The Puritan republic of the Massachusetts bay in New England

Preface

No period in the history of this country is more interesting than that covered by the Puritan commonwealth of Massachusetts Bay. About no other, not even the revolutionary period, has so much been written. That interest in it does not flag is evidenced by the great number of books and magazine articles relating to that period which have been published in recent times. Every phase of life in the Puritan age has received minute investigation and critical discussion. Old records and documents have been searched, and avast flood of light has been turned upon the religious, the political, the economic, the industrial, and the social life of the early Puritans. Merely to indicate the bibliography relating to that period would require much space.

The so-called Theocracy of the Massachusetts commonwealth has been a fruitful theme, and the discussion of its religious intolerance seems to be as earnest, and almost as rancorous, today as it was at any former period.

Up to the year 1856, there had been a great deal written by the historians designated by Mr. Fiske as "ancestorworshipers," who found little to condemn in the Puritans of the commonwealth period. In that year Mr. Peter Oliver published a volume entitled "The Puritan Commonwealth." It is written in keen, vigorous and classic language, but no attempt is made by the author to conceal his prejudices. His vindictive feeling against the early Puritans is so manifest on every page as naturally to excite distrust of every state-

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Viii PREFACE.

ment he makes, and to suggest the answer to all his arguments.

In 1886, Mr. Brooks Adams published a volume entitled "The Emancipation of Massachusetts." The chief difference between Mr. Oliver and Mr Adams is, that the former hated all the Puritans alike, while the latter 's animosity is directed principally against the ministers, whom he st>'les the "priests."

Many of Mr. Adams's deductions from historical facts seem to be as far-fetched as those which he tells us he has drawn from Mr. Frank Cushing's "unpublished results" of his researches among the Zuni Indians of New Mexico and Arizona, which, as Mr. Adams afhrms, "seem to lead to well-defined conclusions when applied to New England history." The published results of these researches are valuable and interesting, but it is only by the aid of a very vivid or eccentric imagination that we can find in them anything^ throwing any light upon New England history or upon the religion and character of the Puritan ministers.

Mr. Hallowell has also appeared on the field with a book about "The Quaker Invasion of Massachusetts," and shows by the vigor with which he espouses their cause that time has not abated either the zeal or the resentment of the Quakers against their ancient Puritan persecutors. Charles Francis Adams, in 1893, contributed a volume entitled "Massachusetts, Its Historians and Its History," relating chiefly to what he terms the "theologico-glacial" period, or "ice age," in Massachusetts. He, too, takes issue with the ''ancestor-worshipers" — the historians of what he calls the "filio-pietistic" school.

It is against the Theocracy that the most malignant attacks have been made by modern writers; and when we read the maledictions which they hurl against the old Puritan ministers indiscriminately, we can not avoid thinking" that they have improved but little on the pirate of whom the

PREFACE. IX

Story is told that, having caught a New England fisherman,\ he compelled the poor man, as a grim joke, to jump up and / curse Cotton^ather three times.

Mr. Palfrey, the great historian of New England, has written a history of the Massachusetts Puritans that will stand as an enduring monument to himself as well as ta them; and Dr. Ellis, in "The Puritan Age in Massachusetts" (1888), has said in a dispassionate and candid way about all that can be said in behalf of the Puritans against the charge of religious intolerance.

From the standpoint of an Englishman, writing at the close of the nineteenth century, we have the recent work of Mr. Doyle (published in 1889), "The English Colonies in America — The Puritan Colonies." It is manifest that his work was very carefully prepared after an exhaustive study of all the attainable authorities, and probably no other author, English or American, has given the subject of the religious and political policy of the Massachusetts Puritan commonwealth more careful study, or has discussed it more dispassionately, or has expressed his conclusions with more judicial fairness. Still it is doubtful if any American writer would agree with all of Mr. Doyle's conclusions.

There seems to be no end of the books, magazine articles, pamphlets and addresses relating to the Theocracy, and the diversity of opinion manifested after so great a lapse of time goes to prove that, try as we may, we can not wholly divest our minds of the influence of inherited ideas, transmitted from generation to generation. These, even after the lapse of more than two centuries, still retain vitality and force enough to mold the opinions of men, and to cause them to travel apart, in a more orderly way, it is true, but still on m.uch the s:ime old lines on which our ancestors separated from each other.

Indeed the very subject seems to breed a contagion of dissent, so that, in discussing the religious and political policy

X PREFACE.

of the Massachusetts Puritan commonwealth, modern commentators seem to have reached the point at which the early Puritans themselves at one period arrived — when no one agreed with any other in any opinion whatever. It is not probable, therefore, that there will soon be an end of books about the Puritan commonwealth, or an end of differences of opinion among men who write about them.

The difficulty of finding out the truth in regard to any matter that was the subject of controversy in the early days of the commonwealth is forcibly expressed by one of the correspondents of Mr. Savage, as appears in a note to his edition of Winthrop's History of New England (Vol. i, p. 59): "I have," says this correspondent, "lost nearly all confidence as to the truth of what is related. I see in my own times that I can not get at the truth of what passes before my own eyes. How, then, can I know what took place two hundred years ago, when I have no evidence but that which is distorted by the worst passions."

Where so much has been written, it would be presumption to lay claim to great originality in either material or thought. What I have aimed to do is to bring together, in a volume of moderate size, some of the features in the history of the government and people of the Massachusetts Puritan commonwealth, that I thought would be most interesting to the people of today, and especially to those who are descendants of the early Puritans. I have attempted to describe the public and the private life of the early Puritans, their customs, their characteristics, their struggles to establish and maintain themselves against so many odds in "this remote corner of the earth." In doing this, I have endeavored to portray the early Puritans as they would have wished to be portrayed ; as Cromwell wished to be portrayed when he said to the painter: "Paint me as I am, warts and all."

I have essayed the still more difficult task of tracing the

PREFACE. XI

evolution of a commonwealth from a colony, of a constitution from a charter, of a republic from a corporation.

No inconsiderable part of the labor in the preparation of this volume has been devoted to an attempt to show the development of republican ideas and institutions. This subject could not conveniently, in accordance with the plan of the volume, be treated separately, but the main purpose of ChaptersXII to XVII, inclusive, is to illustrate it. References to all portions of the volume which help to an understanding of it are grouped together in the index, under the title "Republic."

I do not believe in all the beliefs of the Puritan Fathers, but I thoroughly believe in them — in their manhood, their fortitude, their patriotism, their integrity, their devotion to duty, their reverent recognition of God in all their public and private affairs — the qualities that have made them preeminent as the most striking figures in all the history of American civilization.

I can say with the great historian. Palfrey, that "with the belief which I entertain, I could not have been admitted to any church established by the Fathers, if, indeed an attempt to propagate my belief would not have made me an exile from their society." I can also say with him that, while endeavoring to be veracious and just, "I should have been neither if I had affected to conceal my veneration for the founders of New England."

Some things they did that we can not justify, and for which it is difficult to find even a reasonable excuse, but they did a great deal more, for which their posterity must be forever grateful.

I am indebted for kindly aid in the preparation of this volume to many persons, but to no one more than to Mr. Charles R. Williams, for his patient oversight and valuable suggestions. DANIEL Wait Howe.

Chapter I

The village of Scrooby i The Scrooby congregation of Separatists I Persecutions of the early Puritans in England I Efforts to escape from England 2 Emigration to Holland 3 Condition of the emigrants there 3 Emigration of Leyden congregation to America 4 The Plymouth colony 4 Continued persecution of the Puritans in England 5 Archbishop Laud and his persecution of the Puritans 5 The Star Chamber and the High Commission 7 Subserviency of English courts and judges in reign of Charles I 7 Inhuman punishment of the Puritans 8 Difficulty of escaping from England 8 Rev. John White of Scrooby 10 His life and character 10 His efforts to establish a colony in America 12 Motives of him and of his aiders in the enterprise 12 A grant of land obtained and Endicott goes to America 15 Charter procured for "the governor and company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England " 16 Transfer of charter to America 16 John Winthrop chosen governor 17 Address issued by colonists prior to their departure from England 17 Their designs as to future government 18 Winthrop and company sail from Yarmouth 18 Colonists gathered from all parts of England I9 Character of the early colonists 19 Character of John Winthrop 20 Character of John Endicott 21 Situation of colonists upon their arrival in America 24

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xiv TABLE OF CONTENTS.

White predecessors of colonists in Massachusetts 25

Establishing settlements 2$

Sufferings during first winter 26

Chapter II I

Founded upon the charter 27

Question as to right to transfer the charter to America 27

Why charter was prized by the colonists 28

Proprietary rights granted by charter 28

Power granted to elect governor and other officers 29

Power to make laws, etc. 29

Power to make war 29

Limitations upon powers granted 30

Implied powers 31

Sovereign control not relinquished 32

Large jurisdictional territory left undefined 32

Construction of charter by the colonists 33

Powers of the governor 34

Establishing a seat of government 34

First meeting of court of assistants 34

Providing for the ministers 34

Appointing justices 34

Admission of new freemen 35

Efforts of assistants to perpetuate their power 35

None but church members admitted freemen 36

Freemen resume exercise of right to elect governor, etc. 36

Restriction of right of suffrage to freemen 36

Oaths of fidelity and allegiance 36

Exercise of legislative power 38

Establishing courts 38

I'xercise of taxing power 38

Military measures 38

O Jier steps taken to establish a government 39

First matter attended to by General Court 39

How General Court enforced respect for its authority 39

Enforcing respect for the ministers 40

Surveillance over strangers 41

Banishment for immoral conduct and for religious opinions 41

Strict laws against strangers 41

Law as to excommunicated persons 41

Whitmore's edition of colonial laws

TABLE OF CONTEXTS. XV

Progress in establishing a government in first ten years 42

Inconveniences resulting from absence of a code of laws 43

Rules for administering justice in the absence of laws 43

Further evils resulting from absence of a code of laws 44

Efforts to establish a code of laws 45

Committee appointed to draft code 45

Rev, John Cotton's " Moses, His Judicials" 45

Another committee appointed 46

Body of Liberties adopted 47

CHAPTER III PURITAN LAWS, LAWYERS AND COUkTS

Study of their laws essential to understanding history of the Massachusetts Puritans 48 Explanation of delay in adopting code of 48 Rev. Nathaniel Ward's work in framing Body of Liberties 49 Why Body of Liberties so called 4g Protection of life, liberty and property under 49 Rights of foreigners 50 Trial by jury secured 50 Torture and inhuman punishment forbidden 50 Slavery and villeinage, provisions as to 50 Refugees from other countries protected 50 Crimes punished capitally 50 Scriptural authority for capital punishment 51 Transmission of property 51 Re-enactment of English statute of amendments and jeofails 51 Monopolies forbidden 51 Libel and slander 51 Revisions of 1649, 1660 and 1672 52

Illegal voting 52

Revenue laws 53

Tenure of lands defined 53

Indian titles recognized 53

Towns authorized to dispose of their lands 54 Law of descents Divorces

Husband's authority over wife 55

Parents and children 55

Servants 55

54 55

XVI TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Slavery 55

Various other laws 5^

•^ Penalties inflicted for violations of laws 56

Laws rigidly enforced 58

Enforced impartially 58

Extensive scope of legislation 59

Examples of early laws and punishments 59

Great number of local officers 60

How Puritan laws should be judged 61

Comparison of -Puritan laws with those of England 61

Comparison with those of other American colonies 62

Law against witchcraft 62 \ Body of Liberties contained essential principles of Magna Charta 63

',, Courts in early period of commonwealth 63

\ Forms of judicial proceedings 65

Jurors permitted to consult ministers 65

Deficiency in records 65

\ Law books in commonwealth period 66

Lawyers during that period 66

Professional lawyers ignored 67

Legal documents drawn by justices and ministers 68

No fees allowed lawyers 68

Prejudice against the lawyers 68

Lawyers ineligible to seat in General Court 69

Patrons as substitutes for lawyers 69

Lechford's attempt to practice law 69

Lack of learned judges 70

Judge Samuel Sewall 71

His education and conscientiousness 71

His advice to Justice Davenport 72

His opposition to slavery 72

His diary and letters 72

No development of law as a science 74

Evil results of want of learned lawyers and judges 74

Absence of influence of lawyers in restraining the Theocracy 75

Conservative tendency of the legal profession 75

CHAPTER IV Plague among the Indians prior to arrival of the colonists 77

No semblance of organized government among 77

Their title to land recognized by the colonists 77

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XVI 1

Uncontrollable appetite for intoxicating liquor 78

Efforts to civilize and convert them 78

The " Praying Indians " 78

Troubles with the Pequots 79 Efforts of Sassacus to unite Pequots and Narragansetts against

the colonists 79

Precarious situation of the colonists 79

Defeat and extermination of the Pequots 80

The alternative presented to the colonists 81

Indians continue to be hostile 82

Claims of the Indians 82

Claims of the colonists 82

Indians become better prepared for war 83

Appearance of King Philip as a leader 84

Injustice of Massachusetts historians to King Philip 84.

His abilities as a leader 85

The master spirit of the Indian coalition 86

His untiring efforts to form such coalition 86

Beginning of King Philip's war 87

Its sanguinary character 88

Attack upon Canonchet and his defeat 90

Canonchet captured and Philip slain 91

Effects of the war upon the colony 91

Effects of the war upon the Indians 92

Puritan ideas of the red man 93

CHAPTER V Large Families dwelling-houses

Their construction

How heated and lighted

Glass and oiled paper in windows

The kitchen

Furniture

Winthrop's reproof of deputy for extravagance in household furniture

Improvement in houses and furniture Apparel

Styles of women's dresses

Laws against extravagance in dress ii — Pur. Rep.

94 94 94 95 95 95 96

96 96 97 97 98

XVlll TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Rev. Nathaniel Ward's sermon against ungodliness of female

attire 99 Debate between Rev. Roger Williams and Rev. John Cotton

on women's veils loo

Punishment for wicked apparel loi

Protests against men wearing long hair 102

Food and Drink 103

Thanksgiving dinners 103

Increase of intemperance and laws to restrain 104

Tea 104

Tobacco ; Laws Against Use of 104

Inns and Ordinaries 105

As news centers 105

Governmental supervision of 105

Celebrated colonial inns 107

Roads and Travel 108

Old colonial roads 108

Modes of travel 108

Public Days, Holidays, Etc. 109

Celebration of Christmas and other English holidays prohibited 109

Fast and Thanksgiving days 109

Thursday lecture days 109

Election days no

Amusements, Games, Etc. no

Laws against no

Theatrical entertainments and singing schools no

Hunting parties, house raisings, etc. ni

Courtship and Marriage nr

Opportunities for and restrictions upon " courting " 112

Laws as to marriage 112

Marriage etiquette 113

Judge Sewall's courtships 1x3

Marriage portions and bridal outfits 120

John Hull's daughter's marriage portion 120

Judith Sewall's marriage outfit 121

Beulah Howe's marriage portion 122

Curious experiment of General Court to compel husband and

wife to live together 123

Suits for breach of promise of marriage 124

Doctors 124

Punishment of quacks 124

Funerals 124

How conducted 124

Early burying grounds 125

TABLE OF CONTENTS. XIX

Monuments and tombstones 126

Giving presents at funerals 126 Expenses of funerals of widowof Rev. John Norton and of Rev.

John Cobbett 127

Law restraining extravagance at funerals 127

Rank 127

Early distinctions 128

Titles 128

Family arms 129

CHAPTER VI V Laws Against Idleness 130

Single persons disposed to service 130

Parents required to put children to work 131

Tithing-men required to put idlers to work 131

Agriculture 131

Fertility of soil 131

Domestic animals 132

Agricultural implements 132

Laws for benefit of farmers 132

Fishing 133

Mechanical Trades 133

Manufactures 133

Mills 133

Tanneries 133

Salt manufactories 133

Pottery at Salem 133

Iron works at Lynn 133

Encouragement of spinning 133

Weaving at Rowley 134

Commerce with other Colonies and Countries 134

Currency 134

Scarcity of money 134

Wampum currency 135

Musket balls made legal tender 135

Barter currency authorized 135

Mint established 136

Pine tree shillings 137

No banks nor paper currency 137

No "fiat" money 137

XX TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Wages and Prices 138

Regulation of by law 138

Trial of Robert Keayne for extortion 140

Rev. John Cotton's rules for trading 142

Inability to enforce laws regulating wages and prices 143

Chapter VII Frontier Life

Differences between urban and rural life 145

Settlement of Watertown 145

Settlement of Sudbury 146 Permission of General Court necessary to establish a settlement 146

Laying off the boundaries 147

Purchasing the Indian title 147

Allotment of lands I47

Military features prominent in frontier life 148

Organization of the militia 148

Enforcing attendance on military exercises 148

Infantry, cavalry and artillery organizations 148

Forts and garrison houses 149

Military watches and sentinels 150

Training fields 150

Muster days 150

Indian attack on Marlborough 151

Apprehension of Indian wars 151

Public enterprises 152

Few artisans 152

Occupations of the settlers 152

Staple crops 152

Almost everything made by hand and at home 152

"An Evening at Home " on the frontier 153

How monotony of work was relieved 155 Growth and prosperity of frontier settlements prior to King Philip's

war 156

Inventory of a prosperous farmer I57

Settlers not injured by lack of dissipation and amusement 158

Recuperation of frontier towns after King Philip's war 158 Attention of settlers to moral and intellectual needs of community 159

Settlers continually pushing out the frontier 159

Settlement of Marietta, Ohio I59

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CHAPTER VIII Began on Saturday night i6o

Similarity to Scotch Saturday night i6o

No "courting" on Saturday night allowed in commonwealth 163

Laws enforcing observance of Sabbath 163

Strict enforcement of these laws 164

The meeting-house 165

How heated 165

Interior arrangement 166

Seating and dignifying the meeting-house 167

The minister and the visiting minister 167

The tithing-man's duty at the church services 168

Puritan boys in church 168

How the congregation was summoned 169

Order of exercises 169

Instrumental music 170

Hymn books used 170

Setting the tune 171

The noon-house 171

Taking up the collection 172

Close of services and dispersing of the congregation 172

CHAPTER IX Early laws for education of children and apprentices 174

Only orthodox teachers employed 174

Beginning of Harvard college 174

Early book stores 175

Private libraries 175

Rev. Cotton Mather's library 175

John Winthrop's library 176

Elder Brewster's library 176

Judge Sewall's books 177

Cost of books 178

Governmental supervision over printing 179

Number and kind of early publications 179

Winthrop's History of New England 180

Xxii TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Johnson's Wonder-zvorking Providence l8a

'Ma.sons History of Pequoi War l8o

Gookin : Historical Collection, etc, l8o

Historical Account, etc. l8o-

History of New England l8l

Hio"£^inson's New England''s Plantation iSl

Wood's Ne-M England's Prospect iBl

Josselyn's Ne-v England Rarities and Txvo Voyages l8l

Anne Bradstreet's Poems l8l

Michael Wigglesworth's Poems 183

Ability to write poetry a necessary accomplishment 183

The ancient "elegies" 184 Charles Francis Adams's criticism of the books of the "Theologico-

Glacial" period 184 Juvenile literature 186 The Bay Psalm-book 186 The New England Primer 186 Early almanacs 187 Religious books, etc. 188 Industry of the Puritan ministers 188 Rev. Nathaniel Ward's writings 189 Rev. John Cotton's writings 189 Rev. John Norton's writings 189 Comparison of the religious books and law books of the 17th century 191 Learning of the early New England clergy 192 Prodigious influence of their books and sermons 192

Chapter X The Rise And Fall Of The Theocracy

Cardinal ideas of founders of the Massachusetts commonwealth 193

Character of their religion 193

The Theocracy not recognized as a distinct body 195

Composed of a small minority 195

Learning and industry of the ministers 196

Their fearless disposition 197

Their religious views in accord with those of the first settlers 197

Isolation of colonies tended to bind them closer to the ministers 197 Great affection existing between ministers and their congregations 197

First care of colonists to provide for ministers 198

None but church members admitted freemen 199

Law as to strangers 200

TABLE OF CONTENTS. XXlll

Laws against Baptists and Quakers 200

Extension of laws as to blasphemy and heresy 200

Care to see that churches were orthodox 202 Modification of Body of Liberties to prevent organization of any but

orthodox churches 202

None but orthodox ministers allowed to be called to the churches 204

Laws prohibiting building of any but orthodox meeting-houses 204

Closing doors of Baptist meeting-house in Boston 2c \

Laws enforcing respect for ministers 204.

Laws against disturbing church services 204 Laws enforcing attendance on religious services and observance of

the Sabbath 205

Laws for Godly bringing up of the children and servants 205

Teachers in schools and college required to be orthodox 206

Attempts of Theocracy to regulate men's secret thoughts 206 Same men who composed the churches also voters at the town

meetings 207

Power of ministers to exclude from church membership 207

Great influence of the ministers 207

Their power in General Court and in all civil and domestic affairs 208

Intimate union between church and state 209

Tendency to religious tyranny and persecution 209'

Effect of vesting unlimited power in ecclesiastics 209

Power of clergy fully recognized by civil authorities 209

Opposition to advance of the Theocracy 210

The banishment of the Brownes 210

Contest of Theocracy with Rev. Roger Williams 211

His character 2ll

His religious views 212

His views of government 212

His banishment 212

Subsequent disputation between him and Rev. John Cotton 212 Modification in later life of Williams of his views as to Quakers,

religious toleration, etc. 213 His affectionate regard for Massachusetts and for Winthrop 21 5 His services to MaFsachusetts in the Indian wars 2' j. Shabby treatment of Williams in his old age by the Massachusetts authorities 214 Antinomian controversy 215 Ann Hutchinson 215 Her teachings 215 Doctrines of her disciples 215 Rev. John Wheelwright becomes a convert 2l6

XXIV TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Rev. John Cotton much impressed by her teachings 216

Sir Henry Vane sides with her 216

People and ministers divided 217

Wheelwright tried and convicted of heresy 217

Remonstrance against proceedings in his case 218

Contest for governorship between Vane and Winthrop 218

Rev. John Wilson's "stump speech" 218

Character of Vane 219

Banishment of Wheelwright 223

Trial of Mrs. Hutchinson 223

Winthrop's conduct upon her trial 223

Proceedings upon her trial 224

Her banishment 231

Her treatment before being sent away 231

Persecution of remonstrants in favor of Wheelwright 232 Rev. John Cotton's narrow escape from condemnation as a heretic 233

He is finally restored to confidence of his brother ministers 233

Petition of William Vassal and others 234

Proceedings against them 235 Persecution of the Baptists; treatment of Clark, Crandall and

Holmes 235

Holmes fined and flogged 236

Presentment of Wm. Witter for being re-baptized 236

Degradation of Henry Dunster 237

Further persecution of the Baptists 237

The Quaker invasion of Massachusetts 237 Fines, imprisonments and scourgings of no avail to keep them

away 237

They persist in returning after banishment 238

Four of them hanged 238

Danger of uprising of the people against further hangings 239

The message from the king 239

Final triumph of the Quakers 239

CHAPTER XI RISE AND FALL OF THE THEOCRACY — Continued

Characteristics of some of the dissenting sects in the early period

of the commonwealth 240

The Familists 240

Old-time excuses for hanging Quakers 241

Charter gave no authority to banish them 242

TABLE OF CONTEXTS. XXV

Summary of arguments on the question 243 Characteristics and conduct of early Quakers 243 Elements of the Theocracy leading to its destruction 245 Disagreements of its members 245 Rise of new doctrines and sects 246 Erroneous opinions discovered at first synod 246 Religious vagaries during the Antinomian period 248 Distractions resulting from religious differences 249 Errors continue to thrive after banishment of Mrs. Hutchinson 250 The Cambridge synod called, and Cambridge platform promulgated 251 Other synods called to suppress schisms 251 Effect on the Theocracy of the expansion of commerce 252 Effect of the growth of republican ideas 252 Majority of people opposed to religious persecutions 252 Charges of Oliver and Adams against the Puritan clergy 253 Puritan clergy always steadfast for the people under Andros and

in the revolution 254

How the clergy should be judged 254

Puritan ideas as to religious and political toleration 255

They were not hypocrites 256

The heroism of the intolerance of the age 257

Rev. Hugh Peters as a type 257

Religious persecutions in seventeenth century 258

Religious intolerance in other American colonies 258

Samuel Gorton's experience 262 Progress and causes of religious and political toleration in the

United States 262

Persecution of William Lloyd Garrison 264

Quaker persecution of Catholics in Rhode Island 265

Quaker persecution of Abolitionists in Indiana 265

Chapter XII

PLANTING THE SEED OF A REPUBLIC — DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN SYSTEM AND LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

Idea of local self-government a fixed feature in the United States 269

Settlement of Oklahoma territory 269

Origin of local self-government 269

Origin of New England town governments 270

The Dorchester plan 273

The Charlestown plan 273

XXvi TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Recognition of towns as distinct local municipalities 274

Chief officers of the towns and their duties 275

Town meetings 276

Cardinal idea of the town system 276

Continuance of the town system in New England 277 Its importance as a protection against centralization and jobbery 277

In aid of school system 277

As a political factor 277

Its importance in the revolutionary period 278

Thomas Jefferson's tribute to 280

Kinds of business transacted at early town meetings 281

Chapter XIII How The Republic Grew — Escape From Democracy

Clergy favored monarchy 282 Freemen did not at first contemplate a republic, but opposed to arbitrary power 283 Winthrop's objections to Connecticut government 284 Early usurpations by the assistants 284 Opposition of people of Watertown to taxation without representation 285 Election of deputies to General Court 285 Struggle of people to obtain Body of Liberties 286 Opposition of people to standing council 286 Opposition to electing a governor for life 287 Clashing between deputies and assistants 287 Dispute over a stray pig and its results 288 Winthrop favors claim of assistants , 289 Results in establishing right of assistants to sit as a separate legislative body and to cast a negative vote 289 Winthrop's trial and speech 290 Deputies in closer touch with the people 292 Deputies oppose giving unlimited power to the clergy 293 Winthrop also opposes claim of clergy 294 Growth of republic retarded by refusal to extend privileges of 297 citizenship to non-church members 297 Commonwealth before its close was essentially a republic 298

TABLE OF CONTENTS. XXvii

Chapter XIV Laying The Foundations Of A Greater Republic

THE UNITED COLONIES OF NEW ENGLAND

Origin of the confederation

Purposes of its formation 301 Preliminary negotiations 304 Shyness of Connecticut 304 Failure of first attempt to form 304 Dissensions between Massachusetts and Connecticut 305 Renewal of negotiations and causes therefor 306 Articles of confederation 307 Why Maine and Rhode Island were excluded 307 Cardinal provisions of the articles 308 Reasons set forth and name adopted 308 Powers and duties of commissioners defined 308 Express prohibition against interference with the local governments 309 Provisions as to war, etc, 30x5 Legislative powers of commissioners 310 Provisions as to fugitives from justice and fugitives from service 311 Idea of local self-government prominent 311 Articles contained the germ of a greater republic 312 Towns and population in the confederation 313 End of the confederation 314

Chapter XV

THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE AND THE REVOCATION OF THE CHARTER — GENESIS OF A STILL GREATER RE- PUBLIC

Beginning of idea of an independent government 315 No such reasons at first as those stated in the Declaration of Independence 315 What the colonists apprehended 316 The royal government in Virginia 316 When the idea of an independent government took definite shape 318 Winthrop's statement of grounds for setting up 318 The claims at first based on the charter 318