No More Learning

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? 444 THE COLONIAL MERCHANTS: 1763-1776
New Hampshire towns finally organized committees of in-
spection, it is impossible to say. It is important to note, on
the one hand, that much had been done to develop a public
opinion favorable to the Association; and on the other, that
the chief avenues of trade with the world were well guarded
by the presence of the " Forty-Five" at Portsmouth, and
by a network of committees along the overland routes
through Massachusetts.
In Rhode Island, the first official action appears to have
been taken on December 5, 1774, when the General Assem-
bly voted its thanks to the Continental Congress and recom-
mended the selection of committees of inspection to the
towns of the provinces. 1 Within two weeks Newport and
Providence, the leading ports, had acted on the recommen-
dation. 2 It would appear that similar action was taken by
the smaller towns.
The course of Connecticut was not unlike that of Rhode
Island, in many respects. Early in November, 1774, the
Connecticut General Assembly unanimously approved the
proceedings of Congress and sent orders into the several
towns for a strict compliance therewith. 8 The action of
the legislature gained immediate attention; and by the end
of the year the establishment of twenty-eight committees
had been noted in the newspapers. 4 Other towns acted
later.
1R. I. Col Rees. , voL vii, p. 263.
1Ibid. , vol. vii, pp. 284-285.
1 Mass. Gas. & Post-Boy, Nov. 14, 1774; Hollister, G. H. , History of
Connecticut (Hartford, 1857), vol. ii, p. 159.
4 In November, the ten parishes of New Haven County; Woodbury,
Pomfret, Waterbury, Derby, Milford, Wallingford; in December,
Windham, Saybrook, Danbury, Lebanon, Guilford, Simsbury, New
London, Stratford, Hartford, Norwich, Sharon, Fairfield.
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? RATIFICATION OF THE ASSOCIATION 445
One section of Connecticut, represented by a group of the
smaller towns of Fairfield County in the western part of
the province, sought to prevent the acceptance of the Asso-
ciation. The animus appears to have been sectarian, being
one phase of the long-standing antagonism of the strong
Episcopalian element in these towns to Congregationalist
undertakings. 1 The two largest towns of the county, Strat-
ford and Fairfield, chose committees of inspection in De-
cember, and the town of Redding took similar action a little
later. But on January 30, 1775, a town meeting at Ridge-
field rejected the Association with only three dissenting
votes out of a total present of nearly two hundred, and de-
nounced the Congress as unconstitutional. 2 A large meet-
ing of the town of Newtown rejected the Association with
but one dissenting vote a week later. 8 These defiant reso-
lutions emboldened one hundred and forty-one inhabitants
of Redding and the vicinity to denounce and forswear all
committees in a written statement;4 and caused the town
of Danbury to revoke the appointment of a committee of
inspection, made at an earlier meeting, and to refuse to
send delegates to a projected county convention. 5 But Dan-
bury underwent another change of heart, for when the
convention of Fairfield County assembled on February 14,
1AT. Y. Gasetteer, Feb. 16, 1775. Vide also Gilbert, G. A. , "The
Connecticut Loyalists," Am. Hist. Rev. , vol. iv, pp. 273-281. One-
third of the people of Fairfield County were Episcopalians. Beards-
ley, History of the Episcopal Church in Conn. (Boston, 1865), vol. i,
p. 289.
1 N. Y. Gasetteer, Feb. 2, 1775; also 4 Am. Arch. , vol. i, pp. 1202-1203.
1 Ibid. , vol. i, p. 1215; also N. Y. Gasetteer, Feb. 23, 1775.
4 Ibid. , Feb. 23, 1775; also 4 Am. Arch. , vol. i, pp. 1258-1260. One
hundred and twenty men signed similar resolves at New Milford, a town
in Litchfield County across the Housatonic from Fairfield County.
Ibid. , vol. i, p. 1270; also N. Y. Gasetteer, Mch. 16.
1 Ibid. , Feb. 23, 1775; also 4 Am. Arch. , vol. i, pp. 1038-1039, 1215-1216.
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? 446 THE COLONIAL MERCHANTS: 1763-1776
Ridgefield and Newtown were the only towns not repre-
sented.
Now began a series of efforts on the part of the radicals
to discredit and defeat these opponents of the Association.
The county convention denounced a selectman of Newtown
who had sold some copies of the Association for a pint of
flip, and called upon those citizens of Ridgefield and New-
town, who were attached to their country, to stand forth
and affix their signatures to the measures of Congress, so
that all commerce and connection might be withdrawn from
the other inhabitants of the towns. 1 In view of the ap-
proaching session of the Assembly at New Haven, the town
meeting at the capital resolved unanimously that no person
should entertain the deputies who were expected from the
delinquent towns. 2 The Connecticut Assembly, when it
met in March, appointed a committee to investigate condi-
tions in the two towns and to determine how far any per-
sons holding provincial commissions were concerned in
promoting resolutions in direct opposition of the repeated
resolves of the legislature. 8 The dissentients at Redding
were held up for public neglect by the committee of obser-
vation of that town. 4
These tactics of the radicals brought only partial results. 8
On March 20, fifty-five inhabitants of Ridgefield accepted
the invitation of the county convention and pledged them-
selves to the Continental Association. By April 12, seventy
inhabitants of Newtown had signed a statement disowning
the action of the town meeting. Finally, in December,
1775, Ridgefield appointed a committee of inspection and
1 4 Am. Arch. , vol. i, pp. 1236-1238; also N. Y. Journ. , Feb. 23, 1775.
* Conn. Cour. , Mch. 6, 1775; Mass. Gas. & Post-Boy, Mch. 13.
* 4 Am. Arch. , vol. ii, p. 107.
4 Ibid. , vol. i, pp. 1259-1260; also Ar. Y. Journ. , Apr. 20, 1775.
1 4 Am. Arch. , vol. i, pp. 1238-1239; vol. ii, p. 1135.
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? RATIFICATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
447
fell heartily into line. The town of Newtown remained
obdurate with respect to the Association, although the
selectmen and principal inhabitants were prevailed upon to
give bond not to take up arms against the colonies. An
active loyalist sympathizer was able to write as late as
October, 1781, that "Newtown and the Church-of-England
part of Redding were, he believed, the only parts of New
England that had refused to comply with the doings of
Congress. " * But so far as Connecticut as a whole was
concerned, the province was exceedingly well organized to
supervise the enforcement of the Association. Ridgefield
and Newtown were, after all, small inland towns and of no
importance commercially.
In New York the movement for establishing committees
of observation and inspection displayed many of the ear-
marks of the earlier contests between moderate and radical.
But there were some significant differences. Thus, the
measures adopted by the Continental Congress contained,
by implication, a sanction of the radical party in New York
city, hitherto discredited and outgeneraled by the moder-
ates. 2 It remained to be proved whether the radicals could
realize on this asset. The leading radical organization, the
Committee of Mechanics, took an early occasion to transmit
their thanks to the New York delegates for the "wise,
prudent and spirited measures" of the Congress--meas-
ures which they well knew had been adopted against the
best judgment of these very delegates. 8
1 Am. Hist. Rev. , vol. iv, p. 279 and n.
1" Behold the wretched state to which we are reduced," wrote Wil-
kins in Alarm to the Legislature, "A foreign power is brought in to
govern this province. Laws made at Philadelphia, by factious men
from New-England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia
and the Carolinas, are imposed upon us by the most imperious menaces. "
? N. Y. Gasetteer, Nov. 24, 1774; also 4 Am. Arch. , vol. i, p. 087.
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? 448 THE COLONIAL MERCHANTS: 1763-1776
The moderates found themselves in something of a
dilemma: either they must oppose the united voice of the
continent as embodied in the Congress and thus list them-
selves with the office-holding gentry, or they must perpet-
uate their ascendancy in the extra-legal movement and thus
keep a controlling hand in the enforcement of the Associa-
tion.
The academic minds of the party chose the logical
course; and important members of the community, like the
Reverend Samuel Seabury, the Reverend Miles Cooper, the
Reverend Charles Inglis and the Reverend Thomas Chand-
ler, denounced the Congress and all its doings, and became
"loyalists," or " Tories. " But the men of practical affairs,
of large business connections and of political experience,
did not dare to follow their lead, for they had too much at
stake. "The Merchants," wrote Colden on November 2,
1774, "are at present endeavouring to sift out each others
Sentiments upon the Association proposed by the Congress.
A certain sign, I take it, that they wish to avoid it. " 1
Eventually they accepted the necessities of their situation
and determined to make a fight for the control of affairs,
reserving for a future contingency their exit from the
movement. 2 Thus, Isaac Low continued to exert his influ-
ence as head of the " Fifty-One," and served as chairman
of the later committees of Sixty and One Hundred; but,
aware that his influence was waning, he refused to partici-
pate in the provincial convention in the latter part of April,
and likewise eliminated himself as a candidate for the
Second Continental Congress.
The old committee of " Fifty-One," the bulwark of the
mercantile interests, made the first move with reference to
the Association. Expressing no intention of dissolving
1 Colden, Letter Books, vol. ii, pp. 369-370.
1 Vide ibid. , vol. ii, p. 372.
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? RATIFICATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
449
their present organization, they issued a call for ward meet-
ings of the freemen and freeholders for the purpose of
electing a committee of inspection for each ward. 1 It is
clear that the " Fifty-One" intended to supervise the ward
committees and to keep a close rein on affairs generally.
This plan met with the resolute disapproval of the Com-
mittee of Mechanics, and, fearing to brook their opposition
in the changed face of public affairs, the " Fifty-One" re-
quested a conference with them on the subject. The out-
come of the conference was a virtual defeat fnr tVigjnpr-
cilftfltS^aiuLth. e adoption of a plan that was in_gntire har-
monv with tfoe spjrjj^fjj1e, A^nriatjnq The "Fifty-One"
were to be dissolved; instead of ward committees, there
should be one general committee of inspection; the " Fifty-
One" and the Committee of Mechanics should exchange
one hundred names, out of which the new committee should
be nominated. 2 Furthermore, the election was to be held
at the city hall, where, because of the crowd, it would be
difficult to restrict the vote to freemen and freeholders.
On November 22 this plan was duly carried out, and a com-
mittee of sixty was chosen, although, according to Colden's
account, only thirty or forty citizens were present. 8
The outcome of the election was a victory for the rad-
icals. The Committee of Sixty was essentially radical in
character although all varieties of opinion were represented
and the merchant, Isaac Low, continued as chairman. 4
1 4 Am. Arch. , vol. i, pp. 328-329, 967-
1 Ibid. , vol. i, p. 330. The Committee of Mechanics continued in
existence.
1 Letter Books, vol. ii, p. 372.
4 Professor Becker's analysis of the Sixty is as follows: 29 members
of the original Fifty-One found places on the Sixty, and of these 21
gave active or passive support to the War for Independence. Of the
rejected members of the F1fty-One, 17 of the 22 became loyalists or
neutrals with loyalist sympathies. The 31 members of the Sixty who
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? 45?
THE COLONIAL MERCHANTS: 1763-1776
With such zealots in the saddle as Sears and McDougall,
no merchant of insight could longer hope that the enforce-
ment of the Association would be merely nominal. "Anti-
Tyrannicus" might well lament after four months of the
rule of the Sixty: "While the late Committee of Fifty-One
acted as a Committee of Correspondence for this City, the
generality of its inhabitants, particularly the most sensible
and judicious part of them, were happy in reposing the
trust with so respectable a body, composed as it was of the
principal citizens; but when the present Committee was
formed out of the ruins, as I may say, of the old Commit-
tee, was there a cool considerate man among us, who did
not forbodeevil? " 1
Early in November the " Fifty-One" had sent a circular
letter to the rural counties recommending the appointment
of committees of inspection pursuant to the Association. '
Enthusiastic response could hardly be expected in view of
the lassitude exhibited at the time of the election of dele-
gates to Congress; and there was even a possibility that the
moderate elements would become active and defeat the
plans of aggressive radical minorities. Actually the results
were much the same as on the earlier occasion. Only three
of the thirteen rural counties gave the Association a favor-
able reception at this early time--Suffolk, comprising cen-
tral and eastern Long Island; and on the mainland, the
adjoining counties of Ulster and Albany. The most radical
action was taken by Suffolk County. On November 15, the
county committee of correspondence voted a full approval
were not members of the Fifty-One included about ten who became
active radicals and not more than five or six loyalists. N. Y. Parties,
1760-1776, pp. 167-168.
1 N. Y. Gasetteer, Mch. 23, 1775.
14 Am. Arch. , vol. i, p. 329. Professor Becker has assembled all the
facts in the discussion that follows in op. cit. , pp. 160-173, 187.
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? RATIFICATION OF THE ASSOCIATION 451
of the Association and recommended it to the several towns
to see that its provisions were executed. Within two months
most of the towns and districts of the county had taken
favorable action. 1 Next to Suffolk, the Association gained
widest support in Ulster County, where a joint meeting of
the freeholders of five towns recommended the appointment
of committees on January 6, 1775. In the subsequent
months such action was taken by five or more towns. 2 In
Albany County, the county committee of correspondence
endorsed the Association, with some misgivings, on Decem-
ber 10, 1774, and effected a reorganization of the commit-
tee, by which the three city wards and the rural precincts
were given representation. The action of endorsement met
with no public expostulation, except from a meeting in
King's district under the leadership of five of the king's
justices.
The contest over the acceptance of the Association was
sharp in Queens and Tryon Counties and the outcome was
a partial and barren victory for the radicals. Committees
of inspection were appointed in the former county at
Jamaica and Newtown, but the action was quickly repu-
diated by numbers of Inhabitants. At Flushing in the same
county, it would appear that about one-seventh of the free-
holders, having come together at a funeral, appointed the
committee. At Oyster Bay, a meeting called for that par-
ticular purpose adjourned without action. In Tryon County
the radicals succeeded in appointing committees in only
four districts. * In the eight remaining counties the Asso-
ciation was either disowned, ignored, or combated by
1 Among them were Huntingdon, Smithtown, Islip and Southhaven.
Because of opposition, Brookhaven did not appoint a committee of
inspection until June 8, 1775.
1 Shawangunk, Hanover, Wallkill, New Windsor and Kingston.
* Palatine, Canajoharie, German Flatts and Mohawk.
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? 452
THE COLONIAL MERCHANTS: 1763-1776
means of loyalist associations which asserted the "un-
doubted right to liberty in eating, drinking, buying, sell-
ing" etc. 1
(The rather general disapprobation which the Association
met outside of the city and county of New York made
some form of provincial endorsement extremely importanij
and a determined effort was put forth to secure the sanction
of the Assembly. This Assembly, which came together on
January 10, 1775, had been in existence since 1769; and
although it had passed a vote in the earlier year approving
the non-importation regulations which the merchants them-
selves had established, the body was not likely to prove re-
sponsive to the altered condition of public affairs in 1775. 2
Nevertheless the game was sufficiently uncertain to warrant
a trial by the radicals. 8 On January 26 an initial attempt
was made to get the Assembly to pass judgment on the
Continental Congress, but through a resort to the previous
question the matter was stopped by a vote of eleven to ten.
The loyalist speakers pointed out that Congress was seek-
ing to wield powers properly belonging to a legislature,
and charged openly that the New York delegates in Con-
gress had opposed the proceedings. 4 In the subsequent
1 Quoted from the Dutchess County Association; N. Y. Gasetteer,
Feb. 9, 1775. A committee, appointed at White Plains in Westchester
County, was repudiated by 45 freeholders.
1 Mass. Spy, Feb. 16, 1775; also 4 Am. Arch. , vol. 1, p. 1191.
1 Colden himself entertained doubts as to the course that the Assembly-
would take. Letter Books, vol. ii, p. 378.
44 Am. Arch. , vol. i, pp. 1189-1191, 1286-1287; Conn. Hist. Soc. Colls. ,
voL ii, pp. 193-194; Brush's speech in N. Y. Gasetteer, Mch. 2, 1775.
"Worthy old Silver Locks," when he learned of the vote of the As-
sembly, "cried out--(Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in
peace. " A moderate's letter in Mass. Gas. & Post-Boy, Feb. 6, I77S-
It is to be noted that Colden was in charge of the New York govern-
ment at the three most trying times during the revolutionary move-
ment: the Stamp Act, the tea episode, and the period of the First
Continental Congress.
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? RATIFICATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
453
four weeks, as tardy members made their appearance, three
more attempts were made to commit the Assembly in the
matter, but all to no purpose. 1 These^efeats convinced the
radicals that they could hope for nothing from the Assem-
bly, and they proceeded to do all in their power to undo the
damage which the course of the Assembly had wrought the
causeQ
One spirited article, circulated in the newspapers, anal-
yzed the personnel of the New York government, and pur-
ported to show that most of the members of the Council
and Assembly either themselves had access to the public
crib through lucrative contracts or well-paid positions, or
else were related to those who did. 2 A report, originating
in London, was given publicity, to the effect that several
members of the majority in the Assembly had received
bribes of f 1000 for their votes, and that large land grants,
pensions and high offices were to be rewards for the leaders
of the majority. * It is possible that the radicals would
now have followed the example of Massachusetts. New
Hampshire and other provinces and sought an endorsement
of the Association at the hands of a provincial convention. 4
But much valuable time had been lost in the futile efforts
with the Assembly; and, furthermore, means had been
found of rendering the Association effectual without such
1 On Feb. 17, a motion to thank the New York delegates for their
services was lost, 15 to 9. On Feb. 21, a motion to thank the mer-
chants and inhabitants of the province for their adherence to the
Association was defeated, 15 to 10. On Feb. 23, a motion to appoint
delegates to the next Continental Congress was rejected, 17 to 9.
4 Am. Arch. , vol. i, pp. 1289-1297.
'Pa. Journ. , Feb. 22, 1775; also Conn. Cour. , Apr. 10.
1 The identity of the members was but thinly disguised in most in-
stances. Pa. Journ. , May 17, 1775.
4 A letter from the South Carolina General Committee, dated Men. 1,
1775, urged this course on New York. N. Y. Jount. , Apr. 6, 1775; also
4 Am. Arch. , vol. ii, pp. 1-3.
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