08 - Life of Washington, Volume 1 by John James Marshall

Dive into the remarkable life of George Washington, as depicted by his equally impressive biographer, Marshall. Influenced by the greatness of Washington himself, Marshall evolved into a figure of similar stature. Over a period of nearly 25 years, Marshall dedicated his deepest thoughts to capturing Washingtons life and accomplishments. Thanks to his intimate understanding of his subject, first-hand knowledge of events, and exceptional writing skills, Marshall has given us a true masterpiece.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter six of the Life of Washington, Volume one by
John Marshall. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Chapter six Prosperity of New England War with Philip Edward
Randolph arrives in Boston, Maine. Adjudged to gorgeous purchased by

(00:21):
Massachusetts Royal Government erected in New Hampshire. Complaints against Massachusetts
their letters patent canceled. Death of Charles the Second, James
the Second proclaimed new Commissioner for the Government of New England,
Sir Edmund Andros. The Charter of Rhode Island abrogated odious

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measures of the new government, Andros deposed. William and Mary
proclaimed Review of proceedings in New York and the Jerseys
Pennsylvania granted to William penn frame of government Foundation of Philadelphia.
Lade Assembly convened first acts of the Legislature. Boundary line
with Lord Baltimore settled sixteen eighty Prosperity of New England.

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After the departure of the Commissioners, New England was for
some time quiet and prosperous. The plague, the Fire of London,
and the discontents of the people of England engrossed the
attention of the King, and suspended the execution of his
plans respecting Massachusetts. In the meantime, that colony disregarded the
Acts of Navigation, traded as an independent state, and governed

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New Hampshire and Maine without opposition war with Philip. This
state of prosperous repose was interrupted by a combination of
Indians so formidable and a war so bloody as to
threaten the war with very existence of all New England.
This combination was formed by Philip, the second son of

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Massa Swat. The father and the eldest son had cultivated
the friendship of the colonists, but Philip, equally brave intelligence,
saw the continuing growth of the English with apprehension, and
by his conduct, soon excited their suspicion. Sixteen seventy five
he gave explicit assurances of his specific disposition, but from

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the year sixteen seventy to sixteen seventy five, when hostilities commenced,
he was secretly preparing for them. The war was carried
on with great vigor and various success. The Savages, led
by an intrepid chief who believed that the fate of
his country depended on the entire destruction of the English
made exertions of which they had not been thought capable.

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Several battles were fought. In all that barbarous fury which
distinguishes Indian warfare was displayed in its full extent. Wherever
the Indians marched, their route was marked with murder, fire
and desolation. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Plymouth were the greatest sufferers.
In those provinces, especially, the Indians were so intermingled with

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the Whites that there was scarcely a part of the
country in perfect security, or a family which had not
to bewail the loss of a relation or friend. For
a considerable time, no decisive advantage was gained sixteen seventy six.
At length, the steady efforts of the English prevailed, and
in August sixteen seventy six, when the tide of success

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was running strong in favor of the colonists, Philip, after
losing his family and chief counselors, was himself killed by
one of his own nation, whom he had offended. After
his death, the war was soon terminated by the submission
of the Indians. Never had the people of New England
been engaged in so fierce, so bloody and so desolating

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a conflict. Though the warriors of the nation of which
Philip was prince were estimated at only five hundred men,
he had by alliances, increased his force to three thousand.
In this estimate, the Eastern Indians are not included, and
flourishing villages were reduced to ashes, and six hundred persons
were either killed in battle or murdered privately. While this

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war was raging with its sutmost violence, the government of
Massachusetts was under the necessity of directing a part of
its attention to the claims of Mason and Gorges. The
efforts of Charles to procure an appearance of the colony
before the Council having proved ineffectual, he determined to give
judgment in its absence unless an appearance should be entered

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within six months. Edward Randolph. Edward Randolph, who was dispatched
to give notice of this determination, arrived in Boston in
the summer of sixteen seventy six, and, as other letters
brought by the same vessel, gave assurance that this resolution
would be adhered to the General Court hastened the departure

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of deputies to represent the colony and support its interests.
Maine adjudged to Gorges. It was the opinion of the
King in Council that the line of Massachusetts did not
run more than three miles north of the Merrimack, and
Maine was adjudged to Gorges, the claim of Mason to

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New Hampshire being confined to the soil, all title to which,
though so long exercised, was now waived by Massachusetts, and
the terra tenants not being before the court, that part
of the case was decided so far only as respected
the boundary of Massachusetts, which, being against the pretensions of

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that colony, its jurisdiction over New Hampshire ceased. Charles had
been for some time treating for the purchase both of
New Hampshire and Maine, which he intended to bestow on
his favourite son, the Duke of Monmouth, but his poverty
had prevented the contract. Massachusetts, though not ignorant of this fact,

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finding that the decision respecting Maine would be in favor
of Gorges, purchased his title iour twelve hundred pounds sterling.
The offended monarch insisted on a relinquishment of the contract,
but Massachusetts, apologizing for what had been done, retained the purchase,
and governed the country as a subordinate province. Sixteen seventy

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nine Royal Government in New Hampshire. New Hampshire having become
a distinct colony, a royal government was erected in that province,
the legislature of which voted an affectionate address two Massachusetts,
avowing a willingness to have retained their ancient connection had
such been the pleasure of their common sovereign. The temper

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and conduct of Massachusetts remaining unchanged, the charges against its
government were renewed, the complaints of the Quakers were perseveringly urged,
and the neglect of the Acts of Navigation constituted a
serious accusation against the colony. The General Court, in a
letter to their agents, declared leared these acts to be

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an invasion of the rights, liberty and property of the
subjects of His Majesty in the colony, they not being
represented in Parliament, but as his Majesty had signified his
pleasure that they should be conformed to, they had made
provision by a law of the Colony that they should
be strictly attended to from time to time, although it

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greatly discouraged trade and was a great damage to His
Majesty's plantation. Their agents gave correct information of the state
of things in England and assured them that only a
fair compliance with the regulations respecting trade could secure them
from an open breach with the Crown. These honest representations

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produced the usual effect of unwelcome truths. They diminished the
popularity of the agents and excited a suspicion in Boston
that they had not supported the interests of the colony
with sufficient ze. On their return, they brought with them
a letter containing the requisitions of the King, and were
soon followed by Randolph, who had been appointed collector at Boston.

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The General Court began to manifest some disposition to appease
their sovereign and pass several laws for this purpose, but
still declined complying with his directions to send agents with
full powers to attend to the new ordering of the province,
and the Collector encountered in superabwl obstacles in his attempts
to execute the laws of trade. Almost every suit he

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instituted for the recovery of penalties or forfeitures was decided
against him, at the costs of the prosecutor. These difficulties
induced him to return to England to solicit additional powers,
which were equally disregarded. The complaints of the King on
these subjects were answered by professions of loyalty and by

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partial compliances with the demands of the Crown, but the
main subject of cost remained unaltered sixteen eighty four. At length,
being convinced that the King was determined to annul the Charter,
Massachusetts so far yielded to his will as to appoint
agents to represent the colony. But persons in power to

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submit to such regulations as might be made by government were,
in other words, persons appointed to surrender the Charter. They
were therefore instructed not to do or consent to, anything
that might infringe the liberties granted by Charter or the
government established thereby. These powers were declared to be insufficient,

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and the agents were informed that unless others in every
respect satisfactory, should be immediately obtained, it was his Majesty's
pleasure that a quo warranto should be issued without delay.
This unpleasant intelligence was immediately communicated to the General Court,
accompanied with information of the proceedings which had lately taken

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place in England. In that country, many corporations had surrendered
their charters, and on the refusal of London, a quo
warranto had issued against the city, which had been decided
in favor of the Crown. The question whether it was
advisable to submit to His Majesty's pleasure or to permit

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the quote warranty to issue was seriously referred to the
General Court, and was as seriously taken into consideration throughout
the colony. In concurrence with the common sentiment, the General
Court determined that it was better to die by other
hands than their own. On receiving this final resolution, the

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fatal Writ was issued and was committed to the care
of Randolph, who brought also a declaration of the King
that if the colony before the Writ should be prosecuted
would submit to his pleasure, he would regulate their charter
for his service and their good, and would make no
farther all terations in it then should be necessary for

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the support of his government in the province. The Governor
and assistants passed a vote of submission, but the deputies
refusing their assent. Thereto. The High Court of Chancery in
Trinity term sixteen eighty four decreed against the Governor and
company that their letters patent and the enrollment thereof be canceled.

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Sixteen eighty five death of Charles the Second James the
Second proclaimed. Charles did not survive this decree long enough
to complete his system respecting the New England colonies or
to establish a new government for Massachusetts. He died early
in the following year, and his successor, from whose stern

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temper and high toned opinions the most gloomy presages had
been drawn, was proclaimed in Boston with melancholy pomp. Their
pressages were soon verified. Immediately after James had ascended the throne,
a commission was issued for a President and Council as
a temporary government for Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Narragansets,

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whose powers were entirely executive and judicial. Sixteen eighty six.
This commission reached Boston in May and was laid before
the General Court, not as a body invested with political authority,
but as one composed of individuals of the first respectability
and influence in the province. The General Court agreed unanimously

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to an address in answer to this communication, declaring that
the liberty of the subject is abridged by the new system,
both in matters of legislation and in laying taxes, And
that it highly concerns them to whom it is directed
to consider whether it be saved, And added that if
the newly appointed officers mean to take upon them themselves

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the government of the people, though they could not give
their assent thereto, they should demean themselves as loyal subjects,
and humbly make their addresses to God and in due
time to their gracious Prince for relief. Mister Dudley, the
President named in the Commission, was a native of Massachusetts,

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and seems to have mingled with his respect for the
constitutional prerogative of the Crown a due regard for the
rights of the people. Any immediate alterations therefore in the
interior arrangements of the country were avoided, and the commissioners
transmitted a memorial to the lords of the Council for

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the Colonies stating the necessity of a well regulated assembly
to represent the people, and soliciting an abatement of the taxes.
This moderate conduct did not accord with the wishes of
that class of men who court power were. Ever, it
may be placed. These sought the favor of their sovereign

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by prostrating every obstacle to the execution of his will,
and soon transmitted complaints to Administration, charging the commissioners with
conniving at violations of the laws respecting trade and countenancing
ancient principles in religion and government. Sir Edmund Andros James

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was dissatisfied with the conduct of his commissioners, and was
also of opinion that a wise policy required a consolidation
of the colonies and a permanent administration for New England.
With a view to this object, he appointed Sir Edmund Andros,
who had governed New York, Captain General and Vice Admiral

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of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New Plymouth, Permaquid and arraganzts,
and empowered him with the consent of a council to
be a pointed by the Crown, to make ordinances not
inconsistent with the laws of the realm, which should be
submitted to the King for his approbation or descent, and
to impose taxes for the support of government. In December

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sixteen eighty five, Andros arrived at Boston, where he was
received with the respect which was due to the representative
of the Crown. In pursuance of his orders, he dissolved
the government of Rhode Island, broke its seal, and assumed
the administration of the colony. In the preceding year, articles
of high misdemeanor had been exhibited against that colony, and

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referred to Sayer, the Attorney General, with orders to issue
a writ of warranto to annul their patent. The Assembly
stopped farther proceedings by passing an act formally surrendering their charter.
Their submission, however, availed them nothing. Their fate was involved
in that of Massachusetts odious measures of government. In pursuance

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of the determination to break the charters and unite the colonies.
Articles of misdemeanor had been also exhibited against the Governor
and Company of Connecticut, on which a writ of quote
warranto had been issued. The government of that colony addressed
a letter to the Secretary of State, desiring, with many
professions of loyalty, to remain in its present situation, but

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if it should be the purpose of his Majesty to
dispose otherwise of them, submitting to his royal commands and
requesting to be annexed to Massachusetts. No further proceedings were
had on the quote Warranto and Andros was ordered to
accept the submission of the colony and annexit to Massachusetts

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sixteen eighty seven. This order was executed in October when
Andros appeared in Hartford at the head of a small
corps of regular troops, demanded the charter and declared the
government to be dissolved. The colony submitted, but the charter
was concealed in a tree, which was venerated long afterwards
and is still in existence. The Grand Legislative Council, composed

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of individuals selected by the Crown throughout the United Colonies,
readily assembled and proceeded to execute the duties assigned to it.
The measures of the new government were not calculated to
diminish the odium excited by its objectionable form. The fees
of office were enormous, and the regulations respecting divine worship, marriages,

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the acts of navigation and taxes were deemed highly oppressive.
In addition to these causes of discontent, the Governor General
took occasion to cast a doubt on the validity of
the titles by which lands were holding sixteen eighty eight.
To obtain relief from these oppressive grievances, Mather, an eminent

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politician and divine, was deputed by the colonies of New
England to lay their complaints before the King. He was
graciously received, but could effect no substantial change in the
colonial administration. James had determined to reduce all the government's
proprietary as well as royal to an immediate dependence on

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the Crown, and to effect this purpose, had directed writs
of quote warranty to issue against those charters which still
remained in force. This plan was adopted not only for
the purpose of establishing his favorite system of government, but
also forming a barrier to the encroachments of France by
combining the force of the colonies as far as the Delaware.

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During this reign, candidate was pushed south of Lake Champlain
and fortresses were erected within the immense forests, which then
separated that province from New York and New England. With
a view to this union of force, a new commission
was made out for Andros, annexing New York and the
Jerseys to his government and appointing Francis Nicholson his lieutenant

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sixteen eighty nine. The dissatisfaction of the people continued to increase.
In every act of the government, even those which were
in themselves laudable, was viewed through the medium of prejudice.
At length, these latent ill humors burst forth into action.
Some vague intelligence was received concerning the proceedings of the

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Prince of Orange in England. The old magistrates and leading
men silently wished and secretly prayed that success might attend him,
but determined to commit nothing unnecessarily to hazard, and quietly
to await an event which no movement of theirs could
accelerate or retard, andros deposed. The people were less prudent,

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stung with the recollection of past injuries, their impatience on
the first prospect of relief could not be restrained. On
the eighteenth of April, without any apparent preconcerted plan, a
sudden insurrection broke out in Boston, and about fifty the
most unpopular individuals, including the governors, were seized and imprisoned,

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and the government was once more placed in the hands
of the ancient magistrates. William and Mary proclaimed. All apprehensions
of danger from this precipitate measure were soon quieted by
the information that William and Mary had been crowned King
and Queen of England. They were immediately proclaimed in Boston

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with unusual pomp and with demonstrations of proclaimed unaffected joy.
The example of Massachusetts was quickly followed by Connecticut and
Rhode Island, and was no sooner known to be in
prison than he was deposed. Also in Connecticut, and in
both colonies, the ancient form of government was restored. In

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New Hampshire, a convention was called which determined to re
annex that colony to Massachusetts, and deputies were elected to
represent them in the General Court. This reunion continued to
be their wish, but was opposed by the King, who
in sixteen ninety two appointed for it a distinct governor.

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In order to bring the affairs of the Middle Colonies
to this period, it will be necessary briefly to review
the transactions of several years review of proceedings in New
York and New Jersey. The Treaty of Bretta, which restored
Acca die to France, confirmed New Netherlands to England. Quiet

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possession of that valuable territory was retained until sixteen seventy three,
when England, being engaged again in war with Holland. A
small Dutch squadron appeared before the fort at New York,
which surrendered without firing a shot. The example was followed
by the city and country, and in a few days

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the submission of New Netherlands was complete. After this acquisition,
the old claim to Long Island was renewed, and some
attempts were made to arrest it from Connecticut. That province, however,
after consulting its confederates and finding that offensive operations would
be agreeable to, the Union, declared war against the Dutch,

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and not content with defending its own possessions, prepared an
expedition against New York. Determination of the war between England
and Holland prevented its prosecution and restored to the English
the possessions they had lost. To remove all controversy concerning
his title, which had been acquired while the granted land

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were in possession of the Dutch, the Duke of York,
after the Peace of sixteen seventy four, obtained a renewal
of his patent and appointed Sir Edmund Andros governor of
his territories in America. This commission included New Jersey, his
former grant of which he supposed to be annulled by
the conquest thereof in sixteen seventy three, Andros, disregarding the

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decision of the Commissioners, claimed for the Duke that part
of Connecticut which lies west of the river of that Nain, and,
during the war with Philip endeavored to support his claim
by force. The determined resistance of Connecticut compelled him to
relinquish an attempt on Saybrook, after which he returned to
New York. The taxes which had been laid by the

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Dutch were collected, and duties for limited time were imposed
by authority of the Duke. This proceeding excited great discontent.
The public resentment was directed first against the governor, whose
conduct was inquired into and approved by his master, and
afterwards against the collector, who was seized and sent to England,

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but never prosecuted. The representatives of the Duke in New York,
beating the difficulty of governing a high spirited people on
principles repugnant to all their settled opinions, repeatedly but ineffectually,
urged him to place the colony on the same footing
with its neighbors by creating a local legislature, one branch

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of which should be elected by the people. It was
not until the year sixteen eighty three, when the Revenue
Laws were about to expire, when the right of the
Duke to reenact them was denied in America, and doubted
in England that he could be prevailed on to appoint
a new governor with instructions to convene an assembly. In

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sixteen seventy four, Lord Barkeley assigned his interest in the
Jerseys to William Penn and his associates. They afterwards acquired
the title of Sir Jorge George Carteret also and immediately
conveyed one half of their interest to the Earl of
Perth and others, who in sixteen eighty three obtained a
conveyance from the Duke of York directly to themselves. During

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these transactions, continual efforts were made to re annex the
Jerseys to New York. Carteret had endeavored to participate in
the advantages of commerce by establishing a port at Anboy,
but Andros seized and condemned the vessels trading thither, and
was supported by the Duke in this exercise of power.

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The Assembly of New York claimed the right of taxing
the people of Jersey, and the collector continued to exercise
his former authority within their territory. On his complaining after
the accession of the Duke of York to the throne,
that every vessel he prosecuted was discharged by the verdict
of the jury, a writ of warranto was directed. The

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English judges did not then hold their offices during good behavior,
and the proprietors of East Jersey, confident that the cause
would be decided against them, surrendered their patent to the Crown,
praying only a grant of the soil. The Jerseys were
soon afterwards annexed to New England. Dongan, who in sixteen

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eighty three had succeeded andros In the government of New York,
took a deep interest in the affairs of the Five
Nations who had been engaged in bloody wars with Canada.
The French, by establishing a settlement at Detroit and a
fort at mckilley Mackinac, had been enabled to extend their
commerce among the numerous tribes of Indians who hunted on

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the banks of the Great Lakes and the upper branches
of the Mississippi. They excluded the people of New York
from any share in this gainful commerce, in consequence of
which Dongan solicited and obtained permission to aid the Five Names.
This order, however, was soon countermanded, and a treaty was

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concluded stipulating that no assistance should be given to the
savages by the English colonists, soon after which Dongan was
recalled and New York was annexed to New England. From
the accession of James to the throne, he had discontinued
the assemblies of New York and empowered the governor, with

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the consent of his council, to make laws as near
as might be to those of England. The reinstatement of
this arbitrary assistant gave general disgust, and, together with the
apprehension that the Roman Catholic religion would be established, prepared
the people of New York as well as those of
the other colonies, for that revolution which wrested power from

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hands accustomed to abuse it. On receiving intelligence of the
revolution at Boston, the militia were raised by Captain Jacob Leisler,
who took possession of the fort in the name of
King Wagis and drove Nicholson, the Lieutenant Governor, out of
the country. This event gave rise to two parties who
long divided New York, and whose mutual animosities were the

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source of much uneasiness and mischief to the province. Pennsylvania
granted to William Penn. William Penn, having gained some knowledge
of the country west of the Delaware, formed the design
of acquiring that territory as a separate estate. On his petition,
a charter was issued in sixteen eighty one, granting to

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him in absolute property by the name of Pennsylvania, that
tractive country, bounded on the east by the River Delaware,
extending westward five degrees of longitude, stretching to the north
from twelve miles north of Newcastle to the forty third
degree of latitude, and limited on the south by a
circle of twelve miles drawn round Newcastle to the beginning

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of the fortieth degree of latitude. In this charter, the
acts of navigation were recognized. A local legislature was created,
and provision made that a duplicate of its laws should
be transmitted within five years to the King in Council,
any of which that were repugnant to those of England,
or inconsistent with the authority of the Crown, might be

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declared void. In six months. This charter conveyed nearly the
same powers and privileges with that of Maryland, but recognized
the right of Parliament to tax the colony. Penn soon
commenced the settlement of the province and immediately asserted a
claim to a part of the territory which had been
supposed by Lord Baltimore to be within the bounds of Maryland.

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In this claim originated a controversy between the two proprietors,
productive of considerable inconvenience and irritation to both, he published
a frame of government for Pennsylvania, the chief intention of
which was declared to be for the support of power
in rever reference with the people, and to secure the

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people from the abuse of power, that they may be
free by their just obedience, and the magistrates honorable for
their just administration. For liberty without obedience is confusion, and
obedience without liberty is slavery. This scheme of fundamental law
contains many provisions indicating good sense and just notions of government,

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but was too complex for an infant settlement, and after
many fruitless attempts to amend it was laid aside, and
a more simple form was adopted, resembling in its principal
features those established in the other colonies, which remained until
the proprietary government itself was dissolved. In August sixteen eighty two,

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Penn obtained from the Duke of York a conveyance of
the town of Newcastle with a territory twelve miles around it,
and that tract of land extending thence southward on the
Delaware to Cape Henlow. Soon after this grant was issued,
he embarked for America, accompanied by about two thousand emigrants,

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and in the October following landed on the banks of
the Delaware. In addition to the colonists sent out by himself,
he found on his arrival several small settlements of Swedes, Dutch, Finlanders,
and English, amounting to about three thousand persons. Penn cultivated

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the goodwill of the natives from whom he purchased such
lands as were necessary for the present use of the
colonists foundation of Philadelphia. At this time the foundation of
Philadelphia was laid, which we are assured contained near one
hundred houses within twelve months from its commencement, an assembly
was convened, which, instead of being composed of all the

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freemen according to the frame of government, was at the
request of the people themselves, constituted of their representatives. Among
the laws which were enacted was one annexing the territories
lately purchased from the Duke of York to the province,
and extending to them all its privileges. Universal freedom in
religion was established in every foreigner who promised allegiance to

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the king in obedience to the proprietor was declared a
free man. In the hope of extending his limits to
the Chesapeake. Penn soon after his arrival, met Lord Baltimore
for the purpose of adjusting their boundaries. The patent of
that nobleman calls for the fortieth degree of north latitude,

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and he proposed to determine the intersection of that degree
with the Delaware by actual observation. Penn On, the contrary,
insisted on finding the fortieth degree by mensaration from the
capes of Virginia, the true situation of which had been
already ascertained, each adhering firmly to his own proposition. The

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controversy was referred to the Committee of Plantations, who, after
the crown had descended on James, decided that the peninsula
between the bays of Chesapeake and Delaware should be divided
into two equal parts by a line drawn from the
latitude of Cape Handlopen to the fortieth degree, and adjudged
that the land line from that line towards the Delaware

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should belong to His Majesty and the other moiety to
Lord Baltimore. This adjudication was ordered to be immediately executed.
Pennsylvania was slow in acknowledging the Prince and Princess of Orange.
The government continued to be administered in the name of
James for some time after his abdication was known. At length, however,

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William and Mary were proclaimed, and penn had the address
to Ephace the unfavorable impressions which this delay was calculated
to make on them. End of Chapter six