the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations in 1768, that the
territory, which would be included within the _boundary line_, then
negociating with the Indians (and which was the _one_ that was _that
year_ perfected) should continue a useless wilderness, or be settled
and occupied by his Majesty's subjects.--The very _representation_
itself, which the present Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations
say, contains "_every argument on the subject_," furnishes us an ample
and satisfactory solution to this important question.--The Lord
Commissioners in 1768, after pronouncing their opinion _against_ the
_proposed three new governments_, as above stated, declare, "They ought
to be carefully guarded against, by encouraging the settlement of that
extensive tract of sea coast hitherto unoccupied; which, say their
Lordships, _together with the liberty, that the inhabitants_ OF THE
_middle colonies_ WILL HAVE (in consequence of the proposed _boundary
line_ with the Indians) _of gradually extending themselves backwards_,
will _more effectually_ and _beneficially answer_ the object of
_encouraging population_ and _consumption_, than the erection of new
governments; such gradual extension might, through the medium of a
continual population, upon even the same extent of territory,
_preserve_ a communication of mutual commercial benefits between its
extremest parts and Great Britain, _impossible to exist in colonies
separated by immense tracts of unpeopled desart_."--Can any opinion be
more clear and conclusive, in _favour_ of the proposition which we have
humbly submitted to his Majesty?--for their Lordships positively say,
that the inhabitants of the middle colonies _will have liberty of
gradually extending themselves backwards_;--but is it not very
extraordinary, that after near _two years_ deliberation, the present
Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations should make a _report_ to
the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council, and therein expressly
refer to that opinion of 1768, in which, they say, "_every argument on
the subject is collected together with great force and precision_," and
yet that, almost in the same breath, their Lordships "should contravene
that very opinion, and advise his Majesty _to check the progress of
their settlements_?"--And that "settlements in _that distant part_ of
the country ought to be _discouraged_ as much as possible, and another
proclamation should be issued declaratory of his Majesty's resolution,
_not_ to allow, _for the present_, any new settlement beyond the
line;"--to wit, beyond the Allegany mountains?--How strange and
contradictory is this conduct?--But we forbear any strictures upon
it;--and shall conclude our remarks on this head, by stating the
opinion, at different times, of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and
Plantations, on this subject.
In 1748, their Lordships expressed the strongest desire to promote
settlements _over_ the mountains and on the Ohio.--
In 1768--The then Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations
declared, (in consequence of the boundary line at that time
negociating)--That the inhabitants of the _middle colonies_ would _have
liberty of gradually extending themselves backwards_.
In 1770--The Earl of Hillsborough actually _recommended_ the purchase
of a tract of land _over_ the mountains, sufficient for a new colony,
and then went down to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to know,
whether their Lordships would treat with Mr. Walpole and his
associates, for such purchase.
In 1772--The Earl of Hillsborough, and the other Lords Commissioners
for Trade and Plantations, made a _report_ on the petition of Mr.
Walpole and his associates, and referred to the _representation_ of the
Board of Trade in 1768, "as containing _every argument_ on the
_subject, collected together with force and precision_;"--which
_representation_ declared, as we have shewn, "_That the inhabitants of
the middle colonies_ WILL _have liberty to extend backwards_," on the
identical lands in question; and yet, notwithstanding such _reference_,
so strongly made from the present Board of Trade to the opinion of that
Board,--the Earl of Hillsborough, and the other Lords Commissioners for
Trade and Plantations, have _now_, in direct terms, _reported against_
the absolute engagement and opinion of the Board in 1768.
It may be asked, What was intended by the expressions in the
_representation_ of 1768, of _gradually extending themselves
backwards_? It is answered, They were only in contradistinction to the
proposal of erecting at that time _three new governments at Detroit_,
&c. and thereby exciting, as the _representation_ says, the stream of
population to _various_ distant places.--In short, it was, we think,
beyond all doubt, the "_precise_" opinion of the Lords Commissioners in
1768, That the territory, within the boundary line, then negociating,
and since completed, would be sufficient at that time--to answer the
object of population and consumption; and that, until that territory
was fully occupied,--it was not necessary to erect the proposed _three
new governments_ "_at an expence to this kingdom_," in places, as their
Lordships observed, "separated by immense tracts of unpeopled
desart."--
To conclude our observations on the 6th paragraph, we would just
remark,--That we presume we have demonstrated, that the inhabitants of
the Middle Colonies _cannot_ be compelled to _exchange_ the soil and
climate of these colonies, either for the severe colds of Nova Scotia
and Canada, or the unwholesome heats of East and West Florida. Let us
next enquire, what would be the effect of _confining_ these inhabitants
(if it was practicable) within narrow bounds, and thereby preventing
them from exercising their natural inclination of cultivating
lands?--and whether such restriction would not force them into
_manufactures_, to rival the Mother Country?--To these questions, the
Lords Commissioners have, with much candour, replied in their
representation of 1768,--We "admit," said their Lordships, "as an
undeniable principle of _true policy_, that, with a view to _prevent
manufactures_, it is necessary and proper _to open_ an extent of
territory for colonization, _proportioned_ to an _increase_ of people,
as a large number of inhabitants cooped up in narrow limits, without a
sufficiency of land _for produce_, would be compelled to _convert_
their attention and industry to _manufactures_."--But their Lordships
at the same time observed,--"That the _encouragement_ given to the
settlement of the Colonies upon the sea coast, and the effect which
such encouragement has had, has already _effectually_ provided for this
object."--In what parts of North America this _encouragement_ has thus
_provided_ for _population_, their Lordships have not mentioned. If
the establishment of the governments of Quebeck, Nova Scotia, and the
Island of St. John's, or East and West Florida, was intended by their
Lordships as that effectual provision,--we shall presume to deny the
proposition, by asserting, as an undoubted truth,--that although there
is at least a _million_ of subjects in the Middle Colonies, none have
emigrated from thence, and settled in these _new_ provinces;--and
for that reason, and from the very nature of colonization itself, we
affirm that none _will ever_ be induced _to exchange_ the healthy,
temperate climate of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, for the
extreme colds or heats of Canada and Nova Scotia, or East and West
Florida:--In short, it is not in the power of Government to give any
encouragement, that can compensate for a desertion of friends and
neighbours,--dissolution of family connexions, and abandoning a soil
and climate infinitely superior to those of Canada, Nova Scotia, or
the Floridas.--Will not therefore the inhabitants of the middle
provinces, whose population is great beyond example[5], and who have
already made some advances in manufactures, "by confining them to
their present narrow limits," be necessarily compelled to convert
their whole attention to that object? How then shall this, in the
nature of things, be prevented, except, as the Lords Commissioners
have justly remarked, "by opening an extent of territory proportioned
_to their increase_?"--But _where_ shall a territory be found proper
for "the _colonization_ of the inhabitants of the Middle Colonies?"
We answer,--in the very country, which the Lords Commissioners have
aid that the inhabitants of these colonies would have liberty to
settle in;--a country which his Majesty has purchased from the Six
Nations;--one, _where_ several thousands of his subjects are already
settled;--and one, _where_ the Lords Commissioners have acknowledged,
"a gradual extension might through the medium of a continued
population, upon even the same extent of territory, _preserve a
communication_ of mutual commercial benefits _between_ its _extremest
parts_ and Great Britain."[6]
[5] "Besides _staple_ commodities, there is another more material
point to be considered in the colonies, which is their great and
daily _increase_; and for which, unless we make provision in
time, they can never subsist by a _dependance on Britain_. There
are at present (in the year 1770) nigh _three_ millions of people
in them, who may, in twenty or thirty years, _increase_ to _six_
millions, as many as there are in England."
_Wynne's History of the British Empire in America, vol. ii. page
398._
[6] Thus the use the nation has for new settlements and
acquisitions in North America is for the great increase of the
people who are already there, and to enable them to subsist _by a
dependance upon her_; which they can never do, _unless they
extend their settlements_.
_Wynne's History, vol. ii. p. 399._
"Unprejudiced men well know, that all the penal and prohibitory
laws that ever were thought of, will not be sufficient to
_prevent manufactures_ in a country whose inhabitants surpass the
number that can subsist by the by the husbandry of it; and this
will be the case _soon_, if our people remain confined within the
mountains," _&c._
_The Interest of Great Britain considered with regard to the
Colonies, page 17. Published in 1767._
VII. This paragraph is introduced, by referring to the extract of a
letter from the Commander in chief of his Majesty's forces in North
America, laid by the Earl of Hillsborough before the Lords
Commissioners for Trade and Plantations;--but as their Lordships have
_not_ mentioned either the general's name, or the time _when_ the
letter was written, or what occasioned his delivering his opinion upon
the subject of _colonization in general_, in the "_remote countries_"--we
can only conjecture, that General Gage was the writer of the letter,
and that it was wrote about the year 1768,--_when_, the plan of the
_three new governments_ was under the consideration of the then Lords
Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, and _before_ the lands on the
Ohio were bought from, and the boundary line established with the Six
Nations.--Indeed, we think it clear, That the General had _no_ other
lands, at that time, under his consideration, than what he calls
"_remote countries_," such as the _Detroit_, _Illinois_, and the
_lower_ parts of the Ohio;--for he speaks of "_foreign countries_,"
from which it "would be _too far_ to transport some kind of naval
stores," and for the same reason could _not_, he says, supply the sugar
islands "_with_ lumber and provisions." He mentions also, planting
colonies at _so vast a distance_, that the _very long transportation_
[of silk, wine, &c.] must probably make them too dear for any market,"
and _where_ "the inhabitants could _not_ have _any commodities_ to
barter for manufactures, except _skins and furs_." And what, in our
opinion, fully evinces that the general was giving his sentiments upon
settlements at _Detroit_, &c. and _not_ on the territory in question,
is, that he says "it will be a question likewise, whether colonization
of this kind, _could be effected without an Indian war, and fighting
for every inch of the ground_." Why the Lords Commissioners for Trade
and Plantations should encumber their _report_ with the opinion of
General Gage, on what he calls the settlement of a "_foreign country_"
that could not be effected without "_fighting for every inch of
ground_," and how their Lordships could apply that case, to the
settlement of a territory, purchased by his Majesty near four years
ago, and _now_ inhabited by several thousand British subjects, whom the
Indians themselves, living on the Northern side of the Ohio [as shall
be fully shewn in the course of these observations] have earnestly
requested may be immediately governed, we confess we are wholly at a
loss to comprehend.
VIII. The eighth paragraph highly extols, not only the _accuracy and
precision_ of the foregoing representation of the Lords of Trade in
1768, [which, as has been before observed, expressed, that the
inhabitants of the middle colonies _would have liberty to settle over_
the mountains, and on the Ohio], but also the above mentioned letter
from the commander in chief in America; and at the same time introduces
the sentiments of Mr. Wright, Governor of Georgia, "on the subject of
large grants in the interior parts of America."
When this letter was written, what was the occasion of the Governor's
writing it,--whether he was _then_, from his own knowledge, acquainted
with the situation of the country _over_ the mountains,--with the
disposition of the inhabitants of the middle colonies,--with the
capability of the Ohio country, from its soil, climate, or
communication with the river Powtomack, &c. to supply this kingdom with
_silk_, _flax_, _hemp_, &c.--and whether the principal part of Mr.
Wright's estate is on the _sea-coast_ in _Georgia_,--are facts which we
wish had been stated, that it might be known whether Governor Wright's
"knowledge and experience in the affairs of colonies ought, as the
Lords of Trade mention, to give great weight to his opinion" on the
present occasion.
The doctrine insisted on by Governor Wright appears to us reducible to
the following propositions:
1st, That if a _vast_ territory be granted to any set of Gentlemen, who
really mean to people it,--and actually do so, _it must_ draw and carry
out a great number of people from _Great Britain_.
2d. That they will soon become a kind of separate and independant
people; who will set up for themselves,--will _soon_ have manufactures
of their own,--will _neither_ take supplies from the mother country,
nor the provinces at _the back_ of which they are settled:--That being
at such a distance from the seat of _government_, from _courts_,
_magistrates_, &c. and _out_ of the control of law and government, they
will become a receptacle for offenders, &c.
3d. That the sea-coast should be _thick_ settled with inhabitants, and
be well cultivated and improved, &c.
4th. That his ideas are _not_ chimerical; that he knows _something_ of
the situation and state of things in America; and, from some _little_
occurrences that have happened, he can very easily _figure_ to himself
_what may_, and, in short, _what will_ certainly happen, if not
prevented in time.
On these propositions we shall take the liberty of making a few
observations.
To the _first_ we answer,--We shall, we are persuaded, satisfactorily
prove, that in the middle colonies, _viz._ New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, and Virginia, there is hardly any _vacant land_, except such
as is monopolized by great landholders, for the purpose of selling _at
high prices_;--that the poor people of these colonies, with large
families of children, _cannot_ pay these prices;--and that several
thousand families, for that reason, have _already_ settled upon the
Ohio;--that we do not wish for, and shall not encourage one single
family of his Majesty's _European subjects_ to _settle_ there [and this
we have no objection to be prevented from doing], but shall _wholly_
rely on the voluntary super-flux of the inhabitants of the middle
provinces for settling and cultivating the lands in question.
On the _second_,--It is not, we presume, necessary for us to say more,
than that all the conjectures and suppositions "of being a kind of
separate and independant people," &c. entirely lose their force, on the
proposition of a government being established on the grant applied for,
as the Lords of Trade have themselves acknowledged.
On the _third_,--We would only briefly remark, that we have fully
answered this objection in the latter part of our answer to the sixth
paragraph.
And as the _fourth_ proposition is merely the Governor's declaration of
his _knowledge_ of _something_ of the situation and state of things in
America, and what, from some _little_ occurrences, that have already
really happened, he can very easily _figure_ to himself what may and
_will_ certainly happen, if not prevented in time:--We say, that as the
Governor has not mentioned what these _little_ occurrences are,--we
cannot pretend to judge, whether what he _figures_ to himself, is any
ways relative to the object under consideration, or, indeed, what else
it is relative to.
But as the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations have thought
proper to insert in their _Report_ the above-mentioned letters from
General Gage and Governor Wright, it may not be improper for us to give
the opinion of his Majesty's house of burgesses of the dominion of
Virginia, on the _very point_ in question, as conveyed to his Majesty
in their address of the 4th of August 1767, and delivered the latter
end of that year, to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations,
by Mr. Montague, agent for the colony.--The house of burgesses
say,--"We humbly hope, that we shall obtain your royal indulgence,
_when we give it as our opinions_, that it will be _for your Majesty's
service, and the interest of your American dominions in general, to
continue the encouragements_" (which were a _total exemption from any
consideration-money whatsoever, and a remission of quit-rent for ten
years, and of all kinds of taxes for fifteen years_) "for _settling
those frontier lands_." By this means the house observed, "_New_
settlements will be made _by people of property, obedient subjects to
government_; but if the present restriction should continue, we have
the strongest reason to believe, _that country will become the resort
of fugitives and vagabonds, defiers of law and order, and who in time
may form a body dangerous to the peace and civil government of this
colony_."
We come now to the consideration of the 9th, 10th, and 11th paragraphs.
In the 9th, the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations observe,
"That admitting the settlers over the mountains, and on the Ohio, to be
as numerous as _report_ states them to be," [and which we shall from
undoubted testimony, prove to be not less than five thousand families,
of at least six persons to a family, independent of some thousand
families, which are also settled _over_ the mountains, within the
limits of the province of Pennsylvania] yet their Lordships say, "It
operates strongly in point of argument _against_ what is proposed." And
their Lordships add, "if the foregoing reasoning has any weight, it
ought certainly to induce the Lords of the Committee of the Privy
Council, to _advise_ his Majesty to take every method _to_ CHECK the
progress of these settlements; and _not_ to make such grants of the
land, as will have an immediate tendency to encourage them."
Having, we presume, clearly shewn, that the country _southward_ of the
Great Kenhawa, quite to the Cherokee river, belonged to the Six
Nations, and _not_ to the Cherokees;--that _now_ it belongs to the
king, in virtue of his Majesty's purchase from the Six Nations;--that
neither these tribes, _nor_ the Cherokees, do hunt between the Great
Kenhawa and the land opposite the Sioto River;--that, by the present
boundary line, the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations would
sacrifice to the _Cherokees_ an extent of Country of at least 800 miles
in length--which his Majesty has bought and paid for; that the real
limits of Virginia do _not_ extend westward, beyond the Allegany
mountains;--that since the purchase of the country from the Six
Nations, his Majesty has not annexed it, or any part of it, to the
colony of Virginia;--that there are no settlements made under _legal
titles_, on any part of the lands we have agreed for, with the Lords
Commissioners of the Treasury;--that in the year 1748, the strongest
marks of royal encouragement were given to settle the country _over_
the mountains; that the _suspension_ of this encouragement, by the
proclamation of October 1763, was merely _temporary_, untill the lands
were purchased from the natives;--that the avidity to settle these
lands was so great, that large settlements were made thereon, _before
they were purchased_;--that although the settlers were daily exposed
to the cruelties of the savages, neither a military force, nor
repeated proclamations could induce them to vacate these lands;--that
the soil of the country _over_ the mountains is excellent, and capable
of easily producing _hemp_, _flax_, _silk_, _tobacco_, _iron_, _wine_,
&c.;--that these articles can be cheaply conveyed to a seaport for
exportation;--that the charge of carriage is so very small, it cannot
possibly operate to the prevention of the use of British manufactures;
that the king's purchasing the lands from the Indians, and fixing a
_boundary line_ with them, was for the very purpose of his subjects
settling them; and that the Commissioners for Trade and Plantations in
1768,--declared, That the _inhabitants of the middle colonies_ would
have liberty for that purpose.--
And to this train of facts,--let us add,--that the congress, held with
the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix in 1768,--_when_ his Majesty purchased
the territory on the Ohio, Messrs. Penn also bought from these nations
a very extensive tract of country _over_ the Allegany mountains and on
that river (_joining_ the very lands in question).--That in the spring
1769, Messrs. Penn opened their _land-office_ in Pennsylvania, for the
_settling the country_ which they had so bought at Fort Stanwix: and
all such settlers as had seated themselves _over the mountains_, within
the limits of Pennsylvania, _before_ the lands were purchased from the
natives, have _since_ obtained titles for their plantations:--That in
1771, a petition was presented to the assembly of the province of
Pennsylvania, praying that a _new_ county may be made _over_ these
mountains:--That the legislature of that province, in consideration of
the great number of families settled _there_, within the limits of that
province, did that year enact a law, for the _erection_ of the lands
_over the mountains into a_ new county, by the name of _Bedford
County_: That in consequence of such law, William Thompson, Esq. was
chosen to represent it in the General Assembly: That a sheriff,
coroner, justices of the peace, constables, and other civil officers
are appointed and do reside _over_ the mountains: That all the king's
subjects, who are not less than five thousand families, who have made
locations and settlements on the lands, _southward_ of, and adjoining
to the _southern_ line of Pennsylvania, live _there_, without any
degree of order, law, or government: That being in this lawless
situation, continual quarrels prevail among them: That they have
already infringed the _boundary line_, killed several Indians, and
encroached on the lands, on the opposite side of the Ohio; and that
disorders of the most dangerous nature, with respect to the Indians,
the _boundary-line_ and the _old colonies_, will soon take place among
these settlers, if law and subordination are not immediately
established among them.--Can these facts be possibly perverted so as to
operate, either in point of argument or policy, _against_ the
proposition of governing the king's subjects on the lands in question?
It ought to be considered also, that we have agreed to pay as much for
a small _part_ of the cession made at Fort Stanwix, as the _whole_
cession cost the crown, and at the same time be at the entire expence
of establishing and supporting the proposed new colony[7].
[7] The parliamentary grants for the civil establishment of the
provinces of Nova Scotia, Georgia, and East and West Florida,
amount to _one million twelve thousand eight hundred and
thirty-one pounds two shillings and eight-pence half-penny_, as
the following account shews;--and notwithstanding this vast
expence, the king has _not_ received any quit-rents from these
provinces. How different is the present proposition, for the
establishment of the Ohio colony?--In this case, the crown is to
be paid for the lands, (and which is the first instance of _any_
being sold in North America). Government is to be _exempted_ from
the _expence_ of supporting the colony, and the king will receive
his quit-rents, _neat and clear_ of all deductions, (which
deductions in the _old_ colonies are at least 20 per centum) as
will more particularly appear by a _state_ of the king's
quit-rents annexed hereto.
The parliamentary grants above-mentioned are as follow:
To Nova Scotia L. 707,320 19 7-1/4
To Georgia 214,610 3 1-1/4
To East Florida 45,400 0 0
To West Florida 45,400 0 0