Emmet Collection, + New York Public Library (Lenox Building) 320 + + DANIEL MORGAN.—From a miniature in Yale College Library, + New Haven 321 + + COUNT ROCHAMBEAU.—From an old engraving 322 + + NATHANAEL GREENE.—From the original portrait in possession + of Mrs. William Benton Greene, Princeton, N. J. 323 + + FACSIMILE OF THE LAST ARTICLE OF CAPITULATION AT + YORKTOWN.—From a facsimile in Smith’s _American + Historical and Literary Curiosities_ 324 + + PAROLE OF CORNWALLIS.—From the original in the Library of + the University of Virginia 325 + + ORDER PERMITTING THE ILLUMINATION OF PHILADELPHIA.—From + Smith’s _American Historical and Literary Curiosities_. + Second series. New York 326 + + NELSON HOUSE. CORNWALLIS’S HEADQUARTERS, YORKTOWN.—From + a sketch by Benson J. Lossing in 1850 327 + + EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG.—Compiled from Preble’s + _History of the Flag of the United States_. Boston, 1880 328 + + LIST OF MAPS + + ENGLISH COLONIES, 1700 _Facing p._ 80 + + NORTH AMERICA, 1750. SHOWING CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF + EXPLORATION _Facing p._ 176 + + ENGLISH COLONIES, 1763-1775 _Facing p._ 320 + + _The Appendix in this volume is taken by permission from Mr. Howard + W. Preston’s_ Documents Illustrative of American History. + + + + +A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +COMMON UNDERTAKINGS + + +There had been some noteworthy passages in the reports which Colonel +Francis Nicholson sent to the government at home when he was first +governor of Virginia (1690); for he studied his duties in those days +with wide-open eyes, and had sometimes written of what he saw with a +very statesmanlike breadth and insight. It was very noteworthy, among +other things, that he had urged a defensive confederation of the colonies +against the French and Indians, under the leadership of Virginia, the +most loyal of the colonies. He had made it his business to find out +what means of defence and what effective military force there were in +the other colonies, particularly in those at the north, conferring with +their authorities with regard to these matters in person when he could +not get the information he wished by deputy. The King and his ministers +in England saw very clearly, when they read his careful despatches, that +they could not wisely act upon such suggestions yet; but they knew that +what Colonel Nicholson thus openly and definitely advised was what must +occur to the mind of every thoughtful and observant man who was given +a post of authority and guidance in the colonies, whether he thought +it wise to advise action in the matter or not. It was evident, indeed, +even to some who were not deemed thoughtful at all. Even the heedless, +negligent Lord Culpeper, little as he really cared for the government he +had been set to conduct, had suggested eight years ago that all questions +of war and peace in the colonies should be submitted for final decision +to the governor and council of Virginia, where it might be expected that +the King’s interests would be loyally looked after and safeguarded. + +[Illustration: PLAN OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, 1732] + +No doubt the colonies would have objected to and resisted such an +arrangement with a very hot resentment, and no one in authority in +London dreamed for a moment of taking either Lord Culpeper’s or Colonel +Nicholson’s advice in the matter; but it was none the less obvious that +the King and his officers must contrive some way, if they could, by +which they might use the colonies as a single power against the French +in America, if England was indeed to make and keep an empire there. +If King James, who leaned upon France as an ally and prayed for the +dominion of the Church of Rome, had seen this, it was not likely that +William of Orange, who was the arch-enemy of France and the champion +of Protestantism against Rome, would overlook it. He was no sooner on +the throne than England was plunged into a long eight years’ war with +the French. And so it happened that the colonies seemed to reap little +advantage from the “glorious revolution” which had put out a tyrant +and brought in a constitutional King. William of Orange, it presently +appeared, meant to unite groups of colonies under the authority of a +single royal governor, particularly at the north, where the French +power lay, as James before him had done; giving to the governors of +the principal colonies the right to command the military forces of the +colonies about them even if he gave them no other large gift of power. +He did more than James had done. Being a statesman and knowing the value +of systematic administration, he did systematically what James had done +loosely and without consistent plan. The Board of Trade and Plantations, +which he organized to oversee and direct the government of the colonies, +did more to keep their affairs under the eye and hand of the King than +any group of James’s ministers had been able to do. The great Dutch King +was determined to wield England and her possessions as a single imperial +power in the game of politics he was playing in Europe. + +The French power, which he chiefly feared, had really grown very +menacing in America; was growing more so every year; and must very soon +indeed be faced and overcome, if the English were not to be shut in +to a narrow seaboard, or ousted altogether. It was not a question of +numbers. It was a question of territorial aggrandizement, rather, and +strategic advantage. Probably there were not more than twelve thousand +Frenchmen, all told, in America when William became King (1689); whereas +his own subjects swarmed there full two hundred thousand strong, and +were multiplying by the tens of thousands from decade to decade. But +the French were building military posts at every strategic point as +they went, while the English were building nothing but rural homes and +open villages. With the French it did not seem a matter of settlement; +it seemed a matter of conquest, rather, and of military occupation. +They were guarding trade routes and making sure of points of advantage. +The English way was the more wholesome and the more vital. A hardy, +self-dependent, crowding people like the English in Massachusetts and +Virginia, and the Dutch in New York, took root wherever they went, spread +into real communities, and were not likely to be got rid of when once +their number had run into the thousands. Their independence, too, and +their capable way of managing their own affairs without asking or wanting +or getting any assistance from government, made them as hard to handle as +if they had been themselves an established continental power. But the +French had an advantage, nevertheless, which was not to be despised. They +moved as they were ordered to move by an active and watchful government +which was in the thick of critical happenings where policies were made, +and which meant to cramp the English, if it could not actually get rid of +them. They extended and organized the military power of France as they +went; and they were steadily girdling the English about with a chain +of posts and settlements which bade fair to keep all the northern and +western regions of the great continent for the King of France, from the +mouth of the St. Lawrence round about, two thousand miles, to the outlets +of the Mississippi at the Gulf. + +[Illustration: NEW ORLEANS IN 1719] + +Their movement along the great rivers and the lakes had been very slow +at first; but it had quickened from generation to generation, and was +now rapid enough to fix the attention of any man who could hear news and +had his eyes abroad upon what was happening about him. Jacques Cartier +had explored the noble river St. Lawrence for his royal master of France +a long century and a half ago, in the far year 1535, fifty years before +the English so much as attempted a settlement. But it was not until 1608, +the year after Jamestown was begun, that Samuel de Champlain established +the first permanent French settlement, at Quebec, and there were still +but two hundred lonely settlers there when nearly thirty years more had +gone by (1636). It was the quick growth and systematic explorations of +the latter part of the century that made the English uneasy. The twelve +thousand Frenchmen who were busy at the work of occupation when William +of Orange became King had not confined themselves to the settlements +long ago made in the Bay of Fundy and at Montreal, Quebec, and Tadousac, +where the great river of the north broadened to the sea. They had carried +their boats across from the upper waters of the Ottawa to the open +reaches of Lake Huron; had penetrated thence to Lake Michigan, and even +to the farthest shores of Lake Superior, establishing forts and trading +posts as they advanced. They had crossed from Green Bay in Lake Michigan +to the waters of the Wisconsin River, and had passed by that easy way +into the Mississippi itself. That stout-hearted pioneer Père Marquette +had descended the Father of Waters past the Ohio to the outlet of the +Arkansas (1673); and Robert La Salle had followed him and gone all the +long way to the spreading mouths of the vast river and the gates of +the Gulf (1682), not by way of the Wisconsin, but by crossing from the +southern end of Lake Michigan to the stream of the Illinois, and passing +by that way to the Mississippi. + +[Illustration: SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN] + +And so the lakes and the western rivers and the Mississippi itself saw +the French; and French posts sprang up upon their shores to mark the +sovereignty of the King of France. Frenchmen easily enough learned the +ways of the wilderness and became the familiars of the Indians in their +camps and wigwams; and they showed themselves of every kind,—some rough +and lawless rovers, only too glad to throw off the restraints of the +orderly life to which they had been bred and live as they pleased in +the deep, secluded forests, trading without license, seeking adventure, +finding a way for the civilization which was to follow them, but +themselves anxious to escape it; others regular traders, who kept their +hold upon the settlements behind them and submitted when they were +obliged to official exactions at Montreal; some intrepid priests, who +preached salvation and the dominion of France among the dusky tribes, +and lived or died with a like fortitude and devotion, never willingly +quitting their sacred task or letting go their hold upon the hearts +of the savage men they had come to enlighten and subdue; some hardy +captains with little companies of drilled men-at-arms from the fields of +France:—at the front indomitable explorers, far in the rear timid farmers +clearing spaces in the silent woodland for their scanty crops, and little +towns slowly growing within their walls where the river broadened to the +sea. + +This stealthy power which crept so steadily southward and westward at the +back of the English settlements upon the coast was held at arm’s-length +throughout that quiet age of beginnings, not by the English, but by a +power within the forests, the power of the great confederated Iroquois +tribes, who made good their mastery between the Hudson and the lakes: the +Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Oneidas, and Mohawks. They were stronger, +fiercer, more constant and indomitable, more capable every way, than +the tribes amidst whom the French moved; and Champlain had unwittingly +made them the enemies of the French forever. Long, long ago, in the year +1609, which white men had forgotten, he had done what the Iroquois never +forgot or forgave. He had come with their sworn foes, the Algonquins, +to the shores of that lake by the sources of the Hudson which the +palefaces ever afterwards called by his name, and had there used the +dread fire-arms of the white men, of which they had never heard before, +to work the utter ruin of the Mohawks in battle. They were always and +everywhere ready after that fatal day to be any man’s ally, whether Dutch +or English, against the hated French; and the French found it necessary +to keep at the back of the broad forests which stretched from the eastern +Lakes to the Hudson and the Delaware, the wide empire of these dusky +foes, astute, implacable. They skirted the domains of the Iroquois when +they were prudent, and passed inland by the lakes and the valley of the +Mississippi. + +But, though they kept their distance, they advanced their power. The +colonists in New England had been uneasy because of their unwelcome +neighborhood from the first. Once and again there had been actual +collisions and a petty warfare. But until William of Orange made England +a party to the great war of the Protestant powers against Louis XIV. few +men had seen what the struggle between French and English held in store +for America. The English colonies had grown back not a little way from +the sea, steadily pushed farther and farther into the thick-set forests +which lay upon the broad valleys and rising slopes of the interior by +mere increase of people and drift of enterprise. Before the seventeenth +century was out adventurous English traders had crossed the Alleghenies, +had launched their canoes upon the waters of the Ohio, and were fixing +their huts here and there within the vast wilderness as men do who mean +to stay. Colonel Dongan, the Duke’s governor in New York (1683), like +many another officer whose duties made him alert to watch the humors and +keep the friendship of the Iroquois, the masters of the northern border, +had been quick to see how “inconvenient to the English” it was to have +French settlements “running all along from our lakes by the back of +Virginia and Carolina to the Bay of Mexico.” There was keen rivalry in +trade, and had been these many years, between the men of the English and +Dutch colonies and the men of the French for the profitable trade in furs +which had its heart at the north; and it was already possible for those +who knew the forest commerce to reason right shrewdly of the future, +knowing, as they did, that the English gave better goods and dealt more +fairly for the furs than the French, and that many of the very Frenchmen +who ranged the forests in search of gain themselves preferred to send +what they had to Albany for sale. But, except for a few lonely villages +in far-away Maine, there was nowhere any close contact between French +and English in America. Few, except traders and thoughtful governors and +border villagers, who feared the tribes whom the French incited to attack +and massacre, knew what France did or was planning. + +King William’s War (1689-1697), with its eight years of conscious peril, +set new thoughts astir. It made America part of the stage upon which +the great European conflict between French and English was to be fought +out; and immediately a sort of continental air began to blow through +colonial affairs. Colonial interests began to seem less local, more like +interests held in common, and the colonies began to think of themselves +as part of an empire. They had no great part in the war, it is true. +Hale Sir William Phips, that frank seaman adventurer, led an expedition +against Acadia in 1690, took Port Royal, and stripped the province of +all that could be brought away; but that had hardly had the dignity of +formal war. He had chiefly relished the private gain got out of it as a +pleasant reminder of that day of fortune when he had found the Spanish +treasure-ship sunk upon a reef in far Hispaniola. His second expedition, +made the same year against Quebec, no doubt smacked more of the regular +business, for he undertook it as an accredited officer of the crown; +but when it failed it is likely he thought more of the private moneys +subscribed and lost upon it than of the defeat of the royal arms. There +was here the irritation, rather than the zest, of great matters, and +the colonial leaders were not becoming European statesmen of a sudden. +Their local affairs were still of more concern to them than the policies +of European courts. Nevertheless the war made a beginning of common +undertakings. The colonies were a little drawn together, a little put in +mind of matters larger than their own. + +[Illustration: AN EARLY VIEW OF QUEBEC] + +New York felt herself no less concerned than Massachusetts and Maine in +the contest with the French, with its inevitable accompaniment of trouble +with the Indians; and Jacob Leisler, plebeian and self-constituted +governor though he was, had made bold to take the initiative in forming +plans for the war. Count Louis de Frontenac had been made governor of +New France the very year William established himself as king in England +(1689), and had come instructed, as every Englishman in America presently +heard rumor say, to attack the English settlements at their very +heart,—at New York itself. It was this rumor that had made Leisler hasten +to seize the government in King William’s name, seeing King James’s +governor hesitate, and hearing it cried in the streets that the French +were in the very Bay. He had thought it not impossible that James’s +officers might prove traitors and friends of King Louis in that last +moment of their power. And then, when the government was in his hands, +this people’s governor called a conference of the colonies to determine +what should be done for the common defence. Massachusetts, Plymouth, and +Connecticut responded, and sent agents to the conference (1690), the +first of its kind since America was settled. It was agreed to attempt +the conquest of New France. Sir William Phips should lead an expedition +by sea against Quebec; and another force should go by land out of +Connecticut and New York to attack Montreal, the only other stronghold, +taking their Iroquois allies with them. But the land expedition was every +way unfortunate, and got no farther than Lake Champlain. Frontenac was +able to devote all his strength to the defence of Quebec; and Sir William +Phips came back whipped and empty-handed. The first effort at a common +undertaking had utterly miscarried. + +But that was not the end of the war. Its fires burned hot in the forests. +Frontenac prosecuted the ugly business to the end as he had begun it. He +had begun, not by sending a fleet to New York, for he had none to send, +but by sending his Indian allies to a sudden attack and savage massacre +at Schenectady, where sixty persons, men and women, old and young, saw +swift and fearful death (1689); and year by year the same hideous acts +of barbarous war were repeated,—not always upon the far-away border, +but sometimes at the very heart of the teeming colony,—once (1697) at +Haverhill, not thirty-five miles out of Boston itself. Such a war was not +likely to be forgot in the northern colonies, at any rate, and in New +York. Its memories were bitten into the hearts of the colonists there as +with the searings of a hot iron; and they knew that the French must be +overcome before there could be any lasting peace, or room enough made for +English growth in the forests. + +They would rather have turned their thoughts to other things. There were +home matters of deep moment which they were uneasy to settle. But these +larger matters, of England’s place and power in the world, dominated them +whether they would or no. King William’s War was but the forerunner of +many more, of the same meaning and portent. Wars vexed and disciplined +them for half a century, and their separate interests had often to stand +neglected for years together in order that their common interests and the +interests of English empire in America might be guarded. + +[Illustration: COURIER DU BOIS, XVII. CENTURY] + +And yet those who were thoughtful did not lose sight of the great, though +subtle, gain which came with the vexing losses of war, to offset them. +They had not failed to notice and to take to heart what had happened in +England when William and Mary were brought to the throne. They were none +the less Englishmen for being out of England, and what Parliament did +for English liberty deeply concerned them. Parliament, as all the world +knew, had done a great deal during those critical days in which it had +consummated the “glorious revolution” by which the Stuarts were once +for all put from the seat of sovereignty. It had reasserted the ancient +rights named in Magna Charta; it had done away with the King’s arrogated +right to tax; it had destroyed his alleged right to set laws aside, or +alter them in any way; it had reduced him from being master and had made +him a constitutional king, subject to his people’s will, spoken through +their legal representatives in Parliament. The new King, too, had shown +himself willing to extend these principles to America. In the charters +which he granted or renewed, and in the instructions which he gave to +the governors whom he commissioned, he did not begrudge an explicit +acknowledgment of the right of the colonies to control their own taxation +and the expenditures of their own colonial establishments. + +War embarrassed trade. It made hostile territory of the French West +Indies, whence New England skippers fetched molasses for the makers of +rum at home; and that was no small matter, for the shrewd New England +traders were already beginning to learn how much rum would pay for, +whether among the Indians of the forest country, among the savages of +the African slave coast, or among their own neighbors at home, where all +deemed strong drink a capital solace and defence against the asperities +of a hard life. But it needed only a little circumspection, it turned +out, to keep even that trade, notwithstanding the thing was a trifle +difficult and hazardous. There was little cause for men who kept their +wits about them to fear the law on the long, unfrequented coasts of the +New World; and there was trade with the French without scruple whether +war held or ceased. Buccaneers and pirates abounded in the southern seas, +and legitimate traders knew as well as they did how confiscation and +capture were to be avoided. + +[Illustration: AN ENGLISH FLEET IN 1732] + +The main lines of trade ran, after all, straight to the mother country, +and were protected when there was need by English fleets. Both the laws +of Parliament and their own interest bound the trade of the colonies to +England. The Navigation Act of 1660, in force now these forty years, +forbade all trade with the colonies except in English bottoms; forbade +also the shipment of their tobacco and wool anywhither but to England +itself; and an act of 1663 forbade the importation of anything at all +except out of England, which, it was then once for all determined, must +be the _entrepôt_ and place of staple for all foreign trade. It was +determined that, if there were to be middlemen’s profits, the middlemen +should be English, and that the carrying trade of England and her +colonies should be English, not Dutch. It was the Dutch against whom the +acts were aimed. Dutch ships cost less in the building than ships built +in England; the Dutch merchantmen could afford to charge lower rates of +freight than English skippers; and the statesmen of King Charles, deeming +Holland their chief competitor upon the seas and in the markets of the +world, meant to cut the rivalry short by statute, so far as the English +realm was concerned. + +Fortunately the interests of the colonists themselves wore easily enough +the harness of the acts. For a while it went very hard in Virginia, it +is true, to pay English freight rates on every shipment of tobacco, the +colony’s chief staple, and to sell only through English middlemen, to the +exclusion of the accommodating Dutch and all competition. Trade touched +nothing greater than the tobacco crop. Virginia supplied in that alone +a full half of all the exports of the colonies. Her planters sharply +resented “that severe act of Parliament which excludes us from having +any commerce with any nation in Europe but our own”; for it seemed to +put upon them a special burden. “We cannot add to our plantation any +commodity that grows out of it, as olive trees, cotton, or vines,” +complained Sir William Berkeley very bluntly to the government in 1671. +“Besides this, we cannot procure any skilful men for one now hopeful +commodity, silk: for it is not lawful for us to carry a pipe stave or +a barrel of corn to any place in Europe out of the King’s dominions. +If this were for his Majesty’s service or the good of his subjects, we +should not repine, whatever our sufferings are for it; but on my soul, +it is the contrary for both.” But the thing was eased for them at last +when they began to see how their interest really lay. They had almost +a monopoly of the English market, for Spanish tobacco was kept out by +high duties, the planting of tobacco in England, begun on no mean +scale in the west midland counties in the days of the Protectorate, was +prohibited by law, and a rebate of duties on all tobacco re-exported +to the continent quickened the trade with the northern countries of +Europe, the chief market in any case for the Virginian leaf. Grumbling +and evasion disappeared in good time, and Virginia accommodated herself +with reasonable grace to what was, after all, no ruinous or unprofitable +arrangement. + +New England, where traders most abounded, found little in the acts that +she need complain of or seek to escape from. No New England commodity had +its route and market prescribed as Virginian tobacco had; New England +ships were “English” bottoms no less than ships built in England itself; +they could be built as cheaply as the Dutch, and the long coast of the +continent was clear for their skippers. If laws grew inconvenient, +there were unwatched harbors enough in which to lade and unlade without +clearance papers. English capital quickened trade as well as supplied +shipping for the ocean carriage, and the King’s navy made coast and sea +safe. If it was irritating to be tied to the leading-strings of statutes, +it was at least an agreeable thing that they should usually pull in the +direction merchants would in any case have taken. Though all products +of foreign countries had to be brought through the English markets and +the hands of English middlemen, the duties charged upon them upon their +entrance into England were remitted upon their reshipment to America, and +they were often to be had more cheaply in the colonies than in London. + +[Illustration: MOALE’S SKETCH OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, IN 1752] + +In 1699, when the war was over, Parliament laid a new restriction upon +the colonies, forbidding them to manufacture their own wool for export, +even for export from colony to colony. Good housewives were not to be +prevented from weaving their own wool into cloth for the use of their own +households; village weavers were not to be forbidden their neighborhood +trade; but the woollen weavers of England supplied more than half of all +the exports to the colonies, and had no mind to let woollen manufacture +spring up in America if Parliament could be induced to prohibit it. It +made no great practical difference to the colonies, though it bred a +bitter thought here and there. Manufactures were not likely to spring up +in America. “No man who can have a piece of land of his own, sufficient +by his labor to subsist his family in plenty,” said Mr. Franklin long +afterwards, “is poor enough to be a manufacturer and work for a master. +Hence, while there is land enough in America for our people, there can be +no manufactures to any amount or value.” But the woollen manufacturers in +England meant to take no chances in the matter; and the colonists did no +more than grumble upon occasion at the restraints of a law which they +had no serious thought of breaking. + +It was not breaches of the Acts of Navigation and the acts concerning +woollen manufacture that the ministers found it necessary to turn their +heed to when the war ended, but, rather, the open piracies of the +southern seas. By the treaty of Ryswick, which brought peace (1697), +France, England, Holland, and Spain, the high contracting parties, +solemnly bound themselves to make common cause against buccaneering. +Spain and England had been mutually bound since 1670 to abolish it. +Buccaneering abounded most on the coasts of America. The lawless business +had begun long ago. Spain had provoked it. She had taken possession of +all Central and South America and of the islands of the West Indies, +and had bidden all other nations stand off and touch nothing, while her +fleets every year for generations together came home heavy with treasure. +She had denied them the right of trade; she had forbidden their seamen +so much as to get stores for their own use anywhere within the waters of +Spanish America. She treated every ship as an intruder which she found +in the southern seas, and the penalties she inflicted for intrusion upon +her guarded coasts went the length of instant drowning or hangings at the +yard-arm. It was a day when there was no law at sea. Every prudent man +supplied his ship with arms, and was his own escort; and since Spain was +the common bully, she became the common enemy. English and French and +Dutch seamen were not likely very long to suffer themselves to be refused +what they needed at her ports; and after getting what they needed, they +went on to take whatever they wanted. They were intruders, anyway, for +whatever purpose they came, and they might as well, as a witty Frenchman +among them said, “repay themselves beforehand” for the losses they would +suffer should Spanish cruisers find and take them. + +The spirit of adventure and of gain grew on them mightily. At first +they contented themselves with an illicit trade at the unguarded ports +of quiet, half-deserted islands like Hispaniola, where they could get +hides and tallow, smoked beef and salted pork, in exchange for goods +smuggled in from Europe. But they did not long stop at that. The exciting +risks and notable profits of the business made it grow like a story of +adventure. The ranks of the lawless traders filled more and more with +every sort of reckless adventurer and every sort of unquiet spirit who +found the ordinary world stale and longed for a change of luck, as well +as with hosts of common thieves and natural outlaws. Such men, finding +themselves inevitably consorting, felt their comradeship, helped one +another when they could, and made a common cause of robbing Spain, +calling themselves “Brethren of the Coast.” They took possession, as +their numbers increased, of the little twin islands of St. Christopher +and Nevis for rendezvous and headquarters, and fortified distant Tortuga +for a stronghold; and their power grew apace through all the seventeenth +century, until no Spanish ship was safe on the seas though she carried +the flag of an admiral, and great towns had either to buy them off or +submit to be sacked at their pleasure. They mustered formidable fleets +and counted their desperate seamen by the thousands. + +[Illustration: CHARLESTON, FROM THE HARBOR, 1742] + +They were most numerous, most powerful, most to be feared at the +very time the English colony was begun at Charleston (1670). All the +English sea-coast at the south, indeed, was theirs in a sense. They were +regulars, not outlaws, when France or Holland or England was at war with +Spain, for the great governments did not scruple to give them letters of +marque when they needed their assistance at sea. English buccaneers had +helped Sir William Penn take Jamaica for Cromwell in 1655. And when there +was no war, the silent, unwatched harbors of the long American sea-coast +were their favorite places of refuge and repair. New Providence, +England’s best anchorage and most convenient port of rendezvous in +the Bahamas, became their chief place of welcome and recruiting. The +coming of settlers did not disconcert them. It pleased them, rather. +The settlers did not molest them,—had secret reasons, as they knew, to +be glad to see them. There were the English navigation laws, as well +as the Spanish, to be evaded, and the goods they brought to the closed +markets were very cheap and very welcome,—and no questions were asked. +They were abundantly welcome, too, to the goods they bought. For thirty +years their broad pieces of gold and their Spanish silver were almost +the only currency the Carolinas could get hold of. Governors winked at +their coming and going,—even allowed them to sell their Spanish prizes in +English ports. Charleston, too, and the open bays of Albemarle Sound were +not more open to them than New York and Philadelphia and Providence, and +even now and again the ports of Massachusetts. They got no small part of +their recruits from among the lawless and shiftless men who came out of +England or Virginia to the Carolinas for a new venture in a new country +where law was young. + +Richard Coote, the Earl of Bellomont, came out in 1698 to be Governor +General of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, +specially instructed to stamp out the piracy of the coasts; but he found +it no light task. His predecessor in the government of New York, Benjamin +Fletcher, had loved the Brethren of the Coast very dearly: they had made +it to his interest to like them; and the merchants of New York, as of +the other seaport towns, were noticeably slow to see the iniquity of +the proscribed business. Lord Bellomont bitterly complained that the +authorities of Rhode Island openly gave notorious pirates countenance and +assistance. Mr. Edward Randolph, whose business it was to look after the +King’s revenues, declared in his anger that North Carolina was peopled +by nobody but smugglers, runaway servants, and pirates. South Carolina, +fortunately, had seen the folly of harboring the outlaws by the time +Lord Bellomont set about his suppression in the north. Not only had her +population by that time been recruited and steadied by the coming in of +increasing numbers of law-abiding and thrifty colonists to whom piracy +was abhorrent, but she had begun also to produce great crops of rice +for whose exportation she could hardly get ships enough, and had found +that her whilom friends the freebooters did not scruple to intercept +her cargoes on their way to the profitable markets of Holland, Germany, +Sweden, Denmark, and Portugal. She presently began, therefore, to use a +great pair of gallows, set up very conspicuously on “Execution Dock” at +Charleston, for the diligent hanging of pirates. But the coast to the +northward still showed them hospitality, and Lord Bellomont made little +headway at New York,—except that he brought the notorious Captain Kidd to +justice. William Kidd, a Scotsman, had made New York his home, and had +won there the reputation of an honest and capable man and an excellent +ship captain; but when he was given an armed vessel strongly manned, and +the King’s commission to destroy the pirates of the coast, the temptation +of power was too great for him. He incontinently turned pirate himself, +and it fell to Lord Bellomont to send him to England to be hanged. + +[Illustration: LORD BELLOMONT] + +The interval of peace during which English governors in America could +give their thoughts to the suppression of piracy proved all too short. +“Queen Anne’s War” followed close upon the heels of King William’s, +and the French and Indians became once again more threatening than the +buccaneers. Nevertheless some important affairs of peace were settled +before the storm of war broke again. For one thing, Mr. Penn was able +once more to put in order the government of Pennsylvania. For two years +(1692-1694) he had been deprived of his province, because, as every +one knew, he had been on very cordial terms of friendship with James +Stuart, the discredited King, and it was charged that he had taken +part in intrigues against the new sovereign. But it was easy for him +to prove, when the matter was dispassionately looked into, that he had +done nothing dishonorable or disloyal, and his province was restored to +him. In 1699 he found time to return to America and reform in person +the administration of the colony. Bitter jealousies and sharp factional +differences had sprung up there while affairs were in confusion after the +coming in of William and Mary, and the two years Mr. Penn spent in their +correction (1699-1701) were none too long for the work he had to do. +He did it, however, in his characteristic healing fashion, by granting +privileges, more liberal and democratic than ever, in a new charter. +One chief difficulty lay in the fact that the lower counties by the +Delaware chafed because of their enforced union with the newer counties +of Pennsylvania; and Mr. Penn consented to an arrangement by which they +should within three years, if they still wished it, have a separate +assembly of their own, and the right to act for themselves in all matters +of local government. Self-government, indeed, was almost always his +provident cure for discontent. He left both Pennsylvania and the Delaware +counties free to choose their own courts,—and Philadelphia free to select +her own officers as an independently incorporated city. Had he been +able to give his colony governors as wise and temperate as himself, new +troubles might have been avoided as successfully as old troubles had been +healed. + +[Illustration: WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE BEFORE THE FIRE, 1723] + +While Mr. Penn lingered in America the rights of the proprietors of +West Jersey, his own first province, passed finally to the crown. In +1702 all proprietary rights, alike in East and in West Jersey, were +formally surrendered to the crown, and New Jersey, once more a single, +undivided province, became directly subject to the King’s government. +For a generation, indeed, as it turned out, she was to have no separate +governor of her own. A separate commission issued from the crown to +the governor of New York to be also governor of New Jersey, upon each +appointment in the greater province. But New Jersey kept her own +government, nevertheless, and her own way of life. She suffered no merger +into the larger province, her neighbor, whose governor happened to +preside over her affairs. + +Many things changed and many things gave promise of change in the +colonies as Mr. Penn looked on. In 1700 Virginia had her population +enriched by the coming of seven hundred French Huguenots, under the +leadership of the Marquis de la Muce,—some of them Waldenses who had +moved, in exile, through Switzerland, Alsace, the Low Countries, and +England ere they found their final home of settlement in Virginia,—all +of them refugees because of the terror that had been in France for all +Protestants since the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685). That same +year, 1700, Williamsburg, the new village capital of the “Old Dominion,” +grew very gay with company come in from all the river counties, from +neighboring colonies, too, and even from far-off New England, to see the +first class graduated from the infant college of William and Mary. The +next year (1701) Connecticut, teeming more and more with a thrifty people +with its own independent interests and resources, and finding Harvard +College at Cambridge too far away for the convenience of those of her +own youth who wished such training as ministers and professional men in +general needed, set up a college of her own,—the college which half a +generation later she called Yale, because of Mr. Elihu Yale’s gift of +eight hundred pounds in books and money. + +Then King William died (1702,—Mary, his queen and consort, being dead +these eight years), and Anne became queen. It was a year of climax in +the public affairs of Europe. In 1701, Louis XIV. had put his grandson, +Philip of Anjou, on the throne of Spain, in direct violation of his +treaty obligations to England, and to the manifest upsetting of the +balance of power in Europe, openly rejoicing that there were no longer +any Pyrenees, but only a single, undivided Bourbon power from Flanders +to the Straits of Gibraltar; and had defied England, despite his promises +made at Ryswick, by declaring James’s son the rightful heir to the +English throne. Instantly England, Holland, and Austria drew together in +grand alliance against the French aggression, and for eleven years Italy, +Germany, and the Netherlands rang with the War of the Spanish Succession. +The storm had already broken when Anne became queen. + +[Illustration: JOHN CHURCHILL, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH] + +England signalized the war by giving a great general to the world. It was +the day of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, of whose genius soldiers +gossiped to their neighbors and their children for half a century after +the great struggle was over. The English took Gibraltar (1704). Prince +Eugene of Savoy helped great Marlborough to the famous victory of +Blenheim (1705),—and Virginians were not likely to forget that it was +Colonel Parke, of Virginia, who took the news of that field to the Queen. +Marlborough won at Ramillies and Eugene at Turin (1706). The two great +captains triumphed together at Oudenarde (1708) and at Malplaquet (1709). +The crowns of France and Spain were separated, and France was lightened +of her overwhelming weight in the balance of power. + +[Illustration: PRINCE EUGENE] + +But for the colonies in America it was only “Queen Anne’s War,” full +of anxiety, suffering, and disappointment,—massacres on the border, +expeditions to the north blundered and mismanaged, money and lives spent +with little to show for the sacrifice. The ministers at home had made no +preparation in America for the renewal of hostilities. There had been +warnings enough, and appeals of deep urgency, sent out of the colonies. +Every observant man of affairs there saw what must come. But warnings +and appeals had not been heeded. Lord Bellomont, that self-respecting +gentleman and watchful governor, had told the ministers at home very +plainly that there ought to be a line of frontier posts at the north, +with soldiers for colonists, and that simply to pursue the Indians once +and again to the depths of the forests was as useless “as to pursue birds +that are on the wing.” An English prisoner in the hands of the French +had sent word what he heard they meant to do for the extension of their +boundaries and their power. The deputy governor of Pennsylvania had +proposed a colonial militia to be kept at the frontier. Certain private +gentlemen of the northern settlements had begged for a common governor +“of worth and honor,” and for some system of common defence. Mr. Penn, +looking on near at hand, had advised that the colonists be drawn together +in intercourse and interest by a common coinage, a common rule of +citizenship, a common system of justice, and by duties on foreign timber +which would in some degree offset the burdens of the Navigation Acts,—as +well as by common organization and action against the French and against +the pirates of the coast. But nothing had been done. + +[Illustration: FRENCH HUGUENOT CHURCH, NEW YORK, 1704] + +Even the little that had been gained in King William’s War had now to +be gained all over again. Sir William Phips had taken Port Royal very +handily at the outset of that war (1690), and Acadia with it, and there +had been no difficulty in holding the conquered province until the war +ended; but the treaty of Ryswick had handed back to the French everything +the English had taken, the statesmen of England hardly heeding America at +all in the terms they agreed to,—and so a beginning was once more to be +made. + +The war began, as every one knew it must, with forays on the border: +the Indians were the first afoot, and were more to be feared than the +French. The first movement of the English was made at the south, where, +before the first year (1702) of the war was out, the Carolinians struck +at the power of Spain in Florida. They sent a little force against St. +Augustine, and easily swept the town itself, but stood daunted before +the walls of the castle, lacking cannon to reduce it, and came hastily +away at sight of two Spanish ships standing into the harbor, leaving +their very stores and ammunition behind them in their panic. They had +saddled the colony with a debt of six thousand pounds and gained nothing. +But they at least kept their own borders safe against the Indians and +their own little capital at Charleston safe against reprisals by the +Spaniards. The Apalachees, who served the Spaniards on the border, they +swept from their forest country in 1703, and made their border quiet by +fire and sword, driving hundreds of the tribesmen they did not kill to +new seats beyond the Savannah. Three years went by before they were in +their turn attacked by a force out of Florida. Upon a day in August, +1706, while the little capital lay stricken with yellow fever, a fleet of +five French vessels appeared off the bar at their harbor mouth, bringing +Spanish troops from Havana and St. Augustine. There was a quick rally to +meet them. Colonial militia went to face their landing parties; gallant +Colonel Rhett manned a little flotilla to check them on the water; and +they were driven off, leaving two hundred and thirty prisoners and a +captured ship behind them. The southern coast could take care of itself. + +[Illustration: OLD SWEDES CHURCH, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE] + +Nothing had been done meanwhile in the north. The first year of the war +(1702) had seen Boston robbed of three hundred of her inhabitants by the +scourge of small-pox, and New York stricken with a fatal fever brought +out of the West Indies from which no man could rally. That dismal year +lingered for many a day in the memory of the men of the middle colonies +as “the time of the great sickness.” The northernmost border had been +harried from Wells to Casco by the French Indians (1703); Deerfield, +far away in the wilderness by the Connecticut, had been fearfully dealt +with at dead of night, in the mid-winter of 1704, by a combined force of +French and Indians; in 1705 the French in Acadia had brought temporary +ruin upon the English trading posts in Newfoundland; and a French +privateer had insolently come in open day into the Bay at New York, as if +to show the English there how defenceless their great harbor was, with +all the coast about it (1705). And yet there had been no counterstroke +by the English,—except that Colonel Church, of Massachusetts, had spent +the summer of 1704 in destroying as he could the smaller and less +defended French and Indian villages upon the coasts which lay about the +Penobscot and the Bay of Fundy. In 1707 a serious attempt was made to +take Port Royal. Colonel March took a thousand men against the place, in +twenty-three transports, convoyed by a man-of-war, and regularly laid +siege to it; but lacked knowledge of the business he had undertaken and +failed utterly. + +[Illustration: NEW YORK SLAVE MARKET ABOUT 1730] + +Another three years went by before anything was accomplished; and the +French filled them in, as before, with raids and massacres. Again +Haverhill was surprised, sacked, and burned (1708). The English were +driven from the Bahama islands. An expedition elaborately prepared in +England to be sent against the French in America was countermanded +(1709), because a sudden need arose to use it at home. Everything +attempted seemed to miscarry as of course. And then at last fortune +turned a trifle kind. Colonel Francis Nicholson, governor of Virginia +till 1705, had gone to England when he saw things stand hopelessly +still in America, and, being a man steadfast and hard to put by, was at +last able, in 1710, to obtain and bring assistance in person from over +sea. He had recommended, while yet he was governor of Virginia, it was +recalled, that the colonies be united under a single viceroy and defended +by a standing army for which they should themselves be made to pay. The +ministers at home had been too prudent to take that advice; but they +listened now to his appeal for a force to be sent to America. By the 24th +of September, 1710, he lay off Port Royal with a fleet of thirty-five +sail, besides hospital and store ships, with four regiments of New +England militia aboard his transports and a detachment of marines. On +the 1st of October he opened the fire of three batteries within a hundred +yards of the little fort that guarded the place, and within twenty-four +hours he had brought it to its capitulation, as Sir William Phips had +done twenty years before. Acadia was once more a conquered province of +England. Colonel Nicholson renamed its port Annapolis Royal, in honor of +the Queen whom he served. The name of the province itself the English +changed to Nova Scotia. + +[Illustration: BROAD STREET, NEW YORK, IN 1740] + +Two years more, and the war was practically over; but no victories had +been added to that lonely achievement at Port Royal. Colonel Nicholson +went from his triumph in Acadia back to England again, to solicit a +yet stronger force to be taken against Quebec, and once more got what +he wanted. In midsummer of 1711 Sir Hovenden Walker arrived at Boston +with a great fleet of transports and men-of-war, bringing Colonel Hill +and seven of Marlborough’s veteran regiments to join the troops of New +England in a decisive onset upon the stronghold of New France. Colonel +Nicholson was to lead the colonial levies through the forests to Quebec; +Sir Hovenden Walker was to ascend the St. Lawrence and strike from the +river. But neither force reached Quebec. The admiral blundered in the +fogs which beset him at the mouth of the great stream, lost eight ships +and almost a thousand men, and then put about in dismay and steered +straightway for England, to have his flag-ship blow up under him at +Spithead. Colonel Nicholson heard very promptly of the admiral’s ignoble +failure, and did not make his march. The next year, 1712, the merchants +of Quebec subscribed a fund to complete the fortifications of their +rock-built city, and even women volunteered to work upon them, that they +might be finished ere the English came again. But the English did not +come. That very summer brought a truce; and in March, 1713, the war ended +with the peace of Utrecht. The treaty gave England Hudson’s Bay, Acadia, +Newfoundland, and the little island of St. Christopher alongside Nevis in +the Lesser Antilles. + +“Queen Anne’s War” was over; but there was not yet settled peace in +the south. While the war lasted North Carolina had had to master, in +blood and terror, the fierce Iroquois tribe of the Tuscaroras, who +mustered twelve hundred warriors in the forests which lay nearest the +settlements. And when the war was over South Carolina had to conquer a +whole confederacy of tribes whom the Spaniards had stirred up to attack +her. The Tuscaroras had seemed friends through all the first years of the +English settlement on their coast; but the steady, ominous advance of +the English, encroaching mile by mile upon their hunting grounds, had at +last maddened them to commit a sudden and awful treachery. In September, +1711, they fell with all their natural fury upon the nearer settlements, +and for three days swept them with an almost continuous carnage. The next +year the awful butchery was repeated. Both times the settlements found +themselves too weak to make effective resistance; both times aid was sent +from South Carolina, by forced marches through the long forests; and +finally, in March, 1713, the month of the peace of Utrecht, an end was +made. The Tuscaroras were attacked and overcome in their last stronghold. +The remnant that was left migrated northward to join their Iroquois +kinsmen in New York,—and Carolina was quit of them forever. + +[Illustration: OLD STATE HOUSE AT ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND] + +The strong tribes which held sway in the forests of South Carolina,—the +Yamassees, Creeks, Catawbas, and Cherokees,—were no kinsmen of these +alien Iroquois out of the north, and had willingly lent their aid to +the English to destroy them. But, the war over, the Spaniards busied +themselves to win these tribes also to a conspiracy against the +English settlements, and succeeded only too well. They joined in a +great confederacy, and put their seven or eight thousand braves on the +war-path to destroy the English. For almost a whole year (April, 1715, +to February, 1716) they kept to their savage work unsubdued, until full +four hundred whites had lost their lives at their hands. Then the final +reckoning came for them also, and the shattered remnants of their tribes +sought new homes for themselves as they could. The savages had all but +accomplished their design against the settlements. The awful work of +destroying them left the Carolinas upon the verge of utter exhaustion, +drained of blood and money, almost without crops of food to subsist upon, +quite without means to bear the heavy charges of government in a time of +war and sore disorder. There were some among the disheartened settlers +who thought of abandoning their homes there altogether and seeking a +place where peace might be had at a less terrible cost. But there was +peace at least, and the danger of absolute destruction had passed. + +New York had had her own fright while the war lasted. A house blazed in +the night (1712), and certain negroes who had gathered about it killed +some of those who came to extinguish the flames. It was rumored that +there had been a plot among the negroes to put the whole of the town +to the torch; an investigation was made, amidst a general panic which +rendered calm inquiry into such a matter impossible; and nineteen blacks +were executed. + +But in most of the colonies domestic affairs had gone quietly enough, +the slow war disturbing them very little. Connecticut found leisure of +thought enough, in 1708, to collect a synod at Saybrook and formulate a +carefully considered constitution for her churches, which her legislature +the same year adopted. In 1707 New York witnessed a notable trial which +established the freedom of dissenting pulpits. Lord Cornbury, the +profligate governor of the province, tried to silence the Rev. Francis +Mackemie, a Presbyterian minister,—pretending that the English laws of +worship and doctrine were in force in New York; but a jury made short +work of acquitting him. Massachusetts endured Joseph Dudley as governor +throughout the war (1702-1715), checking him very pertinaciously at +times when he needed the assistance of her General Court, but no longer +refusing to live with reasonable patience under governors not of her own +choosing. + +[Illustration: NEW YORK, FROM THE HARBOR, ABOUT 1725] + +[Illustration: ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD] + +Fortunately for the Carolinas, a very notable man had become governor of +Virginia ere the Tuscaroras took the war-path. There were tribes at the +border,—Nottoways, Meherrins, and even a detached group of the Tuscaroras +themselves,—who would have joined in the savage conspiracy against the +whites had not Colonel Spotswood been governor in Virginia and shown +himself capable of holding them quiet with a steady hand of authority,—a +word of conciliation and a hint of force. Alexander Spotswood was no +ordinary man. He added to a gentle breeding a manly bearing such as +Virginians loved, and the administrative gifts which so many likable +governors had lacked. His government was conducted with clear-eyed +enterprise and steady capacity. It added to his consequence that he had +borne the Queen’s commission in the forces of the great Marlborough on +the field of Blenheim, and came to his duty in Virginia (1710) bearing +a wound received on that famous field. His blood he took from Scotland, +where the distinguished annals of his family might be read in many a +public record; and a Scottish energy entered with him into the government +of Virginia,—as well as a Scottish candor and directness in speech,—to +the great irritation presently of James Blair, as aggressive a Scotsman +as he, and more astute and masterful. + +[Illustration: BRENTON CHURCH, WHERE GOVERNOR SPOTSWOOD WORSHIPPED] + +It was Colonel Spotswood who, in 1716, gathered a company of gentlemen +about him for a long ride of discovery into the Alleghanies. They put +their horses through the very heart of the long wilderness, and won their +way despite all obstacles to a far summit of the Blue Ridge, whence, +first among all their countrymen, they looked forth to the westward +upon the vast slopes which fell away to the Ohio and the great basin of +the Mississippi. Colonel Spotswood, standing there the leader of the +little group, knew that it was this way the English must come to make +conquest of the continent. He urged his government at home to stretch +a chain of defensive posts beyond the mountains from the lakes to the +Mississippi, to keep the French from those inner valleys which awaited +the coming of the white man; but he did not pause in the work he could +do himself because the advice went unheeded. He kept the Indians still; +he found excellent lands for a thrifty colony of Germans, and himself +began the manufacture of iron in the colony, setting up the first iron +furnace in America. The debts of the colony were most of them discharged, +and a good trade in corn, lumber, and salt provisions sprang up with +the West Indies. He rebuilt the college, recently destroyed by fire, +and established a school for Indian children. He improved as he could +the currency of the colony. His works were the quiet works of peace and +development,—except for his vigorous suppression of the pirates of the +coast,—and his administration might have outrun the year 1722, which saw +him removed, had he been a touch less haughty, overbearing, unused to +conciliating or pleasing those whose service he desired. He made enemies, +and was at last ousted by them. + +[Illustration: GOVERNOR SPOTSWOOD’S EXPEDITION TO THE BLUE RIDGE] + +[Illustration: COLONEL RHETT AND THE PIRATE STEDE BONNET] + +Some of the best qualities of the soldier and administrator came out +in him in the long struggle to put the pirates down once and for all. +Queen Anne’s War had turned pirates into privateers and given pause to +the stern business for a little, but it began again in desperate earnest +when the war was over and peace concluded at Utrecht. It was officially +reported by the secretary of Pennsylvania in 1717 that there were still +fifteen hundred pirates on the coasts, making their headquarters at the +Cape Fear and at New Providence in the Bahamas, and sweeping the sea as +they dared from Brazil to Newfoundland. But the day of their reckoning +was near at hand. South Carolina had cleared her own coasts for a little +at the beginning of the century, but the robbers swarmed at her inlets +again when the Indian massacres had weakened and distracted her, and +the end of the war with France set many a roving privateersman free to +return to piracy. The crisis and turning-point came in the year 1718. +That year an English fleet crossed the sea, took New Providence, purged +the Bahamas of piracy, and made henceforth a stronghold there for law and +order. That same year Stede Bonnet, of Barbadoes, a man who had but the +other day held a major’s commission in her Majesty’s service, honored and +of easy fortune, but now turned pirate, as if for pastime, was caught +at the mouth of the Cape Fear by armed ships under redoubtable Colonel +Rhett, who had driven the French out of Charleston harbor thirteen years +ago, and was taken and hanged on Charleston dock, all his crew having +gone before him to the ceremony. “This humour of going a-pyrating,” it +was said, “proceeded from a disorder in his mind, which had been but too +visible in him some time before this wicked undertaking; and which is +said to have been occasioned by some discomforts he found in a married +state”; but the law saw nothing of that in what he had done. While Bonnet +awaited his condemnation, Edward Thatch, the famous “Blackbeard,” whom +all the coast dreaded, went a like just way to death, trapped within +Ocracoke Inlet by two stout craft sent against him out of Virginia by +Colonel Spotswood. And so, step by step, the purging went on. South +Carolina had as capable a governor as Virginia in Robert Johnson; and +the work done by these and like men upon the coasts, and by the English +ships in the West Indies, presently wiped piracy out. By 1730 there was +no longer anything for ships to fear on those coasts save the Navigation +Acts and stress of sea weather. + +[Illustration: PORTRAIT OF THE PIRATE EDWARD THATCH] + +It was a long coast, and it took a long time to carry law and order into +every bay and inlet. But every year brought increase of strength to +the colonies, and with increase of strength power to rule their coasts +as they chose. Queen Anne’s War over, quiet peace descended upon the +colonies for almost an entire generation (1712-1740). Except for a flurry +of Indian warfare now and again upon the borders, or here and there some +petty plot or sudden brawl, quiet reigned, and peaceful progress. Anne, +the queen, died the year after peace was signed (1714); and the next year +Louis XIV. followed her, the great king who had so profoundly stirred +the politics of Europe. An old generation had passed away, and new men +and new measures seemed now to change the whole face of affairs. The +first George took the throne, a German, not an English prince, his heart +in Hannover; and presently the affairs of England fell into the hands +of Sir Robert Walpole. Sir Robert kept his power for twenty-one years +(1721-1742), and conducted the government with the shrewd, hard-headed +sense and administrative capacity of a steady country squire,—as if +governing were a sort of business, demanding, like other businesses, +peace and an assured and equable order in affairs. It was a time of +growth and recuperation, with much to do, but little to record. + +[Illustration: SIR ROBERT WALPOLE] + +The colonies, while it lasted, underwent in many things a slow +transformation. Their population grew in numbers not only, but also +in variety. By the end of the war there were probably close upon half +a million people within their borders, counting slave with free; and +with the return of peace there came a quickened increase. New England +slowly lost its old ways of separate action as a self-constituted +confederacy; and Massachusetts, with her new system of royal governors +and a franchise broadened beyond the lines of her churches, by degrees +lost her leadership. She was losing her old temper of Puritan thought. +It was impossible to keep her population any longer of the single strain +of which it had been made up at the first. New elements were steadily +added; and new elements brought new ways of life and new beliefs. She was +less and less governed by her pulpits; turned more and more to trade for +sustenance; welcomed new-comers with less and less scrutiny of their ways +of thinking; grew less suspicious of change, and more like her neighbors +in her zest for progress. + +Scots-Irish began to make their appearance in the colony, some of them +going to New Hampshire, some remaining in Boston; and they were given a +right willing welcome. The war had brought sore burdens of expense and +debt upon the people, and these Scots-Irish knew the profitable craft +of linen-making which the Boston people were glad to learn, and use to +clothe themselves; for poverty, they declared, “is coming upon us as an +armed man.” These new immigrants brought with them also the potato, not +before used in New England, and very acceptable as an addition to the +colony’s bill of fare. Small vessels now began to venture out from Cape +Cod and Nantucket, moreover, in pursuit of the whales that came to the +northern coasts, and it was not long before that daring occupation began +to give promise of wealth and of the building up of a great industry. +Population began slowly to spread from the coasts into the forests +which lay at the west between the Connecticut and the Hudson. In 1730 a +Presbyterian church was opened in Boston,—almost as unmistakable a sign +of change as King’s Chapel itself had been with its service after the +order of the Church of England. + +The middle colonies and the far south saw greater changes than these. +South Carolina seemed likely to become as various in her make-up as +were New York and Pennsylvania with their mixture of races and creeds. +Scots-Irish early settled within her borders also; she had already her +full share of Huguenot blood; and there followed, as the new century +advanced through the lengthened years of peace, companies of Swiss +immigrants, and Germans from the Palatinate. Charleston, however, seemed +English enough, and showed a color of aristocracy in her life which no +one could fail to note who visited her. Back from the point where the +rivers met, where the fortifications stood, and the docks to which the +ships came, there ran a fine road northward which Governor Archdale, that +good Quaker, had twenty years ago declared more beautiful and pleasant +than any prince in Europe could find to take the air upon when he drove +abroad. From it on either side stretched noble avenues of live oaks, +their strong lines softened by the long drapery of the gray moss,—avenues +which led to the broad verandas of country residences standing in +cool and shadowy groves of other stately trees. In summer the odor of +jasmine filled the air; and even in winter the winds were soft. It was +here that the ruling men of the colony lived, the masters of the nearer +plantations,—men bred and cultured after the manner of the Old World. The +simpler people, who made the colony various with their differing bloods, +lived inland, in the remoter parishes, or near other harbors above or +below Charleston’s port. It was on the nearer plantations round about +Charleston that negro slaves most abounded; and there were more negroes +by several thousand in the colony than white folk. Out of the 16,750 +inhabitants of the colony in 1715, 10,500 were slaves. But the whites +were numerous enough to give their governors a taste of their quality. + +[Illustration: MAP OF THE COAST SETTLEMENTS, 1742] + +There were well-developed political parties in South Carolina, for all +she was so small; and astute and able men to lead them, like Colonel +Rhett, now soldier, now sailor, now statesman, and Mr. Nicholas Trott, +now on one side and again on the other in the matter of self-government +as against the authority of the proprietors or the crown, but always in +a position to make his influence felt. The province practically passed +from the proprietors to the crown in 1719, because the people’s party +determined to be rid of their authority, and ousted their governor, +exasperated that in their time of need, their homes burned about +their ears by the savages, their coasts ravaged by freebooters, they +should have been helped not a whit, but left to shift desperately for +themselves. In 1729 the proprietors formally surrendered their rights. +Colonel Francis Nicholson acted as provisional governor while the change +was being effected (1719-1725), having been meantime governor of Acadia, +which he had taken for the crown. In 1720 he was knighted; and he +seems to have acted as soberly in this post in Carolina as he had acted +in Virginia. He was truculent and whimsical in the north; but in the +south his temper seemed eased and his judgment steadied. The change of +government in South Carolina was really an earnest of the fact that the +people’s representatives had won a just and reasonable ascendency in the +affairs of the colony; and Sir Francis did not seriously cross them, but +served them rather, in the execution of their purposes. + +[Illustration: POHICK CHURCH, VIRGINIA, WHERE WASHINGTON WORSHIPPED] + +Every colony had its own movements of party. Everywhere the crown +desired the colonial assemblies to provide a permanent establishment for +the governor, the judges, and the other officers who held the King’s +commission,—fixed salaries, and a recognized authority to carry out +instructions; but everywhere the people’s representatives persistently +refused to grant either salaries or any additional authority which they +could not control in the interest of their own rights from session to +session. They would vote salaries for only a short period, generally a +year at a time; and they steadily denied the right of the crown to extend +or vary the jurisdiction of the courts without their assent. Sometimes a +governor like Mr. Clarke, of New York, long a resident in his colony and +acquainted with its temper and its ways of thought, got what he wanted +by making generous concessions in matters under his own control; and the +judges, whatever their acknowledged jurisdiction, were likely to yield +to the royal wishes with some servility: for they were appointed at the +King’s pleasure, and not for the term of their good behavior, as in +England. But power turned, after all, upon what the people’s legislature +did or consented to do, and the colonists commonly spoke their minds with +fearless freedom. + +In New York the right to speak their minds had been tested and +established in a case which every colony promptly learned of. In 1734 +and 1735 one John Peter Ziegler, a printer, was brought to trial for +the printing of various libellous attacks on the governor and the +administration of the colony,—attacks which were declared to be highly +“derogatory to the character of his Majesty’s government,” and to have +a tendency “to raise seditions and tumults in the province”; but he was +acquitted. The libel was admitted, but the jury deemed it the right +of every one to say whatever he thought to be true of the colony’s +government; and men everywhere noted the verdict. + +[Illustration: TITLE-PAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE NEGROES] + +A second negro plot startled New York in 1741, showing itself, as +before, in sudden incendiary fires. It was thought that the slaves had +been incited to destroy the town; and there was an uneasy suspicion +that these disturbing occurrences were in some way connected with the +slave insurrections in the south. Uprisings of the slaves had recently +occurred in the West Indies. South Carolina had suffered such an outbreak +a little more than two years before. In 1738 armed insurgent negroes +had begun there, in a quiet parish, the execution of a terrible plot of +murder and burning which it had taken very prompt and summary action to +check and defeat. Such risings were specially ominous where the slaves +so outnumbered the whites; and it was known in South Carolina whence +the uneasiness of the negroes came. At the south of the province lay +the Spanish colonies in Florida. Negroes who could manage to run away +from their masters and cross the southern border were made very welcome +there; they were set free, and encouraged in every hostile purpose that +promised to rob the English settlements of their ease and peace. Bands of +Yamassees wandered there, too, eager to avenge themselves as they could +for the woful defeat and expulsion they had suffered at the hands of the +Carolinians, and ready to make common cause with the negroes. When bands +of negroes, hundreds strong, began their sudden work of burning, plunder, +and murder where the quiet Stono runs to the sea no one doubted whence +the impulse came. And though a single rising was easily enough put down, +who could be certain that that was the end of the ominous business? No +wonder governors at Charleston interested themselves to increase the +number of white settlers and make their power of self-defence sure. + +Such things, however, serious as they were, did not check the steady +growth of the colonies. It was not yet questions of self-government or +of the preservation of their peace that dominated their affairs; and +only those who observed how far-away frontiers were being advanced and +two great nations being brought together for a reckoning face to face +saw what was the next, the very near, crisis in store for the English +in America. Through all that time of peace a notable drama was in fact +preparing. Slowly, but very surely, English and French were drawing +nearer and nearer within the continent,—not only in the north, but +throughout all the length of the great Mississippi. Step by step the +French had descended the river from their posts on the lakes; and while +peace reigned they had established posts at its mouth and begun to make +their way northward from the Gulf. So long ago as 1699 they had built a +stockade at Biloxi; in 1700 they had taken possession of Mobile Bay; by +1716 they had established posts at Toulouse (Alabama) and at Natchez. +In 1718 they began to build at New Orleans. In 1719 they captured and +destroyed the Spanish post at Pensacola. By 1722 there were five thousand +Frenchmen by the lower stretches of the great river; and their trading +boats were learning all the shallows and currents of the mighty waterway +from end to end. Meantime, in the north, they advanced their power to +Lake Champlain, and began the construction of a fort at Crown Point +(1721). That same year, 1721, French and English built ominously near +each other on Lake Ontario, the English at Oswego, the French at Niagara +among the Senecas. In 1716, the very year Governor Spotswood rode through +the western forests of Virginia to a summit of the Blue Ridge, the French +had found a short way to the Ohio by following the Miami and the Wabash +down their widening streams. It was while they thus edged their way +towards the eastern mountains and drew their routes closer and closer to +their rivals on the coast that that adventurous, indomitable people, the +Scots-Irish, came pouring of a sudden into the English colonies, and very +promptly made it their business to pass the mountains and take possession +of the lands which lay beyond them, as if they would deliberately go to +meet the French by the Ohio. + +[Illustration: OSWEGO IN 1750] + +For several years after the first quarter of the new century had run +out immigrants from the north of Ireland came crowding in, twelve +thousand strong by the year. In 1729 quite five thousand of them entered +Pennsylvania alone: and they pressed without hesitation and as if by +preference to the interior. From Pennsylvania they passed along the +broad, inviting valleys southward into the western parts of Virginia. +By 1730 a straggling movement of settlers had begun to show itself even +upon the distant lands of Kentucky. Still farther south traders from the +Carolinas went constantly back and forth between the Indian tribes of +the country by the Mississippi and the English settlements at the coast. +Nine thousand redskin warriors lay there in the forests. Some traded +with the French at the river, some with the English at the coast. They +might become foes or allies, might turn to the one side or the other, as +passion or interest led them. + +In 1739 the French at the north put an armed sloop on Champlain. The same +year the English built a fortified post at Niagara. Everywhere the two +peoples were converging, and were becoming more and more conscious of +what their approach to one another meant. So long ago as 1720 orders had +come from France bidding the French commanders on the St. Lawrence occupy +the valley of the Ohio before the English should get a foothold there. +The places where the rivals were to meet it was now easy to see, and +every frontiersman saw them very plainly. The two races could not possess +the continent together. They must first fight for the nearer waterways of +the West, and after that for whatever lay next at hand. + +It was no small matter, with threat of such things in the air, that +the English chose that day of preparation for the planting of a new +colony, and planted it in the south between Carolina and the Florida +settlements,—a barrier and a menace both to French and Spaniard. It +was James Oglethorpe, a soldier, who planned the new undertaking; +and he planned it like a soldier,—and yet like a man of heart and +elevated purpose, too, for he was a philanthropist and a lover of every +serviceable duty, as well as a soldier. He came of that good stock of +country gentlemen which has in every generation helped so sturdily to +carry forward the work of England, in the field, in Parliament, in +administrative office. He had gone with a commission into the English +army in the late war a mere lad of fourteen (1710); and, finding himself +still unskilled in arms when England made peace at Utrecht, he had chosen +to stay for six years longer, a volunteer, with the forces of Prince +Eugene in the East. At twenty-two he had come back to England (1718), to +take upon himself the responsibilities which had fallen to him by reason +of the death of his elder brothers; and in 1722 he had entered the House +of Commons, eager as ever to learn his duty and do it. He kept always a +sort of knightly quality, and the power to plan and hope and push forward +that belongs to youth. He was a Tory, and believed that the Stuarts +should have the throne from which they had been thrust before he was +born; but that did not make him disloyal. He was an ardent reformer; but +that did not make him visionary, for he was also trained in affairs. His +clear-cut features, frank eye, erect and slender figure bespoke him every +inch the high-bred gentleman and the decisive man of action. + +[Illustration: JAMES OGLETHORPE] + +In Parliament he had been made one of a committee to inspect prisons; and +he had been keenly touched by the miserable plight of the many honest +men who, through mere misfortune, were there languishing in hopeless +imprisonment for debt. He bethought himself of the possibility of giving +such men a new chance of life and the recovery of fortune in America; and +the thought grew into a plan for a new colony. He knew how the southern +coast lay vacant between Charleston and the Spaniards at St. Augustine. +There were good lands there, no doubt; and his soldier’s eye showed him, +by a mere glance at a map, how fine a point of vantage it might be made +if fortified against the alien power in Florida. And so he made his +plans. It should be a military colony, a colony of fortified posts; +and honest men who had fallen upon poverty or misfortune at home should +have a chance, if they would work, to profit by the undertaking, though +he should take them from debtors’ prisons. Both King and Parliament +listened very willingly to what he proposed. The King signed a charter, +giving the undertaking into the hands of trustees, who were in effect to +be proprietors (June, 1732); and Parliament voted ten thousand pounds +as its subscription to the enterprise; while men of as liberal a spirit +as Oglethorpe’s associated themselves with him to carry the humane plan +out, giving money, counsel, and service without so much as an expectation +of gain to themselves, or any material return for their outlay. Men had +ceased by that time to dream that colonization would make those rich +who fathered it and paid its first bills. By the end of October, 1732, +the first shipload of settlers was off for America, Oglethorpe himself +at their head; and by February, 1733, they were already busy building +their first settlement on Yamacraw Bluff, within the broad stream of the +Savannah. + +The colony had in its charter been christened Georgia, in honor of the +King, who had so cordially approved of its foundation; the settlement at +Yamacraw, Oglethorpe called by the name of the river itself, Savannah. +His colonists were no mere company of released debtors and shiftless +ne’er-do-wells. Men had long ago learned the folly of that mistake, +and Oglethorpe was too much a man of the world to repeat the failures +of others. Every emigrant had been subjected to a thorough examination +regarding his antecedents, his honesty, his character for energy and good +behavior, and had been brought because he had been deemed fit. Italians +skilled in silk culture were introduced into the colony. Sober German +Protestants came from Moravia and from Salzburg, by Tyrol, and were given +their separate places of settlement,—as quiet, frugal, industrious, +pious folk as the first pilgrims at Plymouth. Clansmen from the Scottish +Highlands came, and were set at the extreme south, as an outpost to +meet the Spaniard. Some of the Carolina settlers who would have liked +themselves to have the Highlanders for neighbors tried to dissuade them +from going to the spot selected for their settlement. They told them +that the Spaniards were so near at hand that they could shoot them from +the windows of the houses that stood within the fort. “Why, then, we +shall beat them out of their fort, and shall have houses ready built to +live in!” cried the men in kilts, very cheerily, and went on to their +settlement. + +[Illustration: OGLETHORPE’S ORDER FOR SUPPLIES] + +[Illustration: SAVANNAH IN 1754] + +Fortunately it was seven years before the war with Spain came which every +one had known from the first to be inevitable; and by that time the +little colony was ready enough. Georgia’s territory stretched upon the +coast from the Savannah to the Altamaha, and from the coast ran back, +west and northwest, to the sources of those rivers; from their sources +due westward “to the South Seas.” Savannah was thus planted at the very +borders of South Carolina. New settlers were placed, as they came, some +in Savannah, many by the upper reaches of the river. The Highlanders had +their post of danger and honor upon the Altamaha; and before war came new +settlers, additional arms and stores, and serviceable fortifications had +been placed at St. Simon’s Island at the mouth of the Altamaha. Every +settlement was in some sort a fortified military post. The first settlers +had been drilled in arms by sergeants of the Royal Guards in London every +day between the time of their assembling and the time of their departure. +Arms and ammunition were as abundant almost as agricultural tools and +food stores in the cargoes carried out. Negro slavery was forbidden +in the colony, because it was no small part of Oglethorpe’s purpose in +founding it to thrust a solid wedge of free settlers between Carolina +and the country to the south, and close the border to fugitive slaves. +Neither could any liquor be brought in. It was designed that the life of +the settlements should be touched with something of the rigor of military +discipline; and so long as Oglethorpe himself was at hand laws were +respected and obeyed, rigid and unacceptable though they were; for he was +a born ruler of men. + +[Illustration: ALEXANDER HAMILTON] + +He had not chosen very wisely, however, when he brought Charles and John +Wesley out as his spiritual advisers and the pastors of his colony. They +were men as inapt at yielding and as strenuous at prosecuting their +own way of action as he, and promoted diversity of opinion quite as +successfully as piety. They stayed but three or four uneasy years in +America, and then returned to do their great work of setting up a new +dissenting church in England. George Whitefield followed them (1738) +in their missionary labors, and for a little while preached acceptably +enough in the quiet colony; but he, too, was very soon back in England +again. The very year Oglethorpe brought Charles Wesley to Georgia (1734) +a great wave of religious feeling swept over New England again,—not +sober, self-contained, deep-currented, like the steady fervor of the +old days, but passionate, full of deep excitement, agitated, too like +a frenzy. Enthusiasts who saw it rise and run its course were wont to +speak of it afterwards as “the Great Awakening,” but the graver sort were +deeply disturbed by it. It did not spend its force till quite fifteen +years had come and gone. Mr. Whitefield returned to America in 1739, to +add to it the impulse of his impassioned preaching, and went once more to +Georgia also. Again and again he came upon the same errand, stirring many +a colony with his singular eloquence; but Georgia was busy with other +things, and heeded him less than the rest. + +[Illustration: JOHN WESLEY] + +[Illustration: OGLETHORPE’S EXPEDITION AGAINST ST. AUGUSTINE] + +[Illustration: GEORGE WHITEFIELD] + +When the inevitable war came with Spain, in 1739,—inevitable because of +trade rivalries in the West Indies and in South America, and because of +political rivalry at the borders of Florida,—Oglethorpe was almost the +first to strike. Admiral Vernon had been despatched in midsummer, 1739, +before the declaration of war, to destroy the Spanish settlements and +distress Spanish commerce in the West Indies; and had promptly taken +Porto Bello in November, scarcely a month after war had been formally +declared. Oglethorpe struck next, at St. Augustine. It was this he had +looked forward to in founding his colony. In May, 1740, he moved to the +attack with a mixed army of redskins and provincial militia numbering a +little more than two thousand men,—supported at sea by a little fleet +of six vessels of war under Sir Yelverton Peyton. But there had been +too much delay in getting the motley force together. The Spaniards +had procured reinforcements from Havana; the English ships found it +impracticable to get near enough to the Spanish works to use their guns +with effect; Oglethorpe had no proper siege pieces; and the attack +utterly failed. It had its effect, nevertheless. For two years the +Spaniards held nervously off, carefully on the defensive; and when they +did in their turn attack, Oglethorpe beat them handsomely off, and more +than wiped out the disrepute of his miscarriage at St. Augustine. In June +1742, there came to St. Simon’s Island a Spanish fleet of fifty-one sail, +nearly five thousand troops aboard, and Oglethorpe beat them off with six +hundred and fifty men,—working his little forts like a master, and his +single guard-schooner and few paltry armed sloops as if they were a navy. +Such a deliverance, cried Mr. Whitefield, could not be paralleled save +out of Old Testament history. + +Meanwhile Vernon and Wentworth had met with overwhelming disaster at +Cartagena. With a great fleet of ships of the line and a land force of +nine thousand men, they had made their assault upon it in March, 1741; +but because Wentworth bungled everything he did with his troops the +attack miserably failed. He was caught by the deadly wet season of the +tropics; disease reduced his army to a wretched handful; and thousands +of lives were thrown away in his dismal disgrace. Both New England and +Virginia had sent troops to take their part with that doomed army; and +the colonies knew, in great bitterness, how few came home again. The +war had its issues for them, they knew, as well as for the governments +across the water. It meant one more reckoning with the Spaniard and the +Frenchman, their rivals for the mastery of America. And in 1745 New +England had a triumph of her own, more gratifying even than Oglethorpe’s +astonishing achievement at St. Simon’s Island. + +[Illustration: THE ACTION AT CARTAGENA] + +Only for a few months had England dealt with Spain alone upon a private +quarrel. In 1740 the male line of the great Austrian house of Hapsburg +had run out: Maria Theresa took the throne; rival claimants disputed her +right to the succession; and all Europe was presently plunged into the +“War of the Austrian Succession” (1740-1748). “King George’s War” they +called it in the colonies, when France and England became embroiled; but +the name did not make it doubtful what interests, or what ambitions, were +involved; and New England struck her own blow at the power of France. A +force of about four thousand men, levied in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, +and Connecticut, moved in the spring of 1745 against the French port of +Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island. Commodore Warren, the English naval +commander in the West Indies, furnished ships for their convoy, and +himself supported them in the siege; and by the 16th of June the place +had been taken. For twenty-five years the French had been slowly building +its fortifications, covering with them an area two and a half miles in +circumference. They had made them, they supposed, impregnable. But the +English had struck quickly, without warning, and with a skill and ardor +which made them wellnigh irresistible; and their triumph was complete. +Provincial troops had taken the most formidable fortress in America. +William Pepperrell, the gallant gentleman who had led the New Englanders, +got a baronetcy for his victory. Warren was made an admiral. + +[Illustration: WILLIAM PEPPERRELL] + +The next year an attack was planned against the French at Crown Point +on Champlain, but nothing came of it. The war almost stood still +thenceforth, so far as the colonies were concerned, till peace was signed +at Aix-la-Chapelle in October, 1748. That peace brought great chagrin to +New England. By its terms Louisbourg and all conquests everywhere were +restored. The whole work was to do over again, as after King William’s +War and the restoration of Port Royal, which Sir William Phips had +been at such pains to take. The peace stood, however, little longer +than that which had separated King William’s War from the War of the +Spanish Succession. Seven years, and France and England had once more +grappled,—this time for a final settlement. All the seven years through +the coming on of war was plainly to be seen by those who knew where to +look for the signs of the times. The French and English in that brief +interval were not merely to approach; they were to meet in the western +valleys, and the first spark of a war that was to embroil all Europe was +presently to flash out in the still forests beyond the far Alleghanies. + +It was on the borders of Virginia this time that the first act of the +drama was to be cast. The French determined both to shorten and to +close their lines of occupation and defence from the St. Lawrence to +the Mississippi and the Gulf. They knew that they could do this only by +taking possession of the valley of the Ohio; and the plan was no sooner +formed than it was attempted. And yet to do this was to come closer +than ever to the English and to act under their very eyes. A few German +families had made their way far to the westward in Pennsylvania, and +hundreds of the indomitable Scots-Irish had been crowding in there for +now quite twenty years, passing on, many of them, to the beautiful valley +of the Shenandoah below, and pressing everywhere closer and closer to the +passes which led down but a little way beyond into the valleys of the +Alleghany, the Monongahela, and the Ohio. These men, at the frontiers of +Pennsylvania and Virginia, were sure to observe what was going forward +in front of them, and to understand what they saw. Traders crossed those +mountains now by the score from the English settlements,—three hundred +in a year, it was said. They knew the waters that ran to the Ohio quite +as well as any Frenchman did. Their canoes had followed the turnings +of the broad Ohio itself, and had found it a highway to the spreading +Mississippi, where French boats floated slowly down from the country of +the Illinois, carrying their cargoes of meat, grain, tobacco, tallow, +hides, lead, and oil to the settlements on the Gulf. In 1748, the year +of the last peace, certain leading gentlemen in Virginia had organized +an Ohio Land Company,—among the rest Mr. Augustus Washington, who had +served with Vernon and Wentworth at Cartagena and had lost his health +in the fatal service. He had named his estate by the Potomac, his +home of retirement, Mount Vernon, as his tribute of admiration to the +gallant sailor he had learned to love during those fiery days in the +South. In 1750 the English government had granted to the Company six +hundred thousand acres of land on the coveted river. Virginian officials +themselves had not scrupled meanwhile also to issue grants and titles +to land beyond the mountains. The English claim to the Ohio country was +unhesitating and comprehensive. + +The English had seized French traders there as unlicensed intruders, +and the French in their turn had seized and expelled Englishmen who +trafficked there. French and English matched their wits very shrewdly to +get and keep the too fickle friendship of the Indians, and so make sure +of their trade and their peace with them; and the Indians got what they +could from them both. It was a sharp game for a great advantage, and the +governments of the two peoples could not long refrain from taking a hand +in it. + +The French authorities, it turned out, were, as usual, the first to act. +In 1752 the Marquis Duquesne became governor of Canada, an energetic +soldier in his prime; and it was he who took the first decisive step. In +the spring of 1753 he despatched a force to Presque Isle, on the southern +shore of Lake Erie, built a log fort there, and thence cut a portage for +his boats southward a little way through the forest to a creek (French +Creek the English called it afterwards) whose waters, when at flood, +would carry his boats to the Alleghany, and by that open stream to the +Ohio. It was the short and straight way from the St. Lawrence to the +Mississippi and the Gulf. At the creek’s head he placed another log fort +(Le Bœuf), and upon the Alleghany a rude outpost. + +The same year that saw the Marquis Duquesne made governor of Canada +saw Robert Dinwiddie come out as governor of Virginia, and no one was +likelier than he to mark and comprehend the situation on the border. Mr. +Dinwiddie had been bred in a counting house, for he was the son of a +well-to-do merchant of Glasgow; but business had long since become for +him a matter of government. He had gone in his prime to be collector +of customs in Bermuda; and after serving in that post for eleven years +he had been made surveyor general of customs in the southern ports of +America,—a post in which he served most acceptably for another ten years. +For twenty years he had shown singular zeal and capacity in difficult, +and, for many men, demoralizing, matters of administration. He had lived +in Virginia when surveyor general of customs. During the two years which +immediately preceded his appointment to the governorship of the Old +Dominion he had engaged in business on his own account in London, and +had become by purchase one of the twenty stockholders of the Ohio Land +Company. He came to his new office, therefore, acquainted in more than +one way with the leading men of the colony,—especially with Mr. Augustine +Washington, now the Ohio Company’s president, and the little group of +influential gentlemen,—Lees, Fairfaxes, and the rest,—often to be found +gathered at Mount Vernon. He came, therefore, with his eyes on the +western lands where the company and his government were alike bound to +see to it that the French were checked. + +[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF THE NEW YORK WEEKLY _JOURNAL_] + +He saw Duquesne’s movement, consequently, at its very outset, warned the +government at home, and was promptly instructed to require the French +“peaceably to depart,” and if they would not go for the warning, “to +drive them off by force of arms.” He chose as his messenger to carry the +summons Mr. George Washington, half-brother to Mr. Augustine Washington, +of Mount Vernon. George Washington was only a lad of twenty-one; but he +had hardened already to the work of a man. He had received no schooling +in England such as Augustine had had, but had gone from the simple +schools and tutors of the Virginian country-side to serve as a surveyor +for Lord Fairfax in the rough country of the Shenandoah,—whither Fairfax, +heir of the old Culpeper grants, had come to seek a life away from courts +in the picturesque wilderness of America. Augustine Washington died the +very year Mr. Dinwiddie became governor, though he was but thirty-four; +and he had left George, lad though he was, to administer his estate +and serve in his stead as commander of the militia of eleven counties. +Governor Dinwiddie knew whom he was choosing when he sent this drilled +and experienced youngster, already a frontiersman, to bid the French +leave the Ohio. + +[Illustration: ROBERT DINWIDDIE] + +The message was carried in the dead of winter to the grave and courteous +soldier who commanded at Fort Le Bœuf; and Washington tried the endurance +even of the veteran frontiersman who accompanied him by the forced +marches he made thither and back again through the dense and frosted +woods, across frozen streams, and through the pathless, storm-beaten +tangles of deep forests, where there was hardly so much as the track of +a bison for their horses to walk in. He reported that the French had +received him very graciously; but had claimed the Ohio as their own, had +made no pretence that they would abandon it because the English bade +them, and clearly meant to establish themselves where they were. Juniors +among their officers had told him so very plainly as he sat with them +after dinner in a house which they had seized from an English trader. + +[Illustration: ENGLISH COLONIES, 1700. + +BORMAY & CO., N. Y.] + +He was back at Williamsburg with his report by the middle of January, +1754; and the next month a small body of frontiersmen was hurried forward +to make a clearing at the forks of the Ohio and begin the construction +of fortifications there ere spring came, and the French. The French +came, nevertheless, all too soon. By the 17th of April their canoes +swarmed there, bearing five hundred men and field ordnance, and the forty +Englishmen who held the rude, unfinished defences of the place had no +choice but to retire or be blown into the water. The French knew the +importance of the place as a key to the western lands, and they meant +to have it, though they should take it by an open act of war. Their +force there numbered fourteen hundred before summer came. They built a +veritable fort, of the rough frontier pattern, but strong enough, as it +seemed, to make the post secure, and waited to see what the English would +do. + +Dinwiddie had acted with good Scots capacity, as efficiently and as +promptly as he could with the power he had. He was obliged to deal with +a colonial assembly,—the French governors were not; and the Virginian +burgesses thought of domestic matters when Dinwiddie’s thought was at +the frontier. While Washington was deep in the forests, bearing his +message, they quarrelled with the governor about the new fees which were +charged since his coming for grants of the public land; and they refused +him money because he would not yield in the matter. But when they knew +how things actually stood in the West, and saw that the governor would +levy troops for the exigency whether they acted with him or not, and pay +for them out of his own pocket if necessary, they voted supplies. + +There was no highway of open rivers for the Virginians, as for the +French, by which they could descend to the forks of the Ohio; and +Virginia had no troops ready as the French had. Raw levies of volunteers +had first to be got together; and when they had been hastily gathered, +clothed, and a little drilled, the first use to which it was necessary to +put them was to cut a rough, mountainous road for themselves through the +untouched forests which lay thick upon the towering Blue Ridge. It was +painfully slow work, wrought at for week after week, and the French were +safely intrenched at their fort “Duquesne” before the tired Virginian +recruits had crossed the crest of the mountains. By midsummer they were +ready to strike and drive the English back. + +[Illustration: MERCHANTS’ EXCHANGE, NEW YORK, 1752-1799] + +Blood had been spilled between the rivals ere that. Washington was in +command of the little force which had cut its way through the forest, +and he did not understand that he had been sent into the West this time +merely to bear a message. When, therefore, one day in May (28 May, 1754) +he found a party of French lurking at his front in a thicketed glade, he +did not hesitate to lead an attacking party of forty against them. The +young commander of the French scouts was killed in the sharp encounter, +and his thirty men were made prisoners. Men on both sides of the sea +knew, when they heard that news, that war had begun. Young Washington had +forced the hands of the statesmen in London and Paris, and all Europe +presently took fire from the flame he had kindled. In July, Washington +was obliged to retire. He had only three hundred and fifty men, all told, +at the rudely intrenched camp which he had constructed in the open glade +of “Great Meadows” as the best place to await reinforcements; and in July +the French were upon him with a force of seven hundred. All day he fought +(3 July, 1754), and in a drenching rain, the French firing from the +edges of the woods, his own men in their shallow, flooded trenches in +the open; but by night he knew he must give way. The French offered him +an honorable capitulation, and the next day let him go untouched, men and +arms, with such stores as he could carry. + +It was a bad beginning at winning the West from the French; and all the +worse because it showed how weak the English were at such work. The +danger was not Virginia’s alone; it touched all the English in America; +but the colonies could not co-operate, and, when they acted at all, acted +sluggishly, as if war would wait for both parties to get ready. The +assemblies of Pennsylvania and New York declared very coldly that they +did not see what right the English crown had to the valley of the Ohio. +Maryland had been about to raise a force, but had not yet done so when +the fatal day at Great Meadows came. Two “independent companies” in the +King’s pay had been ordered from New York, and a like company from South +Carolina; and North Carolina had sent forward three hundred and fifty +men; but only the single company from South Carolina had reached Great +Meadows, where Washington was, before the French were upon him. + +Dinwiddie and every other governor who heeded or wrote of the business +told the ministers in England that they must act, and send the King’s +own troops; and happily the ministers saw at last the importance of what +should be won or lost in America. Troops were sent. For Europe it was the +beginning of the Seven Years’ War (1755-1763), which was to see the great +Frederick of Prussia prove his mastery in the field; which was to spread +from Europe to Asia and to Africa; which was to wrest from the French for +England both India and America. But for the colonists in America it was +only “the French and Indian War.” Their own continent was the seat of +their thoughts. + +The beginnings the home government made were small and weak enough; but +it did at least act, and it was likely that, should it keep long enough +at the business, it would at last learn and do all that was necessary to +make good its mastery against a weaker rival. By the 20th of February, +1755, transports were in the Chesapeake, bringing two regiments of the +King’s regulars, to be sent against Duquesne. The French, too, were +astir. Early in the spring eighteen French ships of war sailed for +Canada, carrying six battalions and a new governor; and though the +English put an equal fleet to sea to intercept them, the Frenchmen got +into the St. Lawrence with a loss of but two of their ships, which +had strayed from the fleet and been found by the English befogged and +bewildered off the American coast. The scene was set for war both north +and south. + +[Illustration: THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM ON THE MORNING OF THE BATTLE] + +Major General Edward Braddock commanded the regiments sent to Virginia, +and was commissioned to be commander-in-chief in America. He therefore +called the principal colonial governors to a conference at Alexandria, +his headquarters. By the middle of April five had come: Robert +Dinwiddie, of course, the governor of Virginia; Robert Hunter Morris, +whose thankless task it was to get war votes out of the Pennsylvanian +assembly of Quakers and lethargic German farmers; Horatio Sharpe, the +brave and energetic gentleman who was governor of Maryland; James +DeLancey, the people’s governor, of New York; and William Shirley, +governor of Massachusetts, past sixty, but as strenuous as Dinwiddie, +and eager for the field though he had been bred a lawyer,—every inch +“a gentleman and politician,” it was said. It was he who had done most +to organize and expedite the attack on Louisbourg which had succeeded +so handsomely ten years ago (1745). He would at any rate not fail for +lack of self-confidence. The conference planned an attack on Niagara, +to be led by Shirley himself, to cut the French off from Duquesne; an +attack on Crown Point, to be led by Colonel William Johnson, of New +York, whom the Mohawks would follow, to break the hold of the French on +Champlain; an attack upon Beauséjour, in Acadia, under the leadership +of Lieutenant-Colonel Monckton, of the King’s regulars; and a movement, +under the command of General Braddock himself straight through the +forests against Duquesne, by the way Washington had cut to Great Meadows. + +It would have been much better had General Braddock chosen a route +farther to the north, where the Pennsylvanian farmers of the frontier +had begun to make roads and open the forests for the plough; but it made +little difference, after all, which way he went: his temper and his +training doomed him to fail. He lacked neither courage nor capacity, +but he sadly lacked discretion. He meant to make his campaign in the +wilderness by the rules of war he had learned in Europe, where the +forests were cleared away and no subtile savages could dog or ambush an +army; and he would take no advice from provincials. Few but Washington +cared to volunteer advice, for the commander-in-chief was “a very +Iroquois in disposition.” He took two thousand men into the wilderness, +with artillery trains and baggage: fourteen hundred regulars, nearly five +hundred Virginians, horse and foot, two independent companies from New +York, and sailors from the transports to rig tackle to get his stores +and field-pieces out of difficulties in the rough road. Washington went +with the confident commander, by special invitation, to act as one of +his aides, and was the only provincial officer whose advice was given so +much as consideration during all the weary weeks in which the little army +widened and levelled its way with axe and spade through the dense woods. +And then the fatal day came which filled all the colonies with dismay. + +[Illustration: MAP OF BRADDOCK’S DEFEAT] + +The French commander at Duquesne had no such force as Braddock was +bringing against him. He expected to be obliged to retire. But on the 9th +of July the English general, with his advance force of twelve hundred +men, forded the shallow Monongahela but eight miles from Duquesne, and +striking into the trail which led to the fort, walked into an ambush. A +thousand men,—Indians, chiefly, and Canadian provincials,—poured a deadly +fire upon him from the thick cover of the woods on either hand. He would +not open his order and meet the attack in forest fashion, as Washington +begged him to do, but kept his men formed and crowded in the open spaces +of the road, to be almost annihilated, and driven back, a mere remnant, +in utter rout. It was shameful, pitiful. Washington and his Virginian +rangers could with difficulty keep the rear when the rout came, and bring +the stricken commander off, to die in the retreat. Dinwiddie could not +persuade the officers left in command even to stay upon the Virginian +frontier to keep the border settlements safe against the savages. It +was Washington’s impossible task for the rest of the war to guard three +hundred and fifty miles of frontier with a handful of half-fed provincial +militia, where the little huts and tiny settlements of the Scots-Irish +immigrants lay scattered far and wide among the foothills and valleys of +the spreading mountain country, open everywhere to the swift and secret +onset of the pitiless redskins. + +Braddock’s papers, abandoned in the panic of the rout, fell into the +hands of the French, and made known to them all the English plans. They +were warned what to do, and did it as promptly as possible. Shirley +gave up the attempt to take Niagara before reaching the lake. Johnson, +assisted by Lyman, of Connecticut, met the French under Dieskau at +Lake George, and drove them back (September 8, 1755),—the commander +and part of the force the French had so hastily despatched to America +in the spring,—and Dieskau himself fell into their hands; but they did +not follow up their success or shake the hold of the French upon the +line of lakes and streams which ran from the heart of New York, like a +highway, to the valley of the St. Lawrence. The attack upon Beauséjour +alone accomplished what was planned. A force of two thousand New England +provincials, under Colonel Monckton and Colonel John Winslow, found the +half-finished fortifications of the French on Beauséjour hill in their +hands almost before their siege was fairly placed; and Acadia was more +than ever secure. + +There followed nearly three years of unbroken failure and defeat. In 1756 +the Marquis Montcalm succeeded Dieskau as commander in Canada, and the +very year of his coming took and destroyed the English forts at Oswego. +That same year the Earl of Loudon came over to take charge of the war for +the English; but he did nothing effective. The government at home sent +reinforcements, but nothing was done with them that counted for success. +“I dread to hear from America,” exclaimed Pitt. In 1757 Loudon withdrew +the best of his forces to the north, to make an attack on Louisbourg. +Montcalm took advantage of the movement to capture Fort William Henry, +the advanced post of the English on Lake George; and Loudon failed in his +designs against Louisbourg. Even the stout and wily English frontiersmen +of the northern border found themselves for a little while overmatched. +In March, 1758, Robert Rogers, the doughty New Hampshire ranger whose +successful exploits of daring all the northern border knew, was beaten by +a scouting party from Ticonderoga, and barely came off with his life. The +pouring in of troops, even of regulars from over sea, seemed to count +for nothing. General James Abercrombie led an army of fifteen thousand +men, six thousand of them regulars, against Ticonderoga, where Montcalm +had less than four thousand; blundered at every critical point of the +attack; lost two thousand men; and retired almost as if in flight (July, +1758). + +[Illustration: WILLIAM PITT] + +[Illustration: SIGNATURE OF JAMES ABERCROMBIE] + +[Illustration: THE CAPITULATION OF LOUISBOURG] + +But that was the end of failure. The year 1757 had seen the great Pitt +come into control of affairs in England, and no more incompetent men +were chosen to command in America. Pitt had been mistaken in regard to +Abercrombie, whom he had retained; but he made no more mistakes of that +kind, and a war of failure was transformed into a war of victories, quick +and decisive. Two more years, and the French no longer had possessions +in America that any nation need covet. Pitt saw to it that the forces, +as well as the talents, used were adequate. In July, 1758, a powerful +fleet under Admiral Boscawen, and twelve thousand troops under General +Jeffrey Amherst, whom Pitt had specially chosen for the command, invested +and took Louisbourg. In August, Colonel John Bradstreet, with three +thousand of Abercrombie’s men, drove the French from Fort Frontenac at +Oswego. In November the French abandoned Fort Duquesne, upon the approach +of a force under General Forbes and Colonel Washington. In June, 1759, +Johnson captured the French fort at Niagara and cut the route to the +Ohio,—where Fort Duquesne gave place to Fort Pitt. At midsummer General +Amherst, after his thorough fashion, led eleven thousand men against +Ticonderoga, and had the satisfaction of seeing the French retire before +him. He cleared Lake George and captured and strengthened Crown Point +upon Champlain. The French needed all their power in the north, for Pitt +had sent Wolfe against Quebec. They had concentrated quite fourteen +thousand men in and about the towering city ere Wolfe came with scarcely +nine thousand (June 21, 1759), and their fortifications stood everywhere +ready to defend the place. For close upon three months the English +struck at their strength in vain, first here and then there, in their +busy efforts to find a spot where to get a foothold against the massive +stronghold,—Montcalm holding all the while within his defences to tire +them out; until at last, upon a night in September which all the world +remembers, Wolfe made his way by a path which lay within a deep ravine +upward to the heights of Abraham, and there lost his life and won Canada +for England (September 13, 1759). + +[Illustration: JEFFREY AMHERST] + +[Illustration: JAMES WOLFE] + +After that the rest of the task was simple enough. The next year Montreal +was yielded up, all Canada passed into the hands of the English, and the +war was practically over. There were yet three more years to wait before +formal peace should be concluded, because the nations of Europe did not +decide their affairs by the issue of battles and sieges in America; but +for the English colonies the great struggle was ended. By the formal +peace, signed in 1763, at Paris, England gained Canada, Nova Scotia, Cape +Breton Island, and all the islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the river +and harbor of Mobile, and all the disputed lands of the continent, north +and south, between the eastern mountain ranges and mid-stream of the +Mississippi, except New Orleans,—besides the free navigation of the great +river. From Spain she got Florida. France had the year before (1762) +ceded to Spain her province of “Louisiana,” the great region beyond the +Mississippi, whose extent and boundaries no man could tell. She was +utterly stripped of her American possessions, and the English might look +forward to a new age in their colonies. + + The general _authorities_ for the condition of the country and + the movement of affairs during this period are the well known + histories of Bancroft, Hildreth, and Bryant; the third volume + of J. A. Doyle’s _English Colonies in America_; the third + volume of J. G. Palfrey’s _Compendious History of New England_; + W. B. Weeden’s _Economic and Social History of New England_; + Mr. Barrett Wendell’s _Cotton Mather_; Mr. Eben G. Scott’s + _Development of Constitutional Liberty in the English Colonies + of America_; C. W. Baird’s _Huguenot Emigration to America_; + James Russell Lowell’s _New England Two Centuries Ago_, in + his _Among My Books_; Mr. Brooks Adams’s _Emancipation + of Massachusetts_; Madame Knight’s _Journal_ (1704); John + Fontaine’s _Diary_, in the _Memoirs of a Huguenot Family_; and + Benjamin Franklin’s _Autobiography_. + + A more particular account of many of the transactions that + fell within the period may be found in Justin Winsor’s _New + England, 1689-1763_, in the fifth volume of Winsor’s _Narrative + and Critical History of America_; Berthold Fernow’s _Middle + Colonies_, Justin Winsor’s _Maryland and Virginia_, and William + J. Rivers’s _The Carolinas_, in the same volume of Winsor; + Charles C. Smith’s _The Wars on the Seaboard: Acadia and Cape + Breton_, and Justin Winsor’s _Struggle for the Great Valleys of + North America_, in the same volume of Winsor. + + The chief _authorities_ for the settlement and early history + of _Georgia_ are Bancroft, Hildreth, and Bryant; Charles + C. Jones’s _History of Georgia_ and _English Colonization + of Georgia_ in the fifth volume of Winsor’s _Narrative and + Critical History of America_; W. E. H. Lecky’s _History + of England in the Eighteenth Century_; Alexander Hewatt’s + _Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies + of South Carolina and Georgia_, in Carroll’s _Historical + Collections of South Carolina_; the first and second volumes of + Peter Force’s _Tracts and Other Papers relating to the Colonies + in North America_; and the _Colonial Acts_ of Georgia. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE PARTING OF THE WAYS + + +No one who marked how the English colonies had grown, and how the French +had lagged in the effectual settlement and mastery of the regions they +had taken, could wonder that in the final struggle for supremacy the +English had won and the French lost everything there was to fight for. +The French had been as long on the continent as the English, and yet they +did not have one-tenth the strength of the English, either in population +or in wealth, when this war came. There were fifty-five thousand white +colonists in Canada, all told; and only twenty-five thousand more in all +the thin line of posts and hamlets which stretched from the St. Lawrence +through the long valley of the Mississippi to the Gulf,—eighty thousand +in all. In the English settlements there were more than a million +colonists (1,160,000), not scattered in separated posts set far apart in +the forested wilderness, but clustered thick in towns and villages, or +in neighborly plantations, where the forest had been cleared away, roads +made, and trade and peace established. The English had been seeking, +not conquest, but comfort and wealth in busy centres and populous +country-sides, where their life now ran as strong and as calm, almost, as +if they were still in the old lands of England itself. The French, on +the contrary, were placed where their government wished them to be; could +hardly be said to have formed independent communities at all; and were +glad if they could so much as eke out a decent subsistence from the soil, +or from food brought by ship from France over sea. The English spread +very slowly, considering how fast they came, and kept in some sort a +solid mass; but the result was that they thoroughly possessed the country +as they went, and made homes, working out a life of their own. The French +merely built frontier posts, the while, on the lakes and rivers, as they +were bidden or guided or exhorted by their governors; took up such land +as was assigned them by royal order; did their daily stint of work, and +expected nothing better. They were, moreover, painfully, perilously +isolated. Ships could come from England to any part of the English coasts +of America in five weeks, whereas it was a good six months’ journey from +France to the frontier posts upon the lakes or by the far-away western +rivers. The St. Lawrence was closed for nearly half the year by ice; +and it was a weary task to get any boat up the stream of the endless +Mississippi against its slow tide of waters and through the puzzling, +shifting channels of its winding course. + +The Marquis Duquesne had called the Iroquois to a council in 1754, ere +he left his governorship, and had commended his sovereign’s government +to them because of this very difference between French and English. “Are +you ignorant,” he said, “of the difference between the King of England +and the King of France? Go, see the forts that our King has established, +and you will see that you can still hunt under their very walls. They +have been placed for your advantage in places which you frequent. The +English, on the contrary, are no sooner in possession of a place than +the game is driven away. The forest falls before them as they advance, +and the soil is laid bare so that you can scarce find the wherewithal +to erect a shelter for the night.” Perhaps Duquesne, being a soldier +and no statesman, did not realize all that this difference meant. The +French posts, with the forests close about them, were not self-supporting +communities such as everywhere filled the English dominion. Their +governors were soldiers, their inhabitants a garrison, the few settlers +near at hand traders, not husbandmen, or at best mere tenants of the +crown of France. No doubt it was easier for the savages to approach and +trade with them; but it would turn out to be infinitely harder for the +French to keep them. Their occupants had struck no deep rootage into the +soil they were seated upon, as the English had. + +Englishmen themselves had noted, with some solicitude, how slow their +own progress was away from the sea-coast. It was not until 1725 that +settlers in Massachusetts had ventured to go so far away from the Bay +as the Berkshire Hills. “Our country has now been inhabited more than +one hundred and thirty years,” exclaimed Colonel Byrd, of Virginia, in +1729, “and still we hardly know anything of the Appalachian Mountains, +that are nowhere above two hundred and fifty miles from the sea. Whereas +the French, who are later comers, have ranged from Quebec southward as +far as the mouth of the Mississippi, in the Bay of Mexico, and to the +west almost as far as California, which is either way above two thousand +miles.” But Colonel Byrd was thinking of discovery, not of settlement; +the search for minerals and the natural wealth of the forests, not the +search for places to which to extend permanent homes and government. The +difference arose out of the fundamental unlikeness of French and English, +both in life and in government. + +[Illustration: WILLIAM BYRD] + +The statesmen of both France and England accepted the same theory about +the use colonies should be put to,—the doctrine and practice everywhere +accepted in their day. Colonies were to be used to enrich the countries +which possessed them. They should send their characteristic native +products to the country which had established them, and for the most +part to her alone, and should take her manufactures in exchange; trade +nowhere else to her disadvantage; and do and make nothing which could +bring them into competition with her merchants and manufacturers. But +England applied this theory in one way, France in another. It was +provoking enough to the English colonists in America to have, in many a +petty matter, to evade the exacting Navigation Acts, which restricted +their trade and obliged them to buy manufactured goods at prices fixed +by the English merchants. It a little cramped and irritated them that +they were forbidden to manufacture now this and now that, though the +material lay at their very doors, because English manufacturers wished +their competition shut out. Restriction was added to restriction. In +1706, naval stores and rice, which the Carolinas were learning to produce +to their increasing profit, were added to the list of products which +must be sent to England only; and in 1722 copper and furs. In 1732 the +manufacture of beaver hats was forbidden, and in 1750 the maintenance +of iron furnaces or slit mills. But there was always an effort made at +reciprocal advantage. Though the colonies were forbidden to manufacture +their iron ores, their bar and pig iron was admitted into England free of +duty, and Swedish iron, which might have undersold it, was held off by a +heavy tariff, to the manifest advantage of Maryland and Virginia. Though +the rice of the Carolinas for a time got admission to market only through +the English middlemen, their naval stores were exported under a heavy +bounty; and in 1730, when the restriction laid on the rice trade pinched +too shrewdly, it was removed with regard to Portugal, the chief European +market open to it. Parliament had generally an eye to building up the +trade of the colonies as well as to controlling it. + +[Illustration: Plan of the CITY OF NEW YORK 1767.] + +The home government, moreover, though it diligently imposed restrictions, +was by no means as diligent in enforcing them. An ill-advised statute of +1733 laid prohibitory duties on the importation of sugar, molasses, and +rum out of the French West Indies, in the hope that the sales of sugar +and molasses in the islands owned by England might be increased. To +enforce the act would have been to hazard the utter commercial ruin of +New England. Out of the cheap molasses of the French islands she made the +rum which was a chief source of her wealth,—the rum with which she bought +slaves for Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas, and paid her balances +to the English merchants. But no serious attempt was made to enforce it. +Customs officers and merchants agreed in ignoring it, and officers of the +crown shut their eyes to the trade which it forbade. Smuggling upon that +long coast was a simple matter, and even at the chief ports only a little +circumspection was needed about cargoes out of the Indies. + +Moreover, the men who governed in England contented themselves with +general restrictions and did not go on to manage the very lives of the +colonists in the colonies themselves. That was what the French did. They +built their colonies up by royal order; sent emigrants out as they sent +troops, at the King’s expense and by the King’s direction; could get only +men to go, therefore, for the most part, and very few women or families. +For the English there was nothing of the sort, after the first. Rich men +or great mercantile companies might help emigrants with money or supplies +or free gifts of land in order to fill up the colonies which the crown +had given them the right to establish and govern; but only those went +out who volunteered. Emigrants went, moreover, in families, after the +first years were passed and the colonies fairly started, if not at the +very outset of the enterprise,—in associated groups, congregations, and +small volunteer communities. When they reached the appointed place of +settlement they were left to shift for themselves, as they had expected, +exactly as they would have been at home; and they insisted upon having +the same rights and freedom they would have had there. They were making +homes, without assistance or favor, and for their own use and benefit. + +It was inevitable in the circumstances that their colonial governments +should be like themselves, home-made and free from control in the +management of what chiefly concerned their own lives. They were just +as hard to supervise and regulate when the settlements were small as +when they grew large and populous,—a little harder, indeed, because the +colonists were the more anxious then about how the new life they were +beginning was to go, and the less sure of their power or influence to +resist the efforts of the crown to manage and interfere with them. By +the time the French war came there was no mistaking the fact that the +English colonies had grown to be miniature states, proud, hard-fibred, +independent in temper, practised in affairs. They had, as Edmund Burke +said, “formed within themselves, either by royal instruction or royal +charter, assemblies so exceedingly resembling a parliament, in all their +forms, functions, and powers, that it was impossible they should not +imbibe some opinion of a similar authority.” At first, no doubt, their +assemblies had been intended to be little more than the managing bodies +of corporations. “But nothing in progression can rest on its original +plan. We may as well think of rocking a grown man in the cradle of an +infant. Therefore, as the colonies prospered and increased to a numerous +and mighty people, spreading over a very great tract of the globe, it +was natural that they should attribute to assemblies so respectable in +their formal constitution some part of the dignity of the great nations +which they represented.” They “made acts of all sorts and in all cases +whatsoever. They levied money upon regular grants to the crown, following +all the rules and principles of a parliament, to which they approached +every day more and more nearly.” And Burke saw how inevitable, as well as +how natural, the whole growth had been. “Things could not be otherwise,” +he said; “English colonies must be had on these terms, or not had at all.” + +[Illustration: EDMUND BURKE] + +They had used their governments for their own purposes, and rather like +independent states than like dependent communities. In every colony the +chief point of conflict between governor and assembly, whether in the +proprietary or in the crown colonies, had always been connected with the +subject of salaries. Again and again governors had been instructed to +insist upon an adequate income, charged permanently upon some regular +source of public revenue; but again and again, as often as made, their +demand had been refused. They could get only annual grants, which kept +all officers of the crown dependent upon the people’s assemblies for +maintenance while in office. There had long been signs that the ministers +of the King and the proprietors at home were tired of the contest, and +meant, for the mere sake of peace, to let the colonial assemblies alone, +to rule, as Parliament ruled, by keeping control of the moneys spent upon +their own governments. + +There was, too, more and more money in the colonies as the years went by. +New England, where, except in the rich valley of the Connecticut, the +soil yielded little beyond the bare necessaries of life, led the rest +of the colonies in the variety of her industries. Though parliamentary +statutes forbade the making of woollen goods or hats or steel for export, +the colonists were free to make anything they might need for use or +sale within a single colony or in their own homes; and the thrifty New +England farmers and villagers made most of their own furniture, tools, +and household utensils, while their women or the village weavers wove the +linen and woollen stuffs of which their clothes were made. They lived +upon their own resources as no other colonists did. And their trade kept +six hundred vessels busy plying to and fro to English and foreign ports. +Almost every sea-coast hamlet was a port and maintained its little fleet. +A thousand vessels, big and little, went every year to the fisheries, +or up and down the coasts carrying the trade between colony and colony. +A great many of these vessels the colonists had built themselves, out +of the splendid timber which stood almost everywhere at hand in their +forests; and every one knew who knew anything at all about New England +that her seamen were as daring, shrewd, and hardy as those bred in past +generations in the Devonshire ports of old England. Their boats flocked +by the hundreds every year to the misty, perilous banks of Newfoundland, +where the cod were to be caught. They beat up and down the long seas in +search of the whale all the way from “the frozen recesses of Hudson’s +Bay and Davis’s Straits” to the coasts of Africa and Brazil, far in the +south. “Neither the perseverance of Holland, nor the activity of France, +nor the dexterous and firm sagacity of English enterprise,” exclaimed +Burke, “ever carried this most perilous mode of hardy industry to the +extent to which it has been pushed by this recent people,—a people who +are still, as it were, but in the gristle, and not yet hardened into the +bone, of manhood.” + +Massachusetts had been known, while peace held and men breathed freely, +between Queen Anne’s and King George’s wars, to complete one hundred and +fifty ships in a single year, every town upon the coast and even little +villages far within the rivers launching vessels from busy shipyards. +Ship building became New England’s chief industry; and in 1724 the master +builders of the Thames prayed Parliament for protection against the +competition of the colonies. The annual catch of whale and cod by the +New Englanders was worth two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling; +and, besides fish and fish-oil, they shipped their fine timber, and not +a little hay and grain even, across the sea or to the other colonies. +Everywhere in America the forests yielded splendid timber, as his +Majesty’s ministers well knew: for they sent into the northern forests of +pine and had the tallest, straightest trees there marked with the royal +arms, as a notice that they were reserved to be used as masts for his +Majesty’s war-ships,—as if the King had a right to take what he would. + +[Illustration: VIEW OF THE BUILDINGS BELONGING TO HARVARD COLLEGE, +CAMBRIDGE, NEW ENGLAND, 1726] + +“New England improved much faster than Virginia,” Colonel Byrd admitted; +and yet Virginia had her own rich trade, of which tobacco was the chief +staple; and all the colonies busied themselves as they could, and +visibly grew richer year by year. The middle colonies were scarcely less +industrious than those of the bleaker north, and prospered even more +readily with their kindlier climate and their richer soil. Pennsylvania, +with her two hundred and twenty thousand colonists, with her thrifty +mixture of Germans, Quakers, Scots, and Scots-Irishmen, needed a fleet +of four hundred sail to carry each season’s spare produce from the docks +at Philadelphia; and New York had her separate fleet of close upon two +hundred sail. + +England depended upon the colonies for much of the naval stores, of +the potash, and of the pearlash which she needed every year. Mines of +iron and of copper had been opened both in the middle colonies and in +the south. The colonists made their own brick for building, and their +own paper and glass, as well as their own coarse stuffs for clothing, +and many of their own hats of beaverskin. Substantial houses and fine, +sightly streets sprang up in the towns which stood at the chief seaports; +and in the country spacious country seats, solidly built, roomy, full of +the simpler comforts of gentlefolk. The ships which took hides and fish +and provisions to the West Indies brought sugar and molasses and wine and +many a delicacy back upon their return, and the colonists ate and drank +and bore themselves like other well-to-do citizens the world over. They +were eager always to know what the London fashions were; there was as +much etiquette to be observed upon quiet plantations in Virginia as in +English drawing rooms. It was, indeed, touched with a certain beauty of +its own, because of the provincial simplicity and frank neighborliness +which went along with it; but it was grave and punctilious, and intended +to be like London manners. There was as much formality and gayety “in the +season” at Williamsburg, Virginia’s village capital, as in Philadelphia, +the biggest, wealthiest, most stately town in the colonies. + +[Illustration: NASSAU HALL, PRINCETON COLLEGE, 1760] + +[Illustration: KING’S COLLEGE, NEW YORK, 1758] + +There were many ways in which the colonies finished and filled out +their lives which showed that they regarded themselves as in a sense +independent communities and meant to provide for themselves everything +they needed for their life alone on a separate continent. They had no +thought of actually breaking away from their allegiance to the home +government over sea; but no man could possibly overlook the three +thousand miles of water that stretched between England and America. At +that immense distance they were obliged in great measure to look out for +themselves and contrive their own ways of sustenance and development, +and their own way of culture. Before the French war began, two more +colleges, in addition to Harvard in Massachusetts and William and Mary +in Virginia, had been established to provide the higher sort of training +for youths who were to enter the learned professions. Besides Yale, the +College of New Jersey had been founded. At first set up in 1746 as a +collegiate school, at Elizabethtown, it was in 1756 given a permanent +home and built up into a notable training place for youth at Princeton. +In 1754, the year Washington attacked the French in the western forests, +King’s College was added to the growing list, in New York, by royal +charter. Ten years later (1764), upon the very morrow of the signing of +peace, certain public-spirited men of the Baptist communion followed suit +in Rhode Island by founding the school which was afterwards to be called +Brown University. Here were six colleges for this new English nation at +the west of the Atlantic. Many wealthy colonists, particularly in the +far south, continued to send their sons to the old country to take their +learning from the immemorial sources at Oxford and Cambridge; but more +and more the colonies provided learning for themselves. + +[Illustration: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN] + +[Illustration: THE BIRTHPLACE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, MILK STREET, BOSTON] + +Their growing and expanding life, moreover, developed in them the sense +of neighborhood to one another, the consciousness of common interests, +and the feeling that they ought in many things to coöperate. In 1754, +while the first sharp note of war was ringing from the Alleghanies, +a conference with the Six Nations was held at Albany, which, besides +dealing with the redmen, and binding them once more to be friends and +allies of the English against the French, considered nothing less than +a plan of union for the colonies. This was the fourth time that the +representatives of several colonies at once had come together at Albany +to confer with the Iroquois. The first conference had taken place there +in 1689, the year King William’s War began. Albany lay nearest the +country of the Iroquois. It was necessary when war was afoot to make +sure that the redskins should side with the English, and not with the +French; and that was now for the fourth time, in 1754, more critically +important than ever. The home government had directed that the conference +be held, before they knew what Washington had done. It was the ministers +in London, too, who had directed that a plan of union be considered, +in order that the colonies might act in concert in the coming struggle +with the French, and if possible under a single government even. Seven +colonies were represented at the conference. Twenty-five delegates were +there to take part in the business; and there was no difficulty about +securing their almost unanimous assent to a plan of union. They adopted +the plan which Mr. Benjamin Franklin, one of Pennsylvania’s delegates, +had drawn up as he made the long journey from Philadelphia. + +Mr. Franklin had led a very notable life during the thirty eventful +years which had gone by since he made his way, a mere lad, from Boston +to Philadelphia to earn his livelihood as a journeyman printer; and how +shrewd a knowledge he had gained of the practical affairs of the world +anybody could see for himself who would read the homely-wise maxims he +had been putting forth these twenty-two years in his “Poor Richard’s” +Almanacs, begun in 1732. The plan of union he suggested at Albany was, +that the colonies should submit to have their common interests cared +for by a congress of delegates chosen by their several assemblies, +and a “president-general” appointed and paid by the crown; giving to +the congress a considerable power of actual law-making and to the +president-general the right to veto its acts, subject to the approval of +the ministers at home. To all the delegates at Albany except those from +Connecticut the plan seemed suitable and excellent; but the ministers +at home rejected it because they thought it gave too much power to the +proposed congress, and the colonial assemblies rejected it because they +thought it gave too much power to the president-general. Mr. Franklin +said that the fact that neither the assemblies nor the King’s ministers +liked the plan made him suspect that it must be, after all, an excellent +half-way measure, the “true medium” between extremes, effecting a +particularly fair and equal distribution of power. + +[Illustration: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN] + +Then the war came, and made many things plain. The colonies did not +coöperate. They contributed troops, watched their own frontiers as they +could against the redskins, and freely spent both blood and money in the +great struggle; but when it was all over, and the French dominion swept +from the continent, it was plain that it had not been the power of the +colonies but the power of England and the genius of the great Pitt that +had won in the critical contest. France could send few reinforcements to +Canada because England’s ships commanded the sea. The stout Canadians +had had to stand out for themselves unaided, with such troops as were +already in the colony. In 1759, the year Wolfe took Quebec, there were +more soldiers in the English colonies threatening the St. Lawrence than +there were men capable of bearing arms in all Canada,—and quite half of +them were regulars, not provincials. Pitt saw to it that enough troops +and supplies were sent to America to insure success, and that men capable +of victory and of efficient management even in the forested wilderness +were put in command of affairs in the field. He did not depend upon the +colonies to do what he knew they had no plan or organization for doing, +but set himself to redress the balance of power in Europe by decisive +victories which should make England indisputable mistress of America. “No +man ever entered Mr. Pitt’s closet who did not find himself braver when +he came out than when he went in,” said a soldier who had held conference +with him and served him; and it was his statesmanship and his use of +English arms that had made England’s dominion complete and England’s +colonies safe in America. + +[Illustration: A PAGE OF “POOR RICHARD’S” ALMANAC] + +[Illustration: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IN A COLONIAL DRAWING ROOM] + +English fleets and armies had not been sent to America, however, and +equipped for warfare there, sustained in war season and out of it, +without enormous expense; and that expense, which had set the colonies +free to live without dread of danger or of confinement at any border, +England had borne. It had been part of Mr. Franklin’s plan of union, +proposed at Albany, that the congress of the colonies should sustain the +armies used in their defence and pay for them by taxes levied in America; +but that plan had been rejected, and this war for the ousting of the +French had been fought at England’s cost,—much as the colonies had given +of their own blood, and of their own substance for the equipment of their +provincial levies, and much as they had suffered in all the obscure and +painful fighting to protect their frontiers against the redskins, far +away from set fields of battle. They had done more, indeed, than pay the +costs which inevitably fell to them. They had “raised, paid, and clothed +twenty-five thousand men,—a number,” if Mr. Franklin was right, “equal +to those sent from Great Britain and far beyond their proportion. They +went deeply in debt in doing this; and all their estates and taxes are +mortgaged for many years to come in discharging that debt.” Parliament +had itself acknowledged their loyal liberality and self-sacrifice, +and had even voted them £200,000 a year for five years, when the war +was over, by way of just reimbursement. But, though they had made +sacrifices, they had, of course, not shared with the royal treasury +the chief outlays of the war. Colonial governors, viewing affairs as +representatives of the government at home, had again and again urged the +ministers in London to tax the colonies, by act of Parliament, for means +to pay for frontier forts, armies of defence, and all the business of +imperial administration in America. But the ministers had hitherto known +something of the temper of the colonists in such matters and had been +too wise to attempt anything of the kind. Sir George Keith, who had been +governor of Pennsylvania, had suggested to Sir Robert Walpole that he +should raise revenue in the colonies; but that shrewd politician and man +of affairs had flatly declined. “What,” he exclaimed, “I have old England +against me, and do you think I will have New England likewise?” Chatham +had held the same tone. What English armies did in America was part of +England’s struggle for empire, for a leading station in power and riches +in the world, and England should pay for it. The desire of the colonies +to control their own direct taxes should be respected. English statesmen, +so far, had seen the matter very much as observant Colonel Spotswood had +seen it thirty odd years ago. If the ministers should direct moneys to be +paid by act of Parliament, he said, “they would find it no easy matter to +put such an act into execution”; and he deemed it “against the right of +Englishmen,” besides, “to be taxed, but by their representatives,”—new +colonist though he was, and only the other day a governor of the crown in +Virginia, the oldest and most loyal of the colonies. + +[Illustration: MRS. BENEDICT ARNOLD AND CHILD] + +It was now more than forty years since Colonel Spotswood, in the days +of his governorship, had ridden to the far summit of the Alleghanies and +looked down their western slopes towards the regions where England and +France were to meet. Since that day he had served the crown very quietly +as postmaster general for the colonies. At last he had died (1740) when +on the eve of sailing with Virginian troops for Cartagena, about to +return at the very end of his days to his old calling of arms. He had +lived thirty years in Virginia, all told, and spoke out of abundant +knowledge when he expressed a judgment as to what the ministers would +find it hard to do in the colonies. He knew, as every man did who had had +anything to do with the service of the crown in America, how stubbornly +the colonists had resisted every attempt to unite their governments +under a single governor or any single system, and how determined they +had been to keep their governments in their own hands, notwithstanding +they must have seen, as everybody else saw, the manifest advantage of +union and a common organization in the face of England’s rivals in +America, north and south. The King’s object in seeking to consolidate +the more northern colonies under Sir Edmund Andros, whom New England had +so hated, was not to attack their liberties, but “to weld them into one +strongly governed state,” such as should be able to present a firm front +to the encroachments of the French,—a statesmanlike object, which no man +who wished to serve the interests of English empire could reasonably +criticise. But the colonists had not cared to regard their little +commonwealths as pieces of an empire. They regarded them simply as their +own homes and seats of self-government; and they feared to have them +swallowed up in any scheme of consolidation, whatever its object. The +French war, consequently, had been fought by the government in England, +and not by any government in America. + +[Illustration: FRANKLIN’S OLD BOOK-SHOP, NEXT TO CHRIST’S CHURCH, +PHILADELPHIA] + +Though a few statesmen like Walpole had had the sagacity to divine it, +and all leaders in party counsels had instinctively feared it, very +few public men in England understood the temper or the unchangeable +resolution of the colonies in such matters. Pitt understood it, but now +that the war was over he was no longer suffered to be master in affairs. +Burke understood it, but few heeded what he said. Such men knew by +instant sympathy that this seemingly unreasonable temper of the colonists +in great affairs was nothing else than the common English spirit of +liberty. The colonists were simply refusing, as all Englishmen would +have refused, to be directly ruled in their own affairs, or directly +taxed for any purpose whatever, by a government which they themselves +had no part in conducting; and, whether reasonable or unreasonable, so +long as they remained Englishmen it was useless to try to argue them out +of that refusal. “An Englishman,” cried Burke, “is the unfittest person +on earth to argue another Englishman into slavery”; and he knew that to +an Englishman it would seem nothing less than slavery to be stripped of +self-government in matters of the purse. + +Now that the French were driven out, it was more useless than ever to +argue the point. The chief and most obvious reason for feeling dependent +upon the mother country was gone. Awe of the British was gone, too. +The provincial levies raised in the colonies had fought alongside the +King’s troops in all the movements of the war, and had found themselves +not a whit less undaunted under fire, not a whit less able to stand and +fight, not a whit less needed in victory. Braddock had died loathing the +redcoats and wishing to see none but the blue cloth of the Virginian +volunteers. When the war began, a regular from over sea had seemed to the +colonists an unapproachable master of arms; but the provincials knew when +the war was over that the redcoats were no better than they were. They +had nothing to remember with mortification except the insulting contempt +some of the British officers had shown for them, and the inferior rank +and consideration their own officers had been compelled to accept. + +[Illustration: GEORGE GRENVILLE] + +It was the worst possible time the home government could have chosen in +which to change its policy of concession towards the colonies and begin +to tax and govern them by act of Parliament; and yet that was exactly +what the ministers determined to do. No master of affairs or of men, +like Walpole or Pitt, was any longer in a place of guiding authority in +London. George Grenville was prime minister: a thorough official and very +capable man of affairs, of unquestionable integrity, and with a certain +not unhandsome courage as of conviction in what he did, but incapable of +understanding those who opposed or resisted him, or of winning from them +except by an exercise of power. The late war had been no mere “French and +Indian” affair for English statesmen. It had been part of that stupendous +“Seven Years’ War” which had fixed Prussia in a place of power under the +great Frederick, and had changed the whole balance of power in Europe; +had brought India under England’s widening dominion on one side of the +world and America on the other,—had been a vast game which the stout +little island kingdom had played almost alone against united Europe. It +had not been a mere American war. America had reaped the benefits of +England’s effort to found an empire and secure it, east and west. And +yet the colonists seemed, when this momentous war by which they had so +profited was over, to drop into indifference towards everything that +remained to be done to finish what had been so well begun, even though it +remained to be done at their own very doors. + +France had ceded to England as a result of the war all the vast +territory which lay upon the St. Lawrence and between the Mississippi +and the eastern mountains, north and south. It was possible to provide +a government for the province of Quebec and for the lands in the far +south, in Florida and beside the mouths of the Mississippi; but between +these lay the long regions which stretched, unsettled, along the great +streams which ran everywhere into the Mississippi,—the Illinois country, +the country round about the Ohio, the regions by the Cumberland,—all the +boundless “back country” which lay directly behind the colonies at the +west. The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations in London wished +to keep settlers out of these lands, in order that they might be left as +a great hunting ground for the Indians, and so remain a permanent source +of supply for the fur skins which enriched trade between the mother +country and her colonies. But, meanwhile, whether settlers made their +way thither or not, it was necessary to carry England’s power among the +Indians, and make them know that she, and not the King of France, was +now sovereign there. This the Indians were slow to believe. They could +not know what treaty-makers in Europe had decided: they did not believe +that the French would leave and the English come in in their stead at the +western forts; and it moved them hotly to think of such a change. The +French had made them welcome at their frontier posts, and did not drive +off the game, as Duquesne had told them, ere this fatal war began. The +French had been willing to be comrades with them, and had dealt with them +with a certain gracious courtesy and consideration; while the English +treated them, when they dared, like dogs rather than like men, drove them +far into the forests at their front as they advanced their settlements, +bullied them, and often cheated them in trade. It was intolerable to the +northern Indians to think of these men whom they feared and hated being +substituted for the French, with whom they found it at least possible to +live. + +[Illustration: BOUNDARY MONUMENT ON THE ST. CROIX] + +They were dangerous neighbors, and the danger was near and palpable. The +war with the French was hardly over when English settlers began to pour +across the Alleghanies from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia,—men of +the stern and sober Scots-Irish breeding for the most part, masterful and +imperious, and sure to make the lands they settled upon entirely their +own. There were already tribes among the Indians in the northwest who had +been driven out of Pennsylvania by the earlier movements of these same +people, and who had taken with them to their new homes the distress and +the dread of exile. It were fatal, they knew, to wait. If the English +were ever to be driven within the barriers of the Alleghanies again, it +must be done now, and all the tribes must rally to the desperate business. + +They found a leader in Pontiac, a chief of the Ottawas. A dozen powerful +tribes heeded him when he counselled secret confederacy, and, when all +should be ready, sudden war; and the English presently had reason to know +how able an enemy they had to fear,—a man of deep counsel, astute and +masterful. In June, 1763, the first blow was struck,—from end to end of +the open border,—even the Senecas, one of the Six Nations, joining in the +bitter work. Every frontier fort except Detroit, Niagara, and Pitt was in +their hands at the first surprise: smoking ruins and the bodies of white +men slain marked all the borders where the French had been. The English +rallied, stubborn and undaunted. Three forts at least were saved. There +were men at hand like Colonel Bouquet, the gallant officer who went to +the relief of Fort Pitt, who knew the strategy of the forest as well as +the redskins did, and used steadfast English, not fickle savages, in the +fighting; and, though the work was infinitely hard and perilous and slow +in the doing, within two years it was done. Before the year 1765 was out, +Pontiac had been brought to book, had acknowledged himself beaten, and +had sued for peace. + +[Illustration: PONTIAC, CHIEF OF THE OTTAWAS] + +But by that time the English ministers knew the nature of the task +which awaited them in America. It was plain that they must strengthen +the frontier posts and maintain a force of soldiers in the colonies, +if English power was to be safe there, and English lives. Not fewer +than twenty thousand men would be needed; and it would be necessary to +organize government, civil as well as military, in a more effective +way. It might be necessary to pay the colonial judges and even the +colonial governors out of the general treasury of the empire, rather than +leave them always dependent upon the uncertain grants of the colonial +legislatures. The new plans would, taken all together, involve, it was +reckoned, the expenditure of at least £300,000 a year. Mr. Grenville, +now at the head of the government in England, was a lawyer and a man of +business. “He took public business not as a duty which he was to fulfil, +but as a pleasure he was to enjoy,” and, unfortunately, he regarded +American affairs as ordinary matters of duty and of business. England had +spent £60,000,000 sterling to put the French out of America; £140,000,000 +had been added to the national debt. Her own sources of revenue were +quite run dry. Mr. Grenville and his colleagues did not know where else +to turn for another penny, if not to America. They therefore determined +that, since heavy additional expenditures must be undertaken for the +proper administration and defence of the colonies, America must be made +to supply at least a part of the money to meet them. Not all of it. It +was the ministers’ first idea to raise only £100,000 out of the £300,000 +by taxes directly derived from the colonies: and every farthing of that, +with twice as much more, was to be spent, of course, in America. The +money was none of it to cross the sea. It was to remain in the colonial +treasuries until expended for colonial administration and defence. + +[Illustration: HENRY BOUQUET] + +Some men there were in England who were far-sighted enough to see what +this new policy would lead to; but Grenville did not, and Parliament +did not. In March, 1764, therefore, upon the introduction of his annual +budget, the prime minister introduced a bill, which was passed, laying +fresh and more effective taxes on wines, sugar, and molasses imported +into the colonies, tightening and extending the old Navigation Acts, and +still further restraining manufactures; and at the same time announced +that he would, the next year, propose a moderate direct tax upon the +colonies in the form of an act requiring revenue stamps to be used on the +principal sorts of documents employed in America in legal and mercantile +business. + +[Illustration: BOUQUET’S REDOUBT AT PITTSBURG] + +Mr. Grenville had no desire to irritate the Americans. He thought they +might protest; he never dreamed they would disobey. He was, no doubt, +surprised when he learned how hot their protests were; and when his Stamp +Act the next year became law, their anger and flat defiance must have +seemed to him mere wanton rebellion. He introduced the Stamp Act with his +budget of 1765. The Commons gave only a single sitting to the discussion +of its principles; passed it almost without opposition; and by the 22d of +March it was law. A few members protested. Colonel Barré, standing there +in his place, square, swarthy, a soldier from the field, that staring +wound upon his face which he had taken where Wolfe died, on the Plains of +Abraham, told the ministers very flatly that the colonists, whom he had +seen and fought for, owed to them neither the planting nor the nourishing +of their colonies, had a liberty they had made for themselves, were very +jealous of that liberty, and would vindicate it. Benjamin Franklin was +in London to make protest for Pennsylvania; and the agents of the other +colonies were as active as he, and as ready to promise that the colonial +legislatures would themselves grant out of their own treasuries more than +the Act could yield, if only they were left to do it in their own way. +Mr. Franklin had pointed out in very plain terms how sharp a departure +there was in such measures from the traditional dealings of the crown +with the colonies, how loyal they had been in granting supplies when +required, and how ill a new way of taxation would sit upon the spirits +of the colonists. But the vote for the bill was five to one. Neither the +ministers nor the Commons showed the least hesitation or misgiving. + +[Illustration: PATRICK HENRY] + +[Illustration: SIGNATURE OF ISAAC BARRÉ] + +[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF POSTER PLACED ON THE DOORS OF PUBLIC +BUILDINGS] + +The Act operated in America like a spark dropped on tinder. First dismay, +then anger, then riot and open defiance, showed what the colonists +thought and meant to do. Their own agents in London were as little +prepared as the ministers themselves for the sudden passion. They had +asked for appointments for their friends as stamp distributers under the +Act. Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, even asked for a place for himself +under it, so different a look did things wear in London from that which +they wore at home in the Old Dominion. But these gentlemen learned the +temper of America, and changed their own, soon enough. The Act was in +no way extraordinary or oppressive in its provisions. It required of +the colonists only what was already required in respect of business +transactions in England: namely, that revenue stamps, of values varying +with the character of the transaction or the amount involved, should +be attached to all deeds, wills, policies of insurance, and clearance +papers for ships, to legal papers of almost every kind, to all written +contracts and most of the business papers used by merchants in their +formal dealings, and to all periodical publications and advertisements. +The colonies themselves had imposed such taxes; in England they had been +used since William and Mary, and had proved eminently convenient and easy +of collection. Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts, had himself urged that +Parliament use them in America, American though he was. Mr. Franklin had +taken it for granted, when he saw the Act become law, that they must be +submitted to. But America flatly refused obedience, and, except in the +newly conquered provinces of Nova Scotia and Canada, the stamps were not +used. + +The Act was not to go into operation until the 1st of November (1765); +but long before the first of November it was evident that it would not +go into effect at all. It was universally condemned and made impossible +of application. There was instant protest from the colonial assemblies +so soon as it was known that the Act was passed; and the assembly of +Massachusetts proposed that a congress of delegates from the several +colonies be held in October, ere the Act went into effect, to decide what +should be done to serve their common interest in the critical matter. +The agitations and tumults of that eventful summer were not soon forgot. +In August, Boston witnessed an outbreak such as she had never witnessed +before. Mr. Andrew Oliver, who had been appointed distributer of the +stamps there, was burned in effigy; the house in which it was thought the +stamps were to be stored was torn down; Mr. Oliver’s residence was broken +into and many of its furnishings were destroyed. He hastily resigned his +obnoxious office. Mobs then plundered the house of the deputy registrar +of the court of admiralty, destroying his private papers and the records +and files of the court,—because the new acts of trade and taxation gave +new powers to that court. The house of the comptroller of customs was +sacked. Mr. Thomas Hutchinson, the lieutenant-governor of the colony, +found himself obliged, on the night of the 26th, to flee for his life; +and returned when order was restored to find his home stripped of +everything it contained, including nine hundred pounds sterling in money, +and manuscripts and books which he had been thirty years collecting. +Only the walls and floors of the house remained. + +[Illustration: JOHN DICKINSON] + +[Illustration: THOMAS HUTCHINSON] + +[Illustration: THOMAS HUTCHINSON’S MANSION, BOSTON] + +There was no violence elsewhere to equal this in Boston. There was +tumult everywhere, but in most places the mobs contented themselves with +burning the stamp agents in effigy and frightening them into the instant +relinquishment of their offices. Not until the autumn came, and the day +for the application of the Act, did they show a serious temper again. +Then New York also saw a house sacked and its furniture used to feed a +bonfire. The people insisted upon having the stamps handed over to their +own city officers; and when more came they seized and burned them. At +Philadelphia many Quakers and Church of England men, and some Baptists, +made as if they would have obeyed the Act; but the mobs saw to it that +they should not have the chance. The stamp distributer was compelled to +resign, and there was no one from whom stamps could be obtained. Stamp +distributers who would not resign found it best to seek safety in flight. +There was no one in all the colonies, north or south, who had authority +to distribute the hated pieces of stamped paper which the ministers had +expected would so conveniently yield them a modest revenue for their +colonial expenses. There was a little confusion and inconvenience for +a time. The courts hesitated to transact business without affixing the +stamps required to their written pleadings; it seemed imprudent to +send ships out without stamps on their clearance papers; business men +doubted what would come of using no stamps in their transactions. But the +hesitation did not last long. Business was presently going forward, in +court and out, as before, and never a stamp used! + +It was singular and significant how immediately and how easily the +colonies drew together to meet the common danger and express a common +purpose. Early in October the congress which Massachusetts had asked for +came together at New York, the delegates of nine colonies attending. It +drew up and sent over sea a statement of the right of the colonies to +tax and govern themselves,—as loyal to the King, but not as subject to +Parliament,—which arrested the attention of the world. Mr. Grenville +and his colleagues were just then, by a fortunate turn of politics at +home, most opportunely obliged to resign, and gave place to the moderate +Whigs who followed Lord Rockingham (July, 1765), and who thought the +protests of the colonies not unreasonable. On the 18th of March, 1766, +accordingly, the Stamp Act was repealed,—within a year of its enactment. +It was at the same time declared, however, by special declaratory act, +that Parliament had sovereign right to tax the colonies, and legislate +for them, if it pleased. It was out of grace and good policy, the +ministers declared, that the tax was withdrawn; a concession, not of +right, but of good feeling; and everybody knew that it was done as +much because the London merchants were frightened by the resolution of +the American merchants to take no cargoes under the tax as because the +colonies had declined to submit. But the results were none the less +salutary. The rejoicings in America were as boisterous and as universal +as had been the tempest of resentment. + +[Illustration: TABLE OF STAMP CHARGES ON PAPER] + +[Illustration: LORD ROCKINGHAM] + +But that was not the end of the matter. The Stamp Act had suddenly +brought to light and consciousness principles and passions not likely +to be again submerged, and which it was worth the while of statesmen +over sea to look into very carefully. Some there were in England who +understood them well enough. Mr. John Adams used to say, long afterwards, +that the trouble seemed to him to have begun, not in 1765, but in 1761. +It was in that year that all the colonies, north and south, had heard of +what James Otis had said in the chief court of the province at Boston +against the general warrants, the sweeping writs of assistance, for which +the customs officers of the crown had asked, to enable them to search as +they pleased for goods brought in from foreign parts in defiance of the +acts of trade. The writs were not new, and Mr. Otis’s protest had not put +a stop to their issue. It had proved of no avail to say, as he did, that +they were an intolerable invasion of individual right, flat violations +of principles of law which had become a part of the very constitution of +the realm, and that even an act of Parliament could not legalize them. +But all the colonies had noted that hot contest in the court at Boston, +because Mr. Otis had spoken with a singular eloquence which quickened +men’s pulses and irresistibly swung their minds into the current of his +own thought, and because it had made them more sharply aware than before +of what the ministers at home were doing to fix upon the colonies the +direct power of the government over sea. These writs of assistance gave +the officers who held them authority to search any place they pleased for +smuggled goods, whether private residence or public store-house, with or +without reasonable ground of suspicion, and meant that the government had +at last seriously determined, at whatever cost, to break up the trade +with the West Indies and the Spanish Main. Presently armed cutters were +put on the coasts the more effectually to stop it. A vice-admiralty court +was set up to condemn the cargoes seized, without a jury. The duties were +to be rigorously collected and the trade broken up, for the sake of the +sugar growers of the British West Indies and merchants in London. + +[Illustration: JAMES OTIS] + +If New England could no longer send her horses, cattle, lumber, casks, +and fish to the French islands and the Spanish Main, and bring thence, +in exchange for them, sugar and molasses, she must let her ships rot at +the wharves and five thousand of her seamen go idle and starve; must +seek elsewhere for a market for her chief products; could make no more +rum with which to carry on her home trade in spirits or her traffic in +slaves on the slave coast; must forego her profits at the southern ports, +and go without the convenient bills drawn on exported Virginian tobacco +wherewith she had been used to pay her debts to the London merchants. +For thirty years and more it had been understood that the duties on +that trade were not to be collected; but now, of a sudden, the law was +to be carried out by armed vessels, writs of general search, and the +summary proceedings of a court of admiralty. In 1764 Mr. Grenville had +drawn the lines tighter than ever by a readjustment of duties. That +meant ruin; and the Stamp Act was but the last touch of exasperation. +The disposition of the ministers seemed all the more obvious because of +the obnoxious “Quartering Act” which went along with the Stamp Act. They +were authorized by Parliament to quarter troops in the colonies, and by +special enactment the colonists were required to provide the troops with +lodgings, firewood, bedding, drink, soap, and candles. + +[Illustration: STAMPS FORCED ON THE COLONIES] + +There were other causes of irritation which touched the colonists almost +as nearly. In 1740 the Massachusetts assembly had set up a Land Bank +authorized to issue notes based upon nothing but mortgages on land +and personal bonds, with surety, given by those who subscribed to its +support, and Parliament, at the solicitation of Boston men who knew +what certain disaster such a bank would bring upon the business of the +colony, had thrust in its hand and suppressed it. The scheme had been in +great favor among the men of the country districts, and its suppression +by direct act of Parliament had stirred them to a deep resentment. “The +Act to destroy the Land Bank scheme,” John Adams declared, had “raised a +greater ferment in the province than the Stamp Act did”; and it made the +men who had resented it all the readier to take fire at the imposition of +the stamp duties. The churches of the province had been deeply alarmed, +too, by the effort of English churchmen to establish bishops in America, +as if in preparation for a full Establishment; and the clergy were, +almost to a man, suspicious of the government. The lumbermen of the +forests felt the constant irritation of the crown’s claim to all their +best sticks of timber for the royal navy, and were themselves fit fuel +for agitation. Each class seemed to have its special reason for looking +askance at everything that savored of control from over sea. The measures +taken against the trade with the Indies were but the latest item in a +growing account. + +Massachusetts and the greater trading ports of the south felt the +burden of the new policy more than the rest of the country felt it; but +thoughtful men everywhere saw what it portended that Parliament should +thus lay its hand directly upon the colonies to tax, and in some sort +to govern, them. Quite as many men could tell you of the “parson’s +case,” tried in quiet Hanover Court House in rural Virginia, as could +tell you of Mr. Otis’s speech against the writs of assistance. It meant +that the authorities in London were thrusting their hands into the +affairs of Virginia just as they were thrusting them into the affairs +of Massachusetts. Parson Maury had in that case set up an Order in +Council by the ministers at home against an act of the Virginian House +of Burgesses determining the value of the currency in which his salary +was to be paid, and young Patrick Henry had sprung into sudden fame by +declaring to the court very boldly against him that the crown had no +right to override the self-government of Virginia. + +[Illustration: OLD CAPITOL AT WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA] + +The eloquence of that famous speech carried the young advocate to the +House of Burgesses itself; and it was he who showed the colonies how +to speak of the Stamp Act. The burgesses were in session when the news +of that hateful law’s enactment reached Virginia. The young member +waited patiently for the older members of the House to show the way in +the new crisis,—Randolph and Pendleton and Nicholas, Richard Bland and +George Wythe,—the men who had framed so weighty a protest and warning +and sent so strong a remonstrance over sea only last year against this +very measure. But when he saw that they would not lead, he sprang to the +task himself, plain, country-bred though he was, and unschooled in that +leadership; scribbled his resolutions on the fly-leaf of an old law-book, +and carried them with a rush of eloquence that startled and swept the +House, and set the tone for all the country. + +His resolutions not only declared the right of the colonies to tax +themselves to be exclusive, and established beyond recall; they also +declared that Virginians were not bound to obey the Parliament when it +acted thus against established privilege, and that any one who should +advocate obedience was an enemy to the colony. The sober second thought +of the burgesses cut that defiant conclusion out at last,—after Mr. Henry +had gone home; but the resolutions had already been sent post-haste +through the colonies in their first form, unrevised and unsoftened, and +had touched the feeling of every one who read them like a flame of fire. +They were the first word of revolution; and no man ever thought just the +same again after he had read them. + +[Illustration: GEORGE WYTHE] + +It seemed a strange defiance, no doubt, to come from loyal Virginia. The +Stamp Act was not, in fact, oppressive or unreasonable. Why should it so +kindle the anger of the colonies that the sovereign Parliament, which +had for many a day levied indirect charges upon them by means of the +many acts concerning trade and manufactures, now laid a moderate direct +tax upon them, the proceeds of which were to be spent upon their own +protection and administration? Because, though it might be the sovereign +legislature of the empire, Parliament was not in their view the direct +sovereign legislature of America. No one could truly say that Parliament +had been the sovereign power even of England before 1688, that notable +year in which it had, by a revolution, changed the succession to the +throne and begun the making and unmaking of governments. The colonies had +most of them been set up before that momentous year of change, while the +Parliament was still only a body of representatives associated with the +crown, with the right to criticise and restrain it, but with no right +to usurp its prerogatives; entitled to be consulted, but not licensed +to rule. The King, not the Parliament, had chartered the colonies; and +they conceived their assemblies to be associated with him as Parliament +itself had been in the older days before the Revolution of 1688: to +vote him grants, assent to taxation, and with his consent make the laws +they were to live under. He stood, they thought, in the same relation +to all the legislatures of his realm: to the Parliament in England and +to the assemblies in America. It was the fundamental principle of the +English constitution, as all agreed, that the King’s subjects should be +associated with him in government by representation; and, since the +Americans could not be represented in Parliament, and were, by his own +authority, represented in local assemblies, he must deal with them, not +through Parliament, but through those assemblies. + +The law of their view was not very sound or clear; but the common-sense +of it was unassailable; and it rested upon unquestionable and +long-standing practice, that best foundation of institutions. Their +governments were no doubt, in law, subject to the government of Great +Britain. Whoever ruled there had the legal right to rule in the colonies +also, whether it were the King independent of Parliament, or the +ministers dependent upon Parliament. The revolution of 1688 had radically +altered the character of the whole structure, and perhaps the colonies +could not, in strict constitutional theory, decline their logical part in +the change. But no man in America had ever seen that revolution cross the +seas. English statesmen might have changed their views, but the colonies +had not changed theirs, nor the practice of their governments either. +Their governments were from of old, and they meant to keep them intact +and uncorrupted. They did not object to the amount or to the form of the +tax; they objected only that they had not themselves imposed it. They +dissented utterly from the opinion that Parliament had the right to tax +them at all. It was that principle, and not the tax itself, which moved +them so deeply. + +English statesmen claimed that the colonists were as much represented in +Parliament as the thousands of Englishmen in England who did not have +the right to vote for members of the Commons; and no doubt they were. +The franchise was narrow in England, and not the whole population but +only a few out of some classes of the people were actually represented in +the Houses. Were not the interests represented there which America stood +for? Perhaps so. But why govern the colonies through these remote and +theoretical representatives when they had, and had always had, immediate +and actual representatives of their own in their assemblies,—as ready and +accessible an instrument of government as the House of Commons itself? +The colonists were accustomed to actual representation, had for a century +and more been dealt with by means of it, and were not willing now to +reverse their history and become, instead of veritable states, merely +detached and dependent pieces of England. This was the fire of principle +which the Stamp Act kindled. + +And, once kindled, it burned with an increasing flame. Within ten years +it had been blown to the full blaze of revolution. Mr. Grenville had +not lost his power because he had set the colonies aflame by his hated +Stamp Act, but merely because the King intensely disliked his tedious +manners, and resented the dictatorial tone used by the ministers in all +their dealings with himself. The Marquis of Rockingham and the group of +moderate Whigs who stood with him in the new ministry of July, 1765, +had repealed the stamp tax, not because they deemed it wrong in legal +principle, but because it had bred resistance, had made the colonists +resolve not to buy goods of English merchants, or even pay the debts of +£4,000,000 sterling already incurred in their business with them,—because +they deemed it wise to yield, and so quiet disorders over sea. Their +power lasted only a single year. The King liked their liberal principles +as little as he liked Grenville’s offensive manners, and in August, +1766, dismissed them, to substitute a ministry under William Pitt, now +made Earl of Chatham. Had Pitt retained his mastery, all might have gone +well; but his health failed, his leadership became a mere form, real +power fell to other men with no wide, perceiving vision like his own, and +America was presently put once again in revolutionary mood. + +Pitt had said that the colonists were right when they resisted the Stamp +Act: that Parliament could lawfully impose duties on commerce, and keep, +if it would, an absolute monopoly of trade for the English merchants, +because such matters were of the empire and not merely of America; but +that the Americans were justified in resisting measures of internal +taxation and government, their charters and accustomed liberties no doubt +giving them in such matters constitutions of their own. Mr. Burke, whose +genius made him the spokesman of the Rockingham Whigs, whether they would +or no, had said very vehemently, and with that singular eloquence of his +of which only his own words know the tone, that he cared not at all what +legal rights might be involved; it was a question of government and of +good-will between a king and his subjects; and he would not support any +measure, upon whatever right it might be founded, which led to irritation +and not to obedience. The new ministry of the Earl of Chatham acted upon +its chief’s principles, and not upon Mr. Burke’s,—though they acted +rashly because that consummate chief did not lead them. They proceeded +(June, 1767), after the great earl’s illness had laid him by, to put upon +the statute book two acts for the regulation of colonial trade and the +government of the colonies which Charles Townshend, their Chancellor +of the Exchequer, had drawn. The first provided for the more effectual +enforcement of the acts of trade already in existence; the second imposed +duties on wine, oil, lead, glass, paper, painters’ colors, and tea +carried to the colonies, and explicitly legalized the use of the hated +general search-warrants known as “writs of assistance.” The revenues +raised by these duties were to be applied, as the stamp tax would have +been had it been collected, to the support of the courts of justice and +of the civil establishments of the several colonies, and to the expenses +connected with their military defence. Evasions of the revenue acts were +to be tried by the admiralty courts without juries. + +To the colonists this seemed simply a return to the policy of the Stamp +Act. The tax was different, but the object was the same: to make their +judges and their governors independent of them, and to compel them to +pay for the maintenance of troops not of their own raising. These same +ministers had suspended the legislative power of the New York assembly +because it refused to make proper provision for the quartering of the +King’s troops, as commanded by the act of 1765; and that assembly had +felt itself obliged to yield and obey. Several companies of royal +artillery had been sent to Boston in the autumn of 1766, and were +quartered there at the colony’s expense by order of the governor and +council. + +[Illustration: GEORGE WASHINGTON, 1772] + +The new taxes were laid upon trade, and they could not be attacked on the +same grounds upon which the stamps had been objected to. But the trouble +was that the new taxes, unlike the old restrictions, were to be enforced, +evasion prevented. Mr. Townshend’s first act was to send commissioners +to America specially charged and empowered to see to that. The ruinous +acts of 1764 were to be carried out, and the West India trade, by which +Boston merchants and ship owners lived, put a stop to. These were bitter +things to endure. Some grounds must be found from which to fight +them,—if not the arguments used against the Stamp Act, then others, +if need be more radical. The ministers at home had set their far-away +subjects to thinking with the eagerness and uneasiness of those who seek +by some means to defend their liberties, and were fast making rebels of +them. + +Even in the midst of the universal rejoicings over the repeal of the +Stamp Act the temper of several of the colonial assemblies had risen at +reading the “Declaratory Act” which accompanied the repeal, and which +asserted the absolute legal right of Parliament “to bind the colonies +in all cases whatsoever.” They had declared very flatly then that +Parliament had no legal authority whatever in America except such as it +might exercise by the consent of the colonial assemblies,—so far had +their thought and their defiant purpose advanced within the year. There +were conservative men in the colonies as well as radical, men who hated +revolution and loved the just and sober ways of law; and there was as +strong a sentiment of loyalty on one side the sea as on the other. But +even conservative men dreaded to see Parliament undertake to break down +the independence of America. Mr. Thomas Hutchinson, of Massachusetts, +whose house the rioters in Boston had wantonly looted when they were mad +against the Stamp Act, had been born and bred in the colony, and loved +her welfare as honestly as any man; but he was lieutenant-governor, +an officer of the crown, and would have deemed it dishonor not to +uphold the authority he represented. Mr. Otis, on the other hand, had +resigned his office as Advocate General under the crown to resist the +writs of assistance. The public-spirited gentlemen who had opposed Mr. +Henry’s fiery resolutions in the Virginian House of Burgesses did not +fear usurpation or hate tyranny less than he; but they loved the slow +processes of argument and protest and strictly legal opposition more than +he did, and were patient enough to keep within bounds. They feared to +shake an empire by pursuing a right too impetuously. Men of every temper +and of every counsel made up the various people of the colonies, and +there were men of equal patriotism on both sides of the rising quarrel. + +[Illustration: LANDING TROOPS AT BOSTON, 1768] + +And yet the most moderate and slow-tempered grew uneasy at Mr. +Townshend’s measures. Mr. John Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, wrote and +published a series of letters,—_Letters of a Pennsylvania Farmer_, he +called them,—which stated as pointedly, as boldly, as earnestly as any +man could wish, the constitutional rights of self-government which +the colonists cherished and thought imperilled by the new acts of +Parliament,—and yet Mr. Dickinson was as steady a loyalist as any man in +America, as little likely to countenance rebellion, as well worth heeding +by those who wished to compose matters by wise and moderate counsels. His +firm-spoken protests were, in fact, read and pondered on both sides the +water (1767), and no one could easily mistake their significance. + +[Illustration: LIST OF NAMES OF THOSE WHO WOULD NOT CONFORM] + +The action of the people gave only too grave an emphasis to what their +more self-restrained and thoughtful leaders said. Mr. Townshend’s +acts were as openly resisted as Mr. Grenville’s had been; and every +art of evasion, every trick of infringement, upon occasion even open +and forcible violation, set at naught other restrictions of trade as +well. It was startling to see how rapidly affairs approached a crisis. +Resistance centred, as trade itself did, at Boston. When Mr. Townshend’s +commissioners of customs seized the sloop _Liberty_ in Boston harbor for +evasion of the duties, rioters drove them to the fort for shelter, and +they sent hastily to England for more troops. The Massachusetts assembly, +under the masterful leadership of Mr. Samuel Adams, protested that the +measures of the new ministry were in violation of colonial rights, and +protested in terms which, though dignified and respectful enough, were +unmistakably imperative. + +The leadership of Samuel Adams was itself a sign of the times. He was +a man of the people, passionate in his assertion of rights, and likely +to stir and increase passion in those for whom he spoke. Subtle, a born +politician; bold, a born leader of men, in assembly or in the street, +he was the sort of man and orator whose ascendency may mean revolution +almost when he chooses. The assembly, at his suggestion, went beyond +the ordinary bounds of protest and sent a circular letter to the +other colonies, as if to invite a comparison of views and a general +acquiescence in the course of settled opposition it had itself adopted. +When the ministers in London demanded a withdrawal of the letter, the +assembly of course refused, and the other colonies were more than ever +inclined to stand by the stout Bay Colony at whose capital port the +fight centred. The ministers, in their desperate purpose to compel +submission, declared their intention to remove to England for trial any +one who should be charged with treason,—under an almost forgotten statute +passed long before Jamestown was settled or English colonies dreamed +of in America. That roused the Virginian House of Burgesses once more. +They declared, with a sort of quiet passion, in their session of 1769, +that no one but their own assemblies had a right to tax the colonies; +that they had the inalienable right to petition the government at home +upon any matter of grievance whatever, and to petition, if they pleased, +jointly, as a body of colonies united in right and interest; and that any +attempt to try a colonist for crime anywhere except in the courts of his +own colony and by known course of law was “highly derogatory of the right +of British subjects,” and not for a moment to be deemed within the lawful +power of the crown. There was no need this time for Mr. Henry. All men +were now of the same opinion in Virginia, and the action was unanimous. + +The Virginian governor at once dissolved the Burgesses; but the members +came together again almost immediately at a private house; and there +Colonel Washington, whom all the English world had known since Braddock’s +day, proposed a general agreement to import no goods at all upon which a +tax was laid,—to see what effect it would have if the English tradesmen +and manufacturers who looked to America for a market were starved into +a true appreciation of the situation and of the state of opinion among +their customers. Many of the other colonies followed suit. Trade with +England for a few months almost stood still, and there was quick distress +and panic among those interested over sea. They promptly demanded of +Parliament that the new taxes be taken off and trade allowed to live +again. The ministers yielded (April, 1770),—except with regard to the tax +on tea. That was the least of the taxes, and the King himself positively +commanded that it be retained, to save the principle of the bill and +show that Parliament had not reconsidered its right to tax. The taxes +had yielded nothing: the single tax on tea would serve to assert a right +without the rest. + +[Illustration: HAND-BILL OF TRUE SONS OF LIBERTY] + +[Illustration: THE BOSTON MASSACRE] + +Meanwhile a very ominous thing had happened in Boston,—though the +ministers had not yet heard of it when the bill passed to repeal the +taxes. Upon an evening in March, 1770, a mob had attacked a squad of the +King’s redcoats in King Street, pelting them with sharp pieces of ice and +whatever else they could lay their hands on, and daring them derisively +to fire; and the troops had fired, being hard pressed and maddened. Five +of the mob were killed and six wounded, and a thrill of indignation and +horror went through the excited town. The next day a great meeting in +Faneuil Hall sent a committee to Mr. Hutchinson, the governor, to demand +the instant withdrawal of the troops. Samuel Adams headed the committee, +imperious and on fire; told the governor, in the council chamber where +they met, that he spoke in the name of three thousand freemen who counted +upon being heeded; and won his point. The troops were withdrawn to an +island in the bay. The town had hated their “lobster backs” for all the +year and a half they had been there, and rejoiced and was quiet when they +withdrew. + +[Illustration: AFTER THE MASSACRE. SAMUEL ADAMS DEMANDING OF GOVERNOR +HUTCHINSON THE INSTANT WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH TROOPS] + +But quiet could not last long. The flame was sure somewhere to burst +out again whenever any incident for a moment stirred excitement. In +North Carolina there was the next year a sudden blaze of open rebellion +against the extravagant exactions of William Tryon, the adventurer who +was royal governor there; and only blood extinguished it (1771). In Rhode +Island, in June, 1772, his Majesty’s armed schooner _Gaspee_ was taken +by assault and burned, upon a spit of land where she lay aground. It had +been her business to watch against infringements of the navigation laws +and the vexatious acts of trade; her commander had grown exceptionally +insolent in his work; a sloop which he chased had led him on to the spit, +where his schooner stuck fast; and the provincials took advantage of her +helplessness to burn her. No one could be found who would inform on those +who had done the bold thing; the courageous chief-justice of the little +province flatly denied the right of the English authorities to order the +perpetrators to England for trial; and the royal commission which was +appointed to look into the whole affair stirred all the colonies once +more to a deep irritation. The far-away House of Burgesses in Virginia +very promptly spoke its mind again. It invited the several colonies to +join Virginia in forming committees of correspondence, in order that all +might be of one mind and ready for one action against the aggressions of +the government in England. The ministers in London had meantime resolved +to pay the provincial judges, at any rate in Massachusetts, out of the +English treasury, taxes or no taxes; and the Massachusetts towns had +formed committees of correspondence of their own, as Mr. Adams bade. + +[Illustration: INTERIOR OF COUNCIL CHAMBER, OLD STATE HOUSE, BOSTON] + +[Illustration: PROTEST AGAINST THE LANDING OF TEA] + +[Illustration: ENTRY JOHN ADAMS’S DIARY] + +[Illustration: CALL FOR MEETING TO PROTEST AGAINST THE LANDING OF TEA] + +Such were the signs of the times when the final test came of the tax +on tea. The East India company was in straits for money. It had to pay +twelvepence into the royal treasury on every pound of tea it imported, +whether it sold it in England or not; but the government there offered +to relieve it of that tax on every pound it carried on to America, +and exact only the threepence to be paid at the colonial ports under +Mr. Townshend’s act: so willing were the King’s ministers to help the +Company, and so anxious also to test the act and the submissiveness +of the colonists. The test was soon made. The colonists had managed to +smuggle in from Holland most of the tea they needed; and they wanted +none, under the circumstances, from the East India ships,—even though it +cost less, with the twelvepence tax off, than the smuggled tea obtained +of the Dutch. The East India Company promptly sent tea-laden ships to +Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston; and in the autumn of +1773 they began to come in. In Boston a quiet mob, disguised as Indians, +threw the chests overboard into the harbor. At New York and Philadelphia +the ships were “permitted” to leave port again without landing their +cargoes. At Charleston the tea was landed, but it was stored, not sold, +and a public meeting saw to its secure bestowal. The experiment had +failed. America was evidently of one mind, and had determined not to buy +tea or anything else with a parliamentary tax on it. The colonists would +no more submit to Mr. Townshend’s tax than to Mr. Grenville’s, whatever +the legal difference between them might be, either in principle or in +operation. The issue was squarely made up: the colonies would not obey +the Parliament,—would be governed only through their own assemblies. If +the ministers persisted, there must be revolution. + +[Illustration: THE BOSTON TEA PARTY] + + Here the leading general _authorities_ are the histories of + Bancroft, Hildreth, and Bryant; but to these we now add David + Ramsay’s _History of the American Revolution_; the fourth + volume of James Grahame’s excellent _History of the Rise and + Progress of the United States of North America from their + Colonization till the Declaration of Independence_; Thomas + Hutchinson’s _History of Massachusetts_, one of the most + valuable of the contemporary authorities; John S. Barry’s + _History of Massachusetts_; John Fiske’s _American Revolution_; + Mellen Chamberlain’s _The Revolution Impending_, in the sixth + volume of Winsor’s _Narrative and Critical History of America_; + the twelfth chapter of W. E. H. Lecky’s _History of England + in the Eighteenth Century_; Sir J. R. Seeley’s _Expansion + of England_; Richard Frothingham’s _Rise of the Republic of + the United States_; Mr. Edward Channing’s _United States of + America, 1765-1865_; Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge’s _Short History + of the English Colonies in America_; Mr. Horace E. Scudder’s + _Men and Manners in America One Hundred Years Ago_; Moses Coit + Tyler’s _Life of Patrick Henry_; Mr. Horace Gray’s important + discussion of Otis’s speech against the writs of assistance, + in the _Appendix_ to Quincy’s _Reports of Massachusetts Bay, + 1761-1772_; Moses Coit Tyler’s _Literary History of the + American Revolution_; F. B. Dexter’s _Estimates of Population_, + in the _Proceedings_ of the American Antiquarian Society; and + the _Lives_ of the leading American and English statesmen of + the time, notably the invaluable series of brief biographies + known as _The American Statesmen Series_. + + Abundant _contemporary material_ may be found in the published + letters, papers, and speeches of American and English public + men of the time, especially in the pamphlets of such men as + James Otis, Richard Bland, Stephen Hopkins, John Adams, Samuel + Adams, John Dickinson, and their _confrères_; in Franklin’s + _Autobiography_; Andrew Burnaby’s _Travels through the Middle + Settlements in North America, in the Years 1759 and 1760_; Ann + Maury’s _Memoirs of a Huguenot Family_; and Hezekiah Niles’s + _Principles and Acts of the Revolution in America_. + + _Lists of the authorities_ on the several colonies during these + years may be found in Edward Channing and Albert Bushnell + Hart’s very convenient and careful little _Guide to American + History_. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE APPROACH OF REVOLUTION + + +The ministers did persist, and there was revolution. Within less than +a year from those memorable autumn days of 1773 when the East India +Company’s ships came into port with their cargoes of tea, the colonies +had set up a Congress at Philadelphia which looked from the first as +if it meant to do things for which there was no law; and which did, in +fact, within less than two years after its first assembling, cut the +bonds of allegiance which bound America to England. The colonists did +not themselves speak or think of it as a body set up to govern them, or +to determine their relations with the government at home, but only as +a body organized for consultation and guidance, a general meeting of +their committees of correspondence. But it was significant how rapidly, +and upon how consistent and executive a plan, the arrangements for +“correspondence” had developed, and how naturally, almost spontaneously, +they had come to a head in this “Congress of Committees.” There were +men in the colonies who were as quick to act upon their instinct of +leadership, and as apt and masterful at organization, as the English on +the other side of the water who had checkmated Charles I.; and no doubt +the thought of independent action, and even of aggressive resistance, +came more readily to the minds of men of initiative in America, where +all things were making and to be made, than in old England, where every +rule of action seemed antique and venerable. Mr. Samuel Adams had been +deliberately planning revolution in Massachusetts ever since 1768, +the year the troops came to Boston to hold the town quiet while Mr. +Townshend’s acts strangled its trade; and he had gone the straight way +to work to bring it about. He knew very well how to cloak his purpose +and sedulously keep it hid from all whom it might shock or dismay or +alienate. But the means he used were none the less efficacious because +those who acted with him could not see how far they led. + +[Illustration: BOYCOTTING POSTER] + +It was he who had stood at the front of the opposition of the +Massachusetts assembly to the Stamp Act; he who had drafted the circular +letter of Massachusetts to the other colonies in 1768 suggesting concert +of action against the Townshend acts; he who had gone from the town +meeting in Faneuil Hall to demand of Hutchinson the immediate removal of +the troops, after the unhappy “massacre” of March, 1770; he who had led +the town meeting which took effectual measures to prevent the landing +of the tea from the East India Company’s ships. No man doubted that his +hand had been in the plan to throw the tea into the harbor. It was he +who, last of all, as the troubles thickened, had bound the other towns +of Massachusetts to Boston in a common organization for making and +propagating opinion by means of committees of correspondence. It was late +in 1772 when he proposed to the town meeting in Boston that the other +towns of the colony be invited to co-operate with it in establishing +committees of correspondence, by means of which they could exchange +views, and, if need were, concert action. The end of November had come +before he could make Boston’s initiative complete in the matter; and yet +the few scant weeks that remained of the year were not gone before more +than eighty towns had responded. + +[Illustration: CIRCULAR OF THE BOSTON COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE] + +It turned out that he had invented a tremendously powerful engine of +propaganda for such opinions and suggestions of action as he chose to put +upon the wind or set afloat in his private correspondence,—as he had, no +doubt, foreseen, with his keen appreciation of the most effectual means +of agitation. Here was, in effect, a league of towns to watch and to +control the course of affairs. There was nothing absolutely novel in the +plan, except its formal completeness and its appearance of permanence, +as if of a standing political arrangement made out of hand. In the year +1765, which was now seven years gone by, Richard Henry Lee had taken an +active part among his neighbors in Virginia in forming the “Westmoreland +Association,” which drew many of the leading spirits of the great county +of Westmoreland together in concerted resistance to the Stamp Act. +Four years later (1769) the Burgesses of Virginia, cut short in their +regular session as a legislature by a sudden dissolution proclaimed by +their royal governor, met in Mr. Anthony Hay’s house in Williamsburg and +adopted the resolutions for a general non-importation association which +George Mason had drawn up, and which George Washington, Mr. Mason’s +neighbor and confidant, read and moved. There followed the immediate +organization of local associations throughout the little commonwealth +to see to the keeping of the pledge there taken. Virginia had no +town meetings; each colony took its measures of non-importation and +resistance to parliamentary taxation after its own fashion; but wherever +there were Englishmen accustomed to political action there was always +this thought of free association and quick and organized coöperation in +the air, which no one was surprised at any time to see acted upon and +made an instrument of agitation. + +[Illustration: NORTH AMERICA 1750, SHOWING CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF +EXPLORATION. + +BORMAY & CO., N. Y.] + +[Illustration: GEORGE III] + +What made the Massachusetts committees of correspondence especially +significant and especially telling in their effect upon affairs was +that they were not used, like the “Westmoreland Association” or the +non-importation associations of 1769, merely as a means of keeping +neighbors steadfast in the observance of a simple resolution of +passive resistance, but were employed to develop opinion and originate +action from month to month,—dilatory, defensive, or aggressive, as +occasion or a change of circumstances might demand. The non-importation +associations had been powerful enough, as some men had reason to know. +The determination not to import or use any of the things upon which +Parliament had laid a tax to be taken of the colonies,—wine, oil, glass, +paper, tea, or any of the rest of the list,—was not a thing all men +had thought of or spontaneously agreed to. Certain leading gentlemen, +like Mr. Mason and Colonel Washington, deemed it a serviceable means of +constitutional resistance to the mistaken course of the ministry, induced +influential members of the House of Burgesses to indorse it, and formed +associations to put it into effect,—to see to it that no one drank wine +or tea which had been brought in under Mr. Townshend’s taxes. There +was here no command of law,—only a moral compulsion, the “pressure of +opinion”; but it was no light matter to be censured and talked about by +the leading people in your county as a person who defied the better sort +of opinion and preferred wine and tea to the liberties of the colony. +Associated opinion, spoken by influential men, proved a tremendous engine +of quiet duress, and the unwilling found it prudent to conform. It was +harder yet for the timid where active committees of correspondence +looked into and suggested opinion. Men could give up their wine, or women +their tea, and still keep what opinions they pleased; but committees of +correspondence sought out opinion, provoked discussion, forced men to +take sides or seem indifferent; more than all, saw to it that Mr. Samuel +Adams’s opinions were duly promulgated and established by argument. + +[Illustration: GEORGE MASON] + +Men thought for themselves in Massachusetts, and Mr. Adams was too astute +a leader to seem to force opinions upon them. He knew a better and more +certain way. He drew Mr. Hutchinson, the governor, into controversy, +and provoked him to unguarded heat in the expression of his views as +to the paramount authority of Parliament and the bounden duty of the +colonists to submit if they would not be accounted rebels. He let +heat in the governor generate heat in those who loved the liberty of +the colony; supplied patriots with arguments, phrases, resolutions of +right and privilege; watchfully kept the fire alive; forced those who +were strong openly to take sides and declare themselves, and those who +were weak to think with their neighbors; infused agitation, disquiet, +discontent, dissonance of opinion into the very air; and let everything +that was being said or done run at once from town to town through the +ever talkative committees of correspondence. He sincerely loved the +liberty to which America had been bred; loved affairs, and wanted nothing +for himself, except the ears of his neighbors; loved the air of strife +and the day of debate, and the busy concert of endless agitation; was +statesman and demagogue in one, and had now a cause which even slow and +thoughtful men were constrained to deem just. + +The ministers supplied fuel enough and to spare to keep alive the fires +he kindled; and presently the system of committees which he had devised +for the towns of a single colony had been put into use to bring the +several colonies themselves together. Opinion began to be made and moved +and augmented upon a great scale. Spontaneous, no doubt, at first, at +heart spontaneous always, it was elaborately, skilfully, persistently +assisted, added to, made definite, vocal, universal,—now under the +lead of men in one colony, again under the lead of those in another. +Massachusetts, with her busy port and her noisy town meetings, drew the +centre of the storm to herself; but the other colonies were not different +in temper. Virginia, in particular, was as forward as Massachusetts. +Virginia had got a new governor out of England early in 1772, John +Murray, Earl of Dunmore, who let more than a year go by from his first +brief meeting with the Burgesses before he summoned them again, because +he liked their lack of submission as little as they liked his dark brow +and masterful temper; but he suffered them to convene at last, in March, +1773, and they forthwith gave him a taste of their quality, as little to +his palate as he could have expected. + +[Illustration: SEAL OF DUNMORE] + +[Illustration: EARL OF DUNMORE] + +It was in June, 1772, while the Virginian burgesses waited for their +tardy summons to Williamsburg that his Majesty’s revenue cutter _Gaspee_ +was deliberately boarded and burned by the Rhode Islanders. The Burgesses +had but just assembled in the autumn when the ominous news came that a +royal commission had been sent over to look sharply into the matter, and +see to the arrest and deportation of all chiefly concerned. Dabney Carr, +Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and Thomas Jefferson, young men all, +and radicals, members of the House, privately associated themselves for +the concert of measures to be taken in the common cause of the colonies. +Upon their initiative the Burgesses resolved, when the news from Rhode +Island came, to appoint at once a permanent committee of correspondence; +instruct it to inquire very particularly into the facts about this royal +commission; and ask the other colonies to set up similar committees, for +the exchange of information concerning public affairs and the maintenance +of a common understanding and concert in action. By the end of the year +Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and South +Carolina had adopted the suggestion and set their committees to work. + +[Illustration: THE ATTACK ON THE “GASPEE”] + +Massachusetts, of course. This was Mr. Samuel Adams’s new machinery +of agitation upon a larger scale. Adams himself had long cherished +the wish that there might be such a connection established between +the colonies. In the autumn of 1770 he had induced the Massachusetts +assembly to appoint a committee of correspondence, to communicate with +Mr. Arthur Lee, of Virginia, the colony’s agent in London, and with the +Speakers of the several colonial assemblies; and though the committee +had accomplished little or nothing, he had not been discouraged, but had +written the next year to Mr. Lee expressing the wish that “societies” +of “the most respectable inhabitants” might be formed in the colonies +to maintain a correspondence with friends in England in the interest +of colonial privilege. “This is a sudden thought,” he said, “and drops +undigested from my pen”; but it must have seemed a natural enough +thought to Mr. Lee, whose own vast correspondence,—with America, with +Englishmen at home, with acquaintances on the continent,—had itself, +unaided, made many a friend for the colonies over sea at the same time +that it kept the leading men of the colonies informed of the opinions +and the dangers breeding in England. But Mr. Adams’s town committees +came first. It was left for the little group of self-constituted leaders +in the Virginian assembly, of whom Richard Henry Lee, Mr. Arthur Lee’s +elder brother, was one, to take the step which actually drew the colonies +into active coöperation when the time was ripe. It was, in part, through +the systematic correspondence set afoot by the Virginian burgesses +that something like a common understanding had been arrived at as to +what should be done when the tea came in; and the lawless defiance of +the colonists in that matter brought the ministers in England to such +a temper that there were presently new and very exciting subjects of +correspondence between the committees, and affairs ran fast towards a +crisis. + +[Illustration: LORD NORTH] + +Teas to the value of no less than eighteen thousand pounds sterling +had been thrown into the harbor at Boston on that memorable night of +the 16th of December, 1773, when “Captain Mackintosh,” the redoubtable +leader of the South End toughs of the lively little town, was permitted +for the nonce to lead his betters; but what aroused the ministers and +put Parliament in a heat was not so much the loss incurred by the East +India Company or the outcry of the merchants involved as the startling +significance of the act, and the unpleasant evidence which every day +came to hand that all the colonies alike were ready to resist. After +the tea had been sent away, or stored safe against sale or present +use, or thrown into the harbor, at Philadelphia, Charleston, New York, +and Boston, as the leaders of the mobs or the meetings at each place +preferred, there was an instant spread of Virginia’s method of union. +Six more colonies hastened to appoint committees of correspondence, and +put themselves in direct communication with the men at Boston and at +Williamsburg who were forming opinion and planning modes of redress. +Only Pennsylvania held off. The tea had been shut out at Philadelphia, +as elsewhere, but the leaders of the colony were not ready yet to follow +so fast in the paths of agitation and resistance. Members of Parliament +hardly noticed the exception. It was Boston they thought of and chiefly +condemned as a hot-bed of lawlessness. Not every one, it is true, was +ready to speak quite so plainly or so intemperately as Mr. Venn. “The +town of Boston ought to be knocked about their ears and destroyed,” he +said. “You will never meet with proper obedience to the laws of this +country until you have destroyed that nest of locusts.” But, though few +were so outspoken, no doubt many found such a view very much to their +taste, excellently suited to their temper. + +[Illustration: TITLE-PAGE OF HUTCHINSON’S HISTORY] + +At any rate, the ministers went a certain way towards acting upon it. +In March, 1774, after communicating to the House the despatches from +America, the leaders of the government, now under Lord North, proposed +and carried very drastic measures. By one bill they closed the port of +Boston, transferring its trade after the first of June to the older port +of Salem. Since the headstrong town would not have the tea, it should +have no trade at all. By another bill they suspended the charter of the +colony. By a third they made provision for the quartering of troops +within the province; and by a fourth they legalized the transfer to +England of trials growing out of attempts to quell riots in the colony. +News lingered on the seas in those days, waiting for the wind, and the +critical news of what had been done in Parliament moved no faster than +the rest. It was the 2d of June before the text of the new statutes was +known in Boston. That same month, almost upon that very day, Thomas +Hutchinson, the constant-minded governor whom Samuel Adams had tricked, +hated, and beaten in the game of politics, left his perplexing post and +took ship for England, never to return. Born and bred in Massachusetts, +of the stock of the colony itself, he had nevertheless stood steadfastly +to his duty as an officer of the crown, deeming Massachusetts best served +by the law. He had suffered more than most men would have endured, but +his sufferings had not blinded him with passion. He knew as well as +any man the real state of affairs in the colony,—though he looked at +them as governor, not as the people’s advocate,—and now went to England +to make them clear to the ministers. “The prevalence of a spirit of +opposition to government in the plantation,” he had already written them, +“is the natural consequence of the great growth of colonies so remote +from the parent state, and not the effect of oppression in the King or +his servants, as the promoters of this spirit would have the world to +believe.” It would be of good omen for the settlement of difficulties if +he could make the ministers see that the spirit which so angered them was +natural, and not born of mere rebellion. + +[Illustration: GENERAL GAGE] + +[Illustration: STOVE IN THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES, VIRGINIA] + +Mr. Hutchinson left General Gage governor in his stead,—at once governor +and military commander. Gage was to face a season of infinite trouble, +and, as men soon learned, did not know how to face it either with +patience or with tact and judgment. The news of Boston’s punishment and +of the suspension of the Massachusetts charter, of the arrangements for +troops, and of the legal establishment of methods of trial against which +all had protested,—and, in the case of the _Gaspee_ affair, successfully +protested,—had an instant and most disturbing effect upon the other +colonies, as well as upon those who were most directly affected. The +ministers could not isolate Massachusetts. They were dealing with men +more statesmanlike than themselves, who did not need to see their own +liberties directly struck at to recognize danger, though it was not yet +their danger. They had protested in the time of the Stamp Act, which +affected them all; this time they protested even more emphatically +against measures aimed at Massachusetts alone. What was more significant, +they had now means at hand for taking action in common. + +Virginia, no doubt, seemed to the ministers in England far enough away +from Massachusetts, but her Burgesses acted upon the first news of what +Parliament was doing,—a month before the text of the obnoxious acts had +reached Boston. In May, 1774, they ordered that June 1st, the day the +Boston Port bill was to go into effect, be set apart as a day of fasting +and prayer,—prayer that civil war might be averted and that the people +of America might be united in a common cause. Dunmore promptly dissolved +them for their pains; but they quietly assembled again in the long room +of the Raleigh Tavern; issued a call thence to the other colonies for a +general Congress; and directed that a convention, freely chosen by the +voters of the colony as they themselves had been, should assemble there, +in that same room of the Raleigh, on the first day of August following, +to take final measures with regard to Virginia’s part in the common +action hoped for in the autumn. The next evening they gave a ball in +honor of Lady Dunmore and her daughters, in all good temper, as they had +previously arranged to do,—as if nothing had happened, and as if to show +how little what they had done was with them a matter of personal feeling +or private intrigue, how much a matter of dispassionate duty. They had +not acted singularly or alone. Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts +herself had also asked for a general “Congress of Committees.” The +Massachusetts assembly had locked its doors against the governor’s +messenger, sent to dissolve it, until it had completed its choice of a +committee “to meet the committees appointed by the several colonies to +consult together upon the present state of the colonies.” It was chiefly +because Massachusetts called that the other colonies responded, but the +movement seemed general, almost spontaneous. Virginia and Massachusetts +sent their real leaders, as the other colonies did; and September saw a +notable gathering at Philadelphia,—a gathering from which conservatives +as well as radicals hoped to see come forth some counsel of wisdom and +accommodation. + +[Illustration: JOHN ADAMS] + +Every colony but Georgia sent delegates to the Congress. Not all who +attended had been regularly elected by the colonial assemblies. The +Virginian delegates had been elected by Virginia’s August convention, +a body unknown to the law; in some of the colonies there had been no +timely sessions of the assemblies at which a choice could be made, and +representatives had accordingly been appointed by their committees +of correspondence, or elected directly by the voters at the town and +county voting places. But no one doubted any group of delegates real +representatives,—at any rate, of the predominant political party in +their colony. In New York and Pennsylvania the conservatives had had the +upper hand, and had chosen men who were expected to speak for measures +of accommodation and for obedience to law. In the other colonies, if +only for the nonce, the more radical party had prevailed, and had sent +representatives who were counted on to speak unequivocally for the +liberties of the colonies, even at the hazard of uttering words and +urging action which might seem revolutionary and defiant. + +It was noteworthy and significant how careful a selection had been +made of delegates. No doubt the most notable group was the group of +Virginians: Colonel Washington; that “masterly man,” Richard Henry Lee, +as Mr. John Adams called him, as effective in Philadelphia as he had been +in the House of Burgesses; Patrick Henry, whose speech was so singularly +compounded of thought and fire; Edmund Pendleton, who had read nothing +but law books and knew nothing but business, and yet showed such winning +grace and convincing frankness withal in debate; Colonel Harrison, +brusque country gentleman, without art or subterfuge, downright and +emphatic; Mr. Bland, alert and formidable at sixty-four, with the steady +insight of the life-long student; and Mr. Peyton Randolph, their official +leader and spokesman, whom the Congress chose its president, a man full +of address, and seeming to carry privilege with him as a right inherited. +Samuel Adams and John Adams had come from Massachusetts, with Mr. Cushing +and Mr. Paine. South Carolina had sent two members of the Stamp Act +Congress of 1765, Mr. Christopher Gadsden and Mr. John Rutledge, with +Mr. Edward Rutledge also, a youth of twenty-five, and plain Mr. Lynch, +clad in homespun, as direct and sensible and above ceremony as Colonel +Harrison. Connecticut’s chief spokesman was Roger Sherman, rough as a +peasant without, but in counsel very like a statesman, and in all things +a hard-headed man of affairs. New York was represented by Mr. John Jay, +not yet thirty, but of the quick parts of the scholar and the principles +of a man of honor. Joseph Galloway, the well-poised Speaker and leader +of her House of Assembly, John Dickinson, the thoughtful author of the +famous “Farmer’s Letters” of 1768, a quiet master of statement, and Mr. +Thomas Mifflin, the well-to-do merchant, represented Pennsylvania. It +was, take it all in all, an assembly of picked men, fit for critical +business. + +[Illustration: ROGER SHERMAN] + +Not that there was any talk of actual revolution in the air. The seven +weeks’ conference of the Congress disclosed a nice balance of parties, +its members acting, for the most part, with admirable candor and +individual independence. A good deal was said and conjectured about +the “brace of Adamses” who led the Massachusetts delegation,—Samuel +Adams, now past fifty-two, and settled long ago, with subtle art, to +his life-long business, and pleasure, of popular leadership, which +no man understood better; and John Adams, his cousin, a younger man +by thirteen years, at once less simple and easier to read, vain and +transparent,—transparently honest, irregularly gifted. It was said they +were for independence, and meant to take the leadership of the Congress +into their own hands. But it turned out differently. If they were for +independence, they shrewdly cloaked their purpose; if they were ambitious +to lead, they were prudent enough to forego their wish and to yield +leadership, at any rate on the floor of the Congress, to the interesting +men who represented Virginia, and who seemed of their own spirit in the +affair. + +[Illustration: JOSEPH GALLOWAY] + +[Illustration: JOHN DICKINSON] + +There was a marked difference between what the Congress said aloud, for +the hearing of the world, and what it did in order quietly to make its +purpose of defeating the designs of the ministers effective. At the +outset of its sessions it came near to yielding itself to the initiative +and leadership of its more conservative members, headed by Joseph +Galloway, the trusted leader of the Pennsylvanians, a stout loyalist, but +for all that a sincere patriot and thorough-going advocate of the legal +rights of the colonies. He proposed a memorial to the crown asking for +a confederate government for the colonies, under a legislature of their +own choosing, very like the government Mr. Franklin had made a plan for +twenty years ago in the congress at Albany; and his suggestion failed of +acceptance by only a very narrow margin when put to the vote. Even Edward +Rutledge, of South Carolina, who spoke more hotly than most men for the +liberties of the colonies, declared it an “almost perfect plan”; and +the Congress, rejecting it, substituted no other. It turned, rather, to +the writing of state papers, and a closer organization of the colonies +for concert of action. Its committees drew up an address to the King, +memorials to the people of Great Britain and to the people of British +North America, their fellow-subjects, and a solemn declaration of rights, +so earnest, so moderate in tone, reasoned and urged with so evident +and so admirable a quiet passion of conviction, as to win the deep and +outspoken admiration of their friends in Parliament and stir the pulses +of liberal-minded men everywhere on both sides of the sea. + +So much was for the world. For themselves, they ordered a closer and +more effective association throughout the colonies to carry out the +policy of a rigorous non-importation and non-consumption of certain +classes of British goods as a measure of trade against the English +government’s policy of colonial taxation. It recommended, in terms which +rang very imperative, that in each colony a committee should be formed +in every town or county, according to the colony’s local administrative +organization, which should be charged with seeing to it that every one +within its area of oversight actually kept, and did not evade, the +non-importation agreement; that these committees should act under the +direction of the central committee of correspondence in each colony; +and that the several colonial committees of correspondence should in +their turn report to and put into effect the suggestions of the general +Congress of Committees at Philadelphia. For the Congress, upon breaking +up at the conclusion of its business in October, resolved to meet again +in May of the next year, should the government in England not before that +time accede to its prayers for a radical change of policy. Its machinery +of surveillance was meanwhile complete. No man could escape the eyes +of the local committees. Disregard of the non-importation policy meant +that his name would be published, and that he would be diligently talked +about as one who was no patriot. The Congress ordered that any colony +which declined to enter into the new association should be regarded as +hostile to “the liberties of this country.” Samuel Adams himself had not +had a more complete system of surveillance or of inquisitorial pressure +upon individual conduct and opinion at hand in his township committees +of correspondence. In the colonies where sentiment ran warm no man could +escape the subtle coercion. + +[Illustration: PEYTON RANDOLPH] + +Such action was the more worthy of remark because taken very quietly, +and as if the Congress had of course the right to lead, to speak for +the majority and command the minority in the colonies, united and acting +like a single body politic. There was no haste, no unusual excitement, +no fearful looking for trouble in the proceedings of this new and quite +unexampled assembly. On the contrary, its members had minds sufficiently +at ease to enjoy throughout all their business the entertainments and +the attractive social ways of the busy, well-appointed, cheerful, +gracious town, the chief city of the colonies, in which there was so +much to interest and engage. Dinings were as frequent almost as debates, +calls as committee meetings. Evening after evening was beguiled with +wine and tobacco and easy wit and chat. The delegates learned to know +and understand each other as men do who are upon terms of intimacy; +made happy and lasting friendships among the people of the hospitable +place; drank in impressions which broadened and bettered their thinking, +almost as if they had actually seen the several colonies with whose +representatives they were dealing from day to day; and went home with a +cleared and sobered and withal hopeful vision of affairs. + +It was well to have their views so steadied. Events moved fast, and with +sinister portent. Massachusetts could not be still, and quickly forced +affairs to an issue of actual revolution. Before the Congress met again +her leaders had irrevocably committed themselves to an open breach with +the government; the people of the province had shown themselves ready to +support them with extraordinary boldness; and all who meant to stand with +the distressed and stubborn little commonwealth found themselves likewise +inevitably committed to extreme measures. The Massachusetts men not only +deeply resented the suspension of their charter, they denied the legal +right of Parliament to suspend it. On the 9th of September, 1774, four +days after the assembling of the Congress at Philadelphia, delegates +from Boston and the other towns in Suffolk County in Massachusetts had +met in convention and flatly declared that the acts complained of, being +unconstitutional, ought not to be obeyed; that the new judges appointed +under the act of suspension ought not to be regarded or suffered to +act; that the collectors of taxes ought to be advised to retain the +moneys collected, rather than turn them into General Gage’s treasury; +and that, in view of the extraordinary crisis which seemed at hand, the +people ought to be counselled to prepare for war,—not, indeed, with any +purpose of provoking hostilities, but in order, if necessary, to resist +aggression. They declared also for a provincial congress, to take the +place of the legislative council of their suspended charter, and resolved +to regard the action of the Congress at Philadelphia as law for the +common action of the colonies. + +It gave these resolutions very grave significance that the Congress +at Philadelphia unhesitatingly declared, upon their receipt, that the +whole continent ought to support Massachusetts in her resistance to +the unconstitutional changes in her government, and that any person +who should accept office within the province under the new order of +things ought to be considered a public enemy. Moreover, the Suffolk +towns did not stand alone. Their temper, it seemed, was the temper of +the whole colony. Other towns took action of the same kind; and before +the Congress at Philadelphia had adjourned, Massachusetts had actually +set up a virtually independent provincial congress. General Gage had +summoned the regular assembly of the province to meet at Salem, the new +capital under the parliamentary changes, on the 5th of October, but had +withdrawn the summons as he saw signs of disaffection multiply and his +authority dwindle to a mere shadow outside his military lines at Boston. +The members of the assembly convened, nevertheless, and, finding no +governor to meet them, resolved themselves into a provincial congress and +appointed a committee of safety to act as the provisional executive of +the colony. The old government was virtually dissolved, a revolutionary +government substituted. + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON STOPPING AT AN INN ON HIS WAY TO CAMBRIDGE] + +The substitution involved every hazard of license and disorder. A people +schooled and habituated to civil order and to the daily practice of +self-government, as the people of Massachusetts had been, could not, +indeed, suffer utter demoralization or lose wholly and of a sudden its +sobriety and conscience in matters of public business. But it was a +perilous thing that there was for a time no recognized law outside of +the fortifications which General Gage had thrown across Boston Neck, +to defend the town against possible attack from its own neighbors. +Town meetings and irregular committees took the place of officers of +government in every locality. The committees were often self-constituted, +the meetings too often disorderly and irregularly summoned. Everything +fell into the hands of those who acted first; and inasmuch as the more +hot-headed and violent are always at such times the first to act, many +sober men who would fain have counselled restraint and prudence and +the maintenance so far as might be of the old order, were silenced or +overridden. The gatherings at which concerted action was determined +upon were too often like mere organized mobs. Men too often obtained +ascendency for the time being who had no claim upon the confidence of +their followers but such as came from audacity and violence of passion; +and many things happened under their leadership which it was afterwards +pleasant to forget. No man of consequence who would not openly and +actively put himself upon the popular side was treated with so much as +toleration. General Gage presently found Boston and all the narrow area +within his lines filling up, accordingly, with a great body of refugees +from the neighboring towns and country-sides. + +[Illustration: THE LIBERTY SONG + +The LIBERTY SONG. _In Freedom we’re born, &c._ + + Come join hand in hand brave Americans all, + And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty’s call. + No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim, + Or stain with dishonour America’s name. + + _In Freedom we’re_ born _and in Freedom we’ll_ live, + _Our purses are ready._ + _Steady, Friends, Steady._ + _Not as Slaves, but as Freemen our money we’ll give._ + + Our worthy Forefathers—Let’s give them a cheer + To Climates unknown did courageously steer; + Thro’ Oceans, to deserts, for freedom they came, + And dying bequeath’d us their freedom and Fame. + + _In freedom we’re_ born _&c._ + + Their generous bosoms all dangers despis’d, + So highly, so wisely, their _Birthrights_ they priz’d; + We’ll keep what they gave, we will piously keep, + Nor frustrate their toils on the land and the deep. + + _In Freedom we’re_ born, _&c._ + + The Tree their own hands had to liberty rear’d; + They liv’d to behold growing strong and rever’d, + With transport they cry’d, “now our wishes we gain, + For our children shall gather the fruits of our pain.” + + _In Freedom we’re_ born _&c._ + + Swarms of placemen and pensioners soon will appear + Like locusts deforming the charms of the year; + Suns vainly will rise, Showers vainly descend, + If we are to drudge for what other shall spend. + + _In Freedom we’re_ born _&c._ + + Then join hand in hand brave Americans all, + By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall; + In so Righteous a cause let us hope to succeed, + For Heaven approves of each generous deed. + + _In Freedom we’re_ born, _&c._ + + All ages shall speak with amaze and applause, + Of the courage we’ll shew in support of our laws; + To die we can bear—but to serve we disdain, + For shame is to Freedom more dreadful than pain. + + _In Freedom we’re_ born, _&c._ + + This bumper & crown for our Sovereign’s health, + And this for Britannia’s glory and wealth; + That wealth and that glory immortal may be, + If she is but just—and if we are but Free. + + _In Freedom we’re_ born _&c._] + +It gave those who led the agitation the greater confidence and the +greater influence that the ministers of the churches were for the most +part on their side. The control of Parliament had come, in the eyes of +the New England clergy, to mean the control also of bishops and the +supremacy of the Establishment. Now, as always before, since the very +foundation of the colony, the independence of their little commonwealths +seemed but another side of the independence of their churches; and none +watched the course of government over sea more jealously than the Puritan +pastors. + +Not only those who sided with the English power because of fear or +interest,—place-holders, sycophants, merchants who hoped to get their +trade back through favor, weak men who knew not which side to take and +thought the side of government in the long run the safer,—but many a man +of dignity and substance also, and many a man of scrupulous principle who +revered the ancient English power to which he had always been obedient +with sincere and loyal affection, left his home and sought the protection +of Gage’s troops. The vigilance of the local committees effectually +purged the population outside Boston, as the weeks went by, of those +who were not ready to countenance a revolution. There was, besides, +something very like military rule outside Boston as well as within it. +The provincial congress met, while necessary, from month to month, upon +its own adjournment, and, prominent among other matters of business, +diligently devoted itself to the enrolment and organization of a numerous +and efficient militia. Local as well as general commanders were chosen; +there was constant drilling on village greens; fire-arms and ammunition +were not difficult to get; and an active militia constituted a very +effective auxiliary in the consolidation of local opinion concerning +colonial rights and the proper means of vindicating them. + +It is the familiar story of revolution: the active and efficient +concert of a comparatively small number controlling the action of +whole communities at a moment of doubt and crisis. There was not much +difference of opinion among thoughtful men in the colonies with regard to +the policy which the ministers in England had recently pursued respecting +America. It was agreed on all hands that it was unprecedented, unwise, +and in plain derogation of what the colonists had time out of mind been +permitted to regard as their unquestioned privileges in matters of local +self-government. Some men engaged in trade at the colonial ports had, it +is true, found the new policy of taxation and enforced restrictions very +much to their own interest. The Sugar Act of 1733, which cut at the heart +of the New England trade with the French West Indies, and which Grenville +and Townshend had, in these last disturbing years, tried to enforce, +had, it was said, been passed in the first instance at the suggestion +of a Boston merchant who was interested in sugar growing in the British +islands whence the act virtually bade the colonial importers take all +their sugar, molasses, and rum; and no doubt there were many in all the +American ports who would have profited handsomely by the enforcement of +the law. But, however numerous these may have been, they were at most but +a small minority. For a vast majority of the merchants the enforcement +of the acts meant financial ruin. Merchants as well as farmers, too, +were hotly against taxes put upon them in their own ports by an act +of Parliament. They were infinitely jealous of any invasion of their +accustomed rights of self-government under their revered and ancient +charter. Governor Hutchinson himself, though he deemed the commands of +Parliament law, and thought it his own bounden duty as an officer of the +crown to execute them, declared in the frankest fashion to the ministers +themselves that their policy was unjust and mistaken. + +But, while men’s sentiments concurred in a sense of wrong, their +judgments parted company at the choice of what should be done. Men of a +conservative and sober way of thinking; men of large fortune or business, +who knew what they had at stake should disorders arise or law be set +aside; men who believed that there were pacific ways of bringing the +government to another temper and method in dealing with the colonies, +and who passionately preferred the ways of peace to ways of violence +and threatened revolution, arrayed themselves instinctively and at once +against every plan that meant lawlessness and rebellion. They mustered +very strong indeed, both in numbers and in influence. They bore, many of +them, the oldest and most honored names of the colony in Massachusetts, +where the storm first broke, and were men of substance and training and +schooled integrity of life, besides. Their counsels of prudence were +ignored, nevertheless,—as was inevitable. Opinion formed itself with +quick and heated impulse in the brief space of those first critical +months of irritation and excitement; and these men, though the natural +leaders of the colony, were despised, rejected, proscribed, as men craven +and lacking the essential spirit either of liberty or of patriotism. + +It was, no doubt, a time when it was necessary that something should +be done,—as well as something said. It was intolerable to the spirit +of most of the people, when once they were roused, to sit still under +a suspension of their charter, a closing of their chief port, the +appointment of judges and governors restrained by none of the accustomed +rules of public authority among them, and tamely utter written protests +only, carrying obedience to what seemed to them the length of sheer +servility. It happened that there had gone along with the hateful and +extraordinary parliamentary measures of 1774 an act extending the +boundaries of the province of Quebec to the Ohio River and establishing +an arbitrary form of government within the extended province. It was a +measure long ago planned. Its passage at that time had nothing to do +with the ministers’ quarrel with the self-governing colonies to the +southward. But it was instantly interpreted in America as an attempt to +limit the westward expansion of the more unmanageable colonies which, +like Massachusetts, arrogated the right to govern themselves; and it of +course added its quota of exasperation to the irritations of the moment. +It seemed worse than idle to treat ministers who sent such a body of +revolutionary statutes over sea as reasonable constitutional rulers who +could be brought to a more lawful and moderate course by pamphlets and +despatches and public meetings, and all the rest of the slow machinery +of ordinary agitation. Of course, too, Samuel Adams and those who acted +with him very carefully saw to it that agitation should not lose its +zest or decline to the humdrum levels of ordinary excitement. They kept +their alarm bells pealing night and day, and were vigilant that feeling +should not subside or fall tame. And they worked upon genuine matter. +They knew the temper of average men in the colony much better than their +conservative opponents did, and touched it with a much truer instinct +in their appeals. Their utterances went to the quick with most plain +men,—and they spoke to a community of plain men. They spoke to conviction +as well as to sentiment, and the minds they touched were thoroughly +awakened. Their doctrine of liberty was the ancient tradition of the +colony. The principles they urged had been urged again and again by every +champion of the chartered liberties of the colonies, and seemed native to +the very air. + +[Illustration: SIGNATURE OF JOSEPH HAWLEY] + +If not constitutional statesmen, they were at least the veritable +spokesmen of all men of action, and of the real rank and file of the +colonists about them,—as Patrick Henry was in Virginia. John Adams had +read to Henry, while the first Congress was sitting in Philadelphia, +Joseph Hawley’s opinion that what the ministers had done made it +necessary to fight. “I am of that man’s opinion,” cried the high-spirited +Virginian. That was what men said everywhere, unless imperatively held +back from action by temperament, or interest, or an unusual, indomitable +conviction of law-abiding duty, upon whatever exigency or provocation. It +is not certain that there could be counted in Massachusetts so much as a +majority for resistance in those first days of the struggle for right; +but it is certain that those who favored extreme measures had the more +effective spirit of initiative among them, the best concert of action, +the more definite purpose, the surest instinct of leadership, and stood +with true interpretative insight for the latent conviction of right which +underlay and supported every colonial charter in America. + +And not only every colonial charter, but the constitution of England +itself. The question now raised, to be once for all settled, was, in +reality, the question of constitutional as against personal government; +and that question had of late forced itself upon men’s thoughts in +England no less than in America. It was the burden of every quiet as +well as of every impassioned page in Burke’s _Thoughts on the Present +Discontents_, published in 1770. The Parliament of 1774 did not represent +England any more than it represented the colonies in America, either +in purpose or principle. So ill distributed was the suffrage and the +right of representation that great centres of population had scarcely a +spokesman in the Commons, while little hamlets, once populous but now +deserted, still returned members who assumed to speak for the country. +So many voters were directly under the influence of members of the House +of Lords, as tenants and dependants; so many members of the House of +Lords were willing to put themselves and the seats which they controlled +in the Commons at the service of the King, in return for honors and +favors received or hoped for; so many elections to the Lower House were +corruptly controlled by the court,—so full was Parliament, in short, of +placemen and of men who counted upon the crown’s benefactions, that the +nation seemed excluded from its own councils, and the King acted as its +master without serious let or hinderance. + +The Whig party, which stood for constitutional privilege, was utterly +disorganized. Some Whigs had followed Chatham to the end, despite his +uncertain temper, his failing health, his perverse treatment of his +friends; some had followed, rather, the Marquis of Rockingham, whose +brief tenure of power, in 1766, had been but long enough to effect the +repeal of the odious Stamp Act; but nothing could hold the divergent +personal elements of the party together, and there was no place for a +party of principle and independence in an unrepresentative Parliament +packed with the “King’s friends.” Ministries rose or fell according +to the King’s pleasure, and were Whig or Tory as he directed, without +change of majority in the Commons. “Not only did he direct the minister” +whom the House nominally obeyed “in all matters of foreign and domestic +policy, but he instructed him as to the management of debates in +Parliament, suggested what motions should be made or opposed, and how +measures should be carried.” The Houses were his to command; and when +Chatham was gone, no man could withstand him. Persons not of the ministry +at all, but the private and irresponsible advisers of the King, became +the real rulers of the country. The Duke of Grafton, who became the +nominal head of the government in 1768, was not his own master in what he +did or proposed; and Lord North, who succeeded him in 1770, was little +more than the King’s mouthpiece. + +Thoughtful men in England saw what all this meant, and deemed the +liberties of England as much jeoparded as the liberties of America. And +the very men who saw to the heart of the ominous situation in England +were, significantly enough, the men who spoke most fearlessly and +passionately in Parliament in defence of America,—statesmen like Chatham +and Burke, frank soldiers like Colonel Barré, political free lances like +the reckless John Wilkes, and all the growing company of agitators in +London and elsewhere whom the government busied itself to crush. It was +the group gathered about Wilkes in London who formed, under Horne Tooke’s +leadership, the famous “Society for supporting the Bill of Rights,” with +which Samuel Adams proposed, in his letter to Arthur Lee in 1771, that +similar societies, to be formed in the several colonies in America, +should put themselves in active coöperation by correspondence. Those who +attacked the prerogative in England were as roundly denounced as traitors +as those who resisted Parliament in America. Wilkes was expelled from the +House of Commons; the choice of the Westminster electors who had chosen +him was arbitrarily set aside and annulled; those who protested with +too much hardihood were thrown into prison or fined. But each arbitrary +step taken seemed only to increase the rising sense of uneasiness in the +country. The London mob was raised; rioting spread through the country, +till there seemed to be chronic disorder; writers like “Junius” sprang +up to tease the government with stinging letters which no one could +successfully answer, because no one could match their wit or point; +an independent press came almost suddenly into existence; and because +there was no opinion expressed in the House of Commons worthy of being +called the opinion of the nation, public opinion formed and asserted +itself outside the Houses, and began to clamor uncomfortably for radical +constitutional reforms. Mr. Wilkes was expelled the House in 1769, just +as the trouble in America was thickening towards storm; and long before +that trouble was over it had become plain to every man of enlightened +principle that agitation in England and resistance in America had one and +the same object,—the rectification of the whole spirit and method of the +English government. + +[Illustration: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS] + +George III. had too small a mind to rule an empire, and the fifteen +years of his personal supremacy in affairs (1768-1783) were years +which bred a revolution in England no less inevitably than in America. +His stubborn instinct of mastery made him dub the colonists “rebels” +upon their first show of resistance; he deemed the repeal of the Stamp +Act a fatal step of weak compliance, which had only “increased the +pretensions of the Americans to absolute independence.” Chatham he +called a “trumpet of sedition” because he praised the colonists for +their spirited assertion of their rights. The nature of the man was not +sinister. Neither he nor his ministers had any purpose of making “slaves” +of the colonists. Their measures for the regulation of the colonial +trade were incontestably conceived upon a model long ago made familiar +in practice, and followed precedents long ago accepted in the colonies. +Their financial measures were moderate and sensible enough in themselves, +and were conceived in the ordinary temper of law-making. What they did +not understand or allow for was American opinion. What the Americans, +on their part, did not understand or allow for was the spirit in which +Parliament had in fact acted. They did not dream with how little comment +or reckoning upon consequences, or how absolutely without any conscious +theory as to power or authority, such statutes as those which had +angered them had been passed; how members of the Commons stared at Mr. +Burke’s passionate protests and high-pitched arguments of constitutional +privilege; how unaffectedly astonished they were at the rebellious +outbreak which followed in the colonies. And, because they were surprised +and had intended no tyranny, but simply the proper government of trade +and the adequate support of administration throughout the dominions of +the crown, as the ministers had represented these things to them, members +of course thought the disturbances at Boston a tempest in a teapot, the +reiterated protests of the colonial assemblies a pretty piece of much +ado about nothing. The radical trouble was that the Parliament really +represented nobody but the King and his “friends,” and was both ignorant +and unreflective upon the larger matters it dealt with. + +[Illustration: PAGE FROM THE DIARY OF JOSIAH QUINCY] + +It was the more certain that the promises of accommodation and peaceful +constitutional reform which the supporters of the government in America +so freely and earnestly made would be falsified, and that exasperation +would follow exasperation. The loyal partisans of the crown in the +colonies understood as little as did the radical patriotic party the real +attitude and disposition of the King and his ministers. The men with +whom they were dealing over sea had not conceived and could not conceive +the American point of view with regard to the matters in dispute. +They did not know whereof Mr. Burke spoke when he told them that the +colonial assemblies had been suffered to grow into a virtual independence +of Parliament, and had become in fact, whatever lawyers might say, +coördinated with it in every matter which concerned the internal +administration of the colonies; and that it was now too late to ask or +expect the colonists to accept any other view of the law than that which +accorded with long-established fact. Mr. Burke admitted that his theory +was not a theory for the strict lawyer: it was a theory for statesmen, +for whom fact must often take precedence of law. But the men he addressed +were strict legists and not statesmen. There could be no understanding +between the two sides of the water; and the loyalists who counselled +submission, if only for a time, to the authority of the ministers, were +certain to be rejected among their own people. The spirit of American +affairs was with the patriots, and would be with them more and more as +the quarrel thickened. + +[Illustration: PROCLAMATION OF THE KING FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE +REBELLION] + +It thickened fast enough, and the storm broke before men were aware how +near it was. While winter held (1774-1775), affairs everywhere grew +dark and uneasy, not only in Massachusetts, where Gage’s troops waited +at Boston, but in every colony from Maine to the Gulf. Before the end +of 1774 the Earl of Dunmore reported to the government, from Virginia, +that every county was “arming a company of men for the avowed purpose of +protecting their committees,” and that his own power of control was gone. +“There is not a justice of peace in Virginia,” he declared, “that acts +except as a committee-man”; and it gave him the graver concern to see the +turn affairs were taking because “men of fortune and pre-eminence joined +equally with the lowest and meanest” in the measures resorted to to rob +him of authority. + +[Illustration: GAGE’S ORDER PERMITTING INHABITANTS TO LEAVE BOSTON] + +To the south and north of Virginia, counsels were divided. Those who +led against the government in North Carolina had good reason to doubt +whether they had even a bare majority of the people of their colony at +their back. Every country-side in South Carolina, for all Charleston was +as hot as Boston against the ministers, was full of warm, aggressive, +outspoken supporters of the King’s prerogative. The rural districts of +Pennsylvania, every one knew, were peopled with quiet Quakers whose very +religion bade them offer no resistance even to oppressive power, and of +phlegmatic Germans who cared a vast deal for peace but very little for +noisy principles that brought mischief. Many a wealthy and fashionable +family of Philadelphia, moreover, was much too comfortable and much +too pleasantly connected with influential people on the other side of +the water to relish thoughts of breach or rebellion. Virginians, it +might have seemed, were themselves remote enough from the trouble which +had arisen in Massachusetts to keep them in the cool air of those who +wait and will not lead. But they were more in accord than the men of +Massachusetts itself, and as quick to act. By the close of June, 1775, +Charles Lee could write from Williamsburg, “Never was such vigor and +concord heard of, not a single traitor, scarcely a silent dissentient.” +As the men of the several counties armed themselves, as if by a common +impulse, all turned as of course to Colonel Washington, of Fairfax, as +their natural commander; and no one in Virginia was surprised to learn +his response. “It is my full intention,” he said, “to devote my life and +fortune to the cause we are engaged in.” On the 20th of March, 1775, +the second revolutionary convention of Virginia met at Richmond, not at +Williamsburg; and in it Mr. Henry made his individual declaration of war +against Great Britain. Older and more prudent men protested against his +words; but they served on the committee on the military organization of +the colony for which his resolutions called, and Virginia was made ready. + + Here our general _authorities_ are still Bancroft, Hildreth, + and Bryant; David Ramsay’s _History of the American + Revolution_; the last volume of James Grahame’s _Rise and + Progress of the United States of North America_; John Fiske’s + _American Revolution_; Thomas Hutchinson’s _History of + Massachusetts_; John S. Barry’s _History of Massachusetts_; + Richard Frothingham’s _Rise of the Republic of the United + States_; Justin Winsor’s _The Conflict Precipitated_, in the + sixth volume of Winsor’s _Narrative and Critical History of + America_; and the twelfth chapter of W. E. H. Lecky’s _History + of England in the Eighteenth Century_. To these we now add + Frank Moore’s _Diary of the American Revolution_; George + Chalmers’s _Introduction to the History of the Revolt_; Timothy + Pitkin’s _Political and Civil History of the United States_; + and the fourth volume of John Richard Green’s _History of the + English People_. Here, also, the biographies of the chief + public men of the period must be the reader’s constant resource + for a closer view of affairs, particularly the _Lives_ of + such men as John and Samuel Adams, John Dickinson, Franklin, + Hamilton, Patrick Henry, John Jay, Jefferson, the Lees, George + Mason, James Otis, Timothy Pickering, and Washington. + + The chief _sources_ that should be mentioned are the _Debates + of Parliament_; the _Annual Register_; the _Proceedings_ and + _Collections_ of the Historical Societies of the original + States; Peter Force’s _American Archives_; Jared Sparks’s + _Correspondence of the Revolution_; Hezekiah Niles’s + _Principles and Acts of the Revolution in America_; _Copy of + Letters sent to Great Britain by Thomas Hutchinson_, reprinted + in _Franklin Before the Privy Council_; P. O. Hutchinson’s + _Life and Letters of Thomas Hutchinson_; and the published + speeches, letters, and papers of the leading American and + English statesmen of the time. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE + + +Then, almost immediately, came the clash of arms. General Gage would +not sit still and see the country round about him made ready for armed +resistance without at least an effort to keep control of it. On the 19th +of April he despatched eight hundred men to seize the military stores +which the provincials had gathered at Concord, and there followed an +instant rising of the country. Riders had sped through the country-side +during the long night which preceded the movement of the troops, to give +warning; and before the troops could finish their errand armed men beset +them at almost every turn of the road, swarming by companies out of every +hamlet and firing upon them from hedge and fence corner and village +street as if they were outlaws running the gauntlet. The untrained +villagers could not stand against them in the open road or upon the +village greens, where at first they mustered, but they could make every +way-side covert a sort of ambush, every narrow bridge a trap in which +to catch them at a disadvantage. Their return to Boston quickened to a +veritable rout, and they left close upon three hundred of their comrades, +dead, wounded, or prisoners, behind them ere they reached the cover of +their lines again. The news of their march and of the attack upon them +had spread everywhere, and in every quarter the roads filled with the +provincial minute men marching upon Boston. Those who had fired upon the +troops and driven them within their lines did not go home again; those +who came too late for the fighting stayed to see that there were no more +sallies from the town; and the morning of the 20th disclosed a small army +set down by the town in a sort of siege. + +[Illustration: NOTICE TO MILITIA] + +[Illustration: AN ACCOUNT OF THE CONCORD FIGHT] + +That same night of the 20th Lord Dunmore, in Virginia, landed a force +of marines from an armed sloop in the river and seized the gunpowder +stored at Williamsburg. There, too, the country rose,—under Mr. Henry +himself as captain. They did not reach the scene soon enough to meet the +marines,—there were no thick-set villages in that country-side to pour +their armed men into the roads at a moment’s summons,—but they forced the +earl, their governor, to pay for the powder he had ordered seized and +taken off. + +[Illustration: SIGNATURE OF ETHAN ALLEN] + +The rude muster at Boston expanded into a motley yeoman army of sixteen +thousand men within the first week of its sudden rally, and settled in +its place to watch the town until the general Congress of the colonies +at Philadelphia should give it countenance, and a commander. On the day +the Congress met (May 10, 1775), Ethan Allen walked into the unguarded +gates of the fort at Ticonderoga, at the head of a little force out of +Vermont, and took possession of the stout place “in the name of the Great +Jehovah and the Continental Congress,” though he held a commission from +neither; and two days later Crown Point, near by, was taken possession +of in the same manner. When the Congress met it found itself no longer a +mere “Congress of Committees,” assembled for conference and protest. Its +appeals for better government, uttered the last autumn, its arguments +for colonial privilege, its protestations of loyalty and its prayers +for redress, had been, one and all, not so much rejected as put by with +contempt by the King and his ministers; and the mere movement of affairs +was hurrying the colonies which it represented into measures which would +presently put the whole matter of its controversy with the government at +home beyond the stage of debate. Its uneasy members did not neglect to +state their rights again, in papers whose moderation and temper of peace +no candid man could overlook or deny; but they prepared for action also +quite as carefully, like practical men who did not deceive themselves +even in the midst of hope. + +[Illustration: RUINS OF FORT TICONDEROGA] + +Colonel Washington had come to the Congress in his provincial uniform; +and, if no one cared to ask a man with whom it was so obviously difficult +to be familiar why he wore such a habit there, all were free to draw +their own conclusions. It was, no doubt, his instinctive expression +of personal feeling in the midst of all that was happening; and his +service in the Congress was from first to last that of a soldier. Its +committees consulted him almost every day upon some question of military +preparation: the protection of the frontier against the Indians, the +organization of a continental force, the management of a commissariat, +the gathering of munitions, proper means of equipment, feasible plans +of fortification. While they deliberated, his own colony passed openly +into rebellion. The 1st of June saw Virginia’s last House of Burgesses +assemble. By the 8th of the month Dunmore had fled his capital, rather +than see a second time the anger of a Williamsburg mob, and was a +fugitive upon one of his Majesty’s armed vessels lying in the river. The +colony had thenceforth no government save such as it gave itself; and its +delegates at Philadelphia knew that there was for them no turning back. + +[Illustration: WATCHING THE FIGHT AT BUNKER HILL] + +On the 15th of June, on the motion of Mr. John Adams, the Congress +chose Colonel Washington commander-in-chief of the American forces, +and directed him to repair to Boston and assume command in the field. +Two days later the British and the provincials met in a bloody and +stubborn fight at Bunker Hill. On the 25th of May heavy reinforcements +for General Gage had arrived from over sea which swelled the force of +regulars in Boston to more than eight thousand men, and added three +experienced general officers to Gage’s council: William Howe, Sir Henry +Clinton, and John Burgoyne. The British commanders saw very well, what +was indeed apparent enough to any soldier, that their position in Boston +could be very effectively commanded to the north and south on either +hand by cannon placed upon the heights of Charlestown or Dorchester, +and determined to occupy Charlestown heights at once, the nearer and +more threatening position. But so leisurely did they go about it that +the provincials were beforehand in the project. The early morning light +of the 17th of June disclosed them still at work there on trenches and +redoubts which they had begun at midnight. The British did not stop to +use either the guns of the fleet or any caution of indirect approach to +dislodge them, but at once put three thousand men straight across the +water to take the hill, whose crest the Americans were fortifying, by +direct assault. It cost them a thousand men; and the colonials retired, +outnumbered though they were, only because their powder gave out, not +their pluck or steadfastness. When the thing was done, the British did +not care to take another intrenched position from men who held their fire +till they were within a few score yards of them and then volleyed with +the definite and deadly aim of marksmen. + +[Illustration: FROM BEACON HILL, 1775, NO. 1. (LOOKING TOWARDS DORCHESTER +HEIGHTS)] + +[Illustration: FROM BEACON HILL, 1775, NO. 2. (LOOKING TOWARDS ROXBURY)] + +[Illustration: ORDER OF COMMITTEE OF SAFETY] + +Colonel Washington received his formal commission on the 19th, and was +on horseback for the journey northward by the 21st. On the 3d of July +he assumed command at Cambridge. In choosing Washington for the command +of the raw levies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New +Hampshire set down in impromptu siege before Boston, Mr. John Adams and +the other New Englanders who acted with him had meant, not only to secure +the services of the most experienced soldier in America, but also, by +taking a man out of the South, to give obvious proof of the union and +co-operation of the colonies. They had chosen better than they knew. It +was no small matter to have so noticeable a man of honor and breeding at +the head of an army whose enemies deemed it a mere peasant mob and rowdy +assemblage of rebels. Washington himself, with his notions of authority, +his pride of breeding, his schooling in conduct and privilege, was far +from pleased till he began to see below the surface, with the disorderly +array he found of uncouth, intractable plough boys and farmers, one +esteeming himself as good as another, with free-and-easy manners and a +singular, half-indifferent insolence against authority or discipline. + +[Illustration: BOSTON AND BUNKER HILL, FROM A PRINT PUBLISHED IN 1781] + +“There are some fine fellows come from Virginia,” Joseph Reed, of +Pennsylvania, had written of the Virginian delegates to the Congress at +Philadelphia; “but they are very high. We understand they are the capital +men of the colony.” It was good that one of the masterful group should +ride all the public way from Philadelphia to Boston to take command of +the army, the most conspicuous figure in the colonies, showing every +one of the thousands who crowded to greet or see him as he passed how +splendid a type of self-respecting gentlemen was now to be seen at the +front of affairs, putting himself forward soberly and upon principle. +The leaders of the revolt in Massachusetts were by no means all new men +like John Adams or habitual agitators like Samuel Adams; many a man of +substance and of old lineage had also identified himself with the popular +cause. But new, unseasoned men were very numerous and very prominent +there among those who had turned affairs upside down; a very great +number of the best and oldest families of the colony had promptly ranged +themselves on the side of the government; the revolution now at last on +foot in that quarter could too easily be made to look like an affair of +popular clamor, a mere rising of the country. It was of signal advantage +to have high personal reputation and a strong flavor, as it were, of +aristocratic distinction given it by this fortunate choice the Congress +had made of a commander. It was no light matter to despise a cause which +such men openly espoused and stood ready to fight for. + +The British lay still till Washington came, and gave him the rest of +the year, and all the winter till spring returned, in which to get his +rude army into fighting shape,—why, no one could tell, not even their +friends and spokesmen in Parliament. The Americans swarmed busy on +every hand. It proved infinitely difficult for them to get supplies, +particularly arms and ammunition; but slowly, very slowly, they came in. +General Washington was but forty-three, and had an energy which was both +imperative and infectious. His urgent, explicit, businesslike letters +found their way to every man of influence and to every colonial committee +or assembly from whom aid could come. Cannon were dragged all the way +from Ticonderoga for his use. The hardy, danger-loving seamen of the +coasts about him took very cheerfully to privateering; intercepted supply +ships and even transports bound for Boston; brought English merchantmen +into port as prizes; cut ships out from under the very guns of a British +man-of-war here and there in quiet harbors. Food and munitions intended +for the British regiments at Boston frequently found their way to General +Washington’s camps instead, notwithstanding Boston harbor was often full +of armed vessels which might have swept the coasts. The commanders in +Boston felt beset, isolated, and uneasy, and hesitated painfully what to +do. + +The country at large was open to the insurgent forces, to move in as +they pleased. In the autumn Colonel Montgomery, the gallant young +Irish soldier who had served under Wolfe at Quebec, led a continental +force northward through the wilderness; took the forts which guarded +the northern approaches to Lake Champlain; and occupied Montreal, +intercepting and taking the little garrison which left the place in boats +to make its way down the river. Meanwhile Colonel Benedict Arnold was at +the gates of Quebec, and Montgomery pushed forward to join him. Colonel +Arnold had forced his way in from the coast through the thick forests +of Maine, along the icy streams of the Kennebec and the Chaudière. The +bitter journey had cost him quite a third of the little force with which +Washington had sent him forth. He had but seven hundred men with whom to +take the all but impregnable place, and Montgomery brought but a scant +five hundred to assist him. But the two young commanders were not to be +daunted. They loved daring, and touched all who followed them with their +own indomitable spirit. In the black darkness of the night which preceded +the last day of the year (December 31, 1775), amidst a blinding storm of +snow, they threw themselves upon the defences of the place, and would +have taken it had not Montgomery lost his life ere his men gained their +final foothold within the walls. The Congress at Philadelphia had at +least the satisfaction of receiving the colors of the Seventh Regiment +of his Majesty’s regulars, taken at Fort Chambly, as a visible token of +Montgomery’s exploits at the northern outlet of Champlain; and every +added operation of the Americans, successful or unsuccessful, added to +the feeling of isolation and uneasiness among the British at Boston. + +[Illustration: RICHARD MONTGOMERY] + +October 10, 1775, Sir William Howe superseded General Gage as +commander-in-chief in the closely watched and invested town; but the +change of commanders made little difference. Every one except the +sailors, the foragers, the commissaries, the drill sergeants, the writing +clerks, the colonial assemblies, the congressional and local committees, +lay inactive till March came, 1776, and Washington was himself ready to +take the offensive. At last he had such cannon and such tools and stores +and wagons and teams as he had been asking and planning and waiting for +the weary, anxious winter through. On the morning of the 5th of March +the British saw workmen and ordnance and every sign of a strong force +of provincials on Dorchester heights, and were as surprised as they +had been, close upon a year before, to see men and trenches on Bunker +Hill. Washington had done work in the night which it was already too +late for them to undo; a storm beat the waters of the bay as the day +wore on and made it impossible to put troops across to the attack in +boats; Washington had all the day and another night in which to complete +his defences; and by the morning of the 6th the British knew that the +heights could not be taken without a risk and loss they could not afford. +The town was rendered untenable at a stroke. With deep chagrin, Howe +determined upon an immediate evacuation; and by the 17th he was aboard +his ships,—eight thousand troops and more than a thousand loyalists +who dared not stay. The stores and cannon, the ammunition, muskets, +small-arms, gun carriages, and supplies of every kind which he found +himself obliged to leave behind enriched Washington with an equipment +more abundant than he could ever have hoped to see in his economical, +ill-appointed camp at Cambridge. + +[Illustration: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AS A POLITICIAN] + +The only British army in America had withdrawn to Halifax: his Majesty’s +troops had nowhere a foothold in the colonies. But that, every one knew, +was only the first act in a struggle which must grow vastly greater +and more tragical before it was ended. Washington knew very well that +there was now no drawing back. Not since the affair at Bunker Hill +had he deemed it possible to draw back; and now this initial success +in arms had made the friends of revolution very bold everywhere. As +spring warmed into summer it was easy to mark the growth in the spirit +of independence. One of the first measures of the Continental Congress, +after coming together for its third annual session in May, 1776, was +to urge the several colonies to provide themselves with regular and +permanent governments as independent states, instead of continuing to +make shift with committees of safety for executives and provisional +“provincial congresses” for legislatures, as they had done since their +government under the crown had fallen to pieces; and they most of them +promptly showed a disposition to take its advice. The resolution in which +the Congress embodied this significant counsel plainly declared “that +the exercise of every kind of authority under the crown ought to be +totally suppressed,” and all the powers of government exercised under +authority from the people of the colonies,—words themselves equivalent +to a declaration for entire separation from Great Britain. Even in the +colonies where loyalists mustered strongest the government of the crown +had in fact almost everywhere been openly thrown off. But by midsummer +it was deemed best to make a formal Declaration of Independence. North +Carolina was the first to instruct her delegates to take that final and +irretrievable step; but most of the other colonies were ready to follow +her lead; and on July 4th Congress adopted the impressive Declaration +which Mr. Jefferson had drawn up in the name of its committee. + +[Illustration: R. H. LEE’S RESOLUTION FOR INDEPENDENCE] + +[Illustration: STATE HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA, 1778] + +Washington himself had urgently prayed that such a step be taken, and +taken at once. It would not change, it would only acknowledge, existing +facts; and it might a little simplify the anxious business he was +about. He had an army which was always making and to be made, because +the struggle had been calculated upon a short scale and the colonies +which were contributing their half-drilled contingents to it were +enlisting their men for only three months at a time. Sometimes the men +would consent to re-enlist, sometimes they would not. They did as they +pleased, of course, and would time and again take themselves off by whole +companies at once when their three months’ term was up. Sir William Howe +would come back, of course, with a force increased, perhaps irresistible: +would come, Washington foresaw, not to Boston, where he could be cooped +up and kept at bay, but to New York, to get control of the broad gateway +of the Hudson, whose long valley had its head close to the waters of +Lake George and Lake Champlain, and constituted an infinitely important +strategic line drawn straight through the heart of the country, between +New England, which was no doubt hopelessly rebellious, and the middle +colonies, in which the crown could count its friends by the thousand. The +Americans must meet him, apparently, with levies as raw and as hastily +equipped as those out of which an army of siege had been improvised at +Boston, each constituent part of which would fall to pieces and have to +be put together again every three months. + +[Illustration: SIGNATURE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON] + +[Illustration: JEFFERSON’S ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THE DECLARATION OF +INDEPENDENCE] + +The worst of it was, that the country back of New York had not been, +could not be, purged of active loyalists as the country round about +Boston had been by the local “committees” of one sort or another and +by the very active and masterful young men who had banded themselves +together as “Sons of Liberty,” seeing much rich adventure, and for the +present little responsibility, ahead of them in those days of government +by resolution. Washington transferred his headquarters to New York early +in April and set about his almost hopeless task with characteristic +energy and fertility of resource; but there were spies without number +all about him, and every country-side was full of enemies who waited for +General Howe’s coming to give him trouble. The formal Declaration of +Independence which the Congress adopted in July hardened the face and +stiffened the resolution of every man who had definitely thrown in his +lot with the popular cause, as Washington had foreseen that it would, +just because it made resistance avowed rebellion, and left no way of +retreat or compromise. But it also deeply grieved and alienated many a +man of judgment and good feeling, and made party differences within the +colonies just so much the more bitter and irreconcilable. + +[Illustration: REAR VIEW OF INDEPENDENCE HALL] + +[Illustration: THE PRESIDENT’S CHAIR IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION] + +The first attempt of the British was made against Charleston in the +south. A fleet under Sir Peter Parker came out of England with fresh +troops commanded by the Earl of Cornwallis, was joined by transports and +men-of-war from Halifax, bearing a force under Sir Henry Clinton, and, +as June drew towards its close, delivered a combined attack, by land and +sea, upon the fort on Sullivan’s Island, seeking to win its way past to +the capture of Charleston itself. But they could not force a passage. +Two of the ships,—one of them Sir Peter’s own flag-ship,—never came away +again. Colonel Moultrie and Colonel Thompson beat off both the fleet +and the troops landed from it; and the British went northward again to +concentrate upon New York. + +[Illustration: MAP OF SULLIVAN’S ISLAND] + +On the 28th of June,—the very day of the attack at Charleston,—Howe’s +transports began to gather in the lower bay. A few days more, and there +were thirty thousand troops waiting to be landed. It was impossible, with +the force Washington had, to prevent their being put ashore at their +commander’s convenience. It was impossible to close the Narrows, to keep +their ships from the inner bay, or even to prevent their passing up the +river as they pleased. Washington could only wait within the exposed town +or within his trenches on Brooklyn heights, which commanded the town +almost as Dorchester and Charlestown heights commanded Boston. + +[Illustration: WILLIAM MOULTRIE] + +For a month and more Sir William waited, his troops most of them still +upon the ships, until he should first attempt to fulfil his mission +of peace and accommodation. His brother, Admiral Lord Howe, joined +him there in July. They were authorized to offer unconditional pardon, +even now, to all who would submit. The ministers in England could not +have chosen commissioners of peace more acceptable to the Americans +or more likely to be heard than the Howes. Not only were they men of +honor, showing in all that they did the straightforward candor and +the instinctive sense of duty that came with their breeding and their +training in arms, but they were also brothers of that gallant young +soldier who had come over almost twenty years ago to fight the French +with Abercrombie, to be loved by every man who became his comrade, and +to lose his life untimely fighting forward through the forests which lay +about Ticonderoga, a knightly and heroic figure. But they could offer +no concessions,—only pardon for utter submission, and, for all their +honorable persistency, could find no one in authority among the Americans +who would make the too exacting exchange. Their offers of pardon +alternated with the movements of their troops and their steady successes +in arms. Lord Howe issued his first overture of peace, in the form of a +public proclamation offering pardon, immediately upon his arrival with +his fleet at Sandy Hook, and followed it up at once with messages to the +Congress at Philadelphia. Sir William Howe put his troops ashore on the +22d of August, and made ready to dislodge Washington from the heights of +Brooklyn; but on the 23d he too, in his turn, made yet another offer of +general pardon, by proclamation. + +[Illustration: SIR WILLIAM HOWE] + +On the 27th he drove the American forces on Long Island in on their +defences, and rendered the heights at once practically untenable. +Washington had but eighteen thousand half-disciplined militiamen with +which to hold the town and all the long shores of the open bay and river, +and had put ten thousand of them across the river to hold Long Island +and the defences on the heights. Sir William had put twenty thousand +men ashore for the attack on the heights; and when Washington knew that +his advanced guard was driven in, and saw Sir William, mindful of Bunker +Hill, bestow his troops, not for an assault, but for an investment of the +heights, he perceived at once how easily he might be cut off and trapped +there, armed ships lying at hand which might at any moment completely +command the river. Immediately, and as secretly as quickly, while a +single night held, he withdrew every man and every gun, as suddenly and +as successfully as he had seized the heights at Dorchester. + +Again Sir William sent a message of conciliation to the Congress, by +the hands of General Sullivan, his prisoner. On the 11th of September, +before the next movement of arms, Dr. Franklin, Mr. John Adams, and Mr. +Edward Rutledge met Lord Howe and Sir William, as commissioners from the +Congress, to discuss possible terms of accommodation. Dr. Franklin had +been in London until March. During the past winter he had more than once +met Lord Howe in earnest conference about American affairs, the ministers +wishing to find through him some way, if it were possible, of quieting +the colonies. But the ministers had not been willing then to make the +concessions which might have ended the trouble, and their commissioners +were not authorized to make them now; and the conference with the +representatives of the Congress came to nothing, as the conferences in +London had come to nothing. + +[Illustration: HOWE’S PROCLAMATION PREPARATORY TO LEAVING BOSTON] + +Washington could no more hold Manhattan Island with the forces at his +command than he could hold Brooklyn heights. He had no choice in the end +but to retire. General Howe was cautious, moved slowly, and handled his +forces with little energy or decision; Washington made stand and fought +at every point at which there was the least promise of success. His men +and his commanders were shamefully demoralized by their defeat on Long +Island, but he held them together with singular tact and authority: +repulsed the enemy at Haarlem heights (September 16th), held his own +before them at White Plains (October 28th),—and did not feel obliged +to abandon the island until late in November, after General Greene had +fatally blundered by suffering three thousand of the best trained men of +the scant continental force, with invaluable artillery, small-arms, and +stores, to be trapped and taken at Fort Washington (November 16th). + +When he did at last withdraw, and leave Howe in complete control of the +great port and its approaches, the situation was indeed alarming. He had +been unspeakably stung and disquieted, as he withdrew mile by mile up the +island, to see how uncertain his men were in the field,—how sometimes +they would fight and sometimes they would not at the hot crisis of a +critical encounter; and now things seemed to have gone utterly to pieces. +He might at any moment be quite cut off from New England. While he still +faced Howe on Manhattan Island, General Carleton, moving with a British +force out of Canada, had driven Benedict Arnold up Champlain, despite +stubborn and gallant resistance (October 11th and 13th), and on the 14th +of October had occupied Crown Point. There he had stopped; and later news +came that he had withdrawn. But apparently he could strike again almost +when he pleased, and threaten all the long line of the Hudson even to +where Howe lay at New York itself. + +[Illustration: EVACUATION OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS] + +It was not mere defeat, however, that put the cast almost of despair upon +affairs as Washington saw them that dismal autumn. His forces seemed +to melt away under his very eyes. Charles Lee, his chief subordinate +in command, too much a soldier of fortune to be a man of honor, obeyed +or disregarded his orders at his own discretion. When once it was +known that General Washington had been obliged to abandon the Hudson, +consternation and defection spread everywhere. On the 30th of November, +when his defeat seemed complete, it might be final, the Howes joined +in a fresh proclamation of pardon, inviting all, once again, to submit +and be forgiven; and it looked for a little as if all who dared would +take advantage of the offer and make their peace with the enemy,—for +Washington now moved in a region where opinion had from the first been +sharply divided. While defection spread he was in full retreat, with +scarcely three thousand men all told in his demoralized force,—that +handful ill-clad and stricken with disease, and dwindling fast by +desertion,—an overwhelming body of the enemy, under Cornwallis, at his +very heels as he went, so that he dared hardly so much as pause for rest +until he had put the broad shelter of the Delaware behind him. “These are +the times that try men’s souls,” cried Thomas Paine (December, 1776); +“the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot” were falling away. One +after another, that very summer, the delegates of the several states had +put their names to the Declaration of Independence; but already there +seemed small prospect of making it good. To not a few it already began to +seem a piece of mere bravado, to be repented of. + +[Illustration: CIRCULAR OF PHILADELPHIA COUNCIL OF SAFETY] + +The real strength and hope of the cause lay in the steadfastness and the +undaunted initiative of the indomitable Virginian whom the Congress had +chosen for the chief command. He proved himself a maker as well as a +commander of armies, struck oftenest when he was deemed most defeated, +could not by any reverse be put out of the fighting. He was now for the +first time to give the British commanders a real taste of his quality. +What there was to be done he did himself. The British stopped at the +Delaware; but their lines reached Burlington, within eighteen miles of +Philadelphia, and from Trenton, which they held in some force, extended +through Princeton to New Brunswick and their headquarters at New York. +Philadelphia was stricken with utter panic. Sick and ragged soldiers +poured in from Washington’s camp, living evidences of what straits he +was in, and had to be succored and taken care of; the country roads were +crowded with vehicles leaving the town laden with women and children and +household goods; the Congress itself incontinently fled the place and +betook itself to Baltimore. Washington’s military stores were in the +town, but he could get no proper protection for them. It was at that very +moment, nevertheless, that he showed all the world with what skill and +audacity he could strike. By dint of every resolute and persistent effort +he had before Christmas brought his little force to a fighting strength +of some six thousand. More than half of these were men enlisted only +until the new year should open, but he moved before that. + +[Illustration: OPERATIONS AROUND TRENTON AND PRINCETON. NUMBERS 76 +REPRESENT THE CAMPS OF GENERAL CORNWALLIS AND 77 THAT OF GENERAL +KNYPHAUSEN ON THE 23D OF JUNE, 1777] + +During the night of Christmas Day, 1776, ferried by doughty fishermen +from far Gloucester and Marblehead,—the same hardy fellows who had +handled his boats the night he abandoned the heights of Brooklyn,—he got +twenty-five hundred men across the river through pitchy darkness and +pounding ice; and in the early light and frost of the next morning he +took Trenton, with its garrison of nine hundred Hessians, at the point of +the bayonet. There he waited,—keeping his unwilling militiamen to their +service past the opening of the year by dint of imperative persuasion +and a pledge of his own private fortune for their pay,—until Cornwallis +came down post-haste out of New York with eight thousand men. Moving only +to change his position a little, he dared to wait until his adversary +was encamped, at nightfall of the 2d of January, 1777, within ear-shot +of his trenches; then slipped northward in the night, easily beat the +British detachment posted at Princeton, as the next day dawned and had +its morning; and could have taken or destroyed Cornwallis’s stores at +New Brunswick had his men been adequately shod to outstrip the British +following hard behind them. As it was, he satisfied himself with having +completely flanked and thwarted his foe, and withdrew safe to the heights +of Morristown. The British had hastily retired from Burlington upon the +taking of Trenton,—so hastily that they took neither their cannon nor +even their heavier baggage away with them. Now they deemed it unsafe +to take post anywhere south of New Brunswick, until spring should come +and they could see what Washington meant to do. Once again, therefore, +the Americans controlled New Jersey; and Washington ordered all who +had accepted General Howe’s offer of pardon either to withdraw to the +British lines or take the oath of allegiance to the United States. Daring +and a touch of genius had turned despair into hope. Americans did not +soon forget that sudden triumph of arms, or that the great Frederick of +Prussia had said that that had been the most brilliant campaign of the +century. + +[Illustration: HESSIAN BOOT] + +A soldier’s eye could see quickly and plainly enough how the whole aspect +of the war had been changed by those brief, sudden, unexpected strokes at +Trenton and Princeton. Men near at hand, and looking for what a soldier +would deem it no business of his to reckon with, saw that it had not only +radically altered the military situation, but also the very atmosphere of +the times for all concerned. The fighting at Trenton and Princeton had +been of no great consequence in itself, but it had in every way put the +war beyond its experimental stage. It had taught the British commanders +with what sort of spirit and genius they had to deal, and how certain it +was that their task must be carried to a finish not only by conquering +marches and a mere occupation of the country, but by careful strategy +and the long plans of a set campaign. Moreover, they now obviously had a +country, and not an insurgent army merely, to conquer,—and a vast country +at that. That surprising winter had set men’s sinews to what they had +undertaken, on the one side as on the other. + +In December (1776) it had looked as if all firmness had been unnerved +and all hope turned to foreboding by the success of the British at New +York and in the Jerseys. Joseph Galloway, of Pennsylvania, when that +crisis came, took advantage of the opportunity to remove within the +British lines and cast in his lot there with those who were ready to +stake everything upon their loyalty and the success of the British arms. +Others followed his example,—some out of panic, but many, it seemed, +not out of fear, but out of principle. Only the other day Mr. Galloway +had been the chief figure in the Congress of Committees which spoke for +the colonies; for many a long day he had been the chief figure in the +politics of his own colony; and many of those who made submission when +he did were of families of the first dignity and consequence. They, like +him, had been champions of colonial rights until it came to the point of +rebellion. They would not follow further. Their example was imitated now, +moreover, in their act of formal submission, by some who had played the +part of patriot more boldly and with less compunction. Mr. Samuel Tucker, +even, who until this untoward month had been president of New Jersey’s +revolutionary committee of safety, made his submission. It seemed hard to +find steadfastness anywhere. + +[Illustration: LETTER CONCERNING BRITISH OUTRAGES] + +But Washington’s genius and the license of the British soldiery had +turned the tide at last, when it seemed upon the very point of becoming +overwhelming. The occupation of the British, brief as it had been, had +brought upon New York and the Jerseys experiences like those of a country +overrun by a foreign soldiery permitted almost every license of conquest. +When the ministers in England found themselves, in 1774, face to face +with the revolt in the colonies, they could count but 17,547 men all told +in the King’s forces; and when it came to sudden recruiting, they could +obtain very few enlistments. They dared not risk conscription,—English +opinion had never tolerated that, except to meet invasion. They sent to +America, therefore, to reinforce General Howe, not only English soldiers +as many as they could muster, but a great force of German troops as +well, hired by the regiment, their trained officers included, from the +Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel and other German princes, neighbors to the +German dominions of the House of Hannover. It was close upon a thousand +of these “Hessians” (for the colonists knew them all by that single +name) that Washington had taken at Trenton, but not until they and their +comrades had had time to make every country-side from New York to the +Delaware dread and hate them. The British commanders had suffered their +men, whether English or foreign, to plunder houses, insult and outrage +women, destroy fields of grain, and help themselves to what the towns +contained almost as they pleased; and had hardened the faces of ten of +the angry colonists against them for every one who made submission and +sought to put himself on their side, accordingly. Their marauding parties +made little distinction between friend and foe, so they but got what they +wanted. Washington could thank them for doing more to check defections +from the patriotic party than he could possibly do for himself by +carrying out the orders of the Congress to disarm all loyalists and bring +recusants to a sharp reckoning. + +[Illustration: RECRUITING POSTER + +_Editor’s Note._—The blurred inscription at the bottom of the poster +reads as follows: + +That tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, and saturday, at Spotswood, in +Middlesex county, attendance will be given by Lieutenant Reading, with +his music and recruiting party of —— company in Major Shute’s Battalion +of the 11th regiment of infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Aaron +Ogden, for the purpose of receiving the enrollment of such youth of +spirit as may be willing to enter into this honourable service. + +The Encouragement, at this time, to enlist is truly liberal and generous, +namely, a bounty of twelve dollars, an annual and fully sufficient supply +of good and handsome cloathing, a daily allowance of a large and ample +ration of provisions, together with sixty dollars a year in gold and +silver money on account of pay, the whole of which the soldier may lay up +for himself and friends, as all articles proper for his subsistence and +comfort are provided by law, without any expence to him. + +Those who may favour this recruiting party with their attendance as above +will have an opportunity of hearing and seeing in a more particular +manner the great advantages which these brave men will have who shall +embrace this opportunity of spending a few happy years in viewing the +different parts of this beautiful continent, in the honourable and truly +respectable character of a soldier, after which he may, if he pleases, +return home to his friends, with his pockets full of money and his head +covered with laurels. + +GOD SAVE THE UNITED STATES.] + +And so the year 1777 dawned like a first year of settled war and +revolution. For a little while, at the outset of the year, the Congress +made Washington practical dictator in every affair that concerned the +prosecution of the war. It authorized long enlistments, moreover, +instead of the makeshift enrolments for three months which had hitherto +kept Washington’s army always a-making and to be made, dissolving and +reforming month by month. The Congress had, it is true, neither the +energy nor the authority it needed. It could get little money to pay the +troops; its agents seriously mismanaged the indispensable business of +supplying the army with stores and clothing; and the men deserted by the +score in disgust. Washington declared, in the summer of 1777, that he +was losing more men by desertion than he was gaining by enlistment, do +what he would. But these were difficulties of administration. In spite +of all dangers and discouragements, it was evident that the continent +was settling to its task. And the end of the year showed the struggle +hopefully set forward another stage. + +The military operations of that memorable year were a striking +illustration of the magnitude of the task the British generals were set +to accomplish, and of their singular lack of the energy, decision, and +despatch necessary to accomplish it. They seemed like men who dallied and +dreamed and did not mean to succeed. They planned like men of action, +but then tarried and bungled at the execution of their plans. It was +their purpose that year (1777) to strike from three several directions +along the valley of the Hudson, and break once for all the connection +between the New England colonies and their confederates. General Burgoyne +was to move, with eight thousand men, down Lake Champlain; Colonel St. +Leger, with a small but sufficient force, along a converging line down +the valley of the Mohawk, from Oswego on Ontario; and General Howe was +to meet them from the south, moving in strength up the Hudson. More than +thirty-three thousand men would have effectually swept the whole of that +great central valley, north and south, when their plan was executed. But +it was not executed. The British commanders were to learn that, for their +armies, the interior of the country was impracticable. + +[Illustration: JOHN BURGOYNE] + +Both St. Leger and Burgoyne were baffled in that vast wilderness. It was +simple enough for Burgoyne to descend the lakes and take once again the +forts which guarded them. Even Ticonderoga he took without a blow struck. +A precipitous height, which the Americans had supposed inaccessible +by any sort of carriage, rose above the strong fortifications of the +place beyond a narrow strip of water; the English dragged cannon to its +summit; and General St. Clair promptly withdrew in the night, knowing his +position to be no longer tenable. But it was another matter to penetrate +the forests which lay about Lake George and the upper waters of the +Hudson with militiamen out of every country-side within reach swarming +thicker and thicker at every step the redcoats took into the depths of +the perplexing region. A thousand men Burgoyne felt obliged to leave at +Ticonderoga for the sake of his communications; close upon a thousand +more he lost (August 16th) at Bennington, whither he had sent them to +seize stores; and by the time he had reached the neighborhood of Saratoga +with the six thousand left him, fully fourteen thousand provincials beset +him. He had been told that the people of the country through which he was +to pass would gladly give him aid and succor; that those quiet forests of +Vermont and New York would even yield him, it might be, a regiment or two +of loyalists wherewith to recruit his ranks when once his presence there +should give the secluded settlers heart of grace to declare themselves +openly for the King. Instead of that, he presently had a formidable force +of provincial yeomanry out of Vermont dogging his steps under General +Lincoln; a like levy, hurriedly drawn together out of New Hampshire and +Massachusetts, beat and captured his best German troops at Bennington; +the country was emptied of its people and of its cattle, was stripped +of its forage even, as he advanced; and every step he took threatened +to cut him off alike from his sources of supply and from his lines of +retreat. It maddened the watchful men of those scattered homes to see +him come with half a thousand savages at his front. It had been bad +enough to see any invaders on that defenceless border: but the presence +of the redskins put their homes and their lives in immediate and deadly +peril, and they mustered as they would have mustered to meet a threat of +massacre. Burgoyne himself would have checked his savage allies when the +mischief had been done and it was too late; but he only provoked them to +desert him and leave him without guides in an almost pathless wilderness, +without appeasing the men their presence had brought swarming upon his +flanks. + +[Illustration: ARTHUR ST. CLAIR] + +[Illustration: SAMUEL ADAMS] + +[Illustration: BENJAMIN LINCOLN] + +He pushed forward nevertheless, dogged, indomitable, determined to risk +everything rather than fail of his rendezvous with Howe and St. Leger at +the Hudson. And yet close upon the heels of his defeat and heavy loss at +Bennington came news that St. Leger had already failed. Late in July, St. +Leger had thrust his way cautiously through the forests from Oswego to +the upper waters of the Mohawk; and there, on the 3d of August, he had +set himself down to take Fort Stanwix, with its little garrison of six +hundred men under Colonel Peter Gansevoort. There, if anywhere, in those +northern forests by the Mohawk, might men who fought in the name of the +King look to be bidden Godspeed and given efficient aid and counsel by +the settlers of the country-side through which they moved. There William +Johnson (Sir William since the French war) had reigned supreme for a long +generation, his energy, subtlety, quick resource, and never failing +power over men holding the restless Iroquois always to their loyalty to +the English, the English always to their duty to the crown. Sir William +had been dead these three years; but his son, Sir John, still held his +ancient allies to their fealty and stood at the front of those who +would not accept the revolution wrought at Boston and Williamsburg and +Philadelphia. This war among the English sadly puzzled the red warriors +of the forest. War between the king of the French and the king of the +English they understood; it was a war of hostile peoples; but this war +of the English against their chiefs? “You are two brothers,” they said, +“of one blood.” The Mohawks deemed it some subtile treachery, as their +great chief did, the redoubtable Joseph Brant, himself trained with the +English boys in Mr. Wheelock’s school at Lebanon and taught to see the +white man close at hand; and the Cayugas and Senecas followed them in +their allegiance to the mighty sachem who “lived over the great lake,” +their friend and ally time out of mind. The Onondagas held off, neutral. +The Oneidas and Tuscaroras, among whom Mr. Kirkland was missionary, aided +the patriots when they could, because he wished it, but would not take +the war-path. There were white loyalists, too, as well as red, on that +far frontier. Sir John Johnson was their leader. Their regiment of Royal +Greens, together with John Butler’s Tory rangers, constituted the bulk +of St. Leger’s motley force of seventeen hundred, red men and white. +Scottish highlanders, stubborn Englishmen hot against the revolution, +and restless Irishmen, for the nonce on the side of authority, filled +their ranks. + +[Illustration: SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON] + +[Illustration: SIR JOHN JOHNSON] + +[Illustration: JOSEPH BRANT] + +[Illustration: PETER GANSEVOORT] + +But even there, in Sir William Johnson’s one-time kingdom, enemies of +King and Parliament mustered stronger yet, and showed quicker concert, +freer, more instant union than the Tories. There were Dutch there, and +Germans and Scots-Irish, who recked nothing of the older ties that had +bound them when it came to the question whether they should yield in +their own affairs to masters over sea. Peter Gansevoort commanded the +little garrison at Stanwix; Nicholas Herkimer brought eight hundred men +to his succor. Brant and Johnson trapped the stout-hearted German in a +deadly ambush close by Oriskany as he came; but he beat them off. While +that heroic struggle went forward there in the close ravine the hot +morning through (August 6, 1777), Gansevoort made sally and sacked Sir +John’s camp. Herkimer could come no further; but there came, instead, +rumors that Burgoyne was foiled and taken and the whole American army on +the road to Stanwix. It was only Benedict Arnold, with twelve hundred +Massachusetts volunteers; but the rumors they industriously sent ahead +of them carried the panic they had planned, and when they came there was +no army to meet. St. Leger’s men were in full flight to Oswego, the very +Indians who had been their allies harrying them as they went, in mere +wanton savagery and disaffection. + +Though he knew now that St. Leger could not come, though he knew nothing, +and painfully conjectured a thousand things, of Sir William Howe’s +promised movement below upon the river, Burgoyne pushed forward to the +Hudson and crossed it (September 13, 1777), to face the Americans under +General Gates upon the western bank. It was as safe to go forward as to +turn back. Gates, secure within his intrenchments, would not strike; and +he, his supplies instantly threatened behind him, could not wait. On the +19th of September he threw four thousand men forward through the forest +to turn, if it were possible, the flank of General Gates’s army where +it lay so still upon Bemis’s Heights by Stillwater. But Arnold was too +quick for him. With three thousand men Arnold met and checked him, moving +with all the quick audacity and impetuous dash of which he had given Guy +Carleton a taste upon Champlain and at the gates of Quebec, Daniel Morgan +and his Virginian riflemen again at his back as they had been at far +Quebec. His stroke having failed, Burgoyne lay still for eighteen tedious +days, waiting once more for Sir Henry Clinton, now at last, he knew, +actually upon the river. On the 7th of October he struck again. Clinton +came too slowly. Burgoyne’s lines of communication by the northern lakes, +long threatened by General Lincoln and his Vermonters, were now actually +cut off, and it was possible to calculate just how few days’ rations +remained to make his campaign upon. He tried an attack with picked men, +moving quickly; but overwhelming forces met him, and the inevitable +Arnold, coming upon the field when he was already beaten, turned his +defeat almost into a rout. He withdrew hopelessly towards Saratoga. +Every crossing of the river he found heavily guarded against him. No +succor came to him, or could come, it seemed, either from the west or +from the south; he could find no safe way out of the wilderness; without +aid, the odds were too great against him; and on the 17th of October he +capitulated. + +[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF CLOSING PARAGRAPHS OF BURGOYNE’S SURRENDER] + +General Howe had moved south instead of north. He fancied that it would +bring him no small moral advantage to take Philadelphia, the “capital” of +the insurgent confederacy; and he calculated that it ought to be easily +possible to do so before Burgoyne would need him in the north. Early in +June, accordingly, he attempted to cross the Jerseys; but Washington, +striking from Morristown, threatened his flank in a way which made +him hesitate and draw back. He returned to New York, and put eighteen +thousand men aboard his transports, to get at Philadelphia by water +from the south. It was the 25th of August, and Burgoyne was needing him +sorely in the northern forests, before he had got ready for his land +movement. He had gone all the long way round about into Chesapeake Bay, +and had made his landing at the Head of Elk, in Maryland. Washington met +him behind the fords of the Brandywine (September 11th), but could not +withstand him. He could only delay him. Defeat no longer meant dismay +for the Americans; Washington acted in force as steadily and effectively +after defeat as after victory. It was the 27th of September before +Sir William entered Philadelphia. He was hardly settled there before +Washington attacked him again, at his outpost at Germantown, in the +thick mist of the morning of the 4th of October, and would have taken +the place had not the mist confused and misled his own troops. Meantime +Burgoyne was trapped at Saratoga. On October 3d Sir Henry Clinton had +begun at last the movement from New York for Burgoyne’s relief which +ought to have been begun in midsummer,—carrying northward a strong +fleet upon the river and an army of three thousand men. But it was too +late. Burgoyne’s surrender was already inevitable. The net result of +the campaign was the loss of the northern army and the occupation of +Philadelphia. “Philadelphia has taken Howe,” laughed Dr. Franklin, in +Paris, when they told him that Howe had taken Philadelphia. + +[Illustration: SCENE OF THE BATTLE OF THE BRANDYWINE] + +The long, slow year had been full of signs both good and bad. +International forces were beginning to work in favor of the insurgent +colonies. From the outset France and Spain had been willing to give them +aid against England, their traditional rival and enemy. Since the summer +of 1776 they had been promised French and Spanish assistance through +Beaumarchais, acting ostensibly as the firm of “Roderigue Hortalez et +Cie.,” but really as the secret agent of the two governments; and early +in 1777 the fictitious firm had begun actually to despatch vessels laden +with arms and ammunition to America. Private money also went into the +venture, but governments were known to be behind it; and on January 5th, +1777, Mr. Franklin had arrived in Paris to assist in bringing France +into still closer touch with the war for independence over sea. As the +year drew towards its close the great Frederick of Prussia had forbidden +troops hired in the other German states to cross Prussian territory to +serve the English in America, and so had added his good-will to the +French and Spanish money. French, and even German and Polish officers, +too, volunteered for service in the American armies. It was the gallant +Polish patriot Tadeusz Kosciuszko who had shown General Gates how to +intrench himself upon Bemis’s Heights. + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON’S PROCLAMATION] + +The winter was deeply disheartening, nevertheless, for Washington. Having +failed in the mist at Germantown, he withdrew his army to Valley Forge, +whence he could watch Howe at Philadelphia, and move as he moved, and yet +himself feel safe against attack; but utter demoralization had fallen +upon the Congress, sitting in a sort of exile at York, and his army was +brought to such straits of privation and suffering in its exposed camp as +he had never been obliged to see it endure before. There was plenty of +food in the country; plenty even at the disposal of Congress and in the +stores of its commissariat. The British had overrun very little of the +fertile country; the crops had been abundant and laborers had not been +lacking to gather them in,—especially there in thriving Pennsylvania. +But the Congress had lost all vigor alike in counsel and in action. +Men of initiative had withdrawn from it to serve their states in the +reorganization of their several governments and in the command of forces +in the field. Sometimes scarcely a dozen members could be got together +to take part in its deliberations. It yielded to intrigue,—even to +intrigue against Washington; allowed its executive committees, and most +of all the commissary department, upon which the army depended, to fall +into disorganization; listened to censures and bickerings rather than to +plans of action; lost the respect of the states, upon which its authority +depended; and left the army almost to shift for itself for sustenance. +Fortunately it was a mild winter. Fortunately Washington was masterful +and indomitable, and proved equal to checkmating at a single move those +who intrigued in the Congress to displace him. Despite every bitter +experience of that dark and anxious season, he had when spring came an +army stronger and fitter for service than it had been when he took it +into winter quarters. The lengthened term of service had given him at +last an army which might be drilled, and foreign officers,—notably the +capable Steuben,—had taught him how to drill it. + +[Illustration: BARON DE STEUBEN] + +General Howe’s winter passed easily and merrily enough in Philadelphia. +The place was full of people of means and influence who hoped as heartily +as Mr. Galloway did for the success of the British arms. Some of the +leading Quakers of the town, whose influence was all for an accommodation +of the quarrel with the mother country, had been arrested the previous +summer (1777) and sent south by the patriot leaders; but many more were +left who were of their mind, and General Howe met something like a +welcome when he came in the autumn. The fashionable young women of the +town were delighted to look their best and to use their charms to the +utmost at all the balls and social gatherings that marked the gay winter +of his stay, and their parents were not displeased to see them shine +there. But for the soldiers’ coats one would have thought that peace had +come again. + +But the minds of the ministers in England were not so much at ease. In +February, 1778, Lord North introduced and pressed through Parliament +conciliatory measures of the most radical sort, practically retracing +every misjudged step taken with regard to the colonies since 1763; and +commissioners of peace were sent to America with almost plenipotentiary +powers of accommodation. But that very month a formal treaty of alliance +was signed between France and the United States; by the time the peace +commissioners reached Philadelphia, England had a war with France on +her hands as well as a war with the colonies; there was no rejoicing in +the camp at Valley Forge over the news of Lord North’s unexpected turn +of purpose, but there was very keen rejoicing when news of the French +alliance came. The Congress would not treat with the commissioners. +Conciliation had come too late; for the colonies the aspect of the war +was too hopeful. + +When the commissioners reached Philadelphia they found General Clinton +about to abandon it. Sir Henry Clinton had succeeded General Howe in +chief command in May. His orders were to evacuate Philadelphia and +concentrate his forces once more at New York. The town was as full of +excitement and dismay at the prospect as it had been but a little more +than a year ago at news of the British approach. When the army began to +move, three thousand loyalists abandoned the town with it, going with the +stores by sea, while Sir Henry took his fifteen thousand men overland +through the Jerseys again. + +[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF PLAY BILL] + +When he moved, Washington moved also; outstripped him; caught him at +a disadvantage at Monmouth Court House (June 28, 1778); and would +inevitably have beaten him most seriously had not Charles Lee again +disobeyed him and spoiled the decisive movement of the day,—Charles Lee, +the soldier of fortune whom the Americans had honored and trusted. He +had disobeyed before, when Washington was retreating hard pressed from +New York. This time he seemed to play the coward. It was not known until +afterwards that he had played the traitor, too. Clinton got off, but +in a sort of rout, leaving his wounded behind him. “Clinton gained no +advantage except to reach New York with the wreck of his army,” was the +watchful Frederick’s comment over sea. “America is probably lost for +England.” + +[Illustration: CHARLES LEE] + +Even the seas were no longer free for the movements of the British +fleets, now that France was America’s ally and French fleets were +gathering under orders for the American coast. Every month the war had +lasted the English had found their commerce and their movement of stores +and transports more and more embarrassed by the American privateersmen. +There were bold and experienced seamen at every port of the long coast. +The little vessels which were so easily set up and finished by skilful +carpenters and riggers in almost any quiet inlet were sure to be fast +and deftly handled when they got to sea; kept clear of his Majesty’s +fleets and of too closely guarded harbors; cruised whithersoever the wits +of their sagacious masters took them; and had generally to be heavily +overmatched to be beaten. They had taken more than five hundred British +soldiers from the transports before the Congress at Philadelphia had +uttered its Declaration of Independence. Their prizes numbered more than +four hundred and fifty the year of Saratoga and Brandywine and the fight +in the morning’s mist at Germantown, though there were seventy ships of +war upon the coast. The very coasts of England herself were not safe +against them. Mr. Franklin went to France in the autumn of 1776 with his +pocket full of blank letters of marque, and American privateersmen from +out the French ports caught prizes enough in English waters to keep the +commissioners in Paris well found in money for their plans. In January, +1778, Captain Rathburne, in the _Providence_, actually seized the fort +in the harbor of Nassau in New Providence of the Bahamas, and took +possession of town and shipping; and in the spring of that same year John +Paul Jones performed the same daring feat at Whitehaven by Solway Firth +in England itself. + +These privateersmen, it turned out, were more to be feared for the +present than the fleets of France. The Count d’Estaing was, indeed, +despatched to America with twelve ships of the line and six frigates, +with four thousand troops aboard; and his fleet appeared off Sandy Hook +in midsummer, 1778, while Sir Henry Clinton was still fresh from his +fright at Monmouth. But the too cautious admiral came and went, and that +was all. He would not attempt an attack upon the English fleet within the +bay at New York, though it was of scarcely half his strength. His pilots +told him his larger ships could not cross the bar. Newport was the only +other harbor the English held; and there he allowed Lord Howe to draw him +off. A storm separated the fleets before they could come to terms, and +his cruise ended peaceably in Boston harbor. But it was a heavy thing +for England to have French fleets to reckon with, and embarrassments +thickened very ominously about her. She had absolutely no hold on +America, it seemed, outside the lines actually occupied by her armies at +Newport and New York; the very sea was beset, for her merchantmen; and +France was now kindled into war against her. + +[Illustration: REDUCED FACSIMILE OF INSTRUCTIONS FROM CONGRESS TO +PRIVATEERS] + +[Illustration: CONTINENTAL LOTTERY BOOK] + +And yet the Americans, too, were beset. They had not only their long +coasts to watch and British armies to thwart and checkmate, but their +western borders also to keep, against Tory and savage. The Iroquois +country, in particular, and all the long valleys of the Mohawk, the +Unadilla, and the Susquehanna, were filled with the terrors of raid and +massacre throughout that disappointing and anxious summer of 1778. The +stubborn loyalists of the forest country, with their temper still of the +untamed highlands of old Scotland or of the intractable country-sides of +old England, had been driven into exile by the uncompromising patriots, +their neighbors, who outnumbered them. But they had not gone far. They +had made their headquarters, the more dogged and determined of them, at +Niagara, until this score should be settled. Sir John Johnson was still +their leader, for all he had been so discomfited before Fort Stanwix; +and John Butler and Walter Butler, father and son, men touched with +the savagery of the redmen, their allies. Joseph Brant, that masterful +spirit who was a sort of self-appointed king among the savage Mohawks, +did not often willingly forget the precepts of that Christian creed to +which good Mr. Wheelock had drawn him in his boyhood, and held the redmen +back when he could from every wanton deed of blood; but the Butlers +stopped at nothing, and white men and red made common cause against the +border settlements. Their cruel strokes were dealt both far and near. +Upon a day in July, 1778, never to be forgotten, twelve hundred men fell +upon the far-away Wyoming Valley upon the Susquehanna and harried it from +end to end until it was black and desolate. In November a like terrible +fate fell upon peaceful Cherry Valley, close at hand. There could be no +peace or quarter until the hands of these men were stayed. + +[Illustration: REDUCED FACSIMILE OF THE FIRST AND LAST PARTS OF PATRICK +HENRY’S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS TO GEORGE ROGERS CLARK] + +[Illustration: GEORGE ROGERS CLARK] + +But, though very slowly, the end came. The men who mustered in the +patriotic ranks knew the forest and were masters of its warfare. They +had only to turn to it in earnest to prevail. There were men upon the +border, too, who needed but a little aid and countenance to work the +work of pioneer statesmen on the western rivers. Most conspicuous among +these was George Rogers Clark, the young Saxon giant who, in 1777, left +his tasks as pioneer and surveyor on the lands which lay upon the south +of the great river Ohio in far Kentucky, Virginia’s huge western county, +and made his way back to the tide-water country to propose to Mr. Henry, +now governor of the revolutionized commonwealth, an expedition for the +conquest of the “Illinois country” which lay to the north of the river. +He was but five-and-twenty, but he had got his stalwart stature where +men came quickly into their powers, deep in the forests, where he had +learned woodcraft and had already shown his mettle among men. Mr. Henry +and Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Wythe and Mr. Madison, whom he consulted, +approved his purpose very heartily. It was a thing which must be prepared +for very quietly, and pushed, when once begun, with secrecy and quick +despatch; but the mustering of men and the gathering of munitions and +supplies were incidents which made no stir in those days of familiar +war. Clark could bring together what force he pleased at Pittsburgh, +and excite only the expectation that a new band of armed men were about +to set out for the frontiers of Kentucky. In May, 1778, he was ready. +He took but one hundred and eighty picked riflemen, a modest flotilla +of small boats, and a few light pieces of artillery, but they sufficed. +Before the summer was out he had gained easy mastery of the little +settlements which lay to the northward upon the Mississippi and within +the nearer valley of the Wabash. He had an infinitely pleasing way of +winning the friendship of men upon any border, and the Frenchmen of the +settlements of the Illinois country relished the change he promised them, +liked well enough the prospect of being quit of the English power. There +were few Englishmen to deal with. + +When winter came Colonel Hamilton, the British commander at Detroit, came +south into the forest with a motley force of five hundred men, mixed +of regulars, Tories, and Indians, such as St. Leger had taken against +Stanwix, and occupied Vincennes again, upon the Wabash; but Clark struck +once more, sending his boats up the river and bringing his picked force +straight across the frozen forests from Kaskaskia by the Mississippi; and +by the end of February, 1779, Colonel Hamilton and all his levy were his +prisoners. The Illinois country was added to Virginia, and the grant of +her ancient charter, “up into the land, west and northwest,” seemed made +good again by the daring of her frontiersmen. He could have taken Detroit +itself, Clark declared, with but a few hundred men. While he cleared the +northern rivers of the British arms a force like his own descended the +Mississippi, seized Natchez, and cleared the southern reaches of the +great stream. + +[Illustration: GEORGE CLARK’S FINAL SUMMONS TO COLONEL HAMILTON TO +SURRENDER] + +That winter had witnessed a sharp shifting of the scene of the war in +the east. The British commanders there had turned away from General +Washington and the too closely guarded reaches of the Hudson to try +for better fortune in the far south. In December, 1778, Clinton sent +thirty-five hundred men from New York to the southern coasts by sea, and +on the 29th Savannah was taken, with comparative ease, there being but a +scant six hundred to defend it. The town once taken, it proved an easy +matter, at that great remove from the centre of the American strength, +to overrun the country back of it during the early weeks of 1779. But +after that came delay again, and inaction, as of those who wait and doubt +what next to do. The new year saw nothing else decisive done on either +side. In April Spain made common cause with France against England; +but Washington waited in vain the year through to see the fighting +transferred to America. A few strategic movements about New York, where +Clinton lay; a few raids by the British; a few sharp encounters that +were not battles, and the year was over. The British made sallies here +and there, to pillage and burn, to keep the country in awe and bring off +whatever they could lay hands upon, striking sometimes along the coast as +far as Connecticut and even the Chesapeake at the south; but armed bands +were quick to muster to oppose and harass them wherever they went, and +it was never safe for them to linger. Clinton thrust his lines out upon +the river and fortified Stony Point; but Anthony Wayne stormed the place +of a sudden, with twelve hundred men, and took it, with unshotted guns +at the point of the bayonet before dawn on the morning of the 15th of +July, and brought more than five hundred prisoners away with him, having +come with that quick fury of reckless attack which made men call him Mad +Anthony, and having as quickly withdrawn again. Harry Lee stormed Paulus +Hook in like fashion, and the British were nowhere very easy within their +lines. But, for the rest, there was little to break the monotony of +waiting for news of the war at England’s door, where the fleets of the +allies threatened her. Privateersmen were as busy as ever, and as much +to be feared, almost, as the French cruisers themselves; but the formal +operations of the war seemed vaguely postponed. Without the co-operation +of a naval force it was impossible for Washington to do anything against +Sir Henry at New York. + +[Illustration: CHARLES JAMES FOX] + +While he waited, therefore, he despatched General Sullivan with five +thousand men into the forest country of the Mohawk and the Susquehanna +to make an end of the cruel mischief wrought upon defenceless homes by +the bitter Tories and their red allies. The little army, sent forward in +divisions, swept through the country it was bidden clear like men who +searched stream and valley upon a journey of discovery; converged to +meet their hunted foes, but fifteen hundred strong, where they lay at +bay within a bend of the Chemung,—the full rally of the forest country, +British regulars, Tory rangers, Indian braves, Johnson, the Butlers, +Joseph Brant, every leader they acknowledged, united to direct them,—and +overwhelmed them; ravaged the seats of Seneca and Cayuga far and near, +till neither village nor any growing thing that they could find upon +which men could subsist was left this side the Genesee; stopped short +only of the final thing they had been bidden attempt, the capture of the +stronghold at Niagara itself. + +[Illustration: JOHN SULLIVAN] + +That was a summer’s reckoning which redmen far and near were not likely +to forget. In April a little army of frontiersmen under Colonel Evan +Shelby, that stout pioneer out of Maryland who brought hot Welsh blood to +the task, swept suddenly along the northward reaches of the Tennessee and +harried the country of the Chickamaugas, among whom Tories and British +alike had been stirring war. In August, Colonel Brodhead, ordered to +co-operate with General Sullivan, had taken six hundred men from his post +at Fort Pitt, whence Clark had made his exit into the west, and had +destroyed the Indian settlements by the Alleghany and upon French Creek, +the old routes of the French from the lakes to the Ohio. Such work was +never finished. The Indians were for a little dislodged, disconcerted, +and put to sad straits to live; but they were not conquered. The terror +bred a deeper thirst for vengeance among them, and a short respite of +peace was sure to be followed when a new year came in with fresh flashes +of war on the border, as lurid and ominous as ever. The danger was +lessened, nevertheless. The final conquest of the Indian country was at +least begun. The backwoodsmen were within sight of ultimate mastery when +once peace should bring settlers crowding westward again. + +[Illustration: CASIMIR PULASKI] + +The fighting at sea that memorable year of doubt was of a like +import,—full of daring and stubborn courage, planned and carried through +with singular initiative and genius, quick with adventure, bright +with every individual achievement, but of necessity without permanent +consequence. Late in July, 1779, Captain Paul Jones had sailed from a +port of France in command of a little squadron, half American, half +French, with which the energy of Mr. Franklin had supplied him. His +flag-ship, the _Bon Homme Richard_, was a worn-out French East Indiaman, +fitted with forty guns, many of which were unserviceable; his French +consorts were light craft, lightly armed; only one ship of the squadron +was fully fit for the adventures he promised himself, having come fresh +from the stocks in America, and she was intrusted to the command of a +French captain who obeyed orders or not, as he pleased. But Jones was +a man to work with what he had, and made even that improvised fleet +suffice. With it he cruised the whole length of the western coast of +Ireland and circled Scotland. Off Flamborough Head he fell in with the +_Serapis_, 44, and the _Countess of Scarborough_, 20, the convoy of a +fleet of merchantmen, and himself took the larger ship almost unassisted +in a desperate fight after sunset, in the first watch of the night of the +23d of September. Neither ship survived the encounter forty-eight hours, +so completely had they shot each other to pieces, and no man who followed +the sea was likely to forget what he heard of that close grapple in the +gathering night in the North Sea. “If I fall in with him again, I will +make a lord of him,” Jones exclaimed, when he heard that the King had +knighted Captain Pearson, of the _Serapis_, for the gallant fight. + +[Illustration: JOHN PAUL JONES] + +[Illustration: THE FIGHT BETWEEN BON HOMME RICHARD AND SERAPIS] + +For a little, in the autumn, it looked as if the naval aid for which +General Washington waited had come at last. The Count d’Estaing was in +the West Indies with a strong fleet, from an encounter with which the +English commander in those waters had drawn off to port again to refit. +The count was willing, while his hands were free, to co-operate in an +attack upon the southern coast at Savannah. A portion of Washington’s +army was sent south to join General Lincoln in South Carolina for the +attempt. Count d’Estaing put six thousand troops aboard his fleet, and +by the 16th of September was within the harbor. But he did not strike +quickly or boldly enough, took the slow way of siege to reduce the +place, suffered the English commander to make good both the rally of +his scattered force and the fortification of his position, and had done +nothing when it was high time for him to be back in the Indies to guard +the possessions of his own king against the English. A last assault +(October 9th) failed and he withdrew. + +The next year a like disappointment was added. In midsummer a French +fleet arrived upon the northern coast, but it proved impossible to use +it. On the 10th of July a French squadron put in at Newport and landed a +force of six thousand men under the Comte de Rochambeau; but a powerful +British fleet presently blockaded the port, and Rochambeau could not +prudently withdraw while the fleet was threatened. He had been ordered to +put himself at General Washington’s disposal; but he could not do so till +the blockade was raised. Meanwhile not only Georgia but the entire South +seemed lost and given over to British control. In the spring, Clinton had +concentrated all his forces once more at New York; and then, leaving that +all-important place strong enough to keep Washington where he was, he +had himself taken eight thousand men by sea to Charleston. Two thousand +more troops, already in the South, joined him there, and by the 12th of +May (1780) he had taken not only the place itself, but General Lincoln +and three thousand men besides. South Carolina teemed with loyalists. +Partisan bands, some serving one side, some the other, swept and harried +the region from end to end. Wherever the British moved in force, they +moved as they pleased, and were masters of the country. In June General +Clinton deemed it already safe to take half his force back to New York, +and Cornwallis was left to complete the work of subjugation. + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON AND ROCHAMBEAU IN THE TRENCHES AT YORKTOWN] + +That same month the Congress conferred the chief command in the South +upon General Horatio Gates, who had been in command of the army to which +Burgoyne had surrendered at Saratoga,—the army which Schuyler had made +ready and which Morgan and Arnold had victoriously handled. Intriguers +had sought, while Washington lay at Valley Forge, to substitute Gates for +the commander-in-chief; now he was to show how happy a circumstance it +was that that selfish intrigue had failed. He met Cornwallis at Camden, +in South Carolina, his own force three thousand men, Cornwallis’s but two +thousand, and was utterly, even shamefully, defeated (August 16, 1780). +“We look on America as at our feet,” said Horace Walpole, complacently, +when the news had made its way over sea. + +[Illustration: HORATIO GATES] + +And certainly it seemed as if that dark year brought nothing but disaster +upon the Americans. It was now more evident than ever that they had +no government worthy of the name. The Congress had no more authority +now than it had had in 1774, when it was admitted to be nothing but a +“Congress of the Committees of Correspondence”; and it was not now made +up, as it had then been, of the first characters in America, the men +of the greatest force and initiative in the patriotic party. It could +advise, but it could not command; and the states, making their own +expenditures, which seemed heavy enough, maintaining their own militia, +guarding their own interests in the war, following their own leaders, +often with open selfishness and indifference to the common cause, paid +less and less heed to what it asked them to do. It could not raise money +by taxation; it could raise very little by loan, having no legal power to +make good its promises of repayment. Beaumarchais found to his heavy cost +that it was next to impossible to recover the private moneys advanced +through “Roderigue Hortalez et Cie.” The troops upon whom Washington and +his generals depended were paid in “continental” paper money, which, by +1780, had grown so worthless that a bushel of wheat could scarcely be +had for a month’s pay. Wholesale desertion began. Enlisted men by the +score quit the demoralized camps. It was reckoned that as many as a full +hundred a month went over to the enemy, if only to get food and shelter +and clothing. Those who remained in the depleted ranks took what they +needed from the farms about them, and grew sullen and mutinous. Promises +of money and supplies proved as fruitless as promises of reinforcements +from France. + +[Illustration: BENEDICT ARNOLD’S OATH OF ALLEGIANCE] + +[Illustration: BENEDICT ARNOLD] + +[Illustration: JOHN ANDRÉ] + +Even deliberate treason was added. Benedict Arnold, whom every soldier +in the continental ranks deemed a hero because of the gallant things he +had done at Quebec and Saratoga, and whom Washington had specially loved +and trusted, entered into correspondence with the enemy, and plotted to +give West Point and the posts dependent upon it into the hands of the +British. Congress had been deeply unjust to him, promoting his juniors +and inferiors and passing him over; a thousand slights had cut him; +a thousand subtle forces of discouragement and of social temptation +had been at work upon him, and he had yielded,—to pique, to bitter +disappointment, to the disorders of a mind unstable, irritable, without +nobility. His treason was discovered in time to be foiled, but the +heart-breaking fact of it cut Washington to the quick, like a last and +wellnigh fatal stroke of bitter dismay. Who could be trusted now? and +where was strength to be got wherewith to carry the languishing work to a +worthy finish? + +[Illustration: MAJOR ANDRÉ’S WATCH] + +It was the worst of all the bad signs of the times that no government +could be agreed upon that would give the young states a real union, +or assure them of harmony and co-operation in the exercise of the +independence for which they were struggling. Definitive articles of +confederation had been suggested as of course at the time the Declaration +of Independence was adopted; and the next year (November 15, 1777) the +Congress had adopted the plan which Mr. Dickinson had drawn up and which +its committee had reported July 12, 1776. But the states did not all +accept it, and without unanimous adoption it could not go into operation. +All except Delaware and Maryland accepted it before the close of 1778, +and Delaware added her ratification in 1779; but Maryland still held +out,—waiting until the great states, like Virginia, should forego some +part of their too great preponderance and advantage in the prospective +partnership by transferring their claims to the great northwestern +territories to the proposed government of the confederation; and her +statesmanlike scruples still kept the country without a government +throughout that all but hopeless year 1780. + +[Illustration: BENEDICT ARNOLD’S PASS TO MAJOR ANDRÉ] + +But the autumn showed a sudden turning of the tide. Cornwallis had +ventured too far from his base of operations on the southern coast. +He had gone deep into the country of the Carolinas, north of him, and +was being beset almost as Burgoyne had been when he sought to cross +the forests which lay about the upper waters of the Hudson. Gates had +been promptly superseded after his disgraceful discomfiture and rout +at Camden, and the most capable officers the long war had bred were +now set to accomplish the task of forcing Cornwallis to a checkmate: +Nathanael Greene, whose quality Washington had seen abundantly tested +at Trenton and Princeton, at the Brandywine, at Germantown, and at +Monmouth; the dashing Henry Lee, whom nature and the hard school of war +had made a master of cavalry; the veteran and systematic Steuben; Morgan, +who had won with Arnold in the fighting about Saratoga, and had kept +his name unstained; and William Washington, a distant kinsman of the +commander-in-chief, whom English soldiers were to remember with Lee as a +master of light horsemen. The wide forests were full, too, of partisan +bands, under leaders whom the British had found good reason to dread. + +[Illustration: MAJOR ANDRÉ’S POCKET-BOOK] + +[Illustration: VIRGINIA COLONIAL CURRENCY] + +The conquest of the back country of the Carolinas was always doing and to +be done. The scattered settlements and lonely plantations were, indeed, +full of men who cared little for the quarrel with the mother country +and held to their old allegiance as of course, giving to the King’s +troops ready aid and welcome; and there were men there, as everywhere, +who loved pillage and all lawless adventure, upon whom the stronger army +could always count to go in its ranks upon an errand of subjugation; but +there were also men who took their spirit and their principles from the +new days that had come since the passage of the Stamp Act, and, though +they were driven from their homes and left to shift for themselves for +mere subsistence when the King’s forces were afield, they came back +again when the King’s men were gone, and played the part, albeit without +Indian allies, that the ousted Tories played in the forest country of New +York. The English commanders at Savannah and Charleston had hit at last, +nevertheless, upon effective means of holding, not their seaports merely, +but the country itself. The forces they sent into the interior were made +up, for the most part, of men recruited in America, and were under the +command of officers fitted by school and temperament for their irregular +duty of keeping a whole country-side in fearful discipline of submission. +Many a formidable band of “Whigs” took the field against them, but were +without a base of supplies, moved among men who spied upon them, and were +no match in the long run for Tarleton and Ferguson,—Tarleton with his +reckless, sudden onset and savage thoroughness of conquest, and Ferguson +with his subtile gifts at once of mastery and of quiet judgment that +made him capable of succeeding either as a soldier who compelled or as +a gentleman who won men to go his way and do his will. South Carolina +seemed once and again to lie almost quiet under these men. + +[Illustration: LORD CORNWALLIS] + +[Illustration: WILLIAM WASHINGTON] + +[Illustration: BANASTRE TARLETON] + +[Illustration: FRANCIS MARION] + +But Ferguson, for all he had the gifts of a soldier statesman, had gone +too far. He had carried his persuasion of arms to the very foothills +of the western mountains, and had sent his threats forward into the +western country that lay beyond the passes of the mountains, where hardy +frontiersmen of whom he knew almost nothing had so far kept their homes +against the redmen without thought of turning to the east. His threats +had angered and aroused them. They had put their riflemen from the back +country of Carolina and Virginia into the saddle hundreds strong, had +pushed league upon league through the passes of the mountains, from the +far-off waters of the Holston, and had surrounded and utterly overwhelmed +him at King’s Mountain (October 7, 1780). There he lost a thousand men +and his own life. “A numerous army appeared on the frontier,” reported +Lord Rawdon, “drawn from Nolachucky and other settlements beyond the +mountains, whose very names had been unknown to us.” The hold of the +British upon the inland settlements was of a sudden loosened, and +Cornwallis had reason to know at once what a difference that made to him. + +[Illustration: ENGLISH COLONIES, 1763-1775. + +BORMAY & CO., N. Y.] + +[Illustration: DANIEL MORGAN] + +[Illustration: COUNT ROCHAMBEAU] + +[Illustration: NATHANAEL GREENE] + +[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF THE LAST ARTICLE OF CAPITULATION AT YORKTOWN] + +[Illustration: PAROLE OF CORNWALLIS] + +Early in December came General Greene to take the place of Gates, and +new difficulties faced the English commander. Greene kept no single +force afield, to be met and checkmated, but sent one part of his little +army towards the coast to cut Cornwallis’s communications, and another +southward against the inland posts and settlements where scattered +garrisons lay between the commander-in-chief and his base at Charleston +in the south. With the first detachment went Francis Marion, a man as +formidable in strategy and sudden action as Ferguson, and the men who had +attached themselves to him as if to a modern Robin Hood. With the second +went Daniel Morgan, a man made after the fashion of the redoubtable +frontiersmen who had brought Ferguson his day of doom at King’s Mountain. +Tarleton was sent after Morgan with eleven hundred men, found him at +the Cowpens (January 17, 1781), just within the border upon which King’s +Mountain lay, and came back a fugitive, with only two hundred and seventy +men. Greene drew his forces together again, and at Guilford Court +House Cornwallis beat him, outnumbered though he was (March 15th). But +to beat Greene, it seemed, was of no more avail than to beat General +Washington. The country was no safer, the communications of the army were +as seriously threatened, the defeated army was as steady and as well in +hand after the battle as before; and the English withdrew to Wilmington, +on the coast. + +[Illustration: ORDER PERMITTING THE ILLUMINATION OF PHILADELPHIA] + +[Illustration: NELSON HOUSE, CORNWALLIS’S HEADQUARTERS, YORKTOWN] + +It seemed a hazardous thing to take an army thence southward again, with +supplies, through the forests where Greene moved; news came that General +Arnold was in Virginia with a considerable body of Clinton’s troops from +New York, to anticipate what the southern commander had planned to do +for the conquest of the Old Dominion when the Carolinas should have been +“pacified” from end to end; and Cornwallis determined to move northward +instead of southward, and join Arnold in Virginia. Greene moved a little +way in his track, and then turned southward again against the garrisons +of the inland posts. Lord Rawdon beat him at Hobkirk’s Hill (April 25th) +and held him off at Eutaw Springs (September 8th); but both times the +English withdrew to save their communications; and, though the work was +slow in the doing, before winter came again they were shut within the +fortifications of Charleston and the country-sides were once more in +American possession, to be purged of loyalist bands at leisure. + +[Illustration: EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG] + +In Virginia, Lord Cornwallis moved for a little while freely and safely +enough; but only for a little while. Baron Steuben had been busy, winter +and spring, raising recruits there for an army of defence; General +Washington hurried the Marquis de Lafayette southward with twelve +hundred light infantry from his own command; and by midsummer, 1781, +Lafayette was at the British front with a force strong enough to make it +prudent that Cornwallis should concentrate his strength and once more +make sure of his base of supplies at the coast. His watchful opponents +out-manœuvred him, caught his forces once and again in detail, and made +his outposts unsafe. By the first week in August he had withdrawn to the +sea and had taken post behind intrenchments at Yorktown, something more +than seven thousand strong. + +There, upon the peninsula which he deemed his safest coign of vantage, +he was trapped and taken. At last the French were at hand. The Comte de +Grasse, with twenty-eight ships of the line, six frigates, and twenty +thousand men, was in the West Indies. Washington had begged him to come +at once either to New York or to the Chesapeake. In August he sent word +that he would come to the Chesapeake. Thereupon Washington once again +moved with the sudden directness he had shown at Trenton and Princeton. +Rochambeau was free now to lend him aid. With four thousand Frenchmen +and two thousand of his own continentals, Washington marched all the +long four hundred miles straightway to the York River, in Virginia. +There he found Cornwallis, as he had hoped and expected, already penned +between Grasse’s fleet in the bay and Lafayette’s trenches across the +peninsula. His six thousand men, added to Lafayette’s five thousand and +the three thousand put ashore from the fleet, made short work enough of +the siege, drawn closer and closer about the British; and by the 19th of +October (1781) they accepted the inevitable and surrendered. The gallant +Cornwallis himself could not withhold an expression of his admiration for +the quick, consummate execution of the plans which had undone him, and +avowed it with manly frankness to Washington. “But, after all,” he cried, +“your Excellency’s achievements in New Jersey were such that nothing +could surpass them.” He liked the mastery by which he had been outplayed +and taken. + + Here our general _authorities_ are the same as for the period + covered by the last chapter. But to these we now add Edward + J. Lowell’s _The United States of America, 1775-1782_, in the + seventh volume of Winsor’s _Narrative and Critical History + of America_; John Jay’s _Peace Negotiations, 1782-1783_, in + the same volume of Winsor; G. W. Greene’s _Historical View + of the American Revolution_; the second volume of W. B. + Weeden’s _Economic and Social History of New England_; P. O. + Hutchinson’s _Life and Letters of Thomas Revolution_; Lorenzo + Sabine’s _Biographical Sketches of Adherents to the British + Crown_; George E. Ellis’s _The Loyalists and their Fortunes_, + in the seventh volume of Winsor; Edward E. Hale’s _Franklin + in France_; George Ticknor Curtis’s _Constitutional History + of the United States_; and William H. Trescot’s _Diplomacy of + the American Revolution_. Abundant references to authorities + on the several campaigns of the revolutionary war may be found + in Albert B. Hart and Edward Channing’s _Guide to American + History_, an invaluable manual. + + The _sources_ for the period may be found in the contemporary + pamphlets, speeches, and letters published at the time + and since, among which may be mentioned, as of unusual + individuality, Thomas Paine’s celebrated pamphlet entitled + _Common Sense_, the writings of Joseph Galloway, some of which + are reproduced in Stedman and Hutchinson’s _Library of American + Literature_, and St. John de Crevecœur’s _Letters from an + American Farmer_. Here again we rely, too, on the _Journals of + Congress_ and the _Secret Journals of Congress_; the _Debates + of Parliament_; Peter Force’s _American Archives_; Hezekiah + Niles’s _Principles and Acts of the Revolution in America_; + _The Annual Register_; Jared Sparks’s _Correspondence of the + American Revolution_ and _Diplomatic Correspondence of the + American Revolution_; Francis Wharton’s _The Revolutionary + Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States_; Thomas + Anburey’s _Travels through the Interior Parts of America + (1776-1781)_; the Marquis de Chastellux’s _Travels in North + America in the Years 1780, 1781, and 1782_; and the _Memoirs_ + and _Collections_ of the Historical Societies of the several + original states. + + + + +APPENDIX + + +ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION OF THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES + + Betweene the plantations vnder the Gouernment of the + Massachusetts, the Plantacons vnder the Gouernment of New + Plymouth, the Plantacons vnder the Gouernment of Connectacutt, + and the Gouernment of New Haven with the Plantacons in + combinacon therewith + +WHEREAS wee all came into these parts of America with one and the same +end and ayme, namely, to advaunce the kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ, +and to enjoy the liberties of the Gospell in puritie with peace. And +whereas in our settleinge (by a wise Providence of God) we are further +dispersed vpon the Sea Coasts and Riuers then was at first intended, so +that we cannot according to our desire, with convenience communicate in +one Gouernment and Jurisdiccon. And whereas we live encompassed with +people of seuerall Nations and strang languages which heareafter may +proue injurious to vs or our posteritie. And forasmuch as the Natives +have formerly committed sondry insolences and outrages vpon seueral +Plantacons of the English and have of late combined themselues against +vs. And seing by reason of those sad Distraccons in England, which +they have heard of, and by which they know we are hindred from that +humble way of seekinge advise or reapeing those comfortable fruits of +protection which at other tymes we might well expecte. Wee therefore +doe conceiue it our bounden Dutye without delay to enter into a present +consotiation amongst our selues for mutual help and strength in all +our future concernements: That as in Nation and Religion, so in other +Respects we bee and continue one according to the tenor and true meaninge +of the ensuing Articles: Wherefore it is fully agreed and concluded by +and betweene the parties or Jurisdiccons aboue named, and they joyntly +and seuerally doe by these presents agreed and concluded that they all +bee, and henceforth bee called by the Name of the United Colonies of +New-England. + +II. The said United Colonies, for themselues and their posterities, do +joyntly and seuerally, hereby enter into a firme and perpetuall league +of friendship and amytie, for offence and defence, mutuall advise and +succour, vpon all just occations, both for preserueing and propagateing +the truth and liberties of the Gospel, and for their owne mutuall safety +and wellfare. + +III. It is futher agreed That the Plantacons which at present are or +hereafter shalbe settled within the limmetts of the Massachusetts, shalbe +forever vnder the Massachusetts, and shall have peculiar Jurisdiccon +among themselues in all cases as an entire Body, and that Plymouth, +Connecktacutt, and New Haven shall eich of them haue like peculier +Jurisdiccon and Gouernment within their limmetts and in referrence to the +Plantacons which already are settled or shall hereafter be erected or +shall settle within their limmetts respectiuely; prouided that no other +Jurisdiccon shall hereafter be taken in as a distinct head or member +of this Confederacon, nor shall any other Plantacon or Jurisdiccon in +present being and not already in combynacon or vnder the Jurisdiccon of +any of these Confederats be received by any of them, nor shall any two +of the Confederats joyne in one Jurisdiccon without consent of the rest, +which consent to be interpreted as is expressed in the sixth Article +ensuinge. + +IV. It is by these Confederats agreed that the charge of all just +warrs, whether offensiue or defensiue, upon what part or member of this +Confederaccon soever they fall, shall both in men and provisions, and +all other Disbursements, be borne by all the parts of this Confederacon, +in different proporcons according to their different abilitie, in manner +following, namely, that the Commissioners for eich Jurisdiccon from +tyme to tyme, as there shalbe occation, bring a true account and number +of all the males in every Plantacon, or any way belonging to, or under +their seuerall Jurisdiccons, of what quality or condicion soeuer they +bee, from sixteene yeares old to threescore, being Inhabitants there. And +That according to the different numbers which from tyme to tyme shalbe +found in eich Jurisdiccon, upon a true and just account, the service of +men and all charges of the warr be borne by the Poll: Eich Jurisdiccon, +or Plantacon, being left to their owne just course and custome of rating +themselues and people according to their different estates, with due +respects to their qualites and exemptions among themselues, though the +Confederacon take no notice of any such priviledg: And that according +to their differrent charge of eich Jurisdiccon and Plantacon, the whole +advantage of the warr (if it please God to bless their Endeavours) +whether it be in lands, goods or persons, shall be proportionably deuided +among the said Confederats. + +V. It is further agreed That if any of these Jurisdiccons, or any +Plantacons vnder it, or in any combynacon with them be envaded by any +enemie whomsoeuer, vpon notice and request of any three majestrats of +that Jurisdiccon so invaded, the rest of the Confederates, without +any further meeting or expostulacon, shall forthwith send ayde to +the Confederate in danger, but in different proporcons; namely, the +Massachusetts an hundred men sufficiently armed and provided for such +a service and jorney, and eich of the rest fourty-fiue so armed and +provided, or any lesse number, if lesse be required, according to this +proporcon. But if such Confederate in danger may be supplyed by their +next Confederate, not exceeding the number hereby agreed, they may +craue help there, and seeke no further for the present. The charge to +be borne as in this Article is exprest: And, at the returne, to be +victualled and supplyed with poder and shott for their journey (if there +be neede) by that Jurisdiccon which employed or sent for them: But none +of the Jurisdiccons to exceed these numbers till by a meeting of the +Commissioners for this Confederacon a greater ayd appeare necessary. +And this proporcon to continue, till upon knowledge of greater numbers +in eich Jurisdiccon which shalbe brought to the next meeting some other +proporcon be ordered. But in any such case of sending men for present ayd +whether before or after such order or alteracon, it is agreed that at the +meeting of the Commissioners for this Confederacon, the cause of such +warr or invasion be duly considered: And if it appeare that the fault +lay in the parties so invaded, that then that Jurisdiccon or Plantacon +make just Satisfaccon, both to the Invaders whom they have injured, and +beare all the charges of the warr themselves without requireing any +allowance from the rest of the Confederats towards the same. And further, +that if any Jurisdiccon see any danger of any Invasion approaching, and +there be tyme for a meeting, that in such case three majestrats of that +Jurisdiccon may summon a meeting at such convenyent place as themselues +shall think meete, to consider and provide against the threatned danger, +Provided when they are met they may remoue to what place they please, +Onely whilst any of these foure Confederats have but three majestrats in +their Jurisdiccon, their request or summons from any two of them shalbe +accounted of equall force with the three mentoned in both the clauses of +this Article, till there be an increase of majestrats there. + +VI. It is also agreed that for the mannaging and concluding of all +affairs proper and concerneing the whole Confederacon, two Commissioners +shalbe chosen by and out of eich of these foure Jurisdiccons, namely, +two for the Mattachusetts, two for Plymouth, two for Connectacutt and +two for New Haven; being all in Church fellowship with us, which shall +bring full power from their seuerall generall Courts respectively to +heare, examine, weigh and determine all affaires of our warr or peace, +leagues, ayds, charges and numbers of men for warr, divission of spoyles +and whatsoever is gotten by conquest, receiueing of more Confederats for +plantacons into combinacon with any of the Confederates, and all thinges +of like nature which are the proper concomitants or consequence of such +a confederacon, for amytie, offence and defence, not intermeddleing with +the gouernment of any of the Jurisdiccons which by the third Article is +preserued entirely to themselves. But if these eight Commissioners, when +they meete, shall not all agree, yet it is concluded that any six of the +eight agreeing shall have power to settle and determine the business in +question: But if six do not agree, that then such proposicons with their +reasons, so farr as they have beene debated, be sent and referred to the +foure generall Courts, vizt. the Mattachusetts, Plymouth, Connectacutt, +and New Haven: And if at all the said Generall Courts the businesse so +referred be concluded, then to bee prosecuted by the Confederates and all +their members. It is further agreed that these eight Commissioners shall +meete once every yeare, besides extraordinary meetings (according to the +fift Article) to consider, treate and conclude of all affaires belonging +to this Confederacon, which meeting shall ever be the first Thursday in +September. And that the next meeting after the date of these presents, +which shalbe accounted the second meeting, shalbe at Bostone in the +Massachusetts, the third at Hartford, the fourth at New Haven, the fift +at Plymouth, the sixt and seaventh at Bostone. And then Hartford, New +Haven and Plymouth, and so in course successiuely, if in the meane tyme +some middle place be not found out and agreed on which may be commodious +for all the jurisdiccons. + +VII. It is further agreed that at eich meeting of these eight +Commissioners, whether ordinary or extraordinary, they, or six of them +agreeing, as before, may choose their President out of themselues, whose +office and worke shalbe to take care and direct for order and a comely +carrying on of all proceedings in the present meeting. But he shalbe +invested with no such power or respect as by which he shall hinder the +propounding or progresse of any businesse, or any way cast the Scales, +otherwise then in the precedent Article is agreed. + +VIII. It is also agreed that the Commissioners for this Confederacon +hereafter at their meetings, whether ordinary or extraordinary, as they +may have commission or opertunitie, do endeavoure to frame and establish +agreements and orders in generall cases of a civill nature wherein all +the plantacons are interested for preserving peace among themselves, +and preventing as much as may bee all occations of warr or difference +with others, as about the free and speedy passage of Justice in every +Jurisdiccon, to all the Confederats equally as their owne, receiving +those that remoue from one plantacon to another without due certefycats; +how all the Jurisdiccons may carry it towards the Indians, that they +neither grow insolent nor be injured without due satisfaccion, lest warr +break in vpon the Confederates through such miscarryage. It is also +agreed that if any servant runn away from his master into any other of +these confederated Jurisdiccons, That in such Case, vpon the Certyficate +of one Majistrate in the Jurisdiccon out of which the said servant fled, +or upon other due proofe, the said servant shalbe deliuered either to +his Master or any other that pursues and brings such Certificate or +proofe. And that vpon the escape of any prisoner whatsoever or fugitiue +for any criminal cause, whether breaking prison or getting from the +officer or otherwise escaping, upon the certificate of two Majistrats of +the Jurisdiccon out of which the escape is made that he was a prisoner +or such an offender at the tyme of the escape. The Majestrates or some +of them of that Jurisdiccon where for the present the said prisoner or +fugitive abideth shall forthwith graunt such a warrant as the case will +beare for the apprehending of any such person, and the delivery of him +into the hands of the officer or other person that pursues him. And if +there be help required for the safe returneing of any such offender, then +it shalbe graunted to him that craves the same, he paying the charges +thereof. + +IX. And for that the justest warrs may be of dangerous consequence, +espetially to the smaler plantacons in these vnited Colonies, It is +agreed that neither the Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connectacutt nor +New-Haven, nor any of the members of any of them shall at any tyme +hereafter begin, undertake, or engage themselues or this Confederacon, +or any part thereof in any warr whatsoever (sudden exegents with the +necessary consequents thereof excepted, which are also to be moderated +as much as the case will permit) without the consent and agreement of +the forenamed eight Commissioners, or at least six of them, as in the +sixt Article is provided: And that no charge be required of any of the +Confederats in case of a defensiue warr till the said Commissioners haue +mett and approued the justice of the warr, and have agreed vpon the sum +of money to be levyed, which sum is then to be payd by the severall +Confederates in proporcon according to the fourth Article. + +X. That in extraordinary occations when meetings are summoned by three +Majistrats of any Jurisdiccon, or two as in the fift Article, If any +of the Commissioners come not, due warneing being given or sent, It is +agreed that foure of the Commissioners shall have power to direct a warr +which cannot be delayed and to send for due proporcons of men out of eich +Jurisdiccon, as well as six might doe if all mett; but not less than six +shall determine the justice of the warr or allow the demanude of bills of +charges or cause any levies to be made for the same. + +XI. It is further agreed that if any of the Confederates shall hereafter +break any of these present Articles, or be any other wayes injurious to +any one of thother Jurisdiccons, such breach of Agreement, or injurie, +shalbe duly considered and ordered by the Commissioners for thother +Jurisdiccons, that both peace and this present Confederacon may be +entirely preserued without violation. + +XII. Lastly, this perpetuall Confederacon and the several Articles and +Agreements thereof being read and seriously considered, both by the +Generall Court for the Massachusetts, and by the Commissioners for +Plymouth, Connectacutt and New Haven, were fully allowed and confirmed +by three of the forenamed Confederates, namely, the Massachusetts, +Connectacutt and New-Haven, Onely the Commissioners for Plymouth, having +no Commission to conclude, desired respite till they might advise with +their Generall Court, wherevpon it was agreed and concluded by the said +court of the Massachusetts, and the Commissioners for the other two +Confederates, That if Plymouth Consent, then the whole treaty as it +stands in these present articles is and shall continue firme and stable +without alteracon: But if Plymouth come not in, yet the other three +Confederates doe by these presents confirme the whole Confederacon and +all the Articles thereof, onely, in September next, when the second +meeting of the Commissioners is to be at Bostone, new consideracon may +be taken of the sixt Article, which concernes number of Commissioners +for meeting and concluding the affaires of this Confederacon to the +satisfaccon of the court of the Massachusetts, and the Commissioners for +thother two Confederates, but the rest to stand vnquestioned. + +In testymony whereof, the Generall Court of the Massachusetts by their +Secretary, and the Commissioners for Connectacutt and New-Haven haue +subscribed these presente articles, this xixth of the third month, +commonly called May, Anno Domini, 1643. + +At a Meeting of the Commissioners for the Confederacon, held at Boston, +the Seaventh of September. It appeareing that the Generall Court of New +Plymouth, and the severall Towneships thereof have read, considered and +approoued these articles of Confederacon, as appeareth by Comission from +their Generall Court beareing Date the xxixth of August, 1643, to Mr. +Edward Winslowe and Mr. Will Collyer, to ratifye and confirme the same +on their behalf, wee therefore, the Comissioners for the Mattachusetts, +Conecktacutt and New Haven, doe also for our seuerall Gouernments, +subscribe vnto them. + + JOHN WINTHROP, Governor of Massachusetts, + THO. DUDLEY, + THEOPH. EATON, + GEO. FENWICK, + EDWA. HOPKINS, + THOMAS GREGSON. + + +PENN’S PLAN OF UNION—1697. + +MR. PENN’S PLAN FOR A UNION OF THE COLONIES IN AMERICA. + +A Briefe and Plaine Scheam how the English Colonies in the North parts of +America, viz.: Boston, Connecticut, Road Island, New York, New Jerseys, +Pensilvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Carolina may be made more usefull +to the Crowne, and one another’s peace and safty with an universall +concurrence. + +1st. That the severall Colonies before mentioned do meet once a year, +and oftener if need be, during the war, and at least once in two years +in times of peace, by their stated and appointed Deputies, to debate +and resolve of such measures as are most adviseable for their better +understanding, and the public tranquility and safety. + +2d. That in order to it two persons well qualified for sence, sobriety +and substance be appointed by each Province, as their Representatives +or Deputies, which in the whole make the Congress to consist of twenty +persons. + +3d. That the King’s Commissioner for that purpose specially appointed +shall have the chaire and preside in the said Congresse. + +4th. That they shall meet as near as conveniently may be to the most +centrall Colony for use of the Deputies. + +5th. Since that may in all probability, be New York both because it is +near the Center of the Colonies and for that it is a Frontier and in the +King’s nomination, the Govr. of that Colony may therefore also be the +King’s High Commissioner during the Session after the manner of Scotland. + +6th. That their business shall be to hear and adjust all matters of +Complaint or difference between Province and Province. As, 1st, where +persons quit their own Province and goe to another, that they may avoid +their just debts, tho they be able to pay them, 2nd, where offenders +fly Justice, or Justice cannot well be had upon such offenders in the +Provinces that entertaine them, 3dly, to prevent or cure injuries in +point of Commerce, 4th, to consider of ways and means to support the +union and safety of these Provinces against the publick enemies. In which +Congresse the Quotas of men and charges will be much easier, and more +equally sett, then it is possible for any establishment made here to do; +for the Provinces, knowing their own condition and one another’s, can +debate that matter with more freedome and satisfaction and better adjust +and ballance their affairs in all respects for their common safty. + +7ly. That in times of war the King’s High Commissioner shall be generall +or chief Commander of the severall Quotas upon service against a common +enemy as he shall be advised, for the good and benefit of the whole. + + +FRANKLIN’S PLAN OF UNION—1754. + +Plan of a proposed Union of the several Colonies of Massachusetts-Bay, +New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New-York, New-Jersey, +Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina for +their mutual Defence and Security, and for the extending the British +Settlements in North America. + +That humble application be made for an act of Parliament of Great +Britain, by virtue of which one general government may be formed in +America, including all the said Colonies, within and under which +government each Colony may retain its present constitution, except in +the particulars wherein a change may be directed by the said act, as +hereafter follows. + + +PRESIDENT-GENERAL AND GRAND COUNCIL. + +That the said general government be administered by a President-General, +to be appointed and supported by the crown; and a Grand Council to be +chosen by the representatives of the people of the several Colonies met +in their respective assemblies. + + It was thought that it would be best the President-General + should be supported as well as appointed by the crown, that + so all disputes between him and the Grand-Council concerning + his salary might be prevented; as such disputes have been + frequently of mischievous consequence in particular Colonies, + especially in time of public danger. The quit-rents of crown + lands in America might in a short time be sufficient for this + purpose. The choice of members for the Grand-Council is placed + in the House of Representatives of each government, in order to + give the people a share in this new general government, as the + crown has its share by the appointment of the President-General. + + But it being proposed by the gentlemen of the Council of New + York, and some other counsellors among the commissioners, to + alter the plan in this particular, and to give the governors + and councils of the several Provinces a share in the choice + of the Grand-Council, or at least a power of approving and + confirming, or of disallowing, the choice made by the House + of Representatives, it was said,—“That the government or + constitution, proposed to be formed by the plan, consists of + two branches: a President-General appointed by the crown, + and a Council chosen by the people, or by the people’s + representatives, which is the same thing. + + “That, by a subsequent article, the council chosen by + the people can effect nothing without the consent of the + President-General appointed by the crown; the crown possesses, + therefore, full one half of the power of this constitution. + + “That in the British constitution, the crown is supposed to + possess but one third, the Lords having their share. + + “That the constitution seemed rather more favorable for the + crown. + + “That it is essential to English liberty that the subject + should not be taxed but by his own consent, or the consent of + his elected representatives. + + “That taxes to be laid and levied by this proposed constitution + will be proposed and agreed to by the representatives of the + people, if the plan in this particular be preserved. + + “But if the proposed alteration should take place, it seemed as + if matters may be so managed, as that the crown shall finally + have the appointment, not only of the President-General, but + of a majority of the Grand-Council; for seven out of eleven + governors and councils are appointed by the crown. + + “And so the people in all the Colonies would in effect be taxed + by their governors. + + “It was therefore apprehended, that such alterations of the + plan would give great dissatisfaction, and that the Colonies + could not be easy under such a power in governors, and such an + infringement of what they take to be English liberty. + + “Besides, the giving a share in the choice of the Grand + Council would not be equal with respect to all the Colonies, + as their constitutions differ. In some, both governor and + council are appointed by the crown. In others, they are both + appointed by the proprietors. In some, the people have a + share in the choice of the council; in others, both government + and council are wholly chosen by the people. But the House + of Representatives is everywhere chosen by the people; and, + therefore, placing the right of choosing the Grand Council in + the representatives is equal with respect to all. + + “That the Grand Council is intended to represent all the + several Houses of Representatives of the Colonies, as a House + of Representatives doth the several towns or counties of a + Colony. Could all the people of a Colony be consulted and + unite in public measures, a House of Representatives would be + needless, and could all the Assemblies consult and unite in + general measures, the Grand Council would be unnecessary. + + “That a House of Commons or the House of Representatives, and + the Grand Council are alike in their nature and intention. + And, as it would seem improper that the King or House of Lords + should have a power of disallowing or appointing Members of the + House of Commons; so, likewise, that a governor and council + appointed by the crown should have a power of disallowing + or appointing members of the Grand Council, who, in this + constitution, are to be the representatives of the people. + + “If the governor and councils therefore were to have a share in + the choice of any that are to conduct this general government, + it should seem more proper that they should choose the + President-General. But this being an office of great trust and + importance to the nation, it was thought better to be filled by + the immediate appointment of the crown. + + “The power proposed to be given by the plan to the Grand + Council is only a concentration of the powers of the several + assemblies in certain points for the general welfare; as the + power of the President-General is of the several governors in + the same point. + + “And as the choice therefore of the Grand Council, by the + representatives of the people, neither gives the people any new + powers, nor diminishes the power of the crown, it was thought + and hoped the crown would not disapprove of it.” + + Upon the whole, the commissioners were of opinion, that the + choice was most properly placed in the representatives of the + people. + + +ELECTION OF MEMBERS. + +That within ____ months after the passing such act, the House of +Representatives that happens to be sitting within that time, or that +shall be especially for that purpose convened, may and shall choose +members for the Grand Council, in the following proportion, that is to +say, + + Massachusetts Bay 7 + New Hampshire 2 + Connecticut 5 + Rhode Island 2 + New York 4 + New Jersey 3 + Pennsylvania 6 + Maryland 4 + Virginia 7 + North Carolina 4 + South Carolina 4 + -- + 48 + + It was thought, that if the least Colony was allowed two, and + the others in proportion, the number would be very great, + and the expense heavy; and that less than two would not be + convenient, as, a single person being by any accident prevented + appearing at the meeting, the Colony he ought appear for would + not be represented. That, as the choice was not immediately + popular, they would be generally men of good abilities for + business, and men of reputation for integrity, and that + forty-eight such men might be a number sufficient. But, though + it was thought reasonable that each Colony should have a share + in the representative body in some degree according to the + proportion it contributed to the general treasury, yet the + proportion of wealth or power of the Colonies is not to be + judged by the proportion here fixed: because it was at first + agreed, that the greatest Colony should not have more than + seven members, nor the least less than two; and the setting + these proportions between these two extremes was not nicely + attended to, as it would find itself, after the first election, + from the sum brought into the treasury by a subsequent article. + + +PLACE OF FIRST MEETING. + +—Who shall meet for the first time at the city of Philadelphia in +Pennsylvania, being called by the President-General as soon as +conveniently may be after his appointment. + + Philadelphia was named as being nearer the centre of the + Colonies, where the commissioners would be well and cheaply + accommodated. The high roads, through the whole extent, are for + the most part very good, in which forty or fifty miles a day + may very well be, and frequently are, travelled. Great part + of the way may likewise be gone by water. In summer time, the + passages are frequently performed in a week from Charleston to + Philadelphia and New York, and from Rhode Island to New York + through the Sound, in two or three days, and from New York to + Philadelphia, by water and land, in two days, by stage boats, + and street carriages that set out every other day. The journey + from Charleston to Philadelphia may likewise be facilitated by + boats running up Chesapeake Bay three hundred miles. But if + the whole journey be performed on horseback, the most distant + members, viz., the two from New Hampshire and from South + Carolina, may probably render themselves at Philadelphia in + fifteen or twenty days; the majority may be there in much less + time. + + +NEW ELECTION. + +That there shall be a new election of the members of the Grand Council +every three years; and, on the death or resignation of any member, his +place should be supplied by a new choice at the next sitting of the +Assembly of the Colony he represented. + + Some Colonies have annual assemblies, some continue during + a governor’s pleasure; three years was thought a reasonable + medium as affording a new member time to improve himself in the + business, and to act after such improvement, and yet giving + opportunities, frequently enough, to change him if he has + misbehaved. + + +PROPORTION OF MEMBERS AFTER THE FIRST THREE YEARS. + +That after the first three years, when the proportion of money arising +out of each Colony to the general treasury can be known, the number of +members to be chosen for each Colony shall, from time to time, in all +ensuing elections, be regulated by that proportion, yet so as that the +number to be chosen by any one Province be not more than seven, nor less +than two. + + By a subsequent article, it is proposed that the General + Council shall lay and levy such general duties as to them may + appear most equal and least burdensome, etc. Suppose, for + instance, they lay a small duty or excise on some commodity + imported into or made in the Colonies, and pretty generally + and equally used in all of them, as rum, perhaps, or wine; the + yearly produce of this duty or excise, if fairly collected, + would be in some Colonies greater, in others less, as the + Colonies are greater or smaller. When the collector’s accounts + are brought in, the proportions will appear; and from them it + is proposed to regulate the proportion of the representatives + to be chosen at the next general election, within the limits, + however, of seven and two. These numbers may therefore vary + in the course of years, as the Colonies may in the growth and + increase of people. And thus the quota of tax from each Colony + would naturally vary with its circumstances, thereby preventing + all disputes and dissatisfaction about the just proportions + due from each, which might otherwise produce pernicious + consequences, and destroy the harmony and good agreement that + ought to subsist between the several parts of the Union. + + +MEETINGS OF THE GRAND COUNCIL AND CALL. + +That the Grand Council shall meet once in every year, and oftener if +occasion require, at such time and place as they shall adjourn to at the +last preceding meeting, or as they shall be called to meet at by the +President-General on any emergency; he having first obtained in writing +the consent of seven of the members to such call, and sent due and timely +notice to the whole. + + It was thought, in establishing and governing new Colonies + or settlements, or regulating Indian trade, Indian treaties, + etc., there would, every year, sufficient business arise to + require at least one meeting, and at such meeting many things + might be suggested for the benefit of all the Colonies. This + annual meeting may either be at a time and place certain, to + be fixed by the President-General and Grand Council at their + first meeting; or left at liberty, to be at such time and place + as they shall adjourn to, or be called to meet at, by the + President-General. + + In time of war, it seems convenient that the meeting should be + in that colony which is nearest the seat of action. + + The power of calling them on any emergency seemed necessary to + be vested in the President-General; but, that such power might + not be wantonly used to harass the members, and oblige them to + make frequent long journeys to little purpose, the consent of + seven at least to such call was supposed a convenient guard. + + +CONTINUANCE. + +That the Grand Council have power to choose their speaker; and shall +neither be dissolved, prorogued, nor continued sitting longer than six +weeks at one time, without their own consent or the special command of +the crown. + + The speaker should be presented for approbation; it being + convenient, to prevent misunderstandings and disgusts, that the + mouth of the Council should be a person agreeable, if possible, + to the Council and President-General. + + Governors have sometimes wantonly exercised the power of + proroguing or continuing the sessions of assemblies, merely + to harass the members and compel a compliance; and sometimes + dissolve them on slight disgusts. This it was feared might be + done by the President-General, if not provided against; and + the inconvenience and hardship would be greater in the general + government than in particular Colonies, in proportion to the + distance the members must be from home during sittings, and the + long journeys some of them must necessarily take. + + +MEMBER’S ALLOWANCE. + +That the members of the Grand Council shall be allowed for their service +ten shillings per diem, during their session and journey to and from the +place of meeting; twenty miles to be reckoned a day’s journey. + + It was thought proper to allow some wages, lest the expense + might deter some suitable persons from the service; and not + to allow too great wages, lest unsuitable persons should be + tempted to cabal for the employment, for the sake of gain. + Twenty miles were set down as a day’s journey, to allow for + accidental hindrances on the road, and the greater expenses of + travelling than residing at the place of meeting. + + +ASSENT OF PRESIDENT-GENERAL AND HIS DUTY. + +That the assent of the President-General be requisite to all acts of the +Grand Council, and that it be his office and duty to cause them to be +carried into execution. + + The assent of the President-General to all acts of the Grand + Council was made necessary in order to give the crown its due + share of influence in this government, and connect it with that + of Great Britain. The President-General, besides one half of + the legislative power, hath in his hands the whole executive + power. + + +POWER OF PRESIDENT-GENERAL AND GRAND COUNCIL, TREATIES OF PEACE AND WAR. + +That the President-General, with the advice of the Grand Council, hold or +direct all Indian treaties, in which the general interest of the Colonies +may be concerned, and make peace or declare war with Indian nations. + + The power of making peace or war with Indian nations is at + present supposed to be in every Colony, and is expressly + granted to some by charter, so that no new power is hereby + intended to be granted to the Colonies. But as, in consequence + of this power, one Colony might make peace with a nation that + another was justly engaged in war with; or make war on slight + occasion without the concurrence or approbation of neighboring + Colonies, greatly endangered by it; or make particular treaties + of neutrality in case of a general war, to their own private + advantage in trade, by supplying the common enemy, of all which + there have been instances, it was thought better to have all + treaties of a general nature under a general direction, that so + the good of the whole may be consulted and provided for. + + +INDIAN TRADE. + +That they make such laws as they judge necessary for regulating all +Indian trade. + + Many quarrels and wars have arisen between the colonies and + Indian nations, through the bad conduct of traders, who cheat + the Indians after making them drunk, etc., to the great expense + of the colonies, both in blood and treasure. Particular + colonies are so interested in the trade, as not to be willing + to admit such a regulation as might be best for the whole; and + therefore it was thought best under a general direction. + + +INDIAN PURCHASES. + +That they make all purchases from Indians, for the crown, of lands not +now within the bounds of particular colonies, or that shall not be within +their bounds when some of them are reduced to more convenient dimensions. + + Purchases from the Indians, made by private persons, have + been attended with many inconveniences. They have frequently + interfered and occasioned uncertainty of titles, many disputes + and expensive lawsuits, and hindered the settlement of the land + so disputed. Then the Indians have been cheated by such private + purchases, and discontent and wars have been the consequence. + These would be prevented by public fair purchases. + + Several of the Colony charters in America extend their bounds + to the South Sea, which may perhaps be three or four thousand + miles in length to one or two hundred miles in breadth. It + is supposed they must in time be reduced to dimensions more + convenient for the common purposes of government. + + Very little of the land in these grants is yet purchased of the + Indians. + + It is much cheaper to purchase of them, than to take and + maintain the possession by force; for they are generally very + reasonable in their demands for land; and the expense of + guarding a large frontier against their incursions is vastly + great; because all must be guarded, and always guarded, as we + know not where or when to expect them. + + +NEW SETTLEMENTS. + +That they make new settlements on such purchases by granting lands in +the King’s name, reserving a quit-rent to the crown for the use of the +general treasury. + + It is supposed better that there should be one purchaser than + many; and that the crown should be that purchaser, or the Union + in the name of the crown. By this means the bargains may be + more easily made, the price not enhanced by numerous bidders, + future disputes about private Indian purchases, and monopolies + of vast tracts to particular persons (which are prejudicial to + the settlement and peopling of the country), prevented; and, + the land being again granted in small tracts to the settlers, + the quit-rents reserved may in time become a fund for support + of government, for defence of the country, ease of taxes, etc. + + Strong forts on the Lakes, the Ohio, etc., may, at the same + time they secure our present frontiers, serve to defend new + colonies settled under their protection; and such colonies + would also mutually defend and support such forts, and better + secure the friendship of the far Indians. + + A particular colony has scarce strength enough to exert itself + by new settlements, at so great a distance from the old; but + the joint force of the Union might suddenly establish a new + colony or two in those parts, or extend an old colony to + particular passes, greatly to the security of our present + frontiers, increase of trade and people, breaking off the + French communication between Canada and Louisiana, and speedy + settlement of the intermediate lands. + + The power of settling new colonies is therefore thought a + valuable part of the plan, and what cannot so well be executed + by two unions as by one. + + +LAWS TO GOVERN THEM. + +That they make laws for regulating and governing such new settlements, +till the crown shall think fit to form them into particular governments. + + The making of laws suitable for the new colonies, it was + thought, would be properly vested in the president-general + and grand council; under whose protection they must at first + necessarily be, and who would be well acquainted with their + circumstances, as having settled them. When they are become + sufficiently populous, they may by the crown be formed into + complete and distinct governments. + + The appointment of a sub-president by the crown, to take place + in case of the death or absence of the president-general, + would perhaps be an improvement of the plan; and if all the + governors of particular provinces were to be formed into a + standing council of state, for the advice and assistance of the + president-general, it might be another considerable improvement. + + +RAISE SOLDIERS, AND EQUIP VESSELS, ETC. + +That they raise and pay soldiers and build forts for the defence of any +of the colonies, and equip vessels of force to guard the coasts and +protect the trade on the ocean, lakes, or great rivers; but they shall +not impress men in any colony, without the consent of the legislature. + + It was thought, that quotas of men, to be raised and paid by + the several colonies, and joined for any public service, could + not always be got together with the necessary expedition. + For instance, suppose one thousand men should be wanted in + New Hampshire on any emergency. To fetch them by fifties + and hundreds out of every colony, as far as South Carolina, + would be inconvenient, the transportation chargeable, and the + occasion perhaps passed before they could be assembled; and + therefore it would be best to raise them (by offering bounty + money and pay) near the place where they would be wanted, to be + discharged again when the service should be over. + + Particular colonies are at present backward to build forts + at their own expense, which they say will be equally useful + to their neighboring colonies, who refuse to join, on a + presumption that such forts will be built and kept up, though + they contribute nothing. This unjust conduct weakens the whole; + but, the forts being for the good of the whole, it was thought + best they should be built and maintained by the whole, out of + the common treasury. + + In the time of war, small vessels of force are sometimes + necessary in the colonies to scour the coasts of small + privateers. These being provided by the Union will be an + advantage in turn to the colonies which are situated on the + sea, and whose frontiers on the land-side, being covered by + other colonies, reap but little immediate benefit from the + advanced forts. + + +POWER TO MAKE LAWS, LAY DUTIES, ETC. + +That for these purposes they have power to make laws and lay and levy +such general duties, imposts or taxes, as to them shall appear most +equal and just (considering the ability and other circumstances of the +inhabitants in the several colonies), and such as may be collected with +the least inconvenience to the people; rather discouraging luxury, than +loading industry with unnecessary burdens. + + The laws which the president-general and grand council are + empowered to make are such only as shall be necessary for + the government of the settlements; the raising, regulating, + and paying soldiers for the general service; the regulating + of Indian trade; and laying and collecting the general + duties and taxes. They should also have a power to restrain + the exportation of provisions to the enemy from any of the + colonies, on particular occasions, in time of war. But it is + not intended that they may interfere with the constitution or + government of the particular colonies, who are to be left to + their own laws, and to lay, levy and apply their own taxes as + before. + + +GENERAL TREASURER AND PARTICULAR TREASURER. + +That they may appoint a General Treasurer, and Particular Treasurer in +government when necessary; and, from time to time, may order the sums in +the treasuries of each government into the general treasury, or draw on +them for special payments, as they find most convenient. + + The treasurers here meant are only for the general funds and + not for the particular funds of each colony, which remain in + the hands of their own treasurers at their own disposal. + + +MONEY, HOW TO ISSUE. + +Yet no money to issue but by joint orders of the President-General and +Grand Council, except where sums have been appointed to particular +purposes, and the President-General is previously empowered by an act to +draw such sums. + + To prevent misapplication of the money, or even application + that might be dissatisfactory to the crown or the people, it + was thought necessary to join the president-general and grand + council in all issues of money. + + +ACCOUNTS. + +That the general accounts shall be yearly settled and reported to the +several Assemblies. + + By communicating the accounts yearly to each Assembly, they + will be satisfied of the prudent and honest conduct of their + representatives in the grand council. + + +QUORUM. + +That a quorum of the Grand Council, empowered to act with the +President-General, do consist of twenty-five members; among whom there +shall be one or more from a majority of the Colonies. + + The quorum seems large, but it was thought it would not be + satisfactory to the colonies in general, to have matters of + importance to the whole transacted by a smaller number, or even + by this number of twenty-five, unless there were among them one + at least from a majority of the colonies, because otherwise, + the whole quorum being made up of members from three or four + colonies at one end of the union, something might be done + that would not be equal with respect to the rest, and thence + dissatisfaction and discords might rise to the prejudice of the + whole. + + +LAWS TO BE TRANSMITTED. + +That the laws made by them for the purposes aforesaid shall not be +repugnant, but, as near as may be, agreeable to the laws of England, and +shall be transmitted to the King in Council for approbation, as soon as +may be after their passing; and if not disapproved within three years +after presentation, to remain in force. + + This was thought necessary for the satisfaction of the crown, + to preserve the connection of the parts of the British empire + with the whole, of the members with the head, and to induce + greater care and circumspection in making of the laws, that + they be good in themselves and for the general benefit. + + +DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT-GENERAL. + +That, in case of the death of the President-General, the Speaker of the +Grand Council for the time being shall succeed, and be vested with the +same powers and authorities, to continue till the King’s pleasure be +known. + + It might be better, perhaps, as was said before, if the crown + appointed a vice-president, to take place on the death or + absence of the president-general; for so we should be more sure + of a suitable person at the head of the colonies. On the death + or absence of both, the speaker to take place (or rather the + eldest King’s governor) till his Majesty’s pleasure be known. + + +OFFICERS, HOW APPOINTED. + +That all military commission officers, whether for land or sea service, +to act under this general constitution, shall be nominated by the +President-General; but the approbation of the Grand Council is to +be obtained, before they receive their commissions. And all civil +officers are to be nominated by the Grand Council, and to receive the +President-General’s approbation before they officiate. + + It was thought it might be very prejudicial to the service, to + have officers appointed unknown to the people or unacceptable, + the generality of Americans serving willingly under officers + they know; and not caring to engage in the service under + strangers, or such as are often appointed by governors through + favor or interest. The service here meant, is not the stated, + settled service in standing troops; but any sudden and short + service, either for defence of our colonies, or invading the + enemy’s country (such as the expedition to Cape Breton in the + last war; in which many substantial farmers and tradesmen + engaged as common soldiers, under officers of their own + country, for whom they had an esteem and affection; who would + not have engaged in a standing army, or under officers from + England). It was therefore thought best to give the Council the + power of approving the officers, which the people will look on + as a great security of their being good men. And without some + such provision as this, it was thought the expense of engaging + men in the service on any emergency would be much greater, + and the number who could be induced to engage much less; and + that therefore it would be most for the King’s service and the + general benefit of the nation, that the prerogative should + relax a little in this particular throughout all the colonies + in America; as it had already done much more in the charters + of some particular colonies, viz.: Connecticut and Rhode Island. + + The civil officers will be chiefly treasurers and collectors of + taxes; and the suitable persons are most likely to be known by + the council. + + +VACANCIES, HOW SUPPLIED. + +But, in case of vacancy by death or removal of any officer civil or +military, under this constitution, the Governor of the province in +which such vacancy happens, may appoint, till the pleasure of the +President-General and Grand Council can be known. + + The vacancies were thought best supplied by the governors in + each province, till a new appointment can be regularly made; + otherwise the service might suffer before the meeting of the + president-general and grand council. + + +EACH COLONY MAY DEFEND ITSELF IN EMERGENCY, ETC. + +That the particular military as well as civil establishments in +each colony remain in their present state, the general constitution +notwithstanding; and that on sudden emergencies any colony may defend +itself, and lay the accounts of expense thence arising before the +president-general and general council, who may allow and order payment of +the same, as far as they judge such accounts just and reasonable. + + Otherwise the union of the whole would weaken the parts, + contrary to the design of the union. The accounts are to be + judged of by the president-general and grand council, and + allowed if found reasonable. This was thought necessary to + encourage colonies to defend themselves, as the expense would + be light when borne by the whole; and also to check imprudent + and lavish expense in such defences. + + +ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION—1777. + +To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of +the States affixed to our Names, send greeting. + +WHEREAS the Delegates of the United States of America in Congress +assembled did on the fifteenth day of November in the Year of our +Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventyseven, and in the Second +Year of the Independence of America agree to certain articles of +Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of Newhampshire, +Massachusetts-bay, Rhode-island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, +New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, +North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia in the Words following, viz. + +Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of +Newhampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode-island and Providence Plantations, +Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, +Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia. + +ARTICLE I. The stile of this confederacy shall be “The United States of +America.” + +ARTICLE II. Each State retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, +and every power, jurisdiction and right, which is not by this +confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress +assembled. + +ARTICLE III. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league +of friendship with each other, for their common defence, the security of +their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves +to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon +them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any +other pretence whatever. + +ARTICLE IV. The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and +intercourse among the people of the different States in this Union, +the free inhabitants of each of these States, paupers, vagabonds and +fugitives from justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and +immunities of free citizens in the several States; and the people of each +State shall have free ingress and regress to and from any other State, +and shall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce, subject +to the same duties, impositions and restrictions as the inhabitants +thereof respectively, provided that such restrictions shall not extend +so far as to prevent the removal of property imported into any State, to +any other State of which the owner is an inhabitant; provided also that +no imposition, duties or restriction shall be laid by any State, on the +property of the United States, or either of them. + +If any person guilty of, or charged with treason, felony, or other high +misdemeanor in any State, shall flee from justice, and be found in any +of the United States, he shall upon demand of the Governor or Executive +power, of the State from which he fled, be delivered up and removed to +the State having jurisdiction of his offence. + +Full faith and credit shall be given in each of these States to the +records, acts and judicial proceedings of the courts and magistrates of +every other State. + +ARTICLE V. For the more convenient management of the general interests of +the United States, delegates shall be annually appointed in such manner +as the legislature of each State shall direct, to meet in Congress on the +first Monday in November, in every year, with a power reserved to each +State, to recall its delegates, or any of them, at any time within the +year, and to send others in their stead, for the remainder of the year. + +No State shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor by more +than seven members; and no person shall be capable of being a delegate +for more than three years in any term of six years; nor shall any person, +being a delegate, be capable of holding any office under the United +States, for which he, or another for his benefit receives any salary, +fees or emolument of any kind. + +Each State shall maintain its own delegates in a meeting of the States, +and while they act as members of the committee of the States. + +In determining questions in the United States, in Congress assembled, +each State shall have one vote. + +Freedom of speech and debate in Congress shall not be impeached or +questioned in any court, or place out of Congress, and the members +of Congress shall be protected in their persons from arrests and +imprisonments, during the time of their going to and from, and attendance +on Congress, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace. + +ARTICLE VI. No State without the consent of the United States in Congress +assembled, shall send any embassy to, or receive any embassy from, or +enter into any conference, agreement, alliance or treaty with any king, +prince or state; nor shall any person holding any office of profit or +trust under the United States, or any of them, accept of any present, +emolument, office or title of any kind whatever from any king, prince or +foreign state; nor shall the United States in Congress assembled, or any +of them, grant any title of nobility. + +No two or more States shall enter into any treaty, confederation or +alliance whatever between them, without the consent of the United States +in Congress assembled, specifying accurately the purposes for which the +same is to be entered into, and how long it shall continue. + +No State shall lay any imposts or duties, which may interfere with any +stipulations in treaties, entered into by the United States in Congress +assembled, with any king, prince or state, in pursuance of any treaties +already proposed by Congress, to the courts of France and Spain. + +No vessels of war shall be kept up in time of peace by any State, except +such number only, as shall be deemed necessary by the United States in +Congress assembled, for the defence of such State, or its trade; nor +shall any body of forces be kept up by any State, in time of peace, +except such number only, as in the judgment of the United States, in +Congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite to garrison the forts +necessary for the defence of such State; but every State shall always +keep up a well regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and +accoutred, and shall provide and constantly have ready for use, in public +stores, a due number of field-pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of +arms, ammunition and camp equipage. + +No State shall engage in any war without the consent of the United States +in Congress assembled, unless such State be actually invaded by enemies, +or shall have received certain advice of a resolution being formed +by some nation of Indians to invade such State, and the danger is so +imminent as not to admit of a delay, till the United States in Congress +assembled can be consulted: nor shall any State grant commissions to any +ships or vessels of war, nor letters of marque or reprisal, except it be +after a declaration of war by the United States in Congress assembled, +and then only against the kingdom or state and the subjects thereof, +against which war has been so declared, and under such regulations +as shall be established by the United States in Congress assembled, +unless such State be infested by pirates, in which case vessels of war +may be fitted out for that occasion, and kept so long as the danger +shall continue, or until the United States in Congress assembled shall +determine otherwise. + +ARTICLE VII. When land forces are raised by any State for the common +defence, all officers of or under the rank of colonel, shall be +appointed by the Legislature of each State respectively by whom such +forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such State shall direct, +and all vacancies shall be filled up by the State which first made the +appointment. + +ARTICLE VIII. All charges of war, and all other expenses that shall be +incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the +United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common +treasury, which shall be supplied by the several States, in proportion +to the value of all land within each State, granted to or surveyed for +any person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon shall +be estimated according to such mode as the United States in Congress +assembled, shall from time to time direct and appoint. + +The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied by the +authority and direction of the Legislatures of the several States within +the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress assembled. + +ARTICLE IX. The United States in Congress assembled, shall have the sole +and exclusive right and power of determining on peace and war, except +in the cases mentioned in the sixth article—of sending and receiving +ambassadors—entering into treaties and alliances, provided that no +treaty of commerce shall be made whereby the legislative power of the +respective States shall be restrained from imposing such imposts and +duties on foreigners, as their own people are subjected to, or from +prohibiting the exportation or importation of any species of goods or +commodities whatsoever—of establishing rules for deciding in all cases, +what captures on land or water shall be legal, and in what manner prizes +taken by land or naval forces in the service of the United States shall +be divided or appropriated—of granting letters of marque and reprisal in +times of peace—appointing courts for the trial of piracies and felonies +committed on the high seas and establishing courts for receiving and +determining finally appeals in all cases of captures, provided that no +member of Congress shall be appointed a judge of any of the said courts. + +The United States in Congress assembled shall also be the last resort on +appeal in all disputes and differences now subsisting or that hereafter +may arise between two or more States concerning boundary, jurisdiction +or any other cause whatever; which authority shall always be exercised +in the manner following. Whenever the legislative or executive authority +or lawful agent of any State in controversy with another shall present +a petition to Congress, stating the matter in question and praying for +a hearing, notice thereof shall be given by order of Congress to the +legislative or executive authority of the other State in controversy, and +a day assigned for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents, +who shall then be directed to appoint by joint consent, commissioners or +judges to constitute a court for hearing and determining the matter in +question: but if they cannot agree, Congress shall name three persons +out of each of the United States, and from the list of such persons each +party shall alternately strike out one, the petitioners beginning, until +the number shall be reduced to thirteen; and from that number not less +than seven, nor more than nine names as Congress shall direct, shall in +the presence of Congress be drawn out by lot, and the persons whose names +shall be so drawn or any five of them, shall be commissioners or judges, +to hear and finally determine the controversy, so always as a major part +of the judges who shall hear the cause shall agree in the determination: +and if either party shall neglect to attend at the day appointed, without +showing reasons, which Congress shall judge sufficient, or being present +shall refuse to strike, the Congress shall proceed to nominate three +persons out of each State, and the Secretary of Congress shall strike in +behalf of such party absent or refusing; and the judgment and sentence +of the court to be appointed, in the manner before prescribed, shall be +final and conclusive; and if any of the parties shall refuse to submit +to the authority of such court, or to appear or defend their claim or +cause, the court shall nevertheless proceed to pronounce sentence, or +judgment, which shall in like manner be final and decisive, the judgment +or sentence and other proceedings being in either case transmitted to +Congress, and lodged among the acts of Congress for the security of the +parties concerned: provided that every commissioner, before he sits in +judgment, shall take an oath to be administered by one of the judges +of the supreme or superior court of the State where the cause shall be +tried, “well and truly to hear and determine the matter in question, +according to the best of his judgment, without favour, affection or hope +of reward:” provided also that no State shall be deprived of territory +for the benefit of the United States. + +All controversies concerning the private right of soil claimed under +different grants of two or more States, whose jurisdiction as they may +respect such lands, and the States which passed such grants are adjusted, +the said grants or either of them being at the same time claimed to have +originated antecedent to such settlement of jurisdiction, shall on the +petition of either party to the Congress of the United States, be finally +determined as near as may be in the same manner as is before prescribed +for deciding disputes respecting territorial jurisdiction between +different States. + +The United States in Congress assembled shall also have the sole +and exclusive right and power of regulating the alloy and value of +coin struck by their own authority, or by that of the respective +States—fixing the standard of weights and measures throughout the United +States—regulating the trade and managing all affairs with the Indians, +not members of any of the States, provided that the legislative right of +any State within its own limits be not infringed or violated—establishing +and regulating post-offices from one State to another, throughout all +the United States, and exacting such postage on the papers passing +thro’ the same as may be requisite to defray the expenses of the said +office—appointing all officers of the land forces, in the service of +the United States, excepting regimental officers—appointing all the +officers of the naval forces, and commissioning all officers whatever +in the service of the United States—making rules for the government +and regulation of the said land and naval forces, and directing their +operations. + +The United States in Congress assembled shall have authority to appoint +a committee, to sit in the recess of Congress, to be denominated “a +Committee of the States,” and to consist of one delegate from each +State; and to appoint such other committees and civil officers as may be +necessary for managing the general affairs of the United States under +their direction—to appoint one of their number to preside, provided that +no person be allowed to serve in the office of president more than one +year in any term of three years; to ascertain the necessary sums of money +to be raised for the service of the United States, and to appropriate +and apply the same for defraying the public expenses—to borrow money, +or emit bills on the credit of the United States, transmitting every +half year to the respective States an account of the sums of money so +borrowed or emitted,—to build and equip a navy—to agree upon the number +of land forces, and to make requisitions from each State for its quota, +in proportion to the number of white inhabitants in such State; which +requisition shall be binding, and thereupon the Legislature of each State +shall appoint the regimental officers, raise the men and cloath, arm and +equip them in a soldier like manner, at the expense of the United States; +and the officers and men so cloathed, armed and equipped shall march to +the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the United States +in Congress assembled: but if the United States in Congress assembled +shall, on consideration of circumstances judge proper that any State +should not raise men, or should raise a smaller number than its quota, +and that any other State should raise a greater number of men than the +quota thereof, such extra number shall be raised, officered, cloathed, +armed and equipped in the same manner as the quota of such State, unless +the legislature of such State shall judge that such extra number cannot +be safely spared out of the same, in which case they shall raise, +officer, cloath, arm and equip as many of such extra number as they judge +can be safely spared. And the officers and men so cloathed, armed and +equipped, shall march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed +on by the United States in Congress assembled. + +The United States in Congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor +grant letters of marque and reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any +treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, +nor ascertain the sums and expenses necessary for the defence and welfare +of the United States, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on +the credit of the United States, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon +the number of vessels of war, to be built or purchased, or the number of +land or sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a commander-in-chief of the +army or navy, unless nine States assent to the same: nor shall a question +on any other point, except for adjourning from day to day be determined, +unless by the votes of a majority of the United States in Congress +assembled. + +The Congress of the United States shall have power to adjourn to any +time within the year, and to any place within the United States, so that +no period of adjournment be for a longer duration than the space of six +months, and shall publish the journal of their proceedings monthly, +except such parts thereof relating to treaties, alliances or military +operations, as in their judgment require secresy; and the yeas and nays +of the delegates of each State on any question shall be entered on the +journal, when it is desired by any delegate; and the delegates of a +State, or any of them, at his or their request shall be furnished with a +transcript of the said journal, except such parts as are above excepted, +to lay before the Legislatures of the several States. + +ARTICLE X. The committee of the States, or any nine of them, shall be +authorized to execute, in the recess of Congress, such of the powers +of Congress as the United States in Congress assembled, by the consent +of nine States, shall from time to time think expedient to vest them +with; provided that no power be delegated to the said committee, for the +exercise of which, by the articles of confederation, the voice of nine +States in the Congress of the United States assembled is requisite. + +ARTICLE XI. Canada acceding to this confederation, and joining in the +measures of the United States, shall be admitted into, and entitled to +all the advantages of this Union: but no other colony shall be admitted +into the same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine States. + +ARTICLE XII. All bills of credit emitted, monies borrowed and debts +contracted by, or under the authority of Congress, before the assembling +of the United States, in pursuance of the present confederation, shall be +deemed and considered as a charge against the United States, for payment +and satisfaction whereof the said United States, and the public faith are +hereby solemnly pledged. + +ARTICLE XIII. Every State shall abide by the determinations of the +United States in Congress assembled, on all questions which by +this confederation are submitted to them. And the articles of this +confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the Union +shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be +made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a Congress +of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures of +every State. + +And whereas it has pleased the Great Governor of the world to incline +the hearts of the Legislatures we respectively represent in Congress, +to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said articles of +confederation and perpetual union. Know ye that we the undersigned +delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that +purpose, do by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our +respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and +every of the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, and all +and singular the matters and things therein contained: and we do further +solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents, +that they shall abide by the determinations of the United States in +Congress assembled, on all questions, which by the said confederation +are submitted to them. And that the articles thereof shall be inviolably +observed by the States we re[s]pectively represent, and that the Union +shall be perpetual. + +In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in Congress. Done at +Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania the ninth day of July in the +year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight, and in the +third year of the independence of America. + +On the part & behalf of the State of New Hampshire. + + JOSIAH BARTLETT, + JOHN WENTWORTH, Junr., + August 8th, 1778. + +On the part and behalf of the State of Massachusetts Bay. + + JOHN HANCOCK, + SAMUEL ADAMS, + ELBRIDGE GERRY, + FRANCIS DANA, + JAMES LOVELL, + SAMUEL HOLTEN. + +On the part and behalf of the State of Rhode Island and Providence +Plantations. + + WILLIAM ELLERY, + HENRY MARCHANT, + JOHN COLLINS. + +On the part and behalf of the State of Connecticut. + + ROGER SHERMAN, + SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, + OLIVER WOLCOTT, + TITUS HOSMER, + ANDREW ADAMS. + +On the part and behalf of the State of New York. + + JAS. DUANE, + FRA. LEWIS, + WM. DUER, + GOUV. MORRIS. + +On the part and in behalf of the State of New Jersey, Novr. 26, 1778. + + JNO. WITHERSPOON, + NATH. SCUDDER. + +On the part and behalf of the State of Pennsylvania. + + ROBT. MORRIS, + DANIEL ROBERDEAU, + JONA. BAYARD SMITH, + WILLIAM CLINGAN, + JOSEPH REED, 22d July, 1778. + +On the part & behalf of the State of Delaware. + + THO. M’KEAN, Feby. 12, 1779. + JOHN DICKINSON, May 5th, 1779. + NICHOLAS VAN DYKE. + +On the part and behalf of the State of Maryland. + + JOHN HANSON, March 1, 1781. + DANIEL CARROLL, Mar. 1, 1781. + +On the part and behalf of the State of Virginia. + + RICHARD HENRY LEE, + JOHN BANISTER, + THOMAS ADAMS, + JNO. HARVIE, + FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE. + +On the part and behalf of the State of No. Carolina. + + JOHN PENN, July 21, 1778. + CORNS. HARNETT, + JNO. WILLIAMS. + +On the part and behalf of the State of South Carolina. + + HENRY LAURENS, + WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON, + THOS. HEYWARD, Junr. + JNO. MATHEWS, + RICHD. HUTSON. + +On the part and behalf of the State of Georgia. + + JNO. WALTON, 24th July, 1778. + EDWD. TELFAIR, + EDWD. LANGWORTHY. + + +END OF VOL. II. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78469 *** diff --git a/78469-h/78469-h.htm b/78469-h/78469-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b5cb0f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/78469-h/78469-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11749 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + A history of the American people, volume 2 | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +a { + text-decoration: none; +} + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +h2.nobreak { + page-break-before: avoid; +} + +hr.chap { + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + clear: both; + width: 65%; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; +} + +img.w100 { + width: 100%; +} + +div.chapter { + page-break-before: always; +} + +p { + margin-top: 0.5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: 0.5em; + text-indent: 1em; +} + +table { + margin: 1em auto 1em auto; + max-width: 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class="smaller">BY</span><br> +<span class="smcap">WOODROW WILSON, Ph.D., Litt.D., LL.D.</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage">IN FIVE VOLUMES</p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smcap">Vol. II.</span><br> +<span class="gothic">Colonies and Nation</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ii">[ii]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus001" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus001.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GEORGE WASHINGTON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[iii]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<p class="titlepage larger"><span class="smaller">A HISTORY OF</span><br> +THE AMERICAN PEOPLE</p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">BY</span><br> +<span class="smcap">WOODROW WILSON, Ph.D., Litt.D., LL.D.</span><br> +<span class="smaller">PRESIDENT OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage">ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS, MAPS,<br> +PLANS, FACSIMILES, RARE PRINTS,<br> +CONTEMPORARY VIEWS, ETC.</p> + +<p class="titlepage">IN FIVE VOLUMES</p> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smcap">Vol. II.</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter titlepage illowp50" style="max-width: 9.375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/hb.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">NEW YORK AND LONDON</span><br> +HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS<br> +<span class="smaller">MCMVII</span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[iv]</span></p> + +<p class="titlepage smaller">Copyright, 1901, 1902, by <span class="smcap">Woodrow Wilson</span>.</p> + +<p class="center smaller">Copyright, 1901, 1902, by <span class="smcap">Harper & Brothers</span>.</p> + +<p class="center smaller"><i>All rights reserved.</i></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[v]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> + +</div> + +<table> + <tr> + <td class="tdr smaller">CHAPTER</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdpg smaller">PAGE</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">I.</td> + <td><span class="smcap">Common Undertakings</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">II.</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The Parting of the Ways</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">98</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">III.</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The Approach of Revolution</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">172</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">IV.</td> + <td><span class="smcap">The War for Independence</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">223</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr"></td> + <td>APPENDIX</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#APPENDIX">331</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[vi]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[vii]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="NOTES_ON_ILLUSTRATIONS">NOTES ON ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +</div> + +<table> + <tr> + <td></td> + <td class="tdpg smaller">PAGE</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">George Washington</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus001"><i>Frontispiece.</i></a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Plan of Charleston, South Carolina, + about 1732.</span>—From plate 12 of Henry Popple’s <i>Map of + the British Empire in America</i>. London, 1733</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus002">3</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">New Orleans in 1719.</span>—Redrawn + from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus003">5</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Samuel de Champlain.</span>—Redrawn + from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus004">7</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">An early view of Quebec.</span>—Redrawn + from a view published at London in 1760</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus005">12</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Cour du Bois, xvii. century.</span>—From + a drawing by Frederic Remington</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus006">14</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">An English fleet about 1732.</span>—From + plate 11 of Henry Popple’s <i>Map of the British Empire in + America</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus007">16</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Moale’s sketch of Baltimore, + Maryland, in 1752.</span>—Drawn from the original in + the Maryland Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus008">19</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Charleston, from the harbor, + 1742.</span>—Redrawn from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus009">22</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Lord Bellomont.</span>—From an + old engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus010">25</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">William and Mary College before + the fire, 1723.</span>—Redrawn from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus011">27</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">John Churchill, Duke of + Marlborough.</span>—From an engraving by R. Cooper in + the Emmet Collection, New York Public Library (Lenox + Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus012">29</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Prince Eugene.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus013">31</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[viii]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">French Huguenot Church, New York, + 1704.</span>—Redrawn from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus014">32</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Old Swedes church, Wilmington, + Delaware.</span>—From a drawing by Howard Pyle</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus015">34</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">New York slave market about + 1730.</span>—Redrawn from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus016">36</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Broad Street, New York, in + 1740.</span>—Redrawn from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus017">37</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Old State House at Annapolis, + Maryland.</span>—Redrawn from an old lithograph by Weber</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus018">39</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">New York, from the harbor, about + 1725.</span>—Redrawn from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus019">41</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Alexander Spotswood.</span>—Redrawn + from the frontispiece in the <i>Official Letters of Alexander + Spotswood</i>, published by the Virginia Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus020">42</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Brenton church, where Governor Spotswood + worshipped.</span>—From Lossing’s <i>Field-Book of the + Revolution</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus021">43</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Governor Spotswood’s expedition to + the Blue Ridge.</span>—From a painting by F. Luis Mora</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus022">45</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Colonel Rhett and the pirate Stede + Bonnet.</span>—From a painting by Howard Pyle</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus023">46</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Portrait of the pirate Edward Thatch + (or Teach).</span>—From Capt. Charles Johnson’s <i>General + History of the Highwaymen</i> [etc.]. London, 1736. In the + New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus024">48</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Sir Robert Walpole.</span>—From + an old engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus025">50</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Map of the coast settlements, + 1742.</span>—From an old English map</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus026">53</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Pohick church, Virginia, where + Washington worshipped.</span>—From a sketch by Benson J. + Lossing in 1850</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus027">55</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Title-page of the proceedings + against the negroes.</span>—Title-page of the original + edition of Daniel Horsmanden’s <i>Journal</i> of the + so-called “Negro Plot” of 1741. From an original in the + New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus028">57</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">[ix]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Oswego in 1750.</span>—Redrawn and + <i>extended</i> from a folded view in William Smith’s <i>History + of the Province of New York</i>. London, 1757</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus029">60</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">James Oglethorpe.</span>—From an + old engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus030">63</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Oglethorpe’s order for supplies.</span>—From + Winsor’s <i>America</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus031">65</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Savannah in 1734.</span>—From an + original engraving in the New York Public Library (Lenox + Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus032">66</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Alexander Hamilton.</span>—From + the bust by Palmer in possession of the Honorable Nicholas + Fish, of New York</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus033"><i>Facing p.</i> 66</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus034">68</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Oglethorpe’s expedition against St. + Augustine.</span>—From a painting by F. Luis Mora</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus035">69</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">George Whitefield.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus036">70</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The action at Cartagena.</span>—From + Green’s <i>History of the English People</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus037">72</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">William Pepperrell.</span>—Sir William + Pepperrell. The original painting is in the Essex Institute, + at Salem, Mass.; the artist’s name is not known</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus038">74</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Facsimile of the New York Weekly + <i>Journal</i>.</span>—First page of the second number of + John Peter Zenger’s newspaper, from an original in the + New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus039">78</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Robert Dinwiddie.</span>—After a phototype + by F. Gutekunst which forms the frontispiece to vol. ii. of the + <i>Dinwiddie Papers</i>, published by the Virginia Historical + Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus040">80</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Merchants’ Exchange, New York, + 1752-1799.</span>—From <i>Reminiscences of an Old New-Yorker</i>. + Emmet: New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus041">83</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Plains of Abraham on the morning + of the battle.</span>—From a painting by Frederic Remington</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus042">86</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Map of Braddock’s defeat.</span>—Redrawn + from plate 6 of Winthrop Sargent’s <i>History of Braddock’s + Expedition</i>, published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus043">88</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">William Pitt.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus044">91</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">[x]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Signature of James Abercrombie</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus045">92</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Capitulation of Louisbourg.</span>—From + a painting by Howard Pyle</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus046">93</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Jeffrey Amherst.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus047">94</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">James Wolfe.</span>—From a mezzotint + by Richard Houston in the Emmet Collection, No. 3217, New + York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus048">95</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">William Byrd.</span>—From Wilson’s + <i>Washington</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus049">101</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Plan of the city of New York, 1767.</span>—From + Janvier’s <i>Old New York</i>, p. 48</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus050">103</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Edmund Burke.</span>—From an engraving + after the painting by Romney</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus051">106</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">View of the buildings belonging to + Harvard College, Cambridge, New England, 1726.</span>—Partial + reproduction of the earliest print of Harvard College. What is + believed to be the only extant copy of this old engraving is + owned by the Massachusetts Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus052">109</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Nassau Hall, Princeton College, + 1760.</span>—Redrawn from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus053">111</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">King’s College New York, 1758.</span>—Redrawn + from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus054">112</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Benjamin Franklin.</span>—From the + portrait by Duplessis in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass.</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus055"><i>Facing p.</i> 112</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The birthplace of Benjamin Franklin, + Milk Street, Boston.</span>—Redrawn from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus056">113</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Benjamin Franklin.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus057">115</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">A page of “Poor Richard’s” + Almanac.</span>—From an original of this almanac for 1767, + in the New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus058">117</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Benjamin Franklin in a colonial drawing + room.</span>—From a painting by H. C. Christy</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus059">119</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Mrs. Benedict Arnold and child.</span>—From + the portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence, in the Historical Society + of Pennsylvania</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus060">121</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Franklin’s old book-shop, next to Christ’s + Church, Philadelphia.</span>—Redrawn from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus061">123</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">[xi]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">George Grenville.</span>—From an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus062">125</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Boundary monument on the St. Croix.</span>—From + a lithograph by L. Haghe after a sketch by Joseph Bouchette, made in + July, 1817, and included in his <i>British Dominions in North America</i>. + London, 1832</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus063">127</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Pontiac, chief of the Ottawas.</span>—Redrawn + from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus064">129</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Henry Bouquet.</span>—From a process-plate + in New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus065">131</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Bouquet’s redoubt at Pittsburg.</span>—Redrawn + from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus066">132</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Patrick Henry.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus067">133</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Signature of Isaac Barré</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus068">134</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Facsimile of poster placed on the + doors of public buildings.</span>—From Lamb’s <i>History + of New York</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus069">135</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">John Dickinson.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus070">137</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Thomas Hutchinson.</span>—From the + painting attributed to Copley, in the Massachusetts + Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus071">138</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Thomas Hutchinson’s mansion, + Boston.</span>—Redrawn from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus072">139</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Table of stamp charges on + paper.</span>—From an original of this broadside, in the + Emmet Collection, No. 1802, in the New York Public Library + (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus073">141</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Lord Rockingham.</span>—From an + engraving after a painting by Wilson</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus074">142</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">James Otis.</span>—Redrawn from an + old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus075">144</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Stamps forced on the colonies.</span>—From + a photograph of an old document</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus076">145</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Old capitol at Williamsburg, + Virginia.</span>—From a painting by Howard Pyle</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus077">147</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">George Wythe.</span>—From a painting + by Weir, after Trumbull, in Independence Hall, Philadelphia</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus078">149</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">George Washington, 1772.</span>—From + a portrait painted in 1772, by C. W. Peale, now owned by + General George Washington Custis Lee, of Lexington, Virginia</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus079">155</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">[xii]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Landing troops at Boston, 1768.</span>—From + a heliotype in Winsor’s <i>Boston</i>, after the engraving by + Paul Revere</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus080">157</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">List of names of those who would not + conform.</span>—This is a page from the <i>North American + Almanack</i> for 1770, published at Boston by Edes and Gill</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus081">159</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Hand-bill of True Sons of Liberty.</span>—From + Winsor’s <i>America</i>. The Massachusetts Historical Society + possesses a copy of the original broadside</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus082">162</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Boston massacre.</span>—From a + painting by F. Luis Mora</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus083">163</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">After the massacre. Samuel Adams + demanding of Governor Hutchinson the instant withdrawal of + British troops.</span>—From a painting by Howard Pyle</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus084">165</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Interior of council chamber, old State + House, Boston.</span>—From a photograph</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus085">166</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Protest against the landing of + tea.</span>—Facsimile of a Boston broadside, from Winsor’s + <i>America</i>. An original is in the Massachusetts Historical + Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus086">167</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Entry John Adams’s diary.</span>—From + Winsor’s <i>Boston</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus087">168</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Call for meeting to protest against + the landing of tea.</span>—A Philadelphia poster, from Winsor’s + <i>America</i>. There is an original in the Historical Society + of Pennsylvania</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus088">168</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Boston tea party.</span>—From a + painting by Howard Pyle</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus089">169</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Boycotting poster.</span>—From the + original hand-bill in the Massachusetts Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus090">173</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Circular of the Boston Committee of + Correspondence.</span>—From the original in the Boston Public + Library</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus091">175</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">George III.</span>—From an engraving + by Benoit</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus092">177</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">George Mason.</span>—From a painting + by Herbert Walsh, in Independence Hall, Philadelphia</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus093">179</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Seal of Dunmore.</span>—Redrawn from + an impression of the seal</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus094">181</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Earl of Dunmore.</span>—Redrawn from + an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus095">182</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The attack on the Gaspee.</span>—From + a painting by Howard Pyle</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus096">184</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Lord North.</span>—From the engraving + by Mote, after Dance</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus097">186</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiii">[xiii]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Title-page of Hutchinson’s + History.</span>—From an original in the New York Public + Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus098">188</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">General Gage.</span>—Redrawn from + an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus099">190</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Stove in the House of the Burgesses, + Virginia.</span>—From a photograph of the original in the + State Library of Virginia</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus100">191</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">John Adams.</span>—From the portrait + by Gilbert Stuart, in Harvard University</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus101"><i>Facing p.</i> 192</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Roger Sherman.</span>—Redrawn from + an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus102">195</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Joseph Galloway.</span>—Redrawn from + an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus103">197</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">John Dickinson.</span>—From an + engraving after a drawing by Du Simitier</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus104">198</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Peyton Randolph.</span>—From an + engraving after a painting by C. W. Peale</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus105">200</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Washington stopping at an inn on his + way to Cambridge.</span>—From a painting by F. Luis Mora</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus106">203</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Liberty Song.</span>—From <i>The + Writings of John Dickinson</i>, edited by Paul Leicester Ford, + published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus107">205</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Signature of Joseph Hawley</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus108">210</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The House of Commons as it appeared + in 1741.</span>—From a drawing by Gavelot</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus109">214</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Page from the diary of Josiah Quincy, + Jr.</span>—From Winsor’s <i>America</i>. The original diary, + kept while he was in London in 1774, is preserved in the + Massachusetts Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus110">216</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Proclamation of the King for the + suppression of the rebellion.</span>—From an original of this + broadside in the Emmet Collection, No. 1496, in the New York + Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus111">218</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Gage’s order permitting inhabitants to + leave Boston.</span>—From Winsor’s <i>Boston</i>. The handwriting + is that of James Bowdoin</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus112">220</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Notice to militia.</span>—From an original + in the Massachusetts Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus113">224</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">An account of the Concord fight.</span>—From + Winsor’s <i>America</i>. The original is in the Arthur Lee Papers, + preserved at Harvard College Library</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus114">225</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv">[xiv]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Signature of Ethan Allen</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus115">226</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Ruins of Fort Ticonderoga.</span>—Redrawn + from an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus116">227</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Watching the fight at Bunker Hill.</span>—From + a painting by Howard Pyle</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus117">228</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">From Beacon Hill, 1775, no. 1. (Looking + towards Dorchester Heights.)</span>—From Winsor’s <i>America</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus118">230</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">From Beacon Hill, 1775, no. 2. (Looking + towards Roxbury.)</span>—From Winsor’s <i>America</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus119">231</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Order of Committee of Safety.</span>—From + Winsor’s <i>America</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus120">232</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Boston and Bunker Hill, from a print + published in 1781.</span>—Redrawn from a plan in <i>An Impartial + History of the War in America</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus121">234</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Richard Montgomery.</span>—From + an old engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus122">238</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Benjamin Franklin as a politician.</span>—From + a painting by Stephen Elmer</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus123">240</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">R. H. Lee’s resolution for + independence.</span>—From McMaster’s <i>School History of the + United States</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus124">241</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">State House, Philadelphia, 1778.</span>—From + a photograph of the original drawing</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus125">242</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Signature of Thomas Jefferson</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus126">243</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Jefferson’s original draft of the Declaration + of Independence.</span>—This facsimile of Jefferson’s original rough + draft, with interlineations by Adams and Franklin, is from an artotype + by Edward Bierstadt, made from the original in the Department of + State, Washington, D. C.</td> + <td class="tdpg nw"><a href="#illus127a">244, 245, 246, 247</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Rear view of Independence Hall.</span>—From + a photograph</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus128">248</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The President’s chair in the + Constitutional Convention.</span>—From a photograph</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus129">249</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Map of Sullivan’s Island.</span>—Redrawn + from a plan in Johnson’s <i>Traditions and Reminiscences of the + American Revolution in the South</i>. + Charleston, S. C., 1851</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus130">250</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv">[xv]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Wllliam Moultrie.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus131">251</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Sir William Howe.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus132">253</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Howe’s proclamation preparatory to + leaving Boston.</span>—From the original in the Massachusetts + Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus133">255</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Evacuation of Brooklyn Heights.</span>—From + a painting by F. Luis Mora</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus134">257</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Circular of Philadelphia Council of + Safety.</span>—From the original in the Historical Society of + Pennsylvania</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus135">259</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Operations around Trenton and Princeton. + Numbers 76 represent the camps of General Cornwallis and 77 + that of General Knyphausen on the 23d of June, 1777.</span>—Redrawn + from a sketch map by a Hessian officer</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus136">261</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Hessian boot.</span>—From a photograph</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus137">263</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Letter concerning British + outrages.</span>—From the original in the Historical Society + of Pennsylvania</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus138">265</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Recruiting poster.</span>—From + Smith’s <i>American Historical and Literary Curiosities</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus139">267</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">John Burgoyne.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus140">269</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Arthur St. Clair.</span>—From an + engraving after the portrait by C. W. Peale</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus141">271</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Samuel Adams.</span>—From the portrait + by Copley in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass.</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus142"><i>Facing p.</i> 272</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Benjamin Lincoln.</span>—From the + portrait in the Massachusetts Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus143">273</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Sir William Johnson.</span>—From a + mezzotint by Spooner in the Emmet Collection, No. 36, New + York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus144">274</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Sir John Johnson.</span>—From an + engraving by Bartolozzi</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus145">275</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Joseph Brant.</span>—From an engraving + after the original painting by G. Romney</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus146">276</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Peter Gansevoort.</span>—From + Lossing’s <i>Field-Book of the Revolution.</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus147">277</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvi">[xvi]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Facsimile of closing paragraphs of + Burgoyne’s surrender.</span>—From the original in the New + York Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus148">279</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Scene of the battle of the + Brandywine.</span>—From an old engraving in the Emmet + Collection, New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus149">281</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Washington’s proclamation.</span>—From + the original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus150">283</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Baron de Steuben.</span>—From an + old engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus151">285</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Facsimile of play bill.</span>—From + Smith’s <i>American Historical and Literary Curiosities</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus152">287</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Charles Lee.</span>—From a mezzotint + after the painting by Thomlinson, in Emmet Collection, No. + 1902, New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus153">289</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Reduced facsimile of instructions from + Congress to privateers.</span>—From Maclay’s <i>History of + American Privateers</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus154">291</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Continental lottery book.</span>—From + a photograph</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus155">292</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Reduced facsimile of the first and + last parts of Patrick Henry’s letter of instructions to + George Rogers Clark.</span>—From the <i>Conquest of the + Northwest</i>, by William E. English</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus156">294</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">George Rogers Clark.</span>—From + a portrait by Jarvis in the Wisconsin Historical Society</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus157">295</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">George Clark’s final summons to + Colonel Hamilton to surrender.</span>—From Winsor’s + <i>America</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus158">297</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Charles James Fox.</span>—From an + engraving after the portrait by Opie</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus159">299</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">John Sullivan.</span>—From a mezzotint + by Will</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus160">301</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Casimir Pulaski.</span>—From an + engraving by Hall, in Emmet Collection, No. 3852, New York + Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus161">302</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">John Paul Jones.</span>—From a + painting by C. W. Peale, in Independence Hall, Philadelphia</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus162">304</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The fight between Bon Homme Richard + and Serapis.</span>—From a painting by Howard Pyle</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus163">305</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvii">[xvii]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Washington and Rochambeau in the + trenches at Yorktown.</span>—From a painting by Howard Pyle</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus164">307</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Horatio Gates.</span>—From an engraving + by C. Tiebout, after the painting by Gilbert Stuart, Emmet + Collection, New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus165">309</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Benedict Arnold’s oath of allegiance</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus166">310</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Benedict Arnold.</span>—From a mezzotint + in the Emmet Collection, No. 1877, New York Public Library + (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus167">311</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">John André.</span>—From an engraving + in the New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus168">312</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Major André’s watch.</span>—From a + photograph</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus169">313</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Benedict Arnold’s pass to Major + André.</span>—From Lossing’s <i>Field-Book of the Revolution</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus170">314</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Major André’s pocket-book.</span>—From + a photograph</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus171">315</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Virginia colonial currency.</span>—From + a photograph</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus172">316</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Lord Cornwallis.</span>—From an old print</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus173">317</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">William Washington.</span>—From an engraving + after a portrait by C. W. Peale</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus174">318</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Banastre Tarleton.</span>—From a mezzotint + in the Emmet Collection, New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus175">319</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Francis Marion.</span>—From an engraving + in the Emmet Collection, New York Public Library (Lenox Building)</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus176">320</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Daniel Morgan.</span>—From a miniature + in Yale College Library, New Haven</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus177">321</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Count Rochambeau.</span>—From an old + engraving</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus178">322</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Nathanael Greene.</span>—From the original + portrait in possession of Mrs. William Benton Greene, Princeton, + N. J.</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus179">323</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Facsimile of the last article of capitulation + at Yorktown.</span>—From a facsimile in Smith’s <i>American + Historical and Literary Curiosities</i></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus180">324</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Parole of Cornwallis.</span>—From + the original in the Library of the University of Virginia</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus181">325</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Order permitting the illumination of + Philadelphia.</span>—From Smith’s <i>American Historical and + Literary Curiosities</i>. Second series. New York</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus182">326</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xviii">[xviii]</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Nelson house. Cornwallis’s headquarters, + Yorktown.</span>—From a sketch by Benson J. Lossing in 1850</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus183">327</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Evolution of the American flag.</span>—Compiled + from Preble’s <i>History of the Flag of the United States</i>. Boston, + 1880</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#illus184">328</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="2" class="tdc">LIST OF MAPS</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">English colonies, 1700</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#map1"><i>Facing p.</i> 80</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">North America, 1750. Showing claims arising + out of exploration</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#map2"><i>Facing p.</i> 176</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap">English colonies, 1763-1775</span></td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#map3"><i>Facing p.</i> 320</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p><i>The Appendix in this volume is taken by permission from +Mr. Howard W. Preston’s</i> Documents Illustrative of American +History.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span></p> + +<h1>A HISTORY<br> +OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE</h1> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I<br> +COMMON UNDERTAKINGS</h2> + +</div> + +<p>There had been some noteworthy passages in the +reports which Colonel Francis Nicholson sent to the +government at home when he was first governor of +Virginia (1690); for he studied his duties in those days +with wide-open eyes, and had sometimes written of +what he saw with a very statesmanlike breadth and +insight. It was very noteworthy, among other things, +that he had urged a defensive confederation of the +colonies against the French and Indians, under the +leadership of Virginia, the most loyal of the colonies. +He had made it his business to find out what means of +defence and what effective military force there were +in the other colonies, particularly in those at the north, +conferring with their authorities with regard to these +matters in person when he could not get the information +he wished by deputy. The King and his ministers in +England saw very clearly, when they read his careful +despatches, that they could not wisely act upon such +suggestions yet; but they knew that what Colonel +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span>Nicholson thus openly and definitely advised was what +must occur to the mind of every thoughtful and observant +man who was given a post of authority and guidance +in the colonies, whether he thought it wise to +advise action in the matter or not. It was evident, +indeed, even to some who were not deemed thoughtful +at all. Even the heedless, negligent Lord Culpeper, +little as he really cared for the government he had been +set to conduct, had suggested eight years ago that all +questions of war and peace in the colonies should be +submitted for final decision to the governor and council +of Virginia, where it might be expected that the +King’s interests would be loyally looked after and safeguarded.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp95" id="illus002" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus002.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PLAN OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, 1732</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>No doubt the colonies would have objected to and +resisted such an arrangement with a very hot resentment, +and no one in authority in London dreamed for +a moment of taking either Lord Culpeper’s or Colonel +Nicholson’s advice in the matter; but it was none the +less obvious that the King and his officers must contrive +some way, if they could, by which they might use +the colonies as a single power against the French in +America, if England was indeed to make and keep an +empire there. If King James, who leaned upon France +as an ally and prayed for the dominion of the Church +of Rome, had seen this, it was not likely that William +of Orange, who was the arch-enemy of France and the +champion of Protestantism against Rome, would overlook +it. He was no sooner on the throne than England +was plunged into a long eight years’ war with the French. +And so it happened that the colonies seemed to reap +little advantage from the “glorious revolution” which +had put out a tyrant and brought in a constitutional +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span>King. William of Orange, it presently appeared, meant +to unite groups of colonies under the authority of a +single royal governor, particularly at the north, where +the French power lay, as James before him had done; +giving to the governors of the principal colonies the +right to command the military forces of the colonies +about them even if he gave them no other large gift of +power. He did more than James had done. Being a +statesman and knowing the value of systematic administration, +he did systematically what James had done +loosely and without consistent plan. The Board of +Trade and Plantations, which he organized to oversee +and direct the government of the colonies, did more to +keep their affairs under the eye and hand of the King +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span>than any group of James’s ministers had been able to +do. The great Dutch King was determined to wield +England and her possessions as a single imperial power +in the game of politics he was playing in Europe.</p> + +<p>The French power, which he chiefly feared, had really +grown very menacing in America; was growing more +so every year; and must very soon indeed be faced and +overcome, if the English were not to be shut in to a +narrow seaboard, or ousted altogether. It was not a +question of numbers. It was a question of territorial aggrandizement, +rather, and strategic advantage. Probably +there were not more than twelve thousand Frenchmen, +all told, in America when William became King +(1689); whereas his own subjects swarmed there full +two hundred thousand strong, and were multiplying +by the tens of thousands from decade to decade. But +the French were building military posts at every strategic +point as they went, while the English were building +nothing but rural homes and open villages. With +the French it did not seem a matter of settlement; it +seemed a matter of conquest, rather, and of military +occupation. They were guarding trade routes and +making sure of points of advantage. The English +way was the more wholesome and the more vital. A +hardy, self-dependent, crowding people like the English +in Massachusetts and Virginia, and the Dutch in New +York, took root wherever they went, spread into real +communities, and were not likely to be got rid of when +once their number had run into the thousands. Their +independence, too, and their capable way of managing +their own affairs without asking or wanting or getting +any assistance from government, made them as hard +to handle as if they had been themselves an established +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span>continental power. But the French had an advantage, +nevertheless, which was not to be despised. They +moved as they were ordered to move by an active and +watchful government which was in the thick of critical +happenings where policies were made, and which meant +to cramp the English, if it could not actually get rid +of them. They extended and organized the military +power of France as they went; and they were steadily +girdling the English about with a chain of posts and +settlements which bade fair to keep all the northern +and western regions of the great continent for the King +of France, from the mouth of the St. Lawrence round +about, two thousand miles, to the outlets of the Mississippi +at the Gulf.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus003" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus003.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>NEW ORLEANS IN 1719</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Their movement along the great rivers and the lakes +had been very slow at first; but it had quickened from +generation to generation, and was now rapid enough +to fix the attention of any man who could hear news +and had his eyes abroad upon what was happening +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span>about him. Jacques Cartier had explored the noble +river St. Lawrence for his royal master of France a +long century and a half ago, in the far year 1535, fifty +years before the English so much as attempted a settlement. +But it was not until 1608, the year after Jamestown +was begun, that Samuel de Champlain established +the first permanent French settlement, at Quebec, and +there were still but two hundred lonely settlers there +when nearly thirty years more had gone by (1636). +It was the quick growth and systematic explorations +of the latter part of the century that made the English +uneasy. The twelve thousand Frenchmen who were +busy at the work of occupation when William of Orange +became King had not confined themselves to the settlements +long ago made in the Bay of Fundy and at Montreal, +Quebec, and Tadousac, where the great river of +the north broadened to the sea. They had carried their +boats across from the upper waters of the Ottawa to +the open reaches of Lake Huron; had penetrated thence +to Lake Michigan, and even to the farthest shores of +Lake Superior, establishing forts and trading posts +as they advanced. They had crossed from Green Bay +in Lake Michigan to the waters of the Wisconsin River, +and had passed by that easy way into the Mississippi +itself. That stout-hearted pioneer Père Marquette had +descended the Father of Waters past the Ohio to the +outlet of the Arkansas (1673); and Robert La Salle +had followed him and gone all the long way to the +spreading mouths of the vast river and the gates of +the Gulf (1682), not by way of the Wisconsin, but by +crossing from the southern end of Lake Michigan to +the stream of the Illinois, and passing by that way to +the Mississippi.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus004" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus004.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>And so the lakes and the western rivers and the Mississippi +itself saw the French; and French posts sprang +up upon their shores to mark the sovereignty of the +King of France. Frenchmen easily enough learned +the ways of the wilderness and became the familiars of +the Indians in their camps and wigwams; and they +showed themselves of every kind,—some rough and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span>lawless rovers, only too glad to throw off the restraints +of the orderly life to which they had been bred and live +as they pleased in the deep, secluded forests, trading +without license, seeking adventure, finding a way for +the civilization which was to follow them, but themselves +anxious to escape it; others regular traders, who +kept their hold upon the settlements behind them and +submitted when they were obliged to official exactions +at Montreal; some intrepid priests, who preached salvation +and the dominion of France among the dusky +tribes, and lived or died with a like fortitude and devotion, +never willingly quitting their sacred task or letting go +their hold upon the hearts of the savage men they had +come to enlighten and subdue; some hardy captains +with little companies of drilled men-at-arms from the +fields of France:—at the front indomitable explorers, far +in the rear timid farmers clearing spaces in the silent +woodland for their scanty crops, and little towns slowly +growing within their walls where the river broadened +to the sea.</p> + +<p>This stealthy power which crept so steadily southward +and westward at the back of the English settlements +upon the coast was held at arm’s-length throughout +that quiet age of beginnings, not by the English, +but by a power within the forests, the power of the great +confederated Iroquois tribes, who made good their +mastery between the Hudson and the lakes: the Senecas, +Cayugas, Onondagas, Oneidas, and Mohawks. They +were stronger, fiercer, more constant and indomitable, +more capable every way, than the tribes amidst whom +the French moved; and Champlain had unwittingly +made them the enemies of the French forever. Long, +long ago, in the year 1609, which white men had forgotten, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span>he had done what the Iroquois never forgot or +forgave. He had come with their sworn foes, the Algonquins, +to the shores of that lake by the sources of the +Hudson which the palefaces ever afterwards called by +his name, and had there used the dread fire-arms of +the white men, of which they had never heard before, +to work the utter ruin of the Mohawks in battle. They +were always and everywhere ready after that fatal day +to be any man’s ally, whether Dutch or English, against +the hated French; and the French found it necessary +to keep at the back of the broad forests which stretched +from the eastern Lakes to the Hudson and the Delaware, +the wide empire of these dusky foes, astute, implacable. +They skirted the domains of the Iroquois when they +were prudent, and passed inland by the lakes and the +valley of the Mississippi.</p> + +<p>But, though they kept their distance, they advanced +their power. The colonists in New England had been +uneasy because of their unwelcome neighborhood from +the first. Once and again there had been actual collisions +and a petty warfare. But until William of Orange +made England a party to the great war of the Protestant +powers against Louis XIV. few men had seen what the +struggle between French and English held in store for +America. The English colonies had grown back not a +little way from the sea, steadily pushed farther and farther +into the thick-set forests which lay upon the broad +valleys and rising slopes of the interior by mere increase +of people and drift of enterprise. Before the seventeenth +century was out adventurous English traders +had crossed the Alleghenies, had launched their canoes +upon the waters of the Ohio, and were fixing their huts +here and there within the vast wilderness as men do +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span>who mean to stay. Colonel Dongan, the Duke’s governor +in New York (1683), like many another officer whose +duties made him alert to watch the humors and keep +the friendship of the Iroquois, the masters of the northern +border, had been quick to see how “inconvenient to the +English” it was to have French settlements “running +all along from our lakes by the back of Virginia and +Carolina to the Bay of Mexico.” There was keen rivalry +in trade, and had been these many years, between the +men of the English and Dutch colonies and the men of +the French for the profitable trade in furs which had its +heart at the north; and it was already possible for those +who knew the forest commerce to reason right shrewdly +of the future, knowing, as they did, that the English +gave better goods and dealt more fairly for the furs +than the French, and that many of the very Frenchmen +who ranged the forests in search of gain themselves +preferred to send what they had to Albany for +sale. But, except for a few lonely villages in far-away +Maine, there was nowhere any close contact between +French and English in America. Few, except traders +and thoughtful governors and border villagers, who +feared the tribes whom the French incited to attack and +massacre, knew what France did or was planning.</p> + +<p>King William’s War (1689-1697), with its eight years +of conscious peril, set new thoughts astir. It made +America part of the stage upon which the great European +conflict between French and English was to be fought +out; and immediately a sort of continental air began to +blow through colonial affairs. Colonial interests began +to seem less local, more like interests held in common, +and the colonies began to think of themselves as part +of an empire. They had no great part in the war, it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span>is true. Hale Sir William Phips, that frank seaman +adventurer, led an expedition against Acadia in 1690, +took Port Royal, and stripped the province of all that +could be brought away; but that had hardly had the +dignity of formal war. He had chiefly relished the +private gain got out of it as a pleasant reminder of that +day of fortune when he had found the Spanish treasure-ship +sunk upon a reef in far Hispaniola. His second +expedition, made the same year against Quebec, no +doubt smacked more of the regular business, for he +undertook it as an accredited officer of the crown; but +when it failed it is likely he thought more of the private +moneys subscribed and lost upon it than of the +defeat of the royal arms. There was here the irritation, +rather than the zest, of great matters, and the +colonial leaders were not becoming European statesmen +of a sudden. Their local affairs were still of more +concern to them than the policies of European courts. +Nevertheless the war made a beginning of common undertakings. +The colonies were a little drawn together, +a little put in mind of matters larger than their own.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus005" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus005.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>AN EARLY VIEW OF QUEBEC</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>New York felt herself no less concerned than Massachusetts +and Maine in the contest with the French, with its +inevitable accompaniment of trouble with the Indians; +and Jacob Leisler, plebeian and self-constituted governor +though he was, had made bold to take the initiative +in forming plans for the war. Count Louis de Frontenac +had been made governor of New France the very +year William established himself as king in England +(1689), and had come instructed, as every Englishman +in America presently heard rumor say, to attack the +English settlements at their very heart,—at New York +itself. It was this rumor that had made Leisler hasten +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span>to seize the government in King William’s name, seeing +King James’s governor hesitate, and hearing it cried +in the streets that the French were in the very Bay. +He had thought it not impossible that James’s officers +might prove traitors and friends of King Louis in that +last moment of their power. And then, when the government +was in his hands, this people’s governor called a +conference of the colonies to determine what should be +done for the common defence. Massachusetts, Plymouth, +and Connecticut responded, and sent agents to +the conference (1690), the first of its kind since America +was settled. It was agreed to attempt the conquest of +New France. Sir William Phips should lead an expedition +by sea against Quebec; and another force +should go by land out of Connecticut and New York +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span>to attack Montreal, the only other stronghold, taking +their Iroquois allies with them. But the land expedition +was every way unfortunate, and got no farther than +Lake Champlain. Frontenac was able to devote all +his strength to the defence of Quebec; and Sir William +Phips came back whipped and empty-handed. The +first effort at a common undertaking had utterly miscarried.</p> + +<p>But that was not the end of the war. Its fires burned +hot in the forests. Frontenac prosecuted the ugly business +to the end as he had begun it. He had begun, +not by sending a fleet to New York, for he had none to +send, but by sending his Indian allies to a sudden attack +and savage massacre at Schenectady, where sixty +persons, men and women, old and young, saw swift +and fearful death (1689); and year by year the same +hideous acts of barbarous war were repeated,—not always +upon the far-away border, but sometimes at the +very heart of the teeming colony,—once (1697) at Haverhill, +not thirty-five miles out of Boston itself. Such a +war was not likely to be forgot in the northern colonies, +at any rate, and in New York. Its memories were bitten +into the hearts of the colonists there as with the searings +of a hot iron; and they knew that the French must be +overcome before there could be any lasting peace, or +room enough made for English growth in the forests.</p> + +<p>They would rather have turned their thoughts to +other things. There were home matters of deep moment +which they were uneasy to settle. But these larger +matters, of England’s place and power in the world, +dominated them whether they would or no. King +William’s War was but the forerunner of many more, of +the same meaning and portent. Wars vexed and disciplined +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span>them for half +a century, and their +separate interests had +often to stand neglected +for years together +in order that their +common interests and +the interests of English +empire in America +might be guarded.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp34" id="illus006" style="max-width: 17.1875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus006.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>COURIER DU BOIS, XVII. CENTURY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>And yet those who +were thoughtful did +not lose sight of the +great, though subtle, +gain which came with +the vexing losses of +war, to offset them. +They had not failed +to notice and to take +to heart what had +happened in England +when William and +Mary were brought to +the throne. They were +none the less Englishmen +for being out of +England, and what +Parliament did for +English liberty deeply +concerned them. Parliament, +as all the world knew, had done a great deal during +those critical days in which it had consummated the +“glorious revolution” by which the Stuarts were once +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span>for all put from the seat of sovereignty. It had reasserted +the ancient rights named in Magna Charta; it had done +away with the King’s arrogated right to tax; it had +destroyed his alleged right to set laws aside, or alter +them in any way; it had reduced him from being master +and had made him a constitutional king, subject to his +people’s will, spoken through their legal representatives +in Parliament. The new King, too, had shown himself +willing to extend these principles to America. In the +charters which he granted or renewed, and in the instructions +which he gave to the governors whom he +commissioned, he did not begrudge an explicit acknowledgment +of the right of the colonies to control +their own taxation and the expenditures of their own +colonial establishments.</p> + +<p>War embarrassed trade. It made hostile territory of +the French West Indies, whence New England skippers +fetched molasses for the makers of rum at home; and +that was no small matter, for the shrewd New England +traders were already beginning to learn how much +rum would pay for, whether among the Indians of the +forest country, among the savages of the African slave +coast, or among their own neighbors at home, where +all deemed strong drink a capital solace and defence +against the asperities of a hard life. But it needed only +a little circumspection, it turned out, to keep even that +trade, notwithstanding the thing was a trifle difficult +and hazardous. There was little cause for men who +kept their wits about them to fear the law on the long, +unfrequented coasts of the New World; and there was +trade with the French without scruple whether war +held or ceased. Buccaneers and pirates abounded in +the southern seas, and legitimate traders knew as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>well as they did how confiscation and capture were to +be avoided.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus007" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus007.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>AN ENGLISH FLEET IN 1732</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The main lines of trade ran, after all, straight to +the mother country, and were protected when there +was need by English fleets. Both the laws of Parliament +and their own interest bound the trade of the +colonies to England. The Navigation Act of 1660, +in force now these forty years, forbade all trade with +the colonies except in English bottoms; forbade also +the shipment of their tobacco and wool anywhither +but to England itself; and an act of 1663 forbade the +importation of anything at all except out of England, +which, it was then once for all determined, must be +the <i>entrepôt</i> and place of staple for all foreign trade. +It was determined that, if there were to be middlemen’s +profits, the middlemen should be English, and that +the carrying trade of England and her colonies should +be English, not Dutch. It was the Dutch against whom +the acts were aimed. Dutch ships cost less in the +building than ships built in England; the Dutch merchantmen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span>could afford to charge lower rates of freight +than English skippers; and the statesmen of King +Charles, deeming Holland their chief competitor upon +the seas and in the markets of the world, meant to cut +the rivalry short by statute, so far as the English realm +was concerned.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the interests of the colonists themselves +wore easily enough the harness of the acts. For a +while it went very hard in Virginia, it is true, to pay +English freight rates on every shipment of tobacco, +the colony’s chief staple, and to sell only through English +middlemen, to the exclusion of the accommodating +Dutch and all competition. Trade touched nothing +greater than the tobacco crop. Virginia supplied in +that alone a full half of all the exports of the colonies. +Her planters sharply resented “that severe act of Parliament +which excludes us from having any commerce +with any nation in Europe but our own”; for it seemed +to put upon them a special burden. “We cannot add to +our plantation any commodity that grows out of it, as +olive trees, cotton, or vines,” complained Sir William +Berkeley very bluntly to the government in 1671. “Besides +this, we cannot procure any skilful men for one +now hopeful commodity, silk: for it is not lawful for +us to carry a pipe stave or a barrel of corn to any place +in Europe out of the King’s dominions. If this were +for his Majesty’s service or the good of his subjects, +we should not repine, whatever our sufferings are for +it; but on my soul, it is the contrary for both.” But +the thing was eased for them at last when they began +to see how their interest really lay. They had almost +a monopoly of the English market, for Spanish tobacco +was kept out by high duties, the planting of tobacco in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span>England, begun on no mean scale in the west midland +counties in the days of the Protectorate, was prohibited +by law, and a rebate of duties on all tobacco re-exported +to the continent quickened the trade with the northern +countries of Europe, the chief market in any case for +the Virginian leaf. Grumbling and evasion disappeared +in good time, and Virginia accommodated herself +with reasonable grace to what was, after all, no +ruinous or unprofitable arrangement.</p> + +<p>New England, where traders most abounded, found +little in the acts that she need complain of or seek to +escape from. No New England commodity had its +route and market prescribed as Virginian tobacco had; +New England ships were “English” bottoms no less +than ships built in England itself; they could be built +as cheaply as the Dutch, and the long coast of the continent +was clear for their skippers. If laws grew inconvenient, +there were unwatched harbors enough in +which to lade and unlade without clearance papers. +English capital quickened trade as well as supplied +shipping for the ocean carriage, and the King’s navy +made coast and sea safe. If it was irritating to be tied +to the leading-strings of statutes, it was at least an +agreeable thing that they should usually pull in the +direction merchants would in any case have taken. +Though all products of foreign countries had to be +brought through the English markets and the hands +of English middlemen, the duties charged upon them +upon their entrance into England were remitted upon +their reshipment to America, and they were often to be +had more cheaply in the colonies than in London.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus008" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus008.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MOALE’S SKETCH OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, IN 1752</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>In 1699, when the war was over, Parliament laid a +new restriction upon the colonies, forbidding them to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>manufacture their own wool for export, even for export +from colony to colony. Good housewives were not +to be prevented from weaving their own wool into cloth +for the use of their own households; village weavers +were not to be forbidden their neighborhood trade; +but the woollen weavers of England supplied more than +half of all the exports to the colonies, and had no mind +to let woollen manufacture spring up in America if +Parliament could be induced to prohibit it. It made +no great practical difference to the colonies, though +it bred a bitter thought here and there. Manufactures +were not likely to spring up in America. “No man +who can have a piece of land of his own, sufficient by +his labor to subsist his family in plenty,” said Mr. +Franklin long afterwards, “is poor enough to be a +manufacturer and work for a master. Hence, while +there is land enough in America for our people, there +can be no manufactures to any amount or value.” But +the woollen manufacturers in England meant to take +no chances in the matter; and the colonists did no more +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>than grumble upon occasion at the restraints of a law +which they had no serious thought of breaking.</p> + +<p>It was not breaches of the Acts of Navigation and +the acts concerning woollen manufacture that the +ministers found it necessary to turn their heed to when +the war ended, but, rather, the open piracies of the +southern seas. By the treaty of Ryswick, which brought +peace (1697), France, England, Holland, and Spain, +the high contracting parties, solemnly bound themselves +to make common cause against buccaneering. +Spain and England had been mutually bound since +1670 to abolish it. Buccaneering abounded most on +the coasts of America. The lawless business had +begun long ago. Spain had provoked it. She had +taken possession of all Central and South America +and of the islands of the West Indies, and had bidden +all other nations stand off and touch nothing, while +her fleets every year for generations together came +home heavy with treasure. She had denied them the +right of trade; she had forbidden their seamen so much +as to get stores for their own use anywhere within the +waters of Spanish America. She treated every ship +as an intruder which she found in the southern seas, +and the penalties she inflicted for intrusion upon her +guarded coasts went the length of instant drowning +or hangings at the yard-arm. It was a day when there +was no law at sea. Every prudent man supplied his +ship with arms, and was his own escort; and since Spain +was the common bully, she became the common enemy. +English and French and Dutch seamen were not likely +very long to suffer themselves to be refused what they +needed at her ports; and after getting what they needed, +they went on to take whatever they wanted. They +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>were intruders, anyway, for whatever purpose they +came, and they might as well, as a witty Frenchman +among them said, “repay themselves beforehand” for +the losses they would suffer should Spanish cruisers +find and take them.</p> + +<p>The spirit of adventure and of gain grew on them +mightily. At first they contented themselves with an +illicit trade at the unguarded ports of quiet, half-deserted +islands like Hispaniola, where they could get hides +and tallow, smoked beef and salted pork, in exchange +for goods smuggled in from Europe. But they did +not long stop at that. The exciting risks and notable +profits of the business made it grow like a story of adventure. +The ranks of the lawless traders filled more +and more with every sort of reckless adventurer and +every sort of unquiet spirit who found the ordinary world +stale and longed for a change of luck, as well as with +hosts of common thieves and natural outlaws. Such +men, finding themselves inevitably consorting, felt +their comradeship, helped one another when they could, +and made a common cause of robbing Spain, calling +themselves “Brethren of the Coast.” They took possession, +as their numbers increased, of the little twin +islands of St. Christopher and Nevis for rendezvous +and headquarters, and fortified distant Tortuga for a +stronghold; and their power grew apace through all +the seventeenth century, until no Spanish ship was +safe on the seas though she carried the flag of an admiral, +and great towns had either to buy them off or +submit to be sacked at their pleasure. They mustered +formidable fleets and counted their desperate seamen +by the thousands.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus009" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus009.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>CHARLESTON, FROM THE HARBOR, 1742</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>They were most numerous, most powerful, most to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span>be feared at the very time the English colony was begun +at Charleston (1670). All the English sea-coast at +the south, indeed, was theirs in a sense. They were +regulars, not outlaws, when France or Holland or England +was at war with Spain, for the great governments +did not scruple to give them letters of marque when +they needed their assistance at sea. English buccaneers +had helped Sir William Penn take Jamaica +for Cromwell in 1655. And when there was no war, +the silent, unwatched harbors of the long American +sea-coast were their favorite places of refuge and repair. +New Providence, England’s best anchorage and most +convenient port of rendezvous in the Bahamas, became +their chief place of welcome and recruiting. The coming +of settlers did not disconcert them. It pleased them, +rather. The settlers did not molest them,—had secret +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span>reasons, as they knew, to be glad to see them. There +were the English navigation laws, as well as the Spanish, +to be evaded, and the goods they brought to the +closed markets were very cheap and very welcome,—and +no questions were asked. They were abundantly welcome, +too, to the goods they bought. For thirty years +their broad pieces of gold and their Spanish silver were +almost the only currency the Carolinas could get hold +of. Governors winked at their coming and going,—even +allowed them to sell their Spanish prizes in English +ports. Charleston, too, and the open bays of Albemarle +Sound were not more open to them than New +York and Philadelphia and Providence, and even now +and again the ports of Massachusetts. They got no +small part of their recruits from among the lawless +and shiftless men who came out of England or Virginia +to the Carolinas for a new venture in a new country +where law was young.</p> + +<p>Richard Coote, the Earl of Bellomont, came out in +1698 to be Governor General of New York, New Jersey, +Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, specially instructed +to stamp out the piracy of the coasts; but he found +it no light task. His predecessor in the government of +New York, Benjamin Fletcher, had loved the Brethren +of the Coast very dearly: they had made it to his interest +to like them; and the merchants of New York, +as of the other seaport towns, were noticeably slow +to see the iniquity of the proscribed business. Lord +Bellomont bitterly complained that the authorities of +Rhode Island openly gave notorious pirates countenance +and assistance. Mr. Edward Randolph, whose +business it was to look after the King’s revenues, declared +in his anger that North Carolina was peopled by +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span>nobody but smugglers, runaway servants, and pirates. +South Carolina, fortunately, had seen the folly of harboring +the outlaws by the time Lord Bellomont set +about his suppression in the north. Not only had her +population by that time been recruited and steadied +by the coming in of increasing numbers of law-abiding +and thrifty colonists to whom piracy was abhorrent, +but she had begun also to produce great crops of rice +for whose exportation she could hardly get ships +enough, and had found that her whilom friends the +freebooters did not scruple to intercept her cargoes on +their way to the profitable markets of Holland, Germany, +Sweden, Denmark, and Portugal. She presently +began, therefore, to use a great pair of gallows, +set up very conspicuously on “Execution Dock” at +Charleston, for the diligent hanging of pirates. But +the coast to the northward still showed them hospitality, +and Lord Bellomont made little headway at New York,—except +that he brought the notorious Captain Kidd +to justice. William Kidd, a Scotsman, had made New +York his home, and had won there the reputation of +an honest and capable man and an excellent ship captain; +but when he was given an armed vessel strongly +manned, and the King’s commission to destroy the +pirates of the coast, the temptation of power was too +great for him. He incontinently turned pirate himself, +and it fell to Lord Bellomont to send him to England +to be hanged.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus010" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus010.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>LORD BELLOMONT</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span></p> + +<p>The interval of peace during which English governors +in America could give their thoughts to the suppression +of piracy proved all too short. “Queen +Anne’s War” followed close upon the heels of King +William’s, and the French and Indians became once +again more threatening than the buccaneers. Nevertheless +some important affairs of peace were settled +before the storm of war broke again. For one thing, +Mr. Penn was able once more to put in order the government +of Pennsylvania. For two years (1692-1694) +he had been deprived of his province, because, as every +one knew, he had been on very cordial terms of friendship +with James Stuart, the discredited King, and it +was charged that he had taken part in intrigues against +the new sovereign. But it was easy for him to prove, +when the matter was dispassionately looked into, that +he had done nothing dishonorable or disloyal, and +his province was restored to him. In 1699 he found +time to return to America and reform in person the +administration of the colony. Bitter jealousies and +sharp factional differences had sprung up there while +affairs were in confusion after the coming in of William +and Mary, and the two years Mr. Penn spent in their +correction (1699-1701) were none too long for the work +he had to do. He did it, however, in his characteristic +healing fashion, by granting privileges, more liberal +and democratic than ever, in a new charter. One chief +difficulty lay in the fact that the lower counties by the +Delaware chafed because of their enforced union with +the newer counties of Pennsylvania; and Mr. Penn +consented to an arrangement by which they should +within three years, if they still wished it, have a separate +assembly of their own, and the right to act for themselves +in all matters of local government. Self-government, +indeed, was almost always his provident cure +for discontent. He left both Pennsylvania and the +Delaware counties free to choose their own courts,—and +Philadelphia free to select her own officers as an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span>independently incorporated city. Had he been able +to give his colony governors as wise and temperate as +himself, new troubles might have been avoided as successfully +as old troubles had been healed.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus011" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus011.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE BEFORE THE FIRE, 1723</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>While Mr. Penn lingered in America the rights of +the proprietors of West Jersey, his own first province, +passed finally to the crown. In 1702 all proprietary +rights, alike in East and in West Jersey, were formally +surrendered to the crown, and New Jersey, once more +a single, undivided province, became directly subject +to the King’s government. For a generation, indeed, +as it turned out, she was to have no separate governor +of her own. A separate commission issued from the +crown to the governor of New York to be also governor +of New Jersey, upon each appointment in the greater +province. But New Jersey kept her own government, +nevertheless, and her own way of life. She suffered +no merger into the larger province, her neighbor, whose +governor happened to preside over her affairs.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span></p> + +<p>Many things changed and many things gave promise +of change in the colonies as Mr. Penn looked on. In +1700 Virginia had her population enriched by the coming +of seven hundred French Huguenots, under the +leadership of the Marquis de la Muce,—some of them +Waldenses who had moved, in exile, through Switzerland, +Alsace, the Low Countries, and England ere +they found their final home of settlement in Virginia,—all +of them refugees because of the terror that had +been in France for all Protestants since the revocation +of the Edict of Nantes (1685). That same year, 1700, +Williamsburg, the new village capital of the “Old Dominion,” +grew very gay with company come in from all +the river counties, from neighboring colonies, too, and +even from far-off New England, to see the first class +graduated from the infant college of William and Mary. +The next year (1701) Connecticut, teeming more and +more with a thrifty people with its own independent +interests and resources, and finding Harvard College +at Cambridge too far away for the convenience of those +of her own youth who wished such training as ministers +and professional men in general needed, set up a college +of her own,—the college which half a generation later +she called Yale, because of Mr. Elihu Yale’s gift of +eight hundred pounds in books and money.</p> + +<p>Then King William died (1702,—Mary, his queen +and consort, being dead these eight years), and Anne +became queen. It was a year of climax in the public +affairs of Europe. In 1701, Louis XIV. had put his +grandson, Philip of Anjou, on the throne of Spain, in +direct violation of his treaty obligations to England, +and to the manifest upsetting of the balance of power +in Europe, openly rejoicing that there were no longer +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span>any Pyrenees, but only a single, undivided Bourbon +power from Flanders to the Straits of Gibraltar; and +had defied England, despite his promises made at Ryswick, +by declaring James’s son the rightful heir to +the English throne. Instantly England, Holland, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span>Austria drew together in grand alliance against the +French aggression, and for eleven years Italy, Germany, +and the Netherlands rang with the War of the +Spanish Succession. The storm had already broken +when Anne became queen.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus012" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus012.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOHN CHURCHILL, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>England signalized the war by giving a great general +to the world. It was the day of John Churchill, Duke +of Marlborough, of whose genius soldiers gossiped to +their neighbors and their children for half a century +after the great struggle was over. The English took +Gibraltar (1704). Prince Eugene of Savoy helped +great Marlborough to the famous victory of Blenheim +(1705),—and Virginians were not likely to forget that +it was Colonel Parke, of Virginia, who took the news of +that field to the Queen. Marlborough won at Ramillies +and Eugene at Turin (1706). The two great captains +triumphed together at Oudenarde (1708) and at Malplaquet +(1709). The crowns of France and Spain were +separated, and France was lightened of her overwhelming +weight in the balance of power.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus013" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus013.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PRINCE EUGENE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>But for the colonies in America it was only “Queen +Anne’s War,” full of anxiety, suffering, and disappointment,—massacres +on the border, expeditions to +the north blundered and mismanaged, money and +lives spent with little to show for the sacrifice. The +ministers at home had made no preparation in America +for the renewal of hostilities. There had been warnings +enough, and appeals of deep urgency, sent out of the +colonies. Every observant man of affairs there saw +what must come. But warnings and appeals had not +been heeded. Lord Bellomont, that self-respecting gentleman +and watchful governor, had told the ministers +at home very plainly that there ought to be a line of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span>frontier posts at the north, with soldiers for colonists, +and that simply to pursue the Indians once and again +to the depths of the forests was as useless “as to pursue +birds that are on the wing.” An English prisoner +in the hands of the French had sent word what he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span>heard they meant to do for the extension of their boundaries +and their power. The deputy governor of Pennsylvania +had proposed a colonial militia to be kept at +the frontier. Certain private gentlemen of the northern +settlements had begged for a common governor “of +worth and honor,” and for some system of common +defence. Mr. Penn, looking on near at hand, had advised +that the colonists be drawn together in intercourse +and interest by a common coinage, a common rule of +citizenship, a common +system of justice, +and by duties +on foreign timber +which would in +some degree offset +the burdens of the +Navigation Acts,—as +well as by +common organization +and action +against the French +and against the pirates of the coast. But nothing had +been done.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus014" style="max-width: 18.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus014.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>FRENCH HUGUENOT CHURCH, NEW YORK, 1704</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Even the little that had been gained in King William’s +War had now to be gained all over again. Sir +William Phips had taken Port Royal very handily at the +outset of that war (1690), and Acadia with it, and there +had been no difficulty in holding the conquered province +until the war ended; but the treaty of Ryswick +had handed back to the French everything the English +had taken, the statesmen of England hardly heeding +America at all in the terms they agreed to,—and so a +beginning was once more to be made.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span></p> + +<p>The war began, as every one knew it must, with +forays on the border: the Indians were the first afoot, +and were more to be feared than the French. The +first movement of the English was made at the south, +where, before the first year (1702) of the war was out, +the Carolinians struck at the power of Spain in Florida. +They sent a little force against St. Augustine, and +easily swept the town itself, but stood daunted before +the walls of the castle, lacking cannon to reduce it, +and came hastily away at sight of two Spanish ships +standing into the harbor, leaving their very stores +and ammunition behind them in their panic. They +had saddled the colony with a debt of six thousand +pounds and gained nothing. But they at least kept +their own borders safe against the Indians and their +own little capital at Charleston safe against reprisals +by the Spaniards. The Apalachees, who served the +Spaniards on the border, they swept from their forest +country in 1703, and made their border quiet by fire +and sword, driving hundreds of the tribesmen they +did not kill to new seats beyond the Savannah. Three +years went by before they were in their turn attacked +by a force out of Florida. Upon a day in August, +1706, while the little capital lay stricken with yellow +fever, a fleet of five French vessels appeared off the +bar at their harbor mouth, bringing Spanish troops +from Havana and St. Augustine. There was a quick +rally to meet them. Colonial militia went to face their +landing parties; gallant Colonel Rhett manned a little +flotilla to check them on the water; and they were driven +off, leaving two hundred and thirty prisoners and a +captured ship behind them. The southern coast could +take care of itself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp59" id="illus015" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus015.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>OLD SWEDES CHURCH, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Nothing had been done meanwhile in the north. +The first year of the war (1702) had seen Boston robbed +of three hundred of her inhabitants by the scourge of +small-pox, and New York stricken with a fatal fever +brought out of the West Indies from which no man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span>could rally. That dismal year lingered for many a +day in the memory of the men of the middle colonies +as “the time of the great sickness.” The northernmost +border had been harried from Wells to Casco by +the French Indians (1703); Deerfield, far away in the +wilderness by the Connecticut, had been fearfully dealt +with at dead of night, in the mid-winter of 1704, by a +combined force of French and Indians; in 1705 the +French in Acadia had brought temporary ruin upon the +English trading posts in Newfoundland; and a French +privateer had insolently come in open day into the +Bay at New York, as if to show the English there how +defenceless their great harbor was, with all the coast +about it (1705). And yet there had been no counterstroke +by the English,—except that Colonel Church, +of Massachusetts, had spent the summer of 1704 in +destroying as he could the smaller and less defended +French and Indian villages upon the coasts which lay +about the Penobscot and the Bay of Fundy. In 1707 +a serious attempt was made to take Port Royal. Colonel +March took a thousand men against the place, in +twenty-three transports, convoyed by a man-of-war, +and regularly laid siege to it; but lacked knowledge of +the business he had undertaken and failed utterly.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus016" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus016.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>NEW YORK SLAVE MARKET ABOUT 1730</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Another three years went by before anything was +accomplished; and the French filled them in, as before, +with raids and massacres. Again Haverhill was surprised, +sacked, and burned (1708). The English were +driven from the Bahama islands. An expedition elaborately +prepared in England to be sent against the +French in America was countermanded (1709), because +a sudden need arose to use it at home. Everything +attempted seemed to miscarry as of course. And then +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span>at last fortune turned a trifle kind. Colonel Francis +Nicholson, governor of Virginia till 1705, had gone to +England when he saw things stand hopelessly still +in America, and, being a man steadfast and hard to +put by, was at last able, in 1710, to obtain and bring +assistance in person from over sea. He had recommended, +while yet he was governor of Virginia, it was +recalled, that the colonies be united under a single +viceroy and defended by a standing army for which +they should themselves be made to pay. The ministers +at home had been too prudent to take that advice; +but they listened now to his appeal for a force to +be sent to America. By the 24th of September, 1710, he +lay off Port Royal with a fleet of thirty-five sail, besides +hospital and store ships, with four regiments of New +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span>England militia aboard his transports and a detachment +of marines. On the 1st of October he opened the +fire of three batteries within a hundred yards of the +little fort that guarded the place, and within twenty-four +hours he had brought it to its capitulation, as +Sir William Phips had done twenty years before. Acadia +was once more a conquered province of England. +Colonel Nicholson renamed its port Annapolis Royal, +in honor of the Queen whom he served. The name of +the province itself the English changed to Nova Scotia.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus017" style="max-width: 18.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus017.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BROAD STREET, NEW YORK, IN 1740</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Two years more, and the war was practically over; +but no victories had been added to that lonely achievement +at Port Royal. Colonel Nicholson went from +his triumph in Acadia back to England again, to solicit +a yet stronger +force to be taken +against Quebec, +and once more got +what he wanted. +In midsummer of +1711 Sir Hovenden +Walker arrived at +Boston with a +great fleet of transports +and men-of-war, +bringing Colonel +Hill and seven of Marlborough’s veteran regiments +to join the troops of New England in a decisive +onset upon the stronghold of New France. Colonel +Nicholson was to lead the colonial levies through the +forests to Quebec; Sir Hovenden Walker was to ascend +the St. Lawrence and strike from the river. But neither +force reached Quebec. The admiral blundered in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span>fogs which beset him at the mouth of the great stream, +lost eight ships and almost a thousand men, and then +put about in dismay and steered straightway for England, +to have his flag-ship blow up under him at Spithead. +Colonel Nicholson heard very promptly of the +admiral’s ignoble failure, and did not make his march. +The next year, 1712, the merchants of Quebec subscribed +a fund to complete the fortifications of their +rock-built city, and even women volunteered to work +upon them, that they might be finished ere the English +came again. But the English did not come. That +very summer brought a truce; and in March, 1713, +the war ended with the peace of Utrecht. The treaty +gave England Hudson’s Bay, Acadia, Newfoundland, +and the little island of St. Christopher alongside Nevis +in the Lesser Antilles.</p> + +<p>“Queen Anne’s War” was over; but there was not +yet settled peace in the south. While the war lasted +North Carolina had had to master, in blood and terror, +the fierce Iroquois tribe of the Tuscaroras, who mustered +twelve hundred warriors in the forests which lay +nearest the settlements. And when the war was over +South Carolina had to conquer a whole confederacy +of tribes whom the Spaniards had stirred up to attack +her. The Tuscaroras had seemed friends through all +the first years of the English settlement on their coast; +but the steady, ominous advance of the English, encroaching +mile by mile upon their hunting grounds, had +at last maddened them to commit a sudden and awful +treachery. In September, 1711, they fell with all their +natural fury upon the nearer settlements, and for three +days swept them with an almost continuous carnage. +The next year the awful butchery was repeated. Both +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span>times the settlements found themselves too weak to +make effective resistance; both times aid was sent from +South Carolina, by forced marches through the long +forests; and finally, in March, 1713, the month of the +peace of Utrecht, an end was made. The Tuscaroras +were attacked and overcome in their last stronghold. +The remnant that was left migrated northward to join +their Iroquois kinsmen in New York,—and Carolina +was quit of them forever.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus018" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus018.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>OLD STATE HOUSE AT ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The strong tribes which held sway in the forests of +South Carolina,—the Yamassees, Creeks, Catawbas, +and Cherokees,—were no kinsmen of these alien Iroquois +out of the north, and had willingly lent their aid +to the English to destroy them. But, the war over, the +Spaniards busied themselves to win these tribes also +to a conspiracy against the English settlements, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span>succeeded only too well. They joined in a great confederacy, +and put their seven or eight thousand braves +on the war-path to destroy the English. For almost +a whole year (April, 1715, to February, 1716) they kept +to their savage work unsubdued, until full four hundred +whites had lost their lives at their hands. Then +the final reckoning came for them also, and the shattered +remnants of their tribes sought new homes for +themselves as they could. The savages had all but +accomplished their design against the settlements. The +awful work of destroying them left the Carolinas upon +the verge of utter exhaustion, drained of blood and +money, almost without crops of food to subsist upon, +quite without means to bear the heavy charges of government +in a time of war and sore disorder. There +were some among the disheartened settlers who thought +of abandoning their homes there altogether and seeking +a place where peace might be had at a less terrible +cost. But there was peace at least, and the danger of +absolute destruction had passed.</p> + +<p>New York had had her own fright while the war +lasted. A house blazed in the night (1712), and certain +negroes who had gathered about it killed some of those +who came to extinguish the flames. It was rumored +that there had been a plot among the negroes to put +the whole of the town to the torch; an investigation +was made, amidst a general panic which rendered calm +inquiry into such a matter impossible; and nineteen +blacks were executed.</p> + +<p>But in most of the colonies domestic affairs had gone +quietly enough, the slow war disturbing them very +little. Connecticut found leisure of thought enough, +in 1708, to collect a synod at Saybrook and formulate +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>a carefully considered constitution for her churches, +which her legislature the same year adopted. In 1707 +New York witnessed a notable trial which established +the freedom of dissenting pulpits. Lord Cornbury, +the profligate governor of the province, tried to silence +the Rev. Francis Mackemie, a Presbyterian minister,—pretending +that the English laws of worship and +doctrine were in force in New York; but a jury made +short work of acquitting him. Massachusetts endured +Joseph Dudley as governor throughout the war +(1702-1715), checking him very pertinaciously at times +when he needed the assistance of her General Court, +but no longer refusing to live with reasonable patience +under governors not of her own choosing.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus019" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus019.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>NEW YORK, FROM THE HARBOR, ABOUT 1725</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus020" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus020.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Fortunately for the Carolinas, a very notable man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span>had become governor of Virginia ere the Tuscaroras +took the war-path. There were tribes at the border,—Nottoways, +Meherrins, and even a detached group +of the Tuscaroras themselves,—who would have joined +in the savage conspiracy against the whites had not +Colonel Spotswood been governor in Virginia and shown +himself capable of holding them quiet with a steady +hand of authority,—a word of conciliation and a hint +of force. Alexander Spotswood was no ordinary man. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span>He added to a gentle breeding a manly bearing such +as Virginians loved, and the administrative gifts which +so many likable governors had lacked. His government +was conducted with clear-eyed enterprise and +steady capacity. It added +to his consequence that he +had borne the Queen’s commission +in the forces of the +great Marlborough on the +field of Blenheim, and came +to his duty in Virginia +(1710) bearing a wound received +on that famous field. +His blood he took from +Scotland, where the distinguished +annals of his family +might be read in many +a public record; and a Scottish +energy entered with him into the government of Virginia,—as +well as a Scottish candor and directness in +speech,—to the great irritation presently of James Blair, +as aggressive a Scotsman as he, and more astute and +masterful.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus021" style="max-width: 15.625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus021.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BRENTON CHURCH, WHERE GOVERNOR + SPOTSWOOD WORSHIPPED</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>It was Colonel Spotswood who, in 1716, gathered a +company of gentlemen about him for a long ride of +discovery into the Alleghanies. They put their horses +through the very heart of the long wilderness, and +won their way despite all obstacles to a far summit of +the Blue Ridge, whence, first among all their countrymen, +they looked forth to the westward upon the +vast slopes which fell away to the Ohio and the great +basin of the Mississippi. Colonel Spotswood, standing +there the leader of the little group, knew that it was this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span>way the English must come to make conquest of the +continent. He urged his government at home to stretch +a chain of defensive posts beyond the mountains from +the lakes to the Mississippi, to keep the French from +those inner valleys which awaited the coming of the +white man; but he did not pause in the work he could +do himself because the advice went unheeded. He +kept the Indians still; he found excellent lands for a +thrifty colony of Germans, and himself began the manufacture +of iron in the colony, setting up the first iron +furnace in America. The debts of the colony were +most of them discharged, and a good trade in corn, +lumber, and salt provisions sprang up with the West +Indies. He rebuilt the college, recently destroyed +by fire, and established a school for Indian children. +He improved as he could the currency of the colony. +His works were the quiet works of peace and development,—except +for his vigorous suppression of the pirates +of the coast,—and his administration might have outrun +the year 1722, which saw him removed, had he been +a touch less haughty, overbearing, unused to conciliating +or pleasing those whose service he desired. He +made enemies, and was at last ousted by them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus022" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus022.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GOVERNOR SPOTSWOOD’S EXPEDITION TO THE BLUE RIDGE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus023" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus023.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>COLONEL RHETT AND THE PIRATE STEDE BONNET</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span></p> + +<p>Some of the best qualities of the soldier and administrator +came out in him in the long struggle to put the +pirates down once and for all. Queen Anne’s War +had turned pirates into privateers and given pause +to the stern business for a little, but it began again in +desperate earnest when the war was over and peace +concluded at Utrecht. It was officially reported by +the secretary of Pennsylvania in 1717 that there were +still fifteen hundred pirates on the coasts, making their +headquarters at the Cape Fear and at New Providence +in the Bahamas, and sweeping the sea as they dared +from Brazil to Newfoundland. But the day of their +reckoning was near at hand. South Carolina had +cleared her own coasts for a little at the beginning of +the century, but the robbers swarmed at her inlets again +when the Indian massacres had weakened and distracted +her, and the end of the war with France set +many a roving privateersman free to return to piracy. +The crisis and turning-point came in the year 1718. +That year an English fleet crossed the sea, took New +Providence, purged the Bahamas of piracy, and made +henceforth a stronghold there for law and order. That +same year Stede Bonnet, of Barbadoes, a man who +had but the other day held a major’s commission in +her Majesty’s service, honored and of easy fortune, +but now turned pirate, as if for pastime, was caught +at the mouth of the Cape Fear by armed ships under +redoubtable Colonel Rhett, who had driven the French +out of Charleston harbor thirteen years ago, and was +taken and hanged on Charleston dock, all his crew having +gone before him to the ceremony. “This humour +of going a-pyrating,” it was said, “proceeded from a +disorder in his mind, which had been but too visible +in him some time before this wicked undertaking; and +which is said to have been occasioned by some discomforts +he found in a married state”; but the law saw +nothing of that in what he had done. While Bonnet +awaited his condemnation, Edward Thatch, the famous +“Blackbeard,” whom all the coast dreaded, went +a like just way to death, trapped within Ocracoke Inlet +by two stout craft sent against him out of Virginia by +Colonel Spotswood. And so, step by step, the purging +went on. South Carolina had as capable a governor +as Virginia in Robert Johnson; and the work done +by these and like men upon the coasts, and by the English +ships in the West Indies, presently wiped piracy +out. By 1730 there was no longer anything for ships +to fear on those coasts save the Navigation Acts and +stress of sea weather.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus024" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus024.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PORTRAIT OF THE PIRATE EDWARD THATCH</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span></p> + +<p>It was a long coast, and it took a long time to carry +law and order into every bay and inlet. But every +year brought increase of strength to the colonies, and +with increase of strength power to rule their coasts as +they chose. Queen Anne’s War over, quiet peace descended +upon the colonies for almost an entire generation +(1712-1740). Except for a flurry of Indian warfare +now and again upon the borders, or here and +there some petty plot or sudden brawl, quiet reigned, +and peaceful progress. Anne, the queen, died the +year after peace was signed (1714); and the next year +Louis XIV. followed her, the great king who had so +profoundly stirred the politics of Europe. An old +generation had passed away, and new men and new +measures seemed now to change the whole face of affairs. +The first George took the throne, a German, not an +English prince, his heart in Hannover; and presently +the affairs of England fell into the hands of Sir Robert +Walpole. Sir Robert kept his power for twenty-one +years (1721-1742), and conducted the government +with the shrewd, hard-headed sense and administrative +capacity of a steady country squire,—as if governing +were a sort of business, demanding, like other businesses, +peace and an assured and equable order in +affairs. It was a time of growth and recuperation, +with much to do, but little to record.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus025" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus025.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SIR ROBERT WALPOLE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span></p> + +<p>The colonies, while it lasted, underwent in many +things a slow transformation. Their population grew +in numbers not only, but also in variety. By the end +of the war there were probably close upon half a million +people within their borders, counting slave with free; +and with the return of peace there came a quickened +increase. New England slowly lost its old ways of +separate action as a self-constituted confederacy; and +Massachusetts, with her new system of royal governors +and a franchise broadened beyond the lines of her +churches, by degrees lost her leadership. She was +losing her old temper of Puritan thought. It was impossible +to keep her population any longer of the single +strain of which it had been made up at the first. +New elements were steadily added; and new elements +brought new ways of life and new beliefs. She was +less and less governed by her pulpits; turned more and +more to trade for sustenance; welcomed new-comers +with less and less scrutiny of their ways of thinking; +grew less suspicious of change, and more like her +neighbors in her zest for progress.</p> + +<p>Scots-Irish began to make their appearance in the +colony, some of them going to New Hampshire, some +remaining in Boston; and they were given a right willing +welcome. The war had brought sore burdens of +expense and debt upon the people, and these Scots-Irish +knew the profitable craft of linen-making which +the Boston people were glad to learn, and use to clothe +themselves; for poverty, they declared, “is coming +upon us as an armed man.” These new immigrants +brought with them also the potato, not before used in +New England, and very acceptable as an addition to +the colony’s bill of fare. Small vessels now began to +venture out from Cape Cod and Nantucket, moreover, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span>in pursuit of the whales that came to the northern coasts, +and it was not long before that daring occupation began +to give promise of wealth and of the building up +of a great industry. Population began slowly to spread +from the coasts into the forests which lay at the west +between the Connecticut and the Hudson. In 1730 a +Presbyterian church was opened in Boston,—almost +as unmistakable a sign of change as King’s Chapel +itself had been with its service after the order of the +Church of England.</p> + +<p>The middle colonies and the far south saw greater +changes than these. South Carolina seemed likely to +become as various in her make-up as were New York +and Pennsylvania with their mixture of races and +creeds. Scots-Irish early settled within her borders +also; she had already her full share of Huguenot +blood; and there followed, as the new century advanced +through the lengthened years of peace, companies of +Swiss immigrants, and Germans from the Palatinate. +Charleston, however, seemed English enough, and +showed a color of aristocracy in her life which no one +could fail to note who visited her. Back from the point +where the rivers met, where the fortifications stood, +and the docks to which the ships came, there ran a +fine road northward which Governor Archdale, that +good Quaker, had twenty years ago declared more +beautiful and pleasant than any prince in Europe could +find to take the air upon when he drove abroad. From +it on either side stretched noble avenues of live oaks, +their strong lines softened by the long drapery of the +gray moss,—avenues which led to the broad verandas +of country residences standing in cool and shadowy +groves of other stately trees. In summer the odor of +jasmine filled the air; and even in winter the winds +were soft. It was here that the ruling men of the +colony lived, the masters of the nearer plantations,—men +bred and cultured after the manner of the Old +World. The simpler people, who made the colony +various with their differing bloods, lived inland, in +the remoter parishes, or near other harbors above or +below Charleston’s port. It was on the nearer plantations +round about Charleston that negro slaves most +abounded; and there were more negroes by several +thousand in the colony than white folk. Out of the +16,750 inhabitants of the colony in 1715, 10,500 were +slaves. But the whites were numerous enough to give +their governors a taste of their quality.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus026" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus026.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MAP OF THE COAST SETTLEMENTS, 1742</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span></p> + +<p>There were well-developed political parties in South +Carolina, for all she was so small; and astute and able +men to lead them, like Colonel Rhett, now soldier, now +sailor, now statesman, and Mr. Nicholas Trott, now +on one side and again on the other in the matter of self-government +as against the authority of the proprietors +or the crown, but always in a position to make his influence +felt. The province practically passed from +the proprietors to the crown in 1719, because the people’s +party determined to be rid of their authority, and ousted +their governor, exasperated that in their time of need, +their homes burned about their ears by the savages, +their coasts ravaged by freebooters, they should have +been helped not a whit, but left to shift desperately +for themselves. In 1729 the proprietors formally surrendered +their rights. Colonel Francis Nicholson acted +as provisional governor while the change was being +effected (1719-1725), having been meantime governor +of Acadia, which he had taken for the crown. In 1720 +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span>he was knighted; and he seems to have acted as soberly +in this post in Carolina as he had acted in Virginia. +He was truculent and whimsical in the north; but in +the south his temper seemed eased and his judgment +steadied. The change of government in South +Carolina was really an earnest of the fact that the +people’s representatives had won a just and reasonable +ascendency in the affairs of the colony; and Sir Francis +did not seriously cross them, but served them rather, +in the execution of their purposes.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus027" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus027.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>POHICK CHURCH, VIRGINIA, WHERE WASHINGTON WORSHIPPED</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Every colony had its own movements of party. +Everywhere the crown desired the colonial assemblies +to provide a permanent establishment for the governor, +the judges, and the other officers who held the +King’s commission,—fixed salaries, and a recognized +authority to carry out instructions; but everywhere the +people’s representatives persistently refused to grant +either salaries or any additional authority which they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span>could not control in the interest of their own rights +from session to session. They would vote salaries +for only a short period, generally a year at a time; and +they steadily denied the right of the crown to extend +or vary the jurisdiction of the courts without their assent. +Sometimes a governor like Mr. Clarke, of New +York, long a resident in his colony and acquainted +with its temper and its ways of thought, got what he +wanted by making generous concessions in matters +under his own control; and the judges, whatever their +acknowledged jurisdiction, were likely to yield to the +royal wishes with some servility: for they were appointed +at the King’s pleasure, and not for the term +of their good behavior, as in England. But power +turned, after all, upon what the people’s legislature +did or consented to do, and the colonists commonly +spoke their minds with fearless freedom.</p> + +<p>In New York the right to speak their minds had been +tested and established in a case which every colony +promptly learned of. In 1734 and 1735 one John Peter +Ziegler, a printer, was brought to trial for the printing +of various libellous attacks on the governor and the +administration of the colony,—attacks which were +declared to be highly “derogatory to the character of +his Majesty’s government,” and to have a tendency +“to raise seditions and tumults in the province”; but +he was acquitted. The libel was admitted, but the +jury deemed it the right of every one to say whatever +he thought to be true of the colony’s government; and +men everywhere noted the verdict.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus028" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus028.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>TITLE-PAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE NEGROES</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span></p> + +<p>A second negro plot startled New York in 1741, showing +itself, as before, in sudden incendiary fires. It +was thought that the slaves had been incited to destroy +the town; and there was an uneasy suspicion that these +disturbing occurrences were in some way connected with +the slave insurrections in the south. Uprisings of the +slaves had recently occurred in the West Indies. South +Carolina had suffered such an outbreak a little more +than two years before. In 1738 armed insurgent negroes +had begun there, in a quiet parish, the execution of +a terrible plot of murder and burning which it had taken +very prompt and summary action to check and defeat. +Such risings were specially ominous where the slaves +so outnumbered the whites; and it was known in South +Carolina whence the uneasiness of the negroes came. +At the south of the province lay the Spanish colonies +in Florida. Negroes who could manage to run away +from their masters and cross the southern border were +made very welcome there; they were set free, and encouraged +in every hostile purpose that promised to rob +the English settlements of their ease and peace. Bands +of Yamassees wandered there, too, eager to avenge +themselves as they could for the woful defeat and expulsion +they had suffered at the hands of the Carolinians, +and ready to make common cause with the negroes. +When bands of negroes, hundreds strong, began their +sudden work of burning, plunder, and murder where +the quiet Stono runs to the sea no one doubted whence +the impulse came. And though a single rising was +easily enough put down, who could be certain that that +was the end of the ominous business? No wonder +governors at Charleston interested themselves to increase +the number of white settlers and make their +power of self-defence sure.</p> + +<p>Such things, however, serious as they were, did not +check the steady growth of the colonies. It was not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span>yet questions of self-government or of the preservation +of their peace that dominated their affairs; and +only those who observed how far-away frontiers were +being advanced and two great nations being brought +together for a reckoning face to face saw what was the +next, the very near, crisis in store for the English +in America. Through all that time of peace a notable +drama was in fact preparing. Slowly, but very surely, +English and French were drawing nearer and nearer +within the continent,—not only in the north, but throughout +all the length of the great Mississippi. Step by +step the French had descended the river from their +posts on the lakes; and while peace reigned they had +established posts at its mouth and begun to make their +way northward from the Gulf. So long ago as 1699 +they had built a stockade at Biloxi; in 1700 they had +taken possession of Mobile Bay; by 1716 they had established +posts at Toulouse (Alabama) and at Natchez. +In 1718 they began to build at New Orleans. In 1719 +they captured and destroyed the Spanish post at Pensacola. +By 1722 there were five thousand Frenchmen +by the lower stretches of the great river; and their trading +boats were learning all the shallows and currents +of the mighty waterway from end to end. Meantime, +in the north, they advanced their power to Lake Champlain, +and began the construction of a fort at Crown +Point (1721). That same year, 1721, French and English +built ominously near each other on Lake Ontario, +the English at Oswego, the French at Niagara among +the Senecas. In 1716, the very year Governor Spotswood +rode through the western forests of Virginia to +a summit of the Blue Ridge, the French had found a +short way to the Ohio by following the Miami and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span>Wabash down their widening streams. It was while +they thus edged their way towards the eastern mountains +and drew their routes closer and closer to their +rivals on the coast that that adventurous, indomitable +people, the Scots-Irish, came pouring of a sudden into +the English colonies, and very promptly made it their +business to pass the mountains and take possession +of the lands which lay beyond them, as if they would +deliberately go to meet the French by the Ohio.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp83" id="illus029" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus029.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>OSWEGO IN 1750</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>For several years after the first quarter of the new +century had run out immigrants from the north of Ireland +came crowding in, twelve thousand strong by the +year. In 1729 quite five thousand of them entered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span>Pennsylvania alone: and they pressed without hesitation +and as if by preference to the interior. From Pennsylvania +they passed along the broad, inviting valleys +southward into the western parts of Virginia. By 1730 +a straggling movement of settlers had begun to show +itself even upon the distant lands of Kentucky. Still +farther south traders from the Carolinas went constantly +back and forth between the Indian tribes of the country +by the Mississippi and the English settlements at the +coast. Nine thousand redskin warriors lay there in +the forests. Some traded with the French at the river, +some with the English at the coast. They might become +foes or allies, might turn to the one side or the +other, as passion or interest led them.</p> + +<p>In 1739 the French at the north put an armed sloop +on Champlain. The same year the English built a +fortified post at Niagara. Everywhere the two peoples +were converging, and were becoming more and more +conscious of what their approach to one another meant. +So long ago as 1720 orders had come from France bidding +the French commanders on the St. Lawrence occupy +the valley of the Ohio before the English should +get a foothold there. The places where the rivals were +to meet it was now easy to see, and every frontiersman +saw them very plainly. The two races could not possess +the continent together. They must first fight for +the nearer waterways of the West, and after that for +whatever lay next at hand.</p> + +<p>It was no small matter, with threat of such things +in the air, that the English chose that day of preparation +for the planting of a new colony, and planted it in +the south between Carolina and the Florida settlements,—a +barrier and a menace both to French and Spaniard. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span>It was James Oglethorpe, a soldier, who planned the +new undertaking; and he planned it like a soldier,—and +yet like a man of heart and elevated purpose, too, +for he was a philanthropist and a lover of every serviceable +duty, as well as a soldier. He came of that good +stock of country gentlemen which has in every generation +helped so sturdily to carry forward the work of +England, in the field, in Parliament, in administrative +office. He had gone with a commission into the English +army in the late war a mere lad of fourteen (1710); and, +finding himself still unskilled in arms when England +made peace at Utrecht, he had chosen to stay for six +years longer, a volunteer, with the forces of Prince +Eugene in the East. At twenty-two he had come back +to England (1718), to take upon himself the responsibilities +which had fallen to him by reason of the death +of his elder brothers; and in 1722 he had entered the +House of Commons, eager as ever to learn his duty +and do it. He kept always a sort of knightly quality, +and the power to plan and hope and push forward that +belongs to youth. He was a Tory, and believed that +the Stuarts should have the throne from which they +had been thrust before he was born; but that did not +make him disloyal. He was an ardent reformer; but +that did not make him visionary, for he was also trained +in affairs. His clear-cut features, frank eye, erect +and slender figure bespoke him every inch the high-bred +gentleman and the decisive man of action.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp62" id="illus030" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus030.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JAMES OGLETHORPE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>In Parliament he had been made one of a committee +to inspect prisons; and he had been keenly touched +by the miserable plight of the many honest men who, +through mere misfortune, were there languishing in +hopeless imprisonment for debt. He bethought himself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span>of the possibility of giving such men a new chance +of life and the recovery of fortune in America; and +the thought grew into a plan for a new colony. He +knew how the southern coast lay vacant between +Charleston and the Spaniards at St. Augustine. There +were good lands there, no doubt; and his soldier’s eye +showed him, by a mere glance at a map, how fine a +point of vantage it might be made if fortified against +the alien power in Florida. And so he made his plans. +It should be a military colony, a colony of fortified +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span>posts; and honest men who had fallen upon poverty +or misfortune at home should have a chance, if they +would work, to profit by the undertaking, though he +should take them from debtors’ prisons. Both King +and Parliament listened very willingly to what he proposed. +The King signed a charter, giving the undertaking +into the hands of trustees, who were in effect +to be proprietors (June, 1732); and Parliament voted +ten thousand pounds as its subscription to the enterprise; +while men of as liberal a spirit as Oglethorpe’s +associated themselves with him to carry the humane +plan out, giving money, counsel, and service without +so much as an expectation of gain to themselves, or +any material return for their outlay. Men had ceased +by that time to dream that colonization would make +those rich who fathered it and paid its first bills. By +the end of October, 1732, the first shipload of settlers +was off for America, Oglethorpe himself at their head; +and by February, 1733, they were already busy building +their first settlement on Yamacraw Bluff, within +the broad stream of the Savannah.</p> + +<p>The colony had in its charter been christened Georgia, +in honor of the King, who had so cordially approved +of its foundation; the settlement at Yamacraw, Oglethorpe +called by the name of the river itself, Savannah. +His colonists were no mere company of released debtors +and shiftless ne’er-do-wells. Men had long ago +learned the folly of that mistake, and Oglethorpe was +too much a man of the world to repeat the failures of +others. Every emigrant had been subjected to a +thorough examination regarding his antecedents, his +honesty, his character for energy and good behavior, +and had been brought because he had been deemed fit. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span>Italians skilled in silk culture were introduced into the +colony. Sober German Protestants came from Moravia +and from Salzburg, by Tyrol, and were given their separate +places of settlement,—as quiet, frugal, industrious, +pious folk as the first pilgrims at Plymouth. Clansmen +from the Scottish Highlands came, and were set +at the extreme south, as an outpost to meet the Spaniard. +Some of the Carolina settlers who would have +liked themselves to have the Highlanders for neighbors +tried to dissuade them from going to the spot selected +for their settlement. They told them that the Spaniards +were so near at hand that they could shoot them +from the windows of the houses that stood within the +fort. “Why, then, we shall beat them out of their +fort, and shall have houses ready built to live in!” cried +the men in kilts, very cheerily, and went on to their +settlement.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus031" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus031.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>OGLETHORPE’S ORDER FOR SUPPLIES</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus032" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus032.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SAVANNAH IN 1754</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Fortunately it was seven years before the war with +Spain came which every one had known from the first +to be inevitable; and by that time the little colony was +ready enough. Georgia’s territory stretched upon the +coast from the Savannah to the Altamaha, and from +the coast ran back, west and northwest, to the sources +of those rivers; from their sources due westward “to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span>the South Seas.” Savannah was thus planted at +the very borders of South Carolina. New settlers were +placed, as they came, some in Savannah, many by +the upper reaches of the river. The Highlanders had +their post of danger and honor upon the Altamaha; +and before war came new settlers, additional arms +and stores, and serviceable fortifications had been +placed at St. Simon’s Island at the mouth of the Altamaha. +Every settlement was in some sort a fortified +military post. The first settlers had been drilled in +arms by sergeants of the Royal Guards in London +every day between the time of their assembling and +the time of their departure. Arms and ammunition +were as abundant almost as agricultural tools and +food stores in the cargoes carried out. Negro slavery +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span>was forbidden in the colony, because it was no small +part of Oglethorpe’s purpose in founding it to thrust a +solid wedge of free settlers between Carolina and the +country to the south, and close the border to fugitive +slaves. Neither could any liquor be brought in. It +was designed that the life of the settlements should +be touched with something of the rigor of military discipline; +and so long as Oglethorpe himself was at hand +laws were respected and obeyed, rigid and unacceptable +though they were; for he was a born ruler of men.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus033" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus033.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>ALEXANDER HAMILTON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>He had not chosen very wisely, however, when he +brought Charles and John Wesley out as his spiritual +advisers and the pastors of his colony. They were +men as inapt at yielding and as strenuous at prosecuting +their own way of action as he, and promoted diversity +of opinion quite as successfully as piety. They +stayed but three or four uneasy years in America, and +then returned to do their great work of setting up a +new dissenting church in England. George Whitefield +followed them (1738) in their missionary labors, +and for a little while preached acceptably enough in +the quiet colony; but he, too, was very soon back in +England again. The very year Oglethorpe brought +Charles Wesley to Georgia (1734) a great wave of religious +feeling swept over New England again,—not +sober, self-contained, deep-currented, like the steady +fervor of the old days, but passionate, full of deep excitement, +agitated, too like a frenzy. Enthusiasts +who saw it rise and run its course were wont to speak +of it afterwards as “the Great Awakening,” but the +graver sort were deeply disturbed by it. It did not +spend its force till quite fifteen years had come and +gone. Mr. Whitefield returned to America in 1739, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span>to add to it the impulse of his impassioned preaching, +and went once more to Georgia also. Again and again +he came upon the same errand, stirring many a colony +with his singular eloquence; but Georgia was busy +with other things, and heeded him less than the rest.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus034" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus034.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOHN WESLEY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus035" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus035.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>OGLETHORPE’S EXPEDITION AGAINST ST. AUGUSTINE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus036" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus036.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GEORGE WHITEFIELD</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>When the inevitable war came with Spain, in 1739,—inevitable +because of trade rivalries in the West Indies +and in South America, and because of political rivalry +at the borders of Florida,—Oglethorpe was almost +the first to strike. Admiral Vernon had been despatched +in midsummer, 1739, before the declaration of war, +to destroy the Spanish settlements and distress Spanish +commerce in the West Indies; and had promptly taken +Porto Bello in November, scarcely a month after war +had been formally declared. Oglethorpe struck next, +at St. Augustine. It was this he had looked forward +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span>to in founding his colony. In May, 1740, he moved +to the attack with a mixed army of redskins and provincial +militia numbering a little more than two thousand +men,—supported at sea by a little fleet of six vessels +of war under Sir Yelverton Peyton. But there had +been too much delay in getting the motley force together. +The Spaniards had procured reinforcements +from Havana; the English ships found it impracticable +to get near enough to the Spanish works to use +their guns with effect; Oglethorpe had no proper siege +pieces; and the attack utterly failed. It had its effect, +nevertheless. For two years the Spaniards held nervously +off, carefully on the defensive; and when they +did in their turn attack, Oglethorpe beat them handsomely +off, and more than wiped out the disrepute of +his miscarriage at St. Augustine. In June 1742, +there came to St. Simon’s Island a Spanish fleet of +fifty-one sail, nearly five thousand troops aboard, and +Oglethorpe beat them off with six hundred and fifty +men,—working his little forts like a master, and his +single guard-schooner and few paltry armed sloops +as if they were a navy. Such a deliverance, cried Mr. +Whitefield, could not be paralleled save out of Old Testament +history.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Vernon and Wentworth had met with +overwhelming disaster at Cartagena. With a great +fleet of ships of the line and a land force of nine thousand +men, they had made their assault upon it in March, +1741; but because Wentworth bungled everything he +did with his troops the attack miserably failed. He +was caught by the deadly wet season of the tropics; +disease reduced his army to a wretched handful; and +thousands of lives were thrown away in his dismal +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span>disgrace. Both New England and Virginia had sent +troops to take their part with that doomed army; and +the colonies knew, in great bitterness, how few came +home again. The war had its issues for them, they +knew, as well as for the governments across the water. +It meant one more reckoning with the Spaniard and +the Frenchman, their rivals for the mastery of America. +And in 1745 New England had a triumph of her own, +more gratifying even than Oglethorpe’s astonishing +achievement at St. Simon’s Island.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp94" id="illus037" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus037.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE ACTION AT CARTAGENA</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Only for a few months had England dealt with Spain +alone upon a private quarrel. In 1740 the male line +of the great Austrian house of Hapsburg had run out: +Maria Theresa took the throne; rival claimants disputed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span>her right to the succession; and all Europe was presently +plunged into the “War of the Austrian Succession” +(1740-1748). “King George’s War” they called +it in the colonies, when France and England became +embroiled; but the name did not make it doubtful what +interests, or what ambitions, were involved; and New +England struck her own blow at the power of France. +A force of about four thousand men, levied in Massachusetts, +New Hampshire, and Connecticut, moved +in the spring of 1745 against the French port of Louisbourg +on Cape Breton Island. Commodore Warren, +the English naval commander in the West Indies, furnished +ships for their convoy, and himself supported +them in the siege; and by the 16th of June the place +had been taken. For twenty-five years the French +had been slowly building its fortifications, covering +with them an area two and a half miles in circumference. +They had made them, they supposed, impregnable. +But the English had struck quickly, without warning, +and with a skill and ardor which made them wellnigh +irresistible; and their triumph was complete. +Provincial troops had taken the most formidable fortress +in America. William Pepperrell, the gallant gentleman +who had led the New Englanders, got a baronetcy +for his victory. Warren was made an admiral.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus038" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus038.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>WILLIAM PEPPERRELL</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The next year an attack was planned against the +French at Crown Point on Champlain, but nothing +came of it. The war almost stood still thenceforth, +so far as the colonies were concerned, till peace was +signed at Aix-la-Chapelle in October, 1748. That peace +brought great chagrin to New England. By its terms +Louisbourg and all conquests everywhere were restored. +The whole work was to do over again, as after King +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span>William’s War and the restoration of Port Royal, which +Sir William Phips had been at such pains to take. The +peace stood, however, little longer than that which +had separated King William’s War from the War of +the Spanish Succession. Seven years, and France +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span>and England had once more grappled,—this time for +a final settlement. All the seven years through the +coming on of war was plainly to be seen by those who +knew where to look for the signs of the times. The +French and English in that brief interval were not +merely to approach; they were to meet in the western +valleys, and the first spark of a war that was to embroil +all Europe was presently to flash out in the still +forests beyond the far Alleghanies.</p> + +<p>It was on the borders of Virginia this time that the +first act of the drama was to be cast. The French determined +both to shorten and to close their lines of +occupation and defence from the St. Lawrence to the +Mississippi and the Gulf. They knew that they could +do this only by taking possession of the valley of the +Ohio; and the plan was no sooner formed than it was +attempted. And yet to do this was to come closer than +ever to the English and to act under their very eyes. +A few German families had made their way far to the +westward in Pennsylvania, and hundreds of the indomitable +Scots-Irish had been crowding in there for +now quite twenty years, passing on, many of them, +to the beautiful valley of the Shenandoah below, and +pressing everywhere closer and closer to the passes +which led down but a little way beyond into the valleys +of the Alleghany, the Monongahela, and the Ohio. These +men, at the frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia, +were sure to observe what was going forward in front +of them, and to understand what they saw. Traders +crossed those mountains now by the score from the +English settlements,—three hundred in a year, it was +said. They knew the waters that ran to the Ohio quite +as well as any Frenchman did. Their canoes had followed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span>the turnings of the broad Ohio itself, and had +found it a highway to the spreading Mississippi, where +French boats floated slowly down from the country of +the Illinois, carrying their cargoes of meat, grain, tobacco, +tallow, hides, lead, and oil to the settlements +on the Gulf. In 1748, the year of the last peace, certain +leading gentlemen in Virginia had organized an +Ohio Land Company,—among the rest Mr. Augustus +Washington, who had served with Vernon and Wentworth +at Cartagena and had lost his health in the fatal +service. He had named his estate by the Potomac, +his home of retirement, Mount Vernon, as his tribute +of admiration to the gallant sailor he had learned to +love during those fiery days in the South. In 1750 +the English government had granted to the Company +six hundred thousand acres of land on the coveted +river. Virginian officials themselves had not scrupled +meanwhile also to issue grants and titles to land beyond +the mountains. The English claim to the Ohio country +was unhesitating and comprehensive.</p> + +<p>The English had seized French traders there as +unlicensed intruders, and the French in their turn had +seized and expelled Englishmen who trafficked there. +French and English matched their wits very shrewdly +to get and keep the too fickle friendship of the Indians, +and so make sure of their trade and their peace with +them; and the Indians got what they could from them +both. It was a sharp game for a great advantage, and +the governments of the two peoples could not long refrain +from taking a hand in it.</p> + +<p>The French authorities, it turned out, were, as usual, +the first to act. In 1752 the Marquis Duquesne became +governor of Canada, an energetic soldier in his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>prime; and it was he who took the first decisive step. +In the spring of 1753 he despatched a force to Presque +Isle, on the southern shore of Lake Erie, built a log fort +there, and thence cut a portage for his boats southward +a little way through the forest to a creek (French +Creek the English called it afterwards) whose waters, +when at flood, would carry his boats to the Alleghany, +and by that open stream to the Ohio. It was the short +and straight way from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi +and the Gulf. At the creek’s head he placed +another log fort (Le Bœuf), and upon the Alleghany +a rude outpost.</p> + +<p>The same year that saw the Marquis Duquesne made +governor of Canada saw Robert Dinwiddie come out +as governor of Virginia, and no one was likelier than +he to mark and comprehend the situation on the border. +Mr. Dinwiddie had been bred in a counting house, for +he was the son of a well-to-do merchant of Glasgow; +but business had long since become for him a matter +of government. He had gone in his prime to be collector +of customs in Bermuda; and after serving in +that post for eleven years he had been made surveyor +general of customs in the southern ports of America,—a +post in which he served most acceptably for another +ten years. For twenty years he had shown singular +zeal and capacity in difficult, and, for many +men, demoralizing, matters of administration. He had +lived in Virginia when surveyor general of customs. +During the two years which immediately preceded his +appointment to the governorship of the Old Dominion +he had engaged in business on his own account in London, +and had become by purchase one of the twenty +stockholders of the Ohio Land Company. He came to +his new office, therefore, acquainted in more than one +way with the leading men of the colony,—especially +with Mr. Augustine Washington, now the Ohio Company’s +president, and the little group of influential +gentlemen,—Lees, Fairfaxes, and the rest,—often to be +found gathered at Mount Vernon. He came, therefore, +with his eyes on the western lands where the company +and his government were alike bound to see to it that +the French were checked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus039" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus039.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>FACSIMILE OF THE NEW YORK WEEKLY <i>JOURNAL</i></p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span></p> + +<p>He saw Duquesne’s movement, consequently, at its +very outset, warned the government at home, and was +promptly instructed to require the French “peaceably +to depart,” and if they would not go for the warning, +“to drive them off by force of arms.” He chose as his +messenger to carry the summons Mr. George Washington, +half-brother to Mr. Augustine Washington, of Mount +Vernon. George Washington was only a lad of twenty-one; +but he had hardened already to the work of a +man. He had received no schooling in England such +as Augustine had had, but had gone from the simple +schools and tutors of the Virginian country-side to serve +as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax in the rough country +of the Shenandoah,—whither Fairfax, heir of the old +Culpeper grants, had come to seek a life away from +courts in the picturesque wilderness of America. +Augustine Washington died the very year Mr. Dinwiddie +became governor, though he was but thirty-four; +and he had left George, lad though he was, to +administer his estate and serve in his stead as commander +of the militia of eleven counties. Governor +Dinwiddie knew whom he was choosing when he sent +this drilled and experienced youngster, already a frontiersman, +to bid the French leave the Ohio.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus040" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus040.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>ROBERT DINWIDDIE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The message was carried in the dead of winter to +the grave and courteous soldier who commanded at +Fort Le Bœuf; and Washington tried the endurance +even of the veteran frontiersman who accompanied +him by the forced marches he made thither and back +again through the dense and frosted woods, across +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span>frozen streams, and through the pathless, storm-beaten +tangles of deep forests, where there was hardly so much +as the track of a bison for their horses to walk in. He +reported that the French had received him very graciously; +but had claimed the Ohio as their own, had +made no pretence that they would abandon it because +the English bade them, and clearly meant to establish +themselves where they were. Juniors among their +officers had told him so very plainly as he sat with them +after dinner in a house which they had seized from +an English trader.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp46" id="map1" style="max-width: 62.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/map1.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>ENGLISH COLONIES, 1700.</p> + <p>BORMAY & CO., N. Y.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>He was back at Williamsburg with his report by the +middle of January, 1754; and the next month a small +body of frontiersmen was hurried forward to make a +clearing at the forks of the Ohio and begin the construction +of fortifications there ere spring came, and the +French. The French came, nevertheless, all too soon. +By the 17th of April their canoes swarmed there, bearing +five hundred men and field ordnance, and the forty Englishmen +who held the rude, unfinished defences of the +place had no choice but to retire or be blown into the +water. The French knew the importance of the place +as a key to the western lands, and they meant to have +it, though they should take it by an open act of war. +Their force there numbered fourteen hundred before +summer came. They built a veritable fort, of the rough +frontier pattern, but strong enough, as it seemed, to +make the post secure, and waited to see what the English +would do.</p> + +<p>Dinwiddie had acted with good Scots capacity, as +efficiently and as promptly as he could with the power +he had. He was obliged to deal with a colonial assembly,—the +French governors were not; and the Virginian +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span>burgesses thought of domestic matters when Dinwiddie’s +thought was at the frontier. While Washington +was deep in the forests, bearing his message, they +quarrelled with the governor about the new fees which +were charged since his coming for grants of the public +land; and they refused him money because he would +not yield in the matter. But when they knew how +things actually stood in the West, and saw that the +governor would levy troops for the exigency whether +they acted with him or not, and pay for them out of +his own pocket if necessary, they voted supplies.</p> + +<p>There was no highway of open rivers for the Virginians, +as for the French, by which they could descend +to the forks of the Ohio; and Virginia had no troops +ready as the French had. Raw levies of volunteers +had first to be got together; and when they had been +hastily gathered, clothed, and a little drilled, the first +use to which it was necessary to put them was to cut +a rough, mountainous road for themselves through +the untouched forests which lay thick upon the towering +Blue Ridge. It was painfully slow work, wrought +at for week after week, and the French were safely +intrenched at their fort “Duquesne” before the tired +Virginian recruits had crossed the crest of the mountains. +By midsummer they were ready to strike and +drive the English back.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus041" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus041.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MERCHANTS’ EXCHANGE, NEW YORK, 1752-1799</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Blood had been spilled between the rivals ere that. +Washington was in command of the little force which +had cut its way through the forest, and he did not understand +that he had been sent into the West this time +merely to bear a message. When, therefore, one day +in May (28 May, 1754) he found a party of French lurking +at his front in a thicketed glade, he did not hesitate +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span>to lead an attacking party of forty against them. The +young commander of the French scouts was killed in +the sharp encounter, and his thirty men were made +prisoners. Men on both sides of the sea knew, when +they heard that news, that war had begun. Young +Washington had forced the hands of the statesmen +in London and Paris, and all Europe presently took +fire from the flame he had kindled. In July, Washington +was obliged to retire. He had only three hundred +and fifty men, all told, at the rudely intrenched camp +which he had constructed in the open glade of “Great +Meadows” as the best place to await reinforcements; +and in July the French were upon him with a force +of seven hundred. All day he fought (3 July, 1754), +and in a drenching rain, the French firing from the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span>edges of the woods, his own men in their shallow, flooded +trenches in the open; but by night he knew he must +give way. The French offered him an honorable +capitulation, and the next day let him go untouched, +men and arms, with such stores as he could carry.</p> + +<p>It was a bad beginning at winning the West from +the French; and all the worse because it showed how +weak the English were at such work. The danger +was not Virginia’s alone; it touched all the English +in America; but the colonies could not co-operate, and, +when they acted at all, acted sluggishly, as if war would +wait for both parties to get ready. The assemblies +of Pennsylvania and New York declared very coldly +that they did not see what right the English crown +had to the valley of the Ohio. Maryland had been +about to raise a force, but had not yet done so when +the fatal day at Great Meadows came. Two “independent +companies” in the King’s pay had been ordered +from New York, and a like company from South Carolina; +and North Carolina had sent forward three hundred +and fifty men; but only the single company from +South Carolina had reached Great Meadows, where +Washington was, before the French were upon him.</p> + +<p>Dinwiddie and every other governor who heeded or +wrote of the business told the ministers in England +that they must act, and send the King’s own troops; +and happily the ministers saw at last the importance +of what should be won or lost in America. Troops +were sent. For Europe it was the beginning of the +Seven Years’ War (1755-1763), which was to see the +great Frederick of Prussia prove his mastery in the +field; which was to spread from Europe to Asia and to +Africa; which was to wrest from the French for England +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span>both India and America. But for the colonists in +America it was only “the French and Indian War.” +Their own continent was the seat of their thoughts.</p> + +<p>The beginnings the home government made were +small and weak enough; but it did at least act, and +it was likely that, should it keep long enough at the +business, it would at last learn and do all that was +necessary to make good its mastery against a weaker +rival. By the 20th of February, 1755, transports were in +the Chesapeake, bringing two regiments of the King’s +regulars, to be sent against Duquesne. The French, +too, were astir. Early in the spring eighteen French +ships of war sailed for Canada, carrying six battalions +and a new governor; and though the English put an +equal fleet to sea to intercept them, the Frenchmen got +into the St. Lawrence with a loss of but two of their ships, +which had strayed from the fleet and been found by +the English befogged and bewildered off the American +coast. The scene was set for war both north and south.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus042" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus042.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM ON THE MORNING OF THE BATTLE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span></p> + +<p>Major General Edward Braddock commanded the +regiments sent to Virginia, and was commissioned +to be commander-in-chief in America. He therefore +called the principal colonial governors to a conference at +Alexandria, his headquarters. By the middle of April +five had come: Robert Dinwiddie, of course, the governor +of Virginia; Robert Hunter Morris, whose thankless +task it was to get war votes out of the Pennsylvanian +assembly of Quakers and lethargic German farmers; +Horatio Sharpe, the brave and energetic gentleman +who was governor of Maryland; James DeLancey, the +people’s governor, of New York; and William Shirley, +governor of Massachusetts, past sixty, but as strenuous +as Dinwiddie, and eager for the field though he had +been bred a lawyer,—every inch “a gentleman and +politician,” it was said. It was he who had done most +to organize and expedite the attack on Louisbourg +which had succeeded so handsomely ten years ago +(1745). He would at any rate not fail for lack of self-confidence. +The conference planned an attack on +Niagara, to be led by Shirley himself, to cut the French +off from Duquesne; an attack on Crown Point, to be led +by Colonel William Johnson, of New York, whom the +Mohawks would follow, to break the hold of the French +on Champlain; an attack upon Beauséjour, in Acadia, +under the leadership of Lieutenant-Colonel Monckton, +of the King’s regulars; and a movement, under the command +of General Braddock himself straight through +the forests against Duquesne, by the way Washington +had cut to Great Meadows.</p> + +<p>It would have been much better had General Braddock +chosen a route farther to the north, where the +Pennsylvanian farmers of the frontier had begun to +make roads and open the forests for the plough; but +it made little difference, after all, which way he went: +his temper and his training doomed him to fail. He +lacked neither courage nor capacity, but he sadly lacked +discretion. He meant to make his campaign in +the wilderness by the rules of war he had learned in +Europe, where the forests were cleared away and no +subtile savages could dog or ambush an army; and he +would take no advice from provincials. Few but Washington +cared to volunteer advice, for the commander-in-chief +was “a very Iroquois in disposition.” He +took two thousand men into the wilderness, with artillery +trains and baggage: fourteen hundred regulars, +nearly five hundred Virginians, horse and foot, two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span>independent companies from New York, and sailors +from the transports to rig tackle to get his stores and +field-pieces out of +difficulties in the +rough road. Washington +went with +the confident commander, +by special +invitation, to act +as one of his aides, +and was the only +provincial officer +whose advice was +given so much as +consideration during +all the weary +weeks in which the +little army widened +and levelled its +way with axe and +spade through the +dense woods. And +then the fatal day +came which filled +all the colonies +with dismay.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp40" id="illus043" style="max-width: 20.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus043.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MAP OF BRADDOCK’S DEFEAT</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The French commander +at Duquesne +had no +such force as Braddock +was bringing against him. He expected to be +obliged to retire. But on the 9th of July the English +general, with his advance force of twelve hundred +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span>men, forded the shallow Monongahela but eight miles +from Duquesne, and striking into the trail which led +to the fort, walked into an ambush. A thousand +men,—Indians, chiefly, and Canadian provincials,—poured +a deadly fire upon him from the thick cover +of the woods on either hand. He would not open his +order and meet the attack in forest fashion, as Washington +begged him to do, but kept his men formed and +crowded in the open spaces of the road, to be almost +annihilated, and driven back, a mere remnant, in utter +rout. It was shameful, pitiful. Washington and his +Virginian rangers could with difficulty keep the rear +when the rout came, and bring the stricken commander +off, to die in the retreat. Dinwiddie could not persuade +the officers left in command even to stay upon the Virginian +frontier to keep the border settlements safe against +the savages. It was Washington’s impossible task +for the rest of the war to guard three hundred and fifty +miles of frontier with a handful of half-fed provincial +militia, where the little huts and tiny settlements of +the Scots-Irish immigrants lay scattered far and wide +among the foothills and valleys of the spreading mountain +country, open everywhere to the swift and secret +onset of the pitiless redskins.</p> + +<p>Braddock’s papers, abandoned in the panic of the +rout, fell into the hands of the French, and made known +to them all the English plans. They were warned +what to do, and did it as promptly as possible. Shirley +gave up the attempt to take Niagara before reaching +the lake. Johnson, assisted by Lyman, of Connecticut, +met the French under Dieskau at Lake George, and +drove them back (September 8, 1755),—the commander +and part of the force the French had so hastily despatched +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span>to America in the spring,—and Dieskau himself +fell into their hands; but they did not follow up +their success or shake the hold of the French upon the +line of lakes and streams which ran from the heart +of New York, like a highway, to the valley of the St. +Lawrence. The attack upon Beauséjour alone accomplished +what was planned. A force of two thousand +New England provincials, under Colonel Monckton +and Colonel John Winslow, found the half-finished +fortifications of the French on Beauséjour hill in their +hands almost before their siege was fairly placed; and +Acadia was more than ever secure.</p> + +<p>There followed nearly three years of unbroken failure +and defeat. In 1756 the Marquis Montcalm succeeded +Dieskau as commander in Canada, and the very year +of his coming took and destroyed the English forts at +Oswego. That same year the Earl of Loudon came +over to take charge of the war for the English; but he +did nothing effective. The government at home sent +reinforcements, but nothing was done with them that +counted for success. “I dread to hear from America,” +exclaimed Pitt. In 1757 Loudon withdrew the best of +his forces to the north, to make an attack on Louisbourg. +Montcalm took advantage of the movement +to capture Fort William Henry, the advanced post of +the English on Lake George; and Loudon failed in his +designs against Louisbourg. Even the stout and +wily English frontiersmen of the northern border found +themselves for a little while overmatched. In March, +1758, Robert Rogers, the doughty New Hampshire +ranger whose successful exploits of daring all the northern +border knew, was beaten by a scouting party from +Ticonderoga, and barely came off with his life. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span>pouring in of troops, even of regulars from over sea, +seemed to count for nothing. General James Abercrombie +led an army of fifteen thousand men, six thousand +of them regulars, against Ticonderoga, where +Montcalm had less than four thousand; blundered at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span>every critical point of the attack; lost two thousand +men; and retired almost as if in flight (July, 1758).</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus044" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus044.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>WILLIAM PITT</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus045" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus045.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SIGNATURE OF JAMES ABERCROMBIE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus046" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus046.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE CAPITULATION OF LOUISBOURG</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span></p> + +<p>But that was the end of failure. The year 1757 had +seen the great Pitt come into control of affairs in England, +and no more incompetent men were chosen to +command in America. Pitt had been mistaken in +regard to Abercrombie, whom he had retained; but he +made no more mistakes of that kind, and a war of failure +was transformed into a war of victories, quick and +decisive. Two more years, and the French no longer +had possessions in America that any nation need covet. +Pitt saw to it that the forces, as well as the talents, used +were adequate. In July, 1758, a powerful fleet under +Admiral Boscawen, and twelve thousand troops under +General Jeffrey Amherst, whom Pitt had specially +chosen for the command, invested and took Louisbourg. +In August, Colonel John Bradstreet, with three +thousand of Abercrombie’s men, drove the French +from Fort Frontenac at Oswego. In November the +French abandoned Fort Duquesne, upon the approach +of a force under General Forbes and Colonel Washington. +In June, 1759, Johnson captured the French fort +at Niagara and cut the route to the Ohio,—where Fort +Duquesne gave place to Fort Pitt. At midsummer +General Amherst, after his thorough fashion, led eleven +thousand men against Ticonderoga, and had the satisfaction +of seeing the French retire before him. He +cleared Lake George and captured and strengthened +Crown Point upon Champlain. The French needed +all their power in the north, for Pitt had sent Wolfe +against Quebec. They had concentrated quite fourteen +thousand men in and about the towering city ere +Wolfe came with scarcely nine thousand (June 21, 1759), +and their fortifications stood everywhere ready to defend +the place. For close upon three months the English +struck at their strength in vain, first here and +then there, in their busy efforts to find a spot where +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span>to get a foothold against the massive stronghold,—Montcalm +holding all the while within his defences +to tire them out; until at last, upon a night in September +which all the world remembers, Wolfe made his way by +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span>a path which lay within a deep ravine upward to the +heights of Abraham, and there lost his life and won +Canada for England (September 13, 1759).</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus047" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus047.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JEFFREY AMHERST</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus048" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus048.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JAMES WOLFE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>After that the rest of the task was simple enough. +The next year Montreal was yielded up, all Canada +passed into the hands of the English, and the war was +practically over. There were yet three more years to +wait before formal peace should be concluded, because +the nations of Europe did not decide their affairs by the +issue of battles and sieges in America; but for the English +colonies the great struggle was ended. By the +formal peace, signed in 1763, at Paris, England gained +Canada, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, and all the +islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the river and harbor +of Mobile, and all the disputed lands of the continent, +north and south, between the eastern mountain +ranges and mid-stream of the Mississippi, except +New Orleans,—besides the free navigation of the great +river. From Spain she got Florida. France had the +year before (1762) ceded to Spain her province of “Louisiana,” +the great region beyond the Mississippi, whose +extent and boundaries no man could tell. She was +utterly stripped of her American possessions, and the +English might look forward to a new age in their colonies.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>The general <i>authorities</i> for the condition of the country and the +movement of affairs during this period are the well known histories +of Bancroft, Hildreth, and Bryant; the third volume of J. A. Doyle’s +<i>English Colonies in America</i>; the third volume of J. G. Palfrey’s +<i>Compendious History of New England</i>; W. B. Weeden’s <i>Economic +and Social History of New England</i>; Mr. Barrett Wendell’s <i>Cotton +Mather</i>; Mr. Eben G. Scott’s <i>Development of Constitutional Liberty +in the English Colonies of America</i>; C. W. Baird’s <i>Huguenot +Emigration to America</i>; James Russell Lowell’s <i>New England +Two Centuries Ago</i>, in his <i>Among My Books</i>; Mr. Brooks Adams’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span><i>Emancipation of Massachusetts</i>; Madame Knight’s <i>Journal</i> +(1704); John Fontaine’s <i>Diary</i>, in the <i>Memoirs of a Huguenot +Family</i>; and Benjamin Franklin’s <i>Autobiography</i>.</p> + +<p>A more particular account of many of the transactions that fell +within the period may be found in Justin Winsor’s <i>New England, +1689-1763</i>, in the fifth volume of Winsor’s <i>Narrative and Critical +History of America</i>; Berthold Fernow’s <i>Middle Colonies</i>, Justin +Winsor’s <i>Maryland and Virginia</i>, and William J. Rivers’s <i>The +Carolinas</i>, in the same volume of Winsor; Charles C. Smith’s +<i>The Wars on the Seaboard: Acadia and Cape Breton</i>, and Justin +Winsor’s <i>Struggle for the Great Valleys of North America</i>, in the +same volume of Winsor.</p> + +<p>The chief <i>authorities</i> for the settlement and early history of +<i>Georgia</i> are Bancroft, Hildreth, and Bryant; Charles C. Jones’s +<i>History of Georgia</i> and <i>English Colonization of Georgia</i> in the fifth +volume of Winsor’s <i>Narrative and Critical History of America</i>; +W. E. H. Lecky’s <i>History of England in the Eighteenth Century</i>; +Alexander Hewatt’s <i>Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of +the Colonies of South Carolina and Georgia</i>, in Carroll’s <i>Historical +Collections of South Carolina</i>; the first and second volumes of +Peter Force’s <i>Tracts and Other Papers relating to the Colonies in +North America</i>; and the <i>Colonial Acts</i> of Georgia.</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II<br> +THE PARTING OF THE WAYS</h2> + +</div> + +<p>No one who marked how the English colonies had +grown, and how the French had lagged in the effectual +settlement and mastery of the regions they had taken, +could wonder that in the final struggle for supremacy +the English had won and the French lost everything +there was to fight for. The French had been as long +on the continent as the English, and yet they did not +have one-tenth the strength of the English, either in +population or in wealth, when this war came. There +were fifty-five thousand white colonists in Canada, +all told; and only twenty-five thousand more in all the +thin line of posts and hamlets which stretched from +the St. Lawrence through the long valley of the Mississippi +to the Gulf,—eighty thousand in all. In the +English settlements there were more than a million +colonists (1,160,000), not scattered in separated posts +set far apart in the forested wilderness, but clustered +thick in towns and villages, or in neighborly plantations, +where the forest had been cleared away, roads +made, and trade and peace established. The English +had been seeking, not conquest, but comfort and wealth +in busy centres and populous country-sides, where their +life now ran as strong and as calm, almost, as if they +were still in the old lands of England itself. The French, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span>on the contrary, were placed where their government +wished them to be; could hardly be said to have formed +independent communities at all; and were glad if they +could so much as eke out a decent subsistence from the +soil, or from food brought by ship from France over sea. +The English spread very slowly, considering how fast +they came, and kept in some sort a solid mass; but +the result was that they thoroughly possessed the country +as they went, and made homes, working out a life +of their own. The French merely built frontier posts, +the while, on the lakes and rivers, as they were bidden +or guided or exhorted by their governors; took up such +land as was assigned them by royal order; did their +daily stint of work, and expected nothing better. They +were, moreover, painfully, perilously isolated. Ships +could come from England to any part of the English +coasts of America in five weeks, whereas it was a good +six months’ journey from France to the frontier posts +upon the lakes or by the far-away western rivers. The +St. Lawrence was closed for nearly half the year by ice; +and it was a weary task to get any boat up the stream +of the endless Mississippi against its slow tide of waters +and through the puzzling, shifting channels of its +winding course.</p> + +<p>The Marquis Duquesne had called the Iroquois to +a council in 1754, ere he left his governorship, and had +commended his sovereign’s government to them because +of this very difference between French and English. +“Are you ignorant,” he said, “of the difference +between the King of England and the King of France? +Go, see the forts that our King has established, and +you will see that you can still hunt under their very +walls. They have been placed for your advantage +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span>in places which you frequent. The English, on the +contrary, are no sooner in possession of a place than +the game is driven away. The forest falls before them +as they advance, and the soil is laid bare so that you +can scarce find the wherewithal to erect a shelter for +the night.” Perhaps Duquesne, being a soldier and +no statesman, did not realize all that this difference +meant. The French posts, with the forests close about +them, were not self-supporting communities such as +everywhere filled the English dominion. Their governors +were soldiers, their inhabitants a garrison, the +few settlers near at hand traders, not husbandmen, +or at best mere tenants of the crown of France. No +doubt it was easier for the savages to approach and +trade with them; but it would turn out to be infinitely +harder for the French to keep them. Their occupants +had struck no deep rootage into the soil they were seated +upon, as the English had.</p> + +<p>Englishmen themselves had noted, with some solicitude, +how slow their own progress was away from the +sea-coast. It was not until 1725 that settlers in Massachusetts +had ventured to go so far away from the Bay +as the Berkshire Hills. “Our country has now been +inhabited more than one hundred and thirty years,” +exclaimed Colonel Byrd, of Virginia, in 1729, “and still +we hardly know anything of the Appalachian Mountains, +that are nowhere above two hundred and fifty +miles from the sea. Whereas the French, who are later +comers, have ranged from Quebec southward as far +as the mouth of the Mississippi, in the Bay of Mexico, +and to the west almost as far as California, which is +either way above two thousand miles.” But Colonel +Byrd was thinking of discovery, not of settlement; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span>the search for minerals and the natural wealth of the +forests, not the search for places to which to extend +permanent homes and government. The difference +arose out of the +fundamental unlikeness +of French +and English, both +in life and in government.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus049" style="max-width: 18.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus049.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>WILLIAM BYRD</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The statesmen of +both France and +England accepted +the same theory +about the use colonies +should be put +to,—the doctrine +and practice everywhere +accepted in +their day. Colonies +were to be used to +enrich the countries +which possessed +them. They should send their characteristic native products +to the country which had established them, and for +the most part to her alone, and should take her manufactures +in exchange; trade nowhere else to her disadvantage; +and do and make nothing which could bring them +into competition with her merchants and manufacturers. +But England applied this theory in one way, France +in another. It was provoking enough to the English +colonists in America to have, in many a petty matter, +to evade the exacting Navigation Acts, which restricted +their trade and obliged them to buy manufactured goods +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>at prices fixed by the English merchants. It a little +cramped and irritated them that they were forbidden to +manufacture now this and now that, though the material +lay at their very doors, because English manufacturers +wished their competition shut out. Restriction was added +to restriction. In 1706, naval stores and rice, which +the Carolinas were learning to produce to their increasing +profit, were added to the list of products which must +be sent to England only; and in 1722 copper and furs. +In 1732 the manufacture of beaver hats was forbidden, +and in 1750 the maintenance of iron furnaces or slit +mills. But there was always an effort made at reciprocal +advantage. Though the colonies were forbidden +to manufacture their iron ores, their bar and pig iron +was admitted into England free of duty, and Swedish +iron, which might have undersold it, was held off by +a heavy tariff, to the manifest advantage of Maryland +and Virginia. Though the rice of the Carolinas for +a time got admission to market only through the English +middlemen, their naval stores were exported under +a heavy bounty; and in 1730, when the restriction laid +on the rice trade pinched too shrewdly, it was removed +with regard to Portugal, the chief European market +open to it. Parliament had generally an eye to building +up the trade of the colonies as well as to controlling +it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus050" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus050.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>Plan of the <span class="smcap">City of New York</span> 1767.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span></p> + +<p>The home government, moreover, though it diligently +imposed restrictions, was by no means as diligent +in enforcing them. An ill-advised statute of 1733 laid +prohibitory duties on the importation of sugar, molasses, +and rum out of the French West Indies, in the hope +that the sales of sugar and molasses in the islands +owned by England might be increased. To enforce +the act would have been to hazard the utter commercial +ruin of New England. Out of the cheap molasses of the +French islands she made the rum which was a chief +source of her wealth,—the rum with which she bought +slaves for Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas, and +paid her balances to the English merchants. But no +serious attempt was made to enforce it. Customs officers +and merchants agreed in ignoring it, and officers +of the crown shut their eyes to the trade which it +forbade. Smuggling upon that long coast was a simple +matter, and even at the chief ports only a little circumspection +was needed about cargoes out of the Indies.</p> + +<p>Moreover, the men who governed in England contented +themselves with general restrictions and did +not go on to manage the very lives of the colonists in +the colonies themselves. That was what the French +did. They built their colonies up by royal order; sent +emigrants out as they sent troops, at the King’s expense +and by the King’s direction; could get only men +to go, therefore, for the most part, and very few women +or families. For the English there was nothing of +the sort, after the first. Rich men or great mercantile +companies might help emigrants with money or supplies +or free gifts of land in order to fill up the colonies +which the crown had given them the right to establish +and govern; but only those went out who volunteered. +Emigrants went, moreover, in families, after the first +years were passed and the colonies fairly started, if +not at the very outset of the enterprise,—in associated +groups, congregations, and small volunteer communities. +When they reached the appointed place of settlement +they were left to shift for themselves, as they had +expected, exactly as they would have been at home; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span>and they insisted upon having the same rights and +freedom they would have had there. They were making +homes, without assistance or favor, and for their own +use and benefit.</p> + +<p>It was inevitable in the circumstances that their +colonial governments should be like themselves, home-made +and free from control in the management of what +chiefly concerned their own lives. They were just as +hard to supervise and regulate when the settlements +were small as when they grew large and populous,—a +little harder, indeed, because the colonists were the +more anxious then about how the new life they were +beginning was to go, and the less sure of their power +or influence to resist the efforts of the crown to manage +and interfere with them. By the time the French war +came there was no mistaking the fact that the English +colonies had grown to be miniature states, proud, hard-fibred, +independent in temper, practised in affairs. +They had, as Edmund Burke said, “formed within +themselves, either by royal instruction or royal charter, +assemblies so exceedingly resembling a parliament, +in all their forms, functions, and powers, that it was +impossible they should not imbibe some opinion of a +similar authority.” At first, no doubt, their assemblies +had been intended to be little more than the managing +bodies of corporations. “But nothing in progression +can rest on its original plan. We may as well think of +rocking a grown man in the cradle of an infant. Therefore, +as the colonies prospered and increased to a numerous +and mighty people, spreading over a very great +tract of the globe, it was natural that they should attribute +to assemblies so respectable in their formal constitution +some part of the dignity of the great nations +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span>which they represented.” They “made acts of all sorts +and in all cases whatsoever. They levied money upon +regular grants to the crown, following all the rules and +principles of a parliament, to which they approached +every day more and more nearly.” And Burke saw +how inevitable, as well as how natural, the whole growth +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span>had been. “Things could not be otherwise,” he said; +“English colonies must be had on these terms, or not +had at all.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus051" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus051.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>EDMUND BURKE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>They had used their governments for their own purposes, +and rather like independent states than like dependent +communities. In every colony the chief point +of conflict between governor and assembly, whether in +the proprietary or in the crown colonies, had always +been connected with the subject of salaries. Again +and again governors had been instructed to insist upon +an adequate income, charged permanently upon some +regular source of public revenue; but again and again, +as often as made, their demand had been refused. They +could get only annual grants, which kept all officers +of the crown dependent upon the people’s assemblies +for maintenance while in office. There had long been +signs that the ministers of the King and the proprietors +at home were tired of the contest, and meant, for the +mere sake of peace, to let the colonial assemblies alone, +to rule, as Parliament ruled, by keeping control of the +moneys spent upon their own governments.</p> + +<p>There was, too, more and more money in the colonies +as the years went by. New England, where, except +in the rich valley of the Connecticut, the soil yielded +little beyond the bare necessaries of life, led the rest +of the colonies in the variety of her industries. Though +parliamentary statutes forbade the making of woollen +goods or hats or steel for export, the colonists were free +to make anything they might need for use or sale within +a single colony or in their own homes; and the thrifty +New England farmers and villagers made most of their +own furniture, tools, and household utensils, while +their women or the village weavers wove the linen and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span>woollen stuffs of which their clothes were made. They +lived upon their own resources as no other colonists +did. And their trade kept six hundred vessels busy +plying to and fro to English and foreign ports. Almost +every sea-coast hamlet was a port and maintained +its little fleet. A thousand vessels, big and little, went +every year to the fisheries, or up and down the coasts +carrying the trade between colony and colony. A +great many of these vessels the colonists had built +themselves, out of the splendid timber which stood +almost everywhere at hand in their forests; and every +one knew who knew anything at all about New England +that her seamen were as daring, shrewd, and +hardy as those bred in past generations in the Devonshire +ports of old England. Their boats flocked by +the hundreds every year to the misty, perilous banks +of Newfoundland, where the cod were to be caught. +They beat up and down the long seas in search of the +whale all the way from “the frozen recesses of Hudson’s +Bay and Davis’s Straits” to the coasts of Africa and +Brazil, far in the south. “Neither the perseverance of +Holland, nor the activity of France, nor the dexterous +and firm sagacity of English enterprise,” exclaimed +Burke, “ever carried this most perilous mode of hardy +industry to the extent to which it has been pushed by +this recent people,—a people who are still, as it were, +but in the gristle, and not yet hardened into the bone, +of manhood.”</p> + +<p>Massachusetts had been known, while peace held +and men breathed freely, between Queen Anne’s and +King George’s wars, to complete one hundred and fifty +ships in a single year, every town upon the coast and +even little villages far within the rivers launching vessels +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span>from busy shipyards. Ship building became New England’s +chief industry; and in 1724 the master builders +of the Thames prayed Parliament for protection +against the competition of the colonies. The annual +catch of whale and cod by the New Englanders was +worth two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling; +and, besides fish and fish-oil, they shipped their fine timber, +and not a little hay and grain even, across the sea +or to the other colonies. Everywhere in America the forests +yielded splendid timber, as his Majesty’s ministers +well knew: for they sent into the northern forests of +pine and had the tallest, straightest trees there marked +with the royal arms, as a notice that they were reserved +to be used as masts for his Majesty’s war-ships,—as +if the King had a right to take what he would.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus052" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus052.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>VIEW OF THE BUILDINGS BELONGING TO HARVARD COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, + NEW ENGLAND, 1726</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“New England improved much faster than Virginia,” +Colonel Byrd admitted; and yet Virginia had her own +rich trade, of which tobacco was the chief staple; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span>all the colonies busied themselves as they could, and +visibly grew richer year by year. The middle colonies +were scarcely less industrious than those of the bleaker +north, and prospered even more readily with their kindlier +climate and their richer soil. Pennsylvania, with +her two hundred and twenty thousand colonists, with +her thrifty mixture of Germans, Quakers, Scots, and +Scots-Irishmen, needed a fleet of four hundred sail to +carry each season’s spare produce from the docks at +Philadelphia; and New York had her separate fleet +of close upon two hundred sail.</p> + +<p>England depended upon the colonies for much of +the naval stores, of the potash, and of the pearlash +which she needed every year. Mines of iron and of +copper had been opened both in the middle colonies +and in the south. The colonists made their own brick +for building, and their own paper and glass, as well +as their own coarse stuffs for clothing, and many of +their own hats of beaverskin. Substantial houses +and fine, sightly streets sprang up in the towns which +stood at the chief seaports; and in the country spacious +country seats, solidly built, roomy, full of the simpler +comforts of gentlefolk. The ships which took hides +and fish and provisions to the West Indies brought +sugar and molasses and wine and many a delicacy +back upon their return, and the colonists ate and drank +and bore themselves like other well-to-do citizens the +world over. They were eager always to know what +the London fashions were; there was as much etiquette +to be observed upon quiet plantations in Virginia as +in English drawing rooms. It was, indeed, touched +with a certain beauty of its own, because of the provincial +simplicity and frank neighborliness which went +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span>along with it; but it was grave and punctilious, and +intended to be like London manners. There was as +much formality and gayety “in the season” at Williamsburg, +Virginia’s village capital, as in Philadelphia, the +biggest, wealthiest, most stately town in the colonies.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus053" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus053.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>NASSAU HALL, PRINCETON COLLEGE, 1760</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus054" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus054.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>KING’S COLLEGE, NEW YORK, 1758</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>There were many ways in which the colonies finished +and filled out their lives which showed that they regarded +themselves as in a sense independent communities +and meant to provide for themselves everything +they needed for their life alone on a separate continent. +They had no thought of actually breaking away from +their allegiance to the home government over sea; but +no man could possibly overlook the three thousand +miles of water that stretched between England and +America. At that immense distance they were obliged +in great measure to look out for themselves and contrive +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span>their own ways of sustenance and development, +and their own way of culture. Before the French war +began, two more colleges, in addition to Harvard in +Massachusetts and William and Mary in Virginia, had +been established to provide the higher sort of training +for youths who were to enter the learned professions. +Besides Yale, the College of New Jersey had been founded. +At first set up in 1746 as a collegiate school, at +Elizabethtown, it was in 1756 given a permanent home +and built up into a notable training place for youth +at Princeton. In 1754, the year Washington attacked +the French in the western forests, King’s College was +added to the growing list, in New York, by royal charter. +Ten years later (1764), upon the very morrow of the signing +of peace, certain public-spirited men of the Baptist +communion followed suit in Rhode Island by founding +the school which was afterwards to be called Brown +University. Here were six colleges for this new English +nation at the west of the Atlantic. Many wealthy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span>colonists, particularly in the far south, continued to +send their sons to the old country to take their learning +from the immemorial sources at Oxford and Cambridge; +but more and more the colonies provided learning +for themselves.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus055" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus055.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BENJAMIN FRANKLIN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus056" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus056.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE BIRTHPLACE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, MILK STREET, BOSTON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Their growing and expanding life, moreover, developed +in them the sense of neighborhood to one another, +the consciousness of common interests, and the feeling +that they ought in many things to coöperate. In +1754, while the first sharp note of war was ringing from +the Alleghanies, a conference with the Six Nations +was held at Albany, which, besides dealing with the +redmen, and binding them once more to be friends and +allies of the English against the French, considered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span>nothing less than a plan of union for the colonies. This +was the fourth time that the representatives of several +colonies at once had come together at Albany to confer +with the Iroquois. The first conference had taken +place there in 1689, the year King William’s War began. +Albany lay nearest the country of the Iroquois. It +was necessary when war was afoot to make sure that +the redskins should side with the English, and not +with the French; and that was now for the fourth time, +in 1754, more critically important than ever. The +home government had directed that the conference be +held, before they knew what Washington had done. +It was the ministers in London, too, who had directed +that a plan of union be considered, in order that the +colonies might act in concert in the coming struggle +with the French, and if possible under a single government +even. Seven colonies were represented at the +conference. Twenty-five delegates were there to take +part in the business; and there was no difficulty about +securing their almost unanimous assent to a plan of +union. They adopted the plan which Mr. Benjamin +Franklin, one of Pennsylvania’s delegates, had drawn +up as he made the long journey from Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>Mr. Franklin had led a very notable life during the +thirty eventful years which had gone by since he made +his way, a mere lad, from Boston to Philadelphia to +earn his livelihood as a journeyman printer; and how +shrewd a knowledge he had gained of the practical +affairs of the world anybody could see for himself who +would read the homely-wise maxims he had been putting +forth these twenty-two years in his “Poor Richard’s” +Almanacs, begun in 1732. The plan of union he suggested +at Albany was, that the colonies should submit +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span>to have their common interests cared for by a congress +of delegates chosen by their several assemblies, and a +“president-general” appointed and paid by the crown; +giving to the congress a considerable power of actual +law-making and to the president-general the right to +veto its acts, subject to the approval of the ministers at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span>home. To all the delegates at Albany except those +from Connecticut the plan seemed suitable and excellent; +but the ministers at home rejected it because they +thought it gave too much power to the proposed congress, +and the colonial assemblies rejected it because +they thought it gave too much power to the president-general. +Mr. Franklin said that the fact that neither +the assemblies nor the King’s ministers liked the plan +made him suspect that it must be, after all, an excellent +half-way measure, the “true medium” between +extremes, effecting a particularly fair and equal distribution +of power.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp60" id="illus057" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus057.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BENJAMIN FRANKLIN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Then the war came, and made many things plain. +The colonies did not coöperate. They contributed +troops, watched their own frontiers as they could against +the redskins, and freely spent both blood and money in +the great struggle; but when it was all over, and the +French dominion swept from the continent, it was plain +that it had not been the power of the colonies but the +power of England and the genius of the great Pitt that +had won in the critical contest. France could send +few reinforcements to Canada because England’s ships +commanded the sea. The stout Canadians had had +to stand out for themselves unaided, with such troops +as were already in the colony. In 1759, the year Wolfe +took Quebec, there were more soldiers in the English +colonies threatening the St. Lawrence than there were +men capable of bearing arms in all Canada,—and +quite half of them were regulars, not provincials. Pitt +saw to it that enough troops and supplies were sent +to America to insure success, and that men capable +of victory and of efficient management even in the +forested wilderness were put in command of affairs +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span>in the field. He did not depend upon the colonies to +do what he knew they had no plan or organization for +doing, but set himself to redress the balance of power +in Europe by decisive victories which should make +England indisputable mistress of America. “No man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span>ever entered Mr. Pitt’s closet who did not find himself +braver when he came out than when he went in,” said +a soldier who had held conference with him and served +him; and it was his statesmanship and his use of English +arms that had made England’s dominion complete +and England’s colonies safe in America.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp42" id="illus058" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus058.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>A PAGE OF “POOR RICHARD’S” ALMANAC</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus059" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus059.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IN A COLONIAL DRAWING ROOM</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>English fleets and armies had not been sent to America, +however, and equipped for warfare there, sustained +in war season and out of it, without enormous expense; +and that expense, which had set the colonies free to +live without dread of danger or of confinement at any +border, England had borne. It had been part of Mr. +Franklin’s plan of union, proposed at Albany, that the +congress of the colonies should sustain the armies used +in their defence and pay for them by taxes levied in +America; but that plan had been rejected, and this +war for the ousting of the French had been fought at +England’s cost,—much as the colonies had given of +their own blood, and of their own substance for the +equipment of their provincial levies, and much as they +had suffered in all the obscure and painful fighting to +protect their frontiers against the redskins, far away +from set fields of battle. They had done more, indeed, +than pay the costs which inevitably fell to them. They +had “raised, paid, and clothed twenty-five thousand +men,—a number,” if Mr. Franklin was right, “equal +to those sent from Great Britain and far beyond their +proportion. They went deeply in debt in doing this; +and all their estates and taxes are mortgaged for many +years to come in discharging that debt.” Parliament +had itself acknowledged their loyal liberality and self-sacrifice, +and had even voted them £200,000 a year for +five years, when the war was over, by way of just reimbursement. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span>But, though they had made sacrifices, +they had, of course, not shared with the royal treasury +the chief outlays of the war. Colonial governors, viewing +affairs as representatives of the government at +home, had again and again urged the ministers in London +to tax the colonies, by act of Parliament, for means +to pay for frontier forts, armies of defence, and all the +business of imperial administration in America. But the +ministers had hitherto known something of the temper +of the colonists in such matters and had been too wise +to attempt anything of the kind. Sir George Keith, +who had been governor of Pennsylvania, had suggested +to Sir Robert Walpole that he should raise revenue +in the colonies; but that shrewd politician and +man of affairs had flatly declined. “What,” he exclaimed, +“I have old England against me, and do you +think I will have New England likewise?” Chatham +had held the same tone. What English armies did in +America was part of England’s struggle for empire, +for a leading station in power and riches in the world, +and England should pay for it. The desire of the +colonies to control their own direct taxes should be +respected. English statesmen, so far, had seen the +matter very much as observant Colonel Spotswood had +seen it thirty odd years ago. If the ministers should +direct moneys to be paid by act of Parliament, he +said, “they would find it no easy matter to put such +an act into execution”; and he deemed it “against +the right of Englishmen,” besides, “to be taxed, but +by their representatives,”—new colonist though he +was, and only the other day a governor of the crown +in Virginia, the oldest and most loyal of the colonies.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp65" id="illus060" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus060.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MRS. BENEDICT ARNOLD AND CHILD</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>It was now more than forty years since Colonel Spotswood, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span>in the days of his governorship, had ridden to +the far summit of the Alleghanies and looked down +their western slopes towards the regions where England +and France were to meet. Since that day he had +served the crown very quietly as postmaster general +for the colonies. At last he had died (1740) when on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span>the eve of sailing with Virginian troops for Cartagena, +about to return at the very end of his days to his old +calling of arms. He had lived thirty years in Virginia, +all told, and spoke out of abundant knowledge +when he expressed a judgment as to what the ministers +would find it hard to do in the colonies. He knew, as +every man did who had had anything to do with the +service of the crown in America, how stubbornly the +colonists had resisted every attempt to unite their governments +under a single governor or any single system, +and how determined they had been to keep their governments +in their own hands, notwithstanding they +must have seen, as everybody else saw, the manifest +advantage of union and a common organization in +the face of England’s rivals in America, north and +south. The King’s object in seeking to consolidate +the more northern colonies under Sir Edmund Andros, +whom New England had so hated, was not to attack +their liberties, but “to weld them into one strongly +governed state,” such as should be able to present a +firm front to the encroachments of the French,—a statesmanlike +object, which no man who wished to serve the +interests of English empire could reasonably criticise. +But the colonists had not cared to regard their little +commonwealths as pieces of an empire. They regarded +them simply as their own homes and seats of +self-government; and they feared to have them swallowed +up in any scheme of consolidation, whatever +its object. The French war, consequently, had been +fought by the government in England, and not by any +government in America.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp34" id="illus061" style="max-width: 17.1875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus061.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>FRANKLIN’S OLD BOOK-SHOP, NEXT TO CHRIST’S CHURCH, + PHILADELPHIA</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Though a few statesmen like Walpole had had the +sagacity to divine it, and all leaders in party counsels +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span>had instinctively +feared it, very few +public men in England +understood +the temper or the +unchangeable resolution +of the colonies +in such matters. +Pitt understood +it, but now +that the war was +over he was no +longer suffered to +be master in affairs. +Burke understood +it, but +few heeded what +he said. Such +men knew by instant +sympathy +that this seemingly +unreasonable +temper of the colonists +in great affairs +was nothing +else than the common +English spirit +of liberty. The +colonists were simply +refusing, as +all Englishmen +would have refused, to be directly ruled in their own +affairs, or directly taxed for any purpose whatever, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span>by a government which they themselves had no part +in conducting; and, whether reasonable or unreasonable, +so long as they remained Englishmen it was useless +to try to argue them out of that refusal. “An +Englishman,” cried Burke, “is the unfittest person +on earth to argue another Englishman into slavery”; +and he knew that to an Englishman it would seem +nothing less than slavery to be stripped of self-government +in matters of the purse.</p> + +<p>Now that the French were driven out, it was more +useless than ever to argue the point. The chief and +most obvious reason for feeling dependent upon the +mother country was gone. Awe of the British was +gone, too. The provincial levies raised in the colonies +had fought alongside the King’s troops in all the movements +of the war, and had found themselves not a whit +less undaunted under fire, not a whit less able to stand +and fight, not a whit less needed in victory. Braddock +had died loathing the redcoats and wishing to +see none but the blue cloth of the Virginian volunteers. +When the war began, a regular from over sea had seemed +to the colonists an unapproachable master of arms; +but the provincials knew when the war was over that +the redcoats were no better than they were. They +had nothing to remember with mortification except +the insulting contempt some of the British officers +had shown for them, and the inferior rank and consideration +their own officers had been compelled to +accept.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus062" style="max-width: 18.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus062.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GEORGE GRENVILLE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>It was the worst possible time the home government +could have chosen in which to change its policy of concession +towards the colonies and begin to tax and govern +them by act of Parliament; and yet that was exactly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>what the ministers determined to do. No master of +affairs or of men, like Walpole or Pitt, was any longer +in a place of guiding authority in London. George +Grenville was prime minister: a thorough official and +very capable man of affairs, of unquestionable integrity, +and with a certain +not unhandsome +courage as of conviction +in what he did, +but incapable of understanding +those who +opposed or resisted +him, or of winning +from them except by +an exercise of power. +The late war had been +no mere “French and +Indian” affair for +English statesmen. +It had been part of +that stupendous “Seven +Years’ War” which +had fixed Prussia in a +place of power under +the great Frederick, +and had changed the +whole balance of power in Europe; had brought India +under England’s widening dominion on one side of the +world and America on the other,—had been a vast +game which the stout little island kingdom had played +almost alone against united Europe. It had not been +a mere American war. America had reaped the benefits +of England’s effort to found an empire and secure +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span>it, east and west. And yet the colonists seemed, when +this momentous war by which they had so profited was +over, to drop into indifference towards everything that +remained to be done to finish what had been so well begun, +even though it remained to be done at their own +very doors.</p> + +<p>France had ceded to England as a result of the war +all the vast territory which lay upon the St. Lawrence +and between the Mississippi and the eastern mountains, +north and south. It was possible to provide a +government for the province of Quebec and for the lands +in the far south, in Florida and beside the mouths of +the Mississippi; but between these lay the long regions +which stretched, unsettled, along the great streams +which ran everywhere into the Mississippi,—the Illinois +country, the country round about the Ohio, the +regions by the Cumberland,—all the boundless “back +country” which lay directly behind the colonies at +the west. The Lords Commissioners for Trade and +Plantations in London wished to keep settlers out of +these lands, in order that they might be left as a great +hunting ground for the Indians, and so remain a permanent +source of supply for the fur skins which enriched +trade between the mother country and her colonies. +But, meanwhile, whether settlers made their way thither +or not, it was necessary to carry England’s power among +the Indians, and make them know that she, and not +the King of France, was now sovereign there. This +the Indians were slow to believe. They could not know +what treaty-makers in Europe had decided: they did +not believe that the French would leave and the English +come in in their stead at the western forts; and it +moved them hotly to think of such a change. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span>French had made them welcome at their frontier posts, +and did not drive off the game, as Duquesne had told +them, ere this fatal war began. The French had been +willing to be comrades with them, and had dealt with +them with a certain gracious courtesy and consideration; +while the English treated them, when they dared, +like dogs rather than like men, drove them far into the +forests at their front as they advanced their settlements, +bullied them, and often cheated them in trade. It +was intolerable to the northern Indians to think of these +men whom they feared and hated being substituted +for the French, with whom they found it at least possible +to live.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp93" id="illus063" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus063.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BOUNDARY MONUMENT ON THE ST. CROIX</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>They were dangerous neighbors, and the danger was +near and palpable. The war with the French was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span>hardly over when English settlers began to pour across +the Alleghanies from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia,—men +of the stern and sober Scots-Irish breeding +for the most part, masterful and imperious, and +sure to make the lands they settled upon entirely their +own. There were already tribes among the Indians +in the northwest who had been driven out of Pennsylvania +by the earlier movements of these same people, +and who had taken with them to their new homes the +distress and the dread of exile. It were fatal, they +knew, to wait. If the English were ever to be driven +within the barriers of the Alleghanies again, it must +be done now, and all the tribes must rally to the desperate +business.</p> + +<p>They found a leader in Pontiac, a chief of the Ottawas. +A dozen powerful tribes heeded him when he +counselled secret confederacy, and, when all should +be ready, sudden war; and the English presently had +reason to know how able an enemy they had to fear,—a +man of deep counsel, astute and masterful. In +June, 1763, the first blow was struck,—from end to +end of the open border,—even the Senecas, one of the +Six Nations, joining in the bitter work. Every frontier +fort except Detroit, Niagara, and Pitt was in their hands +at the first surprise: smoking ruins and the bodies +of white men slain marked all the borders where the +French had been. The English rallied, stubborn and +undaunted. Three forts at least were saved. There +were men at hand like Colonel Bouquet, the gallant +officer who went to the relief of Fort Pitt, who knew +the strategy of the forest as well as the redskins did, +and used steadfast English, not fickle savages, in the +fighting; and, though the work was infinitely hard +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span>and perilous and slow in the doing, within two years +it was done. Before the year 1765 was out, Pontiac +had been brought to book, had acknowledged himself +beaten, and had sued for peace.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus064" style="max-width: 23.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus064.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PONTIAC, CHIEF OF THE OTTAWAS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>But by that time the English ministers knew the +nature of the task which awaited them in America. +It was plain that they must strengthen the frontier +posts and maintain a force of soldiers in the colonies, +if English power was to be safe there, and English +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span>lives. Not fewer than twenty thousand men would +be needed; and it would be necessary to organize +government, civil as well as military, in a more effective +way. It might be necessary to pay the colonial +judges and even the colonial governors out of the general +treasury of the empire, rather than leave them +always dependent upon the uncertain grants of the +colonial legislatures. The new plans would, taken all +together, involve, it was reckoned, the expenditure of at +least £300,000 a year. Mr. Grenville, now at the head +of the government in England, was a lawyer and a +man of business. “He took public business not as a +duty which he was to fulfil, but as a pleasure he was +to enjoy,” and, unfortunately, he regarded American +affairs as ordinary matters of duty and of business. +England had spent £60,000,000 sterling to put the French +out of America; £140,000,000 had been added to the +national debt. Her own sources of revenue were quite +run dry. Mr. Grenville and his colleagues did not +know where else to turn for another penny, if not to +America. They therefore determined that, since heavy +additional expenditures must be undertaken for the +proper administration and defence of the colonies, +America must be made to supply at least a part of the +money to meet them. Not all of it. It was the ministers’ +first idea to raise only £100,000 out of the £300,000 +by taxes directly derived from the colonies: and every +farthing of that, with twice as much more, was to be +spent, of course, in America. The money was none +of it to cross the sea. It was to remain in the colonial +treasuries until expended for colonial administration +and defence.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus065" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus065.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>HENRY BOUQUET</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Some men there were in England who were far-sighted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span>enough to see what this new policy would lead to; but +Grenville did not, and Parliament did not. In March, +1764, therefore, upon the introduction of his annual +budget, the prime minister introduced a bill, which +was passed, laying fresh and more effective taxes on +wines, sugar, and molasses imported into the colonies, +tightening and extending the old Navigation Acts, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span>and still further restraining manufactures; and at the +same time announced that he would, the next year, +propose a moderate direct tax upon the colonies in the +form of an act requiring revenue stamps to be used +on the principal sorts of documents employed in America +in legal and mercantile business.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp83" id="illus066" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus066.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BOUQUET’S REDOUBT AT PITTSBURG</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Mr. Grenville had no desire to irritate the Americans. +He thought they might protest; he never dreamed they +would disobey. He was, no doubt, surprised when he +learned how hot their protests were; and when his Stamp +Act the next year became law, their anger and flat +defiance must have seemed to him mere wanton rebellion. +He introduced the Stamp Act with his budget +of 1765. The Commons gave only a single sitting to +the discussion of its principles; passed it almost without +opposition; and by the 22d of March it was law. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span>A few members protested. Colonel Barré, standing +there in his place, square, swarthy, a soldier from the +field, that staring wound upon his face which he had +taken where Wolfe died, on the Plains of Abraham, +told the ministers very flatly that the colonists, whom +he had seen and fought for, owed to them neither the +planting nor the nourishing of their colonies, had a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>liberty they had made for themselves, were very jealous +of that liberty, and would vindicate it. Benjamin +Franklin was in London to make protest for Pennsylvania; +and the agents of the other colonies were as +active as he, and as ready to promise that the colonial +legislatures would themselves grant out of their own +treasuries more than the Act could yield, if only they +were left to do it in their own way. Mr. Franklin +had pointed out in very plain terms how sharp a departure +there was in such measures from the traditional +dealings of the crown with the colonies, how loyal they +had been in granting supplies when required, and how +ill a new way of taxation would sit upon the spirits of +the colonists. But the vote for the bill was five to one. +Neither the ministers nor the Commons showed the +least hesitation or misgiving.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus067" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus067.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PATRICK HENRY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus068" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus068.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SIGNATURE OF ISAAC BARRÉ</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp93" id="illus069" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus069.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>FACSIMILE OF POSTER PLACED ON THE DOORS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The Act operated in America like a spark dropped +on tinder. First dismay, then anger, then riot and +open defiance, showed what the colonists thought and +meant to do. Their own agents in London were as +little prepared as the ministers themselves for the sudden +passion. They had asked for appointments for +their friends as stamp distributers under the Act. Richard +Henry Lee, of Virginia, even asked for a place +for himself under it, so different a look did things wear +in London from that which they wore at home in the +Old Dominion. But these gentlemen learned the temper +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span>of America, and changed their own, soon enough. +The Act was in no way extraordinary or oppressive +in its provisions. It required of the colonists only what +was already required in respect of business transactions +in England: namely, that revenue stamps, of +values varying with the character of the transaction +or the amount involved, should be attached to all deeds, +wills, policies of insurance, and clearance papers for +ships, to legal papers of almost every kind, to all written +contracts and most of the business papers used by +merchants in their formal dealings, and to all periodical +publications and advertisements. The colonies themselves +had imposed such taxes; in England they had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span>been used since William and Mary, and had proved +eminently convenient and easy of collection. Governor +Shirley, of Massachusetts, had himself urged that +Parliament use them in America, American though +he was. Mr. Franklin had taken it for granted, when +he saw the Act become law, that they must be submitted +to. But America flatly refused obedience, and, except +in the newly conquered provinces of Nova Scotia and +Canada, the stamps were not used.</p> + +<p>The Act was not to go into operation until the 1st +of November (1765); but long before the first of November +it was evident that it would not go into effect at +all. It was universally condemned and made impossible +of application. There was instant protest from the +colonial assemblies so soon as it was known that the +Act was passed; and the assembly of Massachusetts +proposed that a congress of delegates from the several +colonies be held in October, ere the Act went into effect, +to decide what should be done to serve their common +interest in the critical matter. The agitations and +tumults of that eventful summer were not soon forgot. +In August, Boston witnessed an outbreak such +as she had never witnessed before. Mr. Andrew Oliver, +who had been appointed distributer of the stamps there, +was burned in effigy; the house in which it was thought +the stamps were to be stored was torn down; Mr. Oliver’s +residence was broken into and many of its furnishings +were destroyed. He hastily resigned his obnoxious +office. Mobs then plundered the house of the deputy +registrar of the court of admiralty, destroying his +private papers and the records and files of the court,—because +the new acts of trade and taxation gave +new powers to that court. The house of the comptroller +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span>of customs was sacked. Mr. Thomas Hutchinson, +the lieutenant-governor of the colony, found himself +obliged, on the night of the 26th, to flee for his +life; and returned when order was restored to find his +home stripped of everything it contained, including +nine hundred pounds sterling in money, and manuscripts +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>and books which he had been thirty years collecting. +Only the walls and floors of the house remained.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus070" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus070.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOHN DICKINSON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus071" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus071.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THOMAS HUTCHINSON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus072" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus072.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THOMAS HUTCHINSON’S MANSION, BOSTON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>There was no violence elsewhere to equal this in +Boston. There was tumult everywhere, but in most +places the mobs contented themselves with burning +the stamp agents in effigy and frightening them into +the instant relinquishment of their offices. Not until +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span>the autumn came, and the day for the application of +the Act, did they show a serious temper again. Then +New York also saw a house sacked and its furniture +used to feed a bonfire. The people insisted upon having +the stamps handed over to their own city officers; and +when more came they seized and burned them. At +Philadelphia many Quakers and Church of England +men, and some Baptists, made as if they would have +obeyed the Act; but the mobs saw to it that they should +not have the chance. The stamp distributer was compelled +to resign, and there was no one from whom +stamps could be obtained. Stamp distributers who +would not resign found it best to seek safety in flight. +There was no one in all the colonies, north or south, +who had authority to distribute the hated pieces of +stamped paper which the ministers had expected would +so conveniently yield them a modest revenue for their +colonial expenses. There was a little confusion and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span>inconvenience for a time. The courts hesitated to +transact business without affixing the stamps required +to their written pleadings; it seemed imprudent to send +ships out without stamps on their clearance papers; +business men doubted what would come of using no +stamps in their transactions. But the hesitation did +not last long. Business was presently going forward, +in court and out, as before, and never a stamp +used!</p> + +<p>It was singular and significant how immediately +and how easily the colonies drew together to meet the +common danger and express a common purpose. Early +in October the congress which Massachusetts had asked +for came together at New York, the delegates of nine +colonies attending. It drew up and sent over sea a +statement of the right of the colonies to tax and govern +themselves,—as loyal to the King, but not as subject +to Parliament,—which arrested the attention of the +world. Mr. Grenville and his colleagues were just +then, by a fortunate turn of politics at home, most +opportunely obliged to resign, and gave place to the +moderate Whigs who followed Lord Rockingham (July, +1765), and who thought the protests of the colonies not +unreasonable. On the 18th of March, 1766, accordingly, +the Stamp Act was repealed,—within a year of its enactment. +It was at the same time declared, however, by +special declaratory act, that Parliament had sovereign +right to tax the colonies, and legislate for them, if it +pleased. It was out of grace and good policy, the ministers +declared, that the tax was withdrawn; a concession, +not of right, but of good feeling; and everybody knew +that it was done as much because the London merchants +were frightened by the resolution of the American +merchants to take no cargoes under the tax as because +the colonies had declined to submit. But the results +were none the less salutary. The rejoicings in America +were as boisterous and as universal as had been +the tempest of resentment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp54" id="illus073" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus073.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>TABLE OF STAMP CHARGES ON PAPER</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp46" id="illus074" style="max-width: 23.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus074.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>LORD ROCKINGHAM</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>But that was not the end of the matter. The Stamp +Act had suddenly brought to light and consciousness +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span>principles and passions not likely to be again submerged, +and which it was worth the while of statesmen over +sea to look into very carefully. Some there were in +England who understood them well enough. Mr. +John Adams used to say, long afterwards, that the +trouble seemed to him to have begun, not in 1765, but +in 1761. It was in that year that all the colonies, +north and south, had heard of what James Otis had +said in the chief court of the province at Boston against +the general warrants, the sweeping writs of assistance, +for which the customs officers of the crown had asked, +to enable them to search as they pleased for goods +brought in from foreign parts in defiance of the acts +of trade. The writs were not new, and Mr. Otis’s protest +had not put a stop to their issue. It had proved +of no avail to say, as he did, that they were an intolerable +invasion of individual right, flat violations of +principles of law which had become a part of the very +constitution of the realm, and that even an act of Parliament +could not legalize them. But all the colonies +had noted that hot contest in the court at Boston, because +Mr. Otis had spoken with a singular eloquence +which quickened men’s pulses and irresistibly swung +their minds into the current of his own thought, and +because it had made them more sharply aware than +before of what the ministers at home were doing to fix +upon the colonies the direct power of the government +over sea. These writs of assistance gave the officers +who held them authority to search any place they pleased +for smuggled goods, whether private residence or public +store-house, with or without reasonable ground of suspicion, +and meant that the government had at last +seriously determined, at whatever cost, to break up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span>the trade with the West Indies and the Spanish Main. +Presently armed cutters were put on the coasts the +more effectually to stop it. A vice-admiralty court +was set up to condemn the cargoes seized, without a +jury. The duties were to be rigorously collected and +the trade broken up, for the sake of the sugar growers +of the British West +Indies and merchants +in London.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp52" id="illus075" style="max-width: 21.875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus075.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JAMES OTIS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>If New England +could no longer +send her horses, +cattle, lumber, +casks, and fish to +the French islands +and the Spanish +Main, and bring +thence, in exchange +for them, sugar and +molasses, she must +let her ships rot at +the wharves and +five thousand of her +seamen go idle and +starve; must seek +elsewhere for a market +for her chief products; could make no more rum with +which to carry on her home trade in spirits or her traffic +in slaves on the slave coast; must forego her profits +at the southern ports, and go without the convenient +bills drawn on exported Virginian tobacco wherewith +she had been used to pay her debts to the London merchants. +For thirty years and more it had been understood +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span>that the duties on that trade were not to be collected; +but now, of a sudden, the law was to be carried +out by armed vessels, writs of general search, and the +summary proceedings of a court of admiralty. In 1764 +Mr. Grenville had drawn the lines tighter than ever by +a readjustment of duties. +That meant ruin; and the +Stamp Act was but the +last touch of exasperation. +The disposition of the ministers +seemed all the more +obvious because of the obnoxious +“Quartering Act” +which went along with the +Stamp Act. They were +authorized by Parliament +to quarter troops in the +colonies, and by special +enactment the colonists +were required to provide +the troops with lodgings, +firewood, bedding, drink, +soap, and candles.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp42" id="illus076" style="max-width: 12.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus076.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>STAMPS FORCED ON THE COLONIES</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>There were other causes +of irritation which touched +the colonists almost as +nearly. In 1740 the Massachusetts assembly had set +up a Land Bank authorized to issue notes based upon +nothing but mortgages on land and personal bonds, +with surety, given by those who subscribed to its support, +and Parliament, at the solicitation of Boston +men who knew what certain disaster such a bank +would bring upon the business of the colony, had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span>thrust in its hand and suppressed it. The scheme +had been in great favor among the men of the +country districts, and its suppression by direct act of +Parliament had stirred them to a deep resentment. +“The Act to destroy the Land Bank scheme,” John +Adams declared, had “raised a greater ferment in the +province than the Stamp Act did”; and it made the +men who had resented it all the readier to take fire +at the imposition of the stamp duties. The churches +of the province had been deeply alarmed, too, by the +effort of English churchmen to establish bishops in +America, as if in preparation for a full Establishment; +and the clergy were, almost to a man, suspicious of the +government. The lumbermen of the forests felt the +constant irritation of the crown’s claim to all their +best sticks of timber for the royal navy, and were +themselves fit fuel for agitation. Each class seemed +to have its special reason for looking askance at everything +that savored of control from over sea. The measures +taken against the trade with the Indies were but +the latest item in a growing account.</p> + +<p>Massachusetts and the greater trading ports of the +south felt the burden of the new policy more than the +rest of the country felt it; but thoughtful men everywhere +saw what it portended that Parliament should +thus lay its hand directly upon the colonies to tax, +and in some sort to govern, them. Quite as many men +could tell you of the “parson’s case,” tried in quiet +Hanover Court House in rural Virginia, as could tell +you of Mr. Otis’s speech against the writs of assistance. +It meant that the authorities in London were thrusting +their hands into the affairs of Virginia just as they +were thrusting them into the affairs of Massachusetts. +Parson Maury had in that case set up an Order in +Council by the ministers at home against an act of the +Virginian House of Burgesses determining the value of +the currency in which his salary was to be paid, and +young Patrick Henry had sprung into sudden fame +by declaring to the court very boldly against him that +the crown had no right to override the self-government +of Virginia.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus077" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus077.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>OLD CAPITOL AT WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span></p> + +<p>The eloquence of that famous speech carried the young +advocate to the House of Burgesses itself; and it was +he who showed the colonies how to speak of the Stamp +Act. The burgesses were in session when the news +of that hateful law’s enactment reached Virginia. The +young member waited patiently for the older members +of the House to show the way in the new crisis,—Randolph +and Pendleton and Nicholas, Richard Bland +and George Wythe,—the men who had framed so +weighty a protest and warning and sent so strong a +remonstrance over sea only last year against this very +measure. But when he saw that they would not lead, +he sprang to the task himself, plain, country-bred though +he was, and unschooled in that leadership; scribbled +his resolutions on the fly-leaf of an old law-book, and +carried them with a rush of eloquence that startled and +swept the House, and set the tone for all the country.</p> + +<p>His resolutions not only declared the right of the +colonies to tax themselves to be exclusive, and established +beyond recall; they also declared that Virginians +were not bound to obey the Parliament when it acted +thus against established privilege, and that any one +who should advocate obedience was an enemy to the +colony. The sober second thought of the burgesses +cut that defiant conclusion out at last,—after Mr. Henry +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span>had gone home; but the resolutions had already been +sent post-haste through the colonies in their first form, +unrevised and unsoftened, and had touched the feeling +of every one who read them like a flame of fire. They +were the first word of revolution; and no man ever +thought just the same again after he had read them.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus078" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus078.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GEORGE WYTHE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span></p> + +<p>It seemed a strange defiance, no doubt, to come from +loyal Virginia. The Stamp Act was not, in fact, oppressive +or unreasonable. Why should it so kindle +the anger of the colonies that the sovereign Parliament, +which had for many a day levied indirect charges +upon them by means of the many acts concerning trade +and manufactures, now laid a moderate direct tax +upon them, the proceeds of which were to be spent upon +their own protection and administration? Because, +though it might be the sovereign legislature of the +empire, Parliament was not in their view the direct +sovereign legislature of America. No one could truly +say that Parliament had been the sovereign power +even of England before 1688, that notable year in which +it had, by a revolution, changed the succession to the +throne and begun the making and unmaking of governments. +The colonies had most of them been set up +before that momentous year of change, while the Parliament +was still only a body of representatives associated +with the crown, with the right to criticise and +restrain it, but with no right to usurp its prerogatives; +entitled to be consulted, but not licensed to rule. The +King, not the Parliament, had chartered the colonies; +and they conceived their assemblies to be associated +with him as Parliament itself had been in the older +days before the Revolution of 1688: to vote him grants, +assent to taxation, and with his consent make the laws +they were to live under. He stood, they thought, in +the same relation to all the legislatures of his realm: +to the Parliament in England and to the assemblies +in America. It was the fundamental principle of the +English constitution, as all agreed, that the King’s +subjects should be associated with him in government +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span>by representation; and, since the Americans could +not be represented in Parliament, and were, by his own +authority, represented in local assemblies, he must deal +with them, not through Parliament, but through those +assemblies.</p> + +<p>The law of their view was not very sound or clear; +but the common-sense of it was unassailable; and it +rested upon unquestionable and long-standing practice, +that best foundation of institutions. Their governments +were no doubt, in law, subject to the government +of Great Britain. Whoever ruled there had the +legal right to rule in the colonies also, whether it were +the King independent of Parliament, or the ministers +dependent upon Parliament. The revolution of 1688 +had radically altered the character of the whole structure, +and perhaps the colonies could not, in strict constitutional +theory, decline their logical part in the change. +But no man in America had ever seen that revolution +cross the seas. English statesmen might have changed +their views, but the colonies had not changed theirs, +nor the practice of their governments either. Their +governments were from of old, and they meant to keep +them intact and uncorrupted. They did not object to +the amount or to the form of the tax; they objected only +that they had not themselves imposed it. They dissented +utterly from the opinion that Parliament had +the right to tax them at all. It was that principle, and +not the tax itself, which moved them so deeply.</p> + +<p>English statesmen claimed that the colonists were +as much represented in Parliament as the thousands +of Englishmen in England who did not have the right +to vote for members of the Commons; and no doubt +they were. The franchise was narrow in England, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span>and not the whole population but only a few out of some +classes of the people were actually represented in the +Houses. Were not the interests represented there which +America stood for? Perhaps so. But why govern +the colonies through these remote and theoretical representatives +when they had, and had always had, immediate +and actual representatives of their own in their +assemblies,—as ready and accessible an instrument +of government as the House of Commons itself? The +colonists were accustomed to actual representation, +had for a century and more been dealt with by means +of it, and were not willing now to reverse their history +and become, instead of veritable states, merely detached +and dependent pieces of England. This was the fire +of principle which the Stamp Act kindled.</p> + +<p>And, once kindled, it burned with an increasing +flame. Within ten years it had been blown to the full +blaze of revolution. Mr. Grenville had not lost his +power because he had set the colonies aflame by his +hated Stamp Act, but merely because the King intensely +disliked his tedious manners, and resented the dictatorial +tone used by the ministers in all their dealings +with himself. The Marquis of Rockingham and the +group of moderate Whigs who stood with him in the +new ministry of July, 1765, had repealed the stamp +tax, not because they deemed it wrong in legal principle, +but because it had bred resistance, had made the colonists +resolve not to buy goods of English merchants, +or even pay the debts of £4,000,000 sterling already +incurred in their business with them,—because they +deemed it wise to yield, and so quiet disorders over +sea. Their power lasted only a single year. The +King liked their liberal principles as little as he liked +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span>Grenville’s offensive manners, and in August, 1766, +dismissed them, to substitute a ministry under William +Pitt, now made Earl of Chatham. Had Pitt retained +his mastery, all might have gone well; but his health +failed, his leadership became a mere form, real power +fell to other men with no wide, perceiving vision like +his own, and America was presently put once again +in revolutionary mood.</p> + +<p>Pitt had said that the colonists were right when they +resisted the Stamp Act: that Parliament could lawfully +impose duties on commerce, and keep, if it would, +an absolute monopoly of trade for the English merchants, +because such matters were of the empire and +not merely of America; but that the Americans were +justified in resisting measures of internal taxation +and government, their charters and accustomed liberties +no doubt giving them in such matters constitutions of +their own. Mr. Burke, whose genius made him the +spokesman of the Rockingham Whigs, whether they +would or no, had said very vehemently, and with that +singular eloquence of his of which only his own words +know the tone, that he cared not at all what legal rights +might be involved; it was a question of government +and of good-will between a king and his subjects; and +he would not support any measure, upon whatever +right it might be founded, which led to irritation and +not to obedience. The new ministry of the Earl of +Chatham acted upon its chief’s principles, and not +upon Mr. Burke’s,—though they acted rashly because +that consummate chief did not lead them. They proceeded +(June, 1767), after the great earl’s illness had +laid him by, to put upon the statute book two acts for +the regulation of colonial trade and the government +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span>of the colonies which Charles Townshend, their Chancellor +of the Exchequer, had drawn. The first provided +for the more effectual enforcement of the acts of +trade already in existence; the second imposed duties +on wine, oil, lead, glass, paper, painters’ colors, and +tea carried to the colonies, and explicitly legalized +the use of the hated general search-warrants known +as “writs of assistance.” The revenues raised by +these duties were to be applied, as the stamp tax would +have been had it been collected, to the support of the +courts of justice and of the civil establishments of the +several colonies, and to the expenses connected with +their military defence. Evasions of the revenue acts +were to be tried by the admiralty courts without juries.</p> + +<p>To the colonists this seemed simply a return to the +policy of the Stamp Act. The tax was different, but +the object was the same: to make their judges and their +governors independent of them, and to compel them +to pay for the maintenance of troops not of their own +raising. These same ministers had suspended the +legislative power of the New York assembly because +it refused to make proper provision for the quartering +of the King’s troops, as commanded by the act of 1765; +and that assembly had felt itself obliged to yield and +obey. Several companies of royal artillery had been +sent to Boston in the autumn of 1766, and were quartered +there at the colony’s expense by order of the governor +and council.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp59" id="illus079" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus079.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GEORGE WASHINGTON, 1772</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The new taxes were laid upon trade, and they could +not be attacked on the same grounds upon which the +stamps had been objected to. But the trouble was +that the new taxes, unlike the old restrictions, were +to be enforced, evasion prevented. Mr. Townshend’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span>first act was to send commissioners to America specially +charged and empowered to see to that. The ruinous +acts of 1764 were to be carried out, and the West India +trade, by which Boston merchants and ship owners +lived, put a stop to. These were bitter things to endure. +Some grounds must be found from which to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span>fight them,—if not the arguments used against the +Stamp Act, then others, if need be more radical. The +ministers at home had set their far-away subjects to +thinking with the eagerness and uneasiness of those +who seek by some means to defend their liberties, and +were fast making rebels of them.</p> + +<p>Even in the midst of the universal rejoicings over +the repeal of the Stamp Act the temper of several of +the colonial assemblies had risen at reading the “Declaratory +Act” which accompanied the repeal, and +which asserted the absolute legal right of Parliament +“to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever.” They +had declared very flatly then that Parliament had no +legal authority whatever in America except such as it +might exercise by the consent of the colonial assemblies,—so +far had their thought and their defiant purpose +advanced within the year. There were conservative +men in the colonies as well as radical, men who hated +revolution and loved the just and sober ways of law; +and there was as strong a sentiment of loyalty on one +side the sea as on the other. But even conservative +men dreaded to see Parliament undertake to break +down the independence of America. Mr. Thomas +Hutchinson, of Massachusetts, whose house the rioters +in Boston had wantonly looted when they were mad +against the Stamp Act, had been born and bred in the +colony, and loved her welfare as honestly as any man; +but he was lieutenant-governor, an officer of the crown, +and would have deemed it dishonor not to uphold the +authority he represented. Mr. Otis, on the other hand, +had resigned his office as Advocate General under the +crown to resist the writs of assistance. The public-spirited +gentlemen who had opposed Mr. Henry’s fiery +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span>resolutions in the Virginian House of Burgesses did +not fear usurpation or hate tyranny less than he; but +they loved the slow processes of argument and protest +and strictly legal opposition more than he did, and +were patient enough to keep within bounds. They +feared to shake an empire by pursuing a right too impetuously. +Men of every temper and of every counsel +made up the various people of the colonies, and there +were men of equal patriotism on both sides of the rising +quarrel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus080" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus080.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>LANDING TROOPS AT BOSTON, 1768</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>And yet the most moderate and slow-tempered grew +uneasy at Mr. Townshend’s measures. Mr. John +Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, wrote and published a +series of letters,—<i>Letters of a Pennsylvania Farmer</i>, +he called them,—which stated as pointedly, as boldly, +as earnestly as any man could wish, the constitutional +rights of self-government which the colonists cherished +and thought imperilled by the new acts of Parliament,—and +yet Mr. Dickinson was as steady a loyalist as +any man in America, as little likely to countenance +rebellion, as well worth heeding by those who wished +to compose matters by wise and moderate counsels. +His firm-spoken protests were, in fact, read and pondered +on both sides the water (1767), and no one could +easily mistake their significance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp42" id="illus081" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus081.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>LIST OF NAMES OF THOSE WHO WOULD NOT CONFORM</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span></p> + +<p>The action of the people gave only too grave an emphasis +to what their more self-restrained and thoughtful +leaders said. Mr. Townshend’s acts were as openly +resisted as Mr. Grenville’s had been; and every art +of evasion, every trick of infringement, upon occasion +even open and forcible violation, set at naught other +restrictions of trade as well. It was startling to see +how rapidly affairs approached a crisis. Resistance +centred, as trade itself did, at Boston. When Mr. +Townshend’s commissioners of customs seized the sloop +<i>Liberty</i> in Boston harbor for evasion of the duties, +rioters drove them to the fort for shelter, and they sent +hastily to England for more troops. The Massachusetts +assembly, under the masterful leadership of Mr. Samuel +Adams, protested that the measures of the new ministry +were in violation of colonial rights, and protested in +terms which, though dignified and respectful enough, +were unmistakably imperative.</p> + +<p>The leadership of Samuel Adams was itself a sign +of the times. He was a man of the people, passionate +in his assertion of rights, and likely to stir and increase +passion in those for whom he spoke. Subtle, a born +politician; bold, a born leader of men, in assembly +or in the street, he was the sort of man and orator +whose ascendency may mean revolution almost when +he chooses. The assembly, at his suggestion, went beyond +the ordinary bounds of protest and sent a circular +letter to the other colonies, as if to invite a comparison +of views and a general acquiescence in the course of +settled opposition it had itself adopted. When the +ministers in London demanded a withdrawal of the +letter, the assembly of course refused, and the other +colonies were more than ever inclined to stand by the +stout Bay Colony at whose capital port the fight centred. +The ministers, in their desperate purpose to compel +submission, declared their intention to remove to England +for trial any one who should be charged with +treason,—under an almost forgotten statute passed long +before Jamestown was settled or English colonies dreamed +of in America. That roused the Virginian House +of Burgesses once more. They declared, with a sort +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span>of quiet passion, in their session of 1769, that no one +but their own assemblies had a right to tax the colonies; +that they had the inalienable right to petition the government +at home upon any matter of grievance whatever, +and to petition, if they pleased, jointly, as a body +of colonies united in right and interest; and that any +attempt to try a colonist for crime anywhere except in +the courts of his own colony and by known course of +law was “highly derogatory of the right of British +subjects,” and not for a moment to be deemed within +the lawful power of the crown. There was no need +this time for Mr. Henry. All men were now of the +same opinion in Virginia, and the action was unanimous.</p> + +<p>The Virginian governor at once dissolved the Burgesses; +but the members came together again almost +immediately at a private house; and there Colonel +Washington, whom all the English world had known +since Braddock’s day, proposed a general agreement to +import no goods at all upon which a tax was laid,—to +see what effect it would have if the English tradesmen +and manufacturers who looked to America for a market +were starved into a true appreciation of the situation +and of the state of opinion among their customers. +Many of the other colonies followed suit. Trade with +England for a few months almost stood still, and there +was quick distress and panic among those interested +over sea. They promptly demanded of Parliament +that the new taxes be taken off and trade allowed to +live again. The ministers yielded (April, 1770),—except +with regard to the tax on tea. That was the +least of the taxes, and the King himself positively commanded +that it be retained, to save the principle of the +bill and show that Parliament had not reconsidered its +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span>right to tax. The taxes had yielded nothing: the +single tax on tea would serve to assert a right without +the rest.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp63" id="illus082" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus082.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>HAND-BILL OF TRUE SONS OF LIBERTY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus083" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus083.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE BOSTON MASSACRE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile a very ominous thing had happened in +Boston,—though the ministers had not yet heard of +it when the bill passed to repeal the taxes. Upon an +evening in March, 1770, a mob had attacked a squad +of the King’s redcoats in King Street, pelting them +with sharp pieces of ice and whatever else they could +lay their hands on, and daring them derisively to fire; +and the troops had fired, being hard pressed and maddened. +Five of the mob were killed and six wounded, +and a thrill of indignation and horror went through +the excited town. The next day a great meeting in +Faneuil Hall sent a committee to Mr. Hutchinson, the +governor, to demand the instant withdrawal of the +troops. Samuel Adams headed the committee, imperious +and on fire; told the governor, in the council +chamber where they met, that he spoke in the name +of three thousand freemen who counted upon being +heeded; and won his point. The troops were withdrawn +to an island in the bay. The town had hated their +“lobster backs” for all the year and a half they had +been there, and rejoiced and was quiet when they withdrew.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus084" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus084.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>AFTER THE MASSACRE. SAMUEL ADAMS DEMANDING OF GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON + THE INSTANT WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH TROOPS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span></p> + +<p>But quiet could not last long. The flame was sure +somewhere to burst out again whenever any incident +for a moment stirred excitement. In North Carolina +there was the next year a sudden blaze of open rebellion +against the extravagant exactions of William Tryon, +the adventurer who was royal governor there; and +only blood extinguished it (1771). In Rhode Island, +in June, 1772, his Majesty’s armed schooner <i>Gaspee</i> +was taken by assault and burned, upon a spit of land +where she lay aground. It had been her business to +watch against infringements of the navigation laws +and the vexatious acts of trade; her commander had +grown exceptionally insolent in his work; a sloop which +he chased had led him on to the spit, where his schooner +stuck fast; and the provincials took advantage of her +helplessness to burn her. No one could be found who +would inform on those who had done the bold thing; +the courageous chief-justice of the little province flatly +denied the right of the English authorities to order +the perpetrators to England for trial; and the royal +commission which was appointed to look into the whole +affair stirred all the colonies once more to a deep irritation. +The far-away House of Burgesses in Virginia +very promptly spoke its mind again. It invited +the several colonies to join Virginia in forming committees +of correspondence, in order that all might be +of one mind and ready for one action against the aggressions +of the government in England. The ministers +in London had meantime resolved to pay the +provincial judges, at any rate in Massachusetts, out +of the English treasury, taxes or no taxes; and the +Massachusetts towns had formed committees of correspondence +of their own, as Mr. Adams bade.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus085" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus085.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>INTERIOR OF COUNCIL CHAMBER, OLD STATE HOUSE, BOSTON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp71" id="illus086" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus086.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PROTEST AGAINST THE LANDING OF TEA</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus087" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus087.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>ENTRY JOHN ADAMS’S DIARY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus088" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus088.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>CALL FOR MEETING TO PROTEST AGAINST THE LANDING OF TEA</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Such were the signs of the times when the final test +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span>came of the tax on tea. The East India company +was in straits for money. It had to pay twelvepence +into the royal treasury on every pound of tea it imported, +whether it sold it in England or not; but the +government there offered to relieve it of that tax on +every pound it carried on to America, and exact only +the threepence to be paid at the colonial ports under +Mr. Townshend’s act: so willing were the King’s ministers +to help the Company, and so anxious also to test +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span>the act and the submissiveness of the colonists. The +test was soon made. The colonists had managed to +smuggle in from Holland most of the tea they needed; +and they wanted none, under the circumstances, from +the East India ships,—even though it cost less, with +the twelvepence tax off, than the smuggled tea obtained +of the Dutch. The East India Company promptly +sent tea-laden ships to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, +and Charleston; and in the autumn of 1773 they began +to come in. In Boston a quiet mob, disguised as Indians, +threw the chests overboard into the harbor. At +New York and Philadelphia the ships were “permitted” +to leave port again without landing their cargoes. At +Charleston the tea was landed, but it was stored, not +sold, and a public meeting saw to its secure bestowal. +The experiment had failed. America was evidently +of one mind, and had determined not to buy tea or anything +else with a parliamentary tax on it. The colonists +would no more submit to Mr. Townshend’s tax than +to Mr. Grenville’s, whatever the legal difference between +them might be, either in principle or in operation. +The issue was squarely made up: the colonies would +not obey the Parliament,—would be governed only +through their own assemblies. If the ministers persisted, +there must be revolution.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus089" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus089.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE BOSTON TEA PARTY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span></p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>Here the leading general <i>authorities</i> are the histories of Bancroft, +Hildreth, and Bryant; but to these we now add David Ramsay’s +<i>History of the American Revolution</i>; the fourth volume of +James Grahame’s excellent <i>History of the Rise and Progress of +the United States of North America from their Colonization till +the Declaration of Independence</i>; Thomas Hutchinson’s <i>History +of Massachusetts</i>, one of the most valuable of the contemporary +authorities; John S. Barry’s <i>History of Massachusetts</i>; John +Fiske’s <i>American Revolution</i>; Mellen Chamberlain’s <i>The Revolution +Impending</i>, in the sixth volume of Winsor’s <i>Narrative +and Critical History of America</i>; the twelfth chapter of W. E. +H. Lecky’s <i>History of England in the Eighteenth Century</i>; Sir +J. R. Seeley’s <i>Expansion of England</i>; Richard Frothingham’s +<i>Rise of the Republic of the United States</i>; Mr. Edward Channing’s +<i>United States of America, 1765-1865</i>; Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge’s +<i>Short History of the English Colonies in America</i>; Mr. Horace +E. Scudder’s <i>Men and Manners in America One Hundred Years +Ago</i>; Moses Coit Tyler’s <i>Life of Patrick Henry</i>; Mr. Horace Gray’s +important discussion of Otis’s speech against the writs of assistance, +in the <i>Appendix</i> to Quincy’s <i>Reports of Massachusetts Bay, 1761-1772</i>; +Moses Coit Tyler’s <i>Literary History of the American Revolution</i>; +F. B. Dexter’s <i>Estimates of Population</i>, in the <i>Proceedings</i> +of the American Antiquarian Society; and the <i>Lives</i> of the leading +American and English statesmen of the time, notably the invaluable +series of brief biographies known as <i>The American Statesmen +Series</i>.</p> + +<p>Abundant <i>contemporary material</i> may be found in the published +letters, papers, and speeches of American and English public +men of the time, especially in the pamphlets of such men as James +Otis, Richard Bland, Stephen Hopkins, John Adams, Samuel +Adams, John Dickinson, and their <i>confrères</i>; in Franklin’s <i>Autobiography</i>; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span>Andrew Burnaby’s <i>Travels through the Middle Settlements +in North America, in the Years 1759 and 1760</i>; Ann Maury’s +<i>Memoirs of a Huguenot Family</i>; and Hezekiah Niles’s <i>Principles +and Acts of the Revolution in America</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Lists of the authorities</i> on the several colonies during these +years may be found in Edward Channing and Albert Bushnell +Hart’s very convenient and careful little <i>Guide to American History</i>.</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III<br> +THE APPROACH OF REVOLUTION</h2> + +</div> + +<p>The ministers did persist, and there was revolution. +Within less than a year from those memorable autumn +days of 1773 when the East India Company’s ships +came into port with their cargoes of tea, the colonies +had set up a Congress at Philadelphia which looked +from the first as if it meant to do things for which there +was no law; and which did, in fact, within less than +two years after its first assembling, cut the bonds of +allegiance which bound America to England. The +colonists did not themselves speak or think of it as a +body set up to govern them, or to determine their relations +with the government at home, but only as a +body organized for consultation and guidance, a general +meeting of their committees of correspondence. But it +was significant how rapidly, and upon how consistent +and executive a plan, the arrangements for “correspondence” +had developed, and how naturally, almost +spontaneously, they had come to a head in this “Congress +of Committees.” There were men in the colonies +who were as quick to act upon their instinct of leadership, +and as apt and masterful at organization, as the +English on the other side of the water who had checkmated +Charles I.; and no doubt the thought of independent +action, and even of aggressive resistance, +came more readily to the minds of men of initiative in +America, where all things were making and to be made, +than in old England, where every rule of action seemed +antique and venerable. Mr. Samuel Adams had been +deliberately planning revolution in Massachusetts ever +since 1768, the year the troops came to Boston to hold +the town quiet while Mr. Townshend’s acts strangled +its trade; and he had gone the straight way to work +to bring it about. He knew very well how to cloak his +purpose and sedulously keep it hid from all whom it +might shock or dismay or alienate. But the means +he used were none the less efficacious because those +who acted with him could not see how far they led.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus090" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus090.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BOYCOTTING POSTER</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span></p> + +<p>It was he who had stood at the front of the opposition +of the Massachusetts assembly to the Stamp Act; he +who had drafted the circular letter of Massachusetts +to the other colonies in 1768 suggesting concert of action +against the Townshend acts; he who had gone from +the town meeting in Faneuil Hall to demand of Hutchinson +the immediate removal of the troops, after the +unhappy “massacre” of March, 1770; he who had +led the town meeting which took effectual measures +to prevent the landing of the tea from the East India +Company’s ships. No man doubted that his hand +had been in the plan to throw the tea into the harbor. +It was he who, last of all, as the troubles thickened, +had bound the other towns of Massachusetts to Boston +in a common organization for making and propagating +opinion by means of committees of correspondence. +It was late in 1772 when he proposed to the town meeting +in Boston that the other towns of the colony be invited +to co-operate with it in establishing committees of correspondence, +by means of which they could exchange +views, and, if need were, concert action. The end of +November had come before he could make Boston’s +initiative complete in the matter; and yet the few scant +weeks that remained of the year were not gone before +more than eighty towns had responded.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp42" id="illus091" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus091.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>CIRCULAR OF THE BOSTON COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span></p> + +<p>It turned out that he had invented a tremendously +powerful engine of propaganda for such opinions and +suggestions of action as he chose to put upon the wind +or set afloat in his private correspondence,—as he had, +no doubt, foreseen, with his keen appreciation of the +most effectual means of agitation. Here was, in effect, +a league of towns to watch and to control the course +of affairs. There was nothing absolutely novel in +the plan, except its formal completeness and its appearance +of permanence, as if of a standing political +arrangement made out of hand. In the year 1765, +which was now seven years gone by, Richard Henry +Lee had taken an active part among his neighbors in +Virginia in forming the “Westmoreland Association,” +which drew many of the leading spirits of the great +county of Westmoreland together in concerted resistance +to the Stamp Act. Four years later (1769) the +Burgesses of Virginia, cut short in their regular session +as a legislature by a sudden dissolution proclaimed +by their royal governor, met in Mr. Anthony Hay’s +house in Williamsburg and adopted the resolutions for +a general non-importation association which George +Mason had drawn up, and which George Washington, +Mr. Mason’s neighbor and confidant, read and moved. +There followed the immediate organization of local +associations throughout the little commonwealth to +see to the keeping of the pledge there taken. Virginia +had no town meetings; each colony took its measures +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_177"></a><a id="Page_178"></a>[178]</span>of non-importation and resistance to parliamentary +taxation after its own fashion; but wherever there were +Englishmen accustomed to political action there was +always this thought of free association and quick and +organized coöperation in the air, which no one was +surprised at any time to see acted upon and made an +instrument of agitation.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp49" id="map2" style="max-width: 62.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/map2.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>NORTH AMERICA 1750, SHOWING CLAIMS + ARISING OUT OF EXPLORATION.</p> + <p>BORMAY & CO., N. Y.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus092" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus092.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GEORGE III</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>What made the Massachusetts committees of correspondence +especially significant and especially telling +in their effect upon affairs was that they were not used, +like the “Westmoreland Association” or the non-importation +associations of 1769, merely as a means of +keeping neighbors steadfast in the observance of a +simple resolution of passive resistance, but were employed +to develop opinion and originate action from +month to month,—dilatory, defensive, or aggressive, as +occasion or a change of circumstances might demand. +The non-importation associations had been powerful +enough, as some men had reason to know. The determination +not to import or use any of the things +upon which Parliament had laid a tax to be taken of +the colonies,—wine, oil, glass, paper, tea, or any of the +rest of the list,—was not a thing all men had thought +of or spontaneously agreed to. Certain leading gentlemen, +like Mr. Mason and Colonel Washington, deemed +it a serviceable means of constitutional resistance to +the mistaken course of the ministry, induced influential +members of the House of Burgesses to indorse it, and +formed associations to put it into effect,—to see to it +that no one drank wine or tea which had been brought +in under Mr. Townshend’s taxes. There was here +no command of law,—only a moral compulsion, the +“pressure of opinion”; but it was no light matter to be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>censured and talked about by the leading people in +your county as a person who defied the better sort of +opinion and preferred wine and tea to the liberties of +the colony. Associated opinion, spoken by influential +men, proved a tremendous engine of quiet duress, and +the unwilling found it prudent to conform. It was +harder yet for the timid where active committees of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span>correspondence looked into and suggested opinion. +Men could give up their wine, or women their tea, and +still keep what opinions they pleased; but committees +of correspondence sought out opinion, provoked discussion, +forced men to take sides or seem indifferent; +more than all, saw to it that Mr. Samuel Adams’s opinions +were duly promulgated and established by argument.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus093" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus093.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GEORGE MASON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Men thought for themselves in Massachusetts, and +Mr. Adams was too astute a leader to seem to force +opinions upon them. He knew a better and more certain +way. He drew Mr. Hutchinson, the governor, into +controversy, and provoked him to unguarded heat in +the expression of his views as to the paramount authority +of Parliament and the bounden duty of the colonists +to submit if they would not be accounted rebels. He +let heat in the governor generate heat in those who +loved the liberty of the colony; supplied patriots with +arguments, phrases, resolutions of right and privilege; +watchfully kept the fire alive; forced those who were +strong openly to take sides and declare themselves, +and those who were weak to think with their neighbors; +infused agitation, disquiet, discontent, dissonance of +opinion into the very air; and let everything that was +being said or done run at once from town to town through +the ever talkative committees of correspondence. He +sincerely loved the liberty to which America had been +bred; loved affairs, and wanted nothing for himself, +except the ears of his neighbors; loved the air of strife +and the day of debate, and the busy concert of endless +agitation; was statesman and demagogue in one, and +had now a cause which even slow and thoughtful men +were constrained to deem just.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span></p> + +<p>The ministers supplied fuel enough and to spare to +keep alive the fires he kindled; and presently the system +of committees which he had devised for the towns +of a single colony had been put into use to bring the +several colonies themselves together. Opinion began +to be made and moved and augmented upon a great +scale. Spontaneous, no doubt, at first, at heart spontaneous +always, it was elaborately, skilfully, persistently +assisted, added to, made definite, vocal, universal,—now +under the lead of men in one colony, again +under the lead of those in another. +Massachusetts, with her +busy port and her noisy town +meetings, drew the centre of the +storm to herself; but the other +colonies were not different in +temper. Virginia, in particular, +was as forward as Massachusetts. +Virginia had got a new +governor out of England early +in 1772, John Murray, Earl of +Dunmore, who let more than a +year go by from his first brief meeting with the Burgesses +before he summoned them again, because he +liked their lack of submission as little as they liked his +dark brow and masterful temper; but he suffered them +to convene at last, in March, 1773, and they forthwith +gave him a taste of their quality, as little to his palate +as he could have expected.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp66" id="illus094" style="max-width: 12.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus094.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SEAL OF DUNMORE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp40" id="illus095" style="max-width: 23.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus095.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>EARL OF DUNMORE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>It was in June, 1772, while the Virginian burgesses +waited for their tardy summons to Williamsburg that +his Majesty’s revenue cutter <i>Gaspee</i> was deliberately +boarded and burned by the Rhode Islanders. The Burgesses +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span>had but just assembled in the autumn when the +ominous news came that a royal commission had been +sent over to look sharply into the matter, and see to +the arrest and deportation of all chiefly concerned. +Dabney Carr, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and +Thomas Jefferson, young men all, and radicals, members +of the House, privately associated themselves for +the concert of measures to be taken in the common +cause of the colonies. Upon their initiative the Burgesses +resolved, when the news from Rhode Island came, +to appoint at once a permanent committee of correspondence; +instruct it to inquire very particularly into +the facts about this royal commission; and ask the +other colonies to set up similar committees, for the exchange +of information concerning public affairs and +the maintenance of a common understanding and +concert in action. By the end of the year Massachusetts, +Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and +South Carolina had adopted the suggestion and set +their committees to work.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus096" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus096.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE ATTACK ON THE “GASPEE”</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span></p> + +<p>Massachusetts, of course. This was Mr. Samuel +Adams’s new machinery of agitation upon a larger +scale. Adams himself had long cherished the wish +that there might be such a connection established between +the colonies. In the autumn of 1770 he had induced +the Massachusetts assembly to appoint a committee +of correspondence, to communicate with Mr. +Arthur Lee, of Virginia, the colony’s agent in London, +and with the Speakers of the several colonial assemblies; +and though the committee had accomplished +little or nothing, he had not been discouraged, but had +written the next year to Mr. Lee expressing the wish +that “societies” of “the most respectable inhabitants” +might be formed in the colonies to maintain a correspondence +with friends in England in the interest of +colonial privilege. “This is a sudden thought,” he +said, “and drops undigested from my pen”; but it +must have seemed a natural enough thought to Mr. +Lee, whose own vast correspondence,—with America, +with Englishmen at home, with acquaintances on the +continent,—had itself, unaided, made many a friend +for the colonies over sea at the same time that it kept +the leading men of the colonies informed of the opinions +and the dangers breeding in England. But Mr. Adams’s +town committees came first. It was left for the little +group of self-constituted leaders in the Virginian assembly, +of whom Richard Henry Lee, Mr. Arthur Lee’s +elder brother, was one, to take the step which actually +drew the colonies into active coöperation when the +time was ripe. It was, in part, through the systematic +correspondence set afoot by the Virginian burgesses +that something like a common understanding had been +arrived at as to what should be done when the tea came +in; and the lawless defiance of the colonists in that +matter brought the ministers in England to such a +temper that there were presently new and very exciting +subjects of correspondence between the committees, and +affairs ran fast towards a crisis.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus097" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus097.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>LORD NORTH</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Teas to the value of no less than eighteen thousand +pounds sterling had been thrown into the harbor at +Boston on that memorable night of the 16th of December, +1773, when “Captain Mackintosh,” the redoubtable +leader of the South End toughs of the lively little +town, was permitted for the nonce to lead his betters; +but what aroused the ministers and put Parliament +in a heat was not so much the loss incurred by the East +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span>India Company or the outcry of the merchants involved +as the startling significance of the act, and the unpleasant +evidence which every day came to hand that +all the colonies alike were ready to resist. After the +tea had been sent away, or stored safe against sale or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span>present use, or thrown into the harbor, at Philadelphia, +Charleston, New York, and Boston, as the leaders of +the mobs or the meetings at each place preferred, there +was an instant spread of Virginia’s method of union. +Six more colonies hastened to appoint committees of +correspondence, and put themselves in direct communication +with the men at Boston and at Williamsburg +who were forming opinion and planning modes of redress. +Only Pennsylvania held off. The tea had been +shut out at Philadelphia, as elsewhere, but the leaders +of the colony were not ready yet to follow so fast in the +paths of agitation and resistance. Members of Parliament +hardly noticed the exception. It was Boston +they thought of and chiefly condemned as a hot-bed +of lawlessness. Not every one, it is true, was ready +to speak quite so plainly or so intemperately as Mr. +Venn. “The town of Boston ought to be knocked +about their ears and destroyed,” he said. “You will +never meet with proper obedience to the laws of this +country until you have destroyed that nest of locusts.” +But, though few were so outspoken, no doubt many +found such a view very much to their taste, excellently +suited to their temper.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus098" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus098.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>TITLE-PAGE OF HUTCHINSON’S HISTORY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span></p> + +<p>At any rate, the ministers went a certain way towards +acting upon it. In March, 1774, after communicating +to the House the despatches from America, the leaders +of the government, now under Lord North, proposed +and carried very drastic measures. By one bill they +closed the port of Boston, transferring its trade after +the first of June to the older port of Salem. Since the +headstrong town would not have the tea, it should have +no trade at all. By another bill they suspended the +charter of the colony. By a third they made provision +for the quartering of troops within the province; and +by a fourth they legalized the transfer to England of +trials growing out of attempts to quell riots in the +colony. News lingered on the seas in those days, +waiting for the wind, and the critical news of what +had been done in Parliament moved no faster than the +rest. It was the 2d of June before the text of the new +statutes was known in Boston. That same month, +almost upon that very day, Thomas Hutchinson, the +constant-minded governor whom Samuel Adams had +tricked, hated, and beaten in the game of politics, left +his perplexing post and took ship for England, never +to return. Born and bred in Massachusetts, of the +stock of the colony itself, he had nevertheless stood +steadfastly to his duty as an officer of the crown, deeming +Massachusetts best served by the law. He had +suffered more than most men would have endured, but +his sufferings had not blinded him with passion. He +knew as well as any man the real state of affairs in +the colony,—though he looked at them as governor, +not as the people’s advocate,—and now went to England +to make them clear to the ministers. “The prevalence +of a spirit of opposition to government in the plantation,” +he had already written them, “is the natural +consequence of the great growth of colonies so remote +from the parent state, and not the effect of oppression +in the King or his servants, as the promoters of this +spirit would have the world to believe.” It would be +of good omen for the settlement of difficulties if he could +make the ministers see that the spirit which so angered +them was natural, and not born of mere rebellion.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus099" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus099.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GENERAL GAGE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp40" id="illus100" style="max-width: 20.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus100.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>STOVE IN THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES, VIRGINIA</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Mr. Hutchinson left General Gage governor in his +stead,—at once governor and military commander. +Gage was to face a season of infinite trouble, and, as +men soon learned, did not know how to face it either +with patience or with tact and judgment. The news +of Boston’s punishment +and of the +suspension of the +Massachusetts charter, +of the arrangements +for troops, +and of the legal establishment +of methods +of trial against +which all had protested,—and, +in the +case of the <i>Gaspee</i> +affair, successfully +protested,—had an +instant and most disturbing +effect upon +the other colonies, +as well as upon +those who were most +directly affected. +The ministers could +not isolate Massachusetts. +They were +dealing with men +more statesmanlike +than themselves, +who did not need to +see their own liberties directly struck at to recognize danger, +though it was not yet their danger. They had protested +in the time of the Stamp Act, which affected +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span>them all; this time they protested even more emphatically +against measures aimed at Massachusetts alone. +What was more significant, they had now means at +hand for taking action in common.</p> + +<p>Virginia, no doubt, seemed to the ministers in England +far enough away from Massachusetts, but her Burgesses +acted upon the first news of what Parliament +was doing,—a month before the text of the obnoxious +acts had reached Boston. In May, 1774, they ordered +that June 1st, the day the Boston Port bill was to go +into effect, be set apart as a day of fasting and prayer,—prayer +that civil war might be averted and that the +people of America might be united in a common cause. +Dunmore promptly dissolved them for their pains; +but they quietly assembled again in the long room +of the Raleigh Tavern; issued a call thence to the +other colonies for a general Congress; and directed +that a convention, freely chosen by the voters of the +colony as they themselves had been, should assemble +there, in that same room of the Raleigh, on the first +day of August following, to take final measures with +regard to Virginia’s part in the common action hoped +for in the autumn. The next evening they gave a +ball in honor of Lady Dunmore and her daughters, +in all good temper, as they had previously arranged +to do,—as if nothing had happened, and as if to show +how little what they had done was with them a matter +of personal feeling or private intrigue, how much a +matter of dispassionate duty. They had not acted +singularly or alone. Rhode Island, New York, and +Massachusetts herself had also asked for a general +“Congress of Committees.” The Massachusetts assembly +had locked its doors against the governor’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span>messenger, sent to dissolve it, until it had completed +its choice of a committee “to meet the committees appointed +by the several colonies to consult together upon +the present state of the colonies.” It was chiefly because +Massachusetts called that the other colonies +responded, but the movement seemed general, almost +spontaneous. Virginia and Massachusetts sent their +real leaders, as the other colonies did; and September +saw a notable gathering at Philadelphia,—a gathering +from which conservatives as well as radicals hoped +to see come forth some counsel of wisdom and accommodation.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus101" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus101.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOHN ADAMS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Every colony but Georgia sent delegates to the Congress. +Not all who attended had been regularly elected +by the colonial assemblies. The Virginian delegates +had been elected by Virginia’s August convention, a +body unknown to the law; in some of the colonies there +had been no timely sessions of the assemblies at which +a choice could be made, and representatives had accordingly +been appointed by their committees of correspondence, +or elected directly by the voters at the +town and county voting places. But no one doubted +any group of delegates real representatives,—at any +rate, of the predominant political party in their colony. +In New York and Pennsylvania the conservatives had +had the upper hand, and had chosen men who were +expected to speak for measures of accommodation and +for obedience to law. In the other colonies, if only +for the nonce, the more radical party had prevailed, +and had sent representatives who were counted on to +speak unequivocally for the liberties of the colonies, +even at the hazard of uttering words and urging action +which might seem revolutionary and defiant.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span></p> + +<p>It was noteworthy and significant how careful a +selection had been made of delegates. No doubt the +most notable group was the group of Virginians: +Colonel Washington; that “masterly man,” Richard +Henry Lee, as Mr. John Adams called him, as effective +in Philadelphia as he had been in the House of Burgesses; +Patrick Henry, whose speech was so singularly +compounded of thought and fire; Edmund Pendleton, +who had read nothing but law books and knew nothing +but business, and yet showed such winning grace and +convincing frankness withal in debate; Colonel Harrison, +brusque country gentleman, without art or subterfuge, +downright and emphatic; Mr. Bland, alert +and formidable at sixty-four, with the steady insight +of the life-long student; and Mr. Peyton Randolph, +their official leader and spokesman, whom the Congress +chose its president, a man full of address, and seeming +to carry privilege with him as a right inherited. +Samuel Adams and John Adams had come from Massachusetts, +with Mr. Cushing and Mr. Paine. South +Carolina had sent two members of the Stamp Act Congress +of 1765, Mr. Christopher Gadsden and Mr. John +Rutledge, with Mr. Edward Rutledge also, a youth +of twenty-five, and plain Mr. Lynch, clad in homespun, +as direct and sensible and above ceremony as Colonel +Harrison. Connecticut’s chief spokesman was Roger +Sherman, rough as a peasant without, but in counsel +very like a statesman, and in all things a hard-headed +man of affairs. New York was represented by Mr. +John Jay, not yet thirty, but of the quick parts of the +scholar and the principles of a man of honor. Joseph +Galloway, the well-poised Speaker and leader of her +House of Assembly, John Dickinson, the thoughtful +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span>author of the famous “Farmer’s Letters” of 1768, +a quiet master of statement, and Mr. Thomas Mifflin, +the well-to-do merchant, represented Pennsylvania. +It was, take it all in all, an assembly of picked men, +fit for critical business.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus102" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus102.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>ROGER SHERMAN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Not that there was any talk of actual revolution in +the air. The seven weeks’ conference of the Congress +disclosed a nice balance of parties, its members acting, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span>for the most part, with admirable candor and individual +independence. A good deal was said and +conjectured about the “brace of Adamses” who led +the Massachusetts delegation,—Samuel Adams, now +past fifty-two, and settled long ago, with subtle art, +to his life-long business, and pleasure, of popular leadership, +which no man understood better; and John Adams, +his cousin, a younger man by thirteen years, at once +less simple and easier to read, vain and transparent,—transparently +honest, irregularly gifted. It was +said they were for independence, and meant to take +the leadership of the Congress into their own hands. +But it turned out differently. If they were for independence, +they shrewdly cloaked their purpose; if they +were ambitious to lead, they were prudent enough to +forego their wish and to yield leadership, at any rate +on the floor of the Congress, to the interesting men who +represented Virginia, and who seemed of their own +spirit in the affair.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp42" id="illus103" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus103.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOSEPH GALLOWAY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp66" id="illus104" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus104.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOHN DICKINSON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>There was a marked difference between what the +Congress said aloud, for the hearing of the world, and +what it did in order quietly to make its purpose of defeating +the designs of the ministers effective. At the +outset of its sessions it came near to yielding itself to +the initiative and leadership of its more conservative +members, headed by Joseph Galloway, the trusted +leader of the Pennsylvanians, a stout loyalist, but for +all that a sincere patriot and thorough-going advocate +of the legal rights of the colonies. He proposed a +memorial to the crown asking for a confederate government +for the colonies, under a legislature of their own +choosing, very like the government Mr. Franklin had +made a plan for twenty years ago in the congress at +Albany; and his suggestion failed of acceptance by +only a very narrow margin when put to the vote. Even +Edward Rutledge, of South Carolina, who spoke more +hotly than most men for the liberties of the colonies, +declared it an “almost perfect plan”; and the Congress, +rejecting it, substituted no other. It turned, rather, +to the writing of state papers, and a closer organization +of the colonies for concert of action. Its committees +drew up an address to the King, memorials to the people +of Great Britain and to the people of British North +America, their fellow-subjects, and a solemn declaration +of rights, so earnest, so moderate in tone, reasoned +and urged with so evident and so admirable a quiet +passion of conviction, as to win the deep and outspoken +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span>admiration of their friends in Parliament and stir the +pulses of liberal-minded men everywhere on both sides +of the sea.</p> + +<p>So much was for the world. For themselves, they +ordered a closer and more effective association throughout +the colonies to carry out the policy of a rigorous +non-importation and non-consumption of certain classes +of British goods as a measure of trade against the +English government’s policy of colonial taxation. It +recommended, in terms which rang very imperative, +that in each colony a committee should be formed in +every town or county, according to the colony’s local +administrative organization, which should be charged +with seeing to it that every one within its area of oversight +actually kept, and did not evade, the non-importation +agreement; that these committees should act +under the direction of the central committee of correspondence +in each colony; and that the several +colonial committees of correspondence should in their +turn report to and put into effect the suggestions of +the general Congress of Committees at Philadelphia. +For the Congress, upon breaking up at the conclusion +of its business in October, resolved to meet again in +May of the next year, should the government in England +not before that time accede to its prayers for a +radical change of policy. Its machinery of surveillance +was meanwhile complete. No man could escape +the eyes of the local committees. Disregard of the +non-importation policy meant that his name would +be published, and that he would be diligently talked +about as one who was no patriot. The Congress ordered +that any colony which declined to enter into the +new association should be regarded as hostile to “the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span>liberties of this country.” Samuel Adams himself +had not had a more complete system of surveillance +or of inquisitorial pressure upon individual conduct +and opinion at hand in his township committees of +correspondence. In the colonies where sentiment ran +warm no man could escape the subtle coercion.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus105" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus105.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PEYTON RANDOLPH</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Such action was the more worthy of remark because +taken very quietly, and as if the Congress had of course +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span>the right to lead, to speak for the majority and command +the minority in the colonies, united and acting +like a single body politic. There was no haste, no +unusual excitement, no fearful looking for trouble in +the proceedings of this new and quite unexampled assembly. +On the contrary, its members had minds +sufficiently at ease to enjoy throughout all their business +the entertainments and the attractive social ways +of the busy, well-appointed, cheerful, gracious town, +the chief city of the colonies, in which there was so +much to interest and engage. Dinings were as frequent +almost as debates, calls as committee meetings. +Evening after evening was beguiled with wine and +tobacco and easy wit and chat. The delegates learned +to know and understand each other as men do who are +upon terms of intimacy; made happy and lasting friendships +among the people of the hospitable place; drank +in impressions which broadened and bettered their +thinking, almost as if they had actually seen the several +colonies with whose representatives they were dealing +from day to day; and went home with a cleared +and sobered and withal hopeful vision of affairs.</p> + +<p>It was well to have their views so steadied. Events +moved fast, and with sinister portent. Massachusetts +could not be still, and quickly forced affairs to an issue +of actual revolution. Before the Congress met again +her leaders had irrevocably committed themselves to +an open breach with the government; the people of the +province had shown themselves ready to support them +with extraordinary boldness; and all who meant to +stand with the distressed and stubborn little commonwealth +found themselves likewise inevitably committed +to extreme measures. The Massachusetts men not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span>only deeply resented the suspension of their charter, +they denied the legal right of Parliament to suspend +it. On the 9th of September, 1774, four days after +the assembling of the Congress at Philadelphia, delegates +from Boston and the other towns in Suffolk +County in Massachusetts had met in convention and +flatly declared that the acts complained of, being unconstitutional, +ought not to be obeyed; that the new +judges appointed under the act of suspension ought +not to be regarded or suffered to act; that the collectors +of taxes ought to be advised to retain the moneys collected, +rather than turn them into General Gage’s treasury; +and that, in view of the extraordinary crisis which +seemed at hand, the people ought to be counselled to +prepare for war,—not, indeed, with any purpose of +provoking hostilities, but in order, if necessary, to resist +aggression. They declared also for a provincial +congress, to take the place of the legislative council of +their suspended charter, and resolved to regard the +action of the Congress at Philadelphia as law for the +common action of the colonies.</p> + +<p>It gave these resolutions very grave significance +that the Congress at Philadelphia unhesitatingly declared, +upon their receipt, that the whole continent +ought to support Massachusetts in her resistance to +the unconstitutional changes in her government, and +that any person who should accept office within the +province under the new order of things ought to be +considered a public enemy. Moreover, the Suffolk +towns did not stand alone. Their temper, it seemed, +was the temper of the whole colony. Other towns +took action of the same kind; and before the Congress +at Philadelphia had adjourned, Massachusetts had +actually set up a virtually independent provincial +congress. General Gage had summoned the regular +assembly of the province to meet at Salem, the new +capital under the parliamentary changes, on the 5th +of October, but had withdrawn the summons as he +saw signs of disaffection multiply and his authority +dwindle to a mere shadow outside his military lines +at Boston. The members of the assembly convened, +nevertheless, and, finding no governor to meet them, +resolved themselves into a provincial congress and +appointed a committee of safety to act as the provisional +executive of the colony. The old government +was virtually dissolved, a revolutionary government +substituted.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus106" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus106.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>WASHINGTON STOPPING AT AN INN ON HIS WAY TO CAMBRIDGE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span></p> + +<p>The substitution involved every hazard of license +and disorder. A people schooled and habituated to +civil order and to the daily practice of self-government, +as the people of Massachusetts had been, could not, +indeed, suffer utter demoralization or lose wholly and +of a sudden its sobriety and conscience in matters of +public business. But it was a perilous thing that there +was for a time no recognized law outside of the fortifications +which General Gage had thrown across Boston +Neck, to defend the town against possible attack from +its own neighbors. Town meetings and irregular committees +took the place of officers of government in every +locality. The committees were often self-constituted, +the meetings too often disorderly and irregularly summoned. +Everything fell into the hands of those who +acted first; and inasmuch as the more hot-headed and +violent are always at such times the first to act, many +sober men who would fain have counselled restraint +and prudence and the maintenance so far as might be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span>of the old order, were silenced or overridden. The +gatherings at which concerted action was determined +upon were too often like mere organized mobs. Men +too often obtained ascendency for the time being who +had no claim upon the confidence of their followers but +such as came from audacity and violence of passion; +and many things happened under their leadership +which it was afterwards pleasant to forget. No man +of consequence who would not openly and actively put +himself upon the popular side was treated with so much +as toleration. General Gage presently found Boston +and all the narrow area within his lines filling up, +accordingly, with a great body of refugees from the +neighboring towns and country-sides.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus107" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus107.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE LIBERTY SONG</p> + <p class="x-ebookmaker-drop">[<a href="music/music.mp3">Listen</a>] | [<a href="music/music.mxl">MusicXML</a>]<br> + Music Transcriber’s Note: In bar 6, a missing quaver rest has been added.<br> + In bar 12, the final quaver has been replaced with a crotchet.</p> +<div class="poetry-container x-ebookmaker-drop"> + <div class="poetry"> + <p>The LIBERTY SONG. <i>In Freedom we’re born, &c.</i></p> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Come join hand in hand brave Americans all,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty’s call.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Or stain with dishonour America’s name.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>In Freedom we’re</i> born <i>and in Freedom we’ll</i> live,</div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Our purses are ready.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Steady, Friends, Steady.</i></div> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Not as Slaves, but as Freemen our money we’ll give.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Our worthy Forefathers—Let’s give them a cheer</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To Climates unknown did courageously steer;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Thro’ Oceans, to deserts, for freedom they came,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And dying bequeath’d us their freedom and Fame.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>In freedom we’re</i> born <i>&c.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Their generous bosoms all dangers despis’d,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">So highly, so wisely, their <i>Birthrights</i> they priz’d;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">We’ll keep what they gave, we will piously keep,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Nor frustrate their toils on the land and the deep.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>In Freedom we’re</i> born, <i>&c.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">The Tree their own hands had to liberty rear’d;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">They liv’d to behold growing strong and rever’d,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">With transport they cry’d, “now our wishes we gain,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">For our children shall gather the fruits of our pain.”</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>In Freedom we’re</i> born <i>&c.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Swarms of placemen and pensioners soon will appear</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Like locusts deforming the charms of the year;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Suns vainly will rise, Showers vainly descend,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">If we are to drudge for what other shall spend.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>In Freedom we’re</i> born <i>&c.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Then join hand in hand brave Americans all,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">In so Righteous a cause let us hope to succeed,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">For Heaven approves of each generous deed.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>In Freedom we’re</i> born, <i>&c.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">All ages shall speak with amaze and applause,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Of the courage we’ll shew in support of our laws;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To die we can bear—but to serve we disdain,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">For shame is to Freedom more dreadful than pain.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>In Freedom we’re</i> born, <i>&c.</i></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">This bumper & crown for our Sovereign’s health,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And this for Britannia’s glory and wealth;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">That wealth and that glory immortal may be,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">If she is but just—and if we are but Free.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent2"><i>In Freedom we’re</i> born <i>&c.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>It gave those who led the agitation the greater confidence +and the greater influence that the ministers of +the churches were for the most part on their side. The +control of Parliament had come, in the eyes of the New +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span>England clergy, to mean the control also of bishops +and the supremacy of the Establishment. Now, as always +before, since the very foundation of the colony, +the independence of their little commonwealths seemed +but another side of the independence of their churches; +and none watched the course of government over sea +more jealously than the Puritan pastors.</p> + +<p>Not only those who sided with the English power +because of fear or interest,—place-holders, sycophants, +merchants who hoped to get their trade back through +favor, weak men who knew not which side to take and +thought the side of government in the long run the +safer,—but many a man of dignity and substance +also, and many a man of scrupulous principle who +revered the ancient English power to which he had +always been obedient with sincere and loyal affection, +left his home and sought the protection of Gage’s troops. +The vigilance of the local committees effectually purged +the population outside Boston, as the weeks went by, +of those who were not ready to countenance a revolution. +There was, besides, something very like military +rule outside Boston as well as within it. The provincial +congress met, while necessary, from month to month, +upon its own adjournment, and, prominent among +other matters of business, diligently devoted itself to +the enrolment and organization of a numerous and +efficient militia. Local as well as general commanders +were chosen; there was constant drilling on village +greens; fire-arms and ammunition were not difficult +to get; and an active militia constituted a very effective +auxiliary in the consolidation of local opinion concerning +colonial rights and the proper means of vindicating +them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span></p> + +<p>It is the familiar story of revolution: the active and +efficient concert of a comparatively small number controlling +the action of whole communities at a moment +of doubt and crisis. There was not much difference +of opinion among thoughtful men in the colonies with +regard to the policy which the ministers in England +had recently pursued respecting America. It was +agreed on all hands that it was unprecedented, unwise, +and in plain derogation of what the colonists had time +out of mind been permitted to regard as their unquestioned +privileges in matters of local self-government. +Some men engaged in trade at the colonial ports had, +it is true, found the new policy of taxation and enforced +restrictions very much to their own interest. The +Sugar Act of 1733, which cut at the heart of the New +England trade with the French West Indies, and which +Grenville and Townshend had, in these last disturbing +years, tried to enforce, had, it was said, been passed +in the first instance at the suggestion of a Boston merchant +who was interested in sugar growing in the British +islands whence the act virtually bade the colonial importers +take all their sugar, molasses, and rum; and +no doubt there were many in all the American ports +who would have profited handsomely by the enforcement +of the law. But, however numerous these may +have been, they were at most but a small minority. +For a vast majority of the merchants the enforcement +of the acts meant financial ruin. Merchants as well +as farmers, too, were hotly against taxes put upon +them in their own ports by an act of Parliament. +They were infinitely jealous of any invasion of their +accustomed rights of self-government under their revered +and ancient charter. Governor Hutchinson himself, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span>though he deemed the commands of Parliament +law, and thought it his own bounden duty as an officer +of the crown to execute them, declared in the frankest +fashion to the ministers themselves that their policy +was unjust and mistaken.</p> + +<p>But, while men’s sentiments concurred in a sense of +wrong, their judgments parted company at the choice +of what should be done. Men of a conservative and +sober way of thinking; men of large fortune or business, +who knew what they had at stake should disorders +arise or law be set aside; men who believed that there +were pacific ways of bringing the government to another +temper and method in dealing with the colonies, +and who passionately preferred the ways of peace to +ways of violence and threatened revolution, arrayed +themselves instinctively and at once against every +plan that meant lawlessness and rebellion. They +mustered very strong indeed, both in numbers and in +influence. They bore, many of them, the oldest and +most honored names of the colony in Massachusetts, +where the storm first broke, and were men of substance +and training and schooled integrity of life, besides. +Their counsels of prudence were ignored, nevertheless,—as +was inevitable. Opinion formed itself with quick +and heated impulse in the brief space of those first +critical months of irritation and excitement; and these +men, though the natural leaders of the colony, were +despised, rejected, proscribed, as men craven and lacking +the essential spirit either of liberty or of patriotism.</p> + +<p>It was, no doubt, a time when it was necessary that +something should be done,—as well as something said. +It was intolerable to the spirit of most of the people, +when once they were roused, to sit still under a suspension +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span>of their charter, a closing of their chief port, +the appointment of judges and governors restrained +by none of the accustomed rules of public authority +among them, and tamely utter written protests only, +carrying obedience to what seemed to them the length +of sheer servility. It happened that there had gone +along with the hateful and extraordinary parliamentary +measures of 1774 an act extending the boundaries +of the province of Quebec to the Ohio River and establishing +an arbitrary form of government within +the extended province. It was a measure long ago +planned. Its passage at that time had nothing to do +with the ministers’ quarrel with the self-governing colonies +to the southward. But it was instantly interpreted +in America as an attempt to limit the westward +expansion of the more unmanageable colonies which, +like Massachusetts, arrogated the right to govern themselves; +and it of course added its quota of exasperation +to the irritations of the moment. It seemed worse than +idle to treat ministers who sent such a body of revolutionary +statutes over sea as reasonable constitutional +rulers who could be brought to a more lawful and moderate +course by pamphlets and despatches and public +meetings, and all the rest of the slow machinery of +ordinary agitation. Of course, too, Samuel Adams +and those who acted with him very carefully saw to it +that agitation should not lose its zest or decline to the +humdrum levels of ordinary excitement. They kept +their alarm bells pealing night and day, and were +vigilant that feeling should not subside or fall tame. +And they worked upon genuine matter. They knew +the temper of average men in the colony much better +than their conservative opponents did, and touched +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span>it with a much truer instinct in their appeals. Their +utterances went to the quick with most plain men,—and +they spoke to a community of plain men. They +spoke to conviction as well as to sentiment, and the +minds they touched were thoroughly awakened. Their +doctrine of liberty was the ancient tradition of the colony. +The principles they urged had been urged again and +again by every champion of the chartered liberties of +the colonies, and seemed native to the very air.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus108" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus108.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SIGNATURE OF JOSEPH HAWLEY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>If not constitutional statesmen, they were at least +the veritable spokesmen of all men of action, and of +the real rank and file of the colonists about them,—as +Patrick Henry was in Virginia. John Adams had +read to Henry, while the first Congress was sitting in +Philadelphia, Joseph Hawley’s opinion that what the +ministers had done made it necessary to fight. “I +am of that man’s opinion,” cried the high-spirited Virginian. +That was what men said everywhere, unless +imperatively held back from action by temperament, +or interest, or an unusual, indomitable conviction of +law-abiding duty, upon whatever exigency or provocation. +It is not certain that there could be counted in +Massachusetts so much as a majority for resistance +in those first days of the struggle for right; but it is +certain that those who favored extreme measures had +the more effective spirit of initiative among them, +the best concert of action, the more definite purpose, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span>the surest instinct of leadership, and stood with true +interpretative insight for the latent conviction of right +which underlay and supported every colonial charter +in America.</p> + +<p>And not only every colonial charter, but the constitution +of England itself. The question now raised, +to be once for all settled, was, in reality, the question +of constitutional as against personal government; +and that question had of late forced itself upon men’s +thoughts in England no less than in America. It +was the burden of every quiet as well as of every impassioned +page in Burke’s <i>Thoughts on the Present +Discontents</i>, published in 1770. The Parliament of +1774 did not represent England any more than it represented +the colonies in America, either in purpose +or principle. So ill distributed was the suffrage and +the right of representation that great centres of population +had scarcely a spokesman in the Commons, while +little hamlets, once populous but now deserted, still +returned members who assumed to speak for the country. +So many voters were directly under the influence +of members of the House of Lords, as tenants and dependants; +so many members of the House of Lords +were willing to put themselves and the seats which +they controlled in the Commons at the service of the +King, in return for honors and favors received or hoped +for; so many elections to the Lower House were corruptly +controlled by the court,—so full was Parliament, +in short, of placemen and of men who counted upon +the crown’s benefactions, that the nation seemed excluded +from its own councils, and the King acted as +its master without serious let or hinderance.</p> + +<p>The Whig party, which stood for constitutional +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span>privilege, was utterly disorganized. Some Whigs had +followed Chatham to the end, despite his uncertain +temper, his failing health, his perverse treatment of +his friends; some had followed, rather, the Marquis +of Rockingham, whose brief tenure of power, in 1766, +had been but long enough to effect the repeal of the +odious Stamp Act; but nothing could hold the divergent +personal elements of the party together, and there +was no place for a party of principle and independence +in an unrepresentative Parliament packed with the +“King’s friends.” Ministries rose or fell according +to the King’s pleasure, and were Whig or Tory as he +directed, without change of majority in the Commons. +“Not only did he direct the minister” whom the House +nominally obeyed “in all matters of foreign and domestic +policy, but he instructed him as to the management +of debates in Parliament, suggested what motions +should be made or opposed, and how measures should +be carried.” The Houses were his to command; and +when Chatham was gone, no man could withstand him. +Persons not of the ministry at all, but the private and +irresponsible advisers of the King, became the real +rulers of the country. The Duke of Grafton, who became +the nominal head of the government in 1768, +was not his own master in what he did or proposed; +and Lord North, who succeeded him in 1770, was little +more than the King’s mouthpiece.</p> + +<p>Thoughtful men in England saw what all this meant, +and deemed the liberties of England as much jeoparded +as the liberties of America. And the very men who +saw to the heart of the ominous situation in England +were, significantly enough, the men who spoke most +fearlessly and passionately in Parliament in defence +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span>of America,—statesmen like Chatham and Burke, +frank soldiers like Colonel Barré, political free lances +like the reckless John Wilkes, and all the growing +company of agitators in London and elsewhere whom +the government busied itself to crush. It was the +group gathered about Wilkes in London who formed, +under Horne Tooke’s leadership, the famous “Society +for supporting the Bill of Rights,” with which Samuel +Adams proposed, in his letter to Arthur Lee in 1771, +that similar societies, to be formed in the several colonies +in America, should put themselves in active +coöperation by correspondence. Those who attacked +the prerogative in England were as roundly denounced +as traitors as those who resisted Parliament in America. +Wilkes was expelled from the House of Commons; +the choice of the Westminster electors who had chosen +him was arbitrarily set aside and annulled; those who +protested with too much hardihood were thrown into +prison or fined. But each arbitrary step taken seemed +only to increase the rising sense of uneasiness in the +country. The London mob was raised; rioting spread +through the country, till there seemed to be chronic +disorder; writers like “Junius” sprang up to tease the +government with stinging letters which no one could +successfully answer, because no one could match their +wit or point; an independent press came almost suddenly +into existence; and because there was no opinion +expressed in the House of Commons worthy of being +called the opinion of the nation, public opinion formed +and asserted itself outside the Houses, and began to +clamor uncomfortably for radical constitutional reforms. +Mr. Wilkes was expelled the House in 1769, +just as the trouble in America was thickening towards +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span>storm; and long before that trouble was over it had +become plain to every man of enlightened principle +that agitation in England and resistance in America +had one and the same object,—the rectification of the +whole spirit and method of the English government.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp62" id="illus109" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus109.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE HOUSE OF COMMONS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>George III. had too small a mind to rule an empire, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span>and the fifteen years of his personal supremacy in affairs +(1768-1783) were years which bred a revolution +in England no less inevitably than in America. His +stubborn instinct of mastery made him dub the colonists +“rebels” upon their first show of resistance; +he deemed the repeal of the Stamp Act a fatal step of +weak compliance, which had only “increased the pretensions +of the Americans to absolute independence.” +Chatham he called a “trumpet of sedition” because +he praised the colonists for their spirited assertion of +their rights. The nature of the man was not sinister. +Neither he nor his ministers had any purpose of making +“slaves” of the colonists. Their measures for +the regulation of the colonial trade were incontestably +conceived upon a model long ago made familiar in +practice, and followed precedents long ago accepted +in the colonies. Their financial measures were moderate +and sensible enough in themselves, and were conceived +in the ordinary temper of law-making. What +they did not understand or allow for was American +opinion. What the Americans, on their part, did not +understand or allow for was the spirit in which Parliament +had in fact acted. They did not dream with +how little comment or reckoning upon consequences, +or how absolutely without any conscious theory as to +power or authority, such statutes as those which had +angered them had been passed; how members of the +Commons stared at Mr. Burke’s passionate protests +and high-pitched arguments of constitutional privilege; +how unaffectedly astonished they were at the rebellious +outbreak which followed in the colonies. And, because +they were surprised and had intended no tyranny, +but simply the proper government of trade and the +adequate support of administration throughout the +dominions of the crown, as the ministers had represented +these things to them, members of course thought +the disturbances at Boston a tempest in a teapot, the +reiterated protests of the colonial assemblies a pretty +piece of much ado about nothing. The radical trouble +was that the Parliament really represented nobody +but the King and his “friends,” and was both ignorant +and unreflective upon the larger matters it dealt with.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus110" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus110.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PAGE FROM THE DIARY OF JOSIAH QUINCY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span></p> + +<p>It was the more certain that the promises of accommodation +and peaceful constitutional reform which +the supporters of the government in America so freely +and earnestly made would be falsified, and that exasperation +would follow exasperation. The loyal partisans +of the crown in the colonies understood as little +as did the radical patriotic party the real attitude and +disposition of the King and his ministers. The men +with whom they were dealing over sea had not conceived +and could not conceive the American point of +view with regard to the matters in dispute. They +did not know whereof Mr. Burke spoke when he told +them that the colonial assemblies had been suffered +to grow into a virtual independence of Parliament, +and had become in fact, whatever lawyers might say, +coördinated with it in every matter which concerned +the internal administration of the colonies; and that +it was now too late to ask or expect the colonists to +accept any other view of the law than that which +accorded with long-established fact. Mr. Burke admitted +that his theory was not a theory for the strict +lawyer: it was a theory for statesmen, for whom fact +must often take precedence of law. But the men he +addressed were strict legists and not statesmen. There +could be no understanding between the two sides of +the water; and the loyalists who counselled submission, +if only for a time, to the authority of the ministers, +were certain to be rejected among their own people. +The spirit of American affairs was with the patriots, +and would be with them more and more as the quarrel +thickened.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus111" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus111.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PROCLAMATION OF THE KING FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE REBELLION</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span></p> + +<p>It thickened fast enough, and the storm broke before +men were aware how near it was. While winter held +(1774-1775), affairs everywhere grew dark and uneasy, +not only in Massachusetts, where Gage’s troops waited +at Boston, but in every colony from Maine to the Gulf. +Before the end of 1774 the Earl of Dunmore reported +to the government, from Virginia, that every county +was “arming a company of men for the avowed purpose +of protecting their committees,” and that his own +power of control was gone. “There is not a justice +of peace in Virginia,” he declared, “that acts except +as a committee-man”; and it gave him the graver concern +to see the turn affairs were taking because “men +of fortune and pre-eminence joined equally with the +lowest and meanest” in the measures resorted to to +rob him of authority.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus112" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus112.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GAGE’S ORDER PERMITTING INHABITANTS TO LEAVE BOSTON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span></p> + +<p>To the south and north of Virginia, counsels were +divided. Those who led against the government in +North Carolina had good reason to doubt whether they +had even a bare majority of the people of their colony at +their back. Every country-side in South Carolina, for +all Charleston was as hot as Boston against the ministers, +was full of warm, aggressive, outspoken supporters +of the King’s prerogative. The rural districts +of Pennsylvania, every one knew, were peopled with +quiet Quakers whose very religion bade them offer no +resistance even to oppressive power, and of phlegmatic +Germans who cared a vast deal for peace but very little +for noisy principles that brought mischief. Many a +wealthy and fashionable family of Philadelphia, moreover, +was much too comfortable and much too pleasantly +connected with influential people on the other side of +the water to relish thoughts of breach or rebellion. Virginians, +it might have seemed, were themselves remote +enough from the trouble which had arisen in Massachusetts +to keep them in the cool air of those who wait +and will not lead. But they were more in accord than +the men of Massachusetts itself, and as quick to act. +By the close of June, 1775, Charles Lee could write +from Williamsburg, “Never was such vigor and concord +heard of, not a single traitor, scarcely a silent +dissentient.” As the men of the several counties armed +themselves, as if by a common impulse, all turned +as of course to Colonel Washington, of Fairfax, as their +natural commander; and no one in Virginia was surprised +to learn his response. “It is my full intention,” +he said, “to devote my life and fortune to the cause we +are engaged in.” On the 20th of March, 1775, the second +revolutionary convention of Virginia met at Richmond, +not at Williamsburg; and in it Mr. Henry made +his individual declaration of war against Great Britain. +Older and more prudent men protested against his words; +but they served on the committee on the military organization +of the colony for which his resolutions called, +and Virginia was made ready.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>Here our general <i>authorities</i> are still Bancroft, Hildreth, and +Bryant; David Ramsay’s <i>History of the American Revolution</i>; +the last volume of James Grahame’s <i>Rise and Progress of the United +States of North America</i>; John Fiske’s <i>American Revolution</i>; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span>Thomas Hutchinson’s <i>History of Massachusetts</i>; John S. Barry’s +<i>History of Massachusetts</i>; Richard Frothingham’s <i>Rise of the +Republic of the United States</i>; Justin Winsor’s <i>The Conflict Precipitated</i>, +in the sixth volume of Winsor’s <i>Narrative and Critical +History of America</i>; and the twelfth chapter of W. E. H. Lecky’s +<i>History of England in the Eighteenth Century</i>. To these we now +add Frank Moore’s <i>Diary of the American Revolution</i>; George +Chalmers’s <i>Introduction to the History of the Revolt</i>; Timothy +Pitkin’s <i>Political and Civil History of the United States</i>; and the +fourth volume of John Richard Green’s <i>History of the English +People</i>. Here, also, the biographies of the chief public men of the +period must be the reader’s constant resource for a closer view of +affairs, particularly the <i>Lives</i> of such men as John and Samuel +Adams, John Dickinson, Franklin, Hamilton, Patrick Henry, +John Jay, Jefferson, the Lees, George Mason, James Otis, Timothy +Pickering, and Washington.</p> + +<p>The chief <i>sources</i> that should be mentioned are the <i>Debates of +Parliament</i>; the <i>Annual Register</i>; the <i>Proceedings</i> and <i>Collections</i> +of the Historical Societies of the original States; Peter Force’s +<i>American Archives</i>; Jared Sparks’s <i>Correspondence of the Revolution</i>; +Hezekiah Niles’s <i>Principles and Acts of the Revolution +in America</i>; <i>Copy of Letters sent to Great Britain by Thomas +Hutchinson</i>, reprinted in <i>Franklin Before the Privy Council</i>; +P. O. Hutchinson’s <i>Life and Letters of Thomas Hutchinson</i>; and +the published speeches, letters, and papers of the leading American +and English statesmen of the time.</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV<br> +THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE</h2> + +</div> + +<p>Then, almost immediately, came the clash of arms. +General Gage would not sit still and see the country +round about him made ready for armed resistance without +at least an effort to keep control of it. On the 19th +of April he despatched eight hundred men to seize the +military stores which the provincials had gathered at +Concord, and there followed an instant rising of the +country. Riders had sped through the country-side +during the long night which preceded the movement of +the troops, to give warning; and before the troops could +finish their errand armed men beset them at almost +every turn of the road, swarming by companies out of +every hamlet and firing upon them from hedge and +fence corner and village street as if they were outlaws +running the gauntlet. The untrained villagers could +not stand against them in the open road or upon the +village greens, where at first they mustered, but they +could make every way-side covert a sort of ambush, +every narrow bridge a trap in which to catch them at a +disadvantage. Their return to Boston quickened to a +veritable rout, and they left close upon three hundred +of their comrades, dead, wounded, or prisoners, behind +them ere they reached the cover of their lines again. +The news of their march and of the attack upon them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span>had spread everywhere, and in every quarter the roads +filled with the provincial minute men marching upon +Boston. Those who had fired upon the troops and +driven them within their lines did not go home again; +those who came too late for the fighting stayed to see +that there were no more sallies from the town; and the +morning of the 20th disclosed a small army set down +by the town in a sort of siege.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus113" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus113.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>NOTICE TO MILITIA</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus114" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus114.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>AN ACCOUNT OF THE CONCORD FIGHT</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span></p> + +<p>That same night of the 20th Lord Dunmore, in Virginia, +landed a force of marines from an armed sloop in +the river and seized the gunpowder stored at Williamsburg. +There, too, the country rose,—under Mr. Henry +himself as captain. They did not reach the scene soon +enough to meet the marines,—there were no thick-set +villages in that country-side to pour their armed men +into the roads at a moment’s summons,—but they forced +the earl, their governor, to pay for the powder he had +ordered seized and taken off.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus115" style="max-width: 21.875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus115.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SIGNATURE OF ETHAN ALLEN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The rude muster at Boston expanded into a motley +yeoman army of sixteen thousand men within the first +week of its sudden rally, and settled in its place to watch +the town until the general Congress of the colonies at +Philadelphia should +give it countenance, +and a commander. On +the day the Congress +met (May 10, 1775), +Ethan Allen walked +into the unguarded gates of the fort at Ticonderoga, +at the head of a little force out of Vermont, and took +possession of the stout place “in the name of the Great +Jehovah and the Continental Congress,” though he +held a commission from neither; and two days later +Crown Point, near by, was taken possession of in the +same manner. When the Congress met it found itself +no longer a mere “Congress of Committees,” assembled +for conference and protest. Its appeals for better +government, uttered the last autumn, its arguments for +colonial privilege, its protestations of loyalty and its +prayers for redress, had been, one and all, not so +much rejected as put by with contempt by the King +and his ministers; and the mere movement of affairs +was hurrying the colonies which it represented into +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span>measures which would presently put the whole matter +of its controversy with the government at home +beyond the stage of debate. Its uneasy members did +not neglect to state their rights again, in papers whose +moderation and temper of peace no candid man could +overlook or deny; but they prepared for action also +quite as carefully, like practical men who did not deceive +themselves even in the midst of hope.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus116" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus116.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>RUINS OF FORT TICONDEROGA</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Colonel Washington had come to the Congress in his +provincial uniform; and, if no one cared to ask a man +with whom it was so obviously difficult to be familiar +why he wore such a habit there, all were free to draw +their own conclusions. It was, no doubt, his instinctive +expression of personal feeling in the midst of all that +was happening; and his service in the Congress was +from first to last that of a soldier. Its committees consulted +him almost every day upon some question of +military preparation: the protection of the frontier +against the Indians, the organization of a continental +force, the management of a commissariat, the gathering +of munitions, proper means of equipment, feasible +plans of fortification. While they deliberated, his own +colony passed openly into rebellion. The 1st of June +saw Virginia’s last House of Burgesses assemble. By +the 8th of the month Dunmore had fled his capital, +rather than see a second time the anger of a Williamsburg +mob, and was a fugitive upon one of his Majesty’s +armed vessels lying in the river. The colony +had thenceforth no government save such as it gave +itself; and its delegates at Philadelphia knew that there +was for them no turning back.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus117" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus117.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>WATCHING THE FIGHT AT BUNKER HILL</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span></p> + +<p>On the 15th of June, on the motion of Mr. John +Adams, the Congress chose Colonel Washington commander-in-chief +of the American forces, and directed +him to repair to Boston and assume command in the +field. Two days later the British and the provincials +met in a bloody and stubborn fight at Bunker Hill. +On the 25th of May heavy reinforcements for General +Gage had arrived from over sea which swelled the force +of regulars in Boston to more than eight thousand +men, and added three experienced general officers to +Gage’s council: William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, and +John Burgoyne. The British commanders saw very +well, what was indeed apparent enough to any soldier, +that their position in Boston could be very effectively +commanded to the north and south on either hand by +cannon placed upon the heights of Charlestown or Dorchester, +and determined to occupy Charlestown heights +at once, the nearer and more threatening position. But +so leisurely did they go about it that the provincials +were beforehand in the project. The early morning +light of the 17th of June disclosed them still at work +there on trenches and redoubts which they had begun +at midnight. The British did not stop to use either +the guns of the fleet or any caution of indirect approach +to dislodge them, but at once put three thousand men +straight across the water to take the hill, whose crest +the Americans were fortifying, by direct assault. It +cost them a thousand men; and the colonials retired, +outnumbered though they were, only because their +powder gave out, not their pluck or steadfastness. +When the thing was done, the British did not care to +take another intrenched position from men who held +their fire till they were within a few score yards of +them and then volleyed with the definite and deadly +aim of marksmen.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus118" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus118.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>FROM BEACON HILL, 1775, NO. 1. (LOOKING TOWARDS DORCHESTER HEIGHTS)</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus119" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus119.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>FROM BEACON HILL, 1775, NO. 2. (LOOKING TOWARDS ROXBURY)</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus120" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus120.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>ORDER OF COMMITTEE OF SAFETY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span></p> + +<p>Colonel Washington received his formal commission +on the 19th, and was on horseback for the journey northward +by the 21st. On the 3d of July he assumed command +at Cambridge. In choosing Washington for the +command of the raw levies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, +Rhode Island, and New Hampshire set down in impromptu +siege before Boston, Mr. John Adams and the +other New Englanders who acted with him had meant, +not only to secure the services of the most experienced +soldier in America, but also, by taking a man out of the +South, to give obvious proof of the union and co-operation +of the colonies. They had chosen better than they +knew. It was no small matter to have so noticeable a +man of honor and breeding at the head of an army whose +enemies deemed it a mere peasant mob and rowdy assemblage +of rebels. Washington himself, with his +notions of authority, his pride of breeding, his schooling +in conduct and privilege, was far from pleased till he +began to see below the surface, with the disorderly +array he found of uncouth, intractable plough boys +and farmers, one esteeming himself as good as another, +with free-and-easy manners and a singular, half-indifferent +insolence against authority or discipline.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp40" id="illus121" style="max-width: 23.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus121.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BOSTON AND BUNKER HILL, FROM A PRINT PUBLISHED IN 1781</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span></p> + +<p>“There are some fine fellows come from Virginia,” +Joseph Reed, of Pennsylvania, had written of the Virginian +delegates to the Congress at Philadelphia; “but +they are very high. We understand they are the capital +men of the colony.” It was good that one of the +masterful group should ride all the public way from +Philadelphia to Boston to take command of the army, +the most conspicuous figure in the colonies, showing +every one of the thousands who crowded to greet or see +him as he passed how splendid a type of self-respecting +gentlemen was now to be seen at the front of affairs, +putting himself forward soberly and upon principle. +The leaders of the revolt in Massachusetts were by no +means all new men like John Adams or habitual agitators +like Samuel Adams; many a man of substance +and of old lineage had also identified himself with the +popular cause. But new, unseasoned men were very +numerous and very prominent there among those who +had turned affairs upside down; a very great number +of the best and oldest families of the colony had promptly +ranged themselves on the side of the government; +the revolution now at last on foot in that quarter could +too easily be made to look like an affair of popular +clamor, a mere rising of the country. It was of signal +advantage to have high personal reputation and a +strong flavor, as it were, of aristocratic distinction +given it by this fortunate choice the Congress had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span>made of a commander. It was no light matter to despise +a cause which such men openly espoused and +stood ready to fight for.</p> + +<p>The British lay still till Washington came, and gave +him the rest of the year, and all the winter till spring +returned, in which to get his rude army into fighting +shape,—why, no one could tell, not even their friends +and spokesmen in Parliament. The Americans swarmed +busy on every hand. It proved infinitely difficult for them +to get supplies, particularly arms and ammunition; but +slowly, very slowly, they came in. General Washington +was but forty-three, and had an energy which was +both imperative and infectious. His urgent, explicit, +businesslike letters found their way to every man of +influence and to every colonial committee or assembly +from whom aid could come. Cannon were dragged all +the way from Ticonderoga for his use. The hardy, +danger-loving seamen of the coasts about him took very +cheerfully to privateering; intercepted supply ships and +even transports bound for Boston; brought English +merchantmen into port as prizes; cut ships out from +under the very guns of a British man-of-war here and +there in quiet harbors. Food and munitions intended +for the British regiments at Boston frequently found +their way to General Washington’s camps instead, +notwithstanding Boston harbor was often full of armed +vessels which might have swept the coasts. The commanders +in Boston felt beset, isolated, and uneasy, and +hesitated painfully what to do.</p> + +<p>The country at large was open to the insurgent forces, +to move in as they pleased. In the autumn Colonel +Montgomery, the gallant young Irish soldier who had +served under Wolfe at Quebec, led a continental force +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span>northward through the wilderness; took the forts which +guarded the northern approaches to Lake Champlain; +and occupied Montreal, intercepting and taking the +little garrison which left the place in boats to make +its way down the river. Meanwhile Colonel Benedict +Arnold was at the gates of Quebec, and Montgomery +pushed forward to join him. Colonel Arnold had forced +his way in from the coast through the thick forests of +Maine, along the icy streams of the Kennebec and the +Chaudière. The bitter journey had cost him quite a +third of the little force with which Washington had sent +him forth. He had but seven hundred men with whom +to take the all but impregnable place, and Montgomery +brought but a scant five hundred to assist him. But +the two young commanders were not to be daunted. +They loved daring, and touched all who followed them +with their own indomitable spirit. In the black darkness +of the night which preceded the last day of the +year (December 31, 1775), amidst a blinding storm of +snow, they threw themselves upon the defences of the +place, and would have taken it had not Montgomery +lost his life ere his men gained their final foothold +within the walls. The Congress at Philadelphia had +at least the satisfaction of receiving the colors of the +Seventh Regiment of his Majesty’s regulars, taken at +Fort Chambly, as a visible token of Montgomery’s exploits +at the northern outlet of Champlain; and every +added operation of the Americans, successful or unsuccessful, +added to the feeling of isolation and uneasiness +among the British at Boston.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus122" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus122.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>RICHARD MONTGOMERY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>October 10, 1775, Sir William Howe superseded General +Gage as commander-in-chief in the closely watched +and invested town; but the change of commanders +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span>made little difference. Every one except the sailors, +the foragers, the commissaries, the drill sergeants, +the writing clerks, the colonial assemblies, the congressional +and local committees, lay inactive till March +came, 1776, and Washington was himself ready to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span>take the offensive. At last he had such cannon and +such tools and stores and wagons and teams as he had +been asking and planning and waiting for the weary, +anxious winter through. On the morning of the 5th +of March the British saw workmen and ordnance and +every sign of a strong force of provincials on Dorchester +heights, and were as surprised as they had been, close +upon a year before, to see men and trenches on Bunker +Hill. Washington had done work in the night which +it was already too late for them to undo; a storm beat +the waters of the bay as the day wore on and made it +impossible to put troops across to the attack in boats; +Washington had all the day and another night in +which to complete his defences; and by the morning +of the 6th the British knew that the heights could not +be taken without a risk and loss they could not afford. +The town was rendered untenable at a stroke. With +deep chagrin, Howe determined upon an immediate +evacuation; and by the 17th he was aboard his ships,—eight +thousand troops and more than a thousand +loyalists who dared not stay. The stores and cannon, +the ammunition, muskets, small-arms, gun carriages, +and supplies of every kind which he found +himself obliged to leave behind enriched Washington +with an equipment more abundant than he could ever +have hoped to see in his economical, ill-appointed camp +at Cambridge.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus123" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus123.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AS A POLITICIAN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The only British army in America had withdrawn +to Halifax: his Majesty’s troops had nowhere a foothold +in the colonies. But that, every one knew, was only +the first act in a struggle which must grow vastly greater +and more tragical before it was ended. Washington +knew very well that there was now no drawing back. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span>Not since the affair at Bunker Hill had he deemed it +possible to draw back; and now this initial success +in arms had made the friends of revolution very bold +everywhere. As spring warmed into summer it was +easy to mark the growth in the spirit of independence. +One of the first measures of the Continental Congress, +after coming together for its third annual session in +May, 1776, was to urge the several colonies to provide +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span>themselves with regular and permanent governments +as independent states, instead of continuing to make +shift with committees of safety for executives and provisional +“provincial congresses” for legislatures, as +they had done since their government under the crown +had fallen to pieces; and they most of them promptly +showed a disposition to take its advice. The resolution +in which the Congress embodied this significant counsel +plainly declared “that the exercise of every kind of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span>authority under the crown ought to be totally suppressed,” +and all the powers of government exercised +under authority from the people of the colonies,—words +themselves equivalent to a declaration for entire separation +from Great Britain. Even in the colonies +where loyalists mustered strongest the government of +the crown had in fact almost everywhere been openly +thrown off. But by midsummer it was deemed best to +make a formal Declaration of Independence. North +Carolina was the first to instruct her delegates to take +that final and irretrievable step; but most of the other +colonies were ready to follow her lead; and on July +4th Congress adopted the impressive Declaration which +Mr. Jefferson had drawn up in the name of its committee.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus124" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus124.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>R. H. LEE’S RESOLUTION FOR INDEPENDENCE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus125" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus125.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>STATE HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA, 1778</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Washington himself had urgently prayed that such +a step be taken, and taken at once. It would not change, +it would only acknowledge, existing facts; and it might +a little simplify the anxious business he was about. +He had an army which was always making and to be +made, because the struggle had been calculated upon +a short scale and the colonies which were contributing +their half-drilled contingents to it were enlisting their +men for only three months at a time. Sometimes the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span>men would consent to re-enlist, sometimes they would +not. They did as they pleased, of course, and would +time and again take themselves off by whole companies +at once when their three months’ term was up. Sir +William Howe would come back, of course, with a force +increased, perhaps irresistible: would come, Washington +foresaw, not to Boston, where he could be cooped +up and kept at bay, but to New York, to get control +of the broad gateway of the Hudson, whose long valley +had its head close to the waters of Lake George and +Lake Champlain, and constituted an infinitely important +strategic line drawn straight through the heart +of the country, between New England, which was no +doubt hopelessly rebellious, and the middle colonies, +in which the crown could count its friends by the thousand. +The Americans must meet him, apparently, +with levies as raw and as hastily equipped as those +out of which an army of siege had been improvised at +Boston, each constituent part of which would fall to +pieces and have to be put together again every three +months.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus126" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus126.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SIGNATURE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[244]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus127a" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus127a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JEFFERSON’S ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus127b" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus127b.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus127c" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus127c.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus127d" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus127d.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p>The worst of it was, that the country back of New +York had not been, could not be, purged of active loyalists +as the country round about Boston had been by +the local “committees” of one sort or another and by +the very active and masterful young men who had +banded themselves together as “Sons of Liberty,” seeing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[248]</span>much rich adventure, and for the present little +responsibility, ahead of them in those days of government +by resolution. Washington transferred his +headquarters to New York early in April and set +about his almost hopeless task with characteristic +energy and fertility of resource; but there were spies +without number all about him, and every country-side +was full of enemies who waited for General Howe’s +coming to give him trouble. The formal Declaration +of Independence which the Congress adopted in July +hardened the face and stiffened the resolution of +every man who had definitely thrown in his lot with +the popular cause, as Washington had foreseen that +it would, just because it made resistance avowed rebellion, +and left no way of retreat or compromise. +But it also deeply grieved and alienated many a man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[249]</span>of judgment and good feeling, and made party differences +within the colonies just so much the more bitter +and irreconcilable.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus128" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus128.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>REAR VIEW OF INDEPENDENCE HALL</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp93" id="illus129" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus129.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE PRESIDENT’S CHAIR IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The first attempt of the British was made against +Charleston in the south. A fleet under Sir Peter Parker +came out of England with fresh troops commanded +by the Earl of Cornwallis, was joined by transports +and men-of-war from Halifax, bearing a force under +Sir Henry Clinton, and, as June drew towards its close, +delivered a combined attack, by land and sea, upon +the fort on Sullivan’s Island, seeking to win its way +past to the capture of Charleston itself. But they +could not force a passage. Two of the ships,—one +of them Sir Peter’s own flag-ship,—never came away +again. Colonel Moultrie and Colonel Thompson beat +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[250]</span>off both the fleet and the troops landed from it; and +the British went northward again to concentrate upon +New York.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp93" id="illus130" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus130.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MAP OF SULLIVAN’S ISLAND</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>On the 28th of June,—the very day of the attack at +Charleston,—Howe’s transports began to gather in +the lower bay. A few days more, and there were thirty +thousand troops waiting to be landed. It was impossible, +with the force Washington had, to prevent their +being put ashore at their commander’s convenience. It +was impossible to close the Narrows, to keep their ships +from the inner bay, or even to prevent their passing +up the river as they pleased. Washington could only +wait within the exposed town or within his trenches +on Brooklyn heights, which commanded the town almost +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[251]</span>as Dorchester and Charlestown heights commanded +Boston.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus131" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus131.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>WILLIAM MOULTRIE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>For a month and more Sir William waited, his troops +most of them still upon the ships, until he should first +attempt to fulfil his mission of peace and accommodation. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[252]</span>His brother, Admiral Lord Howe, joined him +there in July. They were authorized to offer unconditional +pardon, even now, to all who would submit. +The ministers in England could not have chosen commissioners +of peace more acceptable to the Americans +or more likely to be heard than the Howes. Not only +were they men of honor, showing in all that they did +the straightforward candor and the instinctive sense +of duty that came with their breeding and their training +in arms, but they were also brothers of that gallant +young soldier who had come over almost twenty years +ago to fight the French with Abercrombie, to be loved +by every man who became his comrade, and to lose +his life untimely fighting forward through the forests +which lay about Ticonderoga, a knightly and heroic +figure. But they could offer no concessions,—only +pardon for utter submission, and, for all their honorable +persistency, could find no one in authority among +the Americans who would make the too exacting exchange. +Their offers of pardon alternated with the +movements of their troops and their steady successes +in arms. Lord Howe issued his first overture of peace, +in the form of a public proclamation offering pardon, +immediately upon his arrival with his fleet at Sandy +Hook, and followed it up at once with messages to the +Congress at Philadelphia. Sir William Howe put his +troops ashore on the 22d of August, and made ready +to dislodge Washington from the heights of Brooklyn; +but on the 23d he too, in his turn, made yet another +offer of general pardon, by proclamation.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus132" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus132.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SIR WILLIAM HOWE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>On the 27th he drove the American forces on Long +Island in on their defences, and rendered the heights +at once practically untenable. Washington had but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[253]</span>eighteen thousand half-disciplined militiamen with +which to hold the town and all the long shores of the +open bay and river, and had put ten thousand of +them across the river to hold Long Island and the +defences on the heights. Sir William had put twenty +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[254]</span>thousand men ashore for the attack on the heights; +and when Washington knew that his advanced guard +was driven in, and saw Sir William, mindful of Bunker +Hill, bestow his troops, not for an assault, but for +an investment of the heights, he perceived at once how +easily he might be cut off and trapped there, armed +ships lying at hand which might at any moment completely +command the river. Immediately, and as secretly +as quickly, while a single night held, he withdrew +every man and every gun, as suddenly and as +successfully as he had seized the heights at Dorchester.</p> + +<p>Again Sir William sent a message of conciliation +to the Congress, by the hands of General Sullivan, +his prisoner. On the 11th of September, before the next +movement of arms, Dr. Franklin, Mr. John Adams, +and Mr. Edward Rutledge met Lord Howe and Sir +William, as commissioners from the Congress, to discuss +possible terms of accommodation. Dr. Franklin +had been in London until March. During the past winter +he had more than once met Lord Howe in earnest +conference about American affairs, the ministers wishing +to find through him some way, if it were possible, +of quieting the colonies. But the ministers had not +been willing then to make the concessions which might +have ended the trouble, and their commissioners were +not authorized to make them now; and the conference +with the representatives of the Congress came to nothing, +as the conferences in London had come to nothing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[255]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus133" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus133.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>HOWE’S PROCLAMATION PREPARATORY TO LEAVING BOSTON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[256]</span></p> + +<p>Washington could no more hold Manhattan Island +with the forces at his command than he could hold +Brooklyn heights. He had no choice in the end but +to retire. General Howe was cautious, moved slowly, +and handled his forces with little energy or decision; +Washington made stand and fought at every point +at which there was the least promise of success. His +men and his commanders were shamefully demoralized +by their defeat on Long Island, but he held them together +with singular tact and authority: repulsed the +enemy at Haarlem heights (September 16th), held his +own before them at White Plains (October 28th),—and +did not feel obliged to abandon the island until late in +November, after General Greene had fatally blundered +by suffering three thousand of the best trained men +of the scant continental force, with invaluable artillery, +small-arms, and stores, to be trapped and taken +at Fort Washington (November 16th).</p> + +<p>When he did at last withdraw, and leave Howe in +complete control of the great port and its approaches, +the situation was indeed alarming. He had been unspeakably +stung and disquieted, as he withdrew mile +by mile up the island, to see how uncertain his men +were in the field,—how sometimes they would fight +and sometimes they would not at the hot crisis of a +critical encounter; and now things seemed to have gone +utterly to pieces. He might at any moment be quite +cut off from New England. While he still faced Howe +on Manhattan Island, General Carleton, moving with +a British force out of Canada, had driven Benedict +Arnold up Champlain, despite stubborn and gallant +resistance (October 11th and 13th), and on the 14th of +October had occupied Crown Point. There he had +stopped; and later news came that he had withdrawn. +But apparently he could strike again almost when he +pleased, and threaten all the long line of the Hudson +even to where Howe lay at New York itself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[257]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus134" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus134.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>EVACUATION OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[258]</span></p> + +<p>It was not mere defeat, however, that put the cast +almost of despair upon affairs as Washington saw +them that dismal autumn. His forces seemed to melt +away under his very eyes. Charles Lee, his chief +subordinate in command, too much a soldier of fortune +to be a man of honor, obeyed or disregarded his +orders at his own discretion. When once it was known +that General Washington had been obliged to abandon +the Hudson, consternation and defection spread +everywhere. On the 30th of November, when his defeat +seemed complete, it might be final, the Howes +joined in a fresh proclamation of pardon, inviting all, +once again, to submit and be forgiven; and it looked +for a little as if all who dared would take advantage +of the offer and make their peace with the enemy,—for +Washington now moved in a region where opinion +had from the first been sharply divided. While defection +spread he was in full retreat, with scarcely +three thousand men all told in his demoralized force,—that +handful ill-clad and stricken with disease, and +dwindling fast by desertion,—an overwhelming body +of the enemy, under Cornwallis, at his very heels as +he went, so that he dared hardly so much as pause +for rest until he had put the broad shelter of the Delaware +behind him. “These are the times that try men’s +souls,” cried Thomas Paine (December, 1776); “the +summer soldier and the sunshine patriot” were falling +away. One after another, that very summer, the delegates +of the several states had put their names to the +Declaration of Independence; but already there seemed +small prospect of making it good. To not a few it +already began to seem a piece of mere bravado, to be +repented of.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[259]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus135" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus135.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>CIRCULAR OF PHILADELPHIA COUNCIL OF SAFETY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[260]</span></p> + +<p>The real strength and hope of the cause lay in the +steadfastness and the undaunted initiative of the indomitable +Virginian whom the Congress had chosen +for the chief command. He proved himself a maker +as well as a commander of armies, struck oftenest when +he was deemed most defeated, could not by any reverse +be put out of the fighting. He was now for the first +time to give the British commanders a real taste of +his quality. What there was to be done he did himself. +The British stopped at the Delaware; but their +lines reached Burlington, within eighteen miles of Philadelphia, +and from Trenton, which they held in some +force, extended through Princeton to New Brunswick +and their headquarters at New York. Philadelphia was +stricken with utter panic. Sick and ragged soldiers +poured in from Washington’s camp, living evidences +of what straits he was in, and had to be succored and +taken care of; the country roads were crowded with +vehicles leaving the town laden with women and children +and household goods; the Congress itself incontinently +fled the place and betook itself to Baltimore. +Washington’s military stores were in the town, but he +could get no proper protection for them. It was at that +very moment, nevertheless, that he showed all the +world with what skill and audacity he could strike. +By dint of every resolute and persistent effort he had +before Christmas brought his little force to a fighting +strength of some six thousand. More than half of these +were men enlisted only until the new year should open, +but he moved before that.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[261]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus136" style="max-width: 32.8125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus136.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>OPERATIONS AROUND TRENTON AND PRINCETON. NUMBERS 76 + REPRESENT THE CAMPS OF GENERAL CORNWALLIS AND 77 THAT OF GENERAL + KNYPHAUSEN ON THE 23D OF JUNE, 1777</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[262]</span></p> + +<p>During the night of Christmas Day, 1776, ferried +by doughty fishermen from far Gloucester and Marblehead,—the +same hardy fellows who had handled +his boats the night he abandoned the heights of Brooklyn,—he +got twenty-five hundred men across the river +through pitchy darkness and pounding ice; and in +the early light and frost of the next morning he took +Trenton, with its garrison of nine hundred Hessians, +at the point of the bayonet. There he waited,—keeping +his unwilling militiamen to their service past the +opening of the year by dint of imperative persuasion +and a pledge of his own private fortune for their pay,—until +Cornwallis came down post-haste out of New +York with eight thousand men. Moving only to change +his position a little, he dared to wait until his adversary +was encamped, at nightfall of the 2d of January, +1777, within ear-shot of his trenches; then slipped northward +in the night, easily beat the British detachment +posted at Princeton, as the next day dawned and had +its morning; and could have taken or destroyed Cornwallis’s +stores at New Brunswick had his men been +adequately shod to outstrip the British following hard +behind them. As it was, he satisfied himself with +having completely flanked and thwarted his foe, and +withdrew safe to the heights of Morristown. The +British had hastily retired from Burlington upon the +taking of Trenton,—so hastily that they took neither +their cannon nor even their heavier baggage away +with them. Now they deemed it unsafe to take post +anywhere south of New Brunswick, until spring should +come and they could see what Washington meant to +do. Once again, therefore, the Americans controlled +New Jersey; and Washington ordered all who had +accepted General Howe’s offer of pardon either to withdraw +to the British lines or take the oath of allegiance +to the United States. Daring and a touch of genius +had turned despair into hope. Americans did not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[263]</span>soon forget that sudden triumph of arms, or that the +great Frederick of Prussia had said that that had been +the most brilliant campaign of the century.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus137" style="max-width: 12.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus137.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>HESSIAN BOOT</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>A soldier’s eye could see quickly and plainly enough +how the whole aspect of the war had been changed by +those brief, sudden, unexpected strokes at Trenton and +Princeton. Men near at hand, and looking for what +a soldier would deem it no business of his to reckon +with, saw that it had not only radically +altered the military situation, +but also the very atmosphere of +the times for all concerned. The +fighting at Trenton and Princeton +had been of no great consequence +in itself, but it had in every way +put the war beyond its experimental +stage. It had taught the British +commanders with what sort of +spirit and genius they had to deal, +and how certain it was that their +task must be carried to a finish +not only by conquering marches +and a mere occupation of the country, but by careful +strategy and the long plans of a set campaign. Moreover, +they now obviously had a country, and not an +insurgent army merely, to conquer,—and a vast country +at that. That surprising winter had set men’s sinews +to what they had undertaken, on the one side as on +the other.</p> + +<p>In December (1776) it had looked as if all firmness +had been unnerved and all hope turned to foreboding +by the success of the British at New York and in the +Jerseys. Joseph Galloway, of Pennsylvania, when +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[264]</span>that crisis came, took advantage of the opportunity +to remove within the British lines and cast in his lot +there with those who were ready to stake everything +upon their loyalty and the success of the British arms. +Others followed his example,—some out of panic, but +many, it seemed, not out of fear, but out of principle. +Only the other day Mr. Galloway had been the chief +figure in the Congress of Committees which spoke for +the colonies; for many a long day he had been the chief +figure in the politics of his own colony; and many of +those who made submission when he did were of families +of the first dignity and consequence. They, like him, +had been champions of colonial rights until it came +to the point of rebellion. They would not follow further. +Their example was imitated now, moreover, in their +act of formal submission, by some who had played the +part of patriot more boldly and with less compunction. +Mr. Samuel Tucker, even, who until this untoward +month had been president of New Jersey’s revolutionary +committee of safety, made his submission. It seemed +hard to find steadfastness anywhere.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[265]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus138" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus138.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>LETTER CONCERNING BRITISH OUTRAGES</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[266]</span></p> + +<p>But Washington’s genius and the license of the +British soldiery had turned the tide at last, when it +seemed upon the very point of becoming overwhelming. +The occupation of the British, brief as it had +been, had brought upon New York and the Jerseys +experiences like those of a country overrun by a foreign +soldiery permitted almost every license of conquest. +When the ministers in England found themselves, +in 1774, face to face with the revolt in the colonies, +they could count but 17,547 men all told in the King’s +forces; and when it came to sudden recruiting, they +could obtain very few enlistments. They dared not risk +conscription,—English opinion had never tolerated +that, except to meet invasion. They sent to America, +therefore, to reinforce General Howe, not only English +soldiers as many as they could muster, but a great +force of German troops as well, hired by the regiment, +their trained officers included, from the Landgrave of +Hesse-Cassel and other German princes, neighbors to +the German dominions of the House of Hannover. +It was close upon a thousand of these “Hessians” +(for the colonists knew them all by that single name) +that Washington had taken at Trenton, but not until +they and their comrades had had time to make every +country-side from New York to the Delaware dread +and hate them. The British commanders had suffered +their men, whether English or foreign, to plunder +houses, insult and outrage women, destroy fields of +grain, and help themselves to what the towns contained +almost as they pleased; and had hardened the faces +of ten of the angry colonists against them for every +one who made submission and sought to put himself +on their side, accordingly. Their marauding parties +made little distinction between friend and foe, so they +but got what they wanted. Washington could thank +them for doing more to check defections from the patriotic +party than he could possibly do for himself by +carrying out the orders of the Congress to disarm all +loyalists and bring recusants to a sharp reckoning.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[267]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp67" id="illus139" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus139.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>RECRUITING POSTER</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<div class="note"> + +<p><i>Editor’s Note.</i>—The blurred inscription at the bottom +of the poster reads as follows:</p> + +<p>That tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, and saturday, at +Spotswood, in Middlesex county, attendance will be given by +Lieutenant Reading, with his music and recruiting party +of —— company in Major Shute’s Battalion of the 11th regiment +of infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Aaron Ogden, for +the purpose of receiving the enrollment of such youth of spirit +as may be willing to enter into this honourable service.</p> + +<p>The Encouragement, at this time, to enlist is truly liberal +and generous, namely, a bounty of twelve dollars, an annual +and fully sufficient supply of good and handsome cloathing, +a daily allowance of a large and ample ration of provisions, +together with sixty dollars a year in gold and silver money +on account of pay, the whole of which the soldier may lay up +for himself and friends, as all articles proper for his +subsistence and comfort are provided by law, without any +expence to him.</p> + +<p>Those who may favour this recruiting party with their +attendance as above will have an opportunity of hearing and +seeing in a more particular manner the great advantages which +these brave men will have who shall embrace this opportunity +of spending a few happy years in viewing the different parts +of this beautiful continent, in the honourable and truly +respectable character of a soldier, after which he may, +if he pleases, return home to his friends, with his pockets +full of money and his head covered with laurels.</p> + +<p class="center">GOD SAVE THE UNITED STATES.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[268]</span></p> + +<p>And so the year 1777 dawned like a first year of settled +war and revolution. For a little while, at the outset +of the year, the Congress made Washington practical +dictator in every affair that concerned the prosecution +of the war. It authorized long enlistments, moreover, +instead of the makeshift enrolments for three months +which had hitherto kept Washington’s army always +a-making and to be made, dissolving and reforming +month by month. The Congress had, it is true, neither +the energy nor the authority it needed. It could get +little money to pay the troops; its agents seriously +mismanaged the indispensable business of supplying +the army with stores and clothing; and the men deserted +by the score in disgust. Washington declared, +in the summer of 1777, that he was losing more men +by desertion than he was gaining by enlistment, do +what he would. But these were difficulties of administration. +In spite of all dangers and discouragements, +it was evident that the continent was settling to its +task. And the end of the year showed the struggle +hopefully set forward another stage.</p> + +<p>The military operations of that memorable year +were a striking illustration of the magnitude of the +task the British generals were set to accomplish, and +of their singular lack of the energy, decision, and despatch +necessary to accomplish it. They seemed like +men who dallied and dreamed and did not mean to +succeed. They planned like men of action, but then +tarried and bungled at the execution of their plans. +It was their purpose that year (1777) to strike from +three several directions along the valley of the Hudson, +and break once for all the connection between the New +England colonies and their confederates. General +Burgoyne was to move, with eight thousand men, down +Lake Champlain; Colonel St. Leger, with a small but +sufficient force, along a converging line down the valley +of the Mohawk, from Oswego on Ontario; and General +Howe was to meet them from the south, moving +in strength up the Hudson. More than thirty-three +thousand men would have effectually swept the whole +of that great central valley, north and south, when +their plan was executed. But it was not executed. +The British commanders were to learn that, for their +armies, the interior of the country was impracticable.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[269]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus140" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus140.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOHN BURGOYNE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[270]</span></p> + +<p>Both St. Leger and Burgoyne were baffled in that +vast wilderness. It was simple enough for Burgoyne +to descend the lakes and take once again the forts which +guarded them. Even Ticonderoga he took without +a blow struck. A precipitous height, which the Americans +had supposed inaccessible by any sort of carriage, +rose above the strong fortifications of the place beyond +a narrow strip of water; the English dragged cannon +to its summit; and General St. Clair promptly withdrew +in the night, knowing his position to be no longer +tenable. But it was another matter to penetrate the +forests which lay about Lake George and the upper +waters of the Hudson with militiamen out of every +country-side within reach swarming thicker and thicker +at every step the redcoats took into the depths of the +perplexing region. A thousand men Burgoyne felt +obliged to leave at Ticonderoga for the sake of his communications; +close upon a thousand more he lost (August +16th) at Bennington, whither he had sent them to +seize stores; and by the time he had reached the neighborhood +of Saratoga with the six thousand left him, +fully fourteen thousand provincials beset him. He +had been told that the people of the country through +which he was to pass would gladly give him aid and +succor; that those quiet forests of Vermont and New +York would even yield him, it might be, a regiment +or two of loyalists wherewith to recruit his ranks when +once his presence there should give the secluded settlers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[271]</span>heart of grace to declare themselves openly for the +King. Instead of that, he presently had a formidable +force of provincial yeomanry out of Vermont dogging +his steps under General Lincoln; a like levy, hurriedly +drawn together out of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, +beat and captured his best German troops at +Bennington; the country was emptied of its people +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[272]</span>and of its cattle, was stripped of its forage even, as he +advanced; and every step he took threatened to cut +him off alike from his sources of supply and from his +lines of retreat. It maddened the watchful men of +those scattered homes to see him come with half a thousand +savages at his front. It had been bad enough +to see any invaders on that defenceless border: but the +presence of the redskins put their homes and their lives +in immediate and deadly peril, and they mustered as +they would have mustered to meet a threat of massacre. +Burgoyne himself would have checked his savage +allies when the mischief had been done and it was too +late; but he only provoked them to desert him and leave +him without guides in an almost pathless wilderness, +without appeasing the men their presence had brought +swarming upon his flanks.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus141" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus141.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>ARTHUR ST. CLAIR</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus142" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus142.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SAMUEL ADAMS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus143" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus143.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BENJAMIN LINCOLN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>He pushed forward nevertheless, dogged, indomitable, +determined to risk everything rather than fail +of his rendezvous with Howe and St. Leger at the +Hudson. And yet close upon the heels of his defeat +and heavy loss at Bennington came news that St. Leger +had already failed. Late in July, St. Leger had thrust +his way cautiously through the forests from Oswego +to the upper waters of the Mohawk; and there, on the +3d of August, he had set himself down to take Fort +Stanwix, with its little garrison of six hundred men +under Colonel Peter Gansevoort. There, if anywhere, +in those northern forests by the Mohawk, might men +who fought in the name of the King look to be bidden +Godspeed and given efficient aid and counsel by the +settlers of the country-side through which they moved. +There William Johnson (Sir William since the French +war) had reigned supreme for a long generation, his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[273]</span>energy, subtlety, quick resource, and never failing +power over men holding the restless Iroquois always +to their loyalty to the English, the English always to +their duty to the crown. Sir William had been dead +these three years; but his son, Sir John, still held his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[274]</span>ancient allies to their fealty and stood at the front of +those who would not accept the revolution wrought +at Boston and Williamsburg and Philadelphia. This +war among the English sadly puzzled the red warriors +of the forest. War between the king of the French +and the king of the English they understood; it was a +war of hostile peoples; but this war of the English +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[275]</span>against their chiefs? “You are two brothers,” they +said, “of one blood.” The Mohawks deemed it some +subtile treachery, as their great chief did, the redoubtable +Joseph Brant, himself trained with the English +boys in Mr. Wheelock’s school at Lebanon and taught +to see the white +man close at hand; +and the Cayugas +and Senecas followed +them in their +allegiance to the +mighty sachem +who “lived over the +great lake,” their +friend and ally +time out of mind. +The Onondagas +held off, neutral. +The Oneidas and +Tuscaroras, among +whom Mr. Kirkland +was missionary, +aided the patriots +when they +could, because he +wished it, but +would not take the +war-path. There were white loyalists, too, as well as +red, on that far frontier. Sir John Johnson was their +leader. Their regiment of Royal Greens, together with +John Butler’s Tory rangers, constituted the bulk of +St. Leger’s motley force of seventeen hundred, red men +and white. Scottish highlanders, stubborn Englishmen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[276]</span>hot against the revolution, and restless Irishmen, +for the nonce on the side of authority, filled their +ranks.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus144" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus144.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp52" id="illus145" style="max-width: 21.875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus145.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SIR JOHN JOHNSON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus146" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus146.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOSEPH BRANT</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus147" style="max-width: 20.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus147.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PETER GANSEVOORT</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>But even there, in Sir William Johnson’s one-time +kingdom, enemies of King and Parliament mustered +stronger yet, and showed quicker concert, freer, more +instant union than the Tories. There were Dutch +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[277]</span>there, and Germans and Scots-Irish, who recked nothing +of the older ties that had bound them when it came to +the question whether they should yield in their own +affairs to masters over sea. Peter Gansevoort commanded +the little garrison at Stanwix; Nicholas Herkimer +brought eight +hundred men to his +succor. Brant and +Johnson trapped the +stout-hearted German +in a deadly ambush +close by Oriskany as +he came; but he beat +them off. While that +heroic struggle went +forward there in the +close ravine the hot +morning through (August +6, 1777), Gansevoort +made sally and +sacked Sir John’s +camp. Herkimer could +come no further; but +there came, instead, +rumors that Burgoyne +was foiled and taken +and the whole American army on the road to Stanwix. +It was only Benedict Arnold, with twelve hundred +Massachusetts volunteers; but the rumors they +industriously sent ahead of them carried the panic +they had planned, and when they came there was no +army to meet. St. Leger’s men were in full flight to +Oswego, the very Indians who had been their allies +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[278]</span>harrying them as they went, in mere wanton savagery +and disaffection.</p> + +<p>Though he knew now that St. Leger could not come, +though he knew nothing, and painfully conjectured +a thousand things, of Sir William Howe’s promised +movement below upon the river, Burgoyne pushed +forward to the Hudson and crossed it (September 13, +1777), to face the Americans under General Gates upon +the western bank. It was as safe to go forward as to +turn back. Gates, secure within his intrenchments, +would not strike; and he, his supplies instantly threatened +behind him, could not wait. On the 19th of September +he threw four thousand men forward through +the forest to turn, if it were possible, the flank of General +Gates’s army where it lay so still upon Bemis’s +Heights by Stillwater. But Arnold was too quick for +him. With three thousand men Arnold met and checked +him, moving with all the quick audacity and impetuous +dash of which he had given Guy Carleton a taste +upon Champlain and at the gates of Quebec, Daniel +Morgan and his Virginian riflemen again at his back +as they had been at far Quebec. His stroke having +failed, Burgoyne lay still for eighteen tedious days, +waiting once more for Sir Henry Clinton, now at last, +he knew, actually upon the river. On the 7th of October +he struck again. Clinton came too slowly. Burgoyne’s +lines of communication by the northern lakes, +long threatened by General Lincoln and his Vermonters, +were now actually cut off, and it was possible to +calculate just how few days’ rations remained to make +his campaign upon. He tried an attack with picked +men, moving quickly; but overwhelming forces met +him, and the inevitable Arnold, coming upon the field +when he was already beaten, turned his defeat almost +into a rout. He withdrew hopelessly towards Saratoga. +Every crossing of the river he found heavily guarded +against him. No succor came to him, or could come, +it seemed, either from the west or from the south; he +could find no safe way out of the wilderness; without +aid, the odds were too great against him; and on the +17th of October he capitulated.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[279]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus148" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus148.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>FACSIMILE OF CLOSING PARAGRAPHS OF BURGOYNE’S SURRENDER</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[280]</span></p> + +<p>General Howe had moved south instead of north. +He fancied that it would bring him no small moral +advantage to take Philadelphia, the “capital” of the +insurgent confederacy; and he calculated that it ought +to be easily possible to do so before Burgoyne would +need him in the north. Early in June, accordingly, +he attempted to cross the Jerseys; but Washington, +striking from Morristown, threatened his flank in a +way which made him hesitate and draw back. He +returned to New York, and put eighteen thousand men +aboard his transports, to get at Philadelphia by water +from the south. It was the 25th of August, and Burgoyne +was needing him sorely in the northern forests, +before he had got ready for his land movement. He +had gone all the long way round about into Chesapeake +Bay, and had made his landing at the Head of Elk, in +Maryland. Washington met him behind the fords of +the Brandywine (September 11th), but could not withstand +him. He could only delay him. Defeat no longer +meant dismay for the Americans; Washington acted in +force as steadily and effectively after defeat as after victory. +It was the 27th of September before Sir William +entered Philadelphia. He was hardly settled there before +Washington attacked him again, at his outpost +at Germantown, in the thick mist of the morning of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[281]</span>the 4th of October, and would have taken the place +had not the mist confused and misled his own troops. +Meantime Burgoyne was trapped at Saratoga. On +October 3d Sir Henry Clinton had begun at last the +movement from New York for Burgoyne’s relief which +ought to have been begun in midsummer,—carrying +northward a strong fleet upon the river and an army +of three thousand men. But it was too late. Burgoyne’s +surrender was already inevitable. The net +result of the campaign was the loss of the northern +army and the occupation of Philadelphia. “Philadelphia +has taken Howe,” laughed Dr. Franklin, in Paris, +when they told him that Howe had taken Philadelphia.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus149" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus149.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>SCENE OF THE BATTLE OF THE BRANDYWINE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The long, slow year had been full of signs both good +and bad. International forces were beginning to work +in favor of the insurgent colonies. From the outset +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[282]</span>France and Spain had been willing to give them aid +against England, their traditional rival and enemy. +Since the summer of 1776 they had been promised +French and Spanish assistance through Beaumarchais, +acting ostensibly as the firm of “Roderigue Hortalez +et Cie.,” but really as the secret agent of the two governments; +and early in 1777 the fictitious firm had begun +actually to despatch vessels laden with arms and ammunition +to America. Private money also went into +the venture, but governments were known to be behind +it; and on January 5th, 1777, Mr. Franklin had +arrived in Paris to assist in bringing France into still +closer touch with the war for independence over sea. +As the year drew towards its close the great Frederick +of Prussia had forbidden troops hired in the other German +states to cross Prussian territory to serve the English +in America, and so had added his good-will to the +French and Spanish money. French, and even German +and Polish officers, too, volunteered for service in the +American armies. It was the gallant Polish patriot +Tadeusz Kosciuszko who had shown General Gates +how to intrench himself upon Bemis’s Heights.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[283]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus150" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus150.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>WASHINGTON’S PROCLAMATION</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[284]</span></p> + +<p>The winter was deeply disheartening, nevertheless, +for Washington. Having failed in the mist at Germantown, +he withdrew his army to Valley Forge, +whence he could watch Howe at Philadelphia, and +move as he moved, and yet himself feel safe against +attack; but utter demoralization had fallen upon the +Congress, sitting in a sort of exile at York, and his +army was brought to such straits of privation and suffering +in its exposed camp as he had never been obliged +to see it endure before. There was plenty of food in +the country; plenty even at the disposal of Congress +and in the stores of its commissariat. The British had +overrun very little of the fertile country; the crops had +been abundant and laborers had not been lacking to +gather them in,—especially there in thriving Pennsylvania. +But the Congress had lost all vigor alike +in counsel and in action. Men of initiative had withdrawn +from it to serve their states in the reorganization +of their several governments and in the command +of forces in the field. Sometimes scarcely a dozen +members could be got together to take part in its deliberations. +It yielded to intrigue,—even to intrigue +against Washington; allowed its executive committees, +and most of all the commissary department, upon which +the army depended, to fall into disorganization; listened +to censures and bickerings rather than to plans +of action; lost the respect of the states, upon which +its authority depended; and left the army almost to +shift for itself for sustenance. Fortunately it was a +mild winter. Fortunately Washington was masterful +and indomitable, and proved equal to checkmating +at a single move those who intrigued in the Congress +to displace him. Despite every bitter experience of +that dark and anxious season, he had when spring +came an army stronger and fitter for service than it +had been when he took it into winter quarters. The +lengthened term of service had given him at last an +army which might be drilled, and foreign officers,—notably +the capable Steuben,—had taught him how +to drill it.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus151" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus151.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BARON DE STEUBEN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>General Howe’s winter passed easily and merrily +enough in Philadelphia. The place was full of people +of means and influence who hoped as heartily as Mr. +Galloway did for the success of the British arms. Some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[285]</span>of the leading Quakers of the town, whose influence +was all for an accommodation of the quarrel with the +mother country, had been arrested the previous summer +(1777) and sent south by the patriot leaders; but +many more were left who were of their mind, and General +Howe met something like a welcome when he came +in the autumn. The fashionable young women of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[286]</span>the town were delighted to look their best and to use +their charms to the utmost at all the balls and social +gatherings that marked the gay winter of his stay, +and their parents were not displeased to see them shine +there. But for the soldiers’ coats one would have +thought that peace had come again.</p> + +<p>But the minds of the ministers in England were not +so much at ease. In February, 1778, Lord North introduced +and pressed through Parliament conciliatory +measures of the most radical sort, practically retracing +every misjudged step taken with regard to the colonies +since 1763; and commissioners of peace were +sent to America with almost plenipotentiary powers +of accommodation. But that very month a formal +treaty of alliance was signed between France and the +United States; by the time the peace commissioners +reached Philadelphia, England had a war with France +on her hands as well as a war with the colonies; there +was no rejoicing in the camp at Valley Forge over the +news of Lord North’s unexpected turn of purpose, but +there was very keen rejoicing when news of the French +alliance came. The Congress would not treat with +the commissioners. Conciliation had come too late; +for the colonies the aspect of the war was too hopeful.</p> + +<p>When the commissioners reached Philadelphia they +found General Clinton about to abandon it. Sir Henry +Clinton had succeeded General Howe in chief command +in May. His orders were to evacuate Philadelphia +and concentrate his forces once more at New +York. The town was as full of excitement and dismay +at the prospect as it had been but a little more +than a year ago at news of the British approach. When +the army began to move, three thousand loyalists +abandoned the town with it, going with the stores by +sea, while Sir Henry took his fifteen thousand men +overland through the Jerseys again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[287]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus152" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus152.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>FACSIMILE OF PLAY BILL</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[288]</span></p> + +<p>When he moved, Washington moved also; outstripped +him; caught him at a disadvantage at Monmouth +Court House (June 28, 1778); and would inevitably +have beaten him most seriously had not Charles Lee +again disobeyed him and spoiled the decisive movement +of the day,—Charles Lee, the soldier of fortune +whom the Americans had honored and trusted. He +had disobeyed before, when Washington was retreating +hard pressed from New York. This time he seemed +to play the coward. It was not known until afterwards +that he had played the traitor, too. Clinton got off, +but in a sort of rout, leaving his wounded behind him. +“Clinton gained no advantage except to reach New +York with the wreck of his army,” was the watchful +Frederick’s comment over sea. “America is probably +lost for England.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp46" id="illus153" style="max-width: 23.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus153.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>CHARLES LEE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Even the seas were no longer free for the movements +of the British fleets, now that France was America’s +ally and French fleets were gathering under orders +for the American coast. Every month the war had +lasted the English had found their commerce and their +movement of stores and transports more and more +embarrassed by the American privateersmen. There +were bold and experienced seamen at every port of the +long coast. The little vessels which were so easily +set up and finished by skilful carpenters and riggers +in almost any quiet inlet were sure to be fast and deftly +handled when they got to sea; kept clear of his Majesty’s +fleets and of too closely guarded harbors; cruised +whithersoever the wits of their sagacious masters took +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[289]</span>them; and had generally to be heavily overmatched +to be beaten. They had taken more than five hundred +British soldiers from the transports before the Congress +at Philadelphia had uttered its Declaration of +Independence. Their prizes numbered more than four +hundred and fifty the year of Saratoga and Brandywine +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[290]</span>and the fight in the morning’s mist at Germantown, +though there were seventy ships of war upon +the coast. The very coasts of England herself were +not safe against them. Mr. Franklin went to France +in the autumn of 1776 with his pocket full of blank +letters of marque, and American privateersmen from +out the French ports caught prizes enough in English +waters to keep the commissioners in Paris well found +in money for their plans. In January, 1778, Captain +Rathburne, in the <i>Providence</i>, actually seized the fort +in the harbor of Nassau in New Providence of the Bahamas, +and took possession of town and shipping; +and in the spring of that same year John Paul Jones +performed the same daring feat at Whitehaven by +Solway Firth in England itself.</p> + +<p>These privateersmen, it turned out, were more to be +feared for the present than the fleets of France. The +Count d’Estaing was, indeed, despatched to America +with twelve ships of the line and six frigates, with four +thousand troops aboard; and his fleet appeared off +Sandy Hook in midsummer, 1778, while Sir Henry +Clinton was still fresh from his fright at Monmouth. +But the too cautious admiral came and went, and that +was all. He would not attempt an attack upon the +English fleet within the bay at New York, though it +was of scarcely half his strength. His pilots told him +his larger ships could not cross the bar. Newport +was the only other harbor the English held; and there +he allowed Lord Howe to draw him off. A storm separated +the fleets before they could come to terms, and +his cruise ended peaceably in Boston harbor. But it +was a heavy thing for England to have French fleets +to reckon with, and embarrassments thickened very +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[291]</span>ominously about her. She had absolutely no hold on +America, it seemed, outside the lines actually occupied +by her armies at Newport and New York; the very +sea was beset, for her merchantmen; and France was +now kindled into war against her.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp40" id="illus154" style="max-width: 23.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus154.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>REDUCED FACSIMILE OF INSTRUCTIONS FROM + CONGRESS TO PRIVATEERS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[292]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp30" id="illus155" style="max-width: 12.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus155.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>CONTINENTAL LOTTERY BOOK</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>And yet the Americans, too, were beset. They had +not only their long coasts to watch and British armies +to thwart and checkmate, but their western borders also +to keep, against Tory and +savage. The Iroquois country, +in particular, and all +the long valleys of the Mohawk, +the Unadilla, and the +Susquehanna, were filled +with the terrors of raid and +massacre throughout that +disappointing and anxious +summer of 1778. The stubborn +loyalists of the forest +country, with their temper +still of the untamed highlands +of old Scotland or of +the intractable country-sides +of old England, had been +driven into exile by the uncompromising +patriots, their +neighbors, who outnumbered +them. But they had not +gone far. They had made +their headquarters, the more +dogged and determined of +them, at Niagara, until this +score should be settled. Sir +John Johnson was still +their leader, for all he had been so discomfited before +Fort Stanwix; and John Butler and Walter Butler, +father and son, men touched with the savagery of the +redmen, their allies. Joseph Brant, that masterful +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[293]</span>spirit who was a sort of self-appointed king among +the savage Mohawks, did not often willingly forget +the precepts of that Christian creed to which good Mr. +Wheelock had drawn him in his boyhood, and held +the redmen back when he could from every wanton +deed of blood; but the Butlers stopped at nothing, and +white men and red made common cause against the +border settlements. Their cruel strokes were dealt +both far and near. Upon a day in July, 1778, never +to be forgotten, twelve hundred men fell upon the far-away +Wyoming Valley upon the Susquehanna and +harried it from end to end until it was black and desolate. +In November a like terrible fate fell upon peaceful +Cherry Valley, close at hand. There could be no +peace or quarter until the hands of these men were +stayed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[294]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus156" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus156.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>REDUCED FACSIMILE OF THE FIRST AND LAST PARTS OF PATRICK + HENRY’S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS TO GEORGE ROGERS CLARK</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus157" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus157.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GEORGE ROGERS CLARK</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>But, though very slowly, the end came. The men +who mustered in the patriotic ranks knew the forest +and were masters of its warfare. They had only to +turn to it in earnest to prevail. There were men upon +the border, too, who needed but a little aid and countenance +to work the work of pioneer statesmen on the +western rivers. Most conspicuous among these was +George Rogers Clark, the young Saxon giant who, in +1777, left his tasks as pioneer and surveyor on the lands +which lay upon the south of the great river Ohio in +far Kentucky, Virginia’s huge western county, and +made his way back to the tide-water country to propose +to Mr. Henry, now governor of the revolutionized commonwealth, +an expedition for the conquest of the +“Illinois country” which lay to the north of the river. +He was but five-and-twenty, but he had got his stalwart +stature where men came quickly into their powers, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[295]</span>deep in the forests, where he had learned woodcraft +and had already shown his mettle among men. Mr. +Henry and Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Wythe and Mr. +Madison, whom he consulted, approved his purpose +very heartily. It was a thing which must be prepared +for very quietly, and pushed, when once begun, with +secrecy and quick despatch; but the mustering of men +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[296]</span>and the gathering of munitions and supplies were incidents +which made no stir in those days of familiar +war. Clark could bring together what force he pleased +at Pittsburgh, and excite only the expectation that a +new band of armed men were about to set out for the +frontiers of Kentucky. In May, 1778, he was ready. +He took but one hundred and eighty picked riflemen, a +modest flotilla of small boats, and a few light pieces +of artillery, but they sufficed. Before the summer +was out he had gained easy mastery of the little settlements +which lay to the northward upon the Mississippi +and within the nearer valley of the Wabash. He had +an infinitely pleasing way of winning the friendship +of men upon any border, and the Frenchmen of the +settlements of the Illinois country relished the change +he promised them, liked well enough the prospect of being +quit of the English power. There were few Englishmen +to deal with.</p> + +<p>When winter came Colonel Hamilton, the British +commander at Detroit, came south into the forest with +a motley force of five hundred men, mixed of regulars, +Tories, and Indians, such as St. Leger had taken against +Stanwix, and occupied Vincennes again, upon the +Wabash; but Clark struck once more, sending his boats +up the river and bringing his picked force straight across +the frozen forests from Kaskaskia by the Mississippi; +and by the end of February, 1779, Colonel Hamilton +and all his levy were his prisoners. The Illinois country +was added to Virginia, and the grant of her ancient +charter, “up into the land, west and northwest,” seemed +made good again by the daring of her frontiersmen. +He could have taken Detroit itself, Clark declared, +with but a few hundred men. While he cleared the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[297]</span>northern rivers of the British arms a force like his own +descended the Mississippi, seized Natchez, and cleared +the southern reaches of the great stream.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp71" id="illus158" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus158.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>GEORGE CLARK’S FINAL SUMMONS TO COLONEL HAMILTON TO SURRENDER</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>That winter had witnessed a sharp shifting of the +scene of the war in the east. The British commanders +there had turned away from General Washington +and the too closely guarded reaches of the Hudson to +try for better fortune in the far south. In December, +1778, Clinton sent thirty-five hundred men from New +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[298]</span>York to the southern coasts by sea, and on the 29th +Savannah was taken, with comparative ease, there +being but a scant six hundred to defend it. The town +once taken, it proved an easy matter, at that great +remove from the centre of the American strength, to +overrun the country back of it during the early weeks +of 1779. But after that came delay again, and inaction, +as of those who wait and doubt what next to do. +The new year saw nothing else decisive done on either +side. In April Spain made common cause with France +against England; but Washington waited in vain +the year through to see the fighting transferred to +America. A few strategic movements about New +York, where Clinton lay; a few raids by the British; +a few sharp encounters that were not battles, and the +year was over. The British made sallies here and +there, to pillage and burn, to keep the country in awe +and bring off whatever they could lay hands upon, +striking sometimes along the coast as far as Connecticut +and even the Chesapeake at the south; but armed +bands were quick to muster to oppose and harass them +wherever they went, and it was never safe for them to +linger. Clinton thrust his lines out upon the river +and fortified Stony Point; but Anthony Wayne stormed +the place of a sudden, with twelve hundred men, and +took it, with unshotted guns at the point of the bayonet +before dawn on the morning of the 15th of July, +and brought more than five hundred prisoners away +with him, having come with that quick fury of reckless +attack which made men call him Mad Anthony, +and having as quickly withdrawn again. Harry Lee +stormed Paulus Hook in like fashion, and the British +were nowhere very easy within their lines. But, for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[299]</span>the rest, there was little to break the monotony of waiting +for news of the war at England’s door, where the +fleets of the allies threatened her. Privateersmen were +as busy as ever, and as much to be feared, almost, as +the French cruisers themselves; but the formal operations +of the war seemed vaguely postponed. Without +the co-operation of a naval force it was impossible +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[300]</span>for Washington to do anything against Sir Henry +at New York.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus159" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus159.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>CHARLES JAMES FOX</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>While he waited, therefore, he despatched General +Sullivan with five thousand men into the forest country +of the Mohawk and the Susquehanna to make an +end of the cruel mischief wrought upon defenceless +homes by the bitter Tories and their red allies. The +little army, sent forward in divisions, swept through +the country it was bidden clear like men who searched +stream and valley upon a journey of discovery; converged +to meet their hunted foes, but fifteen hundred +strong, where they lay at bay within a bend of the +Chemung,—the full rally of the forest country, British +regulars, Tory rangers, Indian braves, Johnson, the +Butlers, Joseph Brant, every leader they acknowledged, +united to direct them,—and overwhelmed them; +ravaged the seats of Seneca and Cayuga far and near, +till neither village nor any growing thing that they +could find upon which men could subsist was left this +side the Genesee; stopped short only of the final thing +they had been bidden attempt, the capture of the stronghold +at Niagara itself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[301]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus160" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus160.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOHN SULLIVAN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>That was a summer’s reckoning which redmen far +and near were not likely to forget. In April a little +army of frontiersmen under Colonel Evan Shelby, +that stout pioneer out of Maryland who brought hot +Welsh blood to the task, swept suddenly along the +northward reaches of the Tennessee and harried the +country of the Chickamaugas, among whom Tories +and British alike had been stirring war. In August, +Colonel Brodhead, ordered to co-operate with General +Sullivan, had taken six hundred men from his post +at Fort Pitt, whence Clark had made his exit into the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[302]</span>west, and had destroyed the Indian settlements by the +Alleghany and upon French Creek, the old routes of +the French from the lakes to the Ohio. Such work +was never finished. The Indians were for a little dislodged, +disconcerted, and put to sad straits to live; +but they were not conquered. The terror bred a deeper +thirst for vengeance among them, and a short respite +of peace was sure to be followed when a new year came +in with fresh flashes of war on the border, as lurid +and ominous as ever. The danger was lessened, nevertheless. +The final conquest of the Indian country +was at least begun. The backwoodsmen were within +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[303]</span>sight of ultimate mastery when once peace should +bring settlers crowding westward again.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp63" id="illus161" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus161.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>CASIMIR PULASKI</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The fighting at sea that memorable year of doubt +was of a like import,—full of daring and stubborn courage, +planned and carried through with singular initiative +and genius, quick with adventure, bright with +every individual achievement, but of necessity without +permanent consequence. Late in July, 1779, +Captain Paul Jones had sailed from a port of France +in command of a little squadron, half American, half +French, with which the energy of Mr. Franklin had +supplied him. His flag-ship, the <i>Bon Homme Richard</i>, +was a worn-out French East Indiaman, fitted with forty +guns, many of which were unserviceable; his French +consorts were light craft, lightly armed; only one ship +of the squadron was fully fit for the adventures he +promised himself, having come fresh from the stocks +in America, and she was intrusted to the command +of a French captain who obeyed orders or not, as he +pleased. But Jones was a man to work with what +he had, and made even that improvised fleet suffice. +With it he cruised the whole length of the western coast +of Ireland and circled Scotland. Off Flamborough +Head he fell in with the <i>Serapis</i>, 44, and the <i>Countess +of Scarborough</i>, 20, the convoy of a fleet of merchantmen, +and himself took the larger ship almost unassisted +in a desperate fight after sunset, in the first +watch of the night of the 23d of September. Neither +ship survived the encounter forty-eight hours, so completely +had they shot each other to pieces, and no +man who followed the sea was likely to forget what he +heard of that close grapple in the gathering night in +the North Sea. “If I fall in with him again, I will +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[304]</span>make a lord of him,” Jones exclaimed, when he heard +that the King had knighted Captain Pearson, of the +<i>Serapis</i>, for the gallant fight.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus162" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus162.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOHN PAUL JONES</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[305]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus163" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus163.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>THE FIGHT BETWEEN BON HOMME RICHARD AND SERAPIS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[306]</span></p> + +<p>For a little, in the autumn, it looked as if the naval +aid for which General Washington waited had come +at last. The Count d’Estaing was in the West Indies +with a strong fleet, from an encounter with which the +English commander in those waters had drawn off to +port again to refit. The count was willing, while his +hands were free, to co-operate in an attack upon the +southern coast at Savannah. A portion of Washington’s +army was sent south to join General Lincoln in +South Carolina for the attempt. Count d’Estaing +put six thousand troops aboard his fleet, and by the +16th of September was within the harbor. But he did +not strike quickly or boldly enough, took the slow way +of siege to reduce the place, suffered the English commander +to make good both the rally of his scattered +force and the fortification of his position, and had done +nothing when it was high time for him to be back in +the Indies to guard the possessions of his own king +against the English. A last assault (October 9th) +failed and he withdrew.</p> + +<p>The next year a like disappointment was added. In +midsummer a French fleet arrived upon the northern +coast, but it proved impossible to use it. On the 10th of +July a French squadron put in at Newport and landed a +force of six thousand men under the Comte de Rochambeau; +but a powerful British fleet presently blockaded +the port, and Rochambeau could not prudently withdraw +while the fleet was threatened. He had been +ordered to put himself at General Washington’s disposal; +but he could not do so till the blockade was +raised. Meanwhile not only Georgia but the entire +South seemed lost and given over to British control. +In the spring, Clinton had concentrated all his forces +once more at New York; and then, leaving that all-important +place strong enough to keep Washington +where he was, he had himself taken eight thousand +men by sea to Charleston. Two thousand more troops, +already in the South, joined him there, and by the +12th of May (1780) he had taken not only the place +itself, but General Lincoln and three thousand men +besides. South Carolina teemed with loyalists. Partisan +bands, some serving one side, some the other, swept +and harried the region from end to end. Wherever the +British moved in force, they moved as they pleased, +and were masters of the country. In June General +Clinton deemed it already safe to take half his force +back to New York, and Cornwallis was left to complete +the work of subjugation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[307]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus164" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus164.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>WASHINGTON AND ROCHAMBEAU IN THE TRENCHES AT YORKTOWN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[308]</span></p> + +<p>That same month the Congress conferred the chief +command in the South upon General Horatio Gates, +who had been in command of the army to which Burgoyne +had surrendered at Saratoga,—the army which +Schuyler had made ready and which Morgan and Arnold +had victoriously handled. Intriguers had sought, while +Washington lay at Valley Forge, to substitute Gates +for the commander-in-chief; now he was to show how +happy a circumstance it was that that selfish intrigue +had failed. He met Cornwallis at Camden, in South +Carolina, his own force three thousand men, Cornwallis’s +but two thousand, and was utterly, even shamefully, +defeated (August 16, 1780). “We look on America +as at our feet,” said Horace Walpole, complacently, +when the news had made its way over sea.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus165" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus165.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>HORATIO GATES</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>And certainly it seemed as if that dark year brought +nothing but disaster upon the Americans. It was now +more evident than ever that they had no government +worthy of the name. The Congress had no more authority +now than it had had in 1774, when it was admitted +to be nothing but a “Congress of the Committees +of Correspondence”; and it was not now made up, as +it had then been, of the first characters in America, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[309]</span>the men of the greatest force and initiative in the patriotic +party. It could advise, but it could not command; +and the states, making their own expenditures, which +seemed heavy enough, maintaining their own militia, +guarding their own interests in the war, following +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[310]</span>their own leaders, often with open selfishness and indifference +to the common cause, paid less and less heed +to what it asked them to do. It could not raise money +by taxation; it could raise very little by loan, having +no legal power to make good its promises of repayment. +Beaumarchais found to his heavy cost that it was next +to impossible to recover the private moneys advanced +through “Roderigue Hortalez et Cie.” The troops +upon whom Washington and his generals depended +were paid in “continental” paper money, which, by +1780, had grown so worthless that a bushel of wheat +could scarcely be had for a month’s pay. Wholesale +desertion began. Enlisted men by the score quit the +demoralized camps. It was reckoned that as many +as a full hundred a month went over to the enemy, if +only to get food and shelter and clothing. Those +who remained in the depleted ranks took what they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[311]</span>needed from the farms about them, and grew sullen +and mutinous. Promises of money and supplies +proved as fruitless as promises of reinforcements from +France.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus166" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus166.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BENEDICT ARNOLD’S OATH OF ALLEGIANCE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus167" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus167.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BENEDICT ARNOLD</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus168" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus168.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>JOHN ANDRÉ</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Even deliberate treason was added. Benedict Arnold, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[312]</span>whom every soldier in the continental ranks deemed +a hero because of the gallant things he had done at +Quebec and Saratoga, and whom Washington had +specially loved and trusted, entered into correspondence +with the enemy, and plotted to give West Point and +the posts dependent upon it into the hands of the British. +Congress had been deeply unjust to him, promoting +his juniors and inferiors and passing him over; a thousand +slights had cut him; a thousand subtle forces of +discouragement and of social temptation had been at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[313]</span>work upon him, and he had yielded,—to pique, to bitter +disappointment, to the disorders of a mind unstable, +irritable, without nobility. His treason was discovered +in time to be foiled, but the heart-breaking fact of it +cut Washington to the quick, +like a last and wellnigh fatal +stroke of bitter dismay. Who +could be trusted now? and +where was strength to be got +wherewith to carry the languishing +work to a worthy +finish?</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp58" id="illus169" style="max-width: 17.1875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus169.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MAJOR ANDRÉ’S WATCH</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>It was the worst of all the +bad signs of the times that no +government could be agreed +upon that would give the +young states a real union, +or assure them of harmony +and co-operation in the exercise of the independence +for which they were struggling. Definitive articles of +confederation had been suggested as of course at the +time the Declaration of Independence was adopted; +and the next year (November 15, 1777) the Congress +had adopted the plan which Mr. Dickinson had drawn +up and which its committee had reported July 12, 1776. +But the states did not all accept it, and without unanimous +adoption it could not go into operation. All except +Delaware and Maryland accepted it before the +close of 1778, and Delaware added her ratification in +1779; but Maryland still held out,—waiting until the +great states, like Virginia, should forego some part of +their too great preponderance and advantage in the +prospective partnership by transferring their claims +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[314]</span>to the great northwestern territories to the proposed +government of the confederation; and her statesmanlike +scruples still kept the country without a government +throughout that all but hopeless year 1780.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp93" id="illus170" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus170.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BENEDICT ARNOLD’S PASS TO MAJOR ANDRÉ</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>But the autumn showed a sudden turning of the +tide. Cornwallis had ventured too far from his base +of operations on the southern coast. He had gone +deep into the country of the Carolinas, north of him, +and was being beset almost as Burgoyne had been when +he sought to cross the forests which lay about the upper +waters of the Hudson. Gates had been promptly superseded +after his disgraceful discomfiture and rout at +Camden, and the most capable officers the long war +had bred were now set to accomplish the task of forcing +Cornwallis to a checkmate: Nathanael Greene, whose +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[315]</span>quality Washington had seen abundantly tested at +Trenton and Princeton, at the Brandywine, at Germantown, +and at Monmouth; the dashing Henry Lee, +whom nature and the hard school of war had made a +master of cavalry; the veteran and systematic Steuben; +Morgan, who had won with Arnold in the fighting +about Saratoga, and had kept his name unstained; +and William Washington, a distant kinsman of the +commander-in-chief, whom English soldiers were to remember +with Lee as a master of light horsemen. The +wide forests were full, too, of partisan bands, under +leaders whom the British had found good reason to +dread.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus171" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus171.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MAJOR ANDRÉ’S POCKET-BOOK</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus172" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus172.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>VIRGINIA COLONIAL CURRENCY</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The conquest of the back country of the Carolinas +was always doing and to be done. The scattered settlements +and lonely plantations were, indeed, full of men +who cared little for the quarrel with the mother country +and held to their old allegiance as of course, giving +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[316]</span>to the King’s troops ready aid and welcome; and there +were men there, as everywhere, who loved pillage and all +lawless adventure, upon whom the stronger army could +always count to go in its ranks upon an errand of subjugation; +but there were also men who took their spirit +and their principles from the new days that had come +since the passage of the Stamp Act, and, though they +were driven from their homes and left to shift for themselves +for mere subsistence when the King’s forces were +afield, they came back again when the King’s men +were gone, and played the part, albeit without Indian +allies, that the ousted Tories played in the forest country +of New York. The English commanders at Savannah +and Charleston had hit at last, nevertheless, upon +effective means of holding, not their seaports merely, +but the country itself. The forces they sent into the +interior were made up, for the most part, of men recruited +in America, and were under the command of officers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[317]</span>fitted by school and temperament for their irregular +duty of keeping a whole country-side in fearful discipline +of submission. Many a formidable band of “Whigs” +took the field against them, but were without a base +of supplies, moved among men who spied upon them, +and were no match in the long run for Tarleton and +Ferguson,—Tarleton with his reckless, sudden onset +and savage thoroughness of conquest, and Ferguson +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[318]</span>with his subtile gifts at once of mastery and of quiet +judgment that made him capable of succeeding either +as a soldier who compelled or as a gentleman who won +men to go his way and do his will. South Carolina +seemed once and again to lie almost quiet under these +men.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp56" id="illus173" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus173.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>LORD CORNWALLIS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="illus174" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus174.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>WILLIAM WASHINGTON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[319]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus175" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus175.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>BANASTRE TARLETON</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[320]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp63" id="illus176" style="max-width: 25.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus176.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>FRANCIS MARION</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>But Ferguson, for all he had the gifts of a soldier +statesman, had gone too far. He had carried his persuasion +of arms to the very foothills of the western mountains, +and had sent his threats forward into the western +country that lay beyond the passes of the mountains, +where hardy frontiersmen of whom he knew almost +nothing had so far kept their homes against the redmen +without thought of turning to the east. His threats +had angered and aroused them. They had put their +riflemen from the back country of Carolina and Virginia +into the saddle hundreds strong, had pushed +league upon league through the passes of the mountains, +from the far-off waters of the Holston, and had +surrounded and utterly overwhelmed him at King’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[321]</span>Mountain (October 7, 1780). There he lost a thousand +men and his own life. “A numerous army appeared +on the frontier,” reported Lord Rawdon, “drawn from +Nolachucky and other settlements beyond the mountains, +whose very names had been unknown to us.” +The hold of the British upon the inland settlements +was of a sudden loosened, and Cornwallis had reason +to know at once what a difference that made to him.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="map3" style="max-width: 62.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/map3.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>ENGLISH COLONIES, 1763-1775.</p> + <p>BORMAY & CO., N. Y.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp59" id="illus177" style="max-width: 29.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus177.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>DANIEL MORGAN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[322]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus178" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus178.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>COUNT ROCHAMBEAU</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[323]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="illus179" style="max-width: 26.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus179.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>NATHANAEL GREENE</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[324]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus180" style="max-width: 28.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus180.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>FACSIMILE OF THE LAST ARTICLE OF CAPITULATION AT YORKTOWN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[325]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp71" id="illus181" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus181.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>PAROLE OF CORNWALLIS</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Early in December came General Greene to take the +place of Gates, and new difficulties faced the English +commander. Greene kept no single force afield, to +be met and checkmated, but sent one part of his little +army towards the coast to cut Cornwallis’s communications, +and another southward against the inland posts +and settlements where scattered garrisons lay between +the commander-in-chief and his base at Charleston +in the south. With the first detachment went Francis +Marion, a man as formidable in strategy and sudden +action as Ferguson, and the men who had attached +themselves to him as if to a modern Robin Hood. With +the second went Daniel Morgan, a man made after the +fashion of the redoubtable frontiersmen who had brought +Ferguson his day of doom at King’s Mountain. Tarleton +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[326]</span>was sent after Morgan with eleven hundred men, +found him at the Cowpens (January 17, 1781), just +within the border upon which King’s Mountain lay, +and came back a fugitive, with only two hundred and +seventy men. Greene drew his forces together again, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[327]</span>and at Guilford Court House Cornwallis beat him, outnumbered +though he was (March 15th). But to beat +Greene, it seemed, was of no more avail than to beat +General Washington. The country was no safer, the +communications of the army were as seriously threatened, +the defeated army was as steady and as well in +hand after the battle as before; and the English withdrew +to Wilmington, on the coast.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="illus182" style="max-width: 20.3125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus182.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>ORDER PERMITTING THE ILLUMINATION OF PHILADELPHIA</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus183" style="max-width: 18.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus183.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>NELSON HOUSE, CORNWALLIS’S HEADQUARTERS, YORKTOWN</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>It seemed a hazardous thing to take an army thence +southward again, with +supplies, through the +forests where Greene +moved; news came that +General Arnold was in +Virginia with a considerable +body of Clinton’s +troops from New York, +to anticipate what the +southern commander +had planned to do for +the conquest of the Old +Dominion when the Carolinas +should have been +“pacified” from end to end; and Cornwallis determined +to move northward instead of southward, and join +Arnold in Virginia. Greene moved a little way in +his track, and then turned southward again against +the garrisons of the inland posts. Lord Rawdon beat +him at Hobkirk’s Hill (April 25th) and held him off +at Eutaw Springs (September 8th); but both times the +English withdrew to save their communications; and, +though the work was slow in the doing, before winter +came again they were shut within the fortifications +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[328]</span>of Charleston and the country-sides were once more +in American possession, to be purged of loyalist bands +at leisure.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus184" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus184.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>In Virginia, Lord Cornwallis moved for a little while +freely and safely enough; but only for a little while. +Baron Steuben had been busy, winter and spring, raising +recruits there for an army of defence; General +Washington hurried the Marquis de Lafayette southward +with twelve hundred light infantry from his +own command; and by midsummer, 1781, Lafayette +was at the British front with a force strong enough +to make it prudent that Cornwallis should concentrate +his strength and once more make sure of his base of +supplies at the coast. His watchful opponents out-manœuvred +him, caught his forces once and again +in detail, and made his outposts unsafe. By the first +week in August he had withdrawn to the sea and had +taken post behind intrenchments at Yorktown, something +more than seven thousand strong.</p> + +<p>There, upon the peninsula which he deemed his +safest coign of vantage, he was trapped and taken. +At last the French were at hand. The Comte de Grasse, +with twenty-eight ships of the line, six frigates, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[329]</span>twenty thousand men, was in the West Indies. Washington +had begged him to come at once either to New +York or to the Chesapeake. In August he sent word +that he would come to the Chesapeake. Thereupon +Washington once again moved with the sudden directness +he had shown at Trenton and Princeton. +Rochambeau was free now to lend him aid. With +four thousand Frenchmen and two thousand of his +own continentals, Washington marched all the long +four hundred miles straightway to the York River, +in Virginia. There he found Cornwallis, as he had +hoped and expected, already penned between Grasse’s +fleet in the bay and Lafayette’s trenches across the +peninsula. His six thousand men, added to Lafayette’s +five thousand and the three thousand put ashore from +the fleet, made short work enough of the siege, drawn +closer and closer about the British; and by the +19th of October (1781) they accepted the inevitable +and surrendered. The gallant Cornwallis himself could +not withhold an expression of his admiration for the +quick, consummate execution of the plans which had +undone him, and avowed it with manly frankness to +Washington. “But, after all,” he cried, “your Excellency’s +achievements in New Jersey were such that +nothing could surpass them.” He liked the mastery +by which he had been outplayed and taken.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>Here our general <i>authorities</i> are the same as for the period covered +by the last chapter. But to these we now add Edward J. Lowell’s +<i>The United States of America, 1775-1782</i>, in the seventh volume of +Winsor’s <i>Narrative and Critical History of America</i>; John Jay’s +<i>Peace Negotiations, 1782-1783</i>, in the same volume of Winsor; +G. W. Greene’s <i>Historical View of the American Revolution</i>; the +second volume of W. B. Weeden’s <i>Economic and Social History +of New England</i>; P. O. Hutchinson’s <i>Life and Letters of Thomas +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[330]</span>Revolution</i>; Lorenzo Sabine’s <i>Biographical Sketches of Adherents +to the British Crown</i>; George E. Ellis’s <i>The Loyalists and +their Fortunes</i>, in the seventh volume of Winsor; Edward E. Hale’s +<i>Franklin in France</i>; George Ticknor Curtis’s <i>Constitutional +History of the United States</i>; and William H. Trescot’s <i>Diplomacy +of the American Revolution</i>. Abundant references to authorities +on the several campaigns of the revolutionary war may be found +in Albert B. Hart and Edward Channing’s <i>Guide to American +History</i>, an invaluable manual.</p> + +<p>The <i>sources</i> for the period may be found in the contemporary +pamphlets, speeches, and letters published at the time and since, +among which may be mentioned, as of unusual individuality, +Thomas Paine’s celebrated pamphlet entitled <i>Common Sense</i>, the +writings of Joseph Galloway, some of which are reproduced in +Stedman and Hutchinson’s <i>Library of American Literature</i>, and +St. John de Crevecœur’s <i>Letters from an American Farmer</i>. Here +again we rely, too, on the <i>Journals of Congress</i> and the <i>Secret +Journals of Congress</i>; the <i>Debates of Parliament</i>; Peter Force’s +<i>American Archives</i>; Hezekiah Niles’s <i>Principles and Acts of the +Revolution in America</i>; <i>The Annual Register</i>; Jared Sparks’s +<i>Correspondence of the American Revolution</i> and <i>Diplomatic Correspondence +of the American Revolution</i>; Francis Wharton’s <i>The +Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States</i>; +Thomas Anburey’s <i>Travels through the Interior Parts of America +(1776-1781)</i>; the Marquis de Chastellux’s <i>Travels in North +America in the Years 1780, 1781, and 1782</i>; and the <i>Memoirs</i> and +<i>Collections</i> of the Historical Societies of the several original states.</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[331]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="APPENDIX">APPENDIX</h2> + +</div> + +<h3>ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION<br> +<span class="smaller">OF THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES</span></h3> + +<p class="hanging">Betweene the plantations vnder the Gouernment of the +Massachusetts, the Plantacons vnder the Gouernment +of New Plymouth, the Plantacons vnder the Gouernment +of Connectacutt, and the Gouernment of New +Haven with the Plantacons in combinacon therewith</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Whereas</span> wee all came into these parts of America +with one and the same end and ayme, namely, to advaunce +the kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to +enjoy the liberties of the Gospell in puritie with peace. And +whereas in our settleinge (by a wise Providence of God) +we are further dispersed vpon the Sea Coasts and Riuers +then was at first intended, so that we cannot according +to our desire, with convenience communicate in one Gouernment +and Jurisdiccon. And whereas we live encompassed +with people of seuerall Nations and strang languages which +heareafter may proue injurious to vs or our posteritie. And +forasmuch as the Natives have formerly committed sondry +insolences and outrages vpon seueral Plantacons of the +English and have of late combined themselues against +vs. And seing by reason of those sad Distraccons in England, +which they have heard of, and by which they know +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[332]</span>we are hindred from that humble way of seekinge advise +or reapeing those comfortable fruits of protection which +at other tymes we might well expecte. Wee therefore doe +conceiue it our bounden Dutye without delay to enter into +a present consotiation amongst our selues for mutual help +and strength in all our future concernements: That as +in Nation and Religion, so in other Respects we bee and +continue one according to the tenor and true meaninge +of the ensuing Articles: Wherefore it is fully agreed and +concluded by and betweene the parties or Jurisdiccons +aboue named, and they joyntly and seuerally doe by these +presents agreed and concluded that they all bee, and henceforth +bee called by the Name of the United Colonies of New-England.</p> + +<p>II. The said United Colonies, for themselues and their +posterities, do joyntly and seuerally, hereby enter into +a firme and perpetuall league of friendship and amytie, +for offence and defence, mutuall advise and succour, vpon +all just occations, both for preserueing and propagateing +the truth and liberties of the Gospel, and for their owne +mutuall safety and wellfare.</p> + +<p>III. It is futher agreed That the Plantacons which at +present are or hereafter shalbe settled within the limmetts +of the Massachusetts, shalbe forever vnder the Massachusetts, +and shall have peculiar Jurisdiccon among themselues +in all cases as an entire Body, and that Plymouth, Connecktacutt, +and New Haven shall eich of them haue like +peculier Jurisdiccon and Gouernment within their limmetts +and in referrence to the Plantacons which already are settled +or shall hereafter be erected or shall settle within their +limmetts respectiuely; prouided that no other Jurisdiccon +shall hereafter be taken in as a distinct head or member +of this Confederacon, nor shall any other Plantacon or +Jurisdiccon in present being and not already in combynacon +or vnder the Jurisdiccon of any of these Confederats be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">[333]</span>received by any of them, nor shall any two of the Confederats +joyne in one Jurisdiccon without consent of the rest, +which consent to be interpreted as is expressed in the +sixth Article ensuinge.</p> + +<p>IV. It is by these Confederats agreed that the charge +of all just warrs, whether offensiue or defensiue, upon what +part or member of this Confederaccon soever they fall, shall +both in men and provisions, and all other Disbursements, +be borne by all the parts of this Confederacon, in different +proporcons according to their different abilitie, in manner +following, namely, that the Commissioners for eich Jurisdiccon +from tyme to tyme, as there shalbe occation, bring +a true account and number of all the males in every Plantacon, +or any way belonging to, or under their seuerall +Jurisdiccons, of what quality or condicion soeuer they bee, +from sixteene yeares old to threescore, being Inhabitants +there. And That according to the different numbers which +from tyme to tyme shalbe found in eich Jurisdiccon, upon +a true and just account, the service of men and all charges +of the warr be borne by the Poll: Eich Jurisdiccon, or Plantacon, +being left to their owne just course and custome of +rating themselues and people according to their different +estates, with due respects to their qualites and exemptions +among themselues, though the Confederacon take +no notice of any such priviledg: And that according to +their differrent charge of eich Jurisdiccon and Plantacon, +the whole advantage of the warr (if it please God to bless +their Endeavours) whether it be in lands, goods or persons, +shall be proportionably deuided among the said Confederats.</p> + +<p>V. It is further agreed That if any of these Jurisdiccons, +or any Plantacons vnder it, or in any combynacon +with them be envaded by any enemie whomsoeuer, vpon +notice and request of any three majestrats of that Jurisdiccon +so invaded, the rest of the Confederates, without +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[334]</span>any further meeting or expostulacon, shall forthwith send +ayde to the Confederate in danger, but in different proporcons; +namely, the Massachusetts an hundred men sufficiently +armed and provided for such a service and jorney, +and eich of the rest fourty-fiue so armed and provided, or +any lesse number, if lesse be required, according to this +proporcon. But if such Confederate in danger may be +supplyed by their next Confederate, not exceeding the +number hereby agreed, they may craue help there, and +seeke no further for the present. The charge to be borne +as in this Article is exprest: And, at the returne, to be +victualled and supplyed with poder and shott for their +journey (if there be neede) by that Jurisdiccon which employed +or sent for them: But none of the Jurisdiccons to +exceed these numbers till by a meeting of the Commissioners +for this Confederacon a greater ayd appeare necessary. +And this proporcon to continue, till upon knowledge of +greater numbers in eich Jurisdiccon which shalbe brought +to the next meeting some other proporcon be ordered. But +in any such case of sending men for present ayd whether +before or after such order or alteracon, it is agreed that at +the meeting of the Commissioners for this Confederacon, +the cause of such warr or invasion be duly considered: +And if it appeare that the fault lay in the parties so invaded, +that then that Jurisdiccon or Plantacon make just Satisfaccon, +both to the Invaders whom they have injured, and +beare all the charges of the warr themselves without requireing +any allowance from the rest of the Confederats +towards the same. And further, that if any Jurisdiccon +see any danger of any Invasion approaching, and there +be tyme for a meeting, that in such case three majestrats +of that Jurisdiccon may summon a meeting at such convenyent +place as themselues shall think meete, to consider +and provide against the threatned danger, Provided when +they are met they may remoue to what place they please, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[335]</span>Onely whilst any of these foure Confederats have but three +majestrats in their Jurisdiccon, their request or summons +from any two of them shalbe accounted of equall force with +the three mentoned in both the clauses of this Article, till +there be an increase of majestrats there.</p> + +<p>VI. It is also agreed that for the mannaging and concluding +of all affairs proper and concerneing the whole +Confederacon, two Commissioners shalbe chosen by and +out of eich of these foure Jurisdiccons, namely, two for +the Mattachusetts, two for Plymouth, two for Connectacutt +and two for New Haven; being all in Church fellowship +with us, which shall bring full power from their +seuerall generall Courts respectively to heare, examine, +weigh and determine all affaires of our warr or peace, leagues, +ayds, charges and numbers of men for warr, divission of +spoyles and whatsoever is gotten by conquest, receiueing +of more Confederats for plantacons into combinacon with +any of the Confederates, and all thinges of like nature +which are the proper concomitants or consequence of such +a confederacon, for amytie, offence and defence, not intermeddleing +with the gouernment of any of the Jurisdiccons +which by the third Article is preserued entirely to +themselves. But if these eight Commissioners, when +they meete, shall not all agree, yet it is concluded that +any six of the eight agreeing shall have power to settle +and determine the business in question: But if six do not +agree, that then such proposicons with their reasons, so +farr as they have beene debated, be sent and referred to +the foure generall Courts, vizt. the Mattachusetts, Plymouth, +Connectacutt, and New Haven: And if at all the +said Generall Courts the businesse so referred be concluded, +then to bee prosecuted by the Confederates and +all their members. It is further agreed that these eight +Commissioners shall meete once every yeare, besides extraordinary +meetings (according to the fift Article) to consider, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">[336]</span>treate and conclude of all affaires belonging to this +Confederacon, which meeting shall ever be the first Thursday +in September. And that the next meeting after the +date of these presents, which shalbe accounted the second +meeting, shalbe at Bostone in the Massachusetts, the third +at Hartford, the fourth at New Haven, the fift at Plymouth, +the sixt and seaventh at Bostone. And then Hartford, +New Haven and Plymouth, and so in course successiuely, +if in the meane tyme some middle place be not found out and +agreed on which may be commodious for all the jurisdiccons.</p> + +<p>VII. It is further agreed that at eich meeting of these +eight Commissioners, whether ordinary or extraordinary, +they, or six of them agreeing, as before, may choose their +President out of themselues, whose office and worke shalbe +to take care and direct for order and a comely carrying on +of all proceedings in the present meeting. But he shalbe +invested with no such power or respect as by which he shall +hinder the propounding or progresse of any businesse, or +any way cast the Scales, otherwise then in the precedent +Article is agreed.</p> + +<p>VIII. It is also agreed that the Commissioners for this +Confederacon hereafter at their meetings, whether ordinary +or extraordinary, as they may have commission or opertunitie, +do endeavoure to frame and establish agreements +and orders in generall cases of a civill nature wherein all +the plantacons are interested for preserving peace among +themselves, and preventing as much as may bee all occations +of warr or difference with others, as about the free and +speedy passage of Justice in every Jurisdiccon, to all the +Confederats equally as their owne, receiving those that +remoue from one plantacon to another without due certefycats; +how all the Jurisdiccons may carry it towards the +Indians, that they neither grow insolent nor be injured +without due satisfaccion, lest warr break in vpon the Confederates +through such miscarryage. It is also agreed that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[337]</span>if any servant runn away from his master into any other +of these confederated Jurisdiccons, That in such Case, +vpon the Certyficate of one Majistrate in the Jurisdiccon out +of which the said servant fled, or upon other due proofe, +the said servant shalbe deliuered either to his Master or any +other that pursues and brings such Certificate or proofe. +And that vpon the escape of any prisoner whatsoever or +fugitiue for any criminal cause, whether breaking prison +or getting from the officer or otherwise escaping, upon the +certificate of two Majistrats of the Jurisdiccon out of which +the escape is made that he was a prisoner or such an offender +at the tyme of the escape. The Majestrates or some +of them of that Jurisdiccon where for the present the said +prisoner or fugitive abideth shall forthwith graunt such +a warrant as the case will beare for the apprehending of +any such person, and the delivery of him into the hands +of the officer or other person that pursues him. And if +there be help required for the safe returneing of any such +offender, then it shalbe graunted to him that craves the +same, he paying the charges thereof.</p> + +<p>IX. And for that the justest warrs may be of dangerous +consequence, espetially to the smaler plantacons in +these vnited Colonies, It is agreed that neither the Massachusetts, +Plymouth, Connectacutt nor New-Haven, nor +any of the members of any of them shall at any tyme hereafter +begin, undertake, or engage themselues or this Confederacon, +or any part thereof in any warr whatsoever +(sudden exegents with the necessary consequents thereof +excepted, which are also to be moderated as much as the +case will permit) without the consent and agreement of +the forenamed eight Commissioners, or at least six of them, +as in the sixt Article is provided: And that no charge +be required of any of the Confederats in case of a defensiue +warr till the said Commissioners haue mett and approued +the justice of the warr, and have agreed vpon the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[338]</span>sum of money to be levyed, which sum is then to be payd +by the severall Confederates in proporcon according to +the fourth Article.</p> + +<p>X. That in extraordinary occations when meetings +are summoned by three Majistrats of any Jurisdiccon, or +two as in the fift Article, If any of the Commissioners come +not, due warneing being given or sent, It is agreed that +foure of the Commissioners shall have power to direct a +warr which cannot be delayed and to send for due proporcons +of men out of eich Jurisdiccon, as well as six might doe if +all mett; but not less than six shall determine the justice +of the warr or allow the demanude of bills of charges or +cause any levies to be made for the same.</p> + +<p>XI. It is further agreed that if any of the Confederates +shall hereafter break any of these present Articles, or be +any other wayes injurious to any one of thother Jurisdiccons, +such breach of Agreement, or injurie, shalbe duly +considered and ordered by the Commissioners for thother +Jurisdiccons, that both peace and this present Confederacon +may be entirely preserued without violation.</p> + +<p>XII. Lastly, this perpetuall Confederacon and the several +Articles and Agreements thereof being read and seriously +considered, both by the Generall Court for the Massachusetts, +and by the Commissioners for Plymouth, Connectacutt +and New Haven, were fully allowed and confirmed by three +of the forenamed Confederates, namely, the Massachusetts, +Connectacutt and New-Haven, Onely the Commissioners +for Plymouth, having no Commission to conclude, desired +respite till they might advise with their Generall Court, +wherevpon it was agreed and concluded by the said court +of the Massachusetts, and the Commissioners for the other +two Confederates, That if Plymouth Consent, then the +whole treaty as it stands in these present articles is and +shall continue firme and stable without alteracon: But +if Plymouth come not in, yet the other three Confederates +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[339]</span>doe by these presents confirme the whole Confederacon +and all the Articles thereof, onely, in September next, when +the second meeting of the Commissioners is to be at Bostone, +new consideracon may be taken of the sixt Article, which +concernes number of Commissioners for meeting and concluding +the affaires of this Confederacon to the satisfaccon +of the court of the Massachusetts, and the Commissioners +for thother two Confederates, but the rest to stand vnquestioned.</p> + +<p>In testymony whereof, the Generall Court of the Massachusetts +by their Secretary, and the Commissioners +for Connectacutt and New-Haven haue subscribed these +presente articles, this xixth of the third month, commonly +called May, Anno Domini, 1643.</p> + +<p>At a Meeting of the Commissioners for the Confederacon, +held at Boston, the Seaventh of September. It appeareing +that the Generall Court of New Plymouth, and the severall +Towneships thereof have read, considered and approoued +these articles of Confederacon, as appeareth by Comission +from their Generall Court beareing Date the xxixth of +August, 1643, to Mr. Edward Winslowe and Mr. Will Collyer, +to ratifye and confirme the same on their behalf, wee therefore, +the Comissioners for the Mattachusetts, Conecktacutt +and New Haven, doe also for our seuerall Gouernments, +subscribe vnto them.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">John Winthrop</span>, Governor of Massachusetts,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Tho. Dudley</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Theoph. Eaton</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Geo. Fenwick</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Edwa. Hopkins</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Thomas Gregson</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">[340]</span></p> + +<h3>PENN’S PLAN OF UNION—1697.</h3> + +<h4>MR. PENN’S PLAN FOR A UNION OF THE COLONIES IN AMERICA.</h4> + +<p>A Briefe and Plaine Scheam how the English Colonies +in the North parts of America, viz.: Boston, Connecticut, +Road Island, New York, New Jerseys, Pensilvania, +Maryland, Virginia, and Carolina may be made more +usefull to the Crowne, and one another’s peace and safty +with an universall concurrence.</p> + +<p>1st. That the severall Colonies before mentioned do +meet once a year, and oftener if need be, during the war, +and at least once in two years in times of peace, by their +stated and appointed Deputies, to debate and resolve of +such measures as are most adviseable for their better understanding, +and the public tranquility and safety.</p> + +<p>2d. That in order to it two persons well qualified for +sence, sobriety and substance be appointed by each Province, +as their Representatives or Deputies, which in the +whole make the Congress to consist of twenty persons.</p> + +<p>3d. That the King’s Commissioner for that purpose +specially appointed shall have the chaire and preside in +the said Congresse.</p> + +<p>4th. That they shall meet as near as conveniently may +be to the most centrall Colony for use of the Deputies.</p> + +<p>5th. Since that may in all probability, be New York +both because it is near the Center of the Colonies and for +that it is a Frontier and in the King’s nomination, the Govr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[341]</span>of that Colony may therefore also be the King’s High +Commissioner during the Session after the manner of +Scotland.</p> + +<p>6th. That their business shall be to hear and adjust +all matters of Complaint or difference between Province +and Province. As, 1st, where persons quit their own Province +and goe to another, that they may avoid their just +debts, tho they be able to pay them, 2nd, where offenders +fly Justice, or Justice cannot well be had upon such offenders +in the Provinces that entertaine them, 3dly, to +prevent or cure injuries in point of Commerce, 4th, to consider +of ways and means to support the union and safety +of these Provinces against the publick enemies. In which +Congresse the Quotas of men and charges will be much +easier, and more equally sett, then it is possible for any establishment +made here to do; for the Provinces, knowing +their own condition and one another’s, can debate that +matter with more freedome and satisfaction and better +adjust and ballance their affairs in all respects for their +common safty.</p> + +<p>7ly. That in times of war the King’s High Commissioner +shall be generall or chief Commander of the severall +Quotas upon service against a common enemy as +he shall be advised, for the good and benefit of the whole.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[342]</span></p> + +<h3>FRANKLIN’S PLAN OF UNION—1754.</h3> + +<p>Plan of a proposed Union of the several Colonies of +Massachusetts-Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode +Island, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, +Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina for their +mutual Defence and Security, and for the extending the +British Settlements in North America.</p> + +<p>That humble application be made for an act of Parliament +of Great Britain, by virtue of which one general government +may be formed in America, including all the said +Colonies, within and under which government each Colony +may retain its present constitution, except in the particulars +wherein a change may be directed by the said act, as hereafter +follows.</p> + +<h4>PRESIDENT-GENERAL AND GRAND COUNCIL.</h4> + +<p>That the said general government be administered by +a President-General, to be appointed and supported by +the crown; and a Grand Council to be chosen by the representatives +of the people of the several Colonies met in +their respective assemblies.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>It was thought that it would be best the President-General should +be supported as well as appointed by the crown, that so all disputes +between him and the Grand-Council concerning his salary might +be prevented; as such disputes have been frequently of mischievous +consequence in particular Colonies, especially in time of public +danger. The quit-rents of crown lands in America might in a +short time be sufficient for this purpose. The choice of members +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[343]</span>for the Grand-Council is placed in the House of Representatives +of each government, in order to give the people a share in this new +general government, as the crown has its share by the appointment +of the President-General.</p> + +<p>But it being proposed by the gentlemen of the Council of New +York, and some other counsellors among the commissioners, to +alter the plan in this particular, and to give the governors and +councils of the several Provinces a share in the choice of the Grand-Council, +or at least a power of approving and confirming, or of +disallowing, the choice made by the House of Representatives, +it was said,—“That the government or constitution, proposed +to be formed by the plan, consists of two branches: a President-General +appointed by the crown, and a Council chosen by the people, +or by the people’s representatives, which is the same thing.</p> + +<p>“That, by a subsequent article, the council chosen by the people +can effect nothing without the consent of the President-General +appointed by the crown; the crown possesses, therefore, full one +half of the power of this constitution.</p> + +<p>“That in the British constitution, the crown is supposed to +possess but one third, the Lords having their share.</p> + +<p>“That the constitution seemed rather more favorable for the +crown.</p> + +<p>“That it is essential to English liberty that the subject should +not be taxed but by his own consent, or the consent of his elected +representatives.</p> + +<p>“That taxes to be laid and levied by this proposed constitution +will be proposed and agreed to by the representatives of the people, +if the plan in this particular be preserved.</p> + +<p>“But if the proposed alteration should take place, it seemed +as if matters may be so managed, as that the crown shall finally +have the appointment, not only of the President-General, but of a +majority of the Grand-Council; for seven out of eleven governors +and councils are appointed by the crown.</p> + +<p>“And so the people in all the Colonies would in effect be taxed +by their governors.</p> + +<p>“It was therefore apprehended, that such alterations of the +plan would give great dissatisfaction, and that the Colonies could +not be easy under such a power in governors, and such an infringement +of what they take to be English liberty.</p> + +<p>“Besides, the giving a share in the choice of the Grand Council +would not be equal with respect to all the Colonies, as their constitutions +differ. In some, both governor and council are appointed +by the crown. In others, they are both appointed by the proprietors. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">[344]</span>In some, the people have a share in the choice of the council; in +others, both government and council are wholly chosen by the +people. But the House of Representatives is everywhere chosen +by the people; and, therefore, placing the right of choosing the +Grand Council in the representatives is equal with respect to all.</p> + +<p>“That the Grand Council is intended to represent all the several +Houses of Representatives of the Colonies, as a House of Representatives +doth the several towns or counties of a Colony. Could +all the people of a Colony be consulted and unite in public measures, +a House of Representatives would be needless, and could +all the Assemblies consult and unite in general measures, the +Grand Council would be unnecessary.</p> + +<p>“That a House of Commons or the House of Representatives, +and the Grand Council are alike in their nature and intention. +And, as it would seem improper that the King or House of Lords +should have a power of disallowing or appointing Members of the +House of Commons; so, likewise, that a governor and council +appointed by the crown should have a power of disallowing or +appointing members of the Grand Council, who, in this constitution, +are to be the representatives of the people.</p> + +<p>“If the governor and councils therefore were to have a share +in the choice of any that are to conduct this general government, +it should seem more proper that they should choose the President-General. +But this being an office of great trust and importance +to the nation, it was thought better to be filled by the immediate +appointment of the crown.</p> + +<p>“The power proposed to be given by the plan to the Grand Council +is only a concentration of the powers of the several assemblies in +certain points for the general welfare; as the power of the President-General +is of the several governors in the same point.</p> + +<p>“And as the choice therefore of the Grand Council, by the representatives +of the people, neither gives the people any new powers, +nor diminishes the power of the crown, it was thought and hoped +the crown would not disapprove of it.”</p> + +<p>Upon the whole, the commissioners were of opinion, that the +choice was most properly placed in the representatives of the people.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>ELECTION OF MEMBERS.</h4> + +<p>That within ____ months after the passing such act, +the House of Representatives that happens to be sitting +within that time, or that shall be especially for that purpose +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[345]</span>convened, may and shall choose members for the +Grand Council, in the following proportion, that is to say,</p> + +<table> + <tr> + <td class="nw">Massachusetts Bay</td> + <td class="tdr">7</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>New Hampshire</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Connecticut</td> + <td class="tdr">5</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Rhode Island</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>New York</td> + <td class="tdr">4</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>New Jersey</td> + <td class="tdr">3</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Pennsylvania</td> + <td class="tdr">6</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Maryland</td> + <td class="tdr">4</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Virginia</td> + <td class="tdr">7</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>North Carolina</td> + <td class="tdr">4</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>South Carolina</td> + <td class="tdr">4</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td></td> + <td class="tdr total">48</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>It was thought, that if the least Colony was allowed two, and +the others in proportion, the number would be very great, and +the expense heavy; and that less than two would not be convenient, +as, a single person being by any accident prevented appearing +at the meeting, the Colony he ought appear for would not be represented. +That, as the choice was not immediately popular, +they would be generally men of good abilities for business, and +men of reputation for integrity, and that forty-eight such men +might be a number sufficient. But, though it was thought reasonable +that each Colony should have a share in the representative +body in some degree according to the proportion it contributed +to the general treasury, yet the proportion of wealth or power of +the Colonies is not to be judged by the proportion here fixed: because +it was at first agreed, that the greatest Colony should not +have more than seven members, nor the least less than two; and +the setting these proportions between these two extremes was +not nicely attended to, as it would find itself, after the first election, +from the sum brought into the treasury by a subsequent article.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>PLACE OF FIRST MEETING.</h4> + +<p>—Who shall meet for the first time at the city of Philadelphia +in Pennsylvania, being called by the President-General +as soon as conveniently may be after his appointment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">[346]</span></p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>Philadelphia was named as being nearer the centre of the Colonies, +where the commissioners would be well and cheaply accommodated. +The high roads, through the whole extent, are for the most part +very good, in which forty or fifty miles a day may very well be, +and frequently are, travelled. Great part of the way may likewise +be gone by water. In summer time, the passages are frequently +performed in a week from Charleston to Philadelphia and New +York, and from Rhode Island to New York through the Sound, +in two or three days, and from New York to Philadelphia, by water +and land, in two days, by stage boats, and street carriages that set +out every other day. The journey from Charleston to Philadelphia +may likewise be facilitated by boats running up Chesapeake Bay +three hundred miles. But if the whole journey be performed on +horseback, the most distant members, viz., the two from New Hampshire +and from South Carolina, may probably render themselves +at Philadelphia in fifteen or twenty days; the majority may be +there in much less time.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>NEW ELECTION.</h4> + +<p>That there shall be a new election of the members of +the Grand Council every three years; and, on the death +or resignation of any member, his place should be supplied +by a new choice at the next sitting of the Assembly +of the Colony he represented.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>Some Colonies have annual assemblies, some continue during +a governor’s pleasure; three years was thought a reasonable medium +as affording a new member time to improve himself in the +business, and to act after such improvement, and yet giving opportunities, +frequently enough, to change him if he has misbehaved.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>PROPORTION OF MEMBERS AFTER THE FIRST THREE YEARS.</h4> + +<p>That after the first three years, when the proportion +of money arising out of each Colony to the general treasury +can be known, the number of members to be chosen +for each Colony shall, from time to time, in all ensuing +elections, be regulated by that proportion, yet so as that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[347]</span>the number to be chosen by any one Province be not more +than seven, nor less than two.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>By a subsequent article, it is proposed that the General Council +shall lay and levy such general duties as to them may appear most +equal and least burdensome, etc. Suppose, for instance, they +lay a small duty or excise on some commodity imported into or +made in the Colonies, and pretty generally and equally used in +all of them, as rum, perhaps, or wine; the yearly produce of this +duty or excise, if fairly collected, would be in some Colonies greater, +in others less, as the Colonies are greater or smaller. When the +collector’s accounts are brought in, the proportions will appear; +and from them it is proposed to regulate the proportion of the representatives +to be chosen at the next general election, within the +limits, however, of seven and two. These numbers may therefore +vary in the course of years, as the Colonies may in the growth +and increase of people. And thus the quota of tax from each +Colony would naturally vary with its circumstances, thereby +preventing all disputes and dissatisfaction about the just proportions +due from each, which might otherwise produce pernicious +consequences, and destroy the harmony and good agreement +that ought to subsist between the several parts of the Union.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>MEETINGS OF THE GRAND COUNCIL AND CALL.</h4> + +<p>That the Grand Council shall meet once in every year, +and oftener if occasion require, at such time and place as +they shall adjourn to at the last preceding meeting, or as +they shall be called to meet at by the President-General +on any emergency; he having first obtained in writing +the consent of seven of the members to such call, and sent +due and timely notice to the whole.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>It was thought, in establishing and governing new Colonies or +settlements, or regulating Indian trade, Indian treaties, etc., there +would, every year, sufficient business arise to require at least one +meeting, and at such meeting many things might be suggested +for the benefit of all the Colonies. This annual meeting may +either be at a time and place certain, to be fixed by the President-General +and Grand Council at their first meeting; or left at liberty, +to be at such time and place as they shall adjourn to, or be called +to meet at, by the President-General.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[348]</span></p> + +<p>In time of war, it seems convenient that the meeting should +be in that colony which is nearest the seat of action.</p> + +<p>The power of calling them on any emergency seemed necessary +to be vested in the President-General; but, that such power might +not be wantonly used to harass the members, and oblige them +to make frequent long journeys to little purpose, the consent of +seven at least to such call was supposed a convenient guard.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>CONTINUANCE.</h4> + +<p>That the Grand Council have power to choose their +speaker; and shall neither be dissolved, prorogued, nor continued +sitting longer than six weeks at one time, without +their own consent or the special command of the crown.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>The speaker should be presented for approbation; it being convenient, +to prevent misunderstandings and disgusts, that the +mouth of the Council should be a person agreeable, if possible, +to the Council and President-General.</p> + +<p>Governors have sometimes wantonly exercised the power of +proroguing or continuing the sessions of assemblies, merely to +harass the members and compel a compliance; and sometimes +dissolve them on slight disgusts. This it was feared might +be done by the President-General, if not provided against; and +the inconvenience and hardship would be greater in the general +government than in particular Colonies, in proportion to the distance +the members must be from home during sittings, and the +long journeys some of them must necessarily take.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>MEMBER’S ALLOWANCE.</h4> + +<p>That the members of the Grand Council shall be allowed +for their service ten shillings per diem, during their session +and journey to and from the place of meeting; twenty miles +to be reckoned a day’s journey.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>It was thought proper to allow some wages, lest the expense +might deter some suitable persons from the service; and not to +allow too great wages, lest unsuitable persons should be tempted +to cabal for the employment, for the sake of gain. Twenty miles +were set down as a day’s journey, to allow for accidental hindrances +on the road, and the greater expenses of travelling than residing +at the place of meeting.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[349]</span></p> + +<h4>ASSENT OF PRESIDENT-GENERAL AND HIS DUTY.</h4> + +<p>That the assent of the President-General be requisite +to all acts of the Grand Council, and that it be his office +and duty to cause them to be carried into execution.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>The assent of the President-General to all acts of the Grand +Council was made necessary in order to give the crown its due +share of influence in this government, and connect it with that of +Great Britain. The President-General, besides one half of the +legislative power, hath in his hands the whole executive power.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>POWER OF PRESIDENT-GENERAL AND GRAND COUNCIL, TREATIES OF PEACE AND WAR.</h4> + +<p>That the President-General, with the advice of the Grand +Council, hold or direct all Indian treaties, in which the +general interest of the Colonies may be concerned, and +make peace or declare war with Indian nations.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>The power of making peace or war with Indian nations is at present +supposed to be in every Colony, and is expressly granted to +some by charter, so that no new power is hereby intended to be +granted to the Colonies. But as, in consequence of this power, +one Colony might make peace with a nation that another was justly +engaged in war with; or make war on slight occasion without +the concurrence or approbation of neighboring Colonies, greatly +endangered by it; or make particular treaties of neutrality in case of +a general war, to their own private advantage in trade, by supplying +the common enemy, of all which there have been instances, +it was thought better to have all treaties of a general nature under +a general direction, that so the good of the whole may be consulted +and provided for.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>INDIAN TRADE.</h4> + +<p>That they make such laws as they judge necessary for +regulating all Indian trade.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>Many quarrels and wars have arisen between the colonies and +Indian nations, through the bad conduct of traders, who cheat +the Indians after making them drunk, etc., to the great expense +of the colonies, both in blood and treasure. Particular colonies +are so interested in the trade, as not to be willing to admit such +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">[350]</span>a regulation as might be best for the whole; and therefore it was +thought best under a general direction.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>INDIAN PURCHASES.</h4> + +<p>That they make all purchases from Indians, for the +crown, of lands not now within the bounds of particular +colonies, or that shall not be within their bounds when +some of them are reduced to more convenient dimensions.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>Purchases from the Indians, made by private persons, have +been attended with many inconveniences. They have frequently +interfered and occasioned uncertainty of titles, many disputes +and expensive lawsuits, and hindered the settlement of the land +so disputed. Then the Indians have been cheated by such private +purchases, and discontent and wars have been the consequence. +These would be prevented by public fair purchases.</p> + +<p>Several of the Colony charters in America extend their bounds +to the South Sea, which may perhaps be three or four thousand +miles in length to one or two hundred miles in breadth. It is +supposed they must in time be reduced to dimensions more convenient +for the common purposes of government.</p> + +<p>Very little of the land in these grants is yet purchased of the +Indians.</p> + +<p>It is much cheaper to purchase of them, than to take and maintain +the possession by force; for they are generally very reasonable +in their demands for land; and the expense of guarding a large +frontier against their incursions is vastly great; because all must +be guarded, and always guarded, as we know not where or when +to expect them.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>NEW SETTLEMENTS.</h4> + +<p>That they make new settlements on such purchases by +granting lands in the King’s name, reserving a quit-rent +to the crown for the use of the general treasury.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>It is supposed better that there should be one purchaser than +many; and that the crown should be that purchaser, or the Union +in the name of the crown. By this means the bargains may be +more easily made, the price not enhanced by numerous bidders, +future disputes about private Indian purchases, and monopolies +of vast tracts to particular persons (which are prejudicial to the +settlement and peopling of the country), prevented; and, the land +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[351]</span>being again granted in small tracts to the settlers, the quit-rents +reserved may in time become a fund for support of government, +for defence of the country, ease of taxes, etc.</p> + +<p>Strong forts on the Lakes, the Ohio, etc., may, at the same time +they secure our present frontiers, serve to defend new colonies +settled under their protection; and such colonies would also mutually +defend and support such forts, and better secure the friendship +of the far Indians.</p> + +<p>A particular colony has scarce strength enough to exert itself +by new settlements, at so great a distance from the old; but the +joint force of the Union might suddenly establish a new colony +or two in those parts, or extend an old colony to particular passes, +greatly to the security of our present frontiers, increase of trade +and people, breaking off the French communication between Canada +and Louisiana, and speedy settlement of the intermediate lands.</p> + +<p>The power of settling new colonies is therefore thought a valuable +part of the plan, and what cannot so well be executed by two unions +as by one.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>LAWS TO GOVERN THEM.</h4> + +<p>That they make laws for regulating and governing such +new settlements, till the crown shall think fit to form them +into particular governments.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>The making of laws suitable for the new colonies, it was thought, +would be properly vested in the president-general and grand council; +under whose protection they must at first necessarily be, and who +would be well acquainted with their circumstances, as having +settled them. When they are become sufficiently populous, they +may by the crown be formed into complete and distinct governments.</p> + +<p>The appointment of a sub-president by the crown, to take place +in case of the death or absence of the president-general, would +perhaps be an improvement of the plan; and if all the governors of +particular provinces were to be formed into a standing council +of state, for the advice and assistance of the president-general, +it might be another considerable improvement.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>RAISE SOLDIERS, AND EQUIP VESSELS, ETC.</h4> + +<p>That they raise and pay soldiers and build forts for the +defence of any of the colonies, and equip vessels of force +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">[352]</span>to guard the coasts and protect the trade on the ocean, +lakes, or great rivers; but they shall not impress men in +any colony, without the consent of the legislature.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>It was thought, that quotas of men, to be raised and paid by +the several colonies, and joined for any public service, could not +always be got together with the necessary expedition. For instance, +suppose one thousand men should be wanted in New Hampshire +on any emergency. To fetch them by fifties and hundreds +out of every colony, as far as South Carolina, would be inconvenient, +the transportation chargeable, and the occasion perhaps passed +before they could be assembled; and therefore it would be best to +raise them (by offering bounty money and pay) near the place +where they would be wanted, to be discharged again when the +service should be over.</p> + +<p>Particular colonies are at present backward to build forts at +their own expense, which they say will be equally useful to their +neighboring colonies, who refuse to join, on a presumption that +such forts will be built and kept up, though they contribute nothing. +This unjust conduct weakens the whole; but, the forts being for +the good of the whole, it was thought best they should be built +and maintained by the whole, out of the common treasury.</p> + +<p>In the time of war, small vessels of force are sometimes necessary +in the colonies to scour the coasts of small privateers. These +being provided by the Union will be an advantage in turn to the +colonies which are situated on the sea, and whose frontiers on the +land-side, being covered by other colonies, reap but little immediate +benefit from the advanced forts.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>POWER TO MAKE LAWS, LAY DUTIES, ETC.</h4> + +<p>That for these purposes they have power to make laws +and lay and levy such general duties, imposts or taxes, +as to them shall appear most equal and just (considering +the ability and other circumstances of the inhabitants in +the several colonies), and such as may be collected with +the least inconvenience to the people; rather discouraging +luxury, than loading industry with unnecessary burdens.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>The laws which the president-general and grand council are +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[353]</span>empowered to make are such only as shall be necessary for the +government of the settlements; the raising, regulating, and paying +soldiers for the general service; the regulating of Indian trade; +and laying and collecting the general duties and taxes. They +should also have a power to restrain the exportation of provisions +to the enemy from any of the colonies, on particular occasions, in +time of war. But it is not intended that they may interfere with +the constitution or government of the particular colonies, who +are to be left to their own laws, and to lay, levy and apply their +own taxes as before.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>GENERAL TREASURER AND PARTICULAR TREASURER.</h4> + +<p>That they may appoint a General Treasurer, and Particular +Treasurer in government when necessary; and, +from time to time, may order the sums in the treasuries +of each government into the general treasury, or draw +on them for special payments, as they find most convenient.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>The treasurers here meant are only for the general funds and +not for the particular funds of each colony, which remain in the +hands of their own treasurers at their own disposal.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>MONEY, HOW TO ISSUE.</h4> + +<p>Yet no money to issue but by joint orders of the President-General +and Grand Council, except where sums have +been appointed to particular purposes, and the President-General +is previously empowered by an act to draw such +sums.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>To prevent misapplication of the money, or even application +that might be dissatisfactory to the crown or the people, it was +thought necessary to join the president-general and grand council +in all issues of money.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>ACCOUNTS.</h4> + +<p>That the general accounts shall be yearly settled and +reported to the several Assemblies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[354]</span></p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>By communicating the accounts yearly to each Assembly, +they will be satisfied of the prudent and honest conduct of their +representatives in the grand council.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>QUORUM.</h4> + +<p>That a quorum of the Grand Council, empowered to +act with the President-General, do consist of twenty-five +members; among whom there shall be one or more from +a majority of the Colonies.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>The quorum seems large, but it was thought it would not be +satisfactory to the colonies in general, to have matters of importance +to the whole transacted by a smaller number, or even by this +number of twenty-five, unless there were among them one at least +from a majority of the colonies, because otherwise, the whole quorum +being made up of members from three or four colonies at one end +of the union, something might be done that would not be equal +with respect to the rest, and thence dissatisfaction and discords +might rise to the prejudice of the whole.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>LAWS TO BE TRANSMITTED.</h4> + +<p>That the laws made by them for the purposes aforesaid +shall not be repugnant, but, as near as may be, agreeable +to the laws of England, and shall be transmitted to the +King in Council for approbation, as soon as may be after +their passing; and if not disapproved within three years +after presentation, to remain in force.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>This was thought necessary for the satisfaction of the crown, +to preserve the connection of the parts of the British empire with +the whole, of the members with the head, and to induce greater +care and circumspection in making of the laws, that they be good +in themselves and for the general benefit.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT-GENERAL.</h4> + +<p>That, in case of the death of the President-General, the +Speaker of the Grand Council for the time being shall succeed, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[355]</span>and be vested with the same powers and authorities, +to continue till the King’s pleasure be known.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>It might be better, perhaps, as was said before, if the crown +appointed a vice-president, to take place on the death or absence +of the president-general; for so we should be more sure of a suitable +person at the head of the colonies. On the death or absence of +both, the speaker to take place (or rather the eldest King’s governor) +till his Majesty’s pleasure be known.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>OFFICERS, HOW APPOINTED.</h4> + +<p>That all military commission officers, whether for land +or sea service, to act under this general constitution, shall +be nominated by the President-General; but the approbation +of the Grand Council is to be obtained, before they +receive their commissions. And all civil officers are to +be nominated by the Grand Council, and to receive the +President-General’s approbation before they officiate.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>It was thought it might be very prejudicial to the service, to +have officers appointed unknown to the people or unacceptable, +the generality of Americans serving willingly under officers they +know; and not caring to engage in the service under strangers, or +such as are often appointed by governors through favor or interest. +The service here meant, is not the stated, settled service +in standing troops; but any sudden and short service, either for +defence of our colonies, or invading the enemy’s country (such +as the expedition to Cape Breton in the last war; in which many +substantial farmers and tradesmen engaged as common soldiers, +under officers of their own country, for whom they had an esteem +and affection; who would not have engaged in a standing army, +or under officers from England). It was therefore thought best +to give the Council the power of approving the officers, which the +people will look on as a great security of their being good men. +And without some such provision as this, it was thought the expense +of engaging men in the service on any emergency would be +much greater, and the number who could be induced to engage +much less; and that therefore it would be most for the King’s service +and the general benefit of the nation, that the prerogative should +relax a little in this particular throughout all the colonies in America; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">[356]</span>as it had already done much more in the charters of some particular +colonies, viz.: Connecticut and Rhode Island.</p> + +<p>The civil officers will be chiefly treasurers and collectors of taxes; +and the suitable persons are most likely to be known by the council.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>VACANCIES, HOW SUPPLIED.</h4> + +<p>But, in case of vacancy by death or removal of any officer +civil or military, under this constitution, the Governor +of the province in which such vacancy happens, may appoint, +till the pleasure of the President-General and Grand +Council can be known.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>The vacancies were thought best supplied by the governors +in each province, till a new appointment can be regularly made; +otherwise the service might suffer before the meeting of the +president-general and grand council.</p> + +</div> + +<h4>EACH COLONY MAY DEFEND ITSELF IN EMERGENCY, ETC.</h4> + +<p>That the particular military as well as civil establishments +in each colony remain in their present state, the +general constitution notwithstanding; and that on sudden +emergencies any colony may defend itself, and lay +the accounts of expense thence arising before the president-general +and general council, who may allow and +order payment of the same, as far as they judge such accounts +just and reasonable.</p> + +<div class="note"> + +<p>Otherwise the union of the whole would weaken the parts, contrary +to the design of the union. The accounts are to be judged +of by the president-general and grand council, and allowed if found +reasonable. This was thought necessary to encourage colonies +to defend themselves, as the expense would be light when borne +by the whole; and also to check imprudent and lavish expense +in such defences.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">[357]</span></p> + +<h3>ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION—1777.</h3> + +<p class="hanging">To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned +Delegates of the States affixed to our Names, +send greeting.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Whereas</span> the Delegates of the United States of America +in Congress assembled did on the fifteenth day of November +in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred +and Seventyseven, and in the Second Year of the Independence +of America agree to certain articles of Confederation +and perpetual Union between the States of Newhampshire, +Massachusetts-bay, Rhode-island and Providence +Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, +Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, +South-Carolina and Georgia in the Words following, viz.</p> + +<p class="hanging">Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between +the States of Newhampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode-island +and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, +New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, +Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article I.</span> The stile of this confederacy shall be “The +United States of America.”</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article II.</span> Each State retains its sovereignty, freedom +and independence, and every power, jurisdiction and +right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated +to the United States, in Congress assembled.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article III.</span> The said States hereby severally enter +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">[358]</span>into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their +common defence, the security of their liberties, and their +mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist +each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made +upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, +trade, or any other pretence whatever.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article IV.</span> The better to secure and perpetuate mutual +friendship and intercourse among the people of the +different States in this Union, the free inhabitants of each +of these States, paupers, vagabonds and fugitives from +justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities +of free citizens in the several States; and the +people of each State shall have free ingress and regress +to and from any other State, and shall enjoy therein +all the privileges of trade and commerce, subject to the +same duties, impositions and restrictions as the inhabitants +thereof respectively, provided that such restrictions +shall not extend so far as to prevent the removal of property +imported into any State, to any other State of which +the owner is an inhabitant; provided also that no imposition, +duties or restriction shall be laid by any State, on +the property of the United States, or either of them.</p> + +<p>If any person guilty of, or charged with treason, felony, +or other high misdemeanor in any State, shall flee +from justice, and be found in any of the United States, +he shall upon demand of the Governor or Executive power, +of the State from which he fled, be delivered up and removed +to the State having jurisdiction of his offence.</p> + +<p>Full faith and credit shall be given in each of these States +to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the courts +and magistrates of every other State.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article V.</span> For the more convenient management of +the general interests of the United States, delegates shall +be annually appointed in such manner as the legislature +of each State shall direct, to meet in Congress on the first +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[359]</span>Monday in November, in every year, with a power reserved +to each State, to recall its delegates, or any of them, at any +time within the year, and to send others in their stead, +for the remainder of the year.</p> + +<p>No State shall be represented in Congress by less than +two, nor by more than seven members; and no person shall +be capable of being a delegate for more than three years +in any term of six years; nor shall any person, being a +delegate, be capable of holding any office under the United +States, for which he, or another for his benefit receives any +salary, fees or emolument of any kind.</p> + +<p>Each State shall maintain its own delegates in a meeting +of the States, and while they act as members of the +committee of the States.</p> + +<p>In determining questions in the United States, in Congress +assembled, each State shall have one vote.</p> + +<p>Freedom of speech and debate in Congress shall not be +impeached or questioned in any court, or place out of Congress, +and the members of Congress shall be protected in +their persons from arrests and imprisonments, during the +time of their going to and from, and attendance on Congress, +except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article VI.</span> No State without the consent of the United +States in Congress assembled, shall send any embassy to, +or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conference, +agreement, alliance or treaty with any king, prince or state; +nor shall any person holding any office of profit or trust +under the United States, or any of them, accept of any +present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever +from any king, prince or foreign state; nor shall the United +States in Congress assembled, or any of them, grant any +title of nobility.</p> + +<p>No two or more States shall enter into any treaty, confederation +or alliance whatever between them, without +the consent of the United States in Congress assembled, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">[360]</span>specifying accurately the purposes for which the same is +to be entered into, and how long it shall continue.</p> + +<p>No State shall lay any imposts or duties, which may +interfere with any stipulations in treaties, entered into +by the United States in Congress assembled, with any +king, prince or state, in pursuance of any treaties already +proposed by Congress, to the courts of France and Spain.</p> + +<p>No vessels of war shall be kept up in time of peace by +any State, except such number only, as shall be deemed +necessary by the United States in Congress assembled, +for the defence of such State, or its trade; nor shall any +body of forces be kept up by any State, in time of peace, +except such number only, as in the judgment of the United +States, in Congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite +to garrison the forts necessary for the defence of such State; +but every State shall always keep up a well regulated and +disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accoutred, and +shall provide and constantly have ready for use, in public +stores, a due number of field-pieces and tents, and a proper +quantity of arms, ammunition and camp equipage.</p> + +<p>No State shall engage in any war without the consent +of the United States in Congress assembled, unless such +State be actually invaded by enemies, or shall have received +certain advice of a resolution being formed by some +nation of Indians to invade such State, and the danger +is so imminent as not to admit of a delay, till the United +States in Congress assembled can be consulted: nor shall +any State grant commissions to any ships or vessels of war, +nor letters of marque or reprisal, except it be after a declaration +of war by the United States in Congress assembled, +and then only against the kingdom or state and the subjects +thereof, against which war has been so declared, and under +such regulations as shall be established by the United +States in Congress assembled, unless such State be infested +by pirates, in which case vessels of war may be fitted out for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">[361]</span>that occasion, and kept so long as the danger shall continue, +or until the United States in Congress assembled +shall determine otherwise.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article VII.</span> When land forces are raised by any +State for the common defence, all officers of or under the +rank of colonel, shall be appointed by the Legislature of +each State respectively by whom such forces shall be raised, +or in such manner as such State shall direct, and all vacancies +shall be filled up by the State which first made the +appointment.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article VIII.</span> All charges of war, and all other expenses +that shall be incurred for the common defence or +general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress +assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, +which shall be supplied by the several States, in proportion +to the value of all land within each State, granted +to or surveyed for any person, as such land and the buildings +and improvements thereon shall be estimated according +to such mode as the United States in Congress +assembled, shall from time to time direct and appoint.</p> + +<p>The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and +levied by the authority and direction of the Legislatures +of the several States within the time agreed upon by the +United States in Congress assembled.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article IX.</span> The United States in Congress assembled, +shall have the sole and exclusive right and power of determining +on peace and war, except in the cases mentioned +in the sixth article—of sending and receiving ambassadors—entering +into treaties and alliances, provided that no +treaty of commerce shall be made whereby the legislative +power of the respective States shall be restrained from imposing +such imposts and duties on foreigners, as their +own people are subjected to, or from prohibiting the exportation +or importation of any species of goods or commodities +whatsoever—of establishing rules for deciding +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">[362]</span>in all cases, what captures on land or water shall be legal, +and in what manner prizes taken by land or naval forces +in the service of the United States shall be divided or appropriated—of +granting letters of marque and reprisal +in times of peace—appointing courts for the trial of piracies +and felonies committed on the high seas and establishing +courts for receiving and determining finally appeals in all +cases of captures, provided that no member of Congress +shall be appointed a judge of any of the said courts.</p> + +<p>The United States in Congress assembled shall also be +the last resort on appeal in all disputes and differences +now subsisting or that hereafter may arise between two +or more States concerning boundary, jurisdiction or any +other cause whatever; which authority shall always be +exercised in the manner following. Whenever the legislative +or executive authority or lawful agent of any State +in controversy with another shall present a petition to +Congress, stating the matter in question and praying for +a hearing, notice thereof shall be given by order of Congress +to the legislative or executive authority of the other State +in controversy, and a day assigned for the appearance of +the parties by their lawful agents, who shall then be directed +to appoint by joint consent, commissioners or judges to +constitute a court for hearing and determining the matter +in question: but if they cannot agree, Congress shall name +three persons out of each of the United States, and from the +list of such persons each party shall alternately strike out +one, the petitioners beginning, until the number shall be +reduced to thirteen; and from that number not less than +seven, nor more than nine names as Congress shall direct, +shall in the presence of Congress be drawn out by lot, and +the persons whose names shall be so drawn or any five +of them, shall be commissioners or judges, to hear and +finally determine the controversy, so always as a major +part of the judges who shall hear the cause shall agree +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">[363]</span>in the determination: and if either party shall neglect to +attend at the day appointed, without showing reasons, +which Congress shall judge sufficient, or being present shall +refuse to strike, the Congress shall proceed to nominate +three persons out of each State, and the Secretary of Congress +shall strike in behalf of such party absent or refusing; +and the judgment and sentence of the court to be appointed, +in the manner before prescribed, shall be final and conclusive; +and if any of the parties shall refuse to submit +to the authority of such court, or to appear or defend their +claim or cause, the court shall nevertheless proceed to pronounce +sentence, or judgment, which shall in like manner +be final and decisive, the judgment or sentence and other +proceedings being in either case transmitted to Congress, +and lodged among the acts of Congress for the security +of the parties concerned: provided that every commissioner, +before he sits in judgment, shall take an oath to be administered +by one of the judges of the supreme or superior court +of the State where the cause shall be tried, “well and truly +to hear and determine the matter in question, according +to the best of his judgment, without favour, affection or +hope of reward:” provided also that no State shall be deprived +of territory for the benefit of the United States.</p> + +<p>All controversies concerning the private right of soil +claimed under different grants of two or more States, whose +jurisdiction as they may respect such lands, and the States +which passed such grants are adjusted, the said grants +or either of them being at the same time claimed to have +originated antecedent to such settlement of jurisdiction, +shall on the petition of either party to the Congress of the +United States, be finally determined as near as may be +in the same manner as is before prescribed for deciding disputes +respecting territorial jurisdiction between different +States.</p> + +<p>The United States in Congress assembled shall also +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">[364]</span>have the sole and exclusive right and power of regulating +the alloy and value of coin struck by their own authority, +or by that of the respective States—fixing the +standard of weights and measures throughout the United +States—regulating the trade and managing all affairs +with the Indians, not members of any of the States, provided +that the legislative right of any State within its own +limits be not infringed or violated—establishing and regulating +post-offices from one State to another, throughout +all the United States, and exacting such postage on the +papers passing thro’ the same as may be requisite to defray +the expenses of the said office—appointing all officers of +the land forces, in the service of the United States, excepting +regimental officers—appointing all the officers of the +naval forces, and commissioning all officers whatever in +the service of the United States—making rules for the +government and regulation of the said land and naval forces, +and directing their operations.</p> + +<p>The United States in Congress assembled shall have +authority to appoint a committee, to sit in the recess of +Congress, to be denominated “a Committee of the States,” +and to consist of one delegate from each State; and to appoint +such other committees and civil officers as may be +necessary for managing the general affairs of the United +States under their direction—to appoint one of their number +to preside, provided that no person be allowed to serve +in the office of president more than one year in any term +of three years; to ascertain the necessary sums of money +to be raised for the service of the United States, and to appropriate +and apply the same for defraying the public expenses—to +borrow money, or emit bills on the credit of +the United States, transmitting every half year to the respective +States an account of the sums of money so borrowed +or emitted,—to build and equip a navy—to agree +upon the number of land forces, and to make requisitions +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">[365]</span>from each State for its quota, in proportion to the number +of white inhabitants in such State; which requisition shall +be binding, and thereupon the Legislature of each State +shall appoint the regimental officers, raise the men and +cloath, arm and equip them in a soldier like manner, at +the expense of the United States; and the officers and men +so cloathed, armed and equipped shall march to the place +appointed, and within the time agreed on by the United +States in Congress assembled: but if the United States +in Congress assembled shall, on consideration of circumstances +judge proper that any State should not raise men, +or should raise a smaller number than its quota, and that +any other State should raise a greater number of men than +the quota thereof, such extra number shall be raised, officered, +cloathed, armed and equipped in the same manner +as the quota of such State, unless the legislature of such +State shall judge that such extra number cannot be safely +spared out of the same, in which case they shall raise, officer, +cloath, arm and equip as many of such extra number as +they judge can be safely spared. And the officers and +men so cloathed, armed and equipped, shall march to the +place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the United +States in Congress assembled.</p> + +<p>The United States in Congress assembled shall never +engage in a war, nor grant letters of marque and reprisal +in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, +nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, nor ascertain +the sums and expenses necessary for the defence +and welfare of the United States, or any of them, nor emit +bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the United States, +nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of vessels +of war, to be built or purchased, or the number of land or +sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a commander-in-chief +of the army or navy, unless nine States assent to the +same: nor shall a question on any other point, except for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">[366]</span>adjourning from day to day be determined, unless by the +votes of a majority of the United States in Congress assembled.</p> + +<p>The Congress of the United States shall have power +to adjourn to any time within the year, and to any place +within the United States, so that no period of adjournment +be for a longer duration than the space of six months, +and shall publish the journal of their proceedings monthly, +except such parts thereof relating to treaties, alliances +or military operations, as in their judgment require secresy; +and the yeas and nays of the delegates of each State on +any question shall be entered on the journal, when it is +desired by any delegate; and the delegates of a State, or +any of them, at his or their request shall be furnished with +a transcript of the said journal, except such parts as are +above excepted, to lay before the Legislatures of the several +States.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article X.</span> The committee of the States, or any nine +of them, shall be authorized to execute, in the recess of +Congress, such of the powers of Congress as the United +States in Congress assembled, by the consent of nine States, +shall from time to time think expedient to vest them with; +provided that no power be delegated to the said committee, +for the exercise of which, by the articles of confederation, +the voice of nine States in the Congress of the United States +assembled is requisite.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article XI.</span> Canada acceding to this confederation, +and joining in the measures of the United States, shall +be admitted into, and entitled to all the advantages of this +Union: but no other colony shall be admitted into the same, +unless such admission be agreed to by nine States.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article XII.</span> All bills of credit emitted, monies borrowed +and debts contracted by, or under the authority +of Congress, before the assembling of the United States, +in pursuance of the present confederation, shall be deemed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">[367]</span>and considered as a charge against the United States, for +payment and satisfaction whereof the said United States, +and the public faith are hereby solemnly pledged.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article XIII.</span> Every State shall abide by the determinations +of the United States in Congress assembled, +on all questions which by this confederation are submitted +to them. And the articles of this confederation shall be +inviolably observed by every State, and the Union shall +be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter +be made in any of them; unless such alteration be +agreed to in a Congress of the United States, and be afterwards +confirmed by the Legislatures of every State.</p> + +<p>And whereas it has pleased the Great Governor of the +world to incline the hearts of the Legislatures we respectively +represent in Congress, to approve of, and to authorize +us to ratify the said articles of confederation and perpetual +union. Know ye that we the undersigned delegates, by +virtue of the power and authority to us given for that purpose, +do by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our respective +constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm +each and every of the said articles of confederation +and perpetual union, and all and singular the matters and +things therein contained: and we do further solemnly plight +and engage the faith of our respective constituents, that +they shall abide by the determinations of the United States +in Congress assembled, on all questions, which by the said +confederation are submitted to them. And that the articles +thereof shall be inviolably observed by the States we re[s]pectively +represent, and that the Union shall be perpetual.</p> + +<p class="hanging">In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in Congress. +Done at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania +the ninth day of July in the year of our Lord one +thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight, and in the +third year of the independence of America.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">[368]</span></p> + +<p>On the part & behalf of the State of New Hampshire.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Josiah Bartlett</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">John Wentworth</span>, Junr., August 8th, 1778.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part and behalf of the State of Massachusetts Bay.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">John Hancock</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Samuel Adams</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Elbridge Gerry</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Francis Dana</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">James Lovell</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Samuel Holten</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part and behalf of the State of Rhode Island and +Providence Plantations.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">William Ellery</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Henry Marchant</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">John Collins</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part and behalf of the State of Connecticut.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Roger Sherman</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Samuel Huntington</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Oliver Wolcott</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Titus Hosmer</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Andrew Adams</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part and behalf of the State of New York.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Jas. Duane</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Fra. Lewis</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Wm. Duer</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Gouv. Morris</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part and in behalf of the State of New Jersey, +Novr. 26, 1778.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Jno. Witherspoon</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Nath. Scudder</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part and behalf of the State of Pennsylvania.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Robt. Morris</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Daniel Roberdeau</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Jona. Bayard Smith</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">William Clingan</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Joseph Reed</span>, 22d July, 1778.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part & behalf of the State of Delaware.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Tho. M’Kean</span>, Feby. 12, 1779.</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">John Dickinson</span>, May 5th, 1779.</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Nicholas Van Dyke</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part and behalf of the State of Maryland.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">John Hanson</span>, March 1, 1781.</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Daniel Carroll</span>, Mar. 1, 1781.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">[369]</span></p> + +<p>On the part and behalf of the State of Virginia.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Richard Henry Lee</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">John Banister</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Thomas Adams</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Jno. Harvie</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Francis Lightfoot Lee</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part and behalf of the State of No. Carolina.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">John Penn</span>, July 21, 1778.</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Corns. Harnett</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Jno. Williams</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part and behalf of the State of South Carolina.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Henry Laurens</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">William Henry Drayton</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Thos. Heyward</span>, Junr.</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Jno. Mathews</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Richd. Hutson</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>On the part and behalf of the State of Georgia.</p> + +<div class="sigblock"> +<div class="signatures"> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Jno. Walton</span>, 24th July, 1778.</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Edwd. Telfair</span>,</div> + <div class="line"><span class="smcap">Edwd. Langworthy</span>.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="titlepage">END OF VOL. II.</p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78469 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78469-h/images/cover.jpg b/78469-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dbf773a --- /dev/null +++ b/78469-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/78469-h/images/hb.jpg b/78469-h/images/hb.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7aadb8 --- /dev/null +++ b/78469-h/images/hb.jpg diff --git a/78469-h/images/illus001.jpg b/78469-h/images/illus001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..75b9b07 --- /dev/null +++ b/78469-h/images/illus001.jpg diff --git a/78469-h/images/illus002.jpg b/78469-h/images/illus002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1a7ff71 --- /dev/null +++ b/78469-h/images/illus002.jpg diff --git a/78469-h/images/illus003.jpg b/78469-h/images/illus003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..da4bb15 --- /dev/null +++ b/78469-h/images/illus003.jpg 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