PART III. GOVERNMENTAL HISTORY OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN COLONIES FROM OF THEIR INDEPENDENCE, In the foregoing parts of this work I have traced the governmental history of British America in its two early and grand divisions, until we have seen its settlements assume the rank and consideration of regularly organized political bodies, each under its separate and peculiar policy of government and forms of administration, as established at the time of the accession of William and Mary to the throne. I propose in this part to continue the subject in their smaller colonial divisions, from this time to the time of our revolution. This survey will include a view of the causes which led to that event, and to the declaration of their independence; which will bring me to the fourth and last part of my design, in which I shall treat of their consequent union as sovereign states under the confederation, give an exposition of the defects of those articles, and pursue the subject until its termination in their more perfect, permanent, and happy union, under the present federal constitution. division. In reviewing the history of the early settlements. made in New England, I have already pointed out the causes which led to the origin of the several colonies em- Their subbraced in that portion of the continent. Most of the other colonies which existed at the time of our revolution under separate organizations, were originally comprehended within the indefinite limits of the patent granted by James I., to the first colony of Virginia or PART III. NEWYORK. Expedition Hudson. THE THIRTEEN COLONIES. the London company, sometimes also called the south Virginia company. On the dissolution of that corporation their lands reverted to the crown, and were subsequently granted under new charters and their precincts limited within more definite boundaries. NEW YORK Was originally settled by emigrants from Holland, who seem to have taken occasion during the apathy of the crown, or while both the crown and parliament were agitated and absorbed by domestic dissensions, to take possession of the country; which, with the present territory of New Jersey and Long Island, was originally called the New Netherlands. The Dutch founded their claim to it on the discoverof Henry ies made by Henry Hudson, the celebrated navigator, who discovered the river which now bears his name and the countries adjacent, under the auspices of the Dutch East India company. This voyage of Hudson was based upon the theory originally promulgated by Columbus, that a passage to the East Indies could be made by sailing westward, or towards what is now called the Pacific Ocean. It was under the impression that he had discovered an inlet to a passage through son's river. the continent of North America to the great ocean Discovery beyond, that he anchored off Sandy Hook, passed of Hud- through the narrows, and sailed up that majestic river. He continued his voyage for eleven days, penetrating as far up as the place where the city of Hudson now stands; meeting with obstructions in this vicinity he terminated his explorations, dropped down the stream, and returned to Europe. The Dutch East and West India companies. The Dutch East India Company continued to oссиру the settlement of New Amsterdam on the island of Manhattan, now New York City, as a trading station, until their occupancy was superseded by, or merged in, that of the Dutch West India company, which was organized in the year 1621. This company had the THEIR ORIGIN AND DESIGNATIONS. PART III. YORK. exclusive privilege, granted to them by the States Gen-NEW * Wilson's U. S. of the dia Com The directors of the company, as patrons or pa-Operations troons, took possession of large tracts of land upon the Dutch Hudson river, and also planted their trading stations West Inupon the Connecticut and the Delaware: In fact, under pany. the very liberal grant contained in their charter the territory of the New Netherlands seemed to extend indefinitely in all directions.† In the almost intermin-able strifes which arose between the Dutch and the English settlers by the extension of its claims into the limits of New England, of Maryland, and even of Virginia; the company, and its agents and governors, came to be exceedingly unpopular in America. But the more enterprising spirit of the English at length retaliated upon the Dutch, and the energy of the Saxon drove back the stubborn aggressions of the Hollander. The planters of New England and Virginia had Title of always disputed the title of the Dutch, and their right the Dutch. to make any settlement had never been admitted by Great Britain. She insisted on a priority of title founded upon the discoveries which were made by Cabot, under Henry VII. It will be remembered that see ante, under his patronage Cabot had explored the coast of PART I. North America, from Labrador to the southern boundary of Virginia; and we have already noticed the circumstances which induced a suspension of the claim at that early period. The supremacy of the pope, however, having terminated in England, priority of discovery came to be considered as establishing a good title + This company failed in the year 1634, and from a statement of their accounts, drawn up in the following year, it appears that Fort Amsterdam in New Netherlands cost the company 4,172 guilders, 10 stuyvers; and that New Netherland (the province) cost 412,800 guilders and 11 stuyvers. See 1 Hazard's state papers, 397. PART III. NEW YORK. THE THIRTEEN COLONIES. to the country, and the right thereby acquired was Patent of recognized as paramount in the intercourse of nations: Charles II. Accordingly, soon after his restoration, Charles II., with to the Duke of York, 1664. Precincts and pow ers. out regard to the claims of the Dutch, granted by patent to his brother James, then the Duke of York and Albany, "all that region of country extending from the western bank of the Connecticut river to the eastern shore of the Delaware, together with the Island of Long Island." The Duke was at the same time thereby invested with all the powers of government, both civil and military, with authority to correct, punish, pardon, govern and rule, according to such laws as he saw fit to establish, all subjects who should inhabit in the territory; and also to exercise martial law in case of rebellion, insurrection, seditious meeting, or invasion, "provided always that the said laws were not contrary to, but as near as might be agreeable with, the laws of England," reserving in the crown a right to hear and * Story. determine all appeals.* of the charter to The Dutch were in possession, under Governor Stuyvesant, when this charter was published; but no infringement of their rights as freemen was permitted, and they were required to be treated rather as subjects than as enemies or aggressors. They, however, were not disposed to yield quietly to the domination of the English, and several times struggled for the mastery of the soil. They were finally reduced to submission in Reduction the year 1674, when the Duke of York, in order to put Dutch set- at rest all questions which might arise as to the validtlers, 1674. ity of the original grant, applied for and obtained a Second new patent from the crown, under which the whole the Duke province, as well as the capital, received the name of of York. New York. This grant conferred the same powers which were enumerated in the former patent, with the further provision that no trade should be carried on with the colony without permission of the Duke; while the colonists were permitted to import merchandize upon paying duties according to the laws of England. THEIR ORIGIN AND DESIGNATIONS. PART III. YORK. ernor. ernor, Sir Edmond Andros, who was also made governor-NEW general of New England after the Duke succeeded to Sir Edthe throne, was now appointed to the office of governor mond Anof New York. It was upon the provisions of this grant dros govthat Sir Edmond based his claim to the jurisdiction upon the Connecticut river, when he advanced upon Saybrook in 1675. His administration under his commission was arbitrary and oppressive, and was untrammeled by the intervention of any representative assem bly of the people. He returned to England in 1682, Col. Donand was succeeded in the office of governor of New gangoYork, by Colonel Thomas Dongan, who had been 1683. instructed by the duke to call a representative assem bly of the people. This assembly, with the consent of the new governor, enacted a Charter of Liberties which declared" that the supreme legislative power should forever reside in the governour, council, and people, in general assembly convened that every freeholder and Declarafreeman might vote for representatives without re-gov't unstraint that no freeman should suffer but by judg-der the ment of his peers, and that all trials should be by a liberties, jury of twelve men that no tax should be assessed, 1682. on any pretence whatever, but by the consent of the assembly-that no seaman or soldier should be quartered on the inhabitants against their will that no martial law should exist and that no person profess-Protestant ing faith in God, by Jesus Christ, should at any time estabbe in any way disquieted or questioned for any differ-lished. ence of opinion in matters of religion." * tion of charter of freedom This Charter of Liberties continued to be the basis of the government after the duke of York succeeded to the title of James II. The course of legislation and policy of administration, were thereafter more nearly assimilated to that of the parent country, than in any * Story, of the colonies.* NEW JERSEY. Long Island and the present territory of New Jersey were both originally comprehended in the provisions of Wilson. |