Peter Stuyvesant, the Last Dutch Governor of New AmsterdamAbbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
History
Peter Stuyvesant, the Last Dutch Governor of New Amsterdam
Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
New York (State) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; Stuyvesant, Peter, 1592-1672
"is contrary to the granted privilege of the Netherland
government and odious to every free-born man; and especially
so to those whom God has placed in a free state in
newly-settled lands, who are entitled to claim laws not
transcending, but resembling as near as possible those of
the Netherlands."
There were several minor offences enumerated to which we need not here
refer. The memorial was drawn up by an Englishman, George Baxter. The
imperious Stuyvesant was greatly annoyed by this document. To weaken
its effect, he declared that the delegates had no authority to act or
even to meet upon such questions. He endeavored to rouse national
prejudice against the document by saying:
"The most ancient colony of Manhattan, the colonies of
Rensselaerswyck and Staten Island and the settlements at
Beaverswyck and on the South river are too prudent to
subscribe to all that has been projected by an Englishman;
as if among the Netherlands' nation there is no one
sagacious and expert enough to draw up a remonstrance to the
Director and council."
CHAPTER VIII.
ANOTHER INDIAN WAR.
Conflict Between the Governor and the Citizens.--Energy of
the Governor.--His Measures of Defence.--Action of the
English Colonies.--Claims of the Government of Sweden.--Fort
Casimir captured by the Swedes.--Retaliation.--Measures for
the recapture of Fort Casimir.--Shooting a Squaw.--Its
Consequences.--The Ransom of Prisoners.--Complaints of the
Swedish Governor.--Expedition from Sweden.--Its Fate.
There was a brief but bitter controversy between the governor and the
convention, when the governor ordered the body to disperse, "on pain
of our highest displeasure." "We derive our authority," said he, "from
God, and from the Company, not from a few ignorant subjects. And we
alone can call the inhabitants together." These decisive measures did
not stifle the popular voice. Petitions were sent to the Company in
Holland, full of complaints against the administration of Stuyvesant,
and imploring its intervention to secure the redress of the grievances
which were enumerated.
An able man, Francois le Bleuw, was sent to Holland with these
documents, with instructions to do everything in his power to procure
the reforms they urged. Though the citizens of New Amsterdam had, for
a year, enjoyed a limited municipal government, they were by no means
satisfied with what they had thus far attained. What they claimed, and
reasonably claimed, were the larger franchises enjoyed by the cities
in the fatherland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account