star chamber they obtained the evidence of a man named Shed, who had
been imported for the purpose from the State of Ohio. He seems to have
resided in several States, and to have arrived at Fort Niagara about the
time of Captain Morgan’s abduction, learned all about it, and was
acquainted with the scoundrel Giddings, who, if his story was true, as
well as Shed’s, ought to have been hanged with him. If not true, they
were perjured villains. But the High Court of Inquisition was not after
martyrs, it was wire-pulling in other directions.
A large number of prominent Masons, and citizens, were brought before
the committee, among them being ex-Governor Wolf, Francis R. Shunk,
George M. Dallas, Chief Justice Gibson, Josiah Randall, Samuel H.
Perkins, Joseph R. Chandler, and the Reverend William T. Sproul. They
invariably declined being qualified, or answering any questions
propounded by Mr. Stevens, and for their refusal to so testify, several
of the gentlemen were brought to the bar of the House, but nothing more
was done to any of them.
Mr. Stevens was obliged to depend for witnesses upon seceding Masons,
imported from Massachusetts, New York and Northern Pennsylvania. Their
evidence, however, was only a rehash of Morgan and his successor,
Bernard, in their so-called “Revelations of the Doings of Freemasonry
and Odd Fellowship.”
Mr. Stevens, unfortunately, could not control his temper, and in the
case of Rev. Mr. Sproul, when that gentleman, in reading his protest,
came to the expression, “Gentlemen, if you are willing to convert
yourselves into a modern Juggernaut, then roll on,” “Stop,” thundered
the chairman of the “inquisition,” white with wrath and further reading
was dispensed with.
Governor Wolf, in his letter to the committee, wrote:
“The Constitution is explicit and declaratory of the personal security
of the people, and is the precious repository of the privileges of the
freemen of this Commonwealth which never shall have a wound inflicted
upon its sacred reservations, through any person, without a solemn
asseveration of its principles.
“What article of the Constitution clothes the House with power to
institute such an investigation? What article of the venerated
instrument forbids the people from associating together in pursuit of
their own happiness? If the association is criminal, or in violation of
any principle of the Constitution or laws, the mode and manner of
suppressing the unlawful combination must be in accordance with the
Constitution and laws.
“I have yet to learn that an inquisition at whose shrine the rights and
liberties of the citizens are to be invaded, is authorized by the
principles of our institutions; or that any power exists by which a
citizen can be coerced to give testimony before any tribunal, or for any
object other than the investigation of matters at issue, affecting the
rights of persons or of things.”
An incident occurred about this period which fully exemplified to what
length the enemies of Freemasonry would go. All sorts of crimes or
collusions with crimes were imputed to the craft. Everything that was
vile was blamed upon the fraternity.
A murder was committed between Middletown and Hummelstown. Female
apparel was found which was recognized as belonging to Sophia Garman,
who was missing from her home. Search was made, and some one discovered
where the earth had been recently disturbed in the center of which was a
branch of a spruce or cedar tree. An investigation resulted in finding
the body of the murdered girl.
The people who had been reading everything anti-Masonic at once jumped
to the conclusion that this was the work of one who was a Mason. An
individual who was last seen with the unfortunate girl was arrested and
it was broadcasted that he was a member of Perseverance Lodge, No. 21,
Free and Accepted Masons, of Harrisburg. His name was Tom McHenry.
In the course of events, there not being the least evidence upon which
to convict him, the accused was declared not guilty.
The outside conclusion then was that the jury must have been composed of
Masons and the result could not be otherwise.
The fact is that McHenry was not a Mason nor was a single member of the
jury which tried him.
The Stevens investigation continued for nearly a month and ended in
nothing.
The men whom the committee tried to impanel would not testify; those who
did were pretended renouncers of Masonry. Concerning the real motive of
Stevens public opinion was divided.
Stevens would have resorted to strong measures to compel witnesses to
testify if he had not seen that the tide of public opinion was turning
against the inquiry. To preserve appearances a lengthy report was
submitted and adopted.
----------
Storm Stops French Refugees in Settlement
Work December 20, 1793
Frenchtown, or Asylum, was the name of a settlement founded in
Northumberland County (now Bradford) in 1793, by French refugees as the
residence of the doomed Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. But the
Terrorists prevented her ever seeing America.
During the French Revolution, when many of the Frenchmen fled from their
homes, not a few sought refuge in San Domingo, and those jumped from the
frying pan into the fire. The Negro slaves soon heard of the success of
the Revolution in France and revolted against their masters. That bloody
conflict was termed the “Horrors of San Domingo.” Many of the French
exiles came to America and took up their residence in Philadelphia,
where they were cordially welcomed.
So great was the number of refugees it was deemed necessary that some
provision should be made for their settlement as a colony.
The two most active and influential promoters of the colony scheme were
Viscount Louis Marie de Noailles and the Marquis Antoine Omer Talon. The
former was a distinguished military officer under Rochambeau in the
siege of Yorktown, Va., where he commanded a regiment. He was one of the
Commissioners to arrange the articles of capitulation for the surrender
of Cornwallis. He was a brother-in-law of Lafayette.
Marquis Talon belonged to one of the most illustrious families of the
French magistracy. He was Advocate General when the Revolution broke
out. In 1790 he was compromised in the flight of the King, Louis XVII,
and was arrested and imprisoned for a time. He fled to Marseilles, where
a wine merchant, Bartholomew Laporte, placed him in a large wine cask
and carried him aboard a vessel sailing for America.
Laporte sailed with Talon and they became citizens of the United States.
The borough of Laporte takes its name from Judge John Laporte, son of
the early immigrant.
The refugees organized a company, and M. Charles Felix Beu Boulogne, and
Adam Hoopes were delegated to select a site. They proceeded to
Wilkes-Barre, where they arrived August 27, 1793. Judge Matthais
Hollenback accepted their letter of credit from Robert Morris.
They examined several localities, and finally selected the Schufeldt
Flats, now called Frenchtown, in the Township of Asylum, nearly opposite
Rummerfield station, in Bradford County.
About the middle of November, M. de Noailles, who continued to reside in
Philadelphia, visited the place which took the name of Asylum, or
“Azilum,” as the French pronounced it. The plan of settlement was
determined, and the town surveyed into lots.
The tract consists of 2400 acres and, in addition, the Asylum Company
had secured title to a number of tracts of “wild land,” as it was
termed, in the present Counties of Bradford, Sullivan, Lycoming and
Luzerne, which were sold on liberal terms to actual settlers. The town,
as laid out, contained, besides an open square and fine wide streets,
413 house lots of an acre each.
M. Boulogne bent every energy to get the houses ready for the colonists
in the early spring, and was favored with mild weather until five days
before Christmas, when the weather became stormy. The work, which was
suspended December 20, was resumed in the spring. The emigrants then
began to arrive. They traveled by land to Catawissa, thence in boats up
the river.
The houses were built of hewn logs two stories high, roofed with pine
shingles, and all houses had a good cellar. To the native Americans
these houses looked like palaces.
The house built by M. Talon was the most pretentious, and is said to be
the largest log house ever built in America. It was known as “La Grande
Maison,” or the great house. This house stood until 1846, when it was
torn down.
M. Talon, who was general manager, planned improvements on a large
scale. He built a horsepower grist mill, several stores, a tavern, for
which a license was granted in August, 1794, to Mr. Lefevre. A small
Catholic chapel was erected, and later a theatre was built. They set up
a bakery and built a brewery. A post was established with Philadelphia.
Most of the emigrants had been wealthy, and some of them members of the
royal household, entirely ignorant of farming and unused to manual
labor, found great difficulty in adapting themselves to their new
conditions. Yet they endured their privations with great fortitude.
The continuance of the Asylum settlement was less than ten years, but
the Frenchmen set their Pennsylvania neighbors the example of better
houses and roads, better gardens and orchards and courteous manners.
Robespierre issued a decree commanding all emigrants to return to France
under penalty of having their estates confiscated. When the strong hand
of Napoleon assumed power, all Frenchmen were invited to return. This
was joyous news at Asylum, and they returned to their beloved France as
soon as they could dispose of their property, until only two remained.
In 1796 Asylum consisted of about fifty log houses occupied by about
forty families. Among the most noted, besides those already mentioned,
were M. De Blacons, a member of the French Constituent Assembly from
Dauphine; M. Le Montule, a captain of a troop of horse; M. Beaulieu, a
captain of infantry in the French service, who served in the Revolution
in this country under Potosky; Dr. Buzzard a planter from San Domingo,
and M. Dandelot, an officer in the French Infantry.
But perhaps the best known of all, at least in this country, was M.
Dupretit-Thouars, or as he was generally called by the Americans, the
Admiral. Wrecked while on a voyage in search of La Perouse, he reached
Asylum destitute of everything but an unfaltering courage, a genial
temper and the chivalrous pride of a Frenchman.
Disdaining to be a pensioner on the bounty of his countrymen he obtained
a grant of four hundred acres in the dense wilderness of what is now
Sullivan County, and went out literally single-handed, having lost an
arm in the French naval service, commenced a clearing, built himself a
house, returning to Asylum once a week for necessary food and change of
apparel.
He returned to his native country, obtained a position in the navy,
saying he had yet another arm to give to France. He was placed in
command of the ship Le Tonnant and was killed in the battle of the Nile.
The borough of Dushore, which includes the clearings of this indomitable
Frenchman, was named in honor of him this being nearly the Anglicised
pronunciation of his name.
During the continuance of the settlement, it was visited by many very
distinguished personages who since obtained a world-wide reputation.
Louis Philippe, a future King of France, spent several weeks at Asylum
enjoying the hospitality of M. Antoine Talon. In 1795 Talleyrand spent
some time there and Count de la Rochefoucauld de Laincourt was several
days at Asylum while on his journey through the States in 1795–6.
Another notable visitor was Mrs. Blennerhassett the charming woman who
figured in Aaron Burr’s conspiracy.
----------
General Thomas Mifflin Inaugurated First
Governor of Pennsylvania December
21, 1790
The inauguration of the first Governor of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania took place December 21, 1790, when Hon. Thomas Mifflin was
inducted into office amid all the splendor of that now distant day.
The transfer of the present State of Pennsylvania from a feudal province
to a sovereign State was effected by the promulgation on September 28,
1776, of the first Constitution. This was so thoroughly revolutionary
that it was never fully approved of by the people of the State.
The Council of Censors, to which was delegated important duties, met for
its only meeting, November 10, 1783. This body discussed various
amendments and strong differences of opinion were manifested. They sat
eight months and then recommended a continuance of the present form of
government.
They said: “Give it a fair and honest trial, and if after all, at the
end of another seven years (the time when this Council of Censors would
again meet), it shall be found necessary or proper to cause any changes
they may then be brought in and established upon a full conviction of
their usefulness, with harmony and good temper, without noise, tumult or
violence.”
Nevertheless the Constitution of 1776 proved inadequate for the
requirements of a useful and an effective government, and its revision
was imperatively demanded. The newspapers, from the close of the
Revolution for a period of six years are filled with elaborate
communications in favor of, and opposed to, any change. The adoption of
the Federal Constitution in 1787, however, and its successful working,
impressed the people that some revisions should be made in the
Constitution of the State.
The resolutions of the Assembly were adopted by the electorate and the
convention called, and organized with General Thomas Mifflin as
president. After a long session, the new instrument was adopted
September 2, 1790, and then by the people.
The personnel of the Constitutional Convention of 1790 was one of
unusual ability. Thomas Mifflin, soon to be elected the first Governor
under its provisions; James Wilson and William Lewis, two of the most
noted lawyers of that time; Thomas McKean, the second; Simon Snyder, of
Northumberland County; William Findlay, of Westmoreland County, and
Joseph Heister, of Berks County, each of whom filled in their turn the
gubernatorial office, were members of this body. General William Irvine,
of Carlisle; General John Gibson, of Allegheny County, and Colonel Jacob
Cook, of Lancaster, all of Revolutionary fame, and Robert Whitehill, of
Dauphin County. Charles Smith, author of “Smith’s Laws,” was Simon
Snyder’s colleague from Northumberland County.
Of the seventy-one persons who composed this illustrious body there was
not one who had not taken a prominent part in public affairs during the
struggle for liberty. It was a body of intellectual men, such as any
Commonwealth could be justly proud.
At the election in October, 1790, General Thomas Mifflin and General
Arthur St. Clair were the opposing candidates for Governor. The vote in
the State for Mifflin was 27,118, and for St. Clair 2819. Under the
Constitution the General Assembly met on the first Tuesday in December,
when the Senate and House promptly organized and a committee of
conference was appointed by both houses to consider and report a time,
place and manner in which the election of Governor should be published,
notified and proclaimed, and the oath prescribed by the Constitution
administered to the Governor.
On Friday, December 17, the House of Representatives attended in the
Senate chamber, where Richard Peters, Speaker of the House, was seated
on the right of William Bingham, Speaker of the Senate. The returns of
the election for Governor were opened, when Thomas Mifflin was declared
duly chosen Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
On the morning of December 21, 1790, after the members of the Senate and
House had assembled in the Senate chamber, the Speaker of the Senate
informed both houses that according to their order the certificate of
the election of the Governor was recorded in the rolls office of this
Commonwealth, whereupon the committee of both houses of the Legislature,
three representing the Senate and three representing the House of
Representatives, waited upon the Governor-elect and at the hour of 12:30
introduced Thomas Mifflin into the Senate chamber and he was seated in
front of the Speakers.
The Chief Justice, the Hon. Thomas McKean, in solemn form administered
to Mr. Mifflin the oath required by the Constitution of the Commonwealth
and also the oath required by the Constitution of the United States,
which said oaths the Governor-elect took, and subscribed in the Senate
chamber, and Speaker and members of the House of Representatives and the
Governor then withdrew from the Senate chamber in order to proceed to
the court house on High Street, agreeably to the following order of
procession:
Constables with their staffs; sub-sheriffs with their wands; High
Sheriff and Coroner with their wands; Judges of the Supreme Court and
Judge of the High Court of Errors and Appeals; Attorney General and
Prothonotary of the Supreme Court; wardens of the Port of Philadelphia;
Treasurer, Comptroller and Register General; Secretary of the Land
Office; Receiver General and Surveyor General; justices of the peace;
Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas and clerk of the Court of
Quarter Sessions; clerk of the Mayor’s court and the corporation; Mayor,
Recorder and aldermen; Common Council, two and two; Master of the Rolls
and Register of Wills; Register of German Passengers and Collector of
Excise in the City and County of Philadelphia; assistant secretary of
Council, members of Council, two and two; the Governor-elect;
sergeant-at-arms of the Senate; clerk of the Senate; Speaker of the
Senate; members of the Senate, two and two; doorkeeper of the Senate;
sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives; assistant clerk;
clerk; members, two and two; doorkeeper; provost and faculty of the
University, two and two; officers of the militia; citizens.
Arriving at the court house, the certificate of the election of the
Governor was read by the clerk of the Senate, when the official
proclamation was thrice made by the clerk of the court declaring Thomas
Mifflin Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
commander-in-chief of the army and navy thereof. This being done, the
procession reformed, returning to the Senate chamber. The Governor then
delivered his inaugural address.
On the days following various bodies of tradesmen and society
organizations waited upon the Governor and tendered their
congratulations, and upon the first day of January following, City
Councils, with the Mayor and Recorder, waited upon his Excellency and
formally congratulated him on his accession to his high office.
----------
First Newspaper in Pennsylvania Published
December 22, 1719
The first newspaper published in Pennsylvania was entitled the American
Weekly Mercury, and was established by Andrew Bradford, at Philadelphia,
and sold by John Copsom. The initial number appeared December 22, 1719.
The Mercury was published weekly, generally on Tuesday, but the day of
publication varied.
Andrew Bradford died November 23, 1742; and the next number of the
Mercury, dated December 2, appeared in mourning.
The widow, Cornelia Bradford, took into partnership Isaiah Warner in
March, 1742, and they continued to publish the Mercury until October 18,
1744, when Cornelia Bradford resumed the publication alone, and until
the end of 1746, when it was discontinued.
The second newspaper established in the Province was the Universal
Instructor in All Arts and Science; and Pennsylvania Gazette, which
continued in publication for many years, becoming the oldest newspaper
in the United States a half century after its establishment.
This newspaper first appeared December 24, 1728, and was edited by
Samuel Keimer, and printed on a small sheet, pot size folio, 15½ by 12½
inches.
Benjamin Franklin soon after he began business formed the design of
publishing a newspaper, but was prevented by the sudden appearance of
this Gazette, and was so greatly disappointed that he used his endeavors
to bring it into contempt. In this he was successful, and Keimer was
soon obliged to relinquish it, for a trifling consideration, and
Franklin purchased the good will and fixtures.
At this time Franklin was in partnership with Hugh Meredith. The first
part of the title was soon dropped and the paper was called the
Pennsylvania Gazette. It soon gained reputation, and when Franklin
became postmaster the Gazette enjoyed a wide circulation and liberal
advertising patronage.
The partnership was dissolved in 1732, and Franklin in 1748 took into
partnership David Hall.
On May 9, 1754, the device of a snake divided into parts, with the
motto—“Join or Die,” appeared in this paper. It accompanied an account
of the French and Indians having killed and scalped many inhabitants
along the frontiers. The account was published with this device, with a
view to rouse the British Colonies and cause them to unite in effectual
measures for their defense and security against common enemy.
The snake was divided into eight parts to represent first New England;
second, New York; third, New Jersey; fourth, Pennsylvania; fifth,
Maryland; sixth, Virginia; seventh, North Carolina, and eighth, South
Carolina.
The Gazette put on mourning October 31, 1765, on account of the Stamp
Act, passed by the British Parliament, which was to take effect the next
day. From that time until November 21 following the publication of it
was suspended.
In the interim, large handbills, as substitutes, were published. When
revived, it was published without an imprint until February 6, 1766,
when it then appeared with the name of David Hall, only, who now became
the proprietor and the printer of it.
In May, 1766, it was published by Hall and Sellers, who continued it
until 1777; but on the approach of the British Army, the publishers
retired from Philadelphia and the publication was suspended while the
British possessed the city.
On the evacuation of Philadelphia, the Gazette was again revived, and
published once a week until the death of Sellers in 1804. After this
event, it was printed by William and David Hall, then later by Hall and
Pierre. When the Gazette observed its centennial of publication, a
grandson of David and son of William Hall was the publisher.
The next newspaper to be established in Pennsylvania was the
Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, which made its initial bow
to the public, Tuesday, December 2, 1742. Its publisher was William
Bradford.
In 1776, William and Thomas Bradford were the publishers and, like the
Gazette, suspended publication during the British occupancy of
Philadelphia, but it was revived soon afterward.
A newspaper in the German language was published in Philadelphia as
early as May, 1743, by Joseph Crellius. It was called the “High Dutch
Pennsylvania Journal.”
In September, 1751, the “Dutch and English Gazette” was published in the
two languages “at the German Printing Office,” in Arch Street, by
Gotthan Armbruster.
Der Wochentliche Philadelphische Staatsbote was first printed in the
German language in January, 1762, by Henry Miller. This was a successful
newspaper. It continued until 1779.
Two papers printed in German were published in Germantown, one by
Christopher Sower, in 1739, called the Pennsylvania German Recorder of
Events. This was discontinued in 1744, when Christopher Sower, Jr.,
began the publication of the Germantown Zeitung, and continued until the
Revolutionary War.
The Pennsylvania Chronicle and Universal Advertiser made its appearance
Monday, January 6, 1767. It was published by William Goddard.
This was the fourth paper in the English language established in
Philadelphia and the first one with four columns to the page, printed in
all the colonies. Joseph Galloway and Thomas Wharton were silent
partners of Goddard. The Chronicle was published until February, 1773,
when it was removed to Baltimore.