History of Montgomery & Fulton Counties byF. W. Beers & Co. Chapter 8

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

CHAPTER VIII.

THE APPROACH OF THE REVOLUTION-PATRIOTIC ATTITUDE OF NEW YORK-THE FIRST BATTLE FOUGHT IN 1770.

The representative assemblies of the provinces had occasionally remonstrated against the various acts of Parliament which tended to abridge their liberties, and the regulation of the Boards of Trade by which their manufactures and commerce were injuriously affected ; yet their attachment to the mother country, and regard for her institutions, had not to any considerable extent been weakened. But now the borders of the Revolutionary struggle were reached, and the time had arrived when unquestioned submission to the exactions of arbitrary power had ceased to be considered a virtue, and knowing the value of their liberties, the colonies firmly asserted their rights. They were heavily burdened by the expenses of the late war, for which they had liberally contributed, materially aiding in procuring for the English government a vast and valuable accession of territory ; yet their generous support of the power and dignity of the realm, the British ministry regarded as only the exercise of a duty, and before the smoke had fairly drifted away from the battle grounds, began to devise plans for taxing them to raise a revenue without their consent. The first measure which aroused the colonists to a lively sense of their danger, was the issuing of writs of assistance, which the English ministry had determined to force upon them. These were, in effect, search warrants, whereby custom house officers were enabled the better to collect revenues by breaking open houses or stores that were suspected of containing concealed contraband goods. This exercise of arbitrary power created indignation and alarm, and the colonists resolved to resist it. Public meetings were held, and remonstrances sent to Parliament, but without effect. The ministry were determined to derive a revenue from the .colonies, either by import duties or direc taxes, vigorously levied and collected, and the writs were granted ; but the feelings of the people were such that the custom house officers never attempted to carry their new powers into execution.

In 1764 George Grenville, then at the head of the English ministry, submitted to the House of Commons a proposition for raising a revenue by the sale of stamps to the colonists, at the same time assuring the colonial agents that he would not press its immediate adoption, but leave the plan open for consideration. When intelligence reached the colonists that such an act was meditated by the ministry, discontent was everywhere visible. The provincial assemblies strenuously refused to recognize the right of Parliament to tax them without their consent, and asserted the sole right to tax themselves. They passed resolutions of remonstrance, and clear demonstrated that taxation without representation in Parliament was unjust and tyrannical; but, in contemptuous disregard of all respectful rernon strances and petitions, the Stamp Act was passed in March, 1765. By its provisions no legal or commercial documents were valid unless written or printed on stamped paper, upon which a price was set, according to the nature of the instrument, payable to officers appointed by the Crown. The passage of this act created feelings of resentment throughout the colonies, accompanied by a determination to resist or evade its enforcement. The people of New York were among the most bitter in their opposition to the measure. An. association, styling itself the Sons of Liberty, held meeting to discuss plans for resistance. The obnoxious act was reprinted and paraded about the streets of New York city, bearing the inscription, "The folly of England, and ruin of America." A committee was appointed by the New York Assembly, in October, 1764, to correspond with the several colonial assemblies, with a view to resisting the oppressive measures of Parliament. They suggested to the several colonies the holding of a convention, to remonstrate against the violation of their liberties. This suggestion was heartily responded to, and delegates were appointed, who convened in the city of New York on the 7th of October, 1765. This body continued in session two weeks, and adopted a declaration of rights, petition to the King, and a memorial to Parliament, in which the principles by which the colonies were governed through the Revolution were clearly foreshadowed.

The Stamp Act was to take effect on the first day of November. As the appointed time drew near, the excitement increased, and when the day had finally arrived, flags floated at half mast, bells were tolled as on funeral occasions, and many other manifestations of public sorrow and discontent were made. The stamped paper, which had previously arrived, had been deposited in the Fort for safe keeping, under the direction of Governor Colden, who had taken the oath to execute the Stamp Act, but McEvers, who had been appointed by the Crown to manage its distribution and sale, seeing the manifestations of popular indignation, resigned. In the evening the Sons of Liberty appeared before the Fort, and demanded the stamped paper. On being refused, they repaired to the Commons, where they hung Governor Colden in effigy, and returned to the Fort with his image. Not being admitted at the gate, they broke into Colden's stable, and brought out his carriage, placed the effigy in it, paraded the streets, and returned to the Fort, where it was again hung. They then made a bonfire, and burned the carriage and its accompaniments. A party proceeded to the house of Major James, an artillery officer who had rendered himself particularly obnoxious, destroyed the furniture, and carried off the colors of the Royal Artillery regiment. The next day Colden announced that he should not issue any of the stamped paper while he remained in office, but leave it to his successor, who was already on his way from England. But the Sons of Liberty, not satisfied with this assurance, insisted that the stamped paper should be delivered into their hands, and threatened to take it by force if it was not. The Common Council, alarmed at their ungovernable fury, requested that the paper might be deposited in the City Hall, which was done, and a guaranty given for its safe keeping. In the meantime, at a meeting called by the citizens, a committee was appointed to correspond with the merchants of the several colonies, inviting them to enter into an agreement not to import certain goods from England, which suggestion was promptly acted upon, and the trade with England almost ceased.

When the new governor, Sir Henry Moore, arrived, he was disposed to carry the Stamp Act into execution, but the unanimous advice of his council, together with the unmistakable character of public sentiment, soon convinced him of the folly of such an attempt. The Sons of Liberty seized ten boxes of stamped paper, on the arrival of a vessel containing it, conveyed it to the ship-yards, and it was consumed in a bonfire. The Stamp Act was so odious to the colonies, and their opposition to it was so effective, that it was repealed on the i8th of March, 1766, but immediately on its repeal a bill was passed declaring the absolute right of Parliament " to tax the colonies in all cases whatsoever." The repeal, however, was not owing to any appeals from the colonists, for Parliament would not receive the petitions of the Colonial Congress, because that body had not been summoned to meet by it; but it was because of the influence of London merchants, whose trade was seriously affected by the non-importation agreement. Notwithstanding the declaratory act that accompanied the repeal, the news was hailed with a delirium of delight, and the city was in a blaze of illumination in honor of (he event. On the King's birthday, which occurred soon afterwards, the New Yorkers assembled, and with enthusiastic manifestations of loyalty erected a liberty-pole, inscribed to the King, Pitt, and Liberty. The Assembly met in June, and the Governor requested its compliance with the demands of the ministry in relation to furnishing supplies for the troops stationed in New York city. Some controversy ensued upon the subject, and only a partial compliance could be obtained from the Assembly.

The sounds of rejoicing which followed the repeal of the Stamp Act had hardly passed away before the ministry, by its unjust acts, again awakened the murmurs of discontent, and the declaratory act began to loom up and dampen all the hopes of the colonists. The partial provision of the Assembly for supporting the troops was distasteful to the Sons of Liberty, who well knew the soldiers were sent to .enforce the abridgement of American liberties, and on their arrival did not disguise their feelings. Animosities arose between them, and the soldiers believing that it was owing to the Sons of Liberty that the Assembly had not been more liberal in furnishing them with supplies, retaliated by cutting down the citizens flagstaff. The next day, while the citizens were replacing it, they were assaulted by the troops, and several of them wounded. The officers were indifferent to this conduct of their men, and other outrages were committed. The Assembly met again in November, when the Governor placed before it the instructions of the ministry, requesting that immediate provision for the troops should be made ; but their outrageous conduct had so disgusted the legislators that they refused to comply, and were severely censured by the Crown. Parliament declared the legislative powers of the Assembly annulled, and forbade the Governor and Council to give their assent to any act passed by that body until unqualified compliance with the demands of the Government had been obtained.

In June, 1767, a bill was passed by Parliament imposing a duty on tea, glass, lead, paper, and printers' colors imported into the colonies. This act was shortly followed by another, re-organizing the colonial customhouse system, and establishing a board of revenue commissioners. When intelligence of these acts reached the colonies the excitement was renewed, and the non-importation agreement revived. The colonists saw that Parliament intended to tax them in some way, and declared that taxes on trade for a revenue were as much a violation of their rights as any other taxes. In 1768 the Assembly of Massachusetts addressed a circular letter to the other colonies referring to the acts of Parliament, and soliciting their co-operation in maintaining the common liberties. This so offended the ministry that a letter was sent from the Secretary of State to the several colonial governors, forbidding their Assemblies to correspond with that of Massachusetts. When the Assembly of New York was convened the Governor placed the document before it, and requested their obedience to its mandates. The Assembly unhesitatingly refused ; declared its right to correspond with any other of the legislatures ; denounced the infringements upon its rights by Parliament ; and was dissolved by the Governor. The people sustained their representatives, and when a new Assembly convened in April, 1769, it was found that but very little change had been effected by the election.

The death of Sir Henry Moore occurred on the nth of September, 1769. His mild and prudent course, in avoiding controversy as far as possible, had endeared him to the colony, and his death was much lamented. By that event the government again devolved upon Cadwallader Colden. The English merchants, suffering from the non-importation agreement, had joined their petitions with those of the colonists for the repeal of the obnoxious custom-house act, and a circular-letter assured the people of the colonies that at the next session of Parliament a proposition would be made to abolish the duties on all articles, except tea. This attempt at conciliation was far from satisfactory ; for the right of taxation was not relinquished, and the principle was the same, whether applied to one article or many. A bill was introduced in the New York Assembly, in November, for issuing colonial bills of credit to the amount of 120,000 pounds, to loan out as a means of revenue. The project at first met with favor from the popular party, but when it was followed by an appropriation to support the British troops in the colony, to be taken out of the interest arising from the loan, a revulsion of feeling at once took place. Shortly after, handbills were circulated, charging the Assembly with betraying the inhabitants of the colony, and advising the people to meet on a certain day, and express their sentiments upon the subject. Accordingly, a large concourse of people gathered, and emphatically denounced the action of the Assembly. That body passed resolutions declaring the handbills libelous, and offering a reward for the detection of their authors. John Lamb, who had presided over the popular meeting, was arrested and brought before the House, but was soon after discharged.

Animosities continued between the Sons of Liberty and the soldiers. Now that their supplies were granted, the latter no longer held themselves in check from motives of policy, and on the evening of the 13th of January, 1769, renewed their attack upon the flagpole of the citizens. The citizens hastily gathered for its defense, whereupon they desisted. Their failure in this attempt, together with the derisive jeers of the citizens, so enraged them that they charged upon a group of people in front of a tavern, which was a favorite resort of the Sons of Liberty, drove them in, and destroyed the windows and furniture. On the evening of the 16th they cut down the flagstaff, sawed it in pieces, and piled the fragments before the battered hotel. On the following morning several thousands of the citizens assembled at the scene of the outrage, and passed resolutions censuring the riotous proceedings of the soldiers, and recommending that whenever found in the street after roll-call they should be dealt with as enemies to the peace of the city. The next day placards were found posted up, ridiculing the resolutions, and daring the citizens to execute them. During the day theSons of Liberty caught two or three soldiers in the act of putting up these bills, and arrested them. While conducting them to the Mayor's office the citizens were attacked by a party of twenty of their comrades, armed with cutlasses, and a skirmish ensued-the citizens defending themselves with clubs. The soldiers were forced back to Golden Hill, as John Street, between Cliff street and Burling Slip, was then called. Here they were reenforced, and made a furious charge on the citizens, most of whom were entirely unarmed. The latter stoutly resisted until a party of officers appeared on the scene, and ordered the troops back to their barracks. Several of the citizens were severely wounded, some of whom had not participated in the skirmish. Several affrays occurred on the following day, in which the soldiers were generally worsted. The Mayor issued a proclamation forbidding them to leave the barracks, unless accompanied by a non-commissioned officer ; and order was restored.

Thus terminated the first conflict in which blood was shed in the cause of American Revolution. It is usually asserted that at Lexington was the first battle fought; but the actual beginning of the combat, so doubtful in its progress, and so glorious in its results, was the battle of Golden Hill, on the 18th of January, 1770, at least five years earlier. The Sons of Liberty purchased grounds and erected another pole, which stood until the occupation of the city by the British forces, in 1776.