CHAPTER IV.

Virginia, North and South-Carolina: Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Missippi, Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas and Florida.

Episcopacy established in Virginia-Inquietude of the people-Rebellion of Bacon-He obtains a commission by compulsion-He usurps the government-He dies; and the rebellion is suppressedCulpepper's administration-William and Mary College-Birth of Washington-Amidas and Barlow land in Carolina-Reception of them by the Indians-Permanent settlements-Constitution-Constitution of Locke-Charleston laid out-Insurrection-New seat for Charleston-Locke's constitution abandoned-Introduction of rice-Attack on St. Augustine-Indian war-Charleston attackedDefeat of the Spanish-War with the Indians-Bank-Another Indian war-Dissensions-Division into North and South CarolinaNegro insurrection-Regulators. --Charter of incorporation for Georgia-Settlement of Savannah-Regulations-Emigrationsslow progress of population-Unsuccessful attempt to reduce St. Augustine-Invasion of the Spaniards-Military skill of Oglethorpe Retreat of the Spanish-The government relinquished to the crown-Prosperity.-Kentucky explored by Colonel Boone-Lexington laid out-Dismembered from Virginia-Made a separate State and admitted into the union. Name of Tennessee-Failure in first attempting a settlement-Subsequent success-Defeat of the Indians-Soil ceded to Congress-Admitted an independent state into the union. - Settlement of Ohio by Rufus Putnam-Admission into the union-Antiquities - Discovery of Louisiana-Failure of the Spanish in attempting to destroy the Missouri settlement-Massacre at Natches by the Indians-Destruction of the Natches tribe -The country ceded to Spain-Cession to Great Britain-to France by the treaty of St. Ildefonso-Purchase and possession by the United States.

VIRGINIA.

NOTICE has already been taken of the settlement and earlier affairs of Virginia. 'This colony was the first to acknowledge the authority of parliament or Cromwell, and the first to submit to Charles the Second. An assembly was called (1661) by Governor Berkley, who informed them that a general pardon and

oblivion would be granted in favour of all persons not attainted, provided that body would repeal all acts made during the rebellion, inconsistent with the obedience due the government of England. This ought to have been the more readily granted, as the Virginians had refused all subjection to Cromwell, till compelled by a large naval force, sent by the Protector, to reduce them to obedience.

The old constitution being restored, an assembly was called, (1662) by which the church of England was established throughout the colony; and no one was allowed to preach, on pain of suspension or banishment, who had not received his ordination from some bishop in England.

Though Charles the Second was highly gratified with a formal act of the Virginia assembly; "That they were born under monarchy, and would never degenerate from the condition of their births, by being subject to any other government;" and though he had given the fullest assurance that their form of government should never be changed; none of the colonies suffered more than Virginia, from the despotism of a royal govern

ment.

In violation of chartered rights, the colony was divided into parts, and conveyed away by proprietary grants; not grants of uncultivated woodlands, but of plantations that had long been improved according to the encouragement and laws of kings and charters.

The assembly complained to his majesty; and, to defray the expense of prosecuting the affair by an embassy to England, heavy taxes were laid on the people: fifty pounds of tobacco to each poll; and thirty, fifty or seventy pounds of tobacco, for every lawsuit tried in the colony.

The people began to grow very unquiet; some of them almost desperate: and, what greatly added to their misfortune was, that the Indians, instead of the peace and intercourse that had long been maintained, began to rob and to murder the colonists.

Without leaders or plans, the people began to collect

in large bodies, tumultuously running from one plantation to another, and ignorant of their own benefit or wishes.

A Colonel Nathaniel Bacon, who had been educated at one of the inns of court in London, and had been appointed a member of the council soon after his arrival in Virginia; a young man of a commanding appearance, of great boldness and activity; was chosen leader. His ostensible object was a war with the Indians; assuring his followers that he would not lay down his arms till fully avenged, and all their grievances redressed.

He despatched a messenger to Governor Berkley for a commission to go against the Indians. Contrary to expectation, the governor, instead of a commission, sent positive orders to him to dismiss his people, and appear in person before him and his council, on pain of being declared a rebel.

Bacon took forty of his men, not dismissing the rest, and went to Jamestown. A quarrel ensued; and Berkley suspended Bacon from the council. Bacon soon after escaped privately from the town; put himself at the head of six hundred volunteers; appeared again at Jamestown, where the general assembly were in session; drew up his men before the house where they were sitting; urged his being prepared to meet the Indians, a war with whom would then have been finished, had not his commission been so long delayed.

It was deemed advisable to grant the commission; which the governor reluctantly signed. But as soon as Bacon had got to a safe distance, the assembly advised the governor to issue a proclamation of rebellion against him; which was immediately done.

His followers were commanded to deliver up Bacon; and the militia were ordered out against him. Bacon and his men, enraged at this conduct on the part of the assembly, instead of marching against the Indians, marched immediately to Jamestown; and turned their fury against all who opposed them. Governor Berkley himself fled across the bay to Accomack; where he hoped the people would support his authority.

Meanwhile Bacon called a convention of a few gentlemen who were in his interest, and issued a manifesto, charging the governor with attempting to foment civil war; and enjoining, as the governor had abdicated the command, the members of the convention and others, to take an oath to join the general and his army against the common enemy.

At length the governor was able to procure a few sloops, and a few soldiers and sailors. He crossed the bay with them, under the command of Major Robert Beverly. Civil war how began its ravages and calamities. Jamestown was burnt by Bacon's followers. Those parts of the colony that remained quiet were pillaged: and the wives of those who adhered to the go. vernor were carried to the camp of the insurgents.

After several months of skirmishing, bloodshed, pillage and confusion, neither party gaining a complete ascendency, Bacon suddenly died; and, their leader gone, they began to disperse. Two generals under Bacon, submitted on condition of pardon. The people returned to their homes; Berkley was reinstated in authority, and quiet restored.

Whether Bacon's intention was the punishment of the Indians, or to seize the reins of government for himself, when he first solicited a commission, it is impossible to ascertain.

This rebellion forms a remarkable era in the history of Virginia. Its effects were felt for thirty years. During its continuance no attention was paid to husbandry: the Indians, without restraint, murdered and pillaged on the confines of the colony, making frequent incursions into the interior. Sir William Berkley returned to England, where he soon after died.

Lord Culpepper, three years after, was sent over governor of Virginia. He brought over several laws drawn up in England. One was an act for raising a public revenue for the support of government; the duties perpetual, and under his majesty's direction; of which

the governor took for his salary, two thousand pounds, and one hundred and sixty, in addition, for house rent.

All the laws that the governor wished were passed by the assembly, on compulsion; for Culpepper informed them that he was instructed to pass an act of oblivion for all who had been concerned in Bacon's rebellion, provided the assembly would first pass all such laws as he had brought over from the British ministry. they refused, he had commissions to try and to hang them, and a regiment of soldiers on the spot, to support him in his proceedings. Such was the return Virginia received, for its attachment to Charles the Second.

If

William and Mary were proclaimed in Virginia in 1689. In 1692, a charter was granted for a college, which was liberally endowed, and established by law in 1693, at Williamsburgh, under the title of William and Mary College.

The state house in Jamestown, was burnt down, with many valuable papers, and the next year the seat of government was removed to Williamsburgh, and a capitol ordered to be built for the reception of the legislature.

In 1712, Virginia was divided into forty-nine parishes, and an act was passed determining the salary of each clergyman. The next year Colonel Alexander Spotswood, lieutenant-governor of Virginia, made the first discovery of a passage over the Apalachian mountains; a knowledge of the country beyond them being till then confined to the French.

But the most important epoch in the history of Virginia or of the United States, is the eleventh of February (O. S.) 1732. GEORGE WASHINGTON, was born on that day, at Bridge's Creek, in the county of Westmoreland.

The constitution of this state was adopted in 1776, the day after the declaration of Independence, and has ever since continued.