The result of the French-Indian war destroyed the chance of France to
dominate America; and gave birth to a new issue; whether America should
be a British Colony or an independent sovereignty.
Virginia had always been the most favored of the colonies and responded
with the kindest feeling for the Mother Country. Long after
Massachusetts had proven a refractory daughter, Virginia, better
satisfied, seemed to New England to lack independence of spirit,
political skill, and to possess only a dormant sense of liberty.
The propaganda of the non-conformists, declaring for civil and religious
liberty, suddenly gripped most potently the conformist or Tidewater
families, who overnight, seemed to throw off their lethargy; and
thenceforth exhibited such valor, high patriotism and broad
statesmanship as to give them first place in the struggle for liberty
and domination of America for the next two generations. History,
however, shows that there was no sudden change of sentiment.
Gradual and ever-breaching causes, preceded the transition; among them
the Stamp Acts, the Boston Port Bill, the enactment of laws by
Parliament directing that colonists charged with treason should be
transported to England for trial, and Lord Dunmore's mistaken policies
while Governor of the colony. The colony as early as 1624, by its
Assembly had declared: "* * * that it and none other" had power to levy
colonial taxes. Charles II in 1676 had conceded this by declaring that
"taxes ought not to be laid on the inhabitants of the colony except by
its own general assembly." This policy had never been questioned nor
violated until the advisers of George III in 1764 proposed that the
colonies should pay a portion of the debt incurred by the war with
France; which they said was but fair as a portion of the debt accrued
from aid given the colonies. The proposition, met with indignant protest
and opposition.
In March, 1765, the Stamp Act was passed by Parliament. When it came up
for discussion in the Virginia House of Burgesses, the division was a
close one and great excitement prevailed. Patrick Henry offered a
resolution, that: "The General Assembly of this Colony has the sole
right and power to lay taxes and impositions upon the inhabitants of
this Colony."
His speech in favor of the resolution was frequently interrupted by
cries of "Treason," "Traitor." In closing these cries caused him to
exclaim: "Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell and
George the Third may profit by their example. If this be treason, make
the most of it." The resolution carried by a bare majority.
When Virginia's action was officially noticed, Pitt speaking against the
Act said: "I rejoice that America has resisted! Three millions of people
so dead to all the feelings of liberty as voluntarily to submit to be
slaves, would have been fit instruments to have made slaves of all the
rest. I know the valor of your troops, the force of this country; but in
such a case success would be hazardous. America, if she fell, would fall
like a strong man; she would embrace the pillars of the state and pull
down the constitution with her."
In March, 1766, the Stamp Act was repealed.
In 1767, because of riotous opposition in New England to a new revenue
act, placing a tax on paper, glass and tea, two English regiments were
sent over and quartered in Boston. In 1770 this Act was repealed except
as to the duty on tea; which was not retained for the purpose of revenue
but to discipline the colonists; to show them that Britain had the power
to tax; as it was declared by its advocates that it should remain, "till
America is prostrate at our feet."
Virginians were more exercised over the law directing that those accused
of treason should be transported to the mother country for trial than by
the tax on tea. The Burgesses met and passed resolutions declaring such
transportation and trial an act of tyranny.
During this excitement Lord Botetourt, the most popular of the colonial
governors, died and was succeeded by Lord Dunmore, the most unpopular.
From the beginning of his administration he seems to have been obsessed
with the idea of subduing what he termed "the lawless and traitorous
spirit of the colonists."
In 1773, Parliament passed a new Act insisting without equivocation upon
England's right to transport her colonial subjects across the sea for
trial. The direct result was the adoption of a resolution by the
Virginia Assembly making provision for the appointment of a Committee of
Correspondence, who were directed to co-operate with the other colonies
and organize for action. All opposition until then had been without
concerted action between the detached colonies. This committee was
composed of ten members, including Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry,
Richard Henry Lee and Edmund Pendleton.
Massachusetts, the first to engage in overt acts of rebellion, was
logically the first sufferer. Virginia was drawn into the struggle at a
later period; not in revenge for oppression but in devotion to the cause
of liberty and because of sympathy, and co-operated with her northern
neighbors.
Boston, on May 10, 1774, received news of the passage of the Port Bill,
closing Boston Harbor. She notified the other colonies and asked their
support by declaring an embargo against British commerce.
This communication was received at Williamsburg on the 29th of May.
Several days before Governor Dunmore had dissolved the Colonial Assembly
because it had passed a resolution expressing sympathy for
Massachusetts. Quite a few of the members were yet in Williamsburg; and
they met and drafted the call for the First Virginia Convention. This
was signed by Jefferson, Henry, Lee, Washington, Randolph and twenty
other members of the House of Burgesses.
Randolph was elected president of the First Convention. During the
six-day session it passed resolutions expressing sympathy with Boston
and discussed means of aiding that city. The spirit of the convention is
shown by what was said by Washington, a member: "I will raise one
thousand men, subsist them at my own expense and march myself at their
head for the relief of Boston."
After the adjournment of the First Continental Congress all the colonies
prepared for war. In Virginia a committee of safety was appointed in
every county and six thousand "minute men" were mustered into service.
On March 20, 1775, the Second Virginia Convention met at Richmond in St.
John's Church, because Williamsburg, patrolled by Lord Dunmore's
marines, was not a safe place for patriots voicing rebellion. Edmund
Pendleton was elected its president.
When Henry submitted his resolution to the convention "for embodying,
arming and disciplining the militia," many voted against it; showing
that a respectable number yet desired peace. These pacifists caused
Henry to make his great speech: "* * * If we wish to be free we must
fight. It is too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat
but in submission and slavery. The war is inevitable, let it come! The
next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of
resounding arms. I know not what course others may take, but as for me,
give me liberty or give me death!"
His resolution, because of the opposition of Pendleton, Nicholas,
Harrison and Bland, would have been defeated except for his eloquence,
though he was supported by Lee and Jefferson. Its adoption, coupled with
his speech of "War is inevitable, let it come!" defined Virginia's
position; not only to the colonies but to the world.
After many prorogations of the House of Burgesses, it was convened on
June 1, 1775, to consider "Lord North's Compromise;" a separate offer of
peace to Virginia.
Peyton Randolph left the Second Continental Congress to be present at
its deliberations. As he approached Williamsburg, a procession of
several companies of horse and foot, equipped as though for instant
service, met and escorted him to the Capitol.
He found the Burgesses in session with their rifles handy. While they
were discussing the North Compromise, one of the members accompanied by
two private citizens, examining the magazine, were wounded by guns set
at the direction of the Governor.
A committee of the House appointed to examine the magazine, reported:
"Several kegs of powder have been placed under the floor and
preparations made to blow it up." In the discussion of this report, it
came out that Lord Dunmore had declared his intention to free and arm
the slaves against the colonists. Thereupon a Bill was passed placing a
duty of five pounds on each imported slave. The last official act of the
Governor was to veto this measure.
The Burgesses refused to treat with Lord North without the concurrence
of the other colonies, and adjourned.
The Governor, frightened because of the excitement and open opposition
to him, on June 7th, with his family, took refuge aboard the Fowey, a
British man-of-war anchored at York.
On July 17th, the Third Virginia Convention assembled at Richmond and
continued in session until August 26th. Its acts heretofore had been of
the nature of resolutions; but as Dunmore had deserted his post,
threatening to attack the colony and as the royal government no longer
existed; the convention assumed the functions of a legislative body and
established a provisional government.
Preparations were made to organize Virginia for defense; laws were
enacted to raise revenue and to elect delegates to the next annual
convention. Patrick Henry, colonel of the First Regiment, was made
commander of the Virginia forces; and delegates to the Continental
Congress were elected.
The Baptists asked that their ministers be allowed to address troops of
their own denomination. Their petition was granted, "for the ease of
such scrupulous consciences."
The convention vested the executive power of the colony in a Committee
of Safety with Edmund Pendleton as president, whose duties (inter alia)
were to commission military officers, direct military movements and
issue treasury warrants. Its first aggressive act was to resist the
fugitive Governor; who shortly after his flight began bombarding the
shores of the Chesapeake.
In September one of his ships was blown ashore in a storm and burned by
the incensed inhabitants of Hampton. Several weeks later he led an
assault against the town; but was driven off by the villagers,
reinforced by the Culpepper minute men.
A body of marines, landing at Norfolk, seized the equipment of a
newspaper office and carried it aboard the Fowey. It was on this press
Lord Dunmore printed his proclamation of November 7th, declaring all
colonists traitors who did not rally to his standard and offering
freedom to "all indentured servants, negroes or others, apprenticed to
rebels."
On January 1, 1776, he set fire to Norfolk and while it was burning
sailed into the bay. From then, until midsummer he sailed along the
shores of the Chesapeake, devastating small villages and plantations. On
July 9th, he landed upon and fortified Guinn's Island. Attacked by
General Andrew Lewis, he abandoned his fort, fled to New York, and
shortly afterwards sailed for England.
The Fourth Virginia Convention met at Richmond on December 1, 1775; but
after organizing, no longer in fear of Lord Dunmore, adjourned to meet
at Williamsburg.
The session was consumed in preparation for war. A committee of five was
appointed in each county to try those charged as enemies of the colonist
cause; a court of admiralty was established; laws were enacted
regulating commerce and provision made for increasing the militia, which
as enrolled was merged into the Continental Army.
The chief theme of discussion, not only of the convention but of all
Virginians, was how formally to shift the government from a royal colony
to an independent government and retain status as belligerents. It was
finally agreed that the colonies in convention should declare their
independence and organize as independent commonwealths.
The Fifth and last convention met at Williamsburg on May 6, 1776, with
Edmund Pendleton again as president.
On May 15th, it passed a resolution instructing their delegates in the
Continental Congress to propose to that body to "declare the United
Colonies free and independent states." The next day the British flag on
the capitol was hauled down and the American flag substituted; while
soldiers and civilians cheered and cannon roared.
A Bill of Rights and State Constitution, prepared by George Mason, was
adopted on June 12th; and on June 29th, the Commonwealth of Virginia
came into being.
Under the state constitution, the legislative department was divided
into a House of Delegates and a Senate; eligibles were to be freeholders
elected by freeholders. The executive department was to be presided over
by a governor, to be elected annually by the House and Senate. Patrick
Henry was chosen as first governor and Edmund Randolph attorney general.
Henry qualified as governor on July 5, 1776.
Richard Henry Lee, a member of the Continental Congress from Virginia,
in compliance with instructions given him by the Virginia Convention,
offered in Congress on June 7, 1776, the resolution: "That these United
States are and ought to be free and independent states and that all
political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and
ought to be totally dissolved." His resolution, seconded by John Adams,
after several days' discussion, was passed.
In the absence of Mr. Lee, because of his wife's illness, Thomas
Jefferson was made chairman of the committee; and it was thus he came to
draft the Declaration of Independence, which after a few minor
amendments, was adopted on July 4, 1776.