Massachusetts, and shall have jurisdiction among themselves in all cases as an entire body; [same provision follows in regard to Connecticut, Plymouth, and New Haven.] . provided that no other jurisdiction shall be taken in as a distinct head or member of this confederation, nor shall any other nor shall any two consent of the rest, IV. It is also just wars, be borne, be received by any of them; join in one jurisdiction, without in manner following, viz. [in propor tion to number of males from 16 to 60 years of age.] V. It is further agreed, that if any of these jurisdictions, be invaded by any enemy whatsoever, upon notice and request of any three [or two under conditions] magistrates of that jurisdiction so invaded, the rest of the confederates, shall ... send aid .. [as follows:] Massachusetts one hundred men [furnished] and each of the rest 45 men so armed of VI. It is also agreed, that for the managing all affairs. concerning the whole confederation, commissioners shall be chosen [as follows:] two for the Massachusetts, two for Plimouth, two for Connecticut, and two for New Haven, all in church fellowship with us, VIII. . . . It is also agreed, that if any servant run away from his master into any of these confederate jurisdictions, upon certificate of one magistrate in the jurisdiction out of which the said servant fled, said servant shall be delivered to his master general the same provision in regard to criminals.] XI. [The last article pertains to breaches of the articles.] Lastly, this perpetual confederation, and the several articles and agreements certified [as completed] at the next meeting held in Boston, (7) 7, 1643. -Winthrop, History of New England, vol. II, p. 121f. were The English Commissioners to New. England, in 1665, pass the following, among other resolutions: There is no power in the charter [of Massachusetts] to incorporate with other colonjes, nor to exercise any power by that association: both belongs to the kings prerogative. If there be any other undecent expressions & repetitions of the word "commonwealth," "state," and the like, in other pages, wee desire they may bee changed.-Massachusetts Colonial Records, vol. IV, pt. 2, p. 213. To this the General Court of Massachusetts sent the following reply: And also considering that they were severall colonjes under one king, & come from their native country for one & the same end, & were here scattered at a great distance amongst the wild salvages in a vast wilderness, had no walled tounes or garrisons of souldjers for their defence, they apprehended the least they could doe was to enter into a league of amity and union one with another, ingaging, jointly to assist each other this being the end of their then confoederating, to the end that as our distance of place one from another rendered us weake, & layd us open to their rage and violence, so our union might be as well to them a terror as to us strength; & through the goodness of God, wee have hitherto had large experience of the great good that by this confœderation hath redounded, not only to all his majesties subjects here planted, but even to the natives themselves, it having been a means to prevent much trouble & bloodshed among themselves, so that although since that warr [the Pequod | some of them have put us to a considerable charge yet no massacre hath beene among us from that day to this, blessed be God for it. -Massachusetts Colonial Records, vol. IV, pt. 2, p. 231. Again, the General Court says that the commissioners seem to desire to make a flame in the country by their high favors to discontented persons, & great countenance given to the Road Islanders, whose first rise and continuance hath beene such to the other colonjes as is not unknowne to any discreet observer in these parts; and on the other hand, calling the United Colonjes that usurped authoritje contrary to the light of reason, which therefore made it seeme to be their speciall design to disunite the colonjes & so to bring us unto ruine.-Ib., pp. 233-34. To the Assembly of Maryland, by Jacob Leisler. A. D. 1689 29th September in the fort of New York. GENTLEMEN-I have received your acceptable letter the em 18 of this instant & communicated as directed, wee have considered the contents with due affection, & brace with all our hearts your offers of a mutuall & amiable correspondence with you, which we shall labor to keep & preserve inviolable towards you, and without fail shall omitt nothing that may appeare any wayes to your intrest peace & welfare as we also doe with Boston & Connecticutt collony being of the same opinion with you, that it is the onely means to preserve their majestie's interests. [King Will. iam and Queen Mary]. [Similar letters sent to Mass., Conn., etc.]-Documentary History of New York, vol. II, p. 19. Agents of four colonies and several Indian chiefs met in 1684 to consider union. One of the sachems addressed the Massachusetts agent as follows: We all, namely, our governor, the governor of Virginia and the Massachusetts Coloney, and Maquese, are in one covenant. We do plant here a great tree of peace, whose branches spread so far as the Massachusetts Coloney, Virginia, Maryland, and all that are in friendship with us and do live in peace, unity, and tranquility, under the shade of said tree.-Mass. Archives, XXX, p. 303, cited in Frothingham. Governor Treat, of Connecticut, wrote to Governor Bradstreet, July 31, 1689, in part, as follows: I hope we shall be willing in the season of it, to revive the ancient confederation upon just terms and articles, holding forth a right consideration of our state compared with the other colonies.-Frothingham, Rise of the U. S. Republic, p. 87, note. Governor Bradsteet wrote, February 3, 1689-90, in the same spirit: All true Englishmen [ought] to lay aside their private animosities and intestine discords, and to unite against the common enemy.—Ib., 88. Circular to the Governors of the several prov inces: NEW YORK, Aprill 2d, 1690: HONBLE SIR-[After stating danger from French and Indians, Governor Leister says, we] have likewise communi cated the same to the Governor of Boston, & the entlemen of Connecticutt are likewise advertised thereof, in so much that wee propose for a generall assistance that such persons as to you shall seem meet may be commissioned to treat with them of New England, Virginia, pensilvania and Jerseys, that we may conclude what may conduce most to the King's intrest, wellfare of the provinces. . .-Doo umentary History of New York, vol. II, p. 117. A. D. 1690 ye 30 Apprill: in N. Yorke. GENTLEMENS-Last monday arrived heer the Comintioners off [of] Boston Plimouth en Caneticot who have been taking [talking] off several businis concurning the Indian war. [Signed Jacob Leisler.]—Ib., p. 133. N. YORKE, Primo May 1690. At a meeting of ye commissioners of ye Province of New York & ye collonies of ye Massachusetts, Plymouth & Connecticut, It is concluded that each of ye Collonies aforesd shall Provide and furnish ye undermenconed proporcons of Souldiers with Answerable Provisions at their own Charges to Be sent with all Speed: viz: By New Yorke four hundred.. By Massachusetts Colony one hundred & sixty.. By Plymouth Colony sixty.. By Maryland by Promise one hundred. In all eight hundred fifety five..... 400 160 135 60 100 855 Further agreed [various things mentioned] That ye Of ficers Be required to maintain good order Amongst ye Soldiers to discountenance & Punish Vice & as much as may be to Keep ye Sabbath and Maintain ye Worship of God. JACOB LEISLER. WILLIAM STOUGHTON. NATHAN GOLD. -Massachusetts Archives, XXXVI, 47. Leisler in a letter to the governments of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, attempting to secure additional aid, said: I hope you will not be wanting so blessed a work at this time to please God and our gracious king. Losing the opportunity and neglecting the season may cause the next gen. eration to curse us.-Frothingham, p. 93. Though the French colony contains, perhaps, not 30000 men capable to bear arms; yet these are all under the despotic command and sole direction of their Governor-General, . . The strength of our colonies, on the other hand, is divided, and the concurrence of all necessary both for supplies of men and money. Jealous they are of each other; some ill constituted; others shaken with intestine divisions, and if I may be allowed the expression, parsimonious even to prodigality. Our assemblies are diffident of their Governors; Governors despise their assemblies, and both mutually misrepresent each other to the court of Great Britain. Military measures demand secrecy and dispatch; but while the colonies remain divided, and nothing can be transacted but with their universal assent, it is impossible to maintain the one or proceed with the other. Without a general constitution for warlike operations, we can neither plan nor execute. We have a common interest, and must have a common council; one head and one purse. [An extract from a letter supposed to have been written by Gov. Livingston of New York, and his friends Messrs. W. Smith and Scott, 1756.]-Massachusetts Hist. Society Col., series I, vol. VII, pp. 161–62. Mr. Nelson's memorial about the state of the northern colonies in America: 24 Sept: 1696. Fifthly I am now to make another remark upon the principall, and greatest defect and mistake, in which we have been, and are yet under, I meane the number and independency of so many small Governments, whereby our strength is not only divided and weakened, but by reason of their severall interests, are become and doe in a manner esteeme each as foreigners the one unto the other, soe that whatever mischiefs doth happen in one part, the rest by the reason of this disunion remaine unconcerned and our strength thereby weakened; whereas were the Colonies of New England, |