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"Pennsylvania was so named, in 1681, after William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia.
This William Penn was the son of Sir William Penn, an
admiral in the British navy, who rendered important services to the nation,
on account of which, and by way of recompense [debt], Charles II granted to the son
the territory of Pennsylvania, and so naming it after Penn himself.
This patent encroached on the territory of Lord Baltimore in
Maryland by one whole degree, or sixty-nine and a half miles; and on the north,
nearly three hundred miles, across the whole territory conveyed to
Connecticut in 1631 and confirmed by the royal charter of 1662. Hence arose
contentions between the colonies of Pennsylvania and Connecticut about
boundaries, that were not settled until a century later. Within a short time
from the date of the grant by King Charles to Penn, two other conveyances
were made to him, by the Duke of York. One was a bill of sale of
Newcastle, and a territory of twelve miles around it. The other
conveyance was a
bill granting a tract of land south of the former, as far as Cape Henlopen. These
two deeds embraced the whole State of
Delaware,
known at that time by the name of the "Territories."
Penn was himself a Quaker, or member of the Society of
Friends; a man of large and liberal views, and of great benevolence and
integrity of purpose. Arid now, having obtained possession of a valuable
territory, he was desirous of founding a colony where civil and religious
liberty might be enjoyed, and the people of which might dwell together in
the bonds of peace.
To the Swedish settlements already existing in the territory
he gave the assurance that they should in no way be molested in their
religion or laws. He desired their welfare, and they might seek it in their
own way.
As it was Penn's object and interest to forward the
settlement of his territory, he issued an invitation to purchasers, offering
them land on the liberal condition of one thousand acres for twenty pounds,
or at an annual rent of one penny per acre. Many persons, chiefly Quakers,
were induced to purchase; and, in the fall of 1681, three ships,
with settlers, sailed for Pennsylvania. In one of these ships came over the
agent and deputy-governor of the proprietor, William Markham, to supervise
the affairs of the colony, and to establish a good understanding with the
Indians. At the same time, Penn addressed a letter to the Indians, residing
on the territory, assuring them of his pacific disposition, and his
determination, should difficulties arise between them and the emigrants, to
have them settled on principles of equity.
In 1682, Penn published a form of government, by which
the supreme power was lodged in a general assembly, to consist of a
governor, council, and house of delegates: the council and house to be
chosen by the freemen; the proprietor and governor to preside, and to have a
treble voice in the council, which was to consist of seventy-two members. It
was also agreed that every person of good moral character, professing his
faith in Christ, should be a freeman, and capable of holding any office; and
that none who believed in one God should be molested in his religion, or be
compelled to attend or maintain religious worship.
In November, Penn, with, two thousand planters, mostly
Quakers, arrived at Newcastle, which was a part of the "Territories." Upon
this tract he found settled, as already noticed, about three thousand Dutch,
Swedes, and Finns. He proceeded to Chester, where, in December, he convoked
an assembly; but, so few delegates appearing, he ordered that, instead of
seventy-two, only three members should constitute the council, and nine in
the house of assembly. This assembly annexed the "Territories" to the
province, adopted a frame of government, and enacted a body of laws.
Markham having, according to instructions, secured a treaty
with the neighboring Indians. Penn, some weeks after his arrival, met
with a numerous delegation of these tribes, to ratify the same. This was one of
the most interesting scenes in our colonial history. The spot selected for
the transaction was beneath a large elm tree, at Shaxamaxon, since then known as
Kensington, the northeast suburb of Philadelphia. On
his arrival at the spot, attended by a few friends, the simple children of
the forest gathered around him, and he thus addressed them: "We meet on the
broad pathway of good faith and good will; no advantage shall be taken on
either side, but all shall be openness and love. I will not call you
children; for parents sometimes chide their children too severely: nor
brothers only; — brothers differ. The friendship between me and
you, I will not compare to a chain; for the rains may rust, or the falling
tree might break. We are the same as if one man's body were to be divided
into two parts, — we are all one flesh and blood."
Touched by this warm-hearted and generous address, the
Indians accepted the presents which followed, and in return, gave a belt
of wampum. And to this they added, "We will live in love with William Penn
and his children, as long as the moon and the sun shall endure," "And now,"
says an 19th century historian, "the simple sons of the forest, returning to their
wigwams, kept the history of the covenant by strings of wampum; and long
afterwards, in the cabin, would count over the shells on a clean piece of
bark, and recall to the memory, and repeat to their children or to
strangers, the words of William Penn." And it is remarkable that all this
was accomplished so kindly, so gently, when the more northern colonies of
New England had just been embroiled in a long and disastrous war with Indian
tribes. But Penn was eminently bent on peace, and he had the advantage of
the sad experience of others. The result of and the reward of his kindness
and integrity was, "that not a drop of Quaker blood was ever shed by an
Indian."
A few months after Penn's arrival, he commenced the city of
Philadelphia, or "Brotherly Love," — a name in keeping with all
his other transactions. The land being part of the tract owned by the
Swedes, who had already erected a church there, he purchased it of them. The
growth of the city was rapid, numbering at the close of a year, nearly a
hundred houses and cottages, and at the expiration of the second year,
two thousand five hundred inhabitants.
Pennsylvania had a more rapid and prosperous settlement than
any of the other colonies. This was doubtless owing, in part, to its
healthful climate and fruitful soil; partly to the fact, that the great
obstacles of settlement had been overcome by the other colonies; and,
partly, to the religious tolerance, mildness and equity, which characterized
its laws and their administration.
In 1683, Penn convened a second assembly, which was held in
Philadelphia; and at the request of the freemen and delegates, granted them
a second charter, by which eighteen persons were to form a council, and
thirty-six the assembly. At this time it was ordained, "that, to prevent
lawsuits, three arbitrators, to be called peace-makers, should be chosen by
the county courts, to hear and determine small differences between man and
man; that children should be taught some useful trade; that factors wronging
their employers should make satisfaction; that all causes of rudeness,
cruelty and irreligion, should be repressed; and that no man should be
molested for his religious opinions." To these wholesome regulations
Pennsylvania was. indebted for her great prosperity and rapid settlement.
In 1684, Penn returned to England, leaving the
administration of the government in the care of five commissioners. Soon
after, James II abdicated the throne. For this monarch Penn felt a sincere
regard, and continued, even after his expulsion from the throne, to
administer the colonial government in his name. This excited the
displeasure of William, successor of James, his friends caused Penn to be
imprisoned several times; and the government of the colony was taken from
him, and given to Colonel Fletcher, Governor of
New York. But some time after, the charges of disloyalty to William
having been proved to be unfounded, he was permitted to resume the exercise
of his rights, whereupon he appointed William Markham to be his
deputy-governor.
In 1699, Penn made a second visit to Pennsylvania. Finding
discontent had crept in, in relation to the government, he humanely
prepared a new charter, on still more liberal principles. This was offered
on November 7th 1701, and accepted, on the same day by the people of
Pennsylvania; but the "Territories," now Delaware, declining, they were
allowed a distinct assembly, under the same governor. The assembly was first
convened in 1703.
Having thus settled affairs, Penn again returned to England,
leaving the executive authority to be exercised by a deputy-governor.
Discontentment, however, again appeared, and at times the deputy-governors
became quite obnoxious to the people. Still, the colony prospered; they
lived in great harmony with the Indians, and increased in numbers and
wealth.
William Penn died in England in 1718. He left his interest
in Pennsylvania and Delaware to his surviving sons, John, Thomas, and
Richard, who continued to hold the same, and to administer the government,
by agents or deputies, until the American Revolution. At the commencement of
the Revolutionary War, the people formed a new constitution, by which the
proprietor was excluded from all participation in the government; and, by
way of discharging all rents due from the inhabitants, he was allowed about
five hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
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